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White House: “We Promise We’ll Leave Afghanistan No Matter What In July 2011″



Dec 2, 2009 3 Comments ›› Erik Wong

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CBS:

During the Senate Armed Services hearing today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was pressed by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. on whether the July 2011 date for beginning to withdrawal troops is “locked in.”

Gates seemed to suggest there was some flexibility, that “it was a clear statement of his strong intent” and that “the president always has the freedom to re-evaluate his decisions.” After the hearing Graham said he took that to mean the date is “not locked in” and will depend on conditions on the ground.

It was a point of contention at the White House briefing today – I asked White House spokesman Robert Gibbs if senators were incorrect calling the date a “target.”

After the briefing, Gibbs went to the president for clarification. Gibbs then called me to his office to relate what the president said. The president told him it IS locked in – there is no flexibility. Troops WILL start coming home in July 2011. Period. It’s etched in stone. Gibbs said he even had the chisel.

Lindsey Graham will not be happy. Neither will John McCain – and a whole lot of other Republicans who believe any kind of time line means “advantage: enemy.”

Keep in mind that the PACE of the withdrawal will still depend on conditions on the ground – which means it could be a very small number of troops if things are not going well.


  • RexRedbone

    Depending on the death toll and the up coming 2012 election will play a large roll MoveOn.org is already middle of a Oaf Trantrum fit and their Under Roos filled and needing a major Boom Boom change.Because of the troop surge we can also plan on seeing Code Pink amp up and will need to be clubbed like baby harp seals in the up and coming months

  • Mike

    Islam has defeat Democrats Obama, Reid and Pelosi in less than one year. Radical Islam is in the US and they know their victory is secure and protected by Obama.

    Traitorous muslim trash in power in DC.

  • Wilson

    All Barry has to do is to put one squad on a plane home in July and he will have kept his word. Bah.
    That’s what he’ll do if things are going well. If it gets “hard” or if code pink grabs his nuts, then he’ll probably pack ‘em up before 2011.

    They will never learn that fighting a war half-assed is stupid. We learned NOTHING from Vietnam.