Bush and Blair plan to reduce troops just before the mid-term elections

[Writer]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8544060/

Surprised? :eyes:

[NMDemDist2]

1. I just watched Democracy Now! from this morning and that was my

first thought!

:mad:

everything is about politics to these guys, they wouldn't know a policy if it bit them

[DanCa]

2. I am not surprised at all

But right now this is all just speculation. Until President Bush actually does something than I'll believe it. I do have a nagging suspicion that they'll nab OBL right before the 08 election as well.

[LiberalAndProud]

3. I hope!

Political motivations aside, troop reduction will be a good thing. (And I don't think it'll sway voters much either.)

[skids]

4. I know it's been posted many times...

...but I think this article may have some new tidbits, and you chose a really thought-provoking headline. So, recommended.

[Bok_Tukalo]

5. Has it occurred to you that we may be running out of options?

I do not see this as political necessity. If true, I see it as an admission that we are straining our military capability.

[Writer]

6. That's a very good observation

I think it shows that we are stretched thin, in fact, the Pentagon admits this in the article.

In laymans terms, we're losing. Or rather, we may already have lost Iraq.

[Bok_Tukalo]

9. If this is true, and we have lost (not something I am willing to agree to)

It will take a decade to rebuild our military to the level in which the Bush Administration inherited it, at least, and that is with a serious effort.

I do not see the news of a withdrawal when there is little sign of pacification of the Sunni insurgency and foreign terrorism in Iraq as anything but bad.

[PurityOfEssence]

7. yeah, he said he'd go back to the U.N. for an up or down vote

His word doesn't mean dick.

[burrowowl]

8. And substitute expensive

Mercenaries!
Of course, this will not be mentionned!