Bush Given Plan to Put Off Further Cuts in Troops in Iraq

[laststeamtrain]

Source: NY Times

Bush Given Plan to Put Off Further Cuts in Troops in Iraq
By STEVEN LEE MYERS and THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON — Troop levels in Iraq would remain nearly the same through 2008 as at any time during five years of war, under plans presented to President Bush on Monday by the senior American commander and the top American diplomat in Iraq, senior officials said.

Mr. Bush announced no final decision on future troop levels after the video briefing by the commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, and the diplomat, Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker. The briefing took place on the day when the 4,000th American military death of the war was reported and just after the invasion’s fifth anniversary.

But it now appears likely that any decision on major reductions in American troops from Iraq will be left to the next president. That ensures that the question over what comes next will remain in the center of the presidential campaign through Election Day.

General Petraeus, speaking to Mr. Bush by secure videoconference during a two-hour meeting of the National Security Council, recommended putting off decisions on further troop reductions for a month or two after the departure in July of five extra brigades sent last year to help secure the nation, the officials said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely about internal deliberations.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/washington/25policy.html?_r=1&ei=5089&en=157f39a625a35e93&ex=1364097600&adxnnl=1&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1206407090-+VVyPXVOjMAQ7Z4Furg+Eg&oref=slogin

[MichiganVote]

1. Can we all spell E-L-E-C-T-I-O-N

[SpiralHawk]

2. "We are waist-deep in the Big Sandy. Push on. Smirk." - Big Fool Commander AWOL

I'm sure glad it's your sons and daughters in uniform dying for the republicon oil-profits crusade, and not me (smirk) or any of my republicon chickenhawk cronies. Smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[bluesmail]

3. bwaaa bwaaaa

[Supersedeas]

4. the whole idea for the 'surge' was to keep the 'escalation' short-term