Gates Warns Iraqis U.S. Presence Not 'Open-Ended'

Does the democrat's (and America's) push for a time frame for our troops toget out of Iraq have anything to do with the Defense Secretary's recent trip toIraq? Either that or the administration all of a sudden decided that the Iraqi'sstepping up to the plate by  is important. This might be the"out" Bush was waiting for, or another way to show the Americanpeople he doesn't want us there either. (It seems we have told the Iraqis thisbefore)

  BAGHDAD,Iraq - April 20, 2007 — After a day of meetings withIraqi leaders and U.S. military commanders, Secretary of Defense Robert Gatesdeclared the American occupation of Iraq will not continue indefinitely.

Gates suggested the decision on whether to keep extra U.S. forces sent tosecure Baghdad in place will depend in part on whether the Iraqi governmentmakes progress on political reconciliation.

"Our commitment to Iraq is long-term, but it is not a commitment to haveour men and women patrolling Iraqi streets open-endedly," Gates said at ajoint press conference with Iraqi Defense Minister Abd al Qadr al Mufriji.

So, what about all the those successes that are going on in Iraq?

The defense secretary called the surge of an additional 28,000 U.S. forces inIraq now under way "a strategy of buying time" for the Iraqigovernment to make progress on political reconciliation. So far that isnot happening.

What makes this administration think that opposing religious groups and governments inIraq will "get along"? Not only has that been tried before, but letthe record show things are getting worse in Iraq.

Gates said a decision on whether or not to continue that surge past Augustwill be made "late summer" and a key factor in that decision willbe whether the Iraqis have made progress on reconciliation.

In a suggestion of how he will measure that progress, Gates told Iraqi PrimeMinister Nouri al-Maliki that the Iraqi parliament needs to move quickly onpassing long-delayed laws to heal the rifts between Iraq's Shia and SunniMuslims.

Gates also responded to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's comment onThursday that "the war is lost."

"I have great respect for Sen. Reid. But on the question of whetherthe war is lost," he said, "I respectfully disagree."

Well of course you have to disagree, if you don't you'll find yourself in the"I don't agree with Bush" fired group.

Worth mentioning: Last night on The Military Channel's "The War Tapes", it was mentioned that KBR (Haliburton) charges $28 a plate during chow time. They put the plates out then count whats left and that's how they determine what to bill the US. The soldiers were saying they sometimes use a plate to cover their food (to keep it warm), KBR counts that as 2 plates. Even if you can argue the $28 for the food, how do they get away with charging by the "plate" inventory? Note: The plates are Styrofoam.