Odierno: troop reductions must begin by April ‘08.
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general of the coalition forces in Baghdad, suggested that the current escalation could last through April 2008. Speaking on CNN’s Late Edition, Odierno said:
I would say, however, though, we all know that the surge of forces was temporary in nature. And we all know that’s going to come to an end and we all understand that. And it’s important that we decide when those forces begin to leave.
We know that the surge of forces will come at least through April at the latest, April of ‘08, and then we’ll have to start to reduce. So we will make our judgment based on the fact that we know we cannot maintain the surge of forces and we know that they will start to reduce in April of ‘08 at the latest.
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98 Responses to “Odierno: troop reductions must begin by April ‘08.”
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http://www.abc.net.au/ news/ stories/ 2007/ 08/ 24/ 2013753.htm
August 26th, 2007 at 2:05 pmHeckuva job, chimpy.
April ‘08 is too long to let our troops stay in harms way just to get some NeoCons off on war.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:06 pmBush would like to keep present number of troops there past April ‘08. but it won’t be possible since the Army and Marines are heading towards collapse. We have 750 bases in 130 countries.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:11 pmGDumbya –> “the surge will last until April ‘08 or the beginning of the U.S.-Iran war, whichever comes first”.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:14 pmTom—–Look for a naval “incident” [Maddox, Gulf of Tonkin] in which the Iranians attack an innocent US vessel.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:20 pmJACKANORY JACKANORY
August 26th, 2007 at 2:22 pmApril ‘08, eh? Funny, that’s just a Friedman Unit before the ‘08 election. Whadda coincidence.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:24 pmEVERYTHING depends on the September 15th “surge” report.
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/ 2007/ 08/ intelligence-report-progress-in-iraq.html#links
August 26th, 2007 at 2:30 pmThe surge is highly successful. We need to stop saying they need to come home. They need to finish the job.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:43 pmWhat will follow the “Surge”? “Stay the Course” II.
Perhaps, once we dump al Maliki, we can get the Sunnis to sign the oil deal. You know, the same way one Indian tribe could sign away the rights of all their neighbors. We can arm their militias and use them to enforce order. We will have to support a strongman figurehead who can unite the tribes. Too bad we let the Shiites hang Saddam, he would have worked.
Dr. Krauthammer,
Was this the type of reasoned debate you were hoping for. No? Well it looