Pentagon Opposed To Proposals For Firm Timetable In Iraq

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
CNN
February 25, 2008
CNN Newsroom, 3:00 PM
BETTY NGUYEN: Well, come November, American voters should have a clear choice on Iraq. Republican John McCain vows to stay until in the job is finished. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton say they will get the troops out. And for the Pentagon's perspective, let's go to CNN's Barbara Starr.
What are you hearing on your end, Barbara?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Betty, it is very interesting. Both Senators Obama and Clinton, of course, have talked about timetables for troop withdrawal from Iraq.
But when you begin to listen to what senior commanders are saying here and in Iraq, where I just returned from being there last week, you get quite the different picture.
Let's start with what the Pentagon had to say today. They are now publicly acknowledging that, in July, when the surge ends, when those five combat brigades are all back home, there will be more troops in Iraq than when the surge began. It began with 132,000. When the surge ends, there will be 140,000 troops. So, why the extra 8,000? They say those troops are going to be needed to stay behind and provide support for the Iraqi security forces. That's likely to be very controversial.
And at the same time today, they are reiterating here at the Pentagon, they don't want to see a firm timetable for withdrawal. They want these troops to stay. They want them to help the Iraqis. And they want any further additional withdrawal of troops to be based on how the conditions are on the ground.
Listen to -- just a minute to what the director of operations here in the Pentagon had to say a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LIEUTENANT GENERAL CARTER HAM, DIRECTOR OF OPS, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: I think the sense -- the sense is that to establish a firm timetable at this point is -- would not be helpful and doesn't recognize the fluid nature of the conflict in which we're engaged in both in Iraq and in Afghanistan. (END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: Now, I have to tell you that General Ham is only one of several top commanders who are saying a firm timetable, such as perhaps Senators Obama and Clinton are suggesting, although generals are not mentioning them by name, he is only one of several who are saying no firm timetable.
General Petraeus in Iraq said it last week. Admiral Fallon, the new head of the U.S. Central Command, he is saying it. So, it's going to be very interesting to watch how this box may form around the candidates -- Betty.
 
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