IRAQI - Withdrawal On Track

"Odierno says US troop withdrawal plan on schedule" Boston Globe 3/8/2010

The top U.S. general in Iraq says the Iraqi military performed superbly on Sunday's mostly peaceful election day and that President Barack Obama's plan to remove American combat troops from that country by Sept. 1 is proceeding on schedule.

Gen. Ray Odierno says commanders will constantly reassess the situation. But he says that as of now, every sign points to Iraqi's being able to peacefully form a new government in coming months.

Odierno said "we certainly believe" the U.S. will be able to reduce its forces in Iraq to 50,000 noncombat troops by the Obama administration's self-imposed deadline of Sept. 1. Odierno spoke Monday on CBS's "The Early Show."