Bush to weigh Iraq strategy; US general forecasts troop cut

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060611/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqbush_060611225339

CAMP DAVID, United States (AFP) - President George W. Bush opens a crucial two-day meeting to reassess US efforts in Iraq as a top US general said international troops in the country could be drawn down in coming months.

The talks at Bush's Camp David country retreat near Washington will see top US officials conferring at length by teleconference with the new government in Baghdad as they address overall strategy now that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has a complete cabinet.

On Sunday US General George Casey, the commander of coalition forces in Iraq, suggested that the filling of the final three crucial security posts in Maliki's cabinet this week opens the door for reducing US troop levels.

Iraq national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie told US television Sunday that the discussions will deal with troop levels along with financing and training for the Iraq military, predicting coalition forces could fall by one-third from the current 150,000 level by the end of 2006.

"I believe by the end of the year, of this year ... that the number of the multinational forces will be probably less than 100,000 in this country," Rubaie told CNN television.

Minor troop cuts before the election.

the new prime minister wants an offensive to secure Baghdad, he says that it would be
something to help heal the sectional fighting.

A Pickler piece on the official party line coming out of Bush's big summit with his real good aides.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061200271.html

Bush, Advisers Plan Future of U.S. in Iraq

By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
Monday, June 12, 2006; 7:33 AM

WASHINGTON -- Encouraged by the death of a top terrorist leader and continued progress on the formation of a new government in Iraq, President Bush is gathering his top military and civilian war advisers to plan the U.S. role in the country's future.

The president planned two days of meetings at the mountainous Camp David presidential retreat starting Monday, with national security advisers on hand and top commanders in Iraq connected by videoconference.

White House officials have said announcements of force reductions are not expected. Yet the top U.S. commander in Baghdad predicted on the eve of the meeting that coalition troops will gradually move out of the country in the coming months.

...

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a critic of U.S. involvement in Iraq, said Monday that now is "a perfect time" for a troop withdrawal. "People want a change in this country ... a change in direction, and I hope the president hears that and I hope the Iraqis ask us to leave," Murtha said on ABC's "Good Morning America."

...

The party line is, if everything goes really, really well we might be able to withdraw "some" troops. An Iraqi minister says it we could be below 100,000 by the end of the year but no Americans are backing him up.

No mention in this article of the plans to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq permanently, and no mention of earlier reports that withdrawals are not possible given the security situation.

And of course, no mention that we do not and never did have enough troops in the country to win the war.

just joking.


......No mention in this article of the plans to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq permanently, and no mention of earlier reports that withdrawals are not possible given the security situation.

And of course, no mention that we do not and never did have enough troops in the country to win the war.

in order to get Zarqawi?

Looks like it's time to cut and run and let the Shites turn Iraq into Iran West.

We've needed one of those for a long time.

us this insane war in the first place.

And it is huge news that they are suddenly meeting about Iraq! The administration has such a low bar.

A CRINKLED REP
A DRECK REP NIL
A NICER DR KELP
A PC LINKED ERR
PLACED ERR INK
DANCER PER ILK
PLACE DR INKER
PLACER RED INK
RECAP RED LINK
CRANK REPLIED
CLAP ERRED KIN
NARC LED PIKER
CRAP DE LINKER
CRAP REKINDLE
CRAP LED INKER
CRAP LED RE INK
CRAP DEN LIKER
DANK RELIC REP
DARK INC LEPER
DARN CREEP ILK
LEARN PICK RED
RENAL DICK REP
KLAN CIDER REP
PLANK DECRIER
KARL EPIC REND
KARL PC DENIER
RAN DRECK PILE
RAN PECKER LID

is pretty apropos

It would have to be started very soon and complete or near-completion by the Nov. elections for this admin to gain any political ground on it.

Did they think to consult with the folks who will be paying the bills for their next speculative flyer on American imperialism?