Rumsfeld says Americans will be coming home (back to 137k level)

[sabra]

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=4219352&nav=2CSf

Rumsfeld says Americans will be coming home


CAPITOL HILL Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says tens of thousands of Americans may be coming home from Iraq soon.

Rumsfeld told reporters on Capitol Hill today that he expects total U-S forces to drop to 137-thousand after next week's Iraq elections. The force was augmented to nearly 160-thousand ahead of the vote.

And, he says "if conditions permit, we could go below" the 137-thousand level.

He stressed any decision depends on how things are going in Iraq and the recommendations of U-S generals.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Ah yes, the Republican Dance

One step forward, two steps back

[bluestateguy]

2. In other words back to the old equilibrium

The increase up to 160,000 was always meant to be temporary, just for the "elections". If the numbers go below 110,000 in 2006 I'll be amazed. This is just a token withdrawl.

[blm]

5. On Face the Nation, Kerry pointed out that Rummy only offered this AFTER

Kerry called for 20,000 troops be sent home on Dec 16, the DAY AFTER elections as a START to significant draw downs throughout 2006.

[rodeodance]

8. BINGO

[soothsayer]

3. Shhh! Don't telegraph yer play to the terra-ists! They're waiting

for this to POUNCE!

Loose lips, Rummy, loose lips!

[Az_lefty]

4. Yep, our battalion was suppose to deploy this Spring

and it's been canceled. Their now sending over a platoon of about 20 soldiers to train Iraqi's.

[tabasco]

6. Ramping up the "we're bringin' em home!" baloney,

The super-rich are making too much money from the Iraq war.

Claims that we are winding down the war are simply propaganda from the mighty Wurlitzer.

The robber barons will not give up their prize easily.

It is like a goose that lays golden eggs for them.

We still have much, much fighting - here at home - to end this criminal war.

[rodeodance]

7. this will only bring home the extra troops that were sent for the election

a few months ago. And sadly, Americans will be satisfied.

[rodeodance]

9. naturally, this news report does not include the fact that extra troops

sent for the elections. gawd, it makes me so angry!


And, he says "if conditions permit, we could go below" the 137-thousand level.

[maddezmom]

10. kick

[leftchick]

11. Troop Levels in Iraq May Drop, Rumsfeld Says

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051208/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
41 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday he expects some 20,000 U.S. troops to return home from Iraq after next week's elections, and he suggested that some of the remaining 137,000 forces could pull out next year.


"If conditions permit, we could go below that," he said in the latest administration hint of at least a modest reduction next year.

The Pentagon chief also said he believed the White House and Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., would "end up working something out" during negotiations over legislation standardizing interrogation techniques and banning mistreatment of foreign terrorism suspects in U.S. custody.

Rumsfeld made his comments between closed-door meetings on Capitol Hill with House members, part of an effort by the Bush administration to communicate better with Congress about the war. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also attended.


......So actually the troop level goes back to the pre-August level of 130,000? That is hardly a reduction.

[queenbdem87]

12. Sure rummy....

and we trust you to organize such an effort effectively seeing as how you are such a proven responsible figure in our DoD!!!!

[grytpype]

13. Dumya is running for the exits.

He's talking trash about staying in there forever if necessary, and the whole time the Pentagon is planninig the pullout.

[Orsino]

14. With each new IED...

...or other attack by the "insurgents" you just tried to define out of existence.

[MADem]

22. Yeah, if they keep blowing 'em up, the numbers surely will drop nt

[BrotherBuzz]

15. Rumsfeld says troops are fungible, too

"Oh, come on. People are fungible. You can have them here or there." - Rumsfeld, April 2004

[rainbow4321]

16. Some rumor about "65,000 troops".....

http://members.aol.com/deawatch/daily.htm <scroll half way down page>

07 Dec 2005, 20:09 PST, 4th Edition

Report From the Front, con't:

Dear DEA Watch:

FLASH from The Front: CINC Bush has finally flipped and cried "Uncle"!!!

This is the best morning this office has had in years! We just got word we will be permitted to release Rumor One: With High Confidence on 19 Dec that 65,000 troops will be expeditiously reassigned. We can only interpret this hold msg to mean the major emphasis on patrols and convoys will be cut to 10% of current levels.

This will be welcome news to the kids... and a truly GREAT Christmas present to their parents and sweethearts. I am anticipating most will be assigned to border-building locations and the rest to be deployed to Kuwait or sent home.
----------------------------------------

[peacebird]

17. giving them a littl R&R before the next round of shock-n-awe ?

Iraq has become a drag on * - time for a new WAR! Get the amurikan people riled up to support the further spread of *freedom*....

:sarcasm:

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Hey Dumsfeld, like by 2,134? The same number you've killed?

[uppityperson]

20. My exact thought also. One by one by one in body bags.

soon "official" Iraq will = "official" 911

[dweller]

19. CBS evening news

just reported that as '12,000 after the upcoming elections, and perhaps more next year depending on the situation'.

curious what they report Mid/Pacific, since they are tweaking the reports now.

dp

[Irreverend IX]

21. They change their plans every other week, don't they?

I remember reading releases a little while ago where the DoD was planning to pull out some of the troops, then later they were wanting to send more, and now they want to reduce the numbers again. Either they're schizophrenic or this is some kind of touch-and-go effort to manipulate public sentiments.

[leesa]

23. STFU you miserable psychopath. Just be still and wait for your war crimes

trial.