Gates tells Congress troops in Iraq could be reduced this year, then comes out and qualifies it.

with the same bullshit about "leaving Iraq in chaos"

US Defense Secretary Rejects Any Rapid Pullout From Iraq
By Michael Bowman
Washington
09 May 2007

Bowman report (Real) - Download 320k audio clip
Listen to Bowman report (Real) audio clip

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he does not expect a swift pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq regardless of the conclusions of a planned September evaluation of the ongoing build-up of U.S. forces in the country. VOA's Michael Bowman reports, Gates spoke with reporters hours after telling U.S. senators that the United States could potentially begin withdrawing troops from Iraq later in the year.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates (r) accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace, testifies on Capitol Hill, before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Defense Department's budget, 09 May 2007
Robert Gates (r) accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace, testifies on Capitol Hill, 09 May 2007

Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, Secretary Gates said that if the security situation in Iraq improves and progress is achieved, a reduction in U.S. forces could be considered. He was quick to warn, however, of dire consequences for Iraq and the United States if a withdrawal were to take place "with Iraq in chaos."

Later, at a Pentagon news briefing with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, Gates expanded upon his earlier statements with regard an upcoming evaluation of the current troop surge in Iraq.

"I suspect that whatever the evaluation in September will not lead to precipitous decisions or actions, but would point us in a new direction - either because the surge is working, or because the evaluation is that it is not ," he said.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-05-09-voa48.cfm


What he means is that he and the rest of the cabal will use whatever situation exists in Iraq as their justification for continuing. From the sound of his remarks, it looks like he's prepared to escalate the occupation even further if there's no 'progress' in September.

That's not the equation that Democrats are demanding they use. If Iraq is still in 'chaos' in September, Democrats plan to press for an end to the dubious 'surge', not an escalation or continuation of the folly. This is the same contradiction which has marked administration 'strategy' all along. They insist that we should deepen our involvement the further Iraq descends into its civil war. Democrats from Kerry on have said that the escalation of that civil war should be met by taking our troops out of the middle of the warring factions.

Waist deep in the quicksand, and the damn fools say, press on.

A lightning-quick flick of the wrist -

and they're home again.

But - wait, they're not. They're still in Iraq. OH, too bad...looks like we're escalating the troops, regardless of what the Americans want. Tsk tsk, looks like we foold ya.