So much for “conditions.” Under questioning from Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Gen. Petraeus conceded that his timetable for ending the surge by July 2008 is due to the five extra active-duty Brigade Combat Teams coming to the end of their scheduled deployments and the lack of available units to keep U.S. troop strength at 162,000.
Remember this when President Bush on Thursday unveils his (read: Petraeus’) “drawdown” plan — and, for that matter, any time a politician says that the only “responsible” reduction of forces is one that’s “conditions-based.”
