CBS News reported tonight (8/3/05) that the Pentagon is still talking about so called troop withdrawals from Iraq in 2006.
Before you ask, there is no link at this time. I don't know why there isn't, but CBS News website leaves me mystified...
Anyway, the anchor wondered outloud how the Pentagon could possibly be talking about troop withdrawals from Iraq with the increase in violence (14 marines killed today). The Pentagon is telling the CBS Pentagon correspondent that we may be able to draw down to 100,000 troops next year (138,000 troops now in Iraq).
Great news, huh? "The boys will be coming home", the right wingers will say! And who could argue with 38,000 troops coming home as NOT good news? Weeelllll, it all depends upon your definition of troop withdrawal and home. The 38,000 troops will be going to KUWAIT in 2006, not back to the U.S.A. Seems that the military needs those 38,000 troops next door in Kuwait as a reserve INCASE things get worse in Iraq.
I'm no military expert, but this doesn't sound like a troop withdrawal to me. Yes, technically the troops would be out of Iraq, but not out of the Persian Gulf theatre of operations. Call me a cynic, but doesn't this seem a wee bit like a purely political bullshit stunt for the 2006 Elections? Unless our fearless media points out this little bit of flim flam, most folks will probably buy the bullshit line that the U.S. troops in Iraq are coming "home".
I guess it all depends upon your definitions of "troop withdrawal" and "home" means....