BAGHDAD — American commanders, worried about increased violence in the wake of Iraq’s inconclusive elections, are now reconsidering the pace of a major troop pullout this summer, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
The withdrawal of the first major wave of troops is expected to be delayed from this month until June, the officials said. Waiting much longer could endanger President Barack Obama’s goal of reducing the force level from 92,000 to 50,000 troops by Aug. 31.
More than two months after parliamentary elections, the Iraqis have still not formed a new government, and militants aiming to exploit the void have carried out attacks such as Monday’s bombings and shootings that killed at least 119 people — the country’s bloodiest day of 2010.
The violence has prompted military officials to look at keeping as many troops on the ground, for as long as possible, without missing the Aug. 31 deadline. A security agreement between the two nations requires American troops to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
In Baghdad and Washington, U.S. officials say they remain committed to the deadline, which Obama has said he would extend only if Iraq’s security deteriorates. Getting out of Iraq quickly and responsibly was among Obama’s top campaign promises in 2008.
Two senior administration officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House is closely watching to see if the Aug. 31 date needs to be pushed back — if only to ensure enough security forces are in place to prevent or respond to militant attacks.
The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. Ray Odierno, has said he hoped to start withdrawing as many as a monthly average of 12,500 troops, starting this month, to meet the August deadline.
But three U.S. officials in Baghdad and a senior Pentagon official said that the series of withdrawals is now expected to begin in June at the earliest. All cited ongoing concerns about whether the political impasse would lead to violence.
As of last week, there were about 92,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
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