[PAA-Discuss] Pentagon raises estimate of troops for Iraq

[robert]

Pentagon raises estimate of troops for Iraq

Reuters - March 7, 2007 


The number of U.S. troops needed to carry out President George W. Bush's
Iraq security plan could approach 30,000, significantly more than he
projected in January, a senior Pentagon official said on Tuesday. 

In testimony to the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Deputy
Secretary of Defense Gordon England said U.S. military commanders in Iraq
were requesting varying numbers of support troops to augment the additional
21,500 soldiers Bush has ordered into combat. 

"At this point, our expectation is the number of ... troops could go above
21,500 by about 4,000, maybe as many as 7,000," England said. 

There are nearly 140,000 U.S. troops already fighting in Iraq, where
sectarian violence has thwarted American efforts to bring the 4-year-old war
to a close. 

In a speech to the American Legion veterans organization, Bush insisted the
new Iraq security plan he announced was making gradual progress, despite new
violence. 

The new estimate of the rising number of troops being committed to the war
came as House Democrats continued wrangling over how to end America's combat
role in Iraq. 

After a meeting of leaders and the 233-member Democratic caucus there was no
sign that liberals, moderates and conservatives in the party were getting
behind an comprehensive war plan. 

But Democratic Rep. James Moran of Virginia, who sits on a House panel
overseeing war funding, said upcoming legislation would include a date in
2008 for ending the war. 

Democrats are targeting a $100 billion emergency war spending bill for
conditions that could prompt a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. House
leaders want to pass the bill before a two-week recess starting the
beginning of April. 

Democratic leaders said the bill would increase U.S. funds to battle al
Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, impose "benchmarks" for measuring the Iraqi
government's progress in taking over security activities and enforce
Pentagon standards for equipping and training U.S. troops headed for combat.


But a fight over possible presidential waivers for such conditions continued
among Democrats. 

Arguing against any congressional attempt to scale back the mission, Bush
said: "The mission is America's mission and our failure would be America's
failure." 

"Iraqi and U.S. forces are making gradual but important progress almost
every day and we will remain steadfast until our objectives are achieved,"
Bush said. 

His comments and the Democratic maneuvering came as the Pentagon announced
nine U.S. troops died in two bomb attacks north of Baghdad. Meanwhile,
insurgents killed 112 Shi'ite pilgrims heading to Iraq's holy city of
Kerbala. 

The new attacks are likely to increase sectarian tensions between majority
Shi'ites and Sunni Arabs that have threatened to plunge the country into
all-out civil war. 

The deaths of the nine U.S. soldiers made for the deadliest day for U.S.
forces since they launched the security crackdown in the capital three weeks
ago. 

The estimate of 4,000 to 7,000 new support troops needed for Iraq contrasts
with a Feb. 6 forecast by Defense Secretary Robert Gates that as many as
3,000 would be needed. 

The higher estimate could raise the projected $5.6 billion price tag of the
troop surge by about $1 billion, if about 4,000 support troops are needed,
England said. 

The Pentagon would "reallocate," or shift some money around, to pay for the
added costs instead of asking Congress for additional funds, England said. 

(Additional reporting by Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick) 
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N06410987.htm 

Last updated 07/03/2007

 

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