U.S. to Pull 8,000 Troops From Iraq Early in ’09

[babylonsister]

In case anyone was wondering what the dim one is about to crow about this a.m....

U.S. to Pull 8,000 Troops From Iraq Early in ’09

By THOM SHANKER
Published: September 8, 2008



WASHINGTON — President Bush has accepted the recommendation of his senior civilian and military advisers to reduce the number of American troops in Iraq by 8,000 in the early months of next year.

The reduction will begin with a Marine Corps battalion set to leave this fall from Anbar Province, once the center of the antigovernment insurgency.

In an address on Tuesday to the National Defense University here, Mr. Bush will unveil his decision on future force levels in Iraq, which includes withdrawing a full brigade of combat troops in the first few weeks of 2009, according to a draft of the speech released late Monday by the White House.

Neither the Marine battalion nor the Army brigade will be replaced, leaving the American combat force in Iraq at 14 brigades. After other support and logistics units are withdrawn under the new orders, the American troop levels in Iraq would drop to about 138,000 by March, still several thousand more than were there in January 2007, when Mr. Bush announced the “surge” that brought the total over 160,000.

“Here is the bottom line: While the enemy in Iraq is still dangerous, we have seized the offensive, and Iraqi forces are becoming increasingly capable of leading and winning the fight,” Mr. Bush says in the speech. “As a result, we have been able to carry out a policy of ‘return on success’ — reducing American combat forces in Iraq as conditions on the ground continue to improve.”

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/world/middleeast/09prexy.html?ref=todayspaper

[AmyCamus]

1. ... and send them to Afghanistan.

Probably.

[StClone]

2. Right NOW: WI NG largest call-up since WWII

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=303973&source=rss

[stillcool]

3. That is so 2004

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A46852-2003Oct18?language=printer

Reduction in U.S. Troops Eyed for '04
Gradual Exit Strategy Tied to Iraq's Stability
By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 19, 2003; Page A01
U.S. military commanders have developed a plan to steadily cut back troop levels in Iraq next year, several senior Army officers said in recent interviews.
There are now 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. The plan to cut that number is well advanced and has been described in broad outline to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld but has not yet been approved by him. It would begin to draw down forces next spring, cutting the number of troops to fewer than 100,000 by next summer and then to 50,000 by mid-2005, officers involved in the planning said.

[Junkdrawer]

6. but..but...Peace is just around the corner...err...I have a Secret Plan...err...

The Surge is working! Yeah, that's the ticket!

[unhappycamper]

4. I call bullshit on the 'surge' or escalation or whatever you want to call it.

# of boots on the ground at beginning of 'surge' = 132,000

According to this article, boots on the ground drop to about 138,000 by March. Aaaaaargggggh

[babylonsister]

5. Me, too, uhc. This guy needs to go find a hidey-hole and burrow in deep. nt

[Wilber_Stool]

7. That number has always been bullshit.

We have an equal number of mercenaries with their boots on the ground. Total number of troops doing our bidding, 300,000. For every 8,000 that go out the front door, the same number come in the back.