Love how they slip that first bit in there. I haven't seen ANY posts that showed an increased violence activity in Iraq--in fact just the opposite. The second half --the actual quote-- is more in lines with fact.
despite reports from Michael Moore, Code Pink, the Dixie Chicks, Murtha, Cindy...
Have you noticed that this is 18-20% augment?
The US surge was no bigger when measured as percentage of forces. This makes much more sense than the previous reporting in press that had indicated the reductions would start after New Years. Spring is much better, as it allows the IA time to get situated.
This is a surge of forces to cover the IA build gap that I have been looking at. This is covering the 6mo gap that I saw. Someone in UK agrees that that gap was not desirable.
I am now retracting my previous objections to the UK reduction schedule since, it was based on erronious reporting of the plans...
Depending on which paper you read, the stories are different on withdrawl...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1918572/posts
Gordon Brown later announced that British troop levels would be cut by 1,000 before Christmas.
In January another 500 are slated to leave and a further 1,500 are to be pulled out by the middle of next year, leaving just 2,500 troops in southern Iraq.