There are no brigades of troops ready to replace the "surge" troops when they come home in July

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.slate.com/id/2187386/

What Does Bush Mean by "Victory in Iraq"?

His grandiose definition makes defeat almost inevitable.

By Fred Kaplan
Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 6:10 PM ET

As the toll of Americans killed in Iraq topped 4,000 this week, President Bush publicly vowed "to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain"—that the war's outcome "will merit the sacrifice" and that "our strategy going forward" will be to "achieve victory."

We all wish that this were so. But what does he mean by "victory"?

The definition has evolved, or devolved, in the five years that this war has been raging. Originally, victory was conceived in grandiose terms. The defeat of Saddam Hussein's army and the toppling of his regime would spawn a new democratic Iraq, the example of which would ignite the flames of freedom across the Middle East. nip

But look at what is happening. First, the surge is ending this July, not because it has been successful (as Bush has sometimes claimed) but because of simple math. The five extra combat brigades, which were deployed to Iraq with the surge, each have 15-month tours of duty; the 15 months will be up in July; the final brigade will go home; and the U.S. Army and Marines have no combat brigades ready to replace them. To the extent that the surge has improved life in Baghdad, the end of the surge (the timing of which is inexorable) may make life worse.

[islandmkl]

1. so.....jr. won't bring them home...problem solved...

[onethatcares]

2. according to some, recruitment levels are outpacing demand, and

re enlistment is breakng barriers here to for unseen. I've been trying to find out just what is going on, but like the job and jobless figures, there isn't anything believealbe.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. That assumes Precious Leader would keep his word

something he has never done.

With the cease-fire falling apart, the situation will explode and His Chimperial Majesty will blame the Iranians and use that as excuse to expand his war. Iranians got our oil too, donthca know.

[sam sarrha]

4. the surge didn't work.. less violence because Bu$h pays Sadar's army not to fight. $300 each month