U.S. forces scaling back relief effort for Haiti earthquake

clipped from www.nydailynews.com U.S. forces scaling back relief effort for Haiti earthquake victims THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Monday, February 15th 2010, 4:00 AM Abramovich/Getty Haitians walk along a flooded street in downtown Port-Au-Prince on Sunday. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The biggest U.S. military surge since Iraq and Afghanistan is scaling back a month after the troops arrived in haste to aid victims of Haiti's catastrophic quake. Great gray ships have been leaving behind Haiti's battered shores as thousands of American troops pack up their tents. The mission, however, is far from over. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. will be in Haiti for the long haul, although troop strength is down to 13,000 from a Feb. 1 peak of 20,000. Those who remain will accompany Haitians in an arduous struggle toward recovery.