White House Said to Debate ’08 Cut in Iraq Troops by 50% (NYT)

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

White House Said to Debate ’08 Cut in Iraq Troops by 50%

By DAVID E. SANGER and DAVID S. CLOUD
Published: May 26, 2007

WASHINGTON, May 25 — The Bush administration is developing
what are described as concepts for reducing American combat
forces in Iraq by as much as half next year, according to senior
administration officials in the midst of the internal debate.

It is the first indication that growing political pressure is forcing
the White House to turn its attention to what happens after
the current troop increase runs its course.

The concepts call for a reduction in forces that could lower
troop levels by the midst of the 2008 presidential election
to roughly 100,000, from about 146,000, the latest available
figure, which the military reported on May 1. They would also
greatly scale back the mission that President Bush set for the
American military when he ordered it in January to win back
control of Baghdad and Anbar Province.

-snip-

Still, there is no indication that Mr. Bush is preparing to call
an early end to the current troop increase, and one reason
officials are talking about their long-range strategy may be to
blunt pressure from members of Congress, including some
Republicans, who are pushing for a more rapid troop reduction.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/26/washington/26strategy.html?ref=world

[azurnoir]

1. So we have the '08 troop cut after the '07 surge

Gee just in time for the election too.

[marmar]

5. "just in time for the election too."

Shocking, isn't it?!?

[Demeter]

2. It's Called "Casualties" & It's A Piss-Poor Way To Cut Troops n/t

[pingzing58]

3. A cunning move by Bushco to knock the wind out of the

American people's demand to bring our troops home.  Evil is
cleaver and their guile is strong but we can see through their
feigned authenticity.  Now is not the time to give up the
fight.

[MasonJar]

4. How noble of them....not. They presume that they will have the oil

tied up by then, I imagine.