Despite recent violence, Odierno says plans on schedule to trim 45,000 troops by end of August

Top general says US withdrawal from Iraq on track

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. military commander in Iraq says the planned withdrawal of nearly 45,000 U.S. troops by the end of August is on track despite a recent increase in attacks by militant forces.

Army Gen. Ray Odierno (oh-dee-EHR’-noh) also says that al-Qaida’s capabilities in Iraq is being degraded.

He tells “Fox News Sunday” that unless there’s a dramatic and unforeseen change in the security condition, the U.S. troop drawdown will go ahead as scheduled.

Odierno says there are now about 95,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. The U.S. plans to cut that number to 50,000 by Aug. 31, when it will end combat operations.

As part of an agreement with Iraq, the U.S. will withdraw all forces by the end of 2011.