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.
Clinton's office welcomed Gates' reply.
"Senator Clinton...welcomes the disclosure that the Department of Defense, according to the Secretary, is indeed planning for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq, and looks forward to receiving the department's briefings," Clinton spokesperson Philippe Reines emailed us.
In the letter, Gates also writes that he stands by Under Secretary Eric Edelman, who recently suggested that Clinton's requests for info about the Pentagon's contingency planning for withdrawal were aiding enemy propaganda.
Gates does, however, reiterate that he strongly supports Congressional oversight and adds that "I emphatically assure you that we do not claim, suggest, or otherwise believe that Conressional oversight emboldens our enemies."
You can read Gates' full letter in our TPM Document Collection.
The full text of the letter -- and the full response from Clinton's office -- are both after the jump.
Gates' letter:
Dear Senator Clinton:
I am responding to your July 19, 2007 letter regarding contingency plans for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. In preparing this response, I have reviewed Under Secretary Edelman’s July 16, 2007 reply to your request for information on those plans, as well your (sic) initial May 22, 2007 inquiry.
First, allow me to reiterate that I have long been and continue to be an advocate of congressional oversight as a fundamental element of our system of government. I also have publicly expressed my belief that congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive, appropriate and necessary. In fact you and I have engaged in fruitful exchanges along these lines. Furthermore, I agree with you that planning concerning the future of U.S. forces in Iraq — including the draw down of those forces at the right time — is not only appropriate, but essential. Under Secretary Edelman, along with the Department of Defense’s senior civilian and military leadership, shares my views on these matters.
Specifically, I emphatically assure you that we do not claim, suggest, or otherwise believe that congressional oversight emboldens our enemies, nor do we question anyone’s motives in this regard. My statements to this effect have been frequent and unambiguous. That said, we all recognize that there are multiple audiences for what we say, and need to be careful not to undermine the morale of our troops or encourage our enemies — the point I think Ambassador Edelman was trying to make in his letter.
With respect to your specific request, the Department’s policy is to share appropriate information regarding policies, posture, and administrative plans with appropriate Congressional oversight committees. But as Under Secretary Edelman and officials from many previous Administrations have stated, it is also the Department’s long-standing practice and policy spanning decades and multiple Administrations that operational military plans, including contingency plans, are not routinely shared wit ht e Congress (or with other departments of the Executive Branch). The are a number of time-proven reasons for this policy, including considerations of operational security, the fact that plans are continuously modified as required by changing security conditions, and the need to protect the operations commander’s ability to implement the plan as flexibly as the situation warrants. In short, the Department has to ensure that no commander is constrained by a plan that no longer comports with the situation on the ground.
All this said, I would be pleased to work with you and the Senate Armed Services Committee to establish a process to keep you apprised of the conceptual thinking, factors, considerations, questions and objectives associated with drawdown planning.
Further, you 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 e a priority for this Department.
Finally, I want to close by expressing my continued strong support for Ambassador Edelman. Dr. Edelman is a valued member of the Department of Defense team and his wise counsel and years of experience are critically important to the many pressing policy issues facing the military and our nation. Eric Edelman is a career foreign service officer who received his first senior Presidential appointment in 1998 as United States Ambassador to Finland. He has served our nation with distinction through multiple administrations and I rely on his able assistance in addressing the many challenges facing the Department in the months ahead.
I truly regret that this important discussion went astray and I also regret any misunderstanding of intention. However, I trust that this response addresses your concerns and that we can continue this dialogue in the months ahead in a manner that keeps you and the committee properly informed and constructively furthers the national debate.
Sincerely,
Robert Gates
cc: Chairman Carl Levin
Honorable John McCain
Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines emailed us the following statement in response:
While Senator Clinton is disappointed that Secretary Gates does not repudiate Under Secretary Edelman’s unacceptable political attack, Senator Clinton nevertheless welcomes Secretary Gates's acknowledgment that congressional oversight of the war in Iraq is essential to our national debate. She continues to believe strongly that there is absolutely no room for impugning the patriotism of those who rightfully engage in Congressional oversight.
Senator Clinton also welcomes the disclosure that the Department of Defense, according to the Secretary, is indeed planning for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq, and looks forward to receiving the department's briefings. To ensure that Secretary Gates’ sentiments are fulfilled, she will continue to pursue with Senator Kerry their legislation mandating that the Pentagon brief Congress on contingency planning to ensure the safe and secure redeployment of our troops from Iraq.
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