White House officials stated Monday that pulling out of the battle is not likely at this time.
Press Release Service – Wired PR News – As President Barack Obama faces decisions regarding the war in Afghanistan, White House officials suggest pulling out of the battle now is an unlikely option. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, stated Monday that the president needed time and room to make the best decision, amid mounting pressures for more resources in the country.
Gates is quoted by the AP as stating in an Army conference, “It is important that we take our time to do all we can to get this right… In this process, it is imperative that all of us taking part in these deliberations — civilians and military alike — provide our best advice to the president candidly but privately.” Gates further remarked, “I believe that the decisions that the president will make for the next stage of the Afghanistan campaign will be among the most important of his presidency.”
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs is further quoted in the report as stating of the likelihood of the U.S. pulling out of the long-term battle, “I don’t think we have the option to leave. That’s quite clear.”
WiredPRNews.com – The latest in U.S. Presidential News