Bush adviser says Iraq timeline "very dangerous"

[gateley]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's top military adviser said on Sunday setting an unconditional two-year timetable for getting U.S. troops out of Iraq in two years would be dangerous.

But Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would be able to recommend more troop reductions this fall if conditions there continued to improve.

Asked about a hypothetical two-year withdrawal timeline, Mullen told "Fox News Sunday, "I think the consequences could be very dangerous."

"I'm convinced (that) making reductions based on conditions on the ground are very important. We've been able to do that. We've reduced five brigades in the last several months and, again, if conditions continue to improve, I would be able to make recommendations to President Bush in the fall to continue those reductions."

The White House said on Friday that Bush, who has long opposed any set schedule for a withdrawal, had agreed with Iraq's prime minister to consider a "time horizon."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2036813120080720

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More at the link - interesting and infuriating read.

[babylonsister]

1. This fall, like mid-November?

:eyes: They're bringing it down to the wire as per the wh schedule. Good little soldiers.

[gateley]

2. Yep. Assholes. nt

[Mnemosyne]

4. Hey gateley, please stop insulting true assholes. *co is so

beyond assholes anymore.

:evilgrin:

[gateley]

7. You are so right.

Apologies to true assholes everywhere. :7

[Mnemosyne]

9. lol

:evilgrin:

[tanyev]

3. Oh, probably the last week or two of October.

October Surprise!

[Mark E. Smith]

5. The unspoken (or at least rarely) spoken truth is...

... that the Bushies have basically handed Iraq over to Iran.

All that Tehran's allies in Baghdad have to do to seal the deal is encourage us to leave. Which they are now doing.

This is the real consequence of Georgie's historic strategic military blunder.

[SpiralHawk]

15. "Georgies's historic strategic military blunder..."

That will be the epitaph on Commander AWOL Bush's grave someday...

So much needless death and destruction, so much massive oil & munitions profit for republicon cronies.

[truthisfreedom]

6. Wooo! Very dangerous!

Woooooo!

[trthnd4jstc]

8. Bush and Cheney not being impeached and removed from office, very dangerous.

Bush and Cheney are the two major sources of problems that the US has to deal with. Impeach the War Criminals Now!

[JonLP24]

10. Troop withdrawal timetable concerns Pentagon chief

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon's top military officer said Sunday a specific time frame for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq could jeopardize political and economic progress, leading to "dangerous consequences."

Adm. Mike Mullen said the agreement between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to set a "general time horizon" for bringing more troops home from the war was a sign of "healthy negotiations for a burgeoning democracy."

"I think the strategic goals of having time horizons are ones that we all seek because eventually we would like to see U.S. forces draw down and eventually all come home," the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said. "This right now doesn't speak to either time lines or timetables, based on my understanding of where we are."

The best way to determine troops levels, he said, is to assess the conditions on the ground and to consult with American commanders — the mission Bush has given him.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gPeXA_7E7Badz7pSlncRmNDiwOQQD921VGKO0)

[TwilightGardener]

11. He must be confused. He doesn't set policy, he only implements it.

The commander in chief tells him what to do, and the chairman gives him information, options and opinions in return on how best to make it happen--and then he makes it happen as ordered. Period.

[NanceGreggs]

12. Perhaps Adm. Mullen could enlighten us all ...

... with a quick recounting of when a single decision made in this debacle, from day one, hasn't resulted in "dangerous consequences".

[SpiralHawk]

13. "My republicon overlords demanded I make a quisling statement." - Admiral MM

"You know, catapult a little propaganda for strategerous electoral & PNAC purposes. Smirk."

- Admiral MM

[bertman]

14. Seems like just a few years ago, the Pentagon brass were under orders to keep their opinions

under wraps. Nowadays they're just propaganda tools in uniform.

I wonder when W is gonna show up on stage in his general's uniform, like his role model Adolf.

Probably after martial law is declared and he's crowned Preznit for Life.

[Orsino]

16. As opposed to keeping US troops there, say for 7+ years.

Goddamn it. Just assume that the opposite of whatever the * Administration wants is best for the nation and the world.