Petraeus Wins Support in Troop Cut Delay

[unhappycamper]

Petraeus Wins Support in Troop Cut Delay
Military.com | By Christian Lowe | February 25, 2008

The top commander in charge of coalition forces in Iraq said Friday senior Pentagon officials agree with him that a rapid drawdown of U.S. troops in that country should be curtailed in favor of a more gradual, "conditions-based" approach to reductions.

In an exclusive interview with Military.com from his headquarters in Baghdad, Gen. David Petraeus, the Multi-National Forces-Iraq commander, explained that he'd held close consultations with Central Command chief Adm. William Fallon and Defense Secretary Bill Gates and won them over on keeping troop levels steady after July.

"I've had a chance to talk to most of the members of the Joint Chiefs in recent weeks ... Adm. Fallon was just out and I think we see the world the same way," Petraeus explained. "He endorsed ... the concept of a period of consolidation and evaluation following the substantial withdrawals that will be completed by the end of July, before continuing with further reductions."

In January, Gates launched what some considered a competing assessment from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Iraqi security that would coincide with an update on the "surge" Petraeus was scheduled to deliver to Congress in the spring.

Reports have indicated that Joint Chiefs chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, favors a withdrawal of forces to 10 brigades by the end of the year over concerns that the lengthy Iraq deployments are straining the ground forces beyond repair.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,162658,00.html

[DrDan]

1. well . . . I think the Feb casualty count may also have influenced that

the surge may not be working as well as advertised . . .

2 more yesterday

[acmavm]

2. 'Condition based'? Does that mean when the facts don't fit the

happy picture that this bunch of clowns are trying to project? Or when the oil agreement turning everything they have over to Exxon-Mobile is signed?