War strain in Iraq may speed troop cuts

[LiberalNation]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071224/ts_csm/acandor;_ylt=Aoe207Jq0DJ2fh7KA8dHkLoDW7oF

Washington - The strain of the war in Iraq is increasingly forcing senior Pentagon leaders to be blunter about the military's inability to sustain war operations indefinitely, a shift in tone that may mean more troops come home sooner.

The change comes as the security situation in Iraq looks much improved over even six months ago. It also comes under the leadership of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has welcomed candor from his commanders. As a result, senior leaders have taken advantage of the situation to make a more public case that the military, especially the Army, can no longer afford the luxury of sustained military operations in Iraq.

The Pentagon is already taking steps to draw down forces. Currently, there are about 165,000 American troops in Iraq, which includes about 20 combat brigades. By next summer, the plan is to return five combat brigades, or about 20,000 troops.

[jimnyc]

LN, I've edited your post, please don't post articles in their entirety. The fair use act only allows us to copy the first few paragraphs and link to the rest of the articles. Thanks

[JohnDoe]

what are we going to do with the billions of dollars spent on the new mega embassy and 7 new bases we have built there? Who's going to occupy them, if not the military?

[actsnoblemartin]

thats why you got so mad at me

sorry about whole articles jimmy



LN, I've edited your post, please don't post articles in their entirety. The fair use act only allows us to copy the first few paragraphs and link to the rest of the articles. Thanks

[Psychoblues]

Don't expect troop "cuts" in the near future, LN. The Democrats won't support that idiocy. But if you are actually talking about troop reductions in Iraq I would think that any intelligent person would understand and support that.

[red states rule]

Don't expect troop "cuts" in the near future, LN. The Democrats won't support that idiocy. But if you are actually talking about troop reductions in Iraq I would think that any intelligent person would understand and support that.

Even Hillary said troops will bein Iraq at the end of her first term. You guys are being played for fools by your candidates, and you still vote for them anyway :lol:

Yes, your side is still fighting hard for surrender, and determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

[actsnoblemartin]

I have a tough question for you lol. :laugh2:

how long do we give the iraqis to reconcile?

if they dont should we just cut it into 3 countries, devide the oil revenue?

or what president rsr, what would you do, and yes id vote for you


Even Hillary said troops will bein Iraq at the end of her first term. You guys are being played for fools by your candidates, and you still vote for them anyway :lol:

Yes, your side is still fighting hard for surrender, and determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

[red states rule]

I have a tough question for you lol. :laugh2:

how long do we give the iraqis to reconcile?

if they dont should we just cut it into 3 countries, devide the oil revenue?

or what president rsr, what would you do, and yes id vote for you

As much time as it takes for the Iraq security forces to be able to do the job on their own. There are many areas of the country where they are the sole security force - the US troops are either leaving or sitting back watching

[actsnoblemartin]

do you have faith iraqis can reconcile fully or enough for a three state solution?


As much time as it takes for the Iraq security forces to be able to do the job on their own. There are many areas of the country where they are the sole security force - the US troops are either leaving or sitting back watching

[Gunny]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071224/ts_csm/acandor;_ylt=Aoe207Jq0DJ2fh7KA8dHkLoDW7oF

Washington - The strain of the war in Iraq is increasingly forcing senior Pentagon leaders to be blunter about the military's inability to sustain war operations indefinitely, a shift in tone that may mean more troops come home sooner.

The change comes as the security situation in Iraq looks much improved over even six months ago. It also comes under the leadership of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has welcomed candor from his commanders. As a result, senior leaders have taken advantage of the situation to make a more public case that the military, especially the Army, can no longer afford the luxury of sustained military operations in Iraq.

The Pentagon is already taking steps to draw down forces. Currently, there are about 165,000 American troops in Iraq, which includes about 20 combat brigades. By next summer, the plan is to return five combat brigades, or about 20,000 troops.

Flipside: It could mean reinstitution of the draft.

[LiberalNation]

Never gona happen, not a chace. It would be political suicide for whoevers party in power even sugested it.

[nevadamedic]

what are we going to do with the billions of dollars spent on the new mega embassy and 7 new bases we have built there? Who's going to occupy them, if not the military?

Even the Democratic candidates are going to keep a military presence there all of them have said so.

[retiredman]

As much time as it takes for the Iraq security forces to be able to do the job on their own. There are many areas of the country where they are the sole security force - the US troops are either leaving or sitting back watching open ended? ten years? twenty? how many troops would you keep garrisoned in Iraq for that many years?

[nevadamedic]

Becareful people, if you hurt Mainemans delicate feelings he will put you on ignore. :laugh2:

[Gunny]

Never gona happen, not a chace. It would be political suicide for whoevers party in power even sugested it.

Never say never.

However, I would suggest in the case where the draft is not reinstitued and optempo continues to increase, deployment time for individuals increases.

Went through that with Clinton. OpTempo increases couple with troop reduction. It didn't get us home sooner ... it cut our turnaround time.

[Gunny]

open ended? ten years? twenty? how many troops would you keep garrisoned in Iraq for that many years?

How many have we kept in Europe for how long? Okinawa? Japan? Korea?