Rumsfeld Hints Iraq Troop Levels May Rise

[ECH1969]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld hinted Tuesday that U.S. troop levels may increase in Iraq in the coming days because of pilgrimages connected to the holiday of Ashura.

His comments, while linked to the holy celebration, came as sectarian violence spiked again in Iraq, with the execution-style killings of at least 87 people, including about 29 bodies piled in a mass grave in a Baghdad neighborhood. Hundreds of people have been killed since the Feb. 22 bombing of a Shiite mosque in Samarra, creating concern that the country may be tipping toward civil war.

Rumsfeld said Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. military officer in Iraq, "may decide he wants to bulk up slightly for the pilgrimage."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/14/AR2006031401005.html

[liberal N proud]

1. i thought they were looking to draw down the troops after the Iraqi

elections?

What happened to that lie?

[existentialist]

2. What, you expect consistency?

Last week's lie doesn't seem to be working so why would you possibly hold it against them when they try another?

(Well, let's hope this one is a lie too.)

[saigon68]

18. PETER PACE SAYS WE ARE "WINNING"

Whatever the FUCK that means

I guess he thinks the natives need a little More Discipline

Too bad his Dominatrix Lynndie England is locked up

[NanceGreggs]

3. GREAT IDEA!

Gen. George Casey "may decide he wants to bulk up slightly for the pilgrimage."

Great - why don't you 'bulk up' by sending Rummy, along with the rest of the WH crew who got us into this mess in the first place? Hell, I'll even kick-in for airfare!

[msgadget]

4. Hey, how prescient is that Mrs. Clinton, huh? n/t

[genie_weenie]

5. This is standard operating procedure

Convince the Sheep that we want to draw down forces (just repeat it over and over and over) this will in fact have the result of making people believe forces have "actually" been withdrawn and then, whenever a major event is scheduled to occur in Iraq (Ashura, Ramadan, The Hajj, An election, someone sneezing) increase troop level.

Then when things return to the daily grind of 3 dead Americans, 7 wounded and 20 dead Iraqis talk about reducing troop levels...

[lovuian]

6. Getting ready for Iran... Rumsfeld switches gears every

two seconds!!!

[radfringe]

16. talking heads last night

disputed claims that Iran is supplying IED's to Iraq -- said there was no evidence

meanwhile - bushies continue to assert Iran's involvment in Iraq

smells like the bushies have re-packaged the WMD-IRAQ claims into IED-IRAN product

[54anickel]

7. Hinting? It's happening - More U.S. Troops Moving Into Iraq

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2167261

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/24/iraq/main541815.shtml

(CBS/AP) March was supposed to be the month when the U.S. commander in Iraq made a recommendation to pull more troops out of Iraq. Instead, he has asked for more troops to be sent in, reports CBS News National Security correspondent David Martin.

With 133,000 American troops already in Iraq, an armored battalion of about 700 soldiers kept on standby in Kuwait is beginning to move north toward Baghdad. U.S. officials say Gen. George Casey asked for more troops because of a convergence of events, and danger, surrounding the third anniversary of the American invasion.

snip>

Pentagon officials say they expect the extra troops to remain in Iraq about a month. So it's a small increase and it's supposed to be temporary, but putting troops in instead of taking them out does not sound like progress, Martin says.

[bemildred]

8. More U.S. Troops Moving Into Iraq

(CBS/AP) March was supposed to be the month when the U.S. commander in Iraq made a recommendation to pull more troops out of Iraq. Instead, he has asked for more troops to be sent in, reports CBS News National Security correspondent David Martin.

With 133,000 American troops already in Iraq, an armored battalion of about 700 soldiers kept on standby in Kuwait is beginning to move north toward Baghdad. U.S. officials say Gen. George Casey asked for more troops because of a convergence of events, and danger, surrounding the third anniversary of the American invasion.

---

"One of the most important things that needs to happen is an Iraqi government of national unity to emerge there. That will help," Gen. John Abizaid says.

Sunday marks the beginning of a Shiite pilgrimage that will bring thousands of believers to the holy city of Karbala and with them the potential for violence on an even larger scale.

CBS News

[Massachusetts]

9. Troops Moving Into Iraq

Deja Vu all over again!

[IndianaGreen]

11. They said that it is only for about a month

Pentagon officials say they expect the extra troops to remain in Iraq about a month. So it's a small increase and it's supposed to be temporary

We need the additional troops for the upcoming victory parade, don't you know?

[LiberalEsto]

10. Where did they find more troops?

I thought we were stretched pretty thin, militarily.

Or are we outsourcing the U.S. military as well?

[MASSAFRA]

12. I believe that

they are moving N from Kuwait

[Up2Late]

13. Here we are in backward world again...

They should "rotate" all the desk-jocks into Iraq for a tour.:mad:

[daleo]

14. 700 more troops

That ought to make all the difference.

[fearnobush]

15. Building for the Iran invasion?

[sheelz]

17. He's deranged!