Gates says Iraq politics disappointing (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Gates says Iraq politics disappointing

1 hour, 45 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates said on Sunday he was disappointed with the Iraqi
government's lack of significant progress and said the
nation's parliament should not have taken a summer break.

He said he had urged the parliament not to recess while
U.S. troops were fighting in intense summer heat, trying
to buy time for Iraqi political leaders to resolve their
differences.

"I said 'for every day that we buy you, we're buying it
with American blood. The idea of you going on vacation
is unacceptable,"' he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070805/pl_nm/iraq_gates_dc_1

---

Source: Associated Press

Gates says troop drawdown possible

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 4 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged
Sunday that political stability in Iraq won't likely happen
before the Bush administration makes its critical September
assessment on whether its war strategy is working.

But Gates declined to predict that a drawdown of U.S. military
forces in such a scenario would happen by year's end. He cited
some progress in reducing violence locally in regions such as
Anbar Province, a former base of al-Qaida's activities in Iraq.

"There is a possibility," Gates hedged, when asked in broadcast
interviews if he considered a troop drawdown this year a "good
possibility" or would bet on it.

He explained that Gen. David Petraeus, the top American
commander in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker in September
would have to weigh some of the local successes against
continuing problems in Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's
national government.


-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070805/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_5

[acmavm]

1. Oh bullshit. If they would have passed the legislation to turn the oil over

to us, Gates wouldn't give a damn if they never came back.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Gates's interview by the Elf was very good.

He may be one of the few of the Bush administration who is rational at this point.