US in quiet U-turn on Iraq troop numbers

[avsp]

US in quiet U-turn on Iraq troop numbers

The US administration has quietly reversed its goal from whittling down troop numbers in Iraq before the mid-term congressional elections in November.

A Pentagon spokesman on Friday confirmed that US troop levels in Iraq rose to 132,000 during the past week – the highest since late May – from 127,000 at the start of the week. The spokesman said troop numbers often fluctuated and “there might be temporary spikes during periods of troop rotation”.

The story goes onto cite unnamed 'analysts' to back up the headline, gives figures for violent death in Baghdad for Jan & June, notes changes in Bush' rhetoric & phraseology & quotes Richard Armitage & Kenneth Pollack saying that current troop levels are likely to be insufficient

I'd posted this in 'The Floor' but my net connection is so bad today that I havent

[motivez]

Well, I'm glad they're doing what they feel is needed in Iraq rather than trying to play politics with the military and troop levels.

Unfortunately I don't see another couple thousand troops really changing much. The insurgency over there seems to be pretty damn good at this game of wackamole.

Clear out a province, secure it, declare it 'safe' or whatever the proper terminology is, move to another one, and watch as it's re-infested by people carrying out attacks, etc..

General Shinseki had it right.