Bush Says He'll Raise Troop Level in Iraq if Needed

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031120/pl_nm/iraq_usa_bush_dc&cid=615&ncid=1480

LONDON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) said on Thursday he could increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, a statement that contrasts with Pentagon plans to reduce deployment ahead of the 2004 U.S. presidential election.

Speaking at a news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush promised to "finish the job we have begun" in Iraq and both men vowed that the twin blasts that killed at least 25 people in Istanbul would not deter them.

"We could have less troops in Iraq. We could have the same number of troops in Iraq. We could have more troops in Iraq -- (whatever is) necessary to secure Iraq," Bush said.

Bush said he would rely on his commanders on the ground to determine how many troops are needed in Iraq, where guerrilla attacks on U.S. forces and international targets have become increasingly sophisticated and deadly since U.S. forces ousted Saddam Hussein in April.

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[Fovea]

1. Brrr

I think we are developing a draft in here.

[grytpype]

2. What a fucking liar.

"We could have more troops in Iraq -- (whatever is) necessary to secure Iraq,"

You going to reinstate the draft, Georgie? Because that is what it would take to raise the 500,000 troops we would need to secure Iraq.

Georgie is going to cut and run well in advance of the 2004 elections.

[PurityOfEssence]

14. And leave all that tasty oil?

Somehow that just doesn't sound right.

[Sagan]

3. I love how they avoid responsibility on this

"We'll do what our commanders on the ground want.."

Yeah, right...

Rummy: "You don't need any more troops, do you?"

General: "Well, I'll take all I can get, you know that. I mean..duh."

Rummy: "No, I don't think you understand. You DON'T need any more troops, DO you?"

General: "Um. No sir."

Rummy: "Our commanders on the ground say they don't need more troops."

[RobertSeattle]

6. Bingo

I fully expect in a few years when the Generals are retired and start writing books about Iraq 2003 we'll hear about political pressure like this.

Generals always want more troops or weaponry - it's the nature of the business.

[underpants]

10. Yep just like when they told him this war was not a good idea

and when they told him if he was going to do it anyway that WAY more troops were needed.

[mhr]

4. Hello Draft, Hello Vietnam

This is probably an indication that Rove believes Bush will win reelection after all.

This public statement is not a good sign.

[saigon68]

22. DRAFTY HERE SOON

Learn to spit shine shoes and boots, all you young people.

At least when the drill Sgt. throws the garbage can down the hall at 4:30 AM to wake your ass up.

You will be on the right side of order and discip;ine.

[E_Zapata]

5. Oh he will need to increase troops alright (rate the story a 5 folks!)

What with every other country pulling out or just not sending troops or, if they do send troops, stationing them in Kuwait "where it's safe" AND the fact that 10,000 of our soldiers have been taken out of commission (death or injury)......oh, we will need more troops.

He's a liar and he's dangerous...

[Beetwasher]

7. Continuing in the Fine Orwellian Tradition of Contradictory and

Confusing Obfuscation of Everything. One day say it's black the next day say it's white and you'll always be right and always have an out.

[underpants]

9. Right but how is he going to bring them home in time for the election?

Or are they just going to TELL people that they brought them home?

[Beetwasher]

16. Numbers' Games

I suspect they will bring some home, send new one's over and make a big hoopla over the one's they bring home. There will be confusing and conflicting reports about the numbers of troops deployed.

You'll have officials making major announcements about bringing home large numbers of troops, while news outlets will print small stories about large numbers being activated and deployed.

I also think that once the military fortresses are completed they can retreat to there and reduce the number of troops and make a big deal about it.

[underpants]

18. But work hasn't even begun on the permanent bases

KBR's insurance companies are telling them things are too risky and that they should wait. By now, if things had gone as the PNAC'ers ASSUMED, at least some of the bases would be finished but no the troops are sleeping anywhere deemed safe.

[Beetwasher]

19. I Didn't Know That! Wow!

I assumed they were being built on the down-low.

Do you have a link with more info? Thanks!

[underpants]

21. I can't find one

but I know I read that here. I googled all kinds of stuff and couldn't find an article saying that though.

I'll keep looking.

[IggleDoer]

17. You'll see planeloads of troops arriving home next summer ...

... but the planes will return to Iraq full of new troops

[mobuto]

20. No, they should

but they won't. We should be putting some of our defense billions into increasing the size of our army to handle the new load of committments. Instead, we're paying through the nose to build a nuclear missile defense that won't work to defend against an attack that won't happen.

I remember when I was first sold on General Clark - he gave a speech years before anybody talked of him running for President, in which he viciously denounced NMD as nothing more than a payout to leading defense contractors, and attacked Meyers and his bunch of clowns for being in the pocket of the contractors and the pork-barrel Armed Services committees.

[tabasco]

8. How many Bush, Cheney, etc. sons & daughters are being sent?

ZERO! Bush will fight this fight with YOUR SONS & DAUGHTERS!

[mobuto]

11. Not going to happen

Bush will once again put expediency ahead of security and cut US forces at the time they are most needed, because he needs their votes in 2004.

What a dick!

We all know the plans have been made - hell, the Pentagon admits it with their new troop-rotation schedule - but apparently Bush is pretending he hasn't gotten the memo yet. I don't know what frequency this man is operating on.

[MUAD_DIB]

12. Just keep dancing around the issues just enough

to confuse the people back home. Meanwhile the press is on Jacko like like corruption is on a NeoCon.

Does * plan on taking questions from the media, and if so will anybody have the sense to put a smackdown on his ass for contradicting the Pentagon?

[pippin]

13. last week

it was haul Bremer home to plan an exit strategy and talks with poodle to do the same. Now it's back to upping the troops? As usual there is the flip flopping all over the place with no plan, and no solutions.

Having laid a floral tribute at the tomb of the unlown soldier while on his jaunt to London, Bush is now calling for more cannon fodder. What an unmitigated *** :mad:

[mobuto]

15. Read what he said

Bush said he would raise troop levels or lower them or keep them the same, he didn't know. I know. You know. We know. The Pentagon knows. But the President hasn't been reading the newspaper, so he doesn't know that the Pentagon's planning on cutting troop levels dramatically before the next election.

Expediency over security.