Defense Secretary Gates Is Making Iraq Predictions

Iraqi soldiers attend a farewell ceremony for U.S. military commander in Iraq General David Petraeus at the Ministry of Defence in Baghdad September 15, 2008. (Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud/Reuters)

Gates Foresees Narrower US Combat Role In Iraq
-- Yahoo News/AP

BAGHDAD - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday he foresees a shrinking U.S. combat role in Iraq in coming months, while the No. 2 U.S. commander here cautioned that it would be a mistake to push the U.S.-trained Iraqi army and police into a leading security role before they are ready.

"I'm not sure that pushing them forward is the right thing that we want to do. We tried that once before and found that that didn't work," Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin told reporters, referring to the pre-2007 U.S. strategy, which focused on handing off security responsibility to the Iraqis as quickly as possible while reducing the U.S. presence. That approach faltered, leaving Iraq on the brink of all-out civil war before President Bush switched strategies and put Gen. David Petraeus in charge in Baghdad.

Austin said key measures of insurgent violence today are about 80 percent lower than one year ago.

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My Comment: I personally think it is too early to make predictions. The unrest and violence in Iraq will be there for a long time .... everyone should realize that and act accordingly.