Gates Warns Against ‘Testing’ Obama

[bridgit]

'BALAD, Iraq — The top American commander in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, said Saturday that some American troops would remain in cities past the June deadline for a withdrawal of combat troops that was called for in an agreement with the Iraqi government.

General Odierno said that American troops would remain at numerous security outposts inside the cities in a support role to Iraqi forces. “We believe that’s part of our transition teams,” General Odierno told reporters in Balad while accompanying Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who arrived on an unannounced trip on Saturday.

General Odierno declined to say how many American troops might remain in Iraqi cities past the summer and said the number still remained to be negotiated with the Iraqi government. “But what I would say is we’ll maintain our very close partnership with the Iraqi security forces throughout Iraq even after the summer.”'

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/world/middleeast/14gates.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss