US army chiefs plan 'strategic exit' from Iraq

[eleny]

news.telegraph.co.uk

"US army chiefs plan 'strategic exit' from Iraq
By Alec Russell in Washington
(Filed: 20/10/2003)


United States commanders in Iraq have drawn up detailed proposals for a rapid reduction of troop numbers over the next 18 months in the first indication of formal planning for an exit strategy.

The plans, which have been put to Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, but not yet approved by him, suggest reducing the American forces from 130,000 to about 100,000 by next summer."

The rest is here http://tinyurl.com/rk7t

Hmmmm... just in time for the convention and election.

[Resistance Is Futile]

1. No choice

The Pentagon doesn't have much choice in the matter. There just aren't enough troops available to hold Iraq for much longer.

It will be interesting to see both if Rumpsfeld approves the plan and if it involves returning via either Syria or Iran...

[BeHereNow]

2. They wont.

the troops that are currently deployed will NOT go back
to any ME situation...trust me on that.
BHN

[not systems]

3. 130,000 to about 100,000

Color me unimpressed.

130,000 to about 0 is what I would like to see.

...
The Iraqi civil defence forces, which number only 6,000 now, are tipped to increase to 25,000 by next summer. They and the reformed Iraqi army
may encounter less resentment than the Americans. But it is far from clear that they will inspire confidence among Iraqis or among America's
many international critics as guarantors of long-term stability.
...

Is not what I would call a good show from the empire gang.

[mw]

4. Shamefully, Bush will only do this right thing for the wrong reason:

Bush hasn't listened to reason or world opinion, and he's ignored the daily deaths of our troops. It seems nothing will deter him from his wayward path in Iraq.

EXCEPT, we find out now: ELECTION YEAR POLITICS.

Shame on him. Is Iraq important enough for troops to die for or not? If not, then bring them home now. If it is, then election year politics should have nothing to do with it.

This Bush bastard is going to burn in Traitor Hell for all time. And all who harbor him.

[Elidor]

5. Bush bastard burns in hell

Thoughts like these comfort me in these dark times.

[Hieronymus]

6. Wonderful

pics, thanks.:freak:

[0rganism]

7. Iraqization?

Let's see if it goes any differently than Vietnamization did 30 years ago.

I take this as irrefutable proof that Americans on the whole DID NOT LEARN A DAMN THING FROM THE VIETNAM WAR, and we are thus required to repeat it.

[jcc]

8. Excuse me if I roll my eyes.

The Army commanders couldn’t strategize themselves out of a paper bag. They are no better than the first-strike forces. Wedding planners could do better. As Hackworth says, the military drives away anyone intelligent enough to do smart things and leaves idiots in charge.

[bearfartinthewoods]

9. i take it you are not a Clark supporter then.......

[jcc]

11. Actually...

I have yet to decide who I will vote for in the primary. I will have to scrutinize Clark's record and the decisions he has made in respects to the military before I make my decision. That is not to say that his experience in the military and with military planning will give him fewer or more points than any other candidate that may not have served. Each choice will be equally scrutinized for their views of the whole situation and what they did in regards to their attempts to stop or fix it. So far, I have found qualities and decisions equally stupid performed on the part of each choice. If each is equally ignorant, it is difficult to hold one's military career against them.

[teryang]

10. This is the result of DOD manpower limits

They aren't worried about the election. It will be rigged.