McChrystal Acknowledges Risks Of Withdrawal Timetable

During his testimony before Congress, General Stanley McChrystal candidly acknowledged the risks that could come with the withdrawal timetable.

“I do want to say up front, there are people who will grab onto that, I think inappropriately, and they will try to use it in information operations and describe it as something that it is not in terms of lack of commitment on the part of U.S. and the coalition,” said McChrystal. “But I think we can deal with that.” (0:22)

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Boehner Wary Over Afghanistan Withdrawal Timetable

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Friday that he was confused by the conflicting messages Congress has been recieving over the withdrawal timetable for Afghanistan.

Boehner says that Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen have both stated that the timetable is based on conditions, whereas the president has said it is unflexible. (0:37)

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Bush defends opposition to timetable

President Bush says there is a temptation to let domestic politics influence US commanders in Iraq and that an artificial timetable of withdrawal is an imposition on the judgment of commanders, diplomats, and Iraqis. Bush asks elected officials who go to Iraq to listen carefully to what is taking place.
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Obama campaign blasts McCain’s changing Iraq position

In an Obama campaign conference call, former Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig and Major General Geoffrey Lambert (USA, Ret.,) discuss McCain’s opposition to a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq and the Iraqi governments support for the establishment of a timetable. Lambert says Iraqi forces have a greater functioning capacity and increased confidence, two factors that increase Iraqis’ desire for sovereignty. Danzig states that McCain previously said he would support withdrawal if requested by the Iraqi government and questions why McCain’s position has changed. Danzig adds that Sen. Obama’s support for withdrawal matches Iraqi and American public sentiment. He also says McCain’s position fuels mistrust of the United States in the region. (11:36)
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