"I think we are winning. Okay? I think we're definitely winning. I think we've been winning for some time." - Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the Iraq War 04/26/05
"I just wonder if they will ever tell us the truth." - Harold Casey, Louisville, KY, October 2004.
Remember all those predictions about how the number of troops would be drawn down by the end of next year? You know, the ones in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006? Check out U.S. troop levels in Iraq reach 147,000 by Gordon Lubold Army Times 09/13/06:Troop levels in Iraq have topped 147,000, a big jump over the number of troops deployed there over the last several months, but Pentagon officials say it’s only a temporary spike as commands change over.
The number of U.S. troops in Iraq as of Sept. 13 marks a 16 percent increase over the number of troops reported by the Pentagon in late July, when it was around 127,000.
Although troop levels fluctuate routinely as troops move in and out of the Iraqi theater, the 20,000-troop increase from two months ago is a far more sizeable jump than usual. Part of the increase can be attributed to the decision to extend 3,500 members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade, based in Alaska, for another four months to help stem the violence in Baghdad. The remaining increase is a result of other American units transferring command to follow-on forces.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman acknowledged troop levels have increased, but said it is not because units have been extended or because the Pentagon is purposely increasing U.S. troop presence in Iraq.He could not be specific when levels would return to the 138,000-troop level that has been the baseline for many months. (my emphasis)
"Wars are easy to get into, but hard as hell to get out of." - George McGovern and Jim McGovern 06/06/05
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