Iraq Plan Seeks Up To 20,000 More Troops

CBS News Exclusive: Details On The Defense Secretary's Recommendations To President

(CBS/AP)  CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended that President Bush order an immediate buildup of 10,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, with an option of doubling that to 20,000 by spring.

The plan is known as "Five Plus Two," sending five Army brigades into Baghdad plus two Marine battalions into western Iraq. Two of the Army brigades would go into Baghdad starting in January, with the other three on call.

A senior defense official told The Associated Press that parts of the CBS report were incorrect but declined to say which parts or to comment on any recommendations Gates might have made to Bush.

Meanwhile, one day after taking control of Congress, the new Democratic leaders sent a blunt message to the president Friday: his new strategy should focus on bringing U.S. forces home, rather than the "surge" in troops he's considering.

In a letter sent to Mr. Bush on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged him to begin pulling troops out of Iraq in four to six months. They also asked the president to begin shifting the mission of U.S. forces there from combat to training and logistical support of the Iraqis.

The Democrats' criticism of a troop buildup was not new. But the letter underscored a new reality for Mr. Bush: With the new congressional leadership, his Iraq policy will be challenged at every turn by lawmakers.

"Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain," Pelosi, D-Calif., and Reid, D-Nev., wrote a day after their party took control of Capitol Hill.

"We are well past the point of more troops for Iraq," they said.

But Martin reports that one of the plan's architects, retired Army Gen. Jack Keane, has said the insurgency can't be defeated without first protecting Iraqi citizens from violence.

"We have never had a strategy to defeat the insurgency," Keane says. "And if we had a strategy to defeat the insurgency, then the No. 1 military objective would have been protect and support the population. That is what this plan is all about."

There have been temporary buildups before to protect Iraqis going to the polls to vote, but this would be different. The new plan would need to last a year and a-half.

"What is different is you bring in a 24/7 force and they stay in those neighborhoods and they do not go back to their bases," Keane explains. "They stay in the neighborhoods and that force is U.S. and Iraqi."

Defense Secretary Gates made an unannounced visit Friday to the headquarters of the U.S. central command in Florida, which has overall control of the war in Iraq and where he is installing new commanders.

To Frederick Kagan, another architect of the plan, the change is long overdue.

"For too long, I think the administration has allowed military leadership that was clearly on the wrong track to continue driving in the wrong direction," Kagan says.

The president on Friday nominated Adm. William Fallon, described by people who have worked for him as "caustic," "arrogant" and an "SOB," to take over central command from Gen. John Abizaid. Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, perhaps the most controversial officer in the Army because of his "Type A" personality and what many view as his too-cozy relationship with the media, will replace Gen. George Casey as top American general in Iraq. Both men must be approved by the Senate.

Both Abizaid and Casey have expressed qualms in recent weeks about boosting U.S. forces in Iraq. Abizaid said an increase of 20,000 could not be sustained for long by the overburdened American military, and Casey said such a boost should be used only to advance U.S. strategic goals.

Author Rick Atkinson spent two months with Petraeus during the initial invasion of Iraq.

According to Atkinson, "He [Petraeus] said at one point, perhaps a week into the war, 'Tell me how this ends. Tell me how this ends.' Now, there's an ironic inflection when he says this, but it was the right question. It's the right question four years later."

[huskerarmy]

And the scapegoat train rolls on...

[clestes-2009]

So the generals that told the truth about Iraq, who are actually there no less, are being replaced by generals who no doubt believe in dubya's plans for success.

This is not going to help. Why Bush cannot get it through his dumb head that *** with the military is not going to solve any problem. The solution MUST be one of political means. Now I read that he is going to make loans to Iraq to fund small business. Does he think, in the current climate of civil war, anyone has a chance of opening a business and making it survive?? More waste of money.

God help us until dubya leaves office.

[superdem]

Do any of the new "leadership" speak arabic, or have any understanding of the culture ? Do they know the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite ? When you stick your hand into a hornet's nest, and they are stinging the *** out of you, shove your whole arm in ! Now that's a plan ! President Bush - worst president ever. The nightmare continues.

[observantx]

This is not a "fresh approach".

This is our Strategyer replacing any realistic military officer with any bobblehead yes man in a uniform he can find. More three card monte with our sons and daughters lives and limbs.

Heck of a job, Georgie, you moronic, lying putz.

