WP: 3 Brigades May Be Cut in Iraq Early in 2006

Washington Post ^ | November 23, 2005 | Bradley Graham and Robin Wright

[West Coast Conservative]

Barring any major surprises in Iraq, the Pentagon tentatively plans to reduce the number of U.S. forces there early next year by as many as three combat brigades, from 18 now, but to keep at least one brigade "on call" in Kuwait in case more troops are needed quickly, several senior military officers said.

Pentagon authorities also have set a series of "decision points" during 2006 to consider further force cuts that, under a "moderately optimistic" scenario, would drop the total number of troops from more than 150,000 now to fewer than 100,000, including 10 combat brigades, by the end of the year, the officers said.

Despite an intensified congressional debate about a withdrawal timetable after last week's call by Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for a quick pullout, administration officials say that military and political factors heavily constrain how fast U.S. forces should leave. They cite a continuing need to assist Iraq's fledgling security forces, ensure establishment of a permanent government, suppress the insurgency and reduce the potential for civil war.

U.S. military commanders, too, continue to favor a gradual, phased reduction, saying that too rapid a departure would sacrifice strategic gains made over the past 30 months and provide a propaganda windfall to insurgents.

Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, the senior tactical commander in Iraq, indicated to reporters at the Pentagon yesterday that his staff had looked at shrinking U.S. force levels more quickly. But he made his opposition to such a move clear.

"A precipitous pullout, I believe, would be destabilizing," Vines said from Baghdad.

[REDWOOD99]

Well there's the answer to why the big stink about pulling out the troops... So the dems caan claim credit.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Well, they gotta print something, anything, because they have existing advertising contracts...for now.

The problem of too many people bothering to READ it is solving itself....

[pcottraux]

You know what? I recently read that the reason for the problems is NOT ENOUGH TROOPS in Iraq. This is going to hurt our efforts even more.

[MJY1288]

BINGO, The DEms see the progress and want to get out in front of it to claim the success was due to the pullout, not what our troops have done. The Democrats are still just like they were when McCarthy was outing them as anti-American Traitors. Nothing has changed, The RATS are only concerned about power and control. Their Socialists platform is proof that they want dependents, not productive citizens

[bybybill]

I`m not the brightest bulb in the box, but wasn`t the plan from the start to stabilize IRAQ, help rebuild, form a Democratic form of government, and then leave?
Seems to me thats what is happening now. So, what`s the big deal?

[patriciaruth]

The most closely guarded secret is that their is a plan.

And it's working.

[patriciaruth]

their=there

[bybybill]

What an outrage. Bush is trying to stop the Rats in 06 by actually winning the war.

[MJY1288]

Exactly, That's why the RATS are calling for a pullout.... So they can claim the mission was a failure while ignoring all the progress.

This is what they are going to base their 2006 Elections on. "We called for a withdraw in order for the Iraqi's to step up and take control of their own security, Our plan worked and Bush's didn't"

The MSM will do all they can to give credit to Murtha and John Kerry for denouncing our Military as "The Enemy Over There" and that it was their plan that inspired the Iraqi's to assume the responsibility for their own security while ignoring all the training our Troops provided for them... JUST WATCH

[MJY1288]

See Post #10

[Southack]

"I have been visiting our wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed hospitals almost every week since the beginning of the War. And what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace;" - The Honorable John P. Murtha
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa12_murtha/pr051117iraq.html

Influential House Democrat Urges Immediate Iraq Pullout
By DAVID STOUT
Published: November 17, 2005
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 - An influential House Democrat called the Iraq campaign "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion" today as he called for the immediate withdrawal of United States troops..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/17/politics/17cnd-military.html?hp

Not enough troops...pull the troops out... Not enough troops...pull the troops out... Not enough troops...pull the troops out... Not enough troops...pull the troops out... Not enough troops...pull the troops out...

[pcottraux]

You'd almost think that was John Kerry whose quotes you were reading.

[Mount Athos]

You nailed that.

[bybybill]

You are right, but, just like the MURTHA campaign, it won`t work.
The Rats have ran, as fast as they could, into the "you gotta make the kooky base happy" trap. Of course the Media jump right into it to.
THere is now way they can now take credit for the War and Iraq, they will only keep digging.
One Rat hasn`t joined the kool-aid parade, Hillary
Sleep well

[Carling]

One Rat hasn't joined the kool-aid parade, Hillary Sleep well

The second part of this is her Husband In Name Only (HINO) is talking out against the war to appease the kooky left. Yet Hillary can distance herself from it and the media will allow it.

It's a brilliant strategy at first glance. It won't work, but it is good politics. Use your strengths.

[Marine_Uncle]

The ex-Marine is nothing more then a political prostitute at this point. Had he really spoken with our Army and Marine generals on down in Iraq a few months back there simply is no way he could ever pulled this frigen stunt off. He is a liar and has no honor.
What I find amazing is the fact for more then a year the plan was to reduce in numbers our footprint after the final federal election and government was put into place. The troop levels where clearly and repetively publisized to increase for the constitutional and federal election period then start to decline in early 2006, as ground conditions dictact. We have moved out of some 18 FOB's to date in the past four months or so, and handed these FOB's over to the Iraqi forces.
Last year say late summer I specifically remember reading projections saying we would downsize in spring of 2006 if the Iraqi forces where at the projected levels of efficiency.
So again. This whole pile of crap is nothing more then a Charade. And oddly even guys like Rush Limbo are not keeping up on what so many of us take for granted regarding condtions for downsizing, the 5 levels of Iraqi troop evalutions etc..
The world is living on mostly disinformation.

[MJY1288]

Hillary does not have to worry about the 63 Million people who voted for George W. Bush in 2004, Hillary has to worry about the other half of the voters who didn't bother to vote in 2004.

Hillary will cause every non voter to reconsider not taking that short drive to their local polling place. For those who don't know how evil she is, we hear in the new media will make sure they know just how much of a career criminal she is

[BushMeister]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 - An influential House Democrat called the Iraq campaign "a flawed policy wrapped in illusion" today as he called for the immediate withdrawal of United States troops..."

This news article is clearly false. There *are* no influential House Democrats...

[RobbyS]

Murtha knew this was coming. He didn't want the administration to get credit.