Gen. Petraeus: Iraq strategy needs more time

As a war-weary Senate passed a timetable Thursday, the US commander in Iraq proposed his own, more patient, schedule.

By Peter Grier and Gordon Lubold | Staff writers of The Christian Science Monitor

from the April 27, 2007 edition

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Washington - Gen. David Petraeus, the US military's top commander in Iraq, has a message for the American public that might be summed up as this: We need more time to figure out how much time we will need.

In public and private appearances in Washington this week, General Petraeus continually has noted that the counterinsurgency effort in Iraq has begun to show progress – but also that it's an enormous task that will require a continued commitment on the part of the United States.

The problem for Petraeus and the White House is that this is not the first year of the war. Previous commanders have traveled to Capitol Hill over the past four years and said much the same thing about previous efforts.

Democratic congressional leaders say they have a high regard for Petraeus. They also say he's arrived at his job too late.

"The sacrifices borne by our troops and their families demand more than the blank checks the president is asking for – a war without end," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) of California on Wednesday.

In public and private appearances in Washington this week, Petraeus avoided direct comment on congressional votes on a war-spending bill that would require American troop withdrawals to begin on Oct 1.

But he did have a timetable of his own to discuss.

The surge in Baghdad, which requires the addition of five combat brigades, all of which won't arrive in Iraq until May or June, is still in its infancy, Petraeus said Thursday. While there has been an increase in some forms of violence, there are also signs of progress, he said, in a rare appearance before reporters in the Pentagon. But his message during the brief visit in Washington seemed to be that Americans – and, without saying it, Congress – need to give the effort more time.

"The situation is exceedingly complex and very tough," he said. "Success will take continued commitment, perseverance, and sacrifice."

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