On Iraq, Gates may not be following Bush's playbook

[maddezmom]

As the president pushes for more time and money for the war, the Pentagon chief's message has seemed to run counter.
By Peter Spiegel and Julian E. Barnes, Times Staff Writers
9:26 PM PDT, May 5, 2007

— President Bush has mobilized his administration, including his top general in Iraq, in a major push to win more time and money for his war strategy. But one crucial voice has been missing from the chorus: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates'.

In fact, Gates' recent comments seem to run counter to the message from the White House. During a recent trip to the Middle East, Gates told the Iraqi government that time was running out and praised Democratic efforts in the U.S. Congress to set a timetable for withdrawal, saying it would help prod the Iraqis. He reiterated that point during a meeting with reporters last week.

A spokesman for Gates insisted there was no distance between the Defense secretary's thinking on the timetable for Iraq and views held by the White House or Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq.

But his warnings to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki are just the latest indications from Gates that he believes the window of opportunity for the administration to get Iraq right is closing sooner rather than later.

more:http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gates6may06,1,6075693.story?track=rss