Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - U.S. Troop Levels Likely to Stay Level in Iraq

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U.S. Troop Levels Likely to Stay Level in Iraq

AP photo / Sgt. Armando Monroig, U.S. Army

Americans serving in Iraq will have to wait until the next president takes office before they can expect any substantial changes in troop numbers, if Bush follows the latest recommended plan from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

The New York Times:

General Petraeus, speaking to Mr. Bush by secure videoconference during a two-hour meeting of the National Security Council, recommended putting off decisions on further troop reductions for a month or two after the departure in July of five extra brigades sent last year to help secure the nation, the officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about internal deliberations.

There would be more frequent reviews after that to see when withdrawals might be allowed to resume, without any predetermined outcome and, given the time required to put troops into motion, little likelihood of big reductions on short timetables.

During the briefing to the president, General Petraeus laid out a number of potential options, the officials said, but avoided using the term “pause.” That word has gained traction here in Washington over recent weeks to describe the plateau in troop levels that is widely expected to last through the fall elections and perhaps beyond.

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TAGS: crocker election gates iraq iraq war petraeus president bush report security council surge troop levels troops

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By Marshall, March 25, 2008 at 6:49 pm #

Why is it a lie… because we haven’t started on the down slope of the parabola? The stated intention is to reduce troops and I see no reason why this wouldn’t be the intention.

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By PatrickHenry, March 25, 2008 at 6:38 pm #

Surge = A wave in the sea of Bush’s bullshit.

He’s riding the wave.

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By DennisD, March 25, 2008 at 4:55 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

U.S. Troop Levels Likely to Stay Level in Iraq -

Until they completely burn out our military that is.

The fantasy of Iraq being a “secure nation” while in reality destroying our own could only be thought of as progress in the District of Corruption.

In Washington the optimist views the toilet half full of sh*t, the pessimist half empty. You can attach the D’s & R’s wherever you like.

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By Typical White Person, March 25, 2008 at 11:49 am #

the newly anointed leader of the free world? He said he would get the troops out a.s.a.p. I guess he was exaggerating a little.

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By Purple Girl, March 25, 2008 at 8:17 am #

Two little letters -Soooo Many Indictments.
‘For the People By the People” a Free ‘Democracy’, “WE THE PEOPLE” which phrase does Dick Not comprehend???? 2/3 majority???
Anyone who claims to be a Public Servant should be seizing this moment (and Cheney). We ahve all th eEvidence We need- Cough up the Footage & Quotes Media! At Least Our Principles still have some Voice on PBS, Frontline “Bush’s War” (shouldn’t give credit to a stooge - just charges of Complicity).
WE do not need to Bear Arms to fight this Revolution, just the Laws we were Founding On.
Frankly th eArmed Services would serve US better if they Protected and Defended US from our Domestic Enemies First!

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By Expat, March 25, 2008 at 8:15 am #

^ directed to Non Credo.

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By Expat, March 25, 2008 at 8:13 am #

^ enlightened posters here; I know yours is a rhetorical question….yes? Its the height of irony that the MSM is not covering the news, but its the very thing people seek for information and the alternative news media (Democracy Now; one example), which actually tells us the facts, is unknown to the majority of American citizens. What does this say about us?

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