The 2008 election is over: Bush may bring more Iraq troops home in September

By GottaLaff


I'm not exactly jumping up and down. At first I thought the Alcoholic In Chief might move some troops to Afghanistan, which actually is mentioned in the article. Then my mind went straight to Iran. Oh, but I'm such a Doubting Debbie. I should be all shiny and sunny and gullible and patriotically heartfelt:

The Bush administration is considering the withdrawal of additional combat forces from Iraq beginning in September, according to administration and military officials, raising the prospect of a far more ambitious plan than expected only months ago. [...]

Although no decision has been made, by the time President Bush leaves office on Jan. 20, at least one and as many as 3 of the 15 combat brigades now in Iraq could be withdrawn or at least scheduled for withdrawal, the officials said.

The desire to move more quickly reflects the view of many in the Pentagon who want to ease the strain on the military but also to free more troops for Afghanistan and potentially other missions.

The "potentially other missions" is what has me nervous. Want to know what has me angry? This:

The most optimistic course of events would still leave 120,000 to 130,000 American troops in Iraq, down from the peak of 170,000 late last year after Mr. Bush ordered what became known as the “surge” of additional forces. Any troop reductions announced in the heat of the presidential election could blur the sharp differences between the candidates, Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, over how long to stay in Iraq. But the political benefit might go more to Mr. McCain than Mr. Obama. Mr. McCain is an avid supporter of the current strategy in Iraq. Any reduction would indicate that that strategy has worked and could defuse antiwar sentiment among voters.

So, so many things wrong with that paragraph. Let's review them together, shall we?

One: 120,000? Those were the same troop levels we had in 2005, and that's if Bush pulls the maximum, most "optimistic" number out. His Big Move is to Iraq as progress is to Michael Jackson's moonwalk (see video).

Two: The "surge" (read: escalation) worked? When did that happen? It is not worth the time it takes to type out the reasons it hasn't.

Three: The Big Move would blur the differences between McBush and Obama? Who of the two supported the invasion? Who still does? What were the consequences? You can't blur that.

Four: The strategy worked? See "One" and "Two". And 4118.

If the withdrawals continued at the same pace, roughly one every 45 days, three more brigades could leave Iraq by the end of Mr. Bush’s presidency.

Why is that ringing a bell? Oh. I know. Barack Obama, July 3, 2008:

"There is no contradiction of wanting to bring home 1-2 brigades per month and what [I am] saying now."

But forget about Obama's crazy, unrealistic notion of bringing the troops home in a safe and orderly way. It's superfluous now. If Bush withdraws his 1-3 brigades in September, then the election is over. John Sidney wins. We can all stay home in November.