Posted on 03/18/2005 4:12:28 AM PST by Crackingham
The Army's second-ranking general said Thursday that the number of American troops in Iraq would probably decline by early 2006, largely because of post-election progress in combating insurgents and training more Iraqi troops to take over security duties.
The officer, Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army vice chief of staff, did not give specific figures, emphasizing that the decision would be made next month by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top commander in Iraq, and senior Pentagon officials. But other senior military officials said American troop levels could drop to around 105,000 by early next year from 150,000 now.
The Pentagon has previously said that by the end of this month the size of the American forces in Iraq would decrease to about 138,000 troops, the level preceding the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq, and most likely remain at that level through the end of the year.
Wait a sec...isn't this a Viet Nam-like quagmire?
We're winning in Iraq & that'll have an impact in the immeidate region. The next impact will be elsewhere as other international malefactors see the U.S. re-fit and re-cock a now battle-hardened Army.
The only thing worse than a quagmire for a liberal is an American success, anywhere, in any endeavor, especially under a Republican administration.
I'd LOL if they weren't so pathetic.
It won't be over then, however. Were it not for Iran and Syria, we could probably pull out larger numbers of troops. Still, if we can reduce our presence by 40k troops a year for three years, and leave behind a modest garrison after that for another few years, we'd be doing a lot for regional stability. It would also reduce the deployment strain on our forces, and allow us to rebuild our combat power.
All in all, this is exactly the right trend. As more Iraqi forces come on line, and the political process begins to take root, the insurgency will fall apart, and we can begin refocusing our efforts.
Invoking Godwins Law on the opening shot? Pathetic. If your 'new material' was banned, then it was either racially intolerant claptrap, or socialist weasel claptrap.
Either way, this Zot's for you.
Gee, I never knew the Nazis had the internet.
Take your spam routine somewhere else.
This is exactly what Ive been saying is happening with our allies in Iraq. They aren't leaving because of the anti war crowd, they're leaving because they aren't needed.
We have already won in Iraq. Democracy is taking hold and terrorist insurgency is slowly melting away.
http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com
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