U.S. troop levels in Iraq reach 147,000

[leftchick]

Do you think this is linked to the upcoming election?

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2102281.php

Troop levels in Iraq have topped 147,000, a big jump over the number of troops deployed there over the last several months, but Pentagon officials say it’s only a temporary spike as commands change over.

The number of U.S. troops in Iraq as of Sept. 13 marks a 16 percent increase over the number of troops reported by the Pentagon in late July, when it was around 127,000.


Although troop levels fluctuate routinely as troops move in and out of the Iraqi theater, the 20,000-troop increase from two months ago is a far more sizeable jump than usual. Part of the increase can be attributed to the decision to extend 3,500 members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade, based in Alaska, for another four months to help stem the violence in Baghdad. The remaining increase is a result of other American units transferring command to follow-on forces.


<snip>

The issue of troop levels was raised again Sept. 11 after media reports that day cited an intelligence assessment of the Anbar province in western Iraq that indicated more troops could help stem the violence in that region. Whitman said he is not aware that more troops are being sent to Anbar.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Rumsfeld's five month war. Nice going, you no-good SOB

And yet he remains in office. What is with this?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5 months for war,

5 years to pick up all the flowers and candy.

[Lerkfish]

2. my spidey senses tell me there's a game afoot, watson!

for one thing, the increased troops, from what I understand, are being pulled in and concentrated in Baghdad in US military bases, and the Iraq civil is left to run on its own, that they are even "abandoning" whole quadrants of Iraq as a peacekeeping force.

so why all the influx of large amounts of soldiers?


lessee....Iraq....Iran....Iraq....Iran.....

put on our thinking caps.

[endarkenment]

3. October big withdrawal

They've added enough troops to stage a mock 20,000 withdrawal in late October to go along with yet another Victory In the War on Terra spectacular. These guys do political theater like nobody else. I think victory parades are in order.

Its V-T Day!

[Lerkfish]

4. could be, but that's inconsistent with the reports of multi-tour

soldiers being forced to go back again. That's a lot of expense and logistics to just send them home again 2 months later.

Much more likely is a push into Iran.

[endarkenment]

5. I agree that this is certainly the other good explanation.

For sure something major is up.

[Lerkfish]

6. yup.