President Bush will announce this week plans to cut U.S. troop numbers in Iraq by about 30,000

[sabra]

Source: CNN

Breaking News President Bush will announce this week plans to cut U.S. troop numbers in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, The Associated Press reports quoting unnamed officials.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/

---

:eyes:

more:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush will tell the nation this week he plans to reduce the American troop presence in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, but will condition those and further cuts on continued progress, The Associated Press has learned.

In a prime-time television address, probably Thursday, Bush will endorse the recommendations of his top general and top diplomat in Iraq, following their appearance at two days of hearings in Congress, administration officials said.

The White House plans to issue a written status report on the "surge" on Friday, they said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Bush's speech is not yet finally drafted.

[TwilightGardener]

1. In other words, the temporary hail mary Surge will last almost a year

and a half, and then it's back to war as usual. Gee.......thanks......

[ramapo]

3. Good marketing

Adding troops allowed him to cut troops. Dumb Americans will see he's on their side by bringing the boys (and girls) home

[tridim]

8. Even dumb Americans aren't that stupid

This is exactly analogous to a department store raising prices by 30% and then having a 30% off sale.

[eagler]

11. Just watch

[Hawaii Hiker]

20. All he's doing is

bringing home "the surge" troops, overall troop levels will still be around 150,000....

[saigon68]

23. Yes they are !!! they are Sheep

Baa Baaa Baa

[tridim]

34. We'll see.. It's pretty clear that most Americans want this war to end..

Regardless of the flock mentality typical of the Republican party.

I hear it every morning on my clock radio, everyone is pissed about Bush's war, not just Democrats.

[ClintonTyree]

42. Never misunderestimate the stupidity of Americans.

Bush hasn't, and it's worked well for him for almost 7 years. Unfortunately, many Americans need to be hit in the head with a sledge-hammer several times before they even begin to see what's right in front of them.

[llmart]

50. Not really.....

his poll numbers are in the twenties so realistically, it hasn't worked for him for quite some time.

[ClintonTyree]

54. How long did it take people to realize it?

And how long will it take them to realize that he's lying to them once again? I'm sorry. After electing this total zero to two terms (I know, I know, he had a little "help" ) I can't give "middle America" too much credit. Forgive me, but I've seen "the heartland" bamboozled too many times.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Yep--all a chess game with force numbers--he wins when his term is

up and the chess pieces are still on the board.

[deacon]

41. It's become surreal. A complete top to bottom dupe.

[JaneQPublic]

2. That only takes us back to pre-surge numbers.

Like KO said last night, it's like a store raising prices, then calling it a "sale" when they knock it back down to normal prices.

[rodeodance]

44. and it will take a YEAR to do that!!

[rodeodance]

45. In a 15-minute address from the White House at 9 p.m. EDT, Bush will

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2007/09/11/national/w122946D38.DTL&type=printable

Officials: Bush to Announce Troop Cut

By MATTHEW LEE and ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writers

Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Gen. David Petraeus testifies on the future course of the... Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Chuck Hage... Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., a Democratic presidential...

(09-11) 16:42 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

President Bush will tell the nation Thursday evening that he plans to reduce the American troop presence in Iraq by as many as 30,000 by next summer but will condition those and further cuts on continued progress, The Associated Press has learned.

In a 15-minute address from the White House at 9 p.m. EDT, Bush will endorse the recommendations of his top general and top diplomat in Iraq, following their appearance at two days of hearings in Congress, administration officials said. The White House plans to issue a written status report on the troop buildup on Friday, they said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Bush's speech is not yet final. Bush was rehearsing and polishing his remarks even as the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker were presenting their arguments for a second day on Capitol Hill.

In the speech, the president will say he understands Americans' deep concerns about U.S. involvement in Iraq and their desire to bring the troops home, they said. Bush will say that, after hearing from Petraeus and Crocker, he has decided on a way forward that will reduce the U.S. military presence but not abandon Iraq to chaos, according to the officials.

[rodeodance]

46. Pelosi: "Please. It's an insult to the intelligence of the American people that that

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush appears poised merely to bring the country back to where it was before the election that put Democrats in control of Congress — with 130,000 troops in Iraq.

"Please. It's an insult to the intelligence of the American people that that is a new direction in Iraq," she said. "We're as disappointed as the public is that the president has a tin ear to their opinion on this war."

In his speech, Bush will adopt Petraeus' call for more time to determine the pace and scale of future withdrawals and offer to report to Congress in March, one official said.

