Riddle me this Rumsfeld: Kerry Questions Rummy about troop #'s

[TayTay]

So Rummy, about that troop deployment from Kuwait to Baghdad. Ahm, people noticed. Sen. Kerry has a little list of 7 questions you might want to think about. BTW, as a taxpaying American, I'd kind of like to know the answers to these questions myself. What the hell are you doing in Iraq and why haven't you resigned in the face of your overwhelming failure and incompetence? You are getting people killed, engendering more unending war and screwing up the lives of millions of people. Take a hike guy. (Okay, Kerry is much nicer about it, but this is what he means.)

July 26, 2006

The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld

Secretary of Defense

1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-1000


Dear Mr. Secretary:


The plan announced by President Bush yesterday to deploy additional U.S. forces to Baghdad raises some important questions about the extended U.S. troop presence in Iraq. There is an increasingly widespread perception that the Administration is not being forthcoming with Congress or the American people about Iraq's escalating civil war and the fact that U.S. troops are clearly not standing down as Iraqi security forces stand up. Given the importance of being honest about the situation in Iraq, I urge you to provide clear answers to these questions as soon as possible.


The President said yesterday at his White House news conference with Prime Minister Maliki that the additional U.S. troops being deployed to Baghdad “will come from other areas of the country.” Yet a CNN report on this plan yesterday stated that a “senior Defense Department official said that part of a backup force that had been stationed in Kuwait was heading into Iraq.” There have been other conflicting reports, with some news reports today also indicating that additional U.S. troops will be sent to Baghdad from Kuwait as part of this plan.


It is essential that the Administration be completely straightforward about the situation in Iraq, particularly when it comes to U.S. troops being put in harm’s way. In the interest of setting the record straight, please provide clear answers to the following questions:


1. Is it true that additional U.S. troops are currently being deployed to Iraq from Kuwait, and if so, how many?

2. Are troops from Kuwait now being sent to Baghdad, or will they be replacing troops from other areas that are being sent to Baghdad?

3. Is the deployment of additional troops from Kuwait part of the plan announced by the President yesterday?

4. Can you state unequivocally that this plan will not result in an increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq?

5. Will this plan lengthen the deployments of U.S. troops currently serving in Iraq?

6. How will you measure the security situation in Baghdad, and what conditions will allow for these additional U.S. troops to be removed?

7. What does this mean for the Pentagon’s reported plan to begin withdrawing American troops from Iraq this year?


Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to receiving your responses to these questions as soon as possible.


Sincerely,


John Kerry

[babylonsister]

1. This 'plan' announced yesterday regarding more troops and money;

can the blivet just announce it's going to happen, doesn't it at the very least have to be voted on? Why does he have free reign with US lives and money?

[Bretttido]

2. Excellent move by John Kerry

Not only in finding out what the Administration's plan is (if they have one). But also to put THEM on the defensive. Have THEM answer what the hell they're doing and planning on doing about the blunder they created in Iraq.

[blm]

5. Senators put out these letters hoping it will give newsmedia a CLUE what

they SHOULD be asking. Real journalists would be asking this stuff relentlessly.

[democrat_patriot]

3. Has any admin official replied to any of these letters?

This one hit the shredder in Rummy's office in record time.

[gilpo]

4. Bingo..

There will be no response to this. Probably won't make the news either.

[karynnj]

6. It's sad that Rumsfeld or Bush didn't answer these questions

when they announced it yesterday. I like your questions too.

[BuyingThyme]

7. Why ask Rumsfeld? Wasn't the occupation handed over to Rice?

I hope she's okay.