Pentagon May Have to Reduce U.S. Forces in Iraq - CBO

[BadGimp]

Pentagon May Have to Reduce U.S. Forces in Iraq -CBO

Reuters Tuesday, September 2, 2003; 8:32 PM
By Vicki Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration may have to cut U.S. troops in Iraq by more than half to keep enough forces to face other threats, a congressional agency said on Tuesday in a report that fueled calls for more international help for peacekeeping in Iraq.

The Congressional Budget Office said under current policies, the Pentagon would be able to sustain an occupation force of 38,000 to 64,000 in Iraq long term, down from the existing 150,000 that a number of lawmakers said is not enough to confront the spiraling violence.

Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat who requested the CBO study, said it showed that President Bush's policies in Iraq were "straining our forces to the breaking point."

Byrd, one of Bush's harshest critics on Iraq, also said it showed the administration must formally ask for help in peacekeeping from the United Nations and NATO.

"Every day frittered away by the administration is another day that our troops will bear the staggering burdens of the dangers of occupation alone," he said.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16592-2003Sep2?language=printer
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"Every day frittered away by the administration is another day that our troops will bear the staggering burdens of the dangers of occupation alone,"
Senator Byrd
...can we cannonize this man already?

[wellst0nev0ter]

1. Rock, Meet "Hard Place" (eom)

[smallprint]

2. this is a dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=94374#94481

[0007]

3. Too big, too small

Need more policemen. Get the UN, don't need the UN.

Sounds like junior did like the "Three Bears" and everyone knows it!

[VolcanoJen]

4. Dupe... locking

Please continue discussion here, in the moderator-designated "official" thread on this topic, started by NNN0LHI:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=94374

Although a similar thread by bluestateguy has now been locked, you can still go there for some interesting discussion:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=94317

Thanks!
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator