Study: Troops could leave with little risk

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

Most U.S. troops can be withdrawn safely from Iraq in roughly one year and the Bush administration should begin planning the pullout immediately, according to a study released Wednesday.

With the exception mostly of two brigades of about 8,000 troops who would remain in the touchy Kurdish region in the north for a year, trying to guard against conflict with Turkey, the U.S. troops would be moved to Kuwait initially, sags the study by the Center for American Progress, a self-described "progressive think tank" headed by John D. Podesta, a former chief of staff to former President Clinton.

There a brigade and an air wing of some 70 to 80 planes would remain in the Persian Gulf country indefinitely. Meanwhile, the withdrawal would give the United States leeway to add 20,000 troops to the 25,000 in Afghanistan trying to counter Taliban and al-Qaeda forces.

How fast the troops depart from Iraq and most of them go home depends largely on how much essential equipment goes along with the withdrawal, according to the study.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-08-29-iraq-pullout_N.htm

[goclark]

1. Bring them all out now!

[rodeodance]

2. "The time for half-measures and experiments is over; it is now time for a logistically sound strateg

The center's recommendation for withdrawal over a period of 10 to 12 months is based on consultation with military planners and logistics experts, the report said.

It proposed removing two combat brigades from Iraq a month while simultaneously reducing a proportional number of non-combat support personnel.

If the plan is adopted and U.S. combat units deployed in Iraq were not replaced as they went home the Bush administration could conclude the withdrawal by the end of next July "and with much more care than they did the invasion and occupation," the report said.

"The time for half-measures and experiments is over; it is now time for a logistically sound strategic redeployment," the report concluded.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted 8h 42m ago

[humbled_opinion]

14. I expect the scenario to unfold like this

1. Patreaus report to Congress - Surge worked now its up to the Iraqs (Blah, Blah)

2. Bush we need just a little more time and a lot more money - At least enought to cover until I'm out of office and somebody else can clean up my mess.

3. Democrats - Hem, Haw, Hem, Haw... Surge did little but we will do little too and do it too late.

4. Bush as he legacy builds - I will start drawing our troops down (Sketch pad in hand)... lol... Generals give me 100 per month out of Iraq... That will take me to the end of my term right? = 133 years.

[NMDemDist2]

3. I wonder if the Iraqis will throw flowers and sweets at the retreating troops?

just saying,..

:hide:

[saigon68]

4. The Mercenaries will still get a "Rose Petal Parade"

[treestar]

13. The mercenaries might stay

Though how they will bilk the taxpayer is another question.

Haliburton should pay them directly, out of its profits. This whole war is corporate welfare.

[saigon68]

17. They will die with their "boots on"

LOL

[Gregorian]

5. Not as liberators, but as liberated from the occupation.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Saddam is just a bad memory by these standards.

Bring them home, and command them to stand guard at 1600 Penn. Av. while we put handcuffs on the criminals inside.

[mallard]

15. Re: whether Iraqis will throw flowers and sweets

In exchange for an agreed-to, orderly but dignified evacuation of the Marines et al from Iraq, an outcome of mostly preferred choice for both Iraqis AND Marines, there's no saying what good the reduction in hostility might really do in terms of healing and recovery.

A smooth withdrawl by British troops would be good news in this regard, but it always seems like the people who so badly want a permanent US occupation would almost rather see mayhem in the south if and when that withdrawl actually happens.

It's the mayhem-on-tap types in this Iraq that do so much to enhance our aggressive and 'loyal' war contactors' business expansion thing that troubles me.

Green Zone is green as in Girls Scouts' color green. Its future could be a lot better if the district were relieved of foreigners without proper entry documentation. It's been almost four and a half years!

The option is obvious. Fuck bush to Hell.

[Gregorian]

6. They better pay attention to this one. Of course they won't.

They're eyeing Iran. And the more chaos, the more money they make.

Too bad for them, we are the ones running this country. That's why it's called a democracy. I think the gig is up. This sounds like a common sense report. Leave while they aren't firing at you. Or leave while running for your lives.

[Quantess]

7. Bring the Troops home now.

What's the problem? Oh, I know:

HALLIBURTON

[Dark]

8. Paging Captain Obvious, paging Captain Obvious ... nt

[poptartwrapper]

9. Add another one to the list

Dennis Kucinich has been talking about how easy it would be to cut off funding and get our troops home. Just another example of his clear sightedness. I really wish Democrats had more guts and would caucus and vote for Dennis. We don't get candidates like this very often. It is a real chance to tell the party we want some real 'results'. Every election we get the same fearful crop of 'blue dogs', voting for Republican light. Snap out of it. Cowards.

[formercia]

10. Move the troops to Kuwait so they can invade Iran.

It seems like a transparent ploy to me.

Bring them home, NOW!!

[Demeter]

11. The Troops Could and Should Have Left Years Ago

But Mr. Inadequate-Greedy couldn't cut his losses and shorten his profits, now, could he?

[Broadslidin]

12. Are we, The Imperialist Empire already giving up, Pillaging the OIL.? not likely.

:yoiks:

[JohnnyLib2]

16. Any bets on how hard * and cronies will hit back at this one?

The few remaining war-backing cronies, that is.


"Swiftboating", the best-remembered contribution of 43.