WASHINGTON — Seeking to lower the American profile in Iraq, a top U.S. military commander said Wednesday that he would remove U.S. forces from the palaces of toppled leader Saddam Hussein and had ordered the military to hand over Baghdad's international airport within a year.
The move to leave the palaces is designed to counter the view that Hussein's government has simply been replaced as Iraq's overlords by American soldiers occupying the same opulent seats of power.
The U.S.-led occupation is scheduled to hand over sovereignty to Iraqis at the end of June, and U.S.-led forces are trying to encourage the impression that Iraqis are increasingly governing and policing themselves.
U.S. to Vacate Baghdad Palaces
It is unclear whether bases outside of Baghdad will be affected.
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By John Hendren, Times Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — Seeking to lower the American profile in Iraq, a top U.S. military commander said Wednesday that he would remove U.S. forces from the palaces of toppled leader Saddam Hussein and had ordered the military to hand over Baghdad's international airport within a year.
