Posted on 08/23/2005 5:47:20 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
THE Pentagon plans to deploy two additional battalions to Iraq amid rising insurgent attacks ahead of an anticipated referendum on a constitution, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said today.
Mr Rumsfeld expressed confidence that public support for the war effort in Iraq will hold despite polls showing growing disenchantment in the United States. "I think it'll have the support of the American people, and it will be sustained, and we will be successful," he said.
"And the alternative would be to turn that country and 25 million people over to terrorists and the kinds of people who have used chemicals on their own people and chemicals on their neighbours," he said. "That would be to turn to darkness."
An unfinished draft of the constitution was presented to the Iraqi parliament late yesterday, but deep differences remain between Sunnis and the Shiites and Kurds.
Mr Rumsfeld discounted concerns that Sunni rejection of the charter could leave US forces caught in the middle of a civil war.
"It hasn't happened yet. It is not happening now," he said.
"And, obviously, it is something that one has to be attentive to and be concerned about. But I haven't seen anything to indicate that the risk is greater today than it was yesterday or the day before," he said.
His comments came on a day in which two more Americans, a soldier and a contractor, died. They were killed in a suicide bombing in Baquba that also claimed the lives of five Iraqis.
Around 60 US troops have been killed so far in August, making it one of the deadliest months of the war for the US military since it invaded Iraq in March 2003.
The US death toll now stands at 1868.
Mr Rumsfeld acknowledged that insurgents have stepped up attacks in anticipation of a planned October 15 referendum on the constitution, attributing the higher casualties to more lethal and sophisticated insurgent bomb attacks.
"We very likely will be announcing a temporary increase in forces in Iraq in anticipation of the October 15th. So at some point, we'll be notifying people and taking that forward," he said.
Asked how many troops could be involved, he said between 1000 and 2000 soldiers.
Admiral Edmund Giambastiana, the new vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it would be two battalions.
Senior military officials said the battalions would amount to extra troops, brought in on top of the scheduled rotation of forces in Iraq.
Military officials also are looking at ways to adjust the rotation of forces to beef up the US troop presence on the ground for the elections from its current level of about 138,000 troops.
Some units already in Iraq could have their tours extended for a couple of months while units due to deploy to Iraq could be brought in earlier than scheduled.
Pentagon officials have said they expect the total number to rise to about the level they were at during Iraq's January 30 elections - some 159,000 troops.
What word are you talking about??
How is the President not doing that?
How is the President not doing that?
He has not done jack against Iran and Syria, two nations that harbor terrorists.
He has given cash grant freebie tax dolalrs to Iran--TWICE!--since 911 following earthquakes.
He is standing by watchng as Iran develops nukes.
He is standing by watching as Iran is building the IDEs that are killing our troops in Iraq.
He continues to give money to the Palestinians, another group that harbors terrorists.
He continues to give food to N. Korea.
You know all this. Why would you ask such a stupid question knowing full well Bush has not done jack about many nations that harbor terrorists?
Yep, last week Hunt and Cowens said we could not win. But NOW they come up with a strategy where we can WIN?
They are getting their info from ol buddies who aren't getting recognition, I would guess. Sorry but I'm really getting p.o.'d at Col Hunt these days.
There is a reason they are mid-level and not top-level, I think.
You sir, are an IDIOT!!!!
This might just be a predeployment for phase 3, Iran.
they pump 2 million bbls of oil per day at $67 each, they can't afford a few hundred Hummers for their security forces?
Apparently not, when there's 2 decades of basic infrastructure to replace, at the same time. While there's a terrorist insurgency going on, at the same time.
the iraqi military forces getting up to speed is the #1 issue - solve that problem, and other things will fall into place.
But you've got to keep the populace fed and occupied in the meanwhile.
I just perused the thread from the President's speech today. They were saying that he named several states where terrorist plots have been thwarted. I believe California was one of them.
I am upset I have been away from everything today. It sounds like his speech was one not to be missed.
I just perused the thread from the President's speech today. They were saying that he named several states where terrorist plots have been thwarted. I believe California was one of them.
I am upset I have been away from everything today. It sounds like his speech was one not to be missed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.