[TheLion]

They needed to start this war with fewer people and then build up. There was no way to cover the logistical problems, otherwise....imo.

[Burkeman1]

From what I have read the Pentagon brass wanted half a million like in GWI. The neocon ideologues in the white house - like Perle- said it could be done with 60 thousand! Rummy cut the difference between the factions and put it at 200 thousand. I think the Pentagon was playing it safe (but shouldn't we always?) but it is obvious we need about another 50 to a 100 thousand more troops to get the job done. In the meantime we have lost momentum.