Talk of withdrawing 30 thousand troops next year

[brettdale]

Does anyone think , that if 30 thousand troops get withdrawn next year from Iraq, the repugs will organize a freedom parade for them right before the election, in which Bush will show up in military uniform.

[bryant69]

1. That's possible

likely actually

Kind of scary when you think about it.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[polmaven]

2. Except that they are planning on adding

40,000 by the end of THIS year...Heard that on one of the talk shows today...can't remember which one.

[Kahuna]

3. They will say they are withdrawing to help the repukes running

for congress next year. They will even bring a few troops home. But after the election they will find a reason to keep them there. Either that or use the withdrawn troops to invade another country with brown people.

[G_j]

4. Operation Withdrawal Scam

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050802/operation_withdrawal_scam.php

Operation Withdrawal Scam
by Norman Solomon, TomPaine.com

As support for war in Iraq plummets, expect the White House to pacify the public with talk of pull-out.

----------

A few days ago, the White House launched a new phase of its propaganda siege for the Iraq war.

The opening salvo came on July 27, when the commander of American forces in Iraq said that continuation of recent trends would make possible “some fairly substantial reductions” of U.S. troop levels in the spring and summer of 2006. Those reductions, Gen. George Casey proclaimed, will happen “if the political process continues to go positively and if the development of the security forces continues to go as it is going.”

Gen. Casey’s statement, which made big news, was the start of a media offensive likely to last for the next 15 months, until the congressional elections. We might call it Operation Withdrawal Scam.

Overall, the strategy is double-barreled: Keep killing in Iraq while hyping scenarios for withdrawal of U.S. troops.

President Bush has always made a show of rejecting calls for a pullout timetable. Yet the current media buzz about possible withdrawal from Iraq is not without precedent. Some appreciable publicity along similar lines came last fall—from a journalistic source who has eagerly done some of Karl Rove’s dirtiest work.
(Novak)
..more..

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5199524-103681,00.html

US military to build four giant new bases in Iraq


Michael Howard in Baghdad
Monday May 23, 2005


Guardian

US military commanders are planning to pull back their troops from Iraq's towns and cities and redeploy them in four giant bases in a strategy they say is a prelude to eventual withdrawal.

The plan, details of which emerged at the weekend, also foresees a transfer to Iraqi command of more than 100 bases that have been occupied by US-led multinational forces since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

However, the decision to in vest in the bases, which will require the construction of more permanent structures such as blast-proof barracks and offices, is seen by some as a sign that the US expects to keep a permanent presence in Iraq.

Politicians opposed to a long-term US presence on Iraqi soil questioned the plan.

"They appear to settling in a for the long run, and that will only give fuel for the terrorists," said a spokesman for the mainstream Sunni Iraqi Islamic party.

..more..

[Yoda Yada]

8. 5 weeks to "make up" another war...

Senator Kennedy was right a couple of years ago when he said, "The Iraq War was made up in Texas." So why should we believe that Bush&Co are not doing the same thing now during their 5-week vacation? They MUST create a diversion to the Fitzgerald investigation in October. Insisting that the Iraqi's vote on their new Constitution (also October) might not be enough.

Get ready for their new "Bring-out-the-new-product-in-September" strategy. Are they hoping that Americans will forget about Rove, DSM, and Bush's lack of leadership, if Bolton starts "rattling the sabre" for another war? ((...talk about EVIL!..)

[Solly Mack]

5. Fuzzy Math

The number of US troops in the country will temporarily rise in December to around 160,000 to boost security for Iraqi elections, the Times wrote, adding that some troops leaving Iraq might be held in Kuwait as a reserve force.


NOTE: Leaving Iraq BUT staying in Kuwait.


http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16187566%255E1702,00.html

Those coming for the December boost will hit Iraq by late November - spend a 6 month tour...that puts them leaving in late Spring...the date already announced for possible withdrawal in 2006. (papers claim Spring of 2006 for w/d)

So really, they will only be withdrawing the extra 20k-30k they send in December of this year...and as they article states, some will only withdraw as far as Kuwait.

[Inland]

6. Trying to generate just noise to get votes for midterms.

That sort of maybe-might-conditional is enough for the freeptards to declare the boys are coming home tomorrow, generate relief and probably votes.

[spanone]

7. Bingo! Election year!

[Lannes]

9. Im sure the ones that are left will be very glad to hear it.