Gates, Petraeus at odds over withdrawal

[maddezmom]

Source: UPI

WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus and his boss, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, differ about when troop withdrawals from Iraq could resume.

Gates, testifying before a Senate committee Thursday, said he hoped troop reductions in Iraq could resume after a "brief," 45-day pause this summer, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

However, Petraeus, during two days of testimony, said drawdowns would resume only when conditions permit and did not offer a timetable. President George Bush said Petraeus would have "all the time he needs" to assess troop levels.

"My view is that (Petraeus) should be in a position at the end of that 45-day period of evaluation and consolidation to make a determination whether a next further drawdown could take place," Gates said. "One of the benefits of being secretary of defense ... is that I'm more allowed to hope than the field commander is."


Read more: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/04/11/gates_petraeus_at_odds_over_withdrawal/6926/

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Strains to Remain Despite Shorter Tours, Say Gates, Mullen
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made clear yesterday that President Bush's announced reduction in the length of active-duty Army combat tours from 15 to 12 months, while welcome, would neither end the risk the United States faces from a lack of ready ground forces nor provide all the relief desired for overstretched troops and their families.

Striking a tone distinct from that of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gates and Mullen also told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that they do not see the halt in U.S. troop reductions from Iraq as indefinite. Gates reiterated that he expects only a "brief pause" in the drawdown before it continues this fall.

"I do not anticipate this period of review to be an extended one, and I would emphasize that the hope, depending on conditions on the ground, is to reduce our presence further this fall," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In testimony this week, Petraeus declined to use the words "brief" or "pause" to describe the time needed to assess further troop reductions, and said the process could last months. "There certainly is a difference in the way we've described it," Gates said, referring to Petraeus, in response to questions from Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), the committee chairman.

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/10/AR2008041003814.html?hpid=topnews

[bdamomma]

1. "all the time Petrueaus needs"

yea, to make sure that bushie will not be held accountable for his illegal and murderous acts, and to wait until bush's a$$ is out of office.

We need to get these thugs out, they are dangerous.

[jaybeat]

2. Gates better STFU or he'll end up like Fallon

Dim Son don't like no one comin' betwixt him and the folks tellin' him what he knows in his black little heart is right.

Government of the Yes Men, by the Yes Men, and for the Yes Men.

We are so fucked.

:nuke: Iran, anyone?

[classysassy]

3. Pure bull

the old good cop,bad cop shell game.Gates if you don't agree with BeTrayUs,fire his warmongering ass.