Regarding the troop pullout in Iraq, “Under the new arrangements the US military will be reduced to a supporting role; it will only be able to join operations at Iraq’s invitation and will no longer be able to conduct solo combat operations. From tomorrow [June 30, 2009], 130,000 US troops will almost exclusively be confined to bases from where they will gradually leave Iraq ahead of a final departure in mid-2011. Security will be left to Iraqi army and police units, which insist they are ready to step into the breach.”
– Martin Chulov, “Iraqis to Mark US Street Exit with Holiday,” The Guardian, June 29, 2009