Rumsfeld Says More Troops May Be Asked For

[cal04]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld indicated on Saturday that U.S. commanders in Iraq may yet decide they need more U.S. troops to ensure a viable national election in January.

``To the extent that's appropriate or needed, obviously that makes sense,'' Rumsfeld told reporters flying with him from Washington to this Persian Gulf island that is headquarters for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. He said he preferred that any troop additions be provided by other countries.The United States now has about 135,000 troops in Iraq.

As the election draws near, the fear is that insurgents, hoping to disrupt progress toward democracy and create more chaos, will attack polling places.Rumsfeld arrived at Bahrain International Airport on an overnight flight from Washington and was greeted by Bahraini officials.

Later Saturday Rumsfeld planned to fly aboard an aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy, in the Gulf to meet with his counterparts from about 18 countries considered allies in the war on terrorism. They include Albania, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Macedonia, Mongolia, Qatar and Ukraine.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Rumsfeld.html

[aquart]

1. From where, Rummy? From where?

[Bozos for Bush]

2. 18 countries, but only 5 representatives?

I heard that they he decided to meet them at IHOP once he found out that only 5 people were representing the 18 countries.

OK it's late, and I need sleep. LOL

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. hmmm Where are we gonnna get them troops from

[Judi Lynn]

4. Was it necessary for him to go to this extreme? From the article:

The minister of defense in Iraq's interim government, Hazim al Shalaan, also was scheduled to attend the rare, if not unprecedented, gathering at sea to talk about political and military developments in Iraq.

While aboard the carrier, Rumsfeld and his counterparts were to observe flight operations and receive a briefing on the Iraq situation in a secure video teleconference with Gen. George Casey in Baghdad. Casey is commander of Multinational Force-Iraq, the top military command in the country.

Rumsfeld flew to Bahrain aboard an Air Force E4-B, a Boeing 747 modified to serve as an airborne command post from which the secretary of defense could communicate with U.S. forces in a nuclear war. On long overseas flights the National Airborne Operations Center saves time because it can be refueled in the air.

In an interview aboard the plane, Rumsfeld was asked whether Casey and his boss, Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East, had asked for more troops. Rumsfeld did not reply directly. He alluded to the continuing and largely fruitless effort to find countries that would send forces to provide security for an expanded United Nations presence in Baghdad.
(snip/...)

Do you think he's actually afraid to put his own "boots on the ground" in Iraq, now? Maybe he fears getting fragged.

[jmcgowanjm]

13. Twenty-two helicopter loads of US casualties pour into Baghdad from provin

Mafkarat al Islam 10/8

A source employed inside the US occupation headquarters
in the Republican Palace in Baghdad, known to the
Americans as the “green zone,” told Mafkarat al-Islam on
Friday that from early morning until 4pm about 22 US Red
Cross Black Hawk helicopters landed near the Ibn Sina Hospital. The helicopters were bringing wave after wave of
US dead and injured from various places in Iraq to the
occupied capital for shipment home or hospital
treatment.

Four American invader troops captured in ar-Ramadi,
US threatens to destroy whole neighborhoods over the heads
of residents if the prisoners are not
released.

[Dem2theMax]

5. I could have sworn that * told us in the debate Friday night

that the troops we have now are doing the job. And that we don't need a draft because of this 'fact.' So Rummy comes out the next morning and says we need more troops? aaaarrrrrgggggg.

Get these idiots out of our White House!

[AngryOldDem]

14. I knew these words would come back...

...to bite Bush in the ass; I wasn't counting on it to be as soon as the day after.

[saracat]

6. But we "don't need more troops'!

[Kenergy]

7. Sorry to break this to you Rummy

<on edit>
Self deleted for profane criticism of that stupid lying bastard
Rumsfailed.

[saigon68]

8. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

"We will get anyone who has ever been in an American Uniform, back on active duty to guard my Dad's pipeline", he contnued.

[FormerOstrich]

9. Wow....

I could have sworn that * was criticizing Kerry for planning on sending additional troops. I am fairly confident that it was akin to: If you want to get out you don't send more men in. Ring a bell with anyone? Training was the answer. I didn't dream that did I? That would make this something like a flip-flop-*-not-on-top..

Not to worry it is just smashing....

[Iceburg]

10. No dream ... I recall * saying that Kerry's call for more troops

was a

"McSteak"

... will that be with or without fries, I mean lies Mr. President?

[BeatleBoot]

11. McSteak

Caught that one, too.

I figured it was a slip because he was thinking about all of the McJobs he's created.

[Iceburg]

12. good one beatleboot! :-)