Petraeus Won't Budge On Troop Cut Promises

Top General Says Iraq Too Fragile For Further Troop Pullouts, Asks Congress For 45-Day Pause

(CBS/AP)  The top U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress Tuesday that hard-won gains in the war zone are too fragile to promise any troop pullouts beyond this summer, holding his ground against impatient Democrats and refusing to commit to more withdrawals before President Bush leaves office in January.

Army Gen. David Petraeus painted a picture of a nation struggling to suppress violence among its own people and to move toward the political reconciliation that Bush said a year ago was the ultimate aim of his new Iraq strategy, which included sending more than 20,000 extra combat troops.

Security is getting better, and Iraq's own forces are becoming more able, Petraeus said. But he also ticked off a list of reasons for worry, including the threat of a resurgence of Sunni or Shiite extremist violence. He highlighted Iran as a special concern, for its training and equipping of extremists.

U.S. military officers say Petraeus is unlikely to recommend any more cuts until after provincial elections are held in October and that troop strength will not go below 130,000 by the end of the year -- about where it was before the surge started, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

In back-to-back appearances before two Senate committees, Petraeus was told by a parade of Democrats that, after five years of war, it was past time to turn over much more of the war burden to the Iraqis. Those senators said Iraq will not attain stability until the United States makes the decision to begin withdrawing in large numbers and forces the Iraqis to settle their differences.

Petraeus didn't budge. He said he had recommended to Bush that he complete, by the end of July, the withdrawal of the 20,000 extra troops. Beyond that, the general proposed a 45-day period of "consolidation and evaluation," to be followed by an indefinite period of assessment before he would recommend any further pullouts.

The Petraeus plan, which Bush is expected to embrace, reflects a conservative approach that leaves open the possibility that roughly 140,000 U.S. troops could remain in Iraq when the president leaves office next year.

On Thursday Bush will make a speech about the war, now in its sixth year, and his decision about troop levels.

In exchanges with several senators, Petraeus refused to say when he thought it would be safe to resume troop reductions beyond July without risking "fragile and reversible" security gains.

Asked Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee: "Could that be a month, could that be two months?"

Petraeus began to respond: "Sir, it could be less than that. It could be. ..."

Levin: "Could it be more than that?"

Petraeus: "It could be more than that. Again, it's when the conditions are met that we can make a recommendation for further reductions."

Levin: "Could it be three months?"

Petraeus: "Sir, again, at the end of the period of consolidation and evaluation. ..."

On they went in the same vein, even after a demonstrator - "Bring them home! Bring them home!" - interrupted the hearing and was escorted out.

When Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., started in again later, Petraeus said it would defy logic to establish a timetable before knowing what conditions will be like this summer.

"If you believe as I do - and the commanders on the ground believe - that the way forward on reductions should be conditions-based then it is just flat not responsible to try to put down a stake in the ground and say this is when it would be or that is when it would be," Petraeus said.

Petraeus displayed charts which recorded dramatic drops in violence and maps which showed al Qaeda has lost many of its sanctuaries, reports Martin.

One of three senators who could be the new president by January, Hillary Rodham Clinton, said much earlier, not in a response to Petraeus, that she disagreed with those who criticized lawmakers who are calling for an orderly withdrawal.

"Rather, I think it could be fair to say that it might well be irresponsible to continue the policy that has not produced the results that have been promised time and time again at such tremendous cost to our national security and to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military," she said.

Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, was to question Petraeus late in the day.

War supporter John McCain, who will be the GOP nominee, said: "Our goal - my goal - is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops. And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine. But I also believe that to promise a withdrawal of our forces, regardless of the consequences, would constitute a failure of political and moral leadership."

Petraeus said his plan is supported by Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has been notably public in his expressions of concern that the heavy commitment of troops in Iraq has limited U.S. military options elsewhere and has put enormous strain on troops and their families.

Petraeus made no mention of reducing soldiers' tours of duty in Iraq from the current 15 months to 12 months, but the administration is expected to announce a decision to do that this week. It would take effect this summer, coinciding with the completion of the drawdown to 15 combat brigades in Iraq.

Petraeus said the recent flare-up of violence in Basra, in Baghdad and elsewhere points up the importance of the cease-fire declared last year by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and highlighted the role Iran allegedly plays in funding and training Shiite militias through cells the U.S. military calls "special groups."

"Unchecked, the special groups pose the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq," Petraeus said.

CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan reports the fighting in Sadr City and Basra was threatening the stability of the country, and the efficacy of the government. (Read Logan's report.)

Testifying beside Petraeus was Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad, who also focused on the violence in Basra, where Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dispatched Iraqi security forces to combat Shiite militias.

