Bush cabal uses Iraqi violence as excuse to halt promised troop drawdown

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Violence stalls cuts in troops

The New York Times
Published: Thursday, March 2, 2006

WASHINGTON - Senior Pentagon officials said Wednesday that after a burst of sectarian violence in Iraq, it is unlikely that an announcement of troop cuts there would be made next week, as had been expected.

The officials' hesitancy reflected uncertainty over whether the sectarian bombings and insurgent attacks, which have killed hundreds of Iraqis in the past two weeks, might lead to a broader civil war, and whether Iraqi forces were up to the task of keeping order.

Top Army commanders are to meet with President Bush next week to discuss the matter, but the officials said any announcement of troop cuts could intensify violence in Iraq and convince insurgents that they were driving out American troops.

``No decision on U.S. forces is likely, given conditions on the ground,'' said a senior Pentagon official.

Even so, several officials said, the top American generals in Iraq, John Abizaid and George Casey, will have to decide by the end of the month whether to send in the first of the combat units scheduled to replace troops due to depart this summer, or to hold them back, in effect lowering troop levels.

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/03/02/a2.int.pent.0302.p1.php?section=nation_world

[atreides1]

1. Gee Whiz

Who didn't see this coming?

[acmavm]

2. I never expected it to happen in the first place. No big surprise

here.