Study: U.S. Should Lower Its Profile in Iraq

WASHINGTON — American forces in Iraq should be reduced significantly, according to a new study on Iraq's security forces that inflamed debate in Congress on how quickly that can happen without hurling the country into chaos.

The report, authored by a 20-member panel comprised mostly of retired senior military and police officers, said the massive deployment of American forces and sprawl of U.S.-run facilities in and around Baghdad has given Iraqis the impression that Americans are an occupying, permanent force.

Accordingly, the panel said the Iraqis should assume more control of its security and American forces should step back, emboldening Democrats who want troop withdrawals to start this fall.

"Significant reductions, consolidations, and realignments would appear to be possible and prudent," the group wrote, led by retired General James Jones, a former Marine Corps commandant. The recommendation echoed previous independent assessments on the war, including the high-profile Iraq Study Group that said the combat mission could be transferred to the Iraqis by early 2008. But the burning question, left mostly unanswered by the panel, was precisely when Iraqi security units could take control and U.S. troops could leave. The study concluded only that the Iraqis could not assume control of the country without America's help in the next 12 to 18 months.

In related news, the Pentagon said yesterday that American troop-levels — currently at 168,000 — are expected to hit a record high of 172,000 in the coming weeks. Major General Richard Sherlock, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the increase is the result of troops rotations, as several brigades overlap while they move in and out of the war zone. Previously, officials had predicted the number could go up to about 171,000.

Prior to the recent increases, the peak level was about 160,000 during January 2005. For most of 2006, the number of troops hovered around a baseline of 135,000. President Bush ordered a buildup of about 30,000 troops early this year in an effort to quell the violence in and around Baghdad and provide enough security to stabilize the government.