Updated: 08:06, Monday December 26, 2005
Iraqi forces want US troops out of their country as soon as possible, America's top general has revealed.
Peter Pace, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said they were keen to take over the security of their own country.
The admission by the US Marine Corps General followed the Pentagon's decision to reduce the current level of 160,000 soldiers by two brigades.
This amounts to about 7,000 soldiers.
Gen Pace said of the Iraqis: "They don't want us to leave tomorrow, but they do want us to leave as soon as possible."
Some US foreign policy experts have expressed concern that the new Iraqi government could ask American troops to leave sooner rather than later.
But US officials dismissed that forecast as unrealistic.
However, a poll conducted in Iraq showed that despite some improvements in security and living standards, US military operations in the country were increasingly unpopular.
Two-thirds of those polled said they opposed the presence of US and Coalition forces in Iraq.
And nearly 60% disapproved of the way the US has operated in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
When asked to suggest a timescale for the US pullout, 26% said US and other Coalition forces should "leave now".
Some 19% opted for a withdrawal after the Iraqis formed a new government based on the results on the December 15 election.
Iraqi forces want US troops out of their country as soon as possible, America's top general has revealed.
Peter Pace, who is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said they were keen to take over the security of their own country.
The admission by the US Marine Corps General followed the Pentagon's decision to reduce the current level of 160,000 soldiers by two brigades.
This amounts to about 7,000 soldiers.
Gen Pace said of the Iraqis: "They don't want us to leave tomorrow, but they do want us to leave as soon as possible."
Some US foreign policy experts have expressed concern that the new Iraqi government could ask American troops to leave sooner rather than later.
But US officials dismissed that forecast as unrealistic.
However, a poll conducted in Iraq showed that despite some improvements in security and living standards, US military operations in the country were increasingly unpopular.
Two-thirds of those polled said they opposed the presence of US and Coalition forces in Iraq.
And nearly 60% disapproved of the way the US has operated in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.
When asked to suggest a timescale for the US pullout, 26% said US and other Coalition forces should "leave now".
Some 19% opted for a withdrawal after the Iraqis formed a new government based on the results on the December 15 election.