Obama asks Joint Chiefs for Iraq withdrawal planning

President Obama met with military officials Wednesday and asked them for “additional planning necessary to execute a responsible military drawdown in Iraq.”

Obama promised during the campaign that on his first day in office, he would meet with the joint chiefs of staff and ask them to plan a withdrawal of U.S. troops within 16 months.
{mosads}Reports surfaced prior to Tuesday’s Inauguration that Pentagon officials had already begun work on such a plan despite an agreement reached between the Bush administration and Iraqi officials that would have troops out by mid-2010.

Obama said repeatedly he wants to shift the military’s focus to Afghanistan.

In a statement, Obama described the meeting with military, cabinet and administration officials as “productive.”

He also said that in the “coming days and weeks,” he will visit the Pentagon and consult with the joint chiefs on “the situation in Afganistan.”

Obama said the meeting would be to develop a comprehensive policy for the entire region.”