Gates: U.S. troop withdrawal may not begin in July 2011 - statement president's 'strong intent'

[bigtree]

Dec 2, 2009 11:44am EST

The United States will review at the end of next year whether a July 2011 target to begin withdrawing U.S. soldiers from Afghanistan is possible.

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates made the statement Wednesday during his testimony in front of the Senate armed services committee.

"Taliban-ruled areas could in short order become, once again, a sanctuary for al-Qaeda as well as a staging area for resurgent militant groups on the offensive in Pakistan, he said.

The insurgency in Afghanistan has already gained "dominant influence" in 11 of the country's 34 provinces, added Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

read: http://news.aol.ca/article/us-to-review-2011-afghan-exit-plan-by-end-next-year/747890/



Gates called the July 2011 transition date a "clear statement of his (Obama's) strong intent."

"It is our plan to begin this transition process in July 2011. If circumstances dictate in December (2010), I think as I said the president always has the freedom to adjust his decisions," Gates told the Armed Services Committee.

He said the transfers would take place in the "most uncontested places" of Afghanistan first. Other areas of the country could remain locked in "extraordinarily heavy combat."

Asked whether the July 2011 start of the transfer of security responsibility to the Afghans may not include immediately a withdrawal of U.S. forces, Gates said:

"That is correct. I think as we turn over more districts and more provinces to Afghan security control, much as we did with the provincial Iraqi control, that there will be a thinning of our forces and a gradual drawdown," he said.

But he added: "We're not just going to throw these guys (Afghan security forces) into the swimming pool and walk away."

read: http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Afghanistan-Pakistan/idUSTRE5B13XB20091202

[bigjohn16]

1. Gates just said he detest the term "Exit Strategy" nt

[Botany]

2. Obama's job # 1 is to fire this guy.

When the CEO of the military tells the world that his goal is to be
out in 18 months and this guy comes out less than 24 hours later
and says that he is not sure he can complete the mission then it is
time to fire his ass.

He is a backstabbing scum bucket trying to side step the President's
command of the military .... and he helped in the Pat Tilman cover up.

[bigjohn16]

5. Secretary Clinton said the same thing. It's administration policy not just Gates. nt

[saracat]

6. And he is the President's choice, just like Rahm and Geithner.

He speaks for the President.

[Inuca]

34. That's absolute BS

There is nothing in what Gates says that contradicts what Obama said yesterday. And by all accounts that I am aware of, gates in no way deserves to be chracterized as "backstabbing scum bucket".

[saracat]

3. So much for a certain posters argument that this should be "framed" as a withdrawal

rather than a troop escalation. And a withdrawal that might not happen in any timely manner as well.

[bigtree]

11. the qualifications were rather predictable

. . . sadly. It's a shame that so many posting here don't seem to have learned anything from the way the military framed Iraq. Same basic bunch advising and implementing Afghanistan policy.

[AllentownJake]

20. They frame everything as a brilliant strategic victory of progressive ideas

See Health Care.

[BobRossi]

4. Lay the ground work now for further escalation in 2011.

How very Nixonian.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. The other shoe,

The frog pot just got a little warmer.

[Solly Mack]

8. ROFLMAO

because I can

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. It was laughable when he said it.

[ChiciB1]

10. THAT Didn't Take Long... Last Night, A Speech, Today... Some Facts!

I'm thinking of that old saying... sticks & stones will break my bones, but names (words) will never hurt me!

This time... WORDS will hurt me, especially if the words told in speeches aren't really true! More and more this seems to be the case! Saying something doesn't make it so!

[fascisthunter]

12. right on cue... I was waiting for this...

sorry folks, but there is no intention of withdrawing at all. Welcome to our new Vietnam...

[eleny]

13. Expect some DUers to start peeling away from supporting the president on this

Little by little it'll start happening. I thought it would take the sight of body bags and coffins. But this statement from Gates ought to start peeling that onion.

