Petraeus Doesn’t Know, But Other Generals Don’t Think So

“Senator Warner: Are you able to say at this time if we continue what you have laid before the congress here, this strategy. do you feel that that is making America safer?

General Petraeus: Sir, I believe this is indeed the best course of action to achieve our objectives in Iraq.

Warner: Does that make America safer?

General Petraeus: Sir I don't know actually. I have not sat down and sorted in my own mind what I have focused on and what I have been riveted on is how to accomplish the mission of the multinational force Iraq.”

On the sixth anniversary of September 11th, the single most important question facing our country’s strategy in Iraq is, does it make Americans safer? When asked about this concern by Senator John Warner, General Petraeus responded that he doesn’t know and that his focus is on Iraq. However, those in the military who are tasked with answering this question believe that keeping 168,000 troops in Iraq is against our national interest. Admiral Fallon, Combatant Commander of CENTCOM is known to support significantly reducing troops because of his concerns about terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan, East and Northern Africa. Secretary Gates is known to be sympathetic to this argument as is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Peter Pace. So, why is Petraeus, who won’t answer this question, the only General that President Bush is listening to?

CENTCOM Commander, Admiral Fallon, is said to be in favor of significantly reducing forces In Iraq. "Gen. David H. Petraeus dominated the conversation by video link from Baghdad, making the case to keep as many troops as long as possible to cement any security progress. Adm. William J. Fallon, his superior, argued instead for accepting more risks in Iraq, officials said, in order to have enough forces available to confront other potential threats in the region." [Washington Post, 9/9/07 ]

There is an alternative plan being drawn up by the Pentagon and encouraged by Admiral Fallon to cut two-thirds of American forces. "Newsweek has learned that a separate internal report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will “differ substantially” from Petraeus’s recommendations, according to an official who is privy to the ongoing discussions but would speak about them only on condition of anonymity. An early version of the report, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year, will “recommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.” The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts. “There is interest at senior levels [of the Pentagon] in getting alternative views” to Petraeus, the official said. Among others, CENTCOM commander Admiral William Fallon is known to want to draw down faster than Petraeus." [Newsweek, 9/9/07 ]

Secretary of Defense Gates Embraced Troop Reduction proposals. “… Gates did not seem fully on board with the president's strategy, either. As a member of the congressionally chartered Iraq Study Group before his selection to head the Pentagon, Gates embraced proposals to scale back the U.S. presence in Iraq. [Washington Post, 9/9/07 ]

Joint Chiefs Worry Troops In Iraq Through 2008 Will Severely Strain the Military. “The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to advise President Bush to reduce the U.S. force in Iraq next year by almost half, potentially creating a rift with top White House officials and other military commanders over the course of the war. Administration and military officials say Marine Gen. Peter Pace is likely to convey concerns by the Joint Chiefs that keeping well in excess of 100,000 troops in Iraq through 2008 will severely strain the military. This assessment could collide with one being prepared by the U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Piraeus, calling for the U.S. to maintain higher troop levels for 2008 and beyond.” [LA Times, 8/24/07 ]

Report by 20 Military Experts says U.S. forces should reconfigure to a lighter footprint in 2008. "Perceptions and reality are frequently at odds with each other when trying to understand Iraq's problems and progress. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the impressions drawn from seeing our massive logistics footprint, our many installations and the number of personnel (military and civilian, especially in and around the Baghdad region. The unintended message conveyed is one of 'permanence', and occupying force as it were. What is needed is the opposite impression, one that is lighter, less massive, and more expeditionary." [CSIS, 9/6/07 ]