DOD REPORT Next Year Will Call for VERY RAPID REDUCTION of US Troops in Iraq: AS MUCH AS TWO THIRDS

[bigtree]

NEWSpEAK has learned that a separate internal report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will “differ substantially” from Petraeus’s recommendations, according to an official who is privy to the ongoing discussions but would speak about them only on condition of anonymity. An early version of the report, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year, will “recommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.” The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts. “There is interest at senior levels in getting alternative views” to Petraeus, the official said. Among others, Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon is known to want to draw down faster than Petraeus.

MORE . . . http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20712196/site/newsweek/?from=rss

[EVDebs]

1. All in order to save the GOP at the polls apparently (look, we brought em back!)

Only we had to wait until Nov '08 and not now you see as that wouldn't look good for the Chimperor.

[bigtree]

4. What I would like to see are some questions about the internal dissent

at the Pentagon from Petraeus' cynical plan to (maybe) reduce to the pre-surge level by June

[MissWaverly]

6. I read one of his aides said we need 20 year commitment

Remember, with all this switcheroo, that the draw down will only bring us down to pre-surge levels so we
are not drawing down anything. Methinks this is all just smoke and mirrors.

[bigtree]

11. Anything these generals say is made moot by what Bush will ultimately decide

but it's good to have dissenting views among them to exploit in our debate.

[MissWaverly]

12. Well, I know his superior, Admiral Fallon does not

think the surge has worked, I have read that he favors a drawdown.

[EVDebs]

14. DEMS need to demand an exit strategy, from the Powell Doctrine days nt

[MissWaverly]

15. one reason NOT to support the war

We have almost as many contractors (mercenaries) as soldiers, what are they doing? It's one of the reason that I strongly
favor getting out of there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. No, not quite, though it will help the GOP

it is the ir last ditch attempt to unbreak the back of the US Military

Short of a draft, the back of the force is broken

[ClintonTyree]

2. Just in time for the elections.....

not that the Bush White House would use the lives of America's soldiers for political purposes, mind you. :eyes:

I think they'll have to do this anyway, so why not sooner rather than later? We can't sustain troop levels beyond that date without initiating the draft again.

[bigtree]

3. they absolutely have to have severe reductions in force

I think March is the 15 month deployment cut off for the bulk of the force in Iraq. And, you're correct that a draft is the only way that the present force level could be sustained without extending that rotation time beyond 15 months.

[LeftHander]

5. GOP will declare victory shortly before the elections....nt

[bigtree]

9. I don't care what they declare it, as long as it means an end to the deployments

[doublethink]

7. Okay okay okay now hold on there tiger ..... before we get too excited .....

On Sept 26th 2004 (just before the 2004 elections) ..... Petreaus wrote a Rosy OpEd for the Washington post on the security forces in Iraq being well trained bla bla bla .... was that a coincidence that it was just before the 2004 elections?

and it's also not the first time the Pentagon has thrown this 'reduction of US troops' B.S. story out there ....... I believe to just once again move the goal posts for awhile.......


glance at this thread here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1783571&mesg_id=1783571.... especially the links down the page (dates and headlines) before like I say anyone gets too excited about anything coming out of any part of our government while the Bush administration is still in power .... Peace.

[bigtree]

8. the point is there is an apparent in the dissension in the ranks

those dissenters in the Pentagon should be allowed a hearing.

As for getting excited, I would also caution that a natural and healthy skepticism shouldn't prevent us from exploiting EVERY dissension among the opposition as we debate.

[doublethink]

10. Point taken.

:thumbsup: in full agreement with your statement. :hi: ..... carry on . Peace.

[mmonk]

16. Yes, I know of this.

All we have been watching with Patraeus is political theater.