US now wants more troops in Iraq

[bemildred]

Amid escalating violence in Iraq and a reported withdrawal of the New Zealand contingent, the top US commander has signalled a striking reversal of policy and acknowledged more US troops are needed in Iraq.

General John Abizaid, head of US Central Command, had initially stated that the security gap could be filled by Iraqi security forces and more international troops deployed to protect the UN-organised elections.



But his remarks after closed-door sessions with congressional armed services committee members late on Wednesday in Washington raised the prospect that the US may have to enlarge the 140,000-strong force deployed in Iraq, at least during the elections.



"I think we will need more troops than we currently have to secure the election process in Iraq that will probably take place in the end of January," Abizaid told reporters.

al Jazeerra

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Ya think?

*doh*

[Jacobin]

2. Actually, there'll just be more targets

We will never successfully conquer that country. We are infidels and won't ever be welcome as an occupying power, which is what we still are.

The only solution (a bad one) is to get out. The only other 'solution' is to add more troops and piss them off more (a worse one).

Going from the frying pan into the fire.

Hey, 'but we don't need a draft' :-)

[Supersedeas]

3. Bushspeak: we WILL need more troops = we NEEDED more troops

[phantom power]

4. LOL! And they're shocked--*shocked*, I tell you--that anyone would

fall for these scurrilous and baseless rumors of a draft!

[madrchsod]

5. dammit !!! shut the door

it`s getting drafty in here!! what george no volunteer army? georgie it`s no draft..

[saigon68]

6. Read My Lips--" No New DRAFT" , THE CHIMPANZEE

the mighty chimp has decreed.

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Meanwhile recruiters have missed their target quotas

Reserve/guard down 45%, active duty down 30%. It's getting mighty drafty around here.

[Lori Price CLG]

8. Date of article is Thursday 23 September 2004 (still applicable,

but just noting it's not from the last couple of days.)

Lori

[bemildred]

9. It said October when I posted it. Tsk. nt

[radar]

10. I think it was BartCop.com...

...That brought this scenario up awhile back.

With the 130-140,000 US troops there, now unable to go into some cities - or even protect people in the ones they occupy; how are they going to insure safe elections in Jan.?

Carbombs blowing up outside police stations where people line up - imagine how popular buildings with "VOTE HERE" signs on them become... And how many voters stay away when a few of those places go up in smoke?

[freeminder]

12. sadly, the same is true about US elections

"and how many voters stay awaya when a few of those places go up in smoke?"

They know turnout will kill them. So they will do everything to kill the turnout.

[freeminder]

11. Abizaid is planning a Shinseki <eom>

[Paleocon]

13. A draft may be the only thing that wakes America up to what is going on...

As much as I am against it, I think it would be beneficial in that it would FORCE people to think about what is going on. It would be harder for them to concentrate on the latest reality series if their brother, father, uncle, sister, mother, aunt is over in Iraq fighting for their "freedom".

[Zhade]

14. **cough**draft**cough**

NT!