Rice Talks of Conditional U.S. Drawdown

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - Echoing military commanders, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday the U.S. could withdraw a significant number of troops from Iraq this year if Iraqi forces are able to assume greater control of the country's security.


"I think it's entirely probable that we will see a significant drawdown of American forces over the next year. ... It's all dependent on events on the ground," the chief American diplomat said.

Just this past week, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld declined to predict when U.S. forces would be out of Iraq. President Bush has said that decision would be up to a future U.S. president and a future Iraqi government.

"The level of the forces in Iraq will depend on conditions on the ground and the recommendations of the commanders," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon. He said he had not yet received a recommendation from Gen. George Casey, the top commander in Iraq, on whether or when to reduce the size of the force.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060326/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq;_

Condi putting on a good face for the Sunday talk shows...while the "good news" from Iraq keeps coming in. :eyes:

Iraqi Boy Killed While Walking to School

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060326/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_

Iraqi police major held for death squad role

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060326/wl_nm/iraq_arrest_dc

[rodeodance]

1. just in time for 06 elections. yup

[mdmc]

2. talk, nothing more ... "IF" Iraqis take control

we are a long way from that.

[hippiechick]

10. deflecting blame ...

BFEE: "We're ready to bring the troops home, but the Iraqi's need more preparation" or "Those evil terra-ist insurgents just keep multiplying." or ... or ... or ...

... that way they can say they had all intentions of ending the bloodbath, but the other side won't cooperate. Blaming the victim ~ it's what the Bush family does so very well.

[Missy M]

3. I have come to the conclusion Rice is all talk and no action...

she simply parrots what she is told. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know troops could be withdrawn if Iraqi forces were able to assume greater control of security. It also seems if our troops withdraw there will be less violence. Condi and her beloved boss got themselves in a mess that will be left for future administrations to try and solve. They will simply walk away.

[MadHound]

4. Given the ongoing rise of Iraqi violence,

Which is related to the continued rise of an Iraqi civil war, Condi knows full well that her "conditions" can't and won't be met. This is just some last minute CYA spin in order to counteract the spew coming out of Bushboy's mouth, ie, it is up to "future presidents" to bring the troops home. This little line went over like a lead balloon with the American public, so they trot Condi out to try and patch things up.

[BeyondThePale]

5. WTF does "Iraqi forces assuming greater control" mean?

"Rice said Sunday the U.S. could withdraw a significant number of troops from Iraq this year if Iraqi forces are able to assume greater control of the country's security."

It is a civil war - the only way Iraqi troops take control is if Shia death squads start exterminating Sunnis. This woman is supposed to be the Secretary of State--but she has the depth of thought of a four-year-old.

PLEASE, LET THE ADULTS TAKE CHARGE!!!

[oasis]

6. Condiliar's scheduled to appear on Meet the Press and two other Sunday

talk shows. Some major public relations (propaganda) announcement is in the works.

"Condi trumps Rummy" is likely to be Rove's next media blitz message.

[babylonsister]

7. Yawn. Coulda, shoulda, woulda. I believe nothing from her. nt

[Bob3]

8. We've heard this song before - and much like it.

Of course she could be telling the truth - they will need those bodies for the grand crusade in Iran.

[deminks]

9. Smirky will keep whatever troops he needs to run the permanent bases.

What Condiliar doesn't talk about.

[Nutmegger]

11. What an effing phone

I just had this urge to throw something at the teevee. She makes me :puke:.

[Kenergy]

12. She's a miserable failure, like her husb.......er, boss n/t

[Up2Late]

13. AFP: US troop drawdown in Iraq 'entirely probable': Rice

(I love how this article is written, the first line really says it all.)

US troop drawdown in Iraq 'entirely probable': Rice

26/03/2006 17h46

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, seeking to reassure a worried US public that Washington had an exit strategy in Iraq, said a "significant" drawdown of US troops is "entirely probable" within a year.

Speaking on NBC television's "Meet the Press" program, Rice sought to balance concern generated by President George W. Bush's comments last week that US forces would remain in Iraq after his term ends in January 2009.

"I think it's entirely probable that we will see a significant drawdown of American forces over the next year," she said, citing the assessment of the US commander, General George Casey. "It's all dependent on events on the ground."

Although the US administration refuses to set a timetable for the withdrawal of the 133,000 US troops in Iraq, Pentagon officials have expressed hope they could cut the force level to 100,000 by the of 2006.

(more at link below)

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060326174638.4zkhalde.html>

[msgadget]

14. Hmmm, this is familiar

A version of the Opposite Song - he takes the No Timetable part and she and others sing What the Electorate Will Swallow. At other times their roles are reversed - he'll trill something benign and Cheney or someone will provide snarling stanzas. And, hey, wasn't the pentagon talking about a drawdown in '06 (last year) when he was singing another version of No Timetable... :crazy: