U.S. considers increasing pace of Iraq pullout

[madyaks]

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is considering the withdrawal of additional combat forces from Iraq beginning in September, according to administration and military officials, raising the prospect of a far more ambitious plan than expected only months ago.
Such a withdrawal would be a striking reversal from the nadir of the war in 2006 and 2007.
One factor in the consideration is the pressing need for additional American troops in Afghanistan, where the Taliban and other fighters have intensified their insurgency and inflicted a growing number of casualties on Afghans and American-led forces there.
More American and allied troops died in Afghanistan than in Iraq in May and June, a trend that has continued this month.
Although no decision has been made, by the time President George W. Bush leaves office on Jan. 20, at least one and as many as 3 of the 15 combat brigades now in Iraq could be withdrawn or at least scheduled for withdrawal, the officials said

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So? Are we now going to lose? Is this surrender? Does Bush hate the troops? I'm so confused.

[InSighT]

BUT THE DEMOCRATS

[dredbyrd]

Appeaser in Chief.

It helps that the Iraqis are finally ready to "stand on their own". For example, they are against permanent US bases

[Jaws]

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So? Are we now going to lose? Is this surrender? Does Bush hate the troops? I'm so confused.

The surge was successful. Those troops will now go to Afghanistan.

What is so hard to understand?

[madyaks]

The surge was successful. Those troops will now go to Afghanistan.

What is so hard to understand?

But when people on the left wanted to pull out and said one of the reasons why was that we needed the troops in Afghanistan we were called everything from traitor to wanting the troops to lose.

[TTB]

The surge was successful. Those troops will now go to Afghanistan.

What is so hard to understand?

For Yaks? Pretty much everything.

[kah]

The surge was successful. Those troops will now go to Afghanistan.

What is so hard to understand?

The part about this story being utter bullshit and the likelihood of an actual troop withdrawal being 0%. That part.

[TTB]

I'm going to have to earmark this one.

My bet is they do pull em down before November...hell, for no other reason then that it helps the Republicans who argued for the surge. It won't be a huge number though...I'd guess maybe 10,000 but perhaps as few as 5,000.

Let's check again later and see who was right.

[kah]

Any reduction would indicate that that strategy has worked and could defuse antiwar sentiment among voters.

[JK]

You know, the crap about how successful the surge has been falls on deaf ears with me...because, you know, we shouldn't have ever needed a surge to begin with...so I don't see how it is seen as some sort of victory...

[Jeffro]

It's good politics.

[kah]

It's good politics.

Well, I called on the "brickwall" icon because I don't believe it's true, at all. The notion that pulling out a couple of brigades is going to make the war, which has been poison to the GOP for years, no big deal is absurd. Not when you have Obama calling for withdrawal and running against Mr. 100 Years.

[TTB]

Well, I called on the "brickwall" icon because I don't believe it's true, at all. The notion that pulling out a couple of brigades is going to make the war, which has been poison to the GOP for years, no big deal is absurd. Not when you have Obama calling for withdrawal and running against Mr. 100 Years.

Want to make a bet that we still 50,000 or more troops in Iraq by the end of Obama's first term?

I've got a $100 that says we do.

[kah]

Want to make a bet that we still 50,000 or more troops in Iraq by the end of Obama's first term?

I've got a $100 that says we do.

I don't bet money, but you have my promise that if Obama doesn't reduce our troop presence by at least 75%, I'll vote Libertarian in 2012.

[TTB]

I don't bet money, but you have my promise that if Obama doesn't reduce our troop presence by at least 75%, I'll vote Libertarian in 2012.

Alright, that's fine. I just sense he is hedging his bets on a more speedy withdrawal.

Good for you then on the Libertarians.

Two things that Obama wants to do that will help the economy; reduce (if not end) what we are spending in Iraq...and the positive impact that reducing the deficit spending will have on the dollar.

I might still vote Libertarian this election. And if McCain wins and doesn't keep his promises...I am done with Republicans for good even though PPG and Razzy won't believe me. Oh well.