ARAB-US RELATIONS - Nov 20 - Rumsfeld Fuels Hopes Of Cut In US Forces In Iraq.

The US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld, fuels expectations that the US is contemplating a big reduction in its forces in Iraq next year, following reports that commanders had submitted plans to cut troop numbers to below 100,000. Appearing on several Nov 20 TV news shows, Rumsfeld spoke of the significant progress in Iraq on the political front and in training Iraqi government forces, which he said now numbered 212,000. Rumsfeld was asked several times whether commander of US forces in Iraq Gen George Casey, had submitted plans to reduce troop numbers from the current 160,000 to under 100,000 by the end of 2006 if conditions permitted. He was also asked whether such a reduction was possible. "But sure, is it possible? Sure it's possible. Anything's possible", Rumsfeld told Fox News. "We'll wait and see what General Casey recommends, but it's proper for him to be making plans of that type". With opposition to the war mounting in Congress and opinion polls showing sliding support among Americans, the Bush administration is treading a fine line between encouraging expectations that large numbers of troops will come home next year and refusing to set a timetable for withdrawal. Rumsfeld insisted the Bush administration was not preparing a precipitous pullout - as some in Congress have demanded. However, he said the US planned to get back down to "our baseline" of 138,000 troops after the Dec 15 parliamentary elections. Joseph Biden, a senior Democratic senator, said the US military had no choice but to cut numbers in Iraq because current levels were not sustainable without mobilising the entire National Guard. Biden said he understood Gen Casey had already asked for the reductions next year. Meanwhile, Iraqi Pres Jalal Talabani told a conference in Cairo on Nov 20 that he was willing to speak to insurgent groups. "If those who call themselves the Iraqi resistance desired to contact me, I would welcome them. I would not refuse to meet any Iraqi who wants to meet me", he said on the second day of a three-day "national reconciliation" conference organised by the Arab League. His statement was a rare conciliatory gesture in a process that had involved a rancorous debate over who should be involved in talks. At the opening session on Nov 19, PM Ibrahim Al Jaafari, said he had "set a red line: there is no place for the Ba'ath in Iraq" - referring to the former ruling party thought to make up a large part of the insurgency's leadership.