Mullen: The US army has begun practicing traveling out of Iraq and into Afghanistan

debka ^ | Nov 19, 2008 | debka

[Jet Jaguar]

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview to AP that the exit routes practiced through Turkey and Jordan would determine “what the challenges might be.” Both governments support the effort.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the US army chief’s statement marks the beginning of the American withdrawal from Iraq. While he is still following the orders of President Bush, Mullen said he was clearly aware of president-elect Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw the US army from Iraq in 16 months.

This development is a negative augur for Israel’s strategic situation; after Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, the door is open for Iran to take control of another Arab nation in its vicinity. The Israel military has made no preparations for the encroaching Iranian presence.

[Jet Jaguar]

FWIW

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

Why not just fly everything out? Or drive to Kuwait and ship out?

[Paladin2]

Driving through Tehran or maybe just Qom works for me. Alternative would be to withdraw through Syria.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

"The Israel military has made no preparations for the encroaching Iranian presence."

Or one could say their whole history is said preparation.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

"exit routes practiced through Turkey and Jordan "

Or is the General intimating that as the US withdraws, Iran is expected to invade and we are simply establishing escape routes for Iraqis fleeing the onslaught.

[Doug TX]

Debka=Disinformation.

I don’t believe a word of it despite the fact it is an option.

[tomkat]

The Israel military has made no preparations for the encroaching Iranian presence

(nothin' personal JJ ;-)

[2banana]

The US army has begun practicing traveling out of Iraq and into Afghanistan

Hopefully, in a straight line on the ground right through Iran...

[Kevmo]

Withdraw from Iraq via Tehran. I used to have a tagline that said that.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

In AP:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081118/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/mullen

"Mullen, once a critic of Obama's plan to pull combat forces from Iraq in 16 months, said the Pentagon has already identified and practiced travel routes out of Iraq along exit routes through Turkey and Jordan."