|
|
Article: Gates Says Troop Drawdown Possible
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- August 5, 2007
CopyrightCopyright 2007 Associated Press/AP Online. This material is published under license from the publisher through YellowBrix, Alexandria, Virginia. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to YellowBrix. (Hide copyright information)
|
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged Sunday that political stability in Iraq won't likely happen before the Bush administration makes its critical September assessment on whether its war strategy is working.
But Gates declined to predict that a drawdown of U.S. military forces in such a scenario would happen by year's end. He cited some progress in reducing violence locally in regions such as Anbar Province, a former base of al-Qaida's activities in Iraq.
"It's a possibility," Gates hedged, when asked in broadcast interviews if he considered a troop drawdown this year a "strong possibility" or would bet on it.
He explained that Gen. David Petraeus, the top American ...