Up to 20,000 US troops may depart Iraq next March: general

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - US troops may start withdrawing from Iraq next March, a US general said, as the new US ambassador to the volatile country pledged to help Iraqis crush a ruthless insurgency.

As many as four or five US military brigades (up to 20,000 people) could leave then if the country's ethnic groups can agree on a constitution and elect a government that has broad support, Lieutenant General John Vines said in Washington via video link from Iraq.

"I suspect we will probably draw down capability after the election, because Iraqi security forces are more capable," Vines said. He was referring to elections at the end of this year set to follow hoped-for approval of a new constitution in the autumn.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iraq would not be surprised and would understand if the United States begins to start withdrawing troops next year. "I would not be surprised ... If there would be some withdrawal, let's say early 2006, I think it would be understandable," he said, speaking from Brussels.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050621/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_050621190650

[Barrett808]

1. Right. More neocon delusions. n/t

[Blasphemer]

3. I wouldn't doubt it

In the face of tough 2006 elections.... I could definitely see it. Nothing to say they can't send them right back after Iraq's gov't conveniently asks them to come back for help during a crisis period.

[uppityperson]

2. "Up to" "As many as" "may" mean nothing, weasel phrases

As little as 1 troop may depart Iraq next March. US troops may or may not, as many as 4 or 5 or as little as none, up to 20,000 people or as few as 1.

I would not be surpised if there would be some withdrawal either, let's say sometime.

Bunch of weasel words that sound good if you don't pay attention and mean nothing if you do. Bah.

[jokerman93]

8. yep - watch that diction!

It's a little like Rumsfeld saying we know exactly where the WMDs are - somewhere outside Bagdad to the North, or somewhere to the East or West, or in the South...

Yep we know they're there! Let's Roll!

Frigging liars.

[wookie294]

28. LOL

I always liked that Rumsfeld quote....

“We know where (the WMD) are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat."
-Donnie Rumsfeld, March 2003

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

It's amazing these morons are in power.

[jaxx]

4. The key word here is "may".

Why hasn't dubya addressed the Iraqi's asking for the U.S. and others to leave the country?

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=925971&C=america

[Larkspur]

5. They're desperate to pump up Bush's falling poll numbers, aren't they?

There are not enough missing white women or white kids to report. The Runaway Bride is seen as a huckster, and the National Guardsmen guarding Saddam have only trivial information to share with us about Saddam. So I guess it's time to deceive the US public again. I bet this withdrawal is actually part of a scheduled troop rotation or is the beginning of an invasion of Iran.

[Jacobin]

6. They made the same announcement about 8 months ago

Saying after the 'elections' things would be calmer and they 'may' bring home a bunch of troops.

It's all smoke and mirrors to quiet the sleeping public that was beginning to get aroused.

More claptrap and bullshit and false hope for soldiers and their families.

These people should be horsewhipped for what they are doing

[END_HATRED_NOW]

9. "If" they do leave, they'll be going to Iran next, not home

[leesa]

7. Like we haven't heard that before...

[Justitia]

10. And Monkeys May Fly Out of My Butt -eom

[maddezmom]

11. because Iraqi security forces are more capable

how many are there trained and operational right now? Even the repubs are saying it'll take at least 2+ years to have enough trained.

Just another sound bite for the masses.

[EVDebs]

12. Cought, gag, we were 350K troops short to begin with in our Occupation

according to Intnl Inst for Strategic Studies according to Ray McGovern. IISS estimated 500K troops needed to do the job. Now they're pulling out and Brits will be pulling out next year if I hear correctly.

I think this is a ruse. They're building 14 enduring bases in Iraq. So pulling out 20K troops will leave 110K plus any Iraqi replacements ?

The whole thing looks like a pullback into the desert a la "Khe Sahn" during Vietnam. Lure the jihadis into the desert. Let the Iraqis themselves take care of the insurgents; civil war.

It has to happen this way it seems.

[endarkenment]

13. 20,000 will rotate out while 40,000 rotate in.

The Iraq security forces that we can't trust as far as we can see them? Those Iraqi security forces? They are going to shoulder the load?

[Spazito]

21. Exactly!

The media will cover the 20,000 coming home but not the ones going to replace them.

[bemildred]

14. Pope may become a Hindu next year.

Madonna considering Medical School.
Bush reported to be entering a convent after the end of his term.

[Moderator]

15. kick

[ckramer]

16. US troops 'out next year'

THE US military will probably begin withdrawing some forces from Iraq by March 2006, a top US commander said overnight, predicting the insurgency will be defeated if the country's political factions come together.

Lieutenant General John Vines, the number two US commander in Iraq, said any drawdown would depend on conditions on the ground.

He predicted the insurgency would decline rapidly if the country's Sunnis, Shia and Kurds can agree on a constitution and elect a government that has broad support.

But he said as many as four or five US brigades probably would be withdrawn in March.

link

[Gman]

17. In plenty of time before the November election

However, when Iraq collapses into all out civil war, it ain't the Democrats that will be blamed. The Bush Boys have gotten theirselves into a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

[Miss Chybil]

20. Election, or no, troops coming home is good to me.

Of course, I'll believe it when I see it.

[Doctor_J]

23. Yeah, sounds like it's already on Rove's election run-up calendar

And the Iraq civil war will not be covered by Rove's Media Machine, therefore it won't exist.

[The Night Owl]

18. More predictions! Hasn't the US government's crystal ball worn out yet?

Throw the new predictions on the pile with all the other ones...

- Iraqis will greet US soldiers as liberators.

- WMD stockpiles will be found in Iraq.

- The Iraq conflict will be short.

- The Iraq insurgency will decline after the fall of Baghdad.

- The Iraq insurgency will decline after the capture of Saddam.

- The Iraq insurgency will decline after elections.

Yadda.

Yadda.

Yadda.

This shit will never end.

[gordianot]

19. Vietnamization=Iraquization

I just love this use of language:

Despite the high levels of violence, the general said the insurgency was "relatively static", neither expanding nor contracting.


So "relatively static" is that constant? Losing will now be known as winning.

nominated for the sheer irony.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

22. Was he specific?

Did he actually say they'd be coming home alive and in one piece? Because so far we've sent more than 10,000 troops home.

[PATRICK]

24. And they are all studying

Parsee and Arabic for their new location.

[louis-t]

30. I thought it was 'Farsi'.

[PATRICK]

31. Stand corrected, thanx

This time I am sure they intend to do it THEIR way this time. Limited occupation of territory at key points, allies and traitors consolidating outward. Small force. No pretense at nation building but protecting whatever stooge emerges.

And quickly moving on the oil even more so than the scandalous rush in Iraq.

[Javaman]

25. Anyday...anyday...

Sure march is perfect, just in time to try and boost his ratings and get some of his dopes reelected.

If find it funny that, I forget who, just 2 days ago, said that the troop levels won't be falling any time soon.

It's as if no one consults anyone else in this fucked up admin.

[0007]

26. I hope not in flag covered boxes!

But then again that may be all we have left to bring home.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

27. Because they'll be reinforcing US troops in Iran?

[July]

29. "may," "could," "if," "suspect," "probably," "hoped-for," "would not be

surprised."

What happened to the good old who-what-when-where-why guidelines for factual reporting? What is this? -- because it's certainly not journalism. Pre-porting?

[Paulie]

32. I bet he's talking because of WOUNDS

Shipping another 20,000 home over the next few months because of injuries would allow the statement to be truthful.

Where's the part about no REPLACEMENTS being shipped back IN????

Is a draw down a draw down when it's from attrition???? sigh.....