A U.S. newspaper is reporting that the CIA is planning to reduce the number of its personnel in Iraq to less than half of wartime levels.
According to unnamed U.S. officials quoted by "The Wall Street Journal," the plan calls for the CIA presence in Iraq to drop by 60 percent as Baghdad increasingly asserts its sovereignty after the U.S. withdrawal.
Proponents argue that Al-Qaeda in Iraq no longer directly threatens the United States and the CIA could instead boost its presence in terror hotspots such as Yemen.
Other say it may be regaining momentum and that reducing the U.S. intelligence presence could do harm.
The report does not mention a timetable for implementing the plan, but quotes officials as saying that a CIA drawdown has already begun.
According to unnamed U.S. officials quoted by "The Wall Street Journal," the plan calls for the CIA presence in Iraq to drop by 60 percent as Baghdad increasingly asserts its sovereignty after the U.S. withdrawal.
Proponents argue that Al-Qaeda in Iraq no longer directly threatens the United States and the CIA could instead boost its presence in terror hotspots such as Yemen.
Other say it may be regaining momentum and that reducing the U.S. intelligence presence could do harm.
The report does not mention a timetable for implementing the plan, but quotes officials as saying that a CIA drawdown has already begun.
