Seattle Post-Intelligencer
April 13, 2007
Bush Didn't Know Gates Extended Tours In Iraq
By Ken Herman, Cox News Service
WASHINGTON -- When President Bush said this week that the Democrats' push for troop withdrawals could cause longer tours of duty for soldiers in Iraq, he was unaware that his defense secretary had already decided to extend those tours, the White House said Thursday.
It also confirmed that officials are urgently looking for someone to serve in a new position overseeing the war effort. National security adviser Stephen Hadley's confirmation of this came a day after the White House downplayed reports that it is creating what some are calling a "war czar" post.
Bush's comments Tuesday about troop deployments were part of his offensive against Democrats, who are insisting on setting troop withdrawal timetables, a move he blames for delaying emergency funding for U.S. troops in Iraq.
"The bottom line is this," Bush said. "Congress' failure to fund our troops will mean that some of our military families could wait longer for their loved ones to return from the front lines."
On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace announced that 12-month tours of duty in Iraq are being extended to 15 months.
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