The Republicans themselves, via General Casey, recently projected that there will still be at least 100,000 troops in Iraq going into 2008 election Primary season (i.e. late 2007/early 2008). That projection, reflecting a desired "pipe dream" reduction, is accordingly hugely optimistic, just noting recent escalating negative trends/developments in the insurgency. It too neither acknowledges that same insurgency as chronic, not curable, nor does it factor in a potential ugly sectarian civil war.
This projection is further countered by not only normal common sense, but too experts, for example one from the Brookings Institute, who recently noted that not only has the US troop strength not gone down from 130,000 at its supposed peak in mid summer, but rather having actually ballooned even higher to 145,000. Their expert suggests as others have that it would take 3 times as many US troops to secure the country.
So let's get into the "3 for 1 and Done" withdrawal plan/framework the Democrats need to responsibly adopt, own and robustly on behalf of the American people, take to the Administration and demand its execution. That sustained action regardless and in the face of expected Cheney/Rove orchestrated diversionary and completely unrelated, wrong, misleading and misdirected "cut and run" tactics/rhetoric. I outlined earlier how to effectively counter cut and run.
Here's how "3 for 1 and Done" would actually work. We currently have 145,000 US troops in Iraq. This Plan would require investing the necessary resources (in the end, a mere fraction of the $100 billion we now allocate to Iraq every year for our standing army), to train a 450,000 person Iraqi (not US) security force over 36 months. For every three Iraqis "we" expertly train and deploy, we bring home one U.S. service member. When the final US troop hits American soil in three years, the plan and mission is "Done".
To ensure the framework is executed upon and a quality, functional Iraqi security force is established, the Democrats would demand that the 450,000 troops be US trained Iraqis, employing world class US Army screening and training standards and protocols. Too, the additional check and balance component of formal Congressional imposition of stringent accountability (of both the Administration and military) and metrics parameters to ensure desired progress, with detailed monthly updates to Congress and the American people by President Bush.
In conclusion, the Republicans say we can't leave Iraq. Why? Because they don't want us to. The reality however, which they won't concede or admit is that there does exist an honorable, effective and appropriate exit approach/strategy. What's missing is for someone (Democrats) to stand up and say here it is, and demand it be Done.
Vietnam II is the only option and victory being offered by the Bush Administration. No American wants either. Instead, it's finally time, and long overdue, for America and the Democrats to say no and take back Iraq from the GOP. Championing "3 for 1 and Done" delivers that result and with it an honorable liberation based victory (and withdrawal), one we can not only all be proud of, but one which too will reunite this great nation.
Bottom line: "Mission Accomplished" is now embarrassingly in its 4th year and rapidly moving towards a 5th. It's time to bring it to a conclusion with an honorable "Mission Done".
"3 for 1 and Done" gets it won and done.
This projection is further countered by not only normal common sense, but too experts, for example one from the Brookings Institute, who recently noted that not only has the US troop strength not gone down from 130,000 at its supposed peak in mid summer, but rather having actually ballooned even higher to 145,000. Their expert suggests as others have that it would take 3 times as many US troops to secure the country.
So let's get into the "3 for 1 and Done" withdrawal plan/framework the Democrats need to responsibly adopt, own and robustly on behalf of the American people, take to the Administration and demand its execution. That sustained action regardless and in the face of expected Cheney/Rove orchestrated diversionary and completely unrelated, wrong, misleading and misdirected "cut and run" tactics/rhetoric. I outlined earlier how to effectively counter cut and run.
Here's how "3 for 1 and Done" would actually work. We currently have 145,000 US troops in Iraq. This Plan would require investing the necessary resources (in the end, a mere fraction of the $100 billion we now allocate to Iraq every year for our standing army), to train a 450,000 person Iraqi (not US) security force over 36 months. For every three Iraqis "we" expertly train and deploy, we bring home one U.S. service member. When the final US troop hits American soil in three years, the plan and mission is "Done".
In conclusion, the Republicans say we can't leave Iraq. Why? Because they don't want us to. The reality however, which they won't concede or admit is that there does exist an honorable, effective and appropriate exit approach/strategy. What's missing is for someone (Democrats) to stand up and say here it is, and demand it be Done.
Vietnam II is the only option and victory being offered by the Bush Administration. No American wants either. Instead, it's finally time, and long overdue, for America and the Democrats to say no and take back Iraq from the GOP. Championing "3 for 1 and Done" delivers that result and with it an honorable liberation based victory (and withdrawal), one we can not only all be proud of, but one which too will reunite this great nation.
Bottom line: "Mission Accomplished" is now embarrassingly in its 4th year and rapidly moving towards a 5th. It's time to bring it to a conclusion with an honorable "Mission Done".
"3 for 1 and Done" gets it won and done.
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