U.S. withdrawal from Iraq on schedule?

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Department officials told lawmakers the pace of the drawdown of American forces from Iraq is on schedule despite lingering challenges.

U.S. President Barack Obama in February announced the plan for the drawdown of U.S. forces in Iraq was proceeding in accordance with a bilateral strategic agreement signed in 2008. That agreement calls for U.S. combat troops to leave by August and all forces to pull out of Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011.

U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, the top military commander in Iraq, told the Times of London, however, that any violence related to the upcoming parliamentary elections in January could challenge the troop schedule.

Michele Flournoy, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, told the House Armed Services Committee the plan for withdrawal was continuing along the timeline laid out by the Obama administration.

While Iraqi security officials have advanced with the help of U.S. forces, however, the government needs to commit more revenue to its national forces.

"Much remains to be done to enable the (Iraqi forces) to assume full responsibility by Dec. 31, 2011," she said.

Navy Vice Adm. James Winnefeld, policy director for the Joint Staff, told the House committee that many aspects of the withdrawal plan were on schedule, the Defense Department reported.

"We do remain on track," he said.