Gates: No Ground Troops While 'I Am In This Job'

[Purveyor]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(03-31) 08:15 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

As the U.S. debates its future role in the Libyan conflict, Defense officials slammed the brakes on any broad participation Thursday, with Defense Secretary Robert Gates saying there will be no American ground troops in Libya "as long as I am in this job."

Under withering congressional probing and criticism of an ill-defined mission to aid a rebel force that officials know little about, Gates and Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen sketched out a largely limited role for the U.S. military going forward, with Gates saying some other country could train the rebels trying to oust strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

"My view would be, if there is going to be that kind of assistance to the opposition, there are plenty of sources for it other than the United States," said Gates. "Somebody else should do that."

Asked by one lawmaker whether the U.S. involvement might inevitably mean "boots on the ground" in Libya, Gates replied, "Not as long as I am in this job."

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Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/29/national/w085508D96.DTL

[Myrina]

1. LMAO and we already know he's retiring soon ...

:wtf:

[Purveyor]

2. That is what is troubling about his statement, imo. eom

[Angry Dragon]

3. If he has that much power

why doesn't he stop the torture of Manning??

[LaurenG]

4. So he's leaving next week ? nt

[indimuse]

5. such BS!

omg..

[harun]

9. First casualty of any conflict is the truth.

[Mnemosyne]

6. More word games from war criminals. n/t

[dkf]

7. Maybe that only applies to US troops but not US mercenaries.

Sorry but I am suspicious of everything after the no fly zone turned into whatever this is.

[thewiseguy]

8. Obama should fire him if he really said this

[no limit]

11. Why?

[no limit]

10. Does the CIA count?

[dipsydoodle]

13. You've put too many letters

in count.

[no limit]

14. Took me a second

:spray:

[dipsydoodle]

15. I maybe should've said

I obviously didn't mean you : just them.

:hi:

[no limit]

16. :)

nah I got it.

[dipsydoodle]

12. Just Xe Services then.

:sarcasm:

[Octafish]

17. Not a big enough ROI.

Now jets, gas and cruise missiles, that's another matter.

[David__77]

18. I applaud Gates for his principled opposition to this war.

It is clear that he is as uncomfortable with the position he is in as was Colin Powell.

[F Bastiat]

19. Well, if we are going to arm them, there will be "advisors."

But they will probably be wearing tennis shoes, to avoid having any "boots on the ground."

[rayofreason]

20. Monster.com n/t

[shanti]

21. that can be arranged.

:eyes: