US 'preparing for Iraq pullout'
2007-07-27 07:29
Washington - The Pentagon is making contingency plans for a United States withdrawal of troops from Iraq, according to US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who called the planning a "priority".
In a letter delivered on Tuesday to Senator Hillary Clinton, a
New York Democrat and presidential candidate who tangled with
the Pentagon to learn whether such plans exist, Gates said he
was actively involved in drafting them.
"You may be rest assured that such planning is indeed taking
place with my active involvement as well as that of senior
military and civilian officials and our commanders in the field," Gates said.
"I consider this contingency planning to be a priority for
this department," he said.
'United States will abandon its allies'
This spring about 30 000 more US troops were sent to Iraq, bringing the total force to about 157 000, under the current security plan aimed at establishing enough security to allow Iraqi politicians to make progress toward reconciliation.
All of the so-called "surge" forces have been in place since June 15. Democrats in Congress, however, are calling for a strategy change leading to withdrawal.
Clinton had asked the Pentagon in May for information about
contingency planning for a possible troop withdrawal from Iraq.
Defence Under Secretary Eric Edelman, in the Pentagon's
written response, did not address whether the Defence Department was making such plans.
Instead, he said public discussion of withdrawal "reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies".
Clinton called the response unacceptable and outrageous.
Gates, in a follow-up letter, said he would work with the
Senate Armed Services Committee to establish a process to keep
members informed about withdrawal planning.
He also backed Edelman, noting the official was given his
first senior presidential appointment as an ambassador in 1998,
during the administration of the senator's husband, former
President Bill Clinton.