Plan for US Troop Withdrawal from Iraq Devised by House Democrats

Today, House leaders in Washington unveiled a plan that would start withdrawing American troops from Iraq as soon as July 1st, 2007. While some troops would remain overseas to "[train] Iraqi troops and [protect] Iraq's borders, the majority of the troops would be withdrawn by August 2008 under this proposed plan. House members are hopeful that this bill will be passed by the end of next week.

Under this measure, it must be certified that the Iraqi government is making progress toward army training, as well as increasing civil liberties within the nation. If these basic requirements have not been given attention by the Iraqi government by July 1st, 2007, then U.S. troops would start to withdraw immediately, and be completely removed by the end of 2007.

If it is certified that the Iraqi government is indeed making progress on these requirements, then they have until October 1st, 2007 for completion. If the two goals are not satisfied by this date, then troop withdrawal will begin immediately after, being completely removed from Iraq by the end of March 2008. Moreover, if the two goals have been completely fulfilled, then troops start coming home permanently between March 1, 2008 and the end of August 2008.

Read the full atricle from The Los Angeles Times

-Nicole Morgan