How Many Troop Increases Have Already Occurred In Iraq?

[whatelseisnew]

Seems to me we've already had 3 or 4 smaller Escalations but I can't recall the dates.

Each one was presented as temporary but how many really were?

[endarkenment]

1. 130,000 - 157,000

Over the last 1.5 - 2 years we have escalated the war while the war continued to get worse.

[whatelseisnew]

2. I don't recall it ever being called an escalation

I recall strained language that disguised a troop increase on multiple occasions

[endarkenment]

3. Well they just forgot to mention it.

Seems like back when they were in control of all branches of government and before the ISG lectured them about what a lousy job they have done, that escalation would be some sort of admission of failure, so they just plumb forgot to mention it. So what happened was that every time there was a big event (for example one of the waggy blue finger elections) they would bump up troop streangth, but then it never actually bumped back down. So we have had a stealth escalation from the 'normal' levels of around 130,000 to today's 157,000.

[whatelseisnew]

4. I think one of them was actually billed as a decrease

then they sent troops to facilitate the decrease but ...

[whatelseisnew]

5. Does anybody know?

?

[whatelseisnew]

6. Somebody on DU must know this

[whatelseisnew]

7. Is It a dumb question?

I'm starting to feel stupid for asking it.

I'll have some time soon to go ahead and research it.

[whatelseisnew]

8. thanks endarkenment