Secretary of AF: Airmen to remain in Iraq past 2010

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The civilian leader of the U.S. Air Force expects some 5,000 airman to remain in Iraq until after 2010, shoring up the Army's ground presence.

Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne's comments were recorded by C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" show on Wednesday, the same day Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomacher told reporters the Army is planning for 120,000 soldiers to be in Iraq until at least 2010.

"Right now the Air Force looks like we're going to be in a situation, if you will, that even in 2010 or 2009 we may still be in Iraq. The Air Force may be in Iraq longer," Wynne said on the show, which will air Oct. 15.

To bulwark Army force protection and combat service support efforts in Iraq, the Air Force and the Navy have sent thousands of military police and ground forces.

But Wynne said the presence can't be maintained indefinitely.

"I don't think it's appropriate for the Air Force and the Navy," Wynne said. "At some point in the future, it doesn't work in the math. In other words, the Army has to pick up combat service support over time and I think they want to... So the Army has to pick back up this combat service support over the -- over the longer haul."

Read the rest at UPI

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