US forces in Iraq to grow slightly in coming months: officials

[Roland99]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050526/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Overlapping troop rotations will push US force levels in Iraq slightly higher in coming months but the top US commander in Iraq has made no recommendations so far on the future size of the force, senior defense officials said.

General George Casey, the US commander in Iraq, met with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday to review progress in developing Iraqi security forces and the political transition there, Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita said.

<...>

"In the near term, it is going to increase a bit because we're starting now the next rotation," he said. "So during that transitional period, the numbers of boots on the ground will increase somewhat while the replacement forces are in and they're doing their transitions."

The slightly higher level of US forces will hold at least through the summer, he said.

Through the summer? Summer hasn't even started yet. Sounds like some extended tours of duty are about to be hatched.

[Cocoa]

1. they were just talking about troop reductions

about a month ago. Floated rumors about upcoming force reductions, which CNN swallowed whole. Barbara Starr reporting it like it was fact, the vapid anchorman playing along with the fantasy.

[Walt Starr]

2. They've pulled this at least three times by my count

Announce reductions coming then quietly raise troop levels "slightly".

[denverbill]

6. Maybe they are reducing troop levels by negative amounts.

140,000-(-10,000) = 150,000.

[radar]

8. It's OK to lie to America now - so sayeth CNN*

*Reese Schonfeld, Co-founder of CNN, Says "The Public Does Not Have a Right to Know"
...Rumsfeld, the Secretary can never lie but any, anybody under him can...in the government interest.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3730041

[Roland99]

10. And we all know the lie around Tillman's death was ok.

[DS1]

3. I know a guy in a Guard unit that arrived in Iraq on Tuesday

SO there's some truth to this. It'd be insane to pull out the guys that are leaving without any briefing/cross training

[Roland99]

4. True...but how long will those destined for home be held there?

[Ilsa]

5. Did they ever reduce troop levels back down to pre-election

January levels of 135,000, or is it still at 150,000?

[wtmusic]

7. And there is a teeny-weenie chance there will be a teenie weenie draft...

slightly.

[VegasWolf]

9. because we have a President with a teenie weenie? n/t

[pfitz59]

11. Just in time for........

sweltering heat, sandstorms, dehydration and other plagues of summer...

[Dr Fate]

12. All these Democrats who are going around saying we need to stay...

...in Iraq and "finish the job" need to keep in mind that my ass aint going over there. EVER. Neither are the Young Republicans and neither is that dude who lives under me who plays his X-Box and smokes dope all day.

WHO is going to do all this fighting? DEMs need to be looking at alternatives to war instead of going along with Bush /media.

I cant support any further occupation of that country without being a hypocrite. I'm not going. Ever. period.

[cornermouse]

13. Isn't that the opposite of leaving?

:shrug: Just asking...

[Roland99]

14. Shh...stop making sense.

[NNN0LHI]

15. Escalation

Where have I seen that happen before?

Don

[thebigidea]

16. and by the time fall comes around...

everyone will forget about all this talk of reducing forces...

... except us, of course.

[central scrutinizer]

17. mission accomplished!

er, mission close to accomplished? Er, freedom on the march? Er, would you believe, mission (make that quagmire) totally, irredeemably fucked up?

[AzDar]

18. THAT one, I believe! n/t