September 11 Six Years Later, General Petraeus Tells Congress Troop Reduction by Next Summer Possible

9/11, the date ingrained in every American’s mind and heart, will mark its six year anniversary tomorrow and on the eve of that memorable day the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David H. Petraeus, told Congress that troops in the troubled region could be significantly reduced by next summer.

Petraeus has already recommended the first phase of reduction to President Bush calling for the withdrawal of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

While Petraeus was optimistic about troop reduction he was cautious about declaring the mission to be a success. Rather, he said success would be possible “although doing so will be neither quick nor easy.”

In his testimony before Congress Petraeus pointed to sectarian violence in Iraq as the main holdup sustaining peace in the country but he also pointed the finger at Iran and Syria who have continued to stir up trouble in Iraq.

Neither Petraeus nor American Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker believes that the problems in Iraq will be eradicated in a short period of time. Crocker went as far as calling Iraq “a traumatized society” and maintained that it would likely be so for an extended period.

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