[bluestardad]

Bush keeps shuffeling the deck till he finds a general that will say what Bush wants to hear like Rummy did. They want bobble head yes men not soldiers. The bad thing is there is always a military person willing to kiss the head of the dictater Bush to enhance their careers. These political military people have been around since time started. Funny this new idiot is a Navy man running Ground Wars? Does that strike anyone as odd? Oh yea Navy and Airforce enlisted men and women are on the ground in Iraq replacing the grunts in ground operations because there are not enough grunts to go around.

[webdepot]

"He is looking at getting Iraqis into short-term jobs by proposing a significant increase in the discretionary funds that military commanders can use for reconstruction projects"

Seems throwing millions of dollars at failed construction projects was tried before.. and the generals that dispersed the money couldn't account for half of it, not to mention the few projects that were successfully completed, were soon blown up... What a freakin' waste.. and more of "stay the course"..

Impeach the a$$hole and rest of the upper echelon.

[antoniof123]

What do you except from this family they have spent their entire lives lying and they do not know any other way. Just like Nixon the truth will come out until he is forced to resign and then gets a pardon because thanks to Ford it is a president. What a waste!

[webdepot]

bluestardad;
I think the plan is to put really really big wheels on the mothballed fleet and use them in the desert.. Now, that is a plan worthy of the intelligence of Bush and Co.

[lewyoowy]

george bush really believes that if the title of a policy or a few tricky words will hide the truth of whatever mission is at hand.

"Save our forests" really means cut down those trees.

"Clean Air Initiative" really means let industry pollute more.

"Patriot Act" really means take our freedoms away.

And on and on. The list is huge. And we have, as a whole, swallowed this tripe hook line and sinker.
This "New Plan" for success in Iraq is just more of "Stay The Course" and more deception. Just like "Mission Accomplished" or.."Fight Them There", so we dont have to "Fight Them Here". or.."Last Throes of the Insurgency". or "We will be Greeted as Liberators". or..."They have WMDs, and we know exactly where they are". or...."Turning Point 1".."Turning Point 2"..and a slew of other "Turning Points".

The only fact we have in hand from george and his gang is that WE KNOW HE IS A LIAR!

[webdepot]

where's One_UnAmerican...???
Is this the best your a$$hole leader can come up with... the Navy running ground wars, dumping money into the black hole of reconstruction projects, swabbies and airmen doing infantry work, something they are really trained and good at.. Man... did you pick a loser to follow..

[liveoilfree]

When is the submissive press going to stand up and point out the complete INCOMPETENCE of Bush and his nincompoop minions?
Blaming Rummy for the failures of the rest of the craven cohort is just a red herring.
Even now, Bush can't step outside his own "circle of failure" to replace these bums. Instead of FIRING the whole lot of them, he just reshuffles the ghastly, bumbling lot of 'em, making Rummy the scapegoat.
Will it work? History is against it, since NOTHING Bush has done has worked so far.

[frankly6]

Why replace the generals when all Bush really wants to do is repackage "stay the course"? He should just hire a good pr firm.

[specimenfred]

Lying Chimp Replacing Lying Lackeys To Keep Lying to America

[bluestardad]

guys Here are some addresses you may need to get your thoughts out to: Enjoy

[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]

[exusmcsgt]

The fact that even Repubs are holding their noses about this three card Monty approach should tell Bubba something. But then again, he only listens to Rove and God.

[gladys_over]

It isn't the generals who need to be replaced.

It's the Commander-in-Chief.

Bush was the wrong man from the start.

[leathercraft]

Now W puts in military commanders who will take his position on upping the number of troops. When will it stop??? This president did not listen to the voters in November, nor the consultants on the state of Iraq, nor the military commanders - he replaces them!! I just called Rep. Murtha's office asking where I can help. My own CO reps are doing nothing. I was told to go to the Dept. of Defense site and there were places to volunteer. What??? Does anyone know where we can volunteer to make a difference or is it truly too late?

[grazinggoat]

Hey Walking-Liar, You need to pull them out of IRAQ, not replace them.

What is going on with Pelosi. She should tell this Troll to leave Iraq as soon as possible. Troops are better be affected to real construction of all infrastructure in Iraq. All that has been destroyed by our land and air forces. This will leave a better impression toward the USA than the one they have about us there, now.

[gladys_over]

RE: "One thing is for certain: I will want to make sure the mission is clear and specific and can be accomplished," Mr. Bush said Thursday.

Another thing is for certain:

If one of my loved ones had been killed over there, my blood would be boiling to hear "Mr. Bush" saying this over three years after the war had begun.

