In an odd juxtaposition, questions about bringing our troops home and how long Gen. David Petraeus himself will stay have become entwined in the Washington debate over Iraq.
Yesterday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that he supports a pause in troop reduction after the drawdown to pre-Surge levels in July, reflecting doubts Petraeus has expressed while others in the Pentagon have been worrying about the strain of prolonged tours on the US military.
Two weeks ago, Gates tried to quiet rumors that Petraeus would be leaving Iraq for the top NATO command, saying “the president is pretty clear that he wants General Petraeus to stay right where he is at least through late fall and maybe the end of the year.”
As the symbol of “success” in Iraq for both the Bush Administration and John McCain’s candidacy, Petraeus is finding his own career path blocked…
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