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Fort Lewis commander: Quick troop withdrawal may backfire

Sep-13-2007 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

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By Keith Eldridge, KOMO 4 News

FORT LEWIS, Wash. -- A key commander from Fort Lewis said the U.S. should not be in too much of a hurry to bring the troops home from Iraq.

Cmdr. Col. Steve Townsend of the 3rd Stryker brigade spoke with KOMO 4 News via satellite from Iraq on Wednesday just as Congress is calling for a quicker withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

The 4,000 members of the 3rd brigade spent 15 months in Iraq after their normal year-long tour was extended as a part of the president's troop-buildup plan. Some have already come home and others are soon due home, but Townsend believes it may be too soon.

"I think bottom line, my own personal opinion, is we need to stay with this effort with whatever force it requires to get the job done," he said.

Townsend spoke with KOMO 4 News candidly after spending times in the front lines of Iraq. He has seen his Stryker brigade not only handle the tough fighting in the streets, but also building bridges, schools, hospitals and relationships with the Iraqi people.

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