Wednesday
Feb182009
Obama v. The Military (Part 82): The Field Commanders in Iraq Strike (against Petraeus)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 12:46
An interesting twist in the tale of the US military, notably General David Petraeus, the head of Central Command, and General Raymond Odierno, the US commander in Iraq, trying to undercut President Obama's plan for withdrawal of combat troops within 16 months.
Major General Michael Oates, in charge of US forces in eight provinces in southern Iraq, has effectively denied Odierno's claims that security gains in Iraq are "fragile", implying that American forces will be needed longer than currently planned. According to Asia Times Online, Oates said that gains are "permanent" and there is no need for the 23-month withdrawal plan proposed by Odierno. Oates also countered a claim, often made by Petraeus, of Iranian involvement with Iraqi insurgents, saying he had "no evidence or reports of people training in Iran", despite periodic "anecdotal intelligence reports" of such training camps.
A field commander in Iraq backed up Oates' criticism of the 23-month plan. The US military had "passed the tipping point of diminishing returns" with security, and "the longer we stay now, the less we achieve."
Major General Michael Oates, in charge of US forces in eight provinces in southern Iraq, has effectively denied Odierno's claims that security gains in Iraq are "fragile", implying that American forces will be needed longer than currently planned. According to Asia Times Online, Oates said that gains are "permanent" and there is no need for the 23-month withdrawal plan proposed by Odierno. Oates also countered a claim, often made by Petraeus, of Iranian involvement with Iraqi insurgents, saying he had "no evidence or reports of people training in Iran", despite periodic "anecdotal intelligence reports" of such training camps.
A field commander in Iraq backed up Oates' criticism of the 23-month plan. The US military had "passed the tipping point of diminishing returns" with security, and "the longer we stay now, the less we achieve."