Pentagon rejected Bremer's call for troops (Pentagon acknowledgment)

[sabra]

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/13584800.htm

Pentagon rejected Bremer's call for troops

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Pentagon officials acknowledged Monday that Paul Bremer, the senior U.S. official in Iraq during the first year of the war, told Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld in May 2004 that a far larger number of U.S. troops were needed to effectively fight the insurgency but his advice was rejected.

Larry Di Rita, a Rumsfeld spokesman, told reporters that Bremer made the recommendation in a memorandum and that it was the only time during his 13 months as head of the U.S. civilian occupation authority in Baghdad that he offered advice on troop levels.
"He on many (occasions) demurred when asked what the proper levels of forces were during the course of his tenure there," and that was appropriate because troop levels were not his direct responsibility, Di Rita said.

...

Di Rita said that after Bremer made his recommendation, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time, Gen. Richard B. Myers, consulted with senior military commanders to consider changes. They then told Rumsfeld that they preferred to stay at the existing level of 18 brigades, or about 145,000 troops, Di Rita said.

...

Many critics, including some leading members of Congress, continued to urge President Bush to increase the number of troops in Iraq as the insurgency persisted. Bush stuck to the military's plan to add forces by training Iraqis rather than sending more American troops. There are now more than 210,000 trained Iraqis, although debate continues on how effective they are and how soon they can take over security responsibilities.

[underpants]

1. Oh yeah..... uh.... sorry about that one folks

try to do better on the next invasion... m'kay?

[Trevelyan]

2. Rep. Murtha has been trying to stress this to show how little concern bush

had/has for the safety of our troops. I remember the WaPo printing again and again two generals asking for more troops, before we went into Iraqnam and after. Gen. Shisenski (sp?) was the other one.

[Betsy Ross]

3. and the 210,000 trained Iraqis are trained to do what?

Suicide missions against US troops?

[sabra]

4. White House Admits U.S. Leader In Iraq Wanted More Troops (Bremer)

http://www.wesh.com/news/5955422/detail.html

White House Admits U.S. Leader In Iraq Wanted More Troops

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has acknowledged that its top civilian official in Iraq once called for tripling U.S. forces there.

In a new book, Paul Bremer -- who headed the U.S.-led coalition for 13 months -- says he urged Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in May 2004 to deploy 500,000 troops.

But White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Bremer's view was just one among many and ultimately, it was left to U.S. commanders to decide.

[shoelace414]

5. "We decided to go with whoever agreed with us"

[HuffleClaw]

6. over a YEAR later ?

that is just plain insulting.

oh yeah, and wasn't there a general who was told to provide a 'force requirements briefing' and told 'em the truth? and then was fired for his efforts.

[bee]

7. the plan was never to win. just to war. no surprise here. n/t