Petraeus, Seeing Gains as Fragile, Is Wary of Cuts

[JLB]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 — Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, has told President Bush that he wants to maintain heightened troop levels in Iraq well into next year to reduce the risk of military setbacks, but could accept the pullback of roughly 4,000 troops beginning in January, in part to assuage critics in Congress, according to senior administration and military officials.

more:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/washington/07policy.html?hp

[JLB]

4,000 troops may pullback by January to please Congress.:D

[JLB]

General Petraeus’s view is considered overly cautious by some other senior military officials and some members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, officials said. But they said it reflected his concern that the security gains made so far in Baghdad, Anbar Province and other areas were fragile and easily reversed.

[35Pete]

What a dick. They don't want to be assuaged. They want this little soldier to shut his mouth and listen to the people that pay his salary and promote him.

[micknaboz]

Looks like Bush finally found a lap dog they can totally control.

[Green Lantern]

Looks like Bush finally found a lap dog they can totally control.

Political ambition twists.

[JLB]

Beyond the gesture of pulling back one brigade, officials who have been involved in the preparation of General Petraeus’s Congressional testimony to be delivered next week say he will discuss the possibility of far deeper withdrawals beyond January that, over a number of months, could bring American force levels down to about 130,000 troops, where they stood at the beginning of 2007.