Gen. David Petraeus’ opening statement was no surprise either, with the general providing a battery of slides showing that U.S. forces have made great strides in curbing violence, building up the Iraqi forces, etc. — but adding the necessary caveat that “innumerable challenges remain.”
Towards the end, Petraeus said that starting in July, when the troop level will return to its pre-surge level, he would begin a “45 day period of consolidation and evaluation.” After that period, he’d make further recommendations “as conditions permit.” That arrangement does not allow a “set withdrawal timetable,” he said, but the process would continue with recommendations (more of the same or draw down troops) made every 45 days.
Update: Here’s how Petraeus put it:
After weighing these factors, I recommended to my chain of command that we continue the drawdown in the surge to the combat forces and that upon the withdrawal of the last surge brigade combat team in July, we undertake a 45-day period of consolidation and evaluation. At the end of that period, we will commence a process of assessment to examine the conditions on the ground and over time determine when we can make recommendations for further reductions. This process will be continuous, with recommendations for further reductions made as conditions permit.
This approach does not allow establishment of a set withdrawal timetable, however it does provide the flexibility those of us on the ground need to preserve the still-fragile security gains our troops have fought so far and sacrifice so much to achieve.
