WHEELS COMING OFF WAR WAGON IN IRAQ?

It was bound to happen.

It was just a matter of time.

You can't sustain a war for over five years without differences of opinion arising with the top military commanders in Iraq.

The question now becomes will the top military commanders in Iraq iron out their differences on troop strength in Iraq before the next President is seated in the Oval Office?

Probably not and the next person to become Commander in Chief is going to have his hands full from day one with the ongoing problems of the war in Iraq.

Commentary by Bill Corcoran, editor of CORKSPHERE http://corksphere.blogspot.com/ a blog which tells the truth about what is happening with the war in Iraq.


U.S. MILITARY DIFFERENCES GROWING IN IRAQ

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:33:41

http://tinyurl.com/22rhut

Tension between the Pentagon and generals in Iraq is heightening ahead of new representations to the White House and Congress.

Their conflicting views are due to be aired next month. Senior Bush administration officials privately acknowledge tension between the Joint Chiefs and generals in Iraq, particularly between Army Chief of Staff Gen. Casey Jr. and officers such as Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, says the Los Angeles Times.

Many military leaders in Washington are eager to continue withdrawal of troops in Iraq to ease strains caused by repeated deployments.

However, some generals in Iraq have said publicly that continuing withdrawals after July would put security gains at risk.

According to officials, during a high-level meeting of four-star commanders in the Pentagon this week, Casey urged Pentagon decision makers to quickly return to 12-month overseas deployments for the army.

Meanwhile, in a televised interview this week, Petraeus said that after extra troops sent last year return home in July, he would need "some time to let things settle down a bit" before deciding on further reductions.

But Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the Joint Chiefs chairman, emphasized Friday that Petraeus had made no formal recommendation to halt the withdrawal.

Observers say despite the efforts that are being made to keep the division down, divergent views among top US Defense Department officials have become increasingly apparent.

Under previously announced plans, troop levels in Iraq are expected to drop from a peak of nearly 170,000 last year to about 135,000 in July, when the last of five extra combat brigades return home.