Troop pullback is expected in general's status report

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

Intent on demonstrating progress in Iraq, the U.S. military commander is expected by top Bush administration officials to recommend removing American troops from several areas soon, possibly including the al-Anbar province.

According to the officials, Gen. David H. Petraeus is expected to propose the partial pullback in his September status report to Congress. Administration officials who support the current troop increase hope Petraeus' recommendations will persuade Congress to reject pressure for a major U.S. withdrawal.

The recommendation would authorize U.S. commanders to withdraw troops from places that have become less violent and turn over security responsibilities to Iraqi forces. But it does not necessarily mean Petraeus will call for reducing the overall number of troops. Instead, he could move the forces to another hot spot or use them to create a reserve force to counter any rise in violence.

"That is the form of the recommendation we are anticipating him to come back with," said a senior administration official. But referring to the redeployment options, the official added, "I just don't know which of those categories he is going to be in."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pullback15aug15,0,4840766.story?coll=la-home-center

[Selatius]

1. What's the point? The guerrillas will simply re-occupy positions US forces leave behind.

The Iraqi military is hopelessly compromised by informants and saboteurs on both sides of the civil war. They would be ineffective as a fighting force if they were made to do all the policing duties alone without US forces to buttress their inherent weakness.

[rwheeler31]

2. Whak Whak

[Kagemusha]

4. ...They made a big thing of the al-Anbar tribes policing the area.

So the presumption is that the natives will keep the guerillas from getting anywhere there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. WHACK A MOLE

this is what we're playing over there, granted he does not have the forces... but that is a whole different ball of wax

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Tis a crock of shit!

Go ahead betrayus, re-arrange the deck chairs, the only people you'll fool are the same old stupid sorry ass freepers.