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| Iraq |
| Casey Favors Fewer Troops, Sez AP |
| 2007-02-01 |
| WASHINGTON - The Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines. Asked by Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., why he had not requested the full five extra brigades that Bush is sending, Casey said, "I did not want to bring one more American soldier into Iraq than was necessary to accomplish the mission." With many in Congress opposing or skeptical of Bush's troop buildup, Casey did not say he opposed the president's decision. He said the full complement of five brigades would give U.S. commanders in Iraq additional, useful flexibility. "In my mind, the other three brigades should be called forward after an assessment has been made on the ground" about whether they are needed to ensure success in Baghdad, Casey said later. Even so, Casey's comments seemed put distance between his views and those of Bush and some lawmakers like Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., who have questioned whether Bush's troop increase will be enough. The White House said Casey was recounting old information. "There were a number of conversations and the president — after talking with General Casey and other commanders — came to the conclusion that he preferred to have five brigades into Baghdad and 4,000 Marines into Anbar," presidential spokesman Tony Snow said. "What General Casey was talking about is some suggestions he'd made earlier. The president has made his decision, and it does reflect the wisdom of a number of combatant commanders and it does have the assent of General Casey." McCain, R-Ariz., criticized Casey for what he called misjudgments about the prospects for progress toward stabilizing Iraq during his tenure. McCain said he has "strong reservations" about Casey's nomination to become Army chief of staff and said that "things have gotten markedly and progressively worse" during his watch. Despite getting tough questions from lawmakers frustrated by the war, Casey's nomination was not expected to be blocked. The committee chairman, Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., said during a break at the hearing that he would vote in favor of Casey. McCain had said a day earlier that he was inclined to support Casey but had "grave concerns." McCain asked Casey whether he thought the mission in Baghdad could be accomplished with fewer than five extra brigades. `I believe that the job in Baghdad, as it's designed now, can be done with less than that," Casey said. "But having the flexibility to have the other three brigades on a deployment cycle gives us and gives General Petraeus great flexibility," he added, referring to his designated successor, Lt. Gen. David Petraeus. "It allows him to make assessments on whether the plan is working or not and to either reinforce success, maintain momentum, or put more forces in a place where the plans are not working," Casey said. Casey described the situation in Baghdad as "bad," and said the U.S. strategy was not succeeding in three areas of the country: the provinces of Anbar and Diyala, as well as in Baghdad. The proposed Senate resolution opposing Bush's troop buildup is likely to pose a threat to the White House because of its potential appeal to Republicans who have grown tired of the nearly four-year war and want a chance to express their concerns. The White House has been hoping to avoid an overwhelming congressional vote criticizing Bush's handling of the war. Warner pressed Casey on why so many additional U.S. forces should be added to the fight in Baghdad. "Why are we not putting greater emphasis on utilization of Iraqi forces and less on the U.S. GI being put into that cauldron of terror...?" Warner asked, adding that he hoped that at least some of the 21,500 extra troops will not be sent. The last of the five extra brigades is scheduled to go in May. Casey said that Iraqis are taking more of a lead role, but are not yet ready to fight without U.S. support. The general defended his record as the top commander in Iraq, saying he remained true to his original commitment to request the number of troops he thought he needed to accomplish his mission. Asked his view of Bush's new strategy, Casey said, "I believe it can work." He said success in Baghdad could be achieved with fewer than five extra brigades, but he added that this plan will give "great flexibility" to his successor. "The struggle in Iraq is winnable," Casey said, but will take patience and will. After asserting last week that "I'm the decision-maker" about troop levels in Iraq, Bush acknowledged that Congress has the power to cap force levels and put conditions on where soldiers are deployed. "They can say, `We won't fund,' " he told The Wall Street Journal. "That is a constitutional authority of Congress. ... They have the right to try to use the power of the purse to determine policy." As for Congress having a voice on where troops go, Bush said, "They put conditions on funds all the time." |
| Posted by:Dan Rather |
| #6 Since Dubya has reportedly said that unilater attacking Iran is NOT the plan of the present, until something changes USG Pols are basically arguing over how many troops to base in Iraq-ME until Radic Iran gives terror or implodes unto democracy ala REGIONAL CONTAINMENT. THE BURDEN REMAINS MOSTLY ON IRAN TO DECIDE BETWEEN GIVING UP TERROR, OR ATTACK. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-02-01 19:12 |
| #5 It seems like only yesterday the Other Side was clamoring for More Troops! More Troops. How time does fly. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-02-01 18:09 |
| #4 Some may think he's a good soldier, but based on his performance over the last two years, I'll wait for more evidence. He certainly does not appear to be CoS material based on this testimony. I hate to agree with McCain, but he's got this one pegged about right in my view. Let Casey retire with honor. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-02-01 17:55 |
| #3 go into Iran with three brigades? Even Rummy wouldnt have tried that. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2007-02-01 17:53 |
| #2 If they only need half as many as are coming, what *she asked with extremely wide-eyed earnestness* could they possibly do with the extra troops? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-02-01 17:49 |
| #1 Casey is a good soldier, and he will and should make Army COS, but he doesn't come close to Petraeus. Also, AP remains full of shit. Casey said he would at first use two additional brigades in Baghdad with the the remaining three in reserve to flow as needed. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2007-02-01 16:53 |