BAGHDAD, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. military officials in Iraq said Thursday they are preparing various duty stations for restructuring in light of the security contract with Baghdad.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Iraqi government officials Monday to secure a draft agreement calling for the redeployment of combat troops from major Iraqi cities by June 30. U.S. military officials said they could coordinate the withdrawal within 100 days if necessary, Stars and Stripes, the official newspaper of the U.S. military, said Thursday.
U.S. commanders said they have not received orders to dismantle or relocate any of their personnel but have been coordinating plans to do so, should the official order be delivered.
Maj. Mike Birmingham, planning officer at Forward Operating Base Falcon in southern Baghdad, said several units could be merged with other U.S. forces or converted for use by the Iraqi military.
"Once the SOFA works out, we'll know whether we'll be expanded and contracted," he said. "And we'll start moving ahead."
