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Dec. 26, 2005 Rumsfeld told reporters that the U.S. needed to have a big military footprint in order to fight insurgents, but not a footprint so big that it would agitate Iraqi citizens. General Pace, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff declared that 2006 may see more military presence in Iraq, a contradiction to Rumsfeld’s declaration of a draw-down of troops in the near future. In fact, Army General Casey, Commander of ground forces in Iraq, announced the deployment of two brigades has been canceled, a semblance of withdrawal. Is this ambiguous information being served to the public a ploy by Administration officials and military leaders to confuse the enemies within Iraq? I doubt it, but it certainly is confusing to those families wanting to see their children come home alive and not in coffins. Over 2100 coffins have been brought home already. British Prime Minister Tony Blair paid a surprise visit to Basra and announced to his troops that it was quite conceivable British troops could begin withdrawing from Iraq within six months. Again, two pictures are being painted. President Bush insists that we are winning the war and that any announcement of a draw-down in troops would be detrimental to the cause. On the other hand, other members of the spindly coalition are announcing withdrawal (Italy, South Korea), some have already left (Spain, Poland, Japan). Ukrainian troops will withdraw next, no word on Aruban forces as of yet. Are these coalition forces aware of some information that the U.S. is not? Are they leaving because the weather doesn’t suit them? Are they leaving because they believe President Bush’s insistence we are winning the war? Too many unanswered questions being answered vaguely by our leaders. Once again, a citizenry that has been split down the middle over the necessity of this war is under-informed and under-represented by their political constituents serving in Congress. American citizens once again are left to believe an intelligence community that has been wrong about Iraq from the start and a President too proud to admit the war should be over.
The only military footprint we ought to see is the one on the back side of Rummy’s pants. Not too big though, we wouldn’t want to agitate him.
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