America to cut troops in Iraq by one fifth

[La_Serpiente]

America to cut troops in Iraq by one fifth

The United States military is to cut troop strengths in Iraq by a fifth, from 130,000 to 105,000, as commanders begin the largest rotation of men and equipment in American history.

The reduction in overall troop numbers did not signal a lessening of US military might in the country, a senior military officer said. Instead, Pentagon chiefs would be consolidating assets scattered across the Gulf inside Iraq itself.

Heavy infantry and Marines will replace armoured units that have until now provided the firepower to take on a conventionally armed enemy.

"While there may be a reduction in the numbers, it's not a reduction in our capability," the officer said.

The next few months before the transfer of sovereignty planned for July 1 will see a huge influx of Marines and part-time soldiers from the reserves and National Guard units, equipped with lightly armoured infantry vehicles.

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America to cut troops in Iraq by one fifth

[wuushew]

1. Ah yes Vietnamization has begun..as I knew it would

the old cut and run. This is why I believe the draft to be unlikely, even if Iraq descends into civil war American G.I.s won't be dying and Joe Sixpack won't care. In addition the lucrative contracts will pay off big time for Dick Cheney despite turing the country into a shithole.

[...Alltogethernow]

2. It's a start ...

... in the right direction!

[alcuno]

3. They don't have much choice. Not enough troops.

Wasn't it Rummy who thought they would reduce the force down to 40,000 last summer?

[TomNickell]

13. I think you are right, and it's very dangerous.

Fewer troops means more places for insurgents to hide.
Newer troops means guys that don't know how to stay alive.

[IndianaGreen]

4. This is being done for PR purposes

but it will also put additional pressure on the troops that remain. Most of our Vietnam casualties occurred after we began to withdraw troops during Nixon's Vietnamization.

[wuushew]

6. Are you sure about that? Here is a graph of Vietnam from 12/31/61 forward

[Columbia]

9. Misleading graphic

A more appropriate one would consider number of casualties to number of troops in country. The first years of the Vietnam war had very few troops in country and even then they were mostly military advisors and not part of the major fighting force.

[wuushew]

10. Apparently Vietnamization was a Nixonian sham

Notice the draw down in U.S. troops is never met by increases in South Vietnamese troop strength.


Vietnam/Iraq comparisons are probably most valid in 1964-1965 and 1971.

Allied Troop Levels - Vietnam, 1960 To 1973 Year American SVN

1959 760 243000
1960 900 243000
1961 3205 243000
1962 11300 243000
1963 16300 243000
1964 23300 514000
1965 184300 642500
1966 385300 735900
1967 485600 798700
1968 536100 820000
1969 475200 897000
1970 334600 968000
1971 156800 1046250
1972 24200 1048000
1973 50 1110000

[rustydog]

5. Official electioneering has begun.. Bush wants the impression

that troops are coming home.

[kentuck]

7. Bingo!

He wants the "impression" troops are coming home. If we are so unfortunate to see him elected in November, do not be surprised to see troops go back into Iraq. The people should know enough about this regime by now to know how their evil minds work.

[Mari333]

8. Oh ya and my stepsons Unit is about to go over there?????

the whole goddamned unit? EXCUSE me????
Bullshit..this is PR crap
total bullshit..to make the US pop think we are leaving WE ARENT...they are deploying more kids as we speak..
Sons of Bitches!

[Ilsa]

11. Oh, I just love this quote:

"While there may be a reduction in the numbers, it's not a reduction in our capability," the officer said.

I wonder if people would say the same thing about a nurse-patient ratio in a hospital: "We've reduced staff from one nurse to eight patients to one to twenty-five patients, but it's not a reduction in quality or quantity of care."

[DUreader]

12. Since They Lie About Everything, All We Know Is An Increase In Troops

As of Now It Looks Like An Increase Of Troops and until they actually

bring home more than they deploy I will have to believe it is just that.

An increase. Will they come home? Maybe if they don't all of a sudden have

to go to Syria or Iran or Cuba or Venezuela.

I'll believe it when I see it and not before

Their word is useless

[bigtree]

14. We are preparing for someone's concept of a 'low intensity conflict'

A senior U.S. military official said though numbers were being cut, soldiers would be better equipped for the low intensity conflict the military expects to face in the next six to 12 months.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4152546&pageNumber=1

Less soldiers + same amount of resistance = deadly quagmire