Reuters: Gates sees fewer troops in 2007 if Iraq plan works

[Eugene]

Gates sees fewer troops in 2007 if Iraq plan works

By Susan Cornwell and Kristin Roberts
Reuters
Friday, January 12, 2007; 1:16 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States could start withdrawing forces from Iraq
this year if the additional troops being sent to Baghdad reduce violence significantly,
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday.

"If these operations actually work you could begin to see a lightening of the U.S.
footprint both in Baghdad and Iraq itself," Gates told the Senate Armed Services
Committee.

Defending the President George W. Bush's plan for the war, Gates cautioned that
adding more U.S. forces would not end sectarian violence in Iraq.

But if it lowers the violence "significantly" and the Iraqi government fulfills its promises,
"then you could have a situation later this year where you could actually begin
withdrawing."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/12/AR2007011201309.html

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. He'll bring back a few of the 20,000 and then call it a reduction

Is this a shell game, or what?

[jwirr]

2. It didn't work in Vietnam and it is not going to work there. All he has

to do is ask Murpha.

[subterranean]

3. A lot of "ifs" and "coulds" in there