U.S. Congressman Marty Meehan (Democrat from Massachusetts) yesterday proposed a plan for the phased withdrawal of U.S. military forces, beginning shortly after the January 30 elections in Iraq. "Changing the dynamic in Iraq means handing the security of the Iraqi people back to the Iraqis, and bringing an end to the occupation," Meehan said. "Under this proposal, the United States would draw down the majority of our forces by the end of this year, only a small and mobile force would remain by mid - 2006, two years after the transfer of sovereignty." Meehan said such a planned, phased withdrawal over the next 12-18 months would "change the underlying dynamic in Iraq" by helping to win the support of the Iraqi people by removing the United States, since many refuse alliance to political parties based on their dealings with the United States. Finally, Meehan said, U.S. credibility would be boosted worldwide if the international community got America's promise that it will leave Iraq. Meehan said his plan would keep about 30,000 U.S. troops in Iraq after 2006 for an undetermined amount of time, in order to train the Iraqi Army and deal with the more serious national security threats.