As Petraeus and Crocker have, Bush will acknowledge difficulties, and the fact that few of the benchmarks set by Congress to measure progress of the buildup have been met, the official said. Yet, he will stress that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would be a catastrophe for Iraq and U.S. interests.

[Zhade]

51. Hey Pelosi - do your fucking job, follow the law and impeach the administration for their crimes.

Otherwise, your words are empty rhetoric.

[snappyturtle]

4. When is the repuke's convention next summer? nt

[brooklynite]

14. First week of September

[snappyturtle]

19. Thanks. I would have thought it would be earlier! That was what

I was thinking when I asked the question. Figured * was scheduling a draw down at convention time.

[panader0]

5. Weird that this announcement would come in the middle of the hearings.

[NewJeffCT]

6. just in time for the elections, I see... but, haven't they promised reductions before?

and, didn't they already say they couldn't maintain current troop levels past early 2008, anyhow?

[niyad]

7. how many are going to die?

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. It's like when they run the prices up just before the "sale"

30% discount.

[janetle]

16. Yep, that's what KO said last night.

[David Zephyr]

10. And timed perfectly for the 2008 GOP National Convention. Talk about "timetables".

How every single American (I mean 100% of the entire country) can not see this charlatan for the fuckwad that he is too much to contemplate.

Here's the guy that said "no timetables" and now he's announcing a pull back that perfectly nests with the 2008 GOP National Convention, proving that our sons and daughters are dying for Republican domestic political advantage. Pathetic.

[simmonsj811]

12. very good point

K&R

[David Zephyr]

58. Welcome to the DU.

:hi:

[sofa king]

13. These lies are getting worn out.

Here's another article about it.

Oh wait... I'm sorry. That article is from when Bush and Donald Rumsfeld lied about reducing the number of troops in 2005.

[dickbearton]

40. Bush is one big lie...

The only reason troops will be removed is because the Army cannot sustain those numbers. Like everything else, the Criminal Bush has broken the military.

[daleo]

15. It's like an alcoholic

Upping his booze consumption temporarily, so that he can "cut down" later on.

[leftchick]

17. 172,000 - 30,000 = 142,000

I am sorry, do they think we are stupid? Those numbers are still higher than "pre-surge". WTF! Bring them ALL home!

[Roland99]

22. Are you sure this isn't above and beyond the current troop rotation increase?

[leftchick]

39. I am not sure of anything

the way the DoD fudges numbers who knows? :(

[dipsydoodle]

43. That's the problem

with The Boy Blunder having an IQ lower than a daisy - he think everyone else is just as moronic.

[olddad56]

18. Will they be replaced by 30,000 Blackwater Corp. mercenaries?

[saigon68]

32. Until the resistance throws another

Rose Petal Parade

[JaneQPublic]

24. That's 30,000 he'll need for his war in IRAN... (n/t)

[olddad56]

25. good point. Moving them out if Iraq may mean moving them to Iran.

or, to Kuwait until the time is right to illegally invade Iran. Iran is desperately in need of democracy, so it is only a matter of time before we 'save' the innocent people of Iran.

[TheCowsCameHome]

26. So increase the troop levels, then reduce them, (eventually).

And make it look like it's a wonderful thing.

America won't buy this shell game.

[Nordmadr]

27. Bush to lower troop levels 30,000...by NEXT summer

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush will tell the nation this week he plans to reduce the American troop presence in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, but will condition those and further cuts on continued progress, The Associated Press has learned.


In a primetime television address, probably Thursday, Bush will endorse the recommendations of his top general and top diplomat in Iraq, following their appearance at two days of hearings in Congress, administration officials said.

The White House plans to issue a written status report on the so-called "surge" on Friday, they said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Bush's speech is not yet finally drafted.

Bush was practicing the speech and putting the final touches on it even as the U.S. commanding general, David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker were still presenting their Ryan Crocker were still presenting their arguments on Capitol Hill.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/11/bush.iraq.ap/index.html

---

Sigh, Could it be any more obvious what a ridiculous delay tactic this is? Maybe sort of we'll bring some troops home, just don't do anything in the meantime.

Olafr

[Justitia]

28. & of course, it's a LIE. Unless he means "redeployed to Iran" -eom

[The_Casual_Observer]

29. Did he cross his heart & hope to die?

I hope so.

[dbt]

30. Damn. That looks like bullshit.

Hmmm. SMELLS like bullshit.

FEELS like bullshit.

*slurp* TASTES like bullshit, too.

FUCK! It IS bullshit!!!

