Odierno: we may ignore deadline

OK, who didn’t see it coming that as we approach the artificial deadline to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, violence increases, al Sadr gets antsy and al Qaeda gets a bit stronger (UK Times link);

The activities of al-Qaeda in two of Iraq’s most troubled cities could keep US combat troops engaged beyond the June 30 deadline for their withdrawal, the top US commander in the country has warned.

US troop numbers in Mosul and Baqubah, in the north of the country, could rise rather than fall over the next year if necessary, General Ray Odierno told The Times in his first interview with a British newspaper since taking over from General David Petraeus in September.

He said that a joint assessment would be conducted with the Iraqi authorities in the coming weeks before a decision is made.

The US commander was confident that the overall timetable for the US pullout would be met. But he added that US combat troops might have to stay beyond June 30 in Mosul and Baqubah, where al-Qaeda retains an active presence. “The two areas I am concerned with are Mosul and then Baqubah and [other] parts of Diyala province,” he said. “We will conduct assessments and provide our assessments when the time is right.”

I know the left will be apoplectic and see a conspiracy against Obama by General Odierno. In fact, according to Fox News they’re already upset that Obama is asking for $83.4 billion in new spending for Iraq and Afghanistan;

“This funding will do two things — it will prolong our occupation of Iraq through at least the end of 2011, and it will deepen and expand our military presence in Afghanistan indefinitely,” said anti-war Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif. “Instead of attempting to find military solutions to the problems we face in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Obama must fundamentally change the mission in both countries to focus on promoting reconciliation, economic development, humanitarian aid, and regional diplomatic efforts.”

They never learn, do they? The Democrats are more interested in ending the war than in winning the war. Politics before security.

Category: Antiwar crowd, Barack Obama/Joe Biden, United Nations