Iraq: U.S. generals leary of plan for more troops

Source: Xinhuanet | 12-22-2006 13:34

Robert Gates arrives in Iraq for surprising visit. Full Story >>

BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with top U.S. generals at Camp Victory Wednesday during his visit to Iraq and was told they are leary of President George W. Bush's possible proposal to deploy more troops to the war-ravaged country.

Bush has said he is considering that idea and others in his search for a fresh path in a 3 1/2-year-plus war that has no end in sight and has lost the support of much of the American public.

Gates made the surprise trip because the administration has been under intense pressure to forge a new strategy. The unannounced visit came just hours after the president conceded the United States is not winning the conflict.

Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace (L) and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (R) and other generals share ideas about deploying more troops to Iraq, December 21, 2006(Xinhua Photo)

After meeting with top U.S. generals, Gates acknowledged concerns that rushing thousands more American troops to the battlefront could allow the Iraqis to slow their effort take control of the country.

"It's clearly a consideration," Gates said of how adding more American troops might affect Iraqi leaders. "I think that the commanders out here have expressed a concern about that."

Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said he supports increasing troop levels only when there is a specific purpose for their deployment. Other military leaders have expressed uncertainty over the purpose and results of bringing in more troops.

"I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea, but what I want to see happen is when, if we do bring more American troops here, they help us progress to our strategic objectives," Casey told reporters in a news conference with Gates and other military leaders.

Gen. John Abizaid, top U.S. commander in the Middle East, sounded a more favorable tone. The military, he said, is "looking at every possible thing that might influence the situation to make Baghdad in particular more secure."

On Wednesday, the military announced that Abizaid plans to go ahead with his overdue retirement next spring.

Because Casey is also considered likely to step down around then, Gates will have the opportunity to reshape the top ranks of commanders overseeing Iraq at the same time that a new strategy is adopted.

Bush is considering choices including a short-term increase of thousands of troops and removing U.S. combat forces and accelerating the training and equipping of Iraqi security forces. More than one-third of the U.S. troops in Iraq are combat forces.

Gates said he would not form a judgment until he has spoken to Iraqi leaders, which he is scheduled to do during his visit.

Editor:Du Xiaodan