Gen. David Petraeus Interview Aired On MEET THE PRESS 8/15

In his first interview since taking over command of NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus speaks exclusively with NBC News' David Gregory in Afghanistan about his role as commander, the timeline for a withdrawal of troops and the overall outlook for the nearly 9 year war. The interview will be broadcast on a special edition of "Meet the Press," this Sunday, August 15.

David Gregory is the moderator of "Meet the Press." Betsy Fischer is the executive producer. Rebecca Samuels and Chris Donovan are the producers.

Below is an excerpt from the interview, airing tonight on "NBC Nightly News with BrIan Williams," also available at: HTTP://BIT.LY/9IW3W9. If used, please note the mandatory credit: "In an exclusive interview airing this Sunday, Aug. 15 on NBC News' Meet the Press." A photo of Gregory and Gen. Petraeus will be available at: WWW.NBCUMV.COM.

RE: The July 2011 timeline for a withdrawal of troops

David Gregory: Is your job here now as commander to try to slow down that Washington clock?

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS: I think our job is again to show those in Washington that there is progress being made and to do that we've got to build on the progress that has been established so far because there is certainly nothing like irreversible momentum.

David Gregory: are you in lock step with the president who will still stick to a July 2011 deadline to begin that transition?

GEN. DAVID PETREAUS: yeah, absolutely, he has been very clear on this I think and I think there was greater clarity even after the replacement and so forth. What the president very much wants from me and what we talked about in the oval office is the responsibility of a military commander on the ground to provide his best professional military advice, leave the politics to him, certainly I am aware of the context within which I offer that advice, but that just informs the advice, it doesn't drive it. The Situation on the ground drives it.

"Meet the Press" is seen on the NBC Television Network from 9-10 a.m. ET in most markets. In Washington D.C. and New York City, the broadcast is seen from 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET.

The program re-airs on MSNBC Sunday afternoons at 2pm ET/11am PT and again at 2am ET/11pm PT and 4am ET/1am PT Monday. At these times, "Meet The Press" will also air on SIRIUS channel 90 and XM channel 120.

Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" website (WWW.MTP.MSNBC.COM) for television and radio broadcast times in your area.

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