Bush Given Iraq War Plan With a Steady Troop Level - Until He's Gone

[babylonsister]

And then it's not his problem! :think:


Bush Given Iraq War Plan With a Steady Troop Level

By STEVEN LEE MYERS and THOM SHANKER
Published: March 25, 2008


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 administration and military 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.

There would be more frequent reviews after that to see when withdrawals might be allowed to resume, without any predetermined outcome and, given the time required to put troops into motion, little likelihood of big reductions on short timetables.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/washington/25policy.html?_r=1&ei=5090&en=1d7f399d25a29e93&ex=1364097600&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&adxnnlx=1206418286-fBFn42n6fDpLKXhMlZGKjA

[magellan]

1. Not his problem until the war crimes tribunal starts

And it will one day. The world won't be led around by the criminally insane forever.

[babylonsister]

2. We can hope, and that I would love to see. nt

[BattyDem]

3. He takes off and leaves a mess for someone else to clean up.

Isn't that what he's done his entire life? :eyes:

At this point, I'd be happy if he manages to keep the mess from getting any bigger before January. That's the best we can hope for. :-(