Pentagon brass split on troop cuts

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - A new burst of violence in Iraq sharpens the differences among U.S. military leaders over how to balance the risk of pulling U.S. troops out too quickly and the danger of waiting too long.

~snip~

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he is not convinced that attacks like Friday's twin suicide bombings in Baghdad require the Pentagon to pause or freeze the reduction in forces after the number of combat brigades shrinks to 15 at the end of July.

"I don't see that at this particular point," Mullen told a Pentagon news conference hours after the attacks. He stressed that he and the service chiefs are still studying the matter of troop withdrawals beyond July.

~snip~

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he hopes conditions in Iraq allow a cutback to 10 brigades by year's end. That would allow the Army to reduce combat tours from 15 months to 12 months.

By contrast, senior commanders in Iraq, led by Gen. David Petraeus, have made it known that they would like to have a pause this summer for a "period of assessment," perhaps into the autumn months, before making a recommendation to Bush on when and at what pace to resume the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Thus, they would keep the force at 15 brigades for some period well beyond July.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080201/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_troop_tug_of_war

[tridim]

1. FUBAR

Fuck it, just get out now. "period of assessment" my ass.