Released through various news agencies on Friday and Saturday were stories with the headline: U.S. may reduce forces in Iraq by spring. And on Sunday there was the headline: U.S. Generals Doubt Iraqi Force Strength
My guess is none of this news was released without administration blessing; so apparently the approach now is 'blind them with bullshit'.
Friday
WASHINGTON — The U.S. may be able to reduce combat forces in Iraq by next spring, if Iraq's own security forces continue to grow and improve, a senior American commander said Friday.
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top day-to-day commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, did not predict any reductions in U.S. forces but said such redeployments may be feasible by spring. There are currently 156,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon from his headquarters outside Baghdad, Odierno gave an update on the U.S. offensives underway in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad and in areas south and west of the capital. He said U.S. and Iraqi troops have made important progress.
Unless I've had a significant reduction in reading comprehension, the good general is both suggesting and denying troop reductions by spring.
But if this wasn't enough along comes another couple of Generals with an item headlined U.S. Generals Doubt Iraqi Force Strength.
BAQOUBA, Iraq (AP) - The U.S. commander of a new offensive north of Baghdad, reclaiming insurgent territory day by day, said Sunday his Iraqi partners may be too weak to hold onto the gains.
The Iraqi military does not even have enough ammunition, said Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek: "They're not quite up to the job yet."
His counterpart south of Baghdad seemed to agree, saying U.S. troops are too few to garrison the districts newly rid of insurgents. "It can't be coalition (U.S.) forces. We have what we have. There's got to be more Iraqi security forces," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch.
The two commanders spoke after a deadly day for the U.S. military in Iraq. At least 11 soldiers were killed on Saturday from roadside bombings and other causes, leaving at least 31 dead for the week.
Well clearly, what we have here is a lack of communication. We know all of the existing Generals have 'kissed the ring' or they wouldn't be where they are. We also know that any warbles their corked little asses could whimper have been severely vetted. I'm sure some administration smart ass, if they cared to play ball, would say, it's a matter of geography but when we're talking about troop reductions and the ability of the Iraqi Army to do whatever it's suppose to be doing, no one can claim 'geography.
In a week of babel regarding how September won't mean anything more than a time for a progress status report the administration has given General Petraus a breather and let his underlings spread the horseshit a little deeper. The administration was saying that Petraus' report would probably be one of a mixed message. Well I guess this is all in a way to grease the skids.
All the time our brothers and sisters are dying.