The San Francisco Chronicle has an interesting article on whether Bush is planning a secret second surge in Iraq. He might be increasing the number of troops there -- up to 200,000 troops -- by redeploying more forces and keeping other troops in Iraq longer than their normal rotations.
The Bush administration is quietly on track to nearly double the number of combat troops in Iraq this year, an analysis of Pentagon deployment orders showed Monday.
The little-noticed second surge, designed to reinforce U.S. troops in Iraq, is being executed by sending more combat brigades and extending tours of duty for troops already there.
The actions could boost the number of combat soldiers from 52,500 in early January to as many as 98,000 by the end of this year if the Pentagon overlaps arriving and departing combat brigades.
Would you put it past him? I certainly wouldn't. It's not like he has any trouble with going beyond what he is authorized to do. And it's not like the Democrats ever hold him accountable (let alone the Republicans). Well, since this surge is going so well, why not try another? I'm sure we'll soon be hearing stories of how much progress we're making in Iraq because of the new and improved second surge.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 6)
16. So Maliki is here to loose weight? Perhaps if he rode around with Bush & Cheney in a Stryker vehicle in Anbar Province for a week they could all loose weight and gain some insights all at the same time! Not to mention that they would bring this misadventure to a close. In military talk, "Troop, you are in the asshole of the world".
This applied to Nam and NOW!
It is also noteworthy that during the Gulf War, rich Kuwatis travelled over here and took their kids to Disney World in masse.
By the way, in this whole mess, who exactly are the "allies" this administration keeps talking about that would somehow feel abandoned or short changed if and when we leave Iraq? These allies surely can't represent either the American or Iraqui people.
Dan at 12:03PM on May 22nd 2007
17. Will you print anything positive? We must have a strong leader or be a simpering wimp with money. Are we leaders or fearful followers. I thank God anytime oppression of humanity is attacked. I have several relatives in Iraq and they are sure of their rightness of being there. Also, they deserve the support of our loyalty since our officials have made the call. If you can do a better job, run for office.
jukiebell at 12:13PM on May 22nd 2007
18. This article by the 'Turks", who by the way have shown their blatant bias against the Bush administration and anything 'Republican, and also The country Of Turkey has been found out to be helping the Islamic terrorist in Iraq, haven't got a lot of credibility. if your a realist. The Question here is, who is supporting them (money) and what is their agenda for reporting pure conjecture and speculation, with leftist propaganda mixed in.
SECURITY USA at 12:17PM on May 22nd 2007
19. I WOULD NOT PUT IT PAST THIS IDIOT OF A PRESIDENT TO THINK HE KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT A WAR. ALL THE DRAFT DODGERS IN HIS ADMIN. SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR THIS FIASCO. THE WAR PRESIDENT MY ASS.HE IS SO OUT OF TOUCH, HE MUST STILL BE HIGH.
karl at 12:18PM on May 22nd 2007
20. Oh YES. The "decider" is at it again (should this story be true!). Unless we go in and do the same thing that Lebanon is doing right now, it is a waste of time! If this comes to pass, the "decider" (AKA Bubba-Ya) will ensure that we have a US Military member there for every Iraqi in the country. This man does not have a clue!
AJM33771@aol.com at 9:01PM on Jun 2nd 2007
21. THE CONGRESS IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO CONTROL BUSHIT, BUT WHEN ALL THE REPUKS IN CONGRESS ARE STILL KISSING BUSHIT ASS, CONGRESS CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. TIME FOR CONGRESS TO COME TOGETHER AND IMPEACH AND STOP THE FUNDING
JACKIE at 12:41PM on May 22nd 2007
22. Dear Bush critics> What have you done to stop this mega-maniac from running our country into the cess pool in Iraq. Write a comment on the blog? Complain to friends? Say tsk tsk? Better get involved in the political process and groups dedicated to the recovery to our rights and freedoms such as ACLU. I have taken these steps, and I urge you to do so, too.
Tom Edgar at 12:44PM on May 22nd 2007
23. Uhh..ok so whats the issue again? They are surging troops until the end of the year..Look, Im in the army ok I dont like any of this more than you do..
but take it for what it is...and which is no secret..all you gotta do is ask an army guy, do a little research on how DOD does it..
They deploy troops, WHICH ARE ALREADY SLATED TO GO AT A PREDETERMINED DATE(the rotations are already known)EARLIER THAN NORMAL..Then you take the troops who are already there, AND YOU KEE THEM THERE LOOONGER..and the OVERLAP IS WHERE YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF TROOPS STATED..wow what a concept..
Thats the way its supposed to work.. a "SURGE" in DOD terms means a TEMPORARY increase in the number of troops..It is not permanent..
UHH.and it is will see a doubling by the end of the year? uhh..YEEEH, as my daughter would say..WHATS THE ISSUE?
chris at 12:51PM on May 22nd 2007
24. Some dork wrote....>>Better get involved in the political process and groups dedicated to the recovery to our rights and freedoms such as ACLU
mob at 12:52PM on May 22nd 2007
25. Read the Book of Mormom. The answers to this and a lot more are in there.
Ronald Bennie at 12:55PM on May 22nd 2007
26. We are in a war that we have no business being in. We are losing our sons and daughters everyday and no one is saying anything about this. I cannot understand how this administration is allowed to get away with all this. Why are our elected officials so afraid to say NO when we put them in office in the first place. What is wrong with everyone, as long as it does not affect you its okay? It does affect everyone. Look at the price of gas, look at the loss of jobs, more importantly, look at the loss of life. Please I beg everyone open up say something, do something start writing your congressmen and senators. Stop this administration before they destroys our country. If we all say NO, we have had enough then they will have to listen.
Ronnie at 1:01PM on May 22nd 2007
27. Everything this administration puts their hands on becomes an abomination. From the simple things like replacing US Attorney's to the complications of war. The incompetance of this administration is unprecedented in the history of our nation. Unfortunately, we have 19 months left before we can begin to lift ourselves out of this black hole GW has taken us into. I predicted over four years ago that we would not see the damage this administration would do to this country for years to come. It will take years for us to recover our standing in the world, to rebuild our principles and begin to lead this world.
KEn at 1:04PM on May 22nd 2007
28. Hmm, a temporary surge that will add up to aprox. 200,000 troops? Wasn't the temporary surge suppose to be AN ADDITION of 23,000 troops to the ones already there? Hmm, the issue seems to be that the NUMBER of military personnel that were slated to go there are changing/moving again and again. THAT IS THE ISSUE! The argument about this travesty created by Bush is that he doesn't take advice of his General Officers that warned him SEVERAL MONTHS before he became "the decider," that we shouldn't get involved in something that would become a MESS. Guess what Sherlock, it is a MESS! This MESS was created by Bubba-Ya! The "decider" that doesn't listen to the advice of the "experts."
AJM33771@aol.com at 1:08PM on May 22nd 2007
29. Surge in Iraq ='s Surge at the Polls. Republican's need not apply.
John at 1:09PM on May 22nd 2007
30. The San Francisco Chronicle is a rag of a newpaper and any good reporting of a story is many times is just an accident.Before believing any story about increase of troop levels, one should keep in mind this newspaper keeps losing readers yearly because of it's poor record of reporting stories in a factual manner.
ROBERT OKANE at 1:22PM on May 22nd 2007