NYT: Military Considers Sending as Many as 35,000 More U.S. Troops to Iraq, McCain Says

[DeepModem Mom]

Military Considers Sending as Many as 35,000 More U.S. Troops to Iraq, McCain Says
By JOHN F. BURNS
Published: December 15, 2006

BAGHDAD, Dec. 14 — Senator John McCain said Thursday that American military commanders were discussing the possibility of adding as many as 10 more combat brigades — a maximum of about 35,000 troops — to “bring the situation under control” while Iraq’s divided political leaders seek solutions to the worsening bloodshed here.

After talks in Baghdad with Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and other top American generals, Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, said a substantial United States troop increase was one of the strategy changes the generals were considering as they reviewed what he called “a steadily deteriorating situation.”

He said meetings with Iraqi government leaders showed that they, too, “have certainly not ruled out the option of more troops.”

“Five to 10 additional brigades is what is being discussed,” Mr. McCain said, outlining an increase that could bring overall American troop strength to the highest levels since the invasion in March 2003. While American combat brigades vary, Pentagon officials say they average about 3,500 soldiers. At present, there are 15 combat brigades in Iraq, amounting to about 50,000 of the total American force of about 140,000.

“The American people are disappointed and frustrated with the Iraq war, but they want us to succeed if there is any way to do that,” Mr. McCain told a news conference. Unlike some American military commanders who have said any troop increase should be temporary, he said any increase should last “until we can get the situation under control, or until it becomes clear that we can’t.”...

***

The trip amounted to a high-stakes campaign appearance by Mr. McCain, who is all but building his presidential campaign on the issue of Iraq....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/world/middleeast/15iraq.html

[Botany]

1. Stupid!

In fall of 06 we increased our troops in Baghdad to stop
the violence with operation "together forward" .....
result? 43% increase in violence.*

* ISG report

[babylonsister]

2. Does the bonkers gene move, because I think McCain is rolling the

dice here, and for lives. Heads he wins, tails many, many, many people lose?
Bonkers being the current - - ugh.

[NJCher]

3. Keep it up, McCain

This is the fastest way I know of to ruin your presidential bid.

The American people do not want soldiers in Iraq. Why do you find that so difficult to understand?



Cher

[grytpype]

4. He keeps raising the number.

First it was 20,000. Then when Bush started talking about 20,000, now it's 35,000.

He's not eager to be proven wrong, obviously.

[PADemD]

5. The military needs more cannonfodder.

[sweetheart]

6. McCain is a coward

The number needed to achieve a military solution in iraq today is near 500,000 additional soldiers,
and any number short of that is just another failed patch to keep saigon from falling.

That he won't ask for the number needed, shows his republican willingness to lose a war for america...
what a bunch of losers, killing other people's kids with stupid goverance and cowardly incrementalism.

[acmavm]

7. You're right. McCain is hoping to inherit the war crowd supporters

of the Decider but he's totally aware that asking for 100,000 or more warm bodies would absolutely kill his career.

He's doing what John McCain always does. He's playing everybody with only his interests being considered. He's a weasel of the first magnitude.

[moondust]

8. Forget it.

This will just get more people killed WITHOUT LASTING RESULTS. Too many things working against the US in Iraq. Don't speak the language. Can't tell the bad guys from the good guys but they sure can easily identify the troops. Can't fight IEDs with helicopter gunships and tanks. Troops not trained to work as police. The list goes on.

It is one thing to draw somebody's identifiable armor units out into the open and crush them as in Gulf War I, but it is something entirely different to move into urban centers and fight anonymous insurgents and terrorists in their back yards.

[dbt]

9. "Bring 'em on!"

Another 35,000 troops might have made some difference FOUR DAMN YEARS AGO. The mere fact that not enough troops were sent in--or will be sent in--to secure and hold Iraq can only mean one thing:

This war is all about grinding up Men And Materiel for profit. Small investment, big return. If the bu$h regime had been even quasi-serious about a military victory, it would have sent enough troops and equipment to actually accomplish that goal. McCain KNOWS this, but he somehow cannot remove his lips from bu$h's ass. Reptile Enabler!

Go ahead, fuckers. ROLL them dice...

:grr:
dbt
Remember The First Viet Nam