"Taken as a snapshot, with scenes of increasing violence, and masked gunmen in the streets, it is hard to see how this situation supports a narrative of progress in Iraq," Crocker said. "There is still very much to be done to bring full government control to the streets of Basra and eliminate entrenched extremist, criminal, and militia groups. When viewed with a broader lens, the Iraqi decision to combat these groups in Basra has major significance."

[giantrobot2]

*** B R E A K I N G N E W S ***

Reliable sources say that on April 15th at exactly 12:00pm Mike Huckabee''s web site and John McCain''s web site will merge into one. This will be the official announcement that John McCain and Mike Huckabee are running on the same Republican ticket as President and Vice President of America.

The Gold star in the center of Mike Huckabee''s countdown timer is the same star John McCain uses. It is said McCain''s name will scroll to the top of the star and Huckabee''s name below the star to form the alliance.

Sources say McCain''s admiration of Huckabee''s Honor and Integrity sold him on the fact to choose Mike as his running mate. In the military, John McCain''s is the military, and Honor and Integrity are the most desireable character traits one can achieve.

In particular John McCain was impressed of Mike Huckabee honor and integrity during the primaries. Back in late December McCain and Huckabee formed an alliance against Romney to force him out of the race. McCain has lauded Huckabee as "a man of integrity, honesty, and decency." And Huckabee has praised McCain as "a true, honest-to-God American hero."

April 15th was choosen to symbolize the new alliance between McCain and Huckabee of taking on the Financial Recession which parallels to the Financial Tax due date in America.

Mike Huckabee is scheduled to be in NY city during this announcement on April 15th to again symbolize the Financial Recession and Wall Street Financial activity.

[wrj001]

Mudrose..Mudrose.. A flower that by any other name would be a ***-Blossom.

[papabc]

As an independent vote
I figured that the democrats would not back anything with the military or war.

For the last few years democrats in congress have been full of K R A P. DO nothing show-boaters.

[mudrose-2009]

He gave his report. He stated his concerns. We have an obligation to listen and acknowledge what our commanders on the ground tell us. They are our eyes. The violence is down. 12 of 18 benchmarks have been met. Maliki is amassing his 153,000 Iraqi troops and dealing with issues in Basra a very oil rich town where desperados as pimping the country''s oil. There are some rumors floating around that Iraq should start using it''s own revenues for it''s infra-structure. Patraeus is in agreement, so am I. It''s another way to say that Iraq is start to stand up. Once Iraq can defend itself, without a Sadaam who lied to the world about his WMDs, and ward off threats to its sovereignty like Iran, our presence can be diminished. The world has a much bigger problem with Iran. Sooner or later than have to be dealt with and this time it won''t be simply the U.S. that will have to contend with them.

[armydog2]

benchmarks, not a word about the benchmarks the surge was supposed to help the Iraqi government meet. The surge is a failure because only 2 or 3 were met. time for the iraqi''s to stand up and defend their own country. we have done enough both financially and with the blood of those Soldiers who have died.

[mudrose-2009]

President Obama promised today that the Iranians and the Palestinians will be holding an auction at most Christian Churches. After they convert them to mosques, there are items that are particular to the religion and rather than destroy them, they would like to auction them off so they can be used by secular artists for their work on the **** Jesus, or the Chocolate Jesus, perhaps the Dung Virgin Mary. We need to make examples of Christians - our secular society has no tolerance for people of faith, only profound pity for their being misguided. We are a new enlightened people. The rule of law is anything we say it is. And President Obama says this is the new rule of law of the day. Look it''s raining. Why is that really rain? Did the government say we could have rain?

[mudrose-2009]

Yes, my God, the bread lines are getting longer and now there aren''t any more choices like rye or wheat. Why we aren''t even getting a whole loaf any longer. The shanties in shanty town are growing by and large. I saw on the other day and you wouldn''t believe they made it a two story dwelling. No heat any longer. No we have goverment issued thermostats that will freeze if we raise the temperture above 35. Well, hey a little heat is better than none. We rotate the mattresses so as to air it with all of us sleeping in the same bed to stay warm. Tomorrow I go to Indiana to earn my $1.50. Government worker programs are plentiful there. We''re building a new brick wall. No reason for it, but Government likes brick walls. Some people talk that these walls are made to keep people who are protesting the concept that Big Titty Nanny Government has taken over their lives and are trying to drum up people to revolt. So there''s plenty of walls being built around the country. We are in dire straights, but we''ll manage. Like OBAMA said. This is the greatest country in the world and WE HAVE JOINED HIM IN CHANGING IT.