Sure glad we didn't STEP in it!

:rofl:

[superconnected]

37. And what are the dems going to do?

Ms. Pelosi, I don't want your lip service.

I want you to step down.

I blame you for this continued propaganda. I blame you for the soldiers dying right now.

You had the power to stop them. You joined them.

[blayne]

31. I though Patraeus was calling the shots?

He must have made that suggestion to Shrub.

[rodeodance]

48. Yes, Bush to endorse Patreus recommendations

[Up2Late]

33. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! The "surge" begins to end October 2008! Here's why:

NPR's Guy Raz has been doing a lot of this "yeah, Right..." type stories lately, and I think he got it exactly right with this one,

Listen or read the transcript here:

Petraeus Must Persuade Congress to Fund 'Surge'

Listen to this story... by Guy Raz

Morning Edition, September 5, 2007 · When Gen. David Petraeus faces members of Congress next week, he's expected to talk about momentum in Iraq. The idea is to bring Congress on board with the idea of keeping large numbers of troops in Iraq through spring. The plan, known informally as the "surge," wasn't originally billed as a long-term strategy. The Pentagon and the administration were deliberately vague about a plan that they knew early on would last well into 2008.

The "surge" was announced on Jan. 10, 2007, when President Bush announced a new plan to commit more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq. When all was said and done, that number ended up closer to 30,000....

(edit)

...But if you take a look at the schedule for troop rotations now, the surge will, in fact, last 18 months. The turning point, it seems, came April 11 when Secretary Gates walked into the Pentagon briefing room to announce that "effective immediately, active Army units now in the Central Command area of responsibility and those headed there will deploy for not more than 15 months."

And so with a stroke of his pen, Gates' decision meant that the surge, for all intents and purpose, would last through October 2008. Why? Because the last army unit to arrive in Iraq as part of the surge landed in June 2007. Add 15 months and you've reached autumn of 2008....

(more at link) <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14172147>

[onehandle]

35. Setting a timetable sends a message of surrender to the enemy.

What a Loooooooooser!

[superconnected]

36. Propaganda. That all general patreas is - bought and paid for by the bush admin.

These crooks and liars should be in prison.

It's so wrong it's even by-passed biting painful humor.

These criminals are too blatantly obvious. Why they're not in prison is an outrage.

And their base really are morans.

[Cha]

38. How many will die before

buSHITS politicize "bringing home 30, 000 Soldiers"? If that even happens.

[rodeodance]

47. CNN: Bush to lay out pullback goal--pre-surge levels -- by July 2008.

Bush to lay out pullback goal
President Bush is expected this week to announce his plans for cutting back U.S. troop numbers in Iraq, a senior administration official said Tuesday. The top U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress this week he could see troop numbers sliding by 30,000 -- which would reduce the number of troops to pre-surge levels -- by July 2008. full story



http://www.cnn.com/

[JaneQPublic]

52. By July 2008? Gosh, that kinda sounds like a TIMETABLE!!! (nt)

[tblue37]

49. Besides its being a scam, he isn't even really promising to bring

the surge increase home--he is just saying he will do so if conditions seem to warrant it. But we know conditions always warrant one more Friedman Unit--or however much time he decides he still needs. He still has enough wiggle room to leave the surge there indefinitely.

Who ever heard of a "temporary" surge that lasts as long as the pre-surge war?

[papau]

53. 30000 cut is forced unless tours increased to 18 months - but Media pretends it does not know this n

n/t

[NYC Liberal]

55. In other news, our kind and benevolent Leader has increased

our chocolate rations from 30 grams to 25 grams.

What a crock. So he increases troop levels, then a few months later he "reduces" the troops in Iraq...never you mind that he's only bringing them down to the same level as before.

Yeah, right. :eyes:

[OneBlueSky]

56. to be replaced by how many contractor personnel? . . . n/t

.

[Javaman]

57. Define "cut"...

or more likely reshuffling. You recall those bases near the Iran border right?

[vduhr]

59. The key words here are...

"...but will condition those and further cuts on continued progress..."

He will never let go - he's too insane. I know of only one presidential candidate that says he will bring the troops home - that's Bill Richardson. To quote Richardson, "Clinton, Obama and Edwards all share the inside-the-Beltway thinking that a complete withdrawal of all American forces would be "irresponsible." But the facts suggest that a rapid, complete withdrawal--not a drawn-out, Vietnam-like process--would be the most responsible and effective course of action. Those who think we need to keep troops in Iraq misunderstand the Middle East."