U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq in 16 months is one of the options currently being studied at the Pentagon.
Secretary Gates told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday that since the November presidential election, the military has been working on a variety of options to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq.
"From really ever since the election, we have been looking at several options, and obviously 16 months is one of them. We are very aware of what the president has said and we have an obligation and a responsibility to provide him with a range of options that include the one that he has spoken about," he said.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-01-22-voa64.cfmMilitary advisers to give Obama downsides of quick Iraq withdrawalJanuary 22, 2009 6:33 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's top military officials say they'll make sure he knows the potential downside of any speeded-up timetable for pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, describe yesterday's meeting with the new president as the beginning of a process. Obama set a 16-month deadline during his presidential campaign and Gates describes that as 1 of several withdrawal options.
Ambassador Ryan Crocker and the top U.S. general in Iraq briefed the president by video connection from Baghdad yesterday. Crocker won't say what they told him, but he did tell reporters today that "a precipitous withdrawal runs some very severe risks."
Crocker says al-Qaida has been "much weakened" by setbacks on the battlefield and a loss of support among Sunni Arabs. But he says "as long as they can cling to some handhold," they'll try to fight back.
http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9718558&nav=1LFX
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