US officials debate Afghanistan withdrawal dates, use of contractors

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he plans to retire next year. The only holdover from the Bush Administration, Gates has overseen the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for President Obama. His timing would allow for a new secretary to be in place by the time of the 2012 presidential election.

Meanwhile, Gates said he stands by a deadline to begin troop drawdown in Afghanistan. He says the July, 2011 date is set in stone and that there’s “no doubt in anybody’s mind” that the withdrawal will begin next summer. But in a series of interviews over the weekend, General David Petraeus disagreed, opening the possibility of an extended US force to remain in the country. Tanya Snyder has more.