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August 16, 2010

Gen: Petraeus Hints Scheduled Afghan Withdrawal Could Be Postponed
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The top US military official in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, has
launched a public relations campaign to build support for the US war
effort. During an appearance on Meet the Press, Petraeus asserted that
the US strategy in Afghanistan is "fundamentally sound," but he hinted
that he might oppose President Obama’s plan to begin withdrawing troops
next summer. Although the troop withdrawal is scheduled to begin next
July, Petraeus said the withdrawal date is not set in stone.

Gen. David Petraeus: "This is a date when a process begins that is
conditions-based. And as the conditions permit, we transition tasks to
our Afghan counterparts and the security forces and in various
governmental institutions, and that enables a, quote, 'responsible'
drawdown of our forces."



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