Washington Post: Page A4 Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

It has a wealth of information today that puts the Iraq situation in the right context.  I think Congress did a good job of making sure we didn't just hear from Petraeus/Crocker and instead got analysis of the broader implications for national security.  Basically, it shows that everyone from the Joint Chiefs to the Secretary of Defense is in disagreement with President, Petraeus, and Crocker on indefinitely leaving 140,000 troops in Iraq.  They will never they say that publicly because that would be out and out insubordination but some of these quotes come really close.

Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, on the Military and Afghanistan:

"The only relief valve that I see out there that would provide that would be level of forces in Iraq," Mullen said. "We'd need to come down a certain number of brigades before we could start to meet the . . . legitimate force requirements that we have in Afghanistan that we just can't fill."

Secretary Gates on troop levels

Striking a tone distinct from that of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gates and Mullen also told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that they do not see the halt in U.S. troop reductions from Iraq as indefinite. Gates reiterated that he expects only a "brief pause" in the drawdown before it continues this fall.

"I do not anticipate this period of review to be an extended one, and I would emphasize that the hope, depending on conditions on the ground, is to reduce our presence further this fall," Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

David Satterfield, Rice's top Advisor on Iraq, summarized the view of Congress, including Republicans, on the security framework agreement that the Administration is trying to work out.

“Other than the fact that it violates the Constitution, statute law, common sense and the overwhelming judgment of the American people, this is a sensible thing to do.”

And there is this exchange between Jim Webb and Assistant Defense Secretary Mary Beth Long, regarding the Administration's promise that the agreement would not tie us to "Permanent Bases."  (Don't think it made it into the online version)

Webb:  What is a permanent base?
Satterfield:  Senator, the Administration has made quite clear that we are not seeking permanent bases in Iraq...
Webb:  Right.  What is a permanent base?  Are our bases in Japan permanent bases?
Long:  I have looked into this.  As far as teh department is concerned, we didn't have a worldwide or even a department-wide definition of permanent bases.  I believe those are, by and large determined on a case-by-case basis...
Webb:  Well, I understand that.  But basically my point is it's sort ofa dead word.  It doesn't really mean anything.
Long:  yes, Senator, you're completely right.  It doesn't...

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