Army Plans Iraq Troops Through 2010

Chief Of Staff Prepares For Steady Presence, But Says Not To Read Too Much Into Planning

(AP)  The U.S. Army has plans that would keep the current level of troops in Iraq — about 15 brigades — through 2010, the top Army officer said Wednesday.

The Army chief of staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, cautioned that people not read too much into the planning, because it is easier to pull back forces than to get units prepared and deployed at the last minute.

"This is not a prediction that things are going poorly or better," Schoomaker told reporters. "It's just that I have to have enough ammo in the magazine that I can continue to shoot as long as they want us to shoot."

His comments come less than four weeks before congressional elections, in which the unpopular war in Iraq and President Bush's policies there are a major campaign issue.

Mr. Bush acknowledged in a news conference Wednesday that "these are tough times" in Iraq, where sectarian violence has surged recently. But, he added, "it is in our interests that Iraq succeed."

President Bush defended his Iraq policy, saying that he had adjusted tactics to reflect changing conditions on the ground.

He was asked about a recent comment by the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. John Warner, that Iraq was drifting "sideways" and that the U.S. should consider major changes if the Iraqi government doesn't get the violence under control within the next few months.

"I appreciate Sen. Warner from going over there and taking a look," said Bush. "I completely agree."

Still, he insisted, "We're constantly changing tactics."

Last month, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, Gen. John Abizaid, said the military would likely maintain or possibly even increase the current force levels through next spring. There are 141,000 troops in Iraq, including about 120,000 Army soldiers.

In recent months the Army has shown signs of strain, as Pentagon officials have had to extend the Iraq deployments of two brigades in order to bolster security in Baghdad and allow units heading into the country to have at least one year at home before redeploying.

Meanwhile, a controversial new study contends nearly 655,000 Iraqis have died due to the war, suggesting a far higher death toll than other estimates.

Within hours, the president dismissed the study.

Mr. Bush told reporters at a White House news conference: "I don't consider it a credible report."

"Neither does General Casey, neither do Iraqi officials," President Bush added.

[exusmcsgt]

perception5-

The day we are reduced to getting the truth from government officials instead of a free press we are indeed, in deep $%^#.

[mstiger71]

I think President Bush is really hurting this country in so many ways. I cannot wait until he is OUT!! I am really feeling sorry for our troops and their families. That is sad what is going on in the WAR. Which I also think was something President Bush wanted more than needed!

[alandowney]

Sorry, Perception5. The "Liberal MSM" is a hoax. There's no such thing. Just another lie perpetrated by the Republicans and their Conservatve friends at Fox News and Rupert Murdoch.

[caphondo]

BUSH SUCKS!!!!

[perception5]

Hello everyone.......... one thought ... if our corrupt liberal MSM worked as hard at supporting our efforts against worldwide terrorism as much a they spend hating Bush and contamiating the American people with phony stories, doctored photos, and lying book deals.......we'd wrap this situation up alot faster since this is mostly a war of propaganda..... and right now our corrupt liberal dominated MSM is CLEARLY rooting for the terrorists.....(because they hate Bush more). if it looks like a duck, walks and sounds like a duck it's a DUCK........

[pakaal]

Sad to think that while North Korea was building up their nuclear capability we were busy destroying a country that posed no imminent danger to us. Bad call, President Bush, really bad call.

[xfredmenzies]

Well of course the US is going to keep troops there, they spent all of that money to build military bases. This assumes that we remain on friendly terms with the Iraq government.

[bluestardad]

It is sad that those of us who have served, children serve, have bled, and lost family members making this country free have to put up with elected officials we would not trust to bring us coffee.

[bluestardad]

GOD bless you Grannysue

[grannysue1]

I believe we heard the same thing over and over in Vietnam, "don't read anything into this", yea right. How about we send Jenna and Barbara Bush to Iraq and give them a gun and the same equipment as our soldiers then you will see how fast they bring our military home. Bush skipped Vietnam because he was too drunk, so he figured if Chenney and Rummy were willing to invade Iraq and refight "Vietnam", as Chenney said to Rummy, "Let's do it right this time", so Bush's bravado, bring it on, mission accomplished is such an insult to our military who are being killed and maimed daily. In addition to hundreds of thousand of Iraqi's. Bush/Chenney/Rummy/Rice/Rove/Bremer/Wolfwitz and every one of the generals who looked the other way for another star should all be tried for treason! What a group of low lifes. If the Democrats get in in November and they don't do their jobs they should be gone too! Thanks Grannysue

[clestes-2009]

This is totally outradgeous! First of all, we are over there because of a bunch of lies (anyone remember WMD??) and we have spent 300 billion dollars so far, with no end in sight, mind you, with all the domestic problems we have at home like rebuilding after Katrina. None of which are being taken care of the way they should be because Iraq is constantly siphoning off money, and now we are told no reduction in troops until 2010!!

Absolutly NOT ACCECPTABLE. Vote the war mongers out and lets get some people who think Americans first. And I don't want to hear any of that *** about fighting terrorist over there so we don't have to fight them here. Bush's invading Iraq without cause is the prime motivation of terror recruits now.

Impeach Bush, Cheney and the whole stupid administration that got us into this mess! They do not deserve to govern. They are incompetent boobs!

[bluestardad]

Don't worry Iraq will done for America within two years one way or another. The American People will either Vote out those criminals in Washington within the next two years or march on Washington and throw them out.

[mjv2944]

Tell the generals to fight it out and send the young men and women home. That whole dam country isn't worth one US soldier. But Halliburton and all the other contractors over there are making big$$$$$$$$$ and they have all the right people in the right places. The corruption of our government is over whelming. Rummy and the generals did a p-i-s-s poor job of planning and executing this fiasco. Get out NOW!!!!! We're going to bigger fish to fry, pretty quick.

[oleander8]

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah......