Thank God For The U. S. Military
It simply can’t be stated enough…our military is the finest the world has ever seen…and thank God for their stout Commander-in-Chief. In the midst of all the gnashing of teeth over the supposed need to leave Iraq immediately, this article pleases me immensely, because it shows the decision makers are doing the absolute right thing:
Barring any major surprises in Iraq, the Pentagon tentatively plans to reduce the number of U.S. forces there early next year by as many as three combat brigades, from 18 now, but to keep at least one brigade “on call” in Kuwait in case more troops are needed quickly, several senior military officers said.
Pentagon authorities also have set a series of “decision points” during 2006 to consider further force cuts that, under a “moderately optimistic” scenario, would drop the total number of troops from more than 150,000 now to fewer than 100,000, including 10 combat brigades, by the end of the year, the officers said.
Despite an intensified congressional debate about a withdrawal timetable after last week’s call by Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for a quick pullout, administration officials say that military and political factors heavily constrain how fast U.S. forces should leave. They cite a continuing need to assist Iraq’s fledgling security forces, ensure establishment of a permanent government, suppress the insurgency and reduce the potential for civil war.
U.S. military commanders, too, continue to favor a gradual, phased reduction, saying that too rapid a departure would sacrifice strategic gains made over the past 30 months and provide a propaganda windfall to insurgents.
Lt. Gen. John R. Vines, the senior tactical commander in Iraq, indicated to reporters at the Pentagon yesterday that his staff had looked at shrinking U.S. force levels more quickly. But he made his opposition to such a move clear.
“A precipitous pullout, I believe, would be destabilizing,” Vines said from Baghdad.
Well said, Lt. Gen. Vines…
In other words, a draw-down, if conditions are met, and it bears repeating, this has been the position of the President all along. No one wants the troops to leave one day later than they have to – but they shouldn’t leave one day sooner, either…
Why will no one in the MSM at least speculate that the Dems are furiously trying to push an accelerated pull – out, in fear that the President’s current policy may ultimately vindicate his administration?