NYT: Bush Considers Up to 20,000 More Troops for Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/29/world/middleeast/29prexy.html?hp&ex=1167368400&en=5ce30bbcd30abe3a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

The Bush administration is considering an increase in troop levels in Iraq of 17,000 to 20,000, which would be accomplished in part by delaying the departure of two Marine regiments now deployed in Anbar Province, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

The option was among those discussed in Crawford, Tex., on Thursday as President Bush met there with his national security team, and it has emerged as a likely course as he considers a strategy shift in Iraq, the officials said.

Most of the additional troops would probably be employed in and around Baghdad, the officials said.

With the continuing high levels of violence there, senior officials increasingly say additional American forces will be needed as soon as possible to clear neighborhoods and to conduct other combat operations to regain control of the capital, rather than primarily to train Iraqi forces.

“The mission that most people are settling on has to do with using them in a security role to quell violence in Baghdad and the surrounding area,” said a senior Pentagon official involved in the planning.

[WindRavenX]

1. this shit needs to stop NOW-- BRING THEM HOME

FUCK. THIS. WAR.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Very very clever these Bushies...first they trial baloon 35,000 troops..maybe 50,000??

Then after the dust of protest settles...they offer 17,000 more troops...more acceptable I guess.

very clever.

[MGD]

5. I doubt they could muster 50,000 troops without resorting to that which must not be named.

17,000 is probably pushing it actually. We've got units coming up on their third rotation now.

[opihimoimoi]

33. Hawaii just lost a reservist...42 years old....4th fucking tour...1 /12 month to go....never made it

[MGD]

36. God damn that's fucked up. I wonder if he was stop lossed.

[opihimoimoi]

39. I cannot recall if it wa stopped lossed or not....what I remember is he was on his 4th tour...

He was a grandfather too.

Bush got no idea who he is killing and what he is killing...he is a selfcentered Bully, an Abuser, a Narcissant...He is Nero...

[Kagemusha]

3. ...clear... neighborhoods...

How many people live in Sadr City again?

[DrDebug]

34. An estimated two million people

It'll be very hard to find correct numbers because of the chaos, but the district is a comparable to a large city. It is a very big district with a dense population, small alleys and street and very poor as well.

Sadr City is subdivided into six sections. The district is one of the poorest in Baghdad. Unemployment is rampant. Homes are in disrepair. The population consists mostly of Shiite Moslems. It is also a haven for criminals released from Iraqi prisons by Saddam shortly before the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/sadr-city.htm

[VegasWolf]

4. I think the troops should be increased by three, Bush, Cheney, and Rumfilled. nt

[RamboLiberal]

7. Add 2 more - Send the Twins

And couldn't we get at least a platoon together with all the wingnut pundits and neocons?

[saigon68]

41. No Send Pierce Bush

Nephew of the CHIMPANZEE









THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT 3 DIFFERENT PARTIES PIERCE ATTENDED

He drinks Coors Light, Bud Light and Miller Lite
(note 3 Different shirts and 3 different Beers)

Dude is a Party animal

[Monkeyman]

Dupe repeat

We are seeing call ups across the Country. He has made up his mind. The worse part is non are MP's the are heavy Combat Units

[tchunter]

8. as a draft age male all i have to say is...

oh boy! can't wait!

[Barrett808]

9. Welcome to DU, Mr. Hunter!

:hi:

[calimary]

32. Welcome to DU! Hope you stay safe and off limits.

Glad you're here!

[Monkeyman]

6. Watch for the build up around the 7th of Jan

We are seeing call ups across the Country. He has made up his mind. The worse part is non are MP's the are heavy Combat Units

[Thor_MN]

10. War should only be declared by a vote of the military eligible

A Yes vote doubles as your enlistment papers. Crusty old men with no military experience should not be able to send people to war.

[Monkeyman]

11. Yep but a little more experience Combat

[Heidi]

12. Kick.

:kick:

[TomInTib]

13. Bush taking more time to craft Iraq plan

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061229/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush
Bush taking more time to craft Iraq plan By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer

President Bush worked nearly three hours at his Texas ranch on Thursday to design a new U.S. policy in Iraq, then emerged to say that he and his advisers need more time to craft the plan he'll announce in the new year.

Burdened by low approval ratings on his handling of the war, the president is under mounting pressure to come up with a new blueprint for U.S. involvement in Iraq where the execution of Saddam Hussein — perhaps as early as this weekend — could incite further violence.

"We've got more consultation to do until I talk to the country about the plan," Bush said, appearing outside an office building at his ranch.

"Obviously, we'll continue to work with the Iraqi government. The key to success in Iraq is to have a government that's willing to deal with the elements there that are trying to prevent this young democracy from succeeding."

