We Can’t Even Get Straight Answers About How Many Trained Iraqi Troops There Are. The Bush Administration’s estimates of how many Iraqi troops have been trained continue to change:
• February 2004: Rumsfeld says the number of Iraqis serving in the security forces was over
210,000, and that the number may grow to over
226,000 by April. (State Department, 2/24/04)
•
September 2004: Rumsfeld says the “latest number, last week was
105,000. Now it looks to be
95,000 – that is to say that are trained and equipped.” (DOD Briefing, 9/7/04)
•
February 2005: Rumsfeld says “…the fact of the matter is that there are
130,200 who have been trained and equipped…That's a fact. And how do I know that? I know it because General Petraeus counts them.” (Fox News, 2/1/05]
•
June 2005: Rumsfeld says the” fact of the matter is the number's (of trained troops is)
168,000.” (ABC News, 6/26/05)
•
July 2005: General Casey told told Congress that only three of the approximately 100 Iraqi army battalions are taking on the insurgents by themselves. Three battalions is approximately
700 soldiers. (Associated Press, 7/22/05; Knight Ridder, 11/30/05)
•
November 2005: President Bush says, “40 Iraqi battalions are taking the lead in the fight.” He said a battalion is typically comprised of “between 350 and 800 Iraqi forces,” which would bring the latest estimate of fully trained Iraqi troops to somewhere between
14,000 and
32,000. (Bush Speech in Annapolis, 11/30/05)
•
December 2005: When asked how many Iraqi troops were now able to stand alone without the backing of U.S. troops, President Bush said there were "about
200,000-plus capable" forces. He continued by saying that “ Now, not all of them are ready to take the fight to the enemy.” (Bush Speech, 12/12/05)
•
March 2006: President Bush says, “60 Iraqi battalions are taking the lead in the fight.” He previously said a battalion is typically comprised of “between 350 and 800 Iraqi forces,” which would bring the latest estimate of fully trained Iraqi troops to somewhere between
21,000 and
48,000. (Bush Speech, 3/13/06)
Instead of American Troops Being Drawn Down, 700 Additional Troops Sent to Iraq. “Concerned about escalating violence as Iraq struggles to form a new government, the U.S. military has sent several hundred troops with tanks and other armor from Kuwait to the Baghdad area. It is the first time extra troops have been sent since December's parliamentary election, which was followed by a period of political wrangling and a wave of sectarian violence triggered by the bombing of a Shiite shrine on Feb. 22. Moving an Army battalion of about 700 soldiers from Kuwait is part of a broader plan, dubbed "Scales of Justice," that includes the repositioning of several thousand U.S. and Iraqi security forces inside Iraq…(G)eneral (Casey) did not say whether more troop increases might be needed this spring.” (AP, 3/15/06)
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/03/cheney_cherry_p.php