Pentagon backs down in row with Clinton over troop withdrawal

The Pentagon has made its most explicit acknowledgement to date that it is working on plans for an eventual drawdown of American troops in Iraq as a matter of priority.

The admission, which followed pressure from Senator Hillary Clinton, was contained in a conciliatory letter penned by the Secretary of Defence, Robert Gates, and delivered by courier to Mrs Clinton. The Pentagon has been embroiled in a week-long feud with Mrs Clinton and it remains to be seen whether the letter will be enough to ease tensions between them.

"Such planning is indeed taking place, with my active involvement as well as that of senior military and civilian officials and our commanders in the field," Mr Gates told Mrs Clinton, the Democrat front-runner in the presidential race. He added that preparation for a troop reduction "is not only appropriate, but essential".

The clash traces back to a letter written by Mrs Clinton, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to Mr Gates in May asking that Congress be briefed on what preparations were being made for any reduction, or withdrawal, of troops in Iraq.

The row erupted publicly this month when a deputy to Mr Gates, the Pentagon policy chief, Eric Edelman, sent a letter in reply apparently suggesting that by merely raising the issue Mrs Clinton was in danger of reinforcing "enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies" in Iraq.

For Mrs Clinton, the implication that she had been unpatriotic may have been a political gift. With the war in Iraq the dominant issue in the race for party nominations ahead of next year's elections, it cast her in the eyes of many Democrats as a hero confronting a secretive Pentagon and an administration in denial.

Reacting to the Edelman letter, Mrs Clinton issued a statement saying she was "shocked by the timeworn tactic of once again impugning the patriotism of any of us who raise serious questions". With Senator John Kerry, she then vowed to introduce legislation in Congress to force the Pentagon to brief Congress.

The message from Mr Gates suggests that this won't be necessary. It does not, however, make any reference to a complete withdrawal, but rather the possibility of a phased drawdown. In the view of the military planners that could begin next spring, when the current strategy is scheduled to end.

Nor was the letter seen as suggesting any policy change on the part of the Bush administration, which has said it wants to wait until September to review strategy when it is expecting a crucial progress report from the commanders on the ground.

Mr Gates wrote to Mrs Clinton: "I would be pleased to work with you and the Senate Armed Services Committee to establish a process to keep you apprised of the conceptual thinking, factors, considerations, questions and objectives associated with drawdown planning." He also made reference to the Edelman ruckus, saying: "I truly regret that this important discussion went astray, and I also regret any misunderstanding of intention."

Mrs Clinton may not let it rest, however. A statement released by her office said she was "disappointed that Secretary Gates does not repudiate Undersecretary Edelman's unacceptable political attack".