[Individualist]

22. Not very likely.

The neolibs are all fired up with warlust.

[eleny]

37. Oh sure, but there are those who are being swept up in the neolib dazzle talk

That can start to burn away as it becomes clearer what will really happen in Afghanistan. I expect some will take a second look, especially when many of us keep our resolve and reality backs us up.

[AllentownJake]

14. The sales pitch

Out by July 2011...

Fine print if conditions on the ground merit it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Which they won't, conveniently.

x(

[tekisui]

15. It didn't take long to walk back from that.

lol.

[eleny]

16. P.S. Rec'd and bookmarked, too

This will be quoted widely in the weeks to come.

[TwilightGardener]

17. 2011 is a goal. May or may not happen right then, depending on circumstances.

Fine with me. Don't see any conflict between Obama and Gates.

[bigtree]

18. no conflict between them at all

. . . they're both planning to keep our military heavily engaged in Afghanistan longer than the president indicated last night.

"He said the transfers would take place in the "most uncontested places" of Afghanistan first. Other areas of the country could remain locked in "extraordinarily heavy combat."

[TwilightGardener]

19. And...what is it that bothers anyone about pulling forces out of areas

where we don't need them first, leaving them in place where they are still needed? Isn't that the usual practice? We don't know how this is going to shape up just yet.

[bigtree]

21. don't change the subject

The 'exit' touted by the president and supporters isn't an exit point at all. According to Gates, it's merely an assessment point. If you believe that things will be better in Afghanistan at that point; if you believe the Afghans will be able to handle the responsibility we expect by then, you can be sanguine about the qualification. If you believe, as I do (and Gates does) that our forces will still be locked in an intractable conflict at that point, the talk of an 'exit' is just not credible.

[TwilightGardener]

23. I didn't change the subject--2011 is a target, a goal. No one knows

what will happen between now and then, what the situation will look like once these extra forces are in place. Nothing is guaranteed or promised. I simply appreciate setting the goal to begin with.

[bigtree]

26. It was presented as an exit. It was interpreted as an exit by most folks listening

It was a political sell-job. The president gave the impression that our commitment would be winding down by then, and I'll wager that most folks looking on still think it's an exit date. Save the phony hedging for the rubes.

[TwilightGardener]

27. If it's winding down, how is that not an exit? You do realize that things will

end gradually, right?

[bigtree]

29. It's NOT going to be winding down as the president alluded to in his speech

. . . not according to Gates who expects 'heavy fighting' at the same time we're supposed to be expecting transfers of authority to the Afghans in 2011. I don't expect the occupation to be 'winding down' at all by then. I fully expect the resistance to escalate along with our military presence and activity.

[TwilightGardener]

30. ...

'"That is correct. I think as we turn over more districts and more provinces to Afghan security control, much as we did with the provincial Iraqi control, that there will be a thinning of our forces and a gradual drawdown," he said.'" Sounds like how war usually ends.

[bigtree]

32. good luck with all of that

. . . the only thing that will be 'winding down' at that point will be the American public's patience with these self-perpetuating occupations.

[TwilightGardener]

35. Naw, that's already happened. But the effort goes on, nonetheless.

[G_j]

25. watch out! the Pentagon always wins

so it makes sense to believe Gates on this one.

[bvar22]

28. I didn't believe him last night.

That was an impossible promise to make.
An impossible promise to keep.

This has ALL the characteristics of a long, bloody, expensive, failed Military Adventure for Corporate Profits.
(Well, Successful IF you are a War Profiteer)



Help end the Wars for Corporate Profits!
Donate to MoveOn.


http://www.moveon.org /

[bigtree]

36. Ambassador Rice is on now

. . . explaining that one part of the country might be secure in 2011 and other regions of Afghanistan still locked in conflict.

[grahamhgreen]

31. And we will not close GITMO on time, either. nt

[TexasObserver]

33. When a president uses leftovers from Bush I and Bush II, this is the result.

[bigtree]

38. .