Breaking: In Letter To Hillary, Gates Confirms "Planning Taking Place" For Withdrawal

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http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/26/breaking_in_letter_to_hillary_gates_confirms_planning_taking_place_for_withdrawal

Breaking: In Letter To Hillary, Gates Confirms "Planning Taking Place" For Withdrawal
By Greg Sargent | bio

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has written a long letter to Hillary Clinton in which he confirms that "planning is taking place" for withdrawal from Iraq.

While the fact that such contingency planning is underway of course doesn't mean that withdrawal is imminent, it's noteworthy that Gates confirmed this. Clinton had repeatedly asked for confirmation of such planning, resulting in her standoff with the Pentagon last week.

This letter represents Gates' official reply to Clinton's criticism, and it appears to be the first time that Gates has publicly acknowledged that such planning is underway.

"{Y}ou may rest assured that such planning is indeed taking place with my active involvement as well as that of senior military and civilian officials and our commanders in the field. I consider this contingency planning to be a priority for this Department," Gates writes in the letter, which was obtained by Election Central.

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