[exusmcsgt]

grazinggoat-

Good points, but I feel the Dems are correct in waiting to see what Bubba actually proposes before condemning it. There'll be plenty of holes in his thinking to point out after delivery if his past is any indicator.

[migrainegram]

Why replace the generals when all Bush really wants to do is repackage "stay the course"? He should just hire a good pr firm.

Posted by frankly6 at 11:03 AM : Jan 05, 2007

The Shrubster is the one who needs to be replaced. Why waste money on a good pr firm?

I swear -- the man has asked for all this input, advice, the ISG, et., etc. So far, the only response we've seen from him is no response to any of the input. It was all smoke and mirrors -- he just wanted us to think he was going to change his course.

[changeit4]

Sec'y of State Gates, the bell tolls for thee!

When this "repackaging of 'stay the course'" fails, like the first few volleys, your head will roll as well.

At least Congresspeople are speaking aloud now to demonstrate that this idiot doesn't listen to anyone he doesn't appoint. Nothing should speak louder to Americans that he is a failure and needs to be impeached. It's a damned good thing he didn't focus on domestic matters more than he did, or he'd ruin this too.

Empty coffers + full coffins = impeachment!

[exusmcsgt]

migrainegram-

It works for 28% of the people.

[migrainegram]

The only input he hasn't asked for is the opinion of the American people. Go figure!

I envision he with his hands over his ears shouting "Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah"
However, he must be wearing blinders and earplugs instead.

[exusmcsgt]

changeit4-

As I said earlier, Bubba only listens to Rove and God.

[exusmcsgt]

migrainegram-

Those afflicted with cranial-rectal insertion often have difficulty hearing others.

[migrainegram]

exusmcsgt

Very good -- I laughed outloud at that one.

[exusmcsgt]

migrainegram-

Thanks. It would be downright hilarious were it not true.

[randalds]

Classic Bush, fire anyone who doesn't agree with your insanity. Hitler used to do the same thing, but then again he was a lunatic warmonger too, so maybe he had the same mental illness as Bush, megalomania.

[migrainegram]

changeit4-

As I said earlier, Bubba only listens to Rove and God.
Posted by exusmcsgt at 12:06 PM : Jan 05, 2007

So we conclude he is "hearing voices"? When someone starts behaving irrationally, it often means there is something physically or mentally wrong. I've thought for a long time that the man needs a psychiatric evaluation. Stranger things have happened in my lifetime, and I wouldn't be surprised if, well you know...
Remember "A Beautiful Mind"? Unfortunately this one is not quite as brilliant.

[fairandbal]

Never fear the Decider is here!

[exusmcsgt]

migrainegram-

I lived in Texas while Bubba was governor. I frankly was amazed at the man's obvious simplemindedness. He would make a statement such as "when there's more commerce, there's more trade" and then pause as if he had stated something profound.

[migrainegram]

I've posted this before, so please cut me some slack...

The man and his administration is 2 clowns short of a circus!

[migrainegram]

What I don't understand is this:

How can one person (even if he is the prez) get away with so-o-o-o-o much, ignore input he personally requested, wear blinders and earplugs and still be in office?

I just don't get it.

[jimibear]

Bush displays all the classic symptoms of a "dry drunk". When someone quits drinking/drugs and doesn't go through a proper therapy program to modify their thinking and behavior to adjust to sobriety, the existing addictions have to be replaced by something.

In my opinion, in Bush's case power is now his drug. It has led to a form of megalomania -
"I'm the decider." "I'm the President, do it my way." "God talks to me. He wants me to be President."

It's classic delusional egomania and narcissism, characteristic of a mind which was weak to start with, and has since been eroded by years of alcoholism and cocaine addiction. The man belongs in a half-way house, not the White House.

[jimibear]

migrainegram, when his egomania and stupidity are used as a front by his handlers to allow them to get away with their agenda of making money, and when their party holds the majority in both houses, that is when he and they can get away with so much.

It remains to be seen whether the Democratic congress has the guts and will to begin impeachment proceedings. It also remains to be seen whether population has the guts and will to force them to do so through petitions, protests, letters, e-mails and so on.

[exusmcsgt]

jimibear-

Good morning. I couldn't agree more. Bush's election at least shows that the handicapped can get elected in our great country, don't you think?

[exusmcsgt]

jimibear-

We were discussing impeachment earlier and I mentioned that with a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, the Dems know that they could never pull it off. They have a lot more to lose than gain in the endeavor. I don't think it's a question of guts, but rather, political reality that it can't happen.

