Page 18 - Transition Phase News Today

Sustenance and, we have intercepted communications that say, hey, we only have to hold out for so long. >> and the general went onto say in that session with reporters, that he was marines are going to stay in afghanistan, for many, many years, beyond the 2011, july, 2011 deadline, for that transition phase, set by the president. so, it wasnt as if the general was signalling, that this is going to be an immediate and rapid and possibly dangerous pullout for u.s. forces, come july 2011, he was sa...

Offering new insight into next years troop withdrawal from afghanistan. defense secretary robert gates and both chiefs chairman mike mullin making the sunday talk show rounds today. the two also reacting to the recent leak of thousands of classified afghan war documents on wikileaks. malini wilkes has more from washington. >> the defense secretary predicts that only small numbers of u.s. troops will leave afghanistan next july when the u.s. is supposed to begin a draw down. robert gates told abc...

Washington on the latest. >> the defense secretary predicts only small amounts of troops will leave by next july. robert gates said the way to improve security in afghanistan is to degrade the taliban so they are willing to consider reconciliation with the afghanistan government. gates says it is the beginning of the transition phase and if the taliban is simply waiting for us to leave next sum mckinleyer they should know the u.s. is still going to be around with "a lot of troops." >> my persona...

Admiral mike mullen clarifying only president obama can decide whether or not to implement such a plan. a choice of a strike on iran or allowing it obtain nuclear weapons are two very bad stereos, that teach presents its own set of challenges. >> quite frankly, i am extremely concerned about both of those outcomes. >> the secretary of defense also giving his forecast for u.s. troop withdrawal from afghanistan, malini wilks has more from washington. the defense secretary predicts only small numbe...

From now? there is pressure in congress not do that and senator leb eshman says he would prefer them stay and fight past next june. lets listen: >> whatever we do in july 2011 will be based on conditions on the ground at the time, because you know, the president made the right decision last december that america has a vital national security interest on the line here in afghanistan. weve got to win it. and therefore, you dont put that on a timeline. >> reporter: senator lieberman also said in th...

Obviously, to emphasize the safety of the americans who are over here fighting for our freedom. we came on july 4th, but thank our soldiers here for what theyre doing on independence day to fight for our freedom against islamist extremists terrorists who are threatening it today, and also if i may through you, major, thank the families of our troops back home for all the support they give in this cause. >> major: senator, what is the timeline for general petraeus decision on reviewing the rules ...

Graham and we encouraged him to do that and obviously emphasize the safety of the americans who are over here, fighting for our freedom, we came on july 4th to thank for you soldiers for what they are doing on independence day, to fight for our freedom against islamist extremists, terrorists who are threatening it today and also, if i may, through you, major, thank the families of our troops, back home, for all of the support they give in this cause. >> senator, what is the timeline for general ...

Improvement in that very important element of the security forces. with respect, i think the build phases are coming along well, but that is something we are largely doing with our s.e.r.p. and comrades and others. but the question there is to get to something that is sustainable, enduring, self-sustaining over the long term. and then there is really a fourth phase to the clear hold and build. there is a transition phase. and thats the phase when we begin to thin out, we begin to hand off tasks....

Command. general petraeus deserves a lot of praise for doing that, taking on a tough assignment. but president obama not only appointed petraeus, he made pretty clear that he understood there was a huge problem on the civilian side. i think hes going to move to correct that and also he moved away from the july 2011 date for the beginning of the withdrawal. in his speech wednesday, when he announced petraeus, he never said the word, deadline, timetable, or july 2011. when asked about it thursday,...

>> behind us, we said as we begin a transition phase in which the afghan government is taking on more and more responsibility. >> chris: president obama saying his july 2011 time line for starting to pull troops from afghanistan wont mean a rush for the exits. its time for our sunday group, bill crystal of the weekly standard. mora of national public radio, former state department official liz cheney, and juan williams also from national public radio. liz, before we begin, as i think most people...