U.S. May Begin Iraq Troop Drawdown in '06

[sabra]

Early today they dismiss the UK memo, and now they are saying it might be true...?

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http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/12107449.htm

U.S. may begin Iraq troop drawdown in '06

ROBERT BURNS

Associated Press


WASHINGTON - Major reductions in U.S. troop levels in Iraq next year appear increasingly likely, although Pentagon officials and private analysts said Monday it is too early to predict the specific size and timing.

The Pentagon is eager to pull some of its 135,000 troops out of Iraq in 2006, partly because the counterinsurgency is stretching the Army and Marine Corps perilously thin as casualties mount and partly because officials believe the presence of a large U.S. force is generating tacit support for anti-American violence.

It appears highly unlikely that any significant numbers will be withdrawn before the end of the year. U.S. commanders expect the insurgency to remain at or near its current strength at least until after a scheduled October referendum on a new Iraqi constitution, followed by December elections for a new government.

Attempts by U.S. officials to predict the course of the insurgency have been off the mark, and officials have been forced more than once to scrap plans to reduce the U.S. force in Iraq. The force peaked at about 160,000 in January, when extra troops were needed to bolster security for the elections.

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[AlCzervik]

1. I thought we didn't "Give time lines to terrorists"

[Carla in Ca]

16. They have been hit hard on their lack of exit strategy

but they will do it in 2006, just in time for the mid-term elections. How convenient.

[Oreo]

2. Scotty denied it

In his wonderful press conf today he denied it. That said... he denied, skirted, and weaseled his way out of every other question too.

[daleo]

3. Maybe in 2006

If it looks politically expedient for Bush. Otherwise, probably not.

[endarkenment]

4. I was looking through the PNAC plan

under 'Permanent Military Base in the Middle East' and I didn't see the sub section entitled 'Cut and Run from Iraq'.

I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I'm just saying that I find it vanishingly unlikely that the current regime will be doing this anytime in the near future.

[Robeson]

5. Probably wants to make it appear they're scaling back, before...

...mid-term elections hit.

[Yavin4]

6. BINGO!!!

Depends on where the polling numbers are next year. If the races are tight, the troops come home. If the Republicans have huge leads, the troops stay there and rot.

[catmandu57]

8. It's pretty transparent

If we make enough noise then maybe everyone else in the fucking country will pull their heads from their asses and see it as well.
It's only an election year trick, if they pull it off, hell, even if they don't we'll be right back to the present numbers by jan 07.

[wookie294]

11. I disagree. I think we're withdrawing from Iraq

If it was an election year trick, then the trick wouldn't begin until early next year. Republicans can't get elected if the quagmire is still raging in November 2006.

The Vietnam war cost U.S. taxpayers $584 billion (in today’s dollars). Two years of Iraq has already cost $300 billion. We don't have the tax money to fight this war, thanks to the exportation of jobs to the Third World and Reagan's debt, which we're still paying off.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0128-33.htm

[KansDem]

14. "We don't have the tax money to fight this war,..."

...thanks to the exportation of jobs to the Third World and Reagan's debt, which we're still paying off.

Don't forget the massive tax cuts given the wealthy by Bush Jr. I still don't understand how any Republican can support someone who gives huge tax cuts and goes to war the same year...

[catmandu57]

15. They aren't going to do it until next year

and it wouldn't be all at once, but, they'de do a substantive draw down by fall 07.

[bluestateguy]

7. If a President Kerry did this the neo-cons would be apoplectic

They'd whine straight to their computer keyboards about how we are "cutting and running", yet if and when Bush does it it will be treated as enlightened foreign policy statecraft. Kind of a "Nixon goes to China" moment.

[navvet]

9. This one is just to easy.

The reason I would believe this report is because it makes a lot of sense.

The GOP wants to continue their wining streak and Iraq puts a crimp in that possibility. Ergo a troop withdrawal plan executed during the campaign of 06 makes the GOP look good to the broad public (bear in mind that the war is becoming unpopular to Joe and Jane Sixpack).

It's a no brainer, we underestimate the GOP at our parel. These guys are not as dumb as the look.

Any way that's what I think.:puke: :eyes:

[tabasco]

10. The US may begin distributing free opium to citizens in '06.

More likely than neocons giving up their Iraq project.

[endarkenment]

12. exactly

Everything is right on plan, why would they stop?

[stickdog]

13. This information was obviously not planted. So stop saying that. (nt)

[MasonJar]

17. Just in time for the 06 elections.