Petraeus: 2011 Troop Drawdown Date Doesn't Mean We'll Be 'Racing For The Exits'

Gen. David Petraeus appeared on CNN last night to discuss President Obama's new Afghanistan strategy -- announced in a speech Tuesday night -- and called it "realistic" and "reassuring." Watch the video below.

CNN's Anderson Cooper asked "what kind of message is sent to our enemy" by the 2011 drawdown date for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and what to say to those who believe the Taliban will simply wait the American presence out.

"If you go back to the words of the speech -- what that said is that's when you start to transition," Petraeus responded. "And I think that's a realistic goal to have out there, with 18 months more of quite substantial forces on the ground...that's when we begin to transition to Afghan security forces. It doesn't mean that's when we head for the door."

Watch the video after the jump.

He went on to explain that the 2011 date is not meant to imply the U.S. will be racing for the exits, and emphasized that troop withdrawal will be "responsible."

The general made the rounds on television yesterday, and said on MSNBC that the U.S. "isn't trying to make Sweden in Afghanistan" (video here).