U.S. General: Pullback Before Christmas a "Giant Step Backward"

From the Full Story at CNN:

"Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the Multi-National Division-Center, was asked to comment on Republican Sen. John Warner's recommendation that President Bush start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by Christmas.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters on Friday via teleconference from Iraq, Lynch said, "Only when the Iraqi security forces come forward and say 'OK, here I am, I'm trained and equipped, I'm ready, I'm the Iraqi Army or I'm the Iraqi police,' can I turn those sanctuaries over, and that's not going to happen between now and Christmas."

Lynch, whose operations cover the central part of Iraq, south of Baghdad, said soldiers have been helped by the surge, or additional troops, and have made strides against militants. But, he said, "If we were to lose that capability, the enemy would come back."

So we can either believe a commander on the ground, or an elderly Senator on his way out. That may sound harsh, but it is the reality of the situation. Weak knees and gelatinous wills don't win wars.

We need to let the troops stabilize the situation on the ground before we go.