U.S. could reduce troops by 30,000

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/ucould7.htm

U.S. could reduce troops by 30,000

THE NEW YORK TIMES

WASHINGTON - In a classified briefing to senior Pentagon officials last month, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East outlined a plan to gradually reduce U.S. forces in Iraq by perhaps 20,000 to 30,000 troops by next spring, senior military officials and Defense Department officials said yesterday.

The assessment by Gen. John P. Abizaid, the head of the military's Central Command, tracks with a statement made last week by the top U.S. general in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., that the Pentagon could make ''some fairly substantial reductions'' in troops by next spring and summer if the political process in Iraq remained on track and Iraqi forces assumed more responsibility for securing the country.

Together, the generals' appraisals offer some of the most concrete indications yet that the Pentagon is moving toward reducing U.S. forces in Iraq. They also reflect the Bush administration's growing concerns over how the country's involvement in Iraq is influencing domestic considerations.

But in his private assessments, Abizaid has also warned that it is possible that the Pentagon might have to keep the current levels of about 138,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq throughout 2006 if security and political trends are unfavorable for a withdrawal

<</SNIP>>

[MichiganVote]

1. Seeing is believing. Political hype for 2006 election

[lumpy]

9. You got it, Michigan.

No timetable on troop withdrawal.

[GoBlue]

2. In other news...

US could reduce troops to none.

[sabra]

4. so you noticed that big IF too? :-)

[Theduckno2]

10. The big IF!

Recent postings at juancole.com/ and Al-Jazeera indicate rising tensions in the Kurdish north. Kurdish leaders want more autonomy for the Kurds written into the constitution.
I agree this is for the benefit of the 2006 mid-term elections, but it is noteworthy that General Abizad admitted to the gloomy prediction also.

[stevebreeze]

3. I am sure they can do this because of the relative calm in Iraq the last

few days. Or perhaps it is because they will shamelessly try to so more with few troops because they frankly are diminishing the supply of troops, putting those troops in even more grave danger then they are now.

Of course this is about talking down the number s for the 2006 election. This hacks are shameless.

[mom cat]

12. My thoughts exactly on troop endangerment!

[Cocoa]

5. monkeys could fly out of my butt

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. Junta Boy's Excellent Adventure..

...is the gift that keeps on giving.

Getting into it won him the 2002 midterms.
'Staying the Course' won 2004.
'Homeward the Heroes' will win the 2006 midterms.

Not a bad ROI on 2000 lives and half-a-trillion dollars.

Best campaign ever.

[leftchick]

7. what this really means...

The US will withdraw 100,000 troops out of the cities and into the 14 permanent military bases scattered around Iraq in 2006. Patrols will be eliminated so "bad news" out of Iraq will cease and the repukes are safe for the 2006 elections.

[lumpy]

8. Bush's War isn't going well

His popularity is waning. This is a public appeasment ploy ("influencing domestic considerations" hah!) Seeing is believing.

[Zorra]

11. Yeah, and I "could" win the lottery. n/t

[Solly Mack]

13. In December the # will climb to 160K...now take 20-30 K away from that

We are still looking at 130-140K in country next spring

Troop level will rise in December to 160K (in case no one knew)


Just said on CNN.(Wolf)

and here, 3rd page

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/07/news/troops.php

and here


http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16187566%255E1702,00.html

The number of US troops in the country will temporarily rise in December to around 160,000 to boost security for Iraqi elections, the Times wrote, adding that some troops leaving Iraq might be held in Kuwait as a reserve force.


NOTE: Leaving Iraq BUT staying in Kuwait.

[Barrett808]

14. I think they sincerely want to draw down, but not completely withdraw

Trying to piece all this together, I suspect The Bush mobsters want to get US troops out of harm's way by withdrawing to the permanent bases and using Iraqi military and police as human shields. They calculate that this will reduce the US casualty rate for 2006 midterms.

If this plan seems desperate and doomed, it is. It's not a foregone conclusion that the frail central government will sign a Status of Forces Agreement that permits the US to stay. In fact, it's fairly likely there will be a formal, public declaration for all US forces to leave. By November, 2006? Who knows?

Furthermore, the insurgency has thoroughly infiltrated the new Iraqi military and police forces. Ethnic militias comprise the rest. Turning over cities to these characters will be a repeat of the first Fallujah strategy: get out of Dodge and let the chips fall where they may.

[cliss]

21. That's some interesting news.

I've always felt that the Pentagon tacitly admitted failure when they decided to "let the Iraqis police themselves". This is such a clear indication they knew it was hopeless to continue the occupation.

Just the fact that they've resorted to Plan B shows it. And they're making it sound like this was the plan, all along. They weren't even going to have elections, until Al-Sistani insisted on it. The US had to capitulate; and now we have the result.

Now, as far as training the Iraqis to "police themselves", I agree it's desperate and doomed. Nobody's falling for it. Muqtada Al-Sadr said he won't go for it.

I was not aware of the insurgency infiltrating, but it makes sense to me. They're going to take their country back. Also, the fledgling government has publicly stated its wish to align itself with Iran. That's GOT to give Bush the DT's.

Thanks for awesome deductions.

[Eloriel]

15. Abaziad is an idiot yes-man

No way I trust anything coming from him. Of COURSE Bush wants to reduce troop strength for the 2006 election. Of COURSE Abazaid will tell him it's doable. :puke:

[VegasWolf]

16. Bush can't withdraw, then Iraq would start selling their oil to China-

Russia to get back at the US.

[AzDar]

17. The Wee Cowboy has gotten our country into a clusterf*&k of mythic

proportions.If he calls ANY troops home to help the Repubes in 2006,
it greatly endangers those troops remaining (of which, thanks to Dumsfeld,there have never been enough).Therefore, the only thing to call for is either ALL the troops in Iraq should remain there indefinitely to complete the "mission" (whatever THAT may be), or BRING THEM ALL HOME, NOW!!!!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

18. This is purely and simply a ruse...

designed specifically for the 2006 elections. Unfortunately the perk here is that some young men and women will now join the military based on these misfacts.

[wli]

19. Never to forgive. Never to forget.

Don't stop the pressure until Bushler, Cheney, Rummy, and their handlers are all in prison for war crimes in the Hague.

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. Notice all the psyops going down right now about this "drawdown" shit?

Clearly it's all lies, they are trying to pull chimps numbers out of the mud. They aren't going to reduce the troops size, on the contrary, it's going to climb just as soon as something really shitty happens over there like a massive attack on the "green zone".

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

22. I'll believe it when it happens...