US to cut troop strength in Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/AE935A7F-F72D-4C80-9C49-9200F60FA634.htm


In the face of intense resistance, the Pentagon plans to reduce US troop strength in Iraq to about 100,000 by May as new units are rotated in.




Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace on Wednesday told the House of Representatives Armed Services committee the reduction from four to three divisions would be accommodated by an increase in the size of Iraqi security forces from about 115,000 to some 171,000.



US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld meanwhile signed orders on Wednesday to set in motion the force rotation in Iraq next year that will send back US Marines along with active duty army and national guard and reserve units.



Deployment



The rotation would involve the replacement of the bulk of the 132,000 US troops now in Iraq and will include some 35,000 to 45,000 national guard and reservists, said a senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
<snip>
Leaked to Aljazeera????

[Cush]

1. mentioned on the news tonight

they hope to do it next spring when they have more Iraqi's trained

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Somebody should try to keep track of the numbers...

...because I don't believe a word of this nonsense. This is a total smokescreen to disguise the number of troops in the Middle East because more action is coming against other countries.

I know for a fact that at least two more Alabama units are being mobilized, and I've read where other states are also calling up additional National Guard units.

[metisnation]

5. OBVIOUS

PIECE OF PROPAGANDA

[LizW]

7. I haven't heard about the Alabama units

but I know an Army Reserve unit out of New Orleans is going in mid-November. A good friend's husband is in it.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. John McCain wants 20,000 more troops in there PRONTO!!!

This report is BULL!

[Voltaire99]

10. The old McCain bloodlust

If it's war, John McCain is for it! Hup, hup - gotta defend our way of life.

Watch McCain take point when the call for a draft comes sometime in the next two years.

[alcuno]

4. There are 115,000 Iraqi security forces now?

I don't think so.

[rocktivity]

6. Iraq's been doing a shockingly awesome job

of cutting U.S. troop strength on their own.


rocknation

[gratuitous]

8. Curious news

Does this mean that those colors are running? Does that mean the terrorists are winning if we cut troop numbers? Or should I just listen to this corrupt administration's message of the day and forget whatever they may have said yesterday? Is remembering unpatriotic?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. Another story on same (LINK) US seeks 30,000 cut in Iraq troops by May

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1066565671760

The Pentagon last night called up more troops, including thousands of reserves, to prepare for service in Iraq but said it planned to cut overall forces by 30,000 by next May.


General Peter Pace, vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday that US forces in Iraq would be reduced to 100,000 by May. Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, had previously shied away from giving precise figures for troop deployment in Iraq.

The new rotation reflects the contradictory pressures on the Bush administration as it seeks to bring American soldiers home while fighting an increasingly deadly insurgency in Iraq.

Speaking before the House armed services committee, Gen Pace did not give figures for troops being called up as of last night but said: "It does include a call-up of reserves. It does include the Navy and Air Force with their capabilities to participate."
<snip>

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. All those leaving Iraq take one step forward...

...oops! Not so fast...

43000 called up for Iraq
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=202361>

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

12. There have been more conflicting stories coming out of Washington

and Baghdad than I have ever seen before.

Washington's trying to treat the world as if they were all freepers.

[matcom]

13. WRONG (an AlJazeera Lie)

going UP by 50,000

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/11/06/number_of_troops_in_iraq_to_expand/

[Aidoneus]

14. that's a rotation

not, strictly speaking, upping the number of occupation forces.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

15. Yeah? And who's telling us that it's a rotation? Do you believe them?