Little Consensus On Surging Troop Levels

Panels Criticize Iraqis' Abilities To Secure Themselves, But Offer Varying Opinions On U.S. Role Going Forward

(CBS/AP)  As debate rages on continuing U.S. involvement in Iraq, and the potential extension, expansion or curtailment of President Bush's "troop surge" aimed at stabilizing security, a senior military official said Thursday that current U.S. troop levels have reached record levels.

The number of American service members in Iraq has climbed to a record high of 168,000, and is moving toward a peak of 172,000 in the coming weeks - a level that could extend into December, Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock said today.

Sherlock, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the increase is the result of troop rotations, as several brigades overlap while they move in and out of the war zone. Previously, officials had predicted the number could go up to about 171,000.

Prior to the recent increases, the peak level was about 160,000 during January 2005. For most of 2006, the number of troops hovered around a baseline of 135,000.

President Bush ordered a buildup of about 30,000 troops early this year in an effort to quell the violence in and around Baghdad and provide enough security to stabilize the government.

After the rotations are complete, Sherlock said, the number of troops should drop back down to about 162,000 or a bit less. The temporary buildup comes just as the military, the Bush administration and Congress are deciding the future war strategy.

Meanwhile, a panel of top military and police officials sent by Congress to get an independent evaluation of Iraq's security forces reported that its national police force is so bad it should be scrapped and re-made and its army can't yet keep the peace or protect the borders, CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports.

The Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq recommended on Thursday the United States lighten its footprint in Iraq to counter its image as an "occupying force."

More specifically, the panel said the mission of U.S. troops could be adjusted as early as next year to allow the Iraqi army to assume more control of daily combat.

Retired Marine Corps General James Jones, who led the 20-member commission, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that "the force footprint should be adjusted in our view to represent an expeditionary capability and to combat a permanent-force image of today's presence."

"This will make an eventual departure much easier," he said.

Jones' report, widely reported on Wednesday and released Thursday, concluded that Iraqi security forces would be unable to take control of their country in the next 18 months.

Jones said he personally would not support setting a deadline for troop withdrawals, as many Democrats want.

"I think deadlines can work against us," Jones said. "I think a deadline of this magnitude would be against our national interest."

The review is one of several studies that Congress commissioned in May, when it agreed to fund the war for several more months but demanded that the Bush administration and outside groups assess U.S. progress in the four-year war.

The readiness of Iraq's security forces will be an important element in the continuing Congressional debate over the war.

Republicans see success by the Iraqi forces as key to bringing U.S. troops home, while an increasing number of Democrats say the U.S. should stop training and equipping such units altogether.

Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the Commission's study challenges the Pentagon's assertion that more than half of Iraq's army and police battalions can operate in the lead, so long as they have U.S. support.

"It's my observation that fewer, far fewer, are actually now in the lead," said Levin.

[starleo146]

Posted by toldyouso21 at 09:27 PM : Sep 06, 2007
OH Toldyouso how I do love your Post did you hit this or what I just get so frustrated how no one can seem to squelch this man''s propaganda maybe we need to hire a add agency Haaaa.

[starleo146]

Posted by starleo146 at 11:32 AM : Sep 08, 2007

TO ADD to this comment this is more Patriot Act enforcement and Bush adversaries trying to squelch the American voice. There will be a March on Sept 15 in Wash. D.C. so that should prove interesting. I think each and every American should exercise there right to speak in any form and a big turn out will tell Bush something and the congress so lets hope a lot will turn out.

[starleo146]

Earlier in the week, mounted DC police charged a group of reporters at a press conference held by organizers of the September 15 protests against the occupation of Iraq. Tensions between city officials and organizers have been particularly ugly, and there have been a number of outrageous attempts to kill the demonstration -- to squelch Americans'' right to speak out on the most important matters of the day. If you can, please get to DC next week, join the march and send a message that this type of thing is not acceptable.

-Joshua Holland

[prinzowhales]

The best thing to do here would be to recess the joint House Foreign Services and Armed Services Committee meeting and flog them...and, after pouring alcohol on their wounds, reconvene and have them discuss impeachment proceedings against the vile, lying dogs in the Washington Regime who launched the Stupid Peoples'' War in violation of the Nuremburg Principle against wars of aggression.

I understand Osama is going to issue a new video for 9-11 and has dyed his beard for the occassion. "Vanity, vanity..." One would think he would have other things on his mind, straggling about Afghanistan/Pakistan, trailing his dialysis machine behind him...It is good to remember the alleged Islamic terrorist, Mohammed Atta, the alleged leader of the 9-11 attacks...

...He moved jauntily towards martyrdom in a bar where his party left a Koran after drinking heavily. He received $100,000 from the Pakistani General who headed ISI and was breakfasting with Senator Graham as the 9-11 operation took place. Atta''s father claimed he had heard from his son after the attack...obviously, one of the 70 virgins he was rewarded with for his deed had a pre-paid cell phone that could operate on "Roam" in the hereafter.

[toldyouso21]

Funny how no matter the misgivings or nay sayers on both sides for Bush''s war--they all still sit back and just do whatever he says--in the way he wants it. Defend him and lie and die for him when they know he is wrong, cajole and give in to him when they know they are right. talk about balless and spineless.

...And How Can this Be? For he IS the SWISATZ HADERACH. (NOT.) LMAO