US News
Report: Iraq Study Group to push 2008 withdrawal by US
By DPA
Dec 1, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - A panel of top US politicians studying solutions for the conflict in Iraq are to recommend a US pullout to be largely completed by the early part of 2008, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The newspaper cited sources familiar with the Iraq Study Group's deliberations.

The panel, appointed by Congress and due to report Wednesday to President George W Bush and both legislative chambers, is led by former secretary of state James Baker and retired congressman Lee Hamilton.

The US role would change from leading the fight against insurgents and terrorism to supporting Iraqi government forces in the conflict, the Post reported.

The study group's proposal is for US combat brigades to be withdrawn, leaving sharply smaller numbers of US personnel as trainers and advisers within Iraqi military units. The early 2008 goal would not constitute a rigid pullout timetable, which the Bush administration has refused to set, the Post said.