VIDEO- Selected Bits from the Pentagon Briefing on Thursday

[liveoaktx]

Put on your hip boots- lots of Rummy hot air cut out

So-the Pentagon keeps changing the standard for how many Iraqis have to be trained and up and running, is planning (if asked) to keep troops embedded with the Iraqis, and is going to ask Congress for money to help train other countries's troops.

[liveoaktx]

1. You realize that there is only ONE iraqi battalion trained now, down from

3.
Bush keeps saying that we will leave Iraq when the Iraqis can defend themselves.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13646165p-14488488c.html


During an intense grilling by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Gen. George Casey, commander of U.S. and allied forces in Iraq, acknowledged that only one battalion of Iraqi soldiers is fully prepared to operate without help from U.S. troops - fewer than previously claimed by the Pentagon.

"The previous report, you had three battalions," McCain said. "Now we're down to one battalion."

Casey responded: "Right. And things changed in the battalions. I mean, we're making assessments on personnel, on leadership, on training. There are a lot of variables that are involved here, senator."

The general's admission contradicted President Bush, who said last week and again Wednesday that a growing number of capable Iraqi forces are maintaining control of more and more towns after insurgents are ousted from them.