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July 25, 2008 12:09:25 AM CDT

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Petraeus Wary on Troop Cuts

Posted Sep 6, 07 9:22 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Gen. David Petraeus will recommend holding troop levels in Iraq at the current level into  next year, but will offer to pull back one brigade, in a bow to congressional impatience, beginning in January, sources tell the New York Times. In his report to Congress next week, Petraeus will also discuss the possibility of a further drawdown, over a number of months, to a pre-surge level, but would like the ability to halt the withdrawal if conditions worsen in Iraq.

Other senior military officers, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace, favor a faster withdrawal of the 30,000 troops added during the surge, the Times reports. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is said to have been privately pushing for  some troops to come home for Christmas.

Source New York Times

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Ambassador Crocker And General Petraeus Prepare For Congressional Report On State Of Iraq   (Getty Images)
President Bush, left, greets troops at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq, Monday, Sept. 3, 2007. The president made an unannounced visit to Iraq to meet with Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general...   (Associated Press)
Petraeus Holds Briefing On Iraq At The Pentagon   (Getty Images)
General Petraeus with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates partially hidden.   (Getty Images)
US army General David H. Petraeus smiles, 10 June 2007, during...   (Getty Images)
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Iraq  • George W. Bush  • David Petraeus  • troop surge  • Peter Pace


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