US forces in Iraq to exceed 140,000

[Jcrowley]

US forces in Iraq to exceed 140,000
By Edward Luce in Washington
Published: September 25 2006 18:48 | Last updated: September 25 2006 18:48

US officials said on Monday that American troop levels in Iraq were likely to remain well above 140,000 for the next few months, although they would not confirm reports that the 3,500-strong First Armoured Division had been ordered to remain in Iraq beyond its official tour of duty.

Growing sectarian conflict between Iraqi militias in the last few months and the continuation of the mostly Sunni insurgency against US forces has complicated the Bush administration’s goal of “standing down as the Iraqis stand up”. The overall US troop presence in Iraq has risen from 127,000 in July to 142,000 this week.
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Last week John Abizaid, the US commander in the region, said that US troop deployment in Iraq was likely to remain at these levels well into 2007 in order to wrest Baghdad and other provinces from the day-to-day control of sectarian death squads and insurgent groups.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/80766b90-4cbb-11db-b03c-0000779e2340,dwp_uuid=17aab8bc-6e47-11da-9544-0000779e2340.html

[wakeme2008]

1. There was a good reason they called my tour in Nam, Tour 365

:grr:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. So much for the pre-election troop drawdown.

What a f***ing mess. MKJ

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Plus how many "contractors"?

The mercenary numbers are never included.

[pinerow]

4. Someone close the window...

I seem to feel a draft...:sarcasm:

[zanne]

5. But not under this president...

He'll just "stay the course" and let the poor sap who succeeds him with the mess he made.

[maddezmom]

6. locking

not latest breaking news and a duplicate.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2529092&mesg_id=2529092