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The battalion will not be replaced in Iraq, another sign of America's drawdown in Iraq. In late March, the Fort Sill, Oklahoma-based 100th Brigade Support Battalion was moved from the giant U.S. base in Balad, 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Baghdad, to southern Afghanistan. U.S. military commanders have said the sharp decline in violence in Iraq and the increasing capabilities of Iraq's security forces made it possible to transition the soldiers. The decline in violence also has given Iraqi leaders opportunities to focus on building sources of revenue. A senior official overseeing oil and gas licenses in Iraq said Thursday the country will keep its late June deadline for bids to develop eight oil and gas fields. Abdul-Mahdi al-Ameedi said the final contract details will be published later this week. The companies have until late June to submit their offers for the 20-year service contracts, al-Ameedi said. He said the winning bids will be announced before July 1. The service contracts mean companies are paid a flat fee instead of sharing in production revenue.
[Associated
Press;
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