The Pentagon doesn't want Petraeus to go unrebutted?

Think about this for a minute. The Pentagon at senior level (Fallon, Casey, Pace, Gates) is preparing its own document to undermine the plans of the top General in the field in the middle of a war.

NEWSWEEK has learned that a separate internal report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will “differ substantially” from Petraeus’s recommendations, according to an official who is privy to the ongoing discussions but would speak about them only on condition of anonymity. An early version of the report, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year, will “recommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.” The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts.

“There is interest at senior levels [of the Pentagon] in getting alternative views” to Petraeus, the official said. Among others, Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon is known to want to draw down faster than Petraeus.

If that doesn't tell you the isolation of Petraeus' view.....

(And, once again, knowing the sourcing on this item would help in understanding it. Was this leaked out of one of Petraeus' bosses offices?

The timing couldn't be more intentional, though.)