Source: Bush told Iraqis need more funds, equipment

[Kadie]

Source: Bush told Iraqis need more funds, equipment
POSTED: 11:28 a.m. EST, December 13, 2006

Story Highlights• President Bush to hold meetings on Iraq at the Pentagon on Wednesday
• Source: Military advisers told Bush Iraqi forces need more equipment, funds
• White House says general direction of policy decided; options still being examined
• Democrat calls for Bush to "demonstrate leadership and change his policy now"


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush, immersed in an intensive reassessment of Iraq war policy, wrapped up consultations with leaders of various political factions there Wednesday amid separate talks with top-ranking U.S. military officers.

Bush was due at the Pentagon later Wednesday to hold discussions with senior officials there, where war commanders are urging significantly more U.S. trainers and equipment for beleaguered Iraqi forces -- but not more combat troops.

On Tuesday, in similar discussions with field commanders, Bush heard Gen. John Abizaid, top U.S. commander in the Middle East, and Gen. George Casey, the top general in Iraq, ask the administration to pour increased funding into more armored vehicles, body armor and other critical equipment for the Iraqis, said a defense specialist familiar with the meetings. The source requested anonymity because the discussions were private.

Abizaid has told the Senate Armed Services Committee that troop levels in Iraq need to stay fairly stable and the use of military adviser teams expanded. About 140,000 U.S. troops and about 5,000 advisers are in Iraq.

The message to Bush, the defense specialist said, is that the U.S. cannot withdraw a substantial number of combat troops by early 2008, as suggested by an independent, bipartisan commission on Iraq, because the Iraqis will not be ready to assume control of their country. Bush is delaying making public his new Iraq policy plan until early next year in part to allow officials to work out the funding, he said. (Watch how experts say more troops would merely push the insurgents underground )

more...
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/13/bush.iraq.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[rodeodance]

1. WHO will step out and try to stop this? The Dems??

The message to Bush, the defense specialist said, is that the U.S. cannot withdraw a substantial number of combat troops by early 2008, as suggested by an independent, bipartisan commission on Iraq, because the Iraqis will not be ready to assume control of their country. Bush is delaying making public his new Iraq policy plan until early next year in part to allow officials to work out the funding, he said. (Watch how experts say more troops would merely push the insurgents underground )

[sam sarrha]

2. the Iraqi's need Bu$h and the NeoCons to get the hell out of the government.. RESIGN while your

approvial rating is better than your fathers.. dick weed

[bluerum]

3. Someone needs to remind him that NOLA needs some help too. nt