Petraeus says by fall he may seek Iraq troop cuts
The fall assessment of the politically unpopular war would put the Iraq debate front-and-center in this year's presidential elections, and possibly influence Iraqi provincial elections expected this November.
Petraeus has previously been reluctant to say when his next assessment of troop levels would be. In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, the four-star Army general said conditions on the ground will still determine whether more troops can come home.
But, he noted, "My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions.
"I don't want to imply that that means" a particular brigade or major combat formation, he added. "But I do believe there will be certain assets that, as we are already looking at the picture right now, we'll be able to recommend can be either redeployed or not deployed to the theater in the fall," he said.
Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, responded: "That's good news to most of us."
Petraeus also said that provincial elections are likely to be delayed by one month this fall, taking place in November instead of October.
Petraeus has spent nearly four years in Iraq, most recently as commander of U.S. troops there. He would replace Navy Adm. William Fallon as the senior commander of troops in the Middle East, which includes Afghanistan. Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, who served as Petraeus' deputy for 15 months, is slated to replace Petraeus as the senior military officer in Iraq.
If confirmed, Petraeus said one of his first trips would be to Pakistan, where terrorists are operating along the Afghan border.
"I think that the key need is to asses whether the overall concept that is guiding (operations) on the Pakistani side in particular, or course, is adequate or not," he said.
Levin, D-Mich., a staunch war opponent, indicated he supports the promotion of the two generals. Their confirmation would enable unprecedented continuity of leadership in Iraq by officers whose knowledge of the war effort is unparalleled, he said.
"Regardless of one's view of the wisdom of the policy that took us to Iraq in the first place and has kept us there over five years, we owe Gen. Petraeus and Gen. Odierno a debt of gratitude for the commitment, determination and strength that they brought to their areas of responsibility," Levin said.
Recent comments
More lies from the Neocons.
Anonymous | May 22, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.
Just in time for the general elections. Nothing like politicizing...
Oh yes | May 22, 2008 at 9:09 a.m.