[Avalux]

14. President Bush worked nearly three hours!!! OMG!!!!

Is that supposed to be a joke, or what? They meant he was coached on what to say for three hours, but still couldn't get it cause he was drunk, so they have to try again later. :rofl:

[Redstone]

17. THREE WHOLE HOURS? I guess it really IS "hard work" like he keeps telling us.

That right there ought to be grounds for impeachment all by itself.

Redstone

[Monkeyman]

19. The Debate its hard work hard work

[Telly Savalas]

29. Cut him some slack.

He was going to work three and a half hours, but Cheney called up and told him that there was a rerun of "Sheriff Lobo" on TV, so he cut things short. I'd have done the same thing myself.

[TomInTib]

20. Remember how long he had the "Road Map" in his desk drawer?

Hey, georgie,

I, too, worked almost three hours today and I accomplished nothing, either.

Your good buddy,
Tom

[Dudemachine]

15. That's 2hrs 59mins longer than he worked on the current policy. n/t

[Bluestar]

16. Oh, sorry I thought your title said "Bush taking more time to crap Iraq Plan"

[VegasWolf]

18. Santa didn't bring Bush a plan like he asked for for Christmas. nt

[MGD]

21. This special olympian couldn't craft a popsicle stick birdhouse let alone a war plan.

I can hardly wait to see what he comes up with though.

[Bushies gotta go]

22. In other words

He still hasn't got a clue of what to do.... and he is scared shitless. I think in Bushies world, he thinks that if he waits long enough, the problem will just go away.

[niceypoo]

23. This is soooo pathetic...

I would be embarassed to admit to putting such little effort into anything....let alone something that determines life or death for so many people.

[Olney Blue]

24. He's trying to think, but nothing happens.

:banghead:

[tanyev]

25. Somebody get that man started on scrapbooking.

Fewer people will get hurt.

[htuttle]

30. Don't underestimate the man!

I'm sure Señor Danger could find a way to make even scrapbooking disastrous and deadly for millions of people!

[Thor_MN]

26. He is still opinion shopping. No one has given him the answer he wants.

He didn't like what Poppy's guys said, so he is trying to get "Stay the course" from someone, anyone. He's desperately seeking validation. Ford calling him a Dumb Ass from beyond the grave almost certainly is going to result in a bender. Look for * to be sporting some new bruses from something manly like "playing hockey". "Falling off his bike" has lost it's cachet.

[Old and In the Way]

27. "craft a plan"?

That's a nice spin for the Decider-in-Chief who has had almost 4 years to figure it out. There ain't no craftin' to be had. The plan, called "escalation" is DOA.

[opihimoimoi]

28. All his miserable life...Bush had peeps solve his problems. Now, in a corner, he finds he must do it

himself...

No one can do this for him

He must come on the Floor and Speak....in his own words, in his own voice/style, in his own passion...

In this regard, Bush will FAIL..finally exposed to his Base as a FRAUD of the Worst KIND...those that start with the letter W.

More Time??? Too Little Too Late...his time was up a long time ago....and no one had the guts to tell him...Bwahahahaha

[Trajan]

31. There is no new plan ....

They are working on how to repackage the LIES so it appears to be a new plan ...

I mean, CMON, there is no need to change course ... right ? .. :sarcasm:

[Barrett808]

35. Maybe the most pathetic "escalation" in the history of modern warfare

A useless, arguably criminal gesture.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

37. When the news starts reporting that that Bush is "considering" something.....

You can pretty much assume that he is going to DO whatever he is supposedly "considering" and, if our past experiences with Bush are any indication, whatever he is going to do is NOT going to be:

1.)Smart
2.)Well-thought out & thoroughly researched & debated
3.)Representative of the wishes of the American people since we are all now considered little more than a "focus group" by him

In other words, when you hear that Bush is "considering" something, RUN!!!!!!!

[Kagemusha]

38. And the WH staff have the nerve to say, "Don't criticize, he hasn't decided yet!"

What a bunch of bologna.

[laststeamtrain]

40. They look like a bunch of small-time grifters from an old episode of the Rockford Files

?x=380&y=254&sig=8Bc3u684A.Uob4qw8TJAkg--

[mikeytherat]

42. Am I missing something here?

"The Bush administration is considering an increase in troop levels in Iraq of 17,000 to 20,000, which would be accomplished in part by delaying the departure of two Marine regiments now deployed in Anbar Province, Pentagon officials said Thursday."

If they are already in Iraq, how exactly can this be considered an increase? Is this like, I was planning on withdrawing $700 from my account, but instead I leave it in place, so now I have increased my account balance by $700? One of those "a decrease in the rate of escalation is still a decrease" sort of thing?

STFU, Chimpy, and just bring 'em home!

mikey_the_rat