Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday that U.S. forces could begin withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year, depending on the results of a September report from the senior military commander in Iraq.
Mr. Gates, who said he expects Gen. David H. Petraeus’ report to show signs of military progress in Iraq mixed with a failure to enact political reforms, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that there is “a possibility” a reduction of troops could start this year.
However, he said that if the Iraqi government does not reconcile to some degree before the report is issued, the Bush administration could be forced into a “strategic reassessment” of the war.
“It’s a disappointing picture for the central government right now, but there are some positive things happening at the local level and, obviously, in the security arena,” Mr. Gates said when asked to describe progress in Iraq.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also highlighted security improvements yesterday.
“The president will get this report and then we will be able to chart a coherent way forward, but I think that there are many very good elements here,” she said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Clearly, the security situation with American forces working closely with Iraqi forces has improved some.”
A report in December from the Iraq Study Group (ISG) suggested that if the Iraqi government fails to deliver necessary political reforms, the United States should consider withdrawing its economic, military and political support for the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Mr. Gates was a member of the ISG but left to become defense secretary before the panel’s recommendations were complete. Nonetheless, Mr. Gates acknowledged, “I would say that I probably would have signed up to that at that point.”
The defense secretary also had tough words for the Iraqi parliament, which recently adjourned until next month. Mr. Gates said he thought the government should forgo the monthlong recess.
“In fact, when I was in Iraq two months ago, I urged — I strongly urged the presidency council and … the prime minister that the council of representatives not go out,” he said. Mr. Gates added that he told members of the Iraqi government that the extra time for their reconciliation was being paid for in “American blood.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.