Democratic Underground - Did you read the first article?

- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday he hopes Baghdad asks U.S. troops to stay beyond their scheduled Dec. 31 departure

- "I hope they figure out a way to ask, and I think that the United States will be willing to say 'yes' when that time comes," Gates said

- Gates said a longer U.S. military presence could help sustain the security and other gains Iraq has made in recent years.

- The Pentagon chief's comments on Iraq were in line with what he said while visiting the country last month.

- In his remarks Tuesday he was more expansive, asserting that a longer U.S. stay would send a reassuring signal

- Behind the scenes, Pentagon officials are trying to sort out how they would manage an extended troop presence

- Gates said the U.S. could provide further assistance to the Iraqi military

Please note the bold text above. The Pentagon is apparently preparing for something that their commander in chief says will never happen and is totally against?

Why is Gates continuing to float the idea of continued US troop presence in Iraq again and again and again over several months? Why has Obama failed to correct him over this time?

So Gates, Obama's secretary of Defense, is just whacked out of his mind? Not only does he not speak for the Obama Administration even though he's an Obama Administration official, but the Secretary of Defense has no real insight into US defense policy?

Reply #27: Did you read the first article? [View All]