“Know W, Know War.  No W, No War.”  Remember that bumper sticker?  Do Slick Barry’s followers still believe it?

…

Gen Keane also suggested there could be a longer US troop presence in Afghanistan following Gen Petraeus’s nomination.

Speaking in the context of Mr Obama’s promise to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July next year, Gen Keane said: “If we are going to be successful, we will have to extend the political clock in Washington DC and I don’t know anyone who will be better able to do that than Petraeus, if indeed he is able to make the progress we think he can make.”

Asked about the July 2011 timeline on Thursday, Gen Petraeus told CNN: “I support the president’s policy, and I will also provide the best professional military advice as we conduct assessments.”

But in congressional testimony last week, when he spoke in his outgoing capacity as head of US central command, he warned against rigid timelines. Asked whether the July 2011 withdrawal date reflected his best personal, professional judgment, he gave only what he called a “qualified yes”.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/132b9fd0-7fb9-11df-91b4-00144feabdc0.html