[SandRat]

PING

[blam]

I thought McCain said we needed more troops?

[Wiseghy]

According the Pentagon Channel, and other military sources, the plan has ALWAYS been to draw down to 92k in 2006.

Credit to the administration for not tying themselves to this number. Fortunately, the MSM ADD continues on the facts.

Remember, the MSM flurry as late as 4 months ago was NOT ENOUGH TROOPS!!!

[EGPWS]

The United States expects to reduce its troop numbers in Iraq by more than 17,000 following the Dec. 15 national elections, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Dec. 8. Rumsfeld, speaking on PBS' "News Hour With Jim Lehrer," said he expects to reduce the force, which surged to about 155,000 to ensure adequate security for the elections, to the previous baseline of 137,000 or 138,000.

Rumsfeld will do what is prudent and necessary, no more, no less.

[TeenagedConservative]

This is the beginning of the reconciliation period, after which the Democrats will always have supported the Iraq war. By 2008, there will have been no dissenters!

[Raycpa]

I thought we needed more troops.

[Calpernia]

The United States expects to reduce its troop numbers in Iraq by more than 17,000 following the Dec. 15 national elections, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Dec. 8. Rumsfeld, speaking on PBS' "News Hour With Jim Lehrer," said he expects to reduce the force, which surged to about 155,000 to ensure adequate security for the elections, to the previous baseline of 137,000 or 138,000.

"I'm sure of that," he said, noting that violence is expected to drop following the upcoming election, as it did following the Oct. 15 referendum on the constitution and the Jan. 30 election earlier this year.

"If the past is a guide, we'll undoubtedly see that to be the case," the secretary said.