Iraq pact timeline calls for troops to leave by 2011, Pentagon says

Iraq pact timeline calls for troops to leave by 2011, Pentagon says

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/19/iraq.sofa/index.html?eref=edition_world

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A security pact between the U.S. and Iraqi governments will allow U.S. troops to finish the work it needs to do before leaving the country, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.A Pentagon spokesman said Defense Secretary Robert Gates is briefing congressional members on the plan.Defense Secretary Robert Gates was briefing Congressional members on the Status of Forces (SOFA) agreement, which gives troops the authority and time they need to conduct operations and train Iraqi forces to a sufficient level, Geoff Morrell said."The security situation has improved so dramatically, and the Iraqi security forces have improved so dramatically, that we are confident that if things continue to trend as they have been, our services will not be needed in Iraq come 2012," Morrell said.President George W. Bush has already signed off on the agreement, which sets legal jurisdiction over U.S. troops and contractors and lays out timetables for withdrawal of U.S. forces. The SOFA calls for all U.S. forces to fall back out of Iraqi cities by June 2009 and to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. It is also being debated by the Iraqi Parliament. "We believe this is an agreement that respects Iraqi sovereignty, which was paramount here, but at the same time provides us with the authorities to do the work we still need to do in Iraq," Morrell said.