Iraq Backs Barack, Despite Pullout Fears

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• US Will Be Out of Iraq by 2011, PM Says

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• Maturing Iraqi Army Enabled US Troop Deal

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  The US's preliminary agreement with Iraq to withdraw most combat troops by 2011 would have been unthinkable even a few months ago. Declining levels of violence, a ceasefire with the Mahdi Army, and the about-face of Sunni leaders have all helped, the Wall Street Journal reports, but for the administration, one factor trumps all others: the strengthening of the Iraqi army from ragtag force to legitimate operation.
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• Iraq Security Deal Has US Troops Out of Cities By July

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• As Popularity Plummeted, Bush Began to Get It Right

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