It’s Too Soon For Iraq Pullout, Guard General Says
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
TROY, N.Y. – A National Guard general from Upstate New York responsible for securing one-quarter of Iraq for the past year said yesterday it’s not yet time to withdraw American troops, though progress has been made in turning over control to Iraqi authorities.
“I don’t think a quick pullout is in the interests of anybody,” Major General Joseph Taluto said. “You’ve got to have a military that can secure the government.”
Commander of the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division and a task force of 24,000 American troops that is in north-central Iraq until November 1, General Taluto said they helped establish 18 fully trained and equipped Iraqi battalions and turned over 11 military operating bases to Iraqi control, including the former presidential palace in Tikrit yesterday.
“I think it’s possible we can see troop reductions in 2006 based on what I see,” General Taluto said. “It has been on our watch incrementally getting better all the time.” The task force included about 3,500 members of the 42nd, about 400 from the greater Albany area, with the last few planeloads slated to return shortly. Major Richard Goldenberg said their area in Iraq comprised about 27,000 square miles, about half the size of New York State.