[b-easy63]

For some reason, Americans like to think of themselves as Heroes in Iraq--instead of what we really are: bullies, busybodies, greedy manipulators and the hordes that invaded.

That''s right. We went for the oil. IN our own minds we masturbate the rationale. Those who pretend they are noble, say we went there to give Iraqis freedom (though we gave them no choice in living and dying in the war we started and forced on them0

The pragmatic say it was for the oil--though the price of it is through the roof and threatens to destroy our own economy as avg. Americans cannot pay 4/gal at the pumps, live in sprawling suburbs and expect to survive on 7 to 9.00/hour in wages, esp after their house nest egg tanked

The patriotic say it was to give them Democracy--except there is no such thing as Democracy at the point of a gun.

we secretly know why we are there and so does everyone else in the region. They know what we did, how and why we did it and we kid only ourselves by pretending we are heroes, Heroes save people not destroy them--and heroism does not count if the people saved were in danger in the first place because of things the quasi hero did.

It''s like starting a fire, then rushing in to save some of the victims--when it is found out that the fire was deliberately started and people died--the arsonist earns contempt and hatred and is not seen as a hero, no matter how many he later tried to save.

[b-easy63]

he irony is it backfired. If you are religious you could say, we are reaping what we sold. Either way, oil is higher in the past 7 years and has risen by more than it did in the past 80 combined years preceding the war by 300%. The rest of our comeuppance will no doubt come as :



1. The economy continues to sour and implode
2. More Americans are out of jobs and must compete with illegals for those jobs
3. States and cities empty prisons of what they assume are low risk felons to ease the cost on themselves*
4. More and more people grow frantic, neurotic and scared as their lives and livelihoods are destroyed*
5. The country tries to keep its footing in a country it had no business invading and destroying
6. God punishes us for the audacity of deciding we have the right to invade a country and determine what a people in another country should live and die for and setting up those circumstances

*these 2 will ensure we begin to have some of the lawlessness that already inflicts Iraq--and that our leaders (like Iraq''s) are so feckless and heedless and irresponsible--that by the time they recognize all the current mistakes they are making, the problem will be too big, too corrupt and they won''t know how to turn back the clock.

[b-easy63]

There needs to be an interim government followed by one that we represent the interests of both sects.

Posted by why__not at 05:12 AM : Apr 09, 2008

At some point, America needs to accept and understand that puppet regimes approved an installed by us are part of the problem. They are corrupt and collaborators, despised by their own people and propped up by us to allow us access to some resource.

But based on how they treat or mistreat their own countrymen, our quasi governments often end up alienating the people even more, which breeds a new group that hates the American foreign puppet master and dreams of hijacking planes and crashing them into our buildings just so we can finally get a glimpse and feel similar pain to what they think --we caused them.


Get a clue. If we are really serious about Democracy and sovereign nations--we would leave Iraq alone.


We went there for the oil--to try to keep the prices and control of it down for our own interests, to establish access to the region and finally, have a say in a market we need badly.

The irony is it backfired. If you are religious you could say, we are reaping what we sold. Either way, oil is higher in the past 7 years and has risen by more than it did in the past 80 combined years preceding the war by 300%. The rest of our comeuppance will no doubt come as :


see next post

[b-easy63]

The surge does not work. It never did. It never will. What is does and will to do is give temporary lulls in the violence...while the insurgents sit back and recoup, probing for weakness and if troops are removed or withdrawn they will be back attacking and bombing.

How long can they keep this up until America wears them down? How long has Israel kept it up against Hamas? How long did America and others keep it up in Beirut? How long was the USSR in Afghanistan.

After years of seeing how ME countries handle invaders, we act like novices when it comes to them. What we don''t understand is that the ME mentality is hard wired to resist: Invasion, occupation and seiges for centuries if necessary. To death if necessary.


the surge only works from the standpoint that it buys the invader time for his war and collaborators time to make more money and try to solidify a power base. But the only way Iraq will have any peace--the invaders have to go and over time and much blood shed--they will sort themselves out.

As for the reconstruction, etc--Iraq should not have to help or pay for it, nor should Europe. This is our war. We insisted on it, lied, threatened and cheated the world to wage it--we broke it--we bought it and absolutely no one should help us clean up our own mess or help pay for our own mess. If they do---we won''t learn nuthin.

[speakinup]

jerryomara - another insiginificant ***.

[speakinup]

"BUT AL-QAIDA IS ALSO IN IRAQ, ISN"T THAT A FACT?" Posted by dumbshun

"No. That is a fiction, as has already been explained to you. This elaborate fiction is routinely used as an excuse to continue the lie-based and criminal war of aggression, just as you are attempting to do here. Posted by FeelFree1





Feelfree has already made up his mind, he doesn''t need to be reminded of the facts. But what do you expect from a communist spreading his lies ?

