LAT: On Iraq, Gates may not be following Bush's playbook

[babylonsister]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gates6may06,0,2140065.story?coll=la-home-headlines

On Iraq, Gates may not be following Bush's playbook
As the president pushes for more time and money for the war, the Pentagon chief's message has seemed to run counter.
By Peter Spiegel and Julian E. Barnes, Times Staff Writers
May 6, 2007

WASHINGTON — President Bush has mobilized his administration, including his top general in Iraq, in a major push to win more time and money for his war strategy. But one crucial voice has been missing from the chorus: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates'.

In fact, Gates' recent comments seem to run counter to the message from the White House. During a recent trip to the Middle East, Gates told the Iraqi government that time was running out and praised Democratic efforts in the U.S. Congress to set a timetable for withdrawal, saying it would help prod the Iraqis. He reiterated that point during a meeting with reporters last week.

A spokesman for Gates insisted there was no distance between the Defense secretary's thinking on the timetable for Iraq and views held by the White House or Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq.

But his warnings to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki are just the latest indications from Gates that he believes the window of opportunity for the administration to get Iraq right is closing sooner rather than later.

Any determination by Gates that time is running out on the current plan could severely complicate the administration's strategy this summer, a prospect that has begun to worry some backers of the troop "surge."

"I believe Gates is on a completely different page than President Bush and Gen. Petraeus," said a former senior Defense official who has supported the buildup. "He wants to see some results by summer, and if he doesn't see those results, he seems willing to throw the towel in."

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[Truthseeker013]

1. On Iraq, Gates may not be following Bush's playbook

One person inside the Beltway knows what needs to be done. And he must not have any oil stock.

[still_one]

2. I thought Gates was speaking against setting a timeline in the funding bill?

[bigtree]

3. I'll believe it when I see it

He's on board with every aspect of this escalation, despite his contradictory statements, and will probably always forge a 'way forward' for Bush in Iraq unless Bush says to end it.

[knight_of_the_star]

4. I'd like to see more proof of that then just a news leak

But if there's truth to this it looks like Gates is trying to cover his ass and get a job in the next administration by not being Bush's fall guy.