US military chief travels to Middle East
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-29 09:11

America's top military leader opened a weeklong holiday trip to the Middle East on Wednesday, applauding U.S. troops for their fight against terror just days after the Bush administration announced new troop cuts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also held talks with Gen. John Abizaid and other senior officers during his one-day stay in this key U.S. ally �� his first official overseas visit since taking the post three months ago.

"This year has been an incredible one in the war on terrorism, and it's because of what you do," he said in a pep talk to hundreds of American forces following a show featuring American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo at an air base near Doha, Qatar.

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace speaks at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, DC. [AFP/file]

Airmen at the base said they did not expect the troop reduction to affect them in the near term, but they welcomed last week's Pentagon announcement as a step toward restoring peace in Iraq.

"I think it would be great," said John Batty, 31, a pilot from Kingsford, Mich. "Less people would have to come over and the Iraqis could take care of themselves, and that's what it's all about."

Christian Burbach, 32, an Air Force weapons systems officer from Great Falls, Va., said he was optimistic the troop reductions would take place. But he was doubtful they would affect airmen like himself who fly daily support missions over Iraq.

"I think we'll still be here supporting the troops on the ground," Burbach said. "It gives me pride to be able to help those guys."

On Friday, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said during a surprise visit to Iraq that President Bush has authorized the reduction of U.S. combat troops there to below the 138,000 level that held for most of this year. Rumsfeld did not reveal the exact size of the troop cut, but senior Pentagon officials have said the number of American troops in Iraq could drop to about 100,000 by next fall.

Also last week, Rumsfeld ordered the number of troops in Afghanistan to be cut from 19,000 to about 16,500 by next spring, while cautioning that removing forces too quickly would impede the long-term hunt for terrorists.

Pace �� the first Marine to serve as chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, making him the main military adviser to Bush and Rumsfeld �� did not comment on the troop reductions during his address Wednesday. But he said earlier this week that American units will steadily hand over more security duties to Iraqi forces in the coming months.

In those comments, he stressed that the U.S. military needs to be flexible enough to increase or decrease forces depending on security conditions on the ground, political developments and the ability of Iraqi soldiers and police to assume greater responsibility.

Pace, who was traveling with his wife, Lynne, also planned stops in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Afghanistan and the East African nation Djibouti.