A recent press release from United States Central Command tells a bit of a different story on the situation in parts of Iraq than those we read in the newspapers daily.

Surge progress may lead to troop reductions in northern Iraq, general says

BAGHDAD — Now at full strength, the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is showing “definitive progress” and the number of forces serving in Iraq’s Multi-National Division-North could be halved by summer 2009, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon said.

A reduction of U.S. forces under the general’s command could begin as early as January 2008, he told Pentagon reporters via videoconference.

Mixon, commander of both Multi-National Division-North and the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, is responsible for six Iraqi provinces in northern Iraq, including the city of Baqubah — site of the ongoing Operation Arrowhead Ripper.

He said he has given U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, a plan indicating a possible reduction of force in Multi-National Division-North during 2008.

Mixon said the current debate over troop withdrawal should revolve around reaching a strategic “end state.”

“It seems to me that we should first decide what we want the end state to be in Iraq, and how is that end state important to the United States of America, to this region and to the world, and then determine how we can reach that end state, and how much time that will take,” he said. “To me, that seems to be the most important thing, because there will be consequences of a rapid withdrawal from Iraq.”

“It cannot be a strategy based on, ‘Well, we need to leave,’” he added. “That’s not a strategy, that’s a withdrawal.”

More here.

I find it most interesting that Congress is pushing for these timelines when they certainly know the information dispatched from those with boots on the ground. Could it be they wish to take credit for an “early withdrawal” when they know very well what the game plan is?

I say that is very possible, however, they should be careful as the military will not and cannot plan a war around the whims of those on either side of the aisle in Congress. They have an option to defund this war they do not have the right however, to interfere in the planning and execution of the war. Oversight is one thing, strategic planning another entirely.

Also, the selective “cherry picking” of the press when it comes to statements made by those in command has been shown again.

Gen. Pace Declares Iraq ‘Sea Change’

In his most optimistic remarks since the U.S. troop buildup began, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Tuesday that Iraq has undergone a “sea change” in security in recent months, and that this will influence his recommendation to President Bush on how long to continue the current strategy.

After conferring with Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin and other commanders in this provincial capital west of Baghdad, Pace told reporters he has gathered a positive picture of the security environment not only here but also in Baghdad, where he began his Iraq visit on Monday.

He was asked whether this would inform his thinking about whether to continue the current strategy, with extra U.S. troops battling to security Baghdad and Anbar province. “It will because what I’m hearing now is a sea change that is taking place in many places here,” he replied. “It’s no longer a matter of pushing al-Qaida out of Ramadi, for example, but rather — now that they have been pushed out — helping the local police and the local army have a chance to get their feet on the ground and set up their systems.”

In reading further it becomes apparent that General Pace has spoken with those in charge, primarily General Petraeus and General Odierno.

Pace conferred Monday with Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the No. 2 commander in Iraq, who said he did not currently foresee requesting more troops. “Right now I can’t find an assessment where I would say I need more troops,” Odierno said, adding that he is confident that by September he will be able to give Petraeus his advice on how the troop buildup is working.

“My assessment right now is, I need more time” to understand how the offensive targeting al-Qaida in Iraq is working and how it could lead to political progress. I’m seeing some progress now here in Iraq. We have really just started what the Iraqis term ‘liberating’ them from al-Qaida. What I’ve got to determine is what do I need in order to continue that progress so that the political piece can then take hold and Iraqi security forces can hold this for the long term.”

I will not be redundant as I have tackled the issue of the press coverage of this war in the past but I will say the negativitity does nothing to show support for the mission our military has been assigned.

They are, in my opinion, fighting in Iraq and many other fronts so we may continue to live the life of freedom to which we have been accustomed.