[jimibear]

Pretty much so, matvei. But an interesting point was made on the story regarding the selection of the new Intel chief; he's also replacing the people who were in on the finagling to start the war in the first place, so that in the event of impeachment proceedings, the people in charge now can plausibly deny knowledge of wrongdoing at that time.

Nixon, another great Republican, was the one who invented "plausible deniability", I believe. The truth is not important; the believable lie is what matters. That is the level to which our Great Experiment in Democracy has sunk.

[jimibear]

Hey, exusmcsgt -

Way to find the silver lining! It is proof of the Horatio Alger-like idea that in this country any man can become president.

It's also proof of the idea that some people are less equal than others ...

[exusmcsgt]

jimibear-

If I'm not mistaken, the deniability leg of the decision-making process was a Reagan staple. Nixon never needed to develope one a his bud Jerry declared, no-harm, no foul.

Reagan rode it to death over Iran-Cntra.

[jimibear]

Perhaps, excusmcsgt. On the other hand, I think there must be a lot of people on the Republican side who are deeply ashamed of what this administration has made of their party.

I think that guts and will should trump political reality in this case. I don't believe that one should not attempt something simply because the result is not a sure thing. That's a coward's philosophy.

Furthermore, even if the effort failed, it would do a great deal to restore international good will that it was even made. I travel quite a bit, and outside of this country, the US is widely regarded with complete scorn for letting Bush run roughshod over the Constitution, international law and common human decency.

Sometimes it's better to stand up and fight, even if you're pretty sure you'll lose, than not to make the effort. Hell, if Churchill in 1940 had allowed himself to be guided by "political reality" and what was likely to happen, Britain would currently be ruled from Berlin.

[jimibear]

My mistake, exusmcsgt. Actually, you're right, and that only makes it worse, really; Reagan is lauded by Republicans as a great president, and even the party faithful pretty much have had to admit that Tricky Dicky was just an over-promoted used car salesman.

[rharrin1]

Two more generals that disagreed with the puke, just add them to the list.

20000 more troops no help too little too late

New spy == more constitutional rights disappear.

[exusmcsgt]

jimibear-

Good points all. But I would refer to the basic lesson in tactics that any new Marine has drilled in to them. You don't engage where you can't win.

If Bubba had made a few guard drills, he might have learned this lesson and we wouldn't have even invaded.

[pcdoctor45]

It's interesting to note that all you liberals seem to blame our president solely for our getting into the Iraq war, you have to be pretty ignorant to think he is the only reason we are in Iraq. There were other people involved in the decision making. So give the Bush bashing a rest.
Yes you do have a right to your own opinion, but it is just that, an opinion. I'm guessing when Bush is no longer president, you'll find other things to complain about.

[exusmcsgt]

jimibear-

And I would agree that there is no shortage of Repubs who are ashamed about the hijacking. Just think back to all the campaign adds in the fall of those Repubs who declared their independence from Bubba.

That said, the remaing Repubs are more interested in their political survival than righting Bubba's wrongs. I think they feel it's best to limp on out during his last two years rather than declare war on their own party leader.

[jimibear]

In most cases I'd agree that you pick your battles, exusmcsgt. "The Art of War" and all that.

Sometimes, though, there is no choice of the battleground, and to put up a brave fight is the best option. I'm afraid we are actually reaching that point now, where if action is not taken to at least show that there is a national will to stop the slide into corrupt, bullying evil that this country is on, there will be nothing left to fight for.

I guess what I mean is that even if a Bush impeachment fails, at least future administrations, the US people and the world as a whole will be shown that our government does not actually consist of a collection of lily-livered moral eunuchs who will just roll over and lube up for tyranny.

[exusmcsgt]

pcdoctor45-

Maybe I was hibernating and didn't notice. Which liberal was beating the drum to take this country into Iraq? I could have sworn that the person who contended that any opposed to the invasion were traitors was Bubba himself. Who was this liberal cheerleader to whom you refer? Cheney, Rice, Wolfowicz?

[nyckate]

To pcdoctor45 - Bush as president is the one ultimately responsible -- he did have advisors BUT he hand chose that advisors - he heard what he wanted to. And its not Bush bashing to criticize him for in incompetence - he holds the highest office in the nation - isn't it about time you stopped treating him like a toddler you need to protect??

People will always find things to complain about or criticize - and that's ok - because obviously a too complacent America placed their trust in Bush and look at the mess that got us into - a mess we will be paying for long long after Bush leaves the White House.