[why_not_nar]

If there is a hero is this war it is David Petraeus. He took our troops from the green zone and put them with those elements of the Iraqi population that wants to end the violence. There is a solution. The current central government which we of course put in place has to go. There needs to be an interim government followed by one that we represent the interests of both sects.
Frontline has an excellent two hour assessment, of not just why we entered the wall, but we did everything possible to create a civil war. The real architects were Cheney & Rumsfeld, who were almost criminal in their negligence.
Unfortunately we have been this way before. In Vietnam we supported a General named Diem, who had no more support of his people than al-Maliki does today.
I think our task is clear. To elect a President who is the anti thesis of Cheney & Bush. I honestly believe the Bush has presented more of a threat to our democracy than any President in the past 50 years.
He was woefully unequipped to deal with a major threat, 9/11, and surrounded himself with men who believed that the %u2018easy%u2019 way, the %u2018secret%u2019 was the best way. That is how they conducted themselves all of their lives.
Mr. Nixon%u2019s crimes pale next to what these men should be charged with.
I do think that our democracy will survive, but at enormous unnecessary expense.
However, Petreaus is a straight shooter and should be commended and respected for his ability.

[feelfree1]

re: "BUT AL-QAIDA IS ALSO IN IRAQ, ISN"T THAT A FACT?"

Posted by dumbshun

No. That is a fiction, as has already been explained to you.

This elaborate fiction is routinely used as an excuse to continue the lie-based and criminal war of aggression, just as you are attempting to do here.

[samthetvcat]

--"Petraeus ... highlighted the role Iran allegedly plays in funding and training Shiite militias through cells the U.S. military calls special groups. Unchecked, the special groups pose the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq," Petraeus said.

Big picture time...isn''t the greatest long-term threat to democracy actually the presence of oil? ("oil inhibits democracy even when exports are relatively small, particularly in poor states", http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/polisci/faculty/ross/doesoil.pdf )?

Second point since democracy is negatively correlated to oil and is therefore unachievable, isn''t the power struggle with Iran ultimately doomed? Because Sunnis proved that the only way to maintain an ordered secular society is to tamp down on the inevitable uprisings . . . so either we attempt to ''put the genie back in the bottle'' by giving Sunnis back power, otherwise we accept that Bush''s colossal blunder has empowered Shiites and therefore Iran who as Barack noted is on friendly terms with Shiite Iraqis.

The option to stay and provide security to establish ''democracy'' is thus like a false choice...

[nonayabiness]

dumbshun

Humanavance is just copy/pasting his rhetoric on all the posts. Apparently he doesn''t have the wherewithall to actually comment on the topic at hand. So, while his comments might make you feel like balloons, rainbows, butterflies and puppies, its just a method of advertising his website and his missionary ideals.

[tbweb]

the Bush policy has been a failure because it%u2019s a %u201Cpolicy of retreat from bin Laden and Afghanistan.%u201D Perhaps people may have forgotten, but the 9/11 attacks were planned from terrorist safe havens in that country. Terrorist safe havens that still exist and are even stronger today than they were 7 years ago.

Posted by watcher269 at 02:12 AM : Apr 09, 2008,,,

Does Afghanistan have any oil? Oil seems to be the magnet and if the Bush administration was smart, it would mention that China will rush to Iraq and put a strangle hold on its oil when we leave. The real danger is from China, not Iran! Sneaky China just sold a billion dollars worth of weapons to Iraq! The U.S. may need to stay in Iraq whether we want to or not to prevent China from moving in, reality check?

[watcher269-2009]

During tough questioning from Senators Biden and Feingold today, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker admit, despite their best attempts to downplay, that al Qaeda%u2019s main base of operation and greatest threat comes from Pakistan and Afghanistan;

not Iraq.


the Bush policy has been a failure because it%u2019s a %u201Cpolicy of retreat from bin Laden and Afghanistan.%u201D Perhaps people may have forgotten, but the 9/11 attacks were planned from terrorist safe havens in that country. Terrorist safe havens that still exist and are even stronger today than they were 7 years ago.

[tbweb]

An Iraqi oil minister reported Iraqi oil is being stolen to the tune of $30 million dollars a day and sold on the Black Market. This is a known fact, yet it continues! It probably continues because every party has its sticky fingers in some part of that $30 million thief and its too lucrative and too sweet to turn off. How many from the U.S. is in on that and want to protect their profits? How can this thief be known and unable to stop? Where is my cut? I would be happy with just $500.00 a day! lol