Clinton, Gates Walk Back On Obama's "Locked In" Afghan Withdrawal

Don't be confused by President Obama's speech on Afghanistan. Despite the president's word on Tuesday that a surge of US and international troops in Afghanistan would "allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011," that date is not a "drop dead deadline"--at least according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates recorded an interview this week with NBC's David Gregory on Meet The Press. Set to air Sunday morning, both Obama advisers will walk back on Obama's withdrawal language. While the president did say during his speech that conditions on the ground would be considered before a transition, Clinton and Gates seem to go a step further:

HILLARY CLINTON: We're not talking about an exit strategy or a drop dead deadline. What we're talking about is an assessment that in January 2011, we can begin a transition. A transition to hand off -- responsibility to the Afghan forces.

ROBERT GATES: We're not talking about an abrupt withdrawal. We're talking about something that will take place over a period of time. Our commanders think that these additional forces, and one of the reasons for the President's decision to try and accelerate their deployment is-- is the view that this extended surge has the opportunity to make significant gains in terms of reversing the momentum of the Taliban, denying them control of Afghan territory, and degrading their capabilities.

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The comments made by Clinton and Gates seem to contradict those made by the president earlier this week to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Seeking clarification as to whether July 2011 was a "target" or a deadline, CBS News's Chip Reid asked Gibbs about the date. Gibbs consulted with the president and relayed that President Obama described July 2011 as a "locked in," inflexible date, when troops will start coming home.

Both Gates and Clinton have already commented on the 2011 draw-down date. On Wednesday, Clinton told NBC News that the July 2011 draw-down would be "responsible" and "conditions-based," a "real target for us to aim at."

For his part, Gates testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, explaining that "it is not contradictory to set a date certain, yet to condition it on the reality that we confront at that time."

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