I was right. There will be no pre-election drawdown of troops in Iraq.

[bluestateguy]

Remember the prognosticators who said there would be a big pre-election drawdown of troops? A declaration of "victory" in Iraq, parades in American city streets and certain doom for Democrats because they would have lost the Iraq issue for the election? Some of those prognosticators were on this board too.

I knew it would never happen. I knew that the war would either escalate or bumble along at about the same level that is has for the least 3 years.

Well today I am saying that I was right. I knew it would never happen, and now I am taking my curtain call. I was right.

[Avalux]

1. They opted to go with gas prices instead -

Looking at what would be the most effective move to manipulate the most people, gas prices won. ;-)

[tridim]

8. They also went with the "Stop talking about Iraq at all costs" plan

Of course the willing media whores jumped right on board, no questions asked.

[MadMaddie]

2. bluestateguy indeed you were right...

They have dug a hole so deep they can't keep up with all of the lied and spin they have created.....

[lonestarnot]

3. No, in fact they are again imposing stop loss, back door draft policies

with the 3rd I.D.

[xxqqqzme]

4. while I did not

join that particullar discussion, I too, thought a drawdown would figure in sauroves's October surprise. Now I think they are defrosting the body of Osama bin Laden to be used as a trophy, especially since the whorporate media has focused on 'where's osama' as never before. Why him; why now? Inquiring minds want to know.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. I Guess That They Can't

I was figuring that they'd have a modest (10% or so) drawdown, so they could trumpet this as progress.

'fraid not.

[catmandu57]

11. That's the way I see it they can't

they're stop lossing 4000 more soldiers extending their tours now, praying and sweating bullets that things don't go boom, because they have no idea where the bodies will come from.

As to gas, i don't think that's working too well either, most people here are seeing it as an attempt to buy their vote.

[sandnsea]

6. Of course there wasn't

They've been using that diversionary tactic every time the anti-war voice starts getting loud in the public. Sadly, the left usually chimes right in by saying it will be used to gain votes. So we end up with both sides of the debate saying there will be a troop drawdown with the obvious result being that those advocating a real change getting completely drowned out. It's happened regularly since the summer 2003 primaries got going.

[cally]

7. I admit, I thought they would pull back troops for political reasons

I now think they'll blockade Iran for political reasons. Let's hope I'm wrong.

[Deep13]

9. They need to rake in as much cash from that before the govt. changes.

Iraq is just a way to funnel resources to the corporate elite. Regardless of election results this year, they want to continue the cash grap for as long as possible.

[Cleita]

10. Not only that I just heard on the radio that many of the troops

who were expecting to come home will have their tours of duty extended.

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. If you make the assumption that everything they have done

since that ham fisted invasion has been done incompetently, the whole scenario was predictable. The minute that you think that any of this mess was done on purpose or per some kind of well thought out
plan is when you get into trouble.

[longship]

13. ChimpCo's never ending policy:

They are staying the course on stay the course.

Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course.
Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course.
Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course.
Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course.
Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course.
Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course. Stay the Course.