Bush to Leave 140,000 Troops in Iraq Through November
Posted by Michael Link on April 10, 2008 at 10:33 AM
From the Washington Post:
The bottom line seems to be that after pulling out the extra forces Bush sent last year, the United States will keep about 140,000 troops in Iraq at least through the November presidential election. In the short term, the debate in Washington instead will focus more intently on trade-offs at home, including the strain on the armed forces and the Treasury.
This is at the same time that they're claiming that they're "scaling back," oddly enough, because instead of cut Army combat tours of 15 months they're going back to where they were: 12 months.
But even then, there's still a catch:
But Bush's decision will affect only those troops sent to Iraq as of Aug. 1 or later, meaning that those already there still have to complete 15-month tours. Bobby Muller, president of Veterans for America, an advocacy group, said that nearly half of the Army's active-duty frontline units are currently deployed for 15 months, and that Bush's decision leaves them out.
Updated by Matt Ortega: When Sen. Jim Webb (D-Virginia) proposed reducing combat tours from 15 to 12 months, guess who opposed it? John McCain.
Keep in mind that a certain presidential candidate just half a year ago claimed such a reduction in combat tours, when proposed by Senator Jim Webb, would "emasculate" the oh-so-successful surge, "could easily bring about ... defeat" and lead to "chaos and genocide" in the region.
Comments - 4 »
Comments - 4 «
"Scaling back" seems to be Bushiespeak for "we'll juggle the figures and try to scam the voters". It does not look like "cutting back" if half the units are left out of the changes and they're waiting until 1 August to "start" the change in rotations. Sounds like they'll conveniently change their minds at the last minute and cut orders for more 15 month tours, after they think the voters will have forgotten about the "change".
Posted by Butte on April 10, 2008 at 10:45 AM
It's just more of the same double talk. Bush clearly is an incompetent Commander-in-Chief who will go down in history as such.
One step forward, two steps back, one step forward is not the way you deploy troops. These are real people with families back home who depend on them and deserve some clear direction.
Going in without an exit stragety was bad enough. Not having any criteria for ever leaving is the height of arrogance and stupidity.
Neither Bush nor McCain have any idea who lives in Iraq and haven't taken the time to figure out the difference between Shiites and Sunnis....five years in.
Apparently, they don't know much about the American troops they want to send back time and time again either...nor care.
Posted by SandyH on April 10, 2008 at 01:08 PM
That's Bush for you. Invading a soveign nation for his personal vendetta and to satify his own bloodlust. He is an incompetent coward who willing to send other people to fight his own battles. I guess the only way Bush's personal vendetta will end is either we elect another president who end the war and punish Bush and Cheney for causing this mess or we remove Bush and CHeney from office ourselves before these two destroy the country. Because either way these two will eventually have to pay for their war crimes in international court and they will never see the light of day after all this is done.
Posted by Darien on April 11, 2008 at 06:35 AM
I hate to tell everyone, but this country loves war and guns more then it wants national health insurance. You know that people in this country are crazy when they stand up and cheer McCain when he talks about war. And if the military votes for McCain and for more years of war I will NEVER support our troops again. This will mean to me that the military loves killing more then it does peace.
The U.S.A spends more money on killing people then it does in helping them. This country is sick and will never stop loving to kill people. Just ask then Native American.
Posted by usahope1 on April 14, 2008 at 10:18 AM
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