Early Pullout Unlikely In Iraq

Military Official Says Withdrawal At Least a Year Off

By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, August 11, 2005; Page A01

BAGHDAD, Aug. 10 -- Iraq's leaders and military will be unable to lead the fight against insurgents until next summer at the earliest, a top U.S. military official said Wednesday, trying to temper any hopes that a full-scale American troop withdrawal was imminent as Iraq moves toward elections scheduled for December.