Petraeus Still Contemplating Scope Of July Drawdown

General David Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday that he continues to supports President Barack Obama’s plan to begin gradually drawing down the American presence in Afghanistan this summer, but that he has not yet determined how broad the withdrawal’s first phase should be.

Since the President announced the July goal in late 2009, U.S. officials have rushed to clarify that the drawdown will be based on the conditions on the ground. Petraeus, who commands U.S. forces in Afghanistan, will give the President his assessment before a decision is announced.

When asked by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the committee’s chair, why he supports the July deadline, Petraeus explained, “it undercuts the narrative of the Taliban that we’ll be there forever” and gives a needed sense of urgency to the Afghan conflict.

Although he avoided providing any specifics regarding the 2011 date, Petraeus emphasized that the U.S. remains on track to transferring security responsibilities to Afghan forces in 2014. He also noted that the U.S. will hold discussions with the Afghan government on the possibility of a smaller, prolonged American presence in the country, a concept initially floated by Defense Secretary Robert Gates during his trip to Afghanistan last week.

Petraeus’ appearance before the Committee marks his first since assuming command from General Stanley McChrystal. The four-star general painted a largely optimistic picture of the military situation in the country, but warned that U.S. gains in the country are fragile.

“None of this has been easy,” Petraeus said. “The trajectory … has generally been upward since last summer-though there certainly have been significant bumps and difficult reverses at various points.”