Gates considers US force levels for Iraq (expected pause in troop cuts for as much as 6 wks)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Top U.S. military leaders presented Defense Secretary Robert Gates with their strategy for future force levels in Iraq Thursday, including expected recommendations for a pause in troop cuts for as much as six weeks later this summer.


The hourlong videoconference marked the start of what will be a series of meetings, presentations and congressional testimony over the next two weeks that will assess the military, political and economic progress in Iraq.

During the Pentagon meeting, Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, heard from the top commander in the Middle East, Adm. William Fallon, and the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus.

Officials said little about the discussions, but there was no indication Petraeus had backed off his call for a brief pause in troop cuts after July in order to see what effect the lower force levels have on violence in Iraq.

The key questions that Petraeus will face — and that are still unanswered — include how long will the pause will have to last in order to assess the security trends, how many troops will be able to come home once that period is over and if that will allow the Pentagon to reduce Army deployments from the current 15 months to 12 months


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080321/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq

[Clear Blue Sky]

1. Timing for the election?

[Ilsa]

2. I thought they had already decided they wouldn't be cutting

troops levels in Irag for awhile. But I was thinking they might have decided to bring them home to manage the upcoming riots right around general election time.