Obama, top officials begin Iraq drawdown talks

[unhappycamper]

Obama, top officials begin Iraq drawdown talks
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 21, 2009 21:51:41 EST

President Barack Obama didn’t fulfill that campaign promise to order an end to the nearly 6-year-old war in Iraq on his first full day in office. But his first official meeting Wednesday with his national security team officially began the planning process for the long-expected move.

In doing so, Obama fulfilled one campaign promise: To get advice on the pace of a withdrawal from his commanders on the ground. During a late-afternoon meeting at the White House Situation Room, Obama heard from a range of top officials: Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, both via video teleconference, and, in person, Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus, Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, according to the White House.

Also taking part in the meeting were Vice President Joe Biden, Under Secretary of State William Burns, National Security Advisor James Jones, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, the White House said.

“The meeting was productive and I very much appreciated receiving assessments from these experienced and dedicated individuals,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House. “During the discussion, I asked the military leadership to engage in additional planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown from Iraq.”

“In the coming days and weeks, I will also visit the Department of Defense to consult with the Joint Chiefs on these issues, and we will undertake a full review of the situation in Afghanistan in order to develop a comprehensive policy for the entire region,” Obama said. Mullen was the only member of the Joint Chiefs present at Wednesday’s National Security Council meeting.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/military_obama_war_meeting_012109/%2e