Caldwell: Iraq forces to take complete control by Fall 2007

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The U.S. military expects all of Iraq to be under the control of Iraqi forces by mid-2007, the top American military spokesman in the country said Tuesday.

"We would expect to see the entire country having reached provincial Iraqi control by early fall of next year," Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said at a news conference. "We should see the complete transfer of command and control of all Iraqi army divisions by late spring, early summer."

He said this is part of an accelerated timetable discussed by President Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during their summit in Jordan last week.

Al-Maliki, in an interview with ABC the day of the summit, said Iraqi forces would be ready.

"I can tell you that by next June, our forces will take over the security of the country," he said.

The U.S. maintains about 140,000 troops in Iraq and is now considering changing its strategic course in the country, which the U.S.-led coalition invaded in March 2003.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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