Petraeus: Withdrawal Not an Exit

At Tuesday's confirmation hearings, General David Petraeus said that while he supported President Obama's July 2011 withdrawal deadline, the removal of U.S. troops "is the beginning of a process, not the date when the U.S. heads for the exits." Petraeus' statements indicate divisions between parts of the Obama administration and the U.S. military on the withdrawal timetable, as some officials within the administration are hoping for a rapid withdrawal. Petraeus cautioned that the withdrawal pace should be "responsible" and that conditions on the ground should determine the nature of the de-escalation. As for his assessment of America's efforts in the region, he predicted that violence may intensify in coming months: "My sense is that the tough fighting will continue; indeed, it may get more intense in the next few months," he said. "As we take away the enemy's safe havens and reduce the enemy's freedom of action, the insurgents will fight back."