BUT HOW MANY TROOPS HAVE BEEN TRAINED?
FEBRUARY 2004: Rumsfeld said the number of Iraqis serving in the security forces was over 210,000, and that the number may grow to over 226,000 by April.
SEPTEMBER 2004: Rumsfeld drastically drops the number of trained troops, saying in a briefing that the "latest number, last week was 105,000. Now it looks to be 95,000 - that is to say that are trained and equipped."
FEBRUARY 2005: Rumsfeld changes the number again, saying that "...the fact of the matter is that there are 130,2000 who have been trained and equipped...That's a fact. And how do I know that? I know it because General Petraeus counts them."
JUNE 2005: Rumsfeld changes the number again, saying that "The fact of the matter is the number's 168,000."
JULY 2005: General George Casey Jr., who oversees U.S. forces in Iraq, told Congress that only three of the approximately 100 Iraqi army battalions are taking on the insurgents by themselves. Three battalions is approximately 700 soldiers.
NOVEMBER 2005: Bush said that "40 Iraqi battalions are taking the lead in the fight." He said a battalion is typically comprised of "between 350 and 800 Iraqi forces," which would bring the latest estimate of fully trained Iraqi troops to somewhere between 14,000 and 32,000.
DECEMBER 2005: When Bush was asked how many Iraqi troops were now able to stand alone without the backing of U.S. troops, he said there were "about 200,000-plus capable" forces. He continued by saying that "Now, not all of them are ready to take the fight to the enemy."
MARCH 2006: Bush said that "60 Iraqi battalions are taking the lead in the fight." He previously said a battalion is typically comprised of "between 350 and 800 Iraqi forces," which would bring the latest estimate of fully trained Iraqi troops to somewhere between 21,000 and 48,000.