Well, well, well, just when the right-wing paints any thought of withdrawing troops `cut-and-run,' we get this from the top General in Iraq.
From the Times WASHINGTON, June 24 -- The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say.
Is the right-wing going to call Gen. Casey unAmerican, a defeatist, on the side of the terrorist? No, those terms are reserved only for those outside of the tent. As Shakspeare said, a timetable by any other name smells as sweet.
According to a classified briefing at the Pentagon this week by the commander, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the number of American combat brigades in Iraq is projected to decrease to 5 or 6 from the current level of 14 by December 2007.
Under the plan, the first reductions would involve two combat brigades that would rotate out of Iraq in September without being replaced. Military officials do not typically characterize reductions by total troop numbers, but rather by brigades. Combat brigades, which generally have about 3,500 troops, do not make up the bulk of the 127,000-member American force in Iraq, and other kinds of units would not be pulled out as quickly.
Hmmm, September, December... end of 2007... sounds like a timetable to me.
The Republicans will take our strategy; stamp cut-and-run on the label; vote it down; then, take the exact same strategy and magically transform it into a brilliant 'mission accomplished' moment just in time for the mid-term elections.