Posted on 12/22/2005 9:29:23 PM PST by NormsRevenge
FALUJAH, Iraq - President Bush has authorized new cuts in U.S. combat troops in Iraq, below the 138,000 level that prevailed for most of this year, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Friday.
Addressing U.S. troops at this former insurgent stronghold, Rumsfeld did not reveal the exact size of the troop cut, but Pentagon officials have said it could be as much as 7,000 combat troops.
Two army brigades that had been scheduled for combat tours — one from Fort Riley, Kan., the other now in Kuwait — will no longer deploy to Iraq. That will reduce the number of combat brigades in Iraq from 17 to 15.
"The effect of these adjustments will reduce forces in Iraq by the spring of 2006 below the current high of 160,000 during the (Iraqi) election period to below the 138,000 baseline that had existed before the most recent elections," Rumsfeld said.
Rumsfeld aides said details were to be provided later at the Pentagon.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, left, meets troops at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Rumsfeld arrived unannounced in Baghdad on Thursday to hold talks with U.S. commanders and assess the next phase of U.S. troop deployments in Iraq. (AP Photo/Jim Young, Pool)
Pssst, don't tell anyone but the War is Over.
Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops
It's a quagmire, yaknow.
Merry Christmas, Troops!
Quagmire time is right. Teddy K didn't think he was talking about his party when he said that, though.
U.S. Secretary of Defense H. Donald Rumsfeld attends a medal ceremony for soldiers in the 173rd Airborne at an air base in Khandahar, Afghanistan, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Rumsfeld said on Thursday a rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq or Afghanistan would spawn more terrorism in the region and raise the risk of attacks on the United States. (AP Photo/Jim Young, Pool)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, center, presents a medal of valor to Sgt. Kenneth Stover, left, as soldiers watch from a rooftop during a medal ceremony in Khandahar, Afghanistan Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Rumsfeld arrived unannounced in Baghdad on Thursday to hold talks with U.S. commanders and assess the next phase of U.S. troop deployments in Iraq. (AP Photo/Jim Young, Pool)
I am certain that Dubya listened to the advice of his military and acted accordingly. In one minute the rats will be claiming Dubya caved to public opinion, and some self-righteous attention seeking air-head conservative pundit will say he caved to the rats.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, right, is greeted by Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, after arriving by transport plane in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Rumsfeld flew unannounced to Iraq Thursday to meet with American battlefield commanders and soldiers amid increasing signs the Bush administration is planning new troop cuts. (AP Photo/Jim Young, Pool)
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Bush Cutting U.S. Troops Levels in Iraq
That would be hard to do since the President, and on down the line, have been saying for a YEAR that levels would be reduced after the December elections and the Iraqis get trained.
We are a long way from being over in this mission.
I hope this troop reduction empowers the terrorists to come out of their spider holes so we can eliminate them and allow the decent folk of Iraq to live their lives in peace.
Goodwill to peace loving folk, terrorists can die where they stand.
I wouldn't call McCain conservative, but I suppose some RINOs will stab Dubya in the back too.
The trifecta of successful elections is the reason.
President Bush waited until the Rats were home for Christmas before making the announcement. LOL! Dumb Rats.
I'm sure Kerry and Pelosi have already posted to their websites taking credit for the troop reductions.
So far, we haven't seen any Democrats marching to the microphone to announce that cutting back the number of troops puts our soldiers at risk.... but, then again, it's still early.
Let's figure somewhere around noon Friday.
The MSM will soon begin spinning this as the administration caving to political pressure to pull out.
Of course, the original pentagon plan was to go to 92k by the end of '06.
We are seeing history rewritten before our eyes in the MSM.
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