JSC Chairman Says Setting Iraq Withdrawal Timetable 'Dangerous'

Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com

Admiral Mike Mullen is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and he says that any withdrawal must be based on conditions on the ground. He also says that setting a time line would jeopardize all the progress made so far in Iraq.

The Admiral goes on and says that the consequences could be very dangerous and he is convinced that at this point of time that making reductions based on conditions on the ground are very important.

Mullen told a news source that five American brigades have left Iraq in recent months because security conditions have improved and that there might be a further draw down before President Bush leaves office in January.

Senator Barack Obama has already said that if he is elected president troops will begin withdrawing from Iraq and in 16 months all troops will be withdrawn from the country.

On Sunday U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told sources that the Iraqis want to reach a point where they can take care of their own security needs. She goes on and says that Washington and Iraq are not talking about timetables but are discussing the U.S. role in border terms.

Rice also said that the day is coming when American forces will step back more and more from combat roles. She said that the day is coming when American troops will be doing more in the way of training and less in the way of fighting.

Admiral Mullen also stress that the situation in Iraq is improving but he also says that the conditions in Afghanistan remain worrisome.

Mullen says there is a variety of extremist and terrorist groups who are joining forces in the tough terrain of northern Pakistan and are infiltrating across the Afghan border.

Mullen spoke of mixed progress in Afghanistan but quickly added that it would be very wrong to say that the USA and its NATO allies are losing the fight.