General Petraeus Expects to Recommend Troop Cuts This Fall

[kinggovernor]

Petraeus Expects to Recommend Troop Cuts This Fall

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 22, 2008; 10:43 AM


Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in the war in Iraq, said that he expects this fall to recommend additional cuts in U.S. troop levels there.

He said that he plans to make an assessment by September, when he would move to take over the U.S. Central Command, if he is confirmed for that position, as is expected.

"My sense is I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for further reductions," Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee today in a hearing to confirm him for the Centcom post. He said he didn't know how large those cuts might be.

Under the "surge" counteroffensive, U.S. troop strength peaked in Iraq last fall at about 165,000. Since then, several major units have left. By mid-summer, troop strength is supposed to return to the pre-surge level of about 133,000. Petraeus's comments today referred to possible cuts below that level.

Petraeus also said he did not expect Iraqi provincial elections to be held in October, as scheduled. The Bush administration and the U.S. military have described the elections -- which are likely to increase elected Sunni representation in many areas -- as a crucial step toward Iraqi political reconciliation. At the same time, the elections are expected to lead to an increase in violence in some areas.

Although the administration hailed Iraqi legislation last spring authorizing the elections, the government and legislature in Baghdad have not put in place laws and regulations required for the vote to proceed. Petraeus said that he hoped the election could take place at some later point "in the fall."

Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) expressed disappointment at the prospect of a delay.

Also testifying at the Senate hearing is Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the nominee to replace Petraeus as the top commander of multinational forces in Iraq.

This is good news to hear but like all things in Iraq there is always some good and some bad news. The good news is that either some deployed guys are coming home earlier or more likely some won't have to deploy.

I am glad to see Gen. Petraeus promoted to CentCom CO.

[motivez]

Don't we hear this every "fall" when there's an election?

Even if this isn't purely political (though I have serious doubts because press releases like this are all too common around election time), it's certainly not unexpected

The surge was a strategy that wasn't sustainable, and a reduction to pre-surge levels, while it'll be good to bring some of the troops home for sure, isn't really a reduction in the sense that we've accomplished something and they can now come home.. we were never going to be able to sustain those troop levels.