US

Petraeus wants more time in Afghanistan

Font Size:

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) — U.S. military officials are preparing a case to counter pressure from Congress to stick to President Obama’s planned drawdown of troops from Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, who took over the Afghanistan command from Gen. Stanley McChrystal in July, is expected to argue Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the “counterinsurgency strategy has not been given enough time to succeed,” The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Petraeus is taking steps that indicate he believes a rapid withdrawal would be “unwise,” reflecting Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recent assertion that next summer’s drawdown “will be of fairly limited numbers,” the Times said.

Full Story: Petraeus wants more time in Afghanistan – UPI.com

IRAQ READY TO ASSUME CONTROL