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 6 of 6)
76. Secret surge? What about (not so) secret staging?
In addition to the speculation concerning the potential increase of ground forces in Iraq, there was also a recent administration plan to send a third aircraft carrier battlegroup into the Persian Gulf.
Three aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf? WOW! Two hundred thousand boots on the ground? Hmmm. Well, if it can't be stopped, then let's get it over with.
vegastracon at 1:47PM on May 23rd 2007
77. "We have not had another attack on U.S. Soil Since 9-11."
Does that mean that there have been no attempts? (Compliments to Linda B. for compiling the follow list of attempted attacks.)
1. Ohio Bomb Plot 2004 (Nurada M. Abdi, convicted)
2. Brooklyn Bridge Bombing Plot (Lyman Farris, convicted) 2003
3. Sears Tower Plot 2005
4. FBI Headquarters Bombing Plot 2004
5. Lackawanna Terror Cell (Six convicted attending terroist camps in Pakistan and laundering money to Al Qaeda - plotting NY attacks)
6. Georgia Tech Students, Building Surveillance
and attending terrorist camps Pakistan 2005
7. Holland and Lincoln Tunnel Plot 2005
8. International Flight Plot 2006
9. Florida Professors Terrorism Support 2003
10. Rockland, Illinois Shopping Mall Plot 2007
11. Palo Verde Nuclear Reactor Plant Intelligence
Theft and Plot 2006
12. Bly, Oregon Terror Training Camp 2002
13. International Air Plot - Richard Reid 2001
14. Al Ferahin infiltration into military 2004
15. Operation of Terrorist Websites -Moscow ID. 2004
16. Plot to Sell Shoulder Held Anti Aircraft Missiles to Al Qaeda 2004
17. Chicago Nuclear Weapons Plot 2003 Padilla
18. Michigan Arrest Al Qaeda Member with Nuclear Info 2007
19. Fuel Truck Plot - NY Tunnel 2003 Al Marabeh
20. Al Rebeii Plot 2002
21. The Portland Seven Plots 2002 (Terrorist cell of seven individuals - one just violated parole and is back in custody)
22. Nashville, Tennessee Plot 2004 Ahmed Hassan Al-Uqaily
23. 2002 Seattle, Washington (Mahmud Faruq Brent)
24. Virginia Jihad Network training with paintball
exercises 2001 - 2002
25. Kahlil Deek, Los Angeles, Bomb Making Instructions
26. Bombing Plot on the Los Angeles Masonic Temple
27. Kissimmee, Florida bomb threats and plot (Juan Diaz)
28. Michigan, Dinssa arrested with cyanide and nuclear information to bomb US targets 2006
29. New York Subway Bombing Plot 2004 (Siraj Elshafay)
30. Shooting at the Seattle Jewish Federation (1 dead)
31. Syed Hashmi American involved in terror plots and delivering money and equipment to Al Qaeda
32. Philadelphia City Hall Mall Plot (Henry) 2006
33. Plot to kill a Pakistani Diplomat in NYC 2006
(Mohammed Hossain)
34. 2002 Suicide Bombing Plot by Jdey
35. Memphis, TN, individual with ties to Al Qaeda arrested with airline plot 2005
Thank God that we have all of Al Qaeda pinned down in Iraq. Otherwise, they would just waltz right across the Mexican border. Sail right up to our shorelines. Fly over in troop transports. Dig tunnel or two. And so on.
vegastracon at 8:32PM on May 23rd 2007
78. @ skipsailing (comment 73)
You say, "My goodness, what a bunch of anti war bigotry.."
Bigotry-A bigot is a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from their own.
So what, what is your point here? People SHOULD be bigotted against war, numbnuts.
War is bad.(write that down)... and quit trying to sound like that retard Rumsfeld, he might have been a heartless prick like you but unlike you he QUIT. So... shut your face you 'tard.
pboyfloyd at 9:25PM on May 23rd 2007
79. I don't get the theory that it's OK to keep feeding our troups to the terroists so that they won't come to America. Our troops actually are real Americans you know. The terrorists have killed over 3,000 of them. Why doesn't anyone think that counts? Why is giving the terrorists easy targets in a far off country an acceptable strategy to anyone who claims to be patriotic?
When people say "the surge is working," what does that mean? What work is it doing? Are Shia and Sunni shaking hands and laying down their weapons, or are they waiting until after the surge is over to go back to fighting?
greyguy at 10:17AM on May 29th 2007
80. Problem is its impossible to know the truth as some media is right wing some is left wing so non bias real news is impossible to get .
I hope the surge is working but I dont know .
I spoke to 2 guys who returned from Iraq one thinks we can acheive some form of goverment that works the other thinks its a lost cause and waste of life/money.
I do think in 08 its high time to go as enough is enough.
Sal at 2:55PM on May 26th 2007
81. @ Albert Storey (comment 79)
You said, "I believe the Irianian people would support us if we decide to take him out."
Yea dude... a walk in the park... it'll be fun... join up now before you miss it. Those foreigners love to be 'whipped' by 'The Great Satan'... 'cos nothin' says, "We're not the Great Satan.", like WAR.
Stands to reason... the kids like to fight... should really get the draft going first tho'... you know.. just in case you need some back-up... the rest of the world thinks that you war-mongers are idiots... I don't know why...
I mean... it's not MY kid that's over there... and if I say that they should be home... I'M an idiot... so RAH-RAH, GUNG-HO.. just gimmee that sweet sweet oil...
pboyfloyd at 9:28PM on May 27th 2007
82. I predict the next surge will not be for the Iraqi people. Our troops will be deployed next door to Iraq, like say, Iran. Bush is itching for a war with Iran, read your newspaper and you'll find Bush won't even negotiate with Iran(he's at his bully pulpit with his lies, again), so Americans, we will be the ones to pay the price for the neocon's choice again. My blood is at the boiling point over these two wars, he started. He never has done the people's will!
Anna L. Richard at 10:02PM on May 27th 2007
83. The prospect of a second or multiple surges is not surprising. This Commander in Chief would thoroughly exhaust all of our military resources in Iraq...if he had the time to do it. Nothing like cannon fodder 21st century style! For the troops who believe in the Iraq war...surges should be transparent. I feel terribly though for the many ones deployed...who know that our involvement there has been and continues to be illegal. Add these surges to the pile of U.S. horseshit policy.
Josh at 6:59PM on Jun 8th 2007