Casey: Only Half Iraq Troop Boost Needed
The top U.S. commander in Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President George W. Bush has chosen to commit.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines.
Casey, the president's pick to become the next Army Chief of Staff, also differed with his commander-in-chief's description of the old strategy as "a slow failure," reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.
"I actually don't see it as slow failure," said Casey. "I see it as slow progress."
With many in Congress opposing or skeptical of Bush's troop buildup, Casey did not say he opposed the president's decision. He said the full complement of five brigades would give U.S. commanders in Iraq additional, useful flexibility.
"In my mind, the other three brigades should be called forward after an assessment has been made on the ground" about whether they are needed to ensure success in Baghdad, Casey said later.
The new strategy depends heavily on Iraqi troops, adds Martin, but Casey revealed the additional Iraqi units moving into Baghdad are only at two-thirds strength and he conceded his progress reports on the training and equipping of Iraqis missed perhaps the key factor: their willingness to fight.
Casey's comments seemed put distance between his views and those of Bush and some lawmakers like Sen. John McCain, a Republican and possible 2008 presidential contender, who have questioned whether Bush's troop increase will be enough.
Casey made his comments as bipartisan efforts to round up enough votes for a nonbinding resolution critical of the administration's new policy faltered when two Democratic liberals signaled they would oppose the measure.
Sen. Russ Feingold issued a statement criticizing the nonbinding measure as weak, and said it "misunderstands the situation in Iraq and shortchanges our national security interests. The resolution rejects redeploying U.S. troops and supports moving a misguided military strategy from one part of Iraq to another," he said.
Separately, Sen. Chris Dodd, a 2008 presidential contender, called a news conference to announce his opposition.
Dodd's decision underscored a dilemma confronting other presidential hopefuls in the Senate — whether to support the measure backed by the party leadership, or oppose it and seek support among anti-war activists likely to have influence in next year's presidential primaries and caucuses.
The White House said Casey, in citing his December request for two rather than five additional brigades, was recounting old information.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines.
Casey, the president's pick to become the next Army Chief of Staff, also differed with his commander-in-chief's description of the old strategy as "a slow failure," reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.
"I actually don't see it as slow failure," said Casey. "I see it as slow progress."
With many in Congress opposing or skeptical of Bush's troop buildup, Casey did not say he opposed the president's decision. He said the full complement of five brigades would give U.S. commanders in Iraq additional, useful flexibility.
"In my mind, the other three brigades should be called forward after an assessment has been made on the ground" about whether they are needed to ensure success in Baghdad, Casey said later.
The new strategy depends heavily on Iraqi troops, adds Martin, but Casey revealed the additional Iraqi units moving into Baghdad are only at two-thirds strength and he conceded his progress reports on the training and equipping of Iraqis missed perhaps the key factor: their willingness to fight.
Casey's comments seemed put distance between his views and those of Bush and some lawmakers like Sen. John McCain, a Republican and possible 2008 presidential contender, who have questioned whether Bush's troop increase will be enough.
Casey made his comments as bipartisan efforts to round up enough votes for a nonbinding resolution critical of the administration's new policy faltered when two Democratic liberals signaled they would oppose the measure.
Sen. Russ Feingold issued a statement criticizing the nonbinding measure as weak, and said it "misunderstands the situation in Iraq and shortchanges our national security interests. The resolution rejects redeploying U.S. troops and supports moving a misguided military strategy from one part of Iraq to another," he said.
Separately, Sen. Chris Dodd, a 2008 presidential contender, called a news conference to announce his opposition.
Dodd's decision underscored a dilemma confronting other presidential hopefuls in the Senate — whether to support the measure backed by the party leadership, or oppose it and seek support among anti-war activists likely to have influence in next year's presidential primaries and caucuses.
The White House said Casey, in citing his December request for two rather than five additional brigades, was recounting old information.
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No offense rick, but your analogy that proves the opposite of your point. Without the Wright brothers plane or a similar starter plane, there would be no 747. The 747 absolutely evolved from the little bi-plane flown by the wright brothers. You can see the steps by looking at the aircraft of the last century. I could list each step along the evolution, but you can see if you just look at pictures. Like other mechanical devices or technology in our lives, today's versions are improvements or modifications of previous, simpler versions. You can see the evolution in cars, planes, TV sets, computers or most anything. New versions build upon and modify or improve upon those that came before. Your desktop is more powerful than a computer the size of a house 30 years ago, but the dual core processor has its origins back in the old 8614 chip, the transistorized version of mechanical/vacuum tube behemoths of the past.
islam practices slavery on non muslaims
islam practices aparthied on non muslims
islam practices rape on non muslims
islam practices genocide on non muslims
all are violations of international law and are crimes against humanity
Take care.
Posted by singinrick at 12:04 PM : Feb 02, 2007
Don't bother.
Posted by singinrick at 11:52 AM : Feb 02, 2007
If I don't have to read any more of your silly-a$$ed preaching it will be.
Posted by singinrick at 11:46 AM : Feb 02, 2007
I'm not the one who's always preaching here you moron. You are!
All of your posts are anti-Muslim, anti-islam, how Christianity is superior, etc. Nobody wants to hear that drivel here.
We come here for news, information, and opinion not friggin dogma. But you just insist on continually preaching your trash. Take it to church where someone might want to hear it.
Posted by singinrick at 11:30 AM : Feb 02, 2007
Because you condemn others who buy the Kool-Aid just because they choose a different flavor and then presume to preach to me about tolerance.
You are a flaming HYPOCRITE and are in no position to preach to me about same.
I don't hate you even though you continue to insult me
Posted by singinrick at 11:23 AM : Feb 02, 2007
Don't hold your breath. I get way too much of your silliness here to consider looking for more.
Look somewhere else for jewels for your crown, preacherman.
Posted by singinrick at 11:19 AM : Feb 02, 2007
Shove that up you a$$, rick. You are the one here condemning millions of other people because they don't drink the same Kool-Aid as you and you want to tell me about hate?