US unlikely to cut Iraq forces below pre-surge levels: analysts

Source: AFP





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080124/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary

Source: AFP

Analysts say Bush will never end Iraq 'surge'
Agence France-Presse
Published: Thursday January 24, 2008

President George W. Bush is unlikely to reduce US forces in Iraq to less than levels just before the surge this year for fear of putting at risk security gains, US analysts said Wednesday.

The top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, will make recommendations in March or April on whether more troops can come home in the second half of the year, further shrinking the size of US force in Iraq. The military already has committed to reducing the size of the force from 19 to 15 combat brigades by July, bringing troop levels down from about 160,000 to about 130,000 troops -- the level before the "surge" troop hike that was launched a year ago.

But tension is developing between commanders in Iraq, who are wary about reducing US forces too quickly, and the military leadership at the Pentagon, who want to ease the strain on US ground forces as quickly as possible.

"General Petraeus is under pressure from the army, from the Central Command and the Joint Chiefs to continue the withdrawals after the drawdown of five brigades," said Peter Rodman, a former senior Pentagon official.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Analysts_No_end_in_sight_for_0124.html

edit to add: can I be an "analyst"? Because I've been saying this a long time ago.

He's out in a year anyway you look at it. For a Dem president, the choice will be to take the troops out fast, or take them out slow.

they have to. There have been tons are articles from repudible sources. The Army and NG simply can NOT continue at this pace.

The whole purpose of this is for politics, there was never any military factor in this

That being said they are just going to do even less patrols than they do now which are, from what I have heard, less than even right before the '04 election and that was REALLY LOW.