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Obama is expected to announce timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq today

WASHINGTON (Agencies)

The United States President Barack Obama is to announce his long-awaited plan to withdraw combat troops from Iraq on Friday, following reports he had promised the congress to revisit the plan if violence there worsens.

Obama ordered U.S. military commanders to work out how to withdraw most U.S. combat troops as soon as he took office in January, and is expected to reveal the details of his plan today during a scheduled visit to a military base in North Carolina.

Ahead of the announcement, some prominent Democrats criticized the president's plan, saying that the 50,000 or so troops to be left in the country after the withdrawal leave too large a garrison.
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Revisiting pullout if violence spikes
" He assured me that he will revisit his plan if the situation on the ground deteriorates and violence increases "
John McHugh

Meanwhile, a leading Republican lawmaker said Obama had promised the Congress to "revisit" his plan to withdraw U.S. combat forces from Iraq by August 2010 if violence there spikes.

"He assured me that he will revisit his plan if the situation on the ground deteriorates and violence increases," said Representative John McHugh, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

Obama's pledge came during talks at the White House that also included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, McHugh said.

"Iraq faces significant challenges in 2009, including the national parliamentary election in December. Our commanders must have the flexibility they need in order to respond to these challenges, and President Obama assured me that there is a 'Plan B,'" McHugh said.

The lawmaker also indicated broad support for what the statement from his office described as "the president's plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq by August 2010."

"The president's objective to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq is one that we should pray for, plan for, and work toward. However, I remain concerned that the security situation in Iraq is fragile, and we should work to mitigate any risks to our troops and their mission," McHugh added.

"I specifically raised these points with the president this evening," the New York Republican said.

On Thursday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said Obama's administration will move responsibly and safely" to reduce its military presence in Iraq under a "new course."

"Our bilateral security agreement with Iraq will frame the path ahead. And the process of redeploying our combat troops will be conducted in consultation with the government of Iraq and with its support," Rice said.

Rice said that Iraq "remains an issue of great importance to the United States, but one on which the administration will steer a new course."
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War spending in crisis time
" In our country's current economic circumstances, I believe that represents a strong commitment to our security "
Robert Gates

Obama's planned announcement followed his request to the congress for about $205 billion in war funding through the end of fiscal 2010 on Thursday.

Obama's first budget proposal asked for $75.5 billion through September, which would bring total war spending to $141.4 billion for the current fiscal year. Obama also requested a slightly smaller $130 billion to fund the wars for fiscal year 2010, which starts on October 1.

"In our country's current economic circumstances, I believe that represents a strong commitment to our security," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.

The U.S. military spending accounts for roughly half the global total, according to independent experts.

Total spending on the Pentagon and the wars would reach nearly $664 billion in fiscal 2010, if the plan is approved by Congress, up slightly from $656.3 billion in 2009.

The United States currently has 142,000 troops in Iraq and 38,000 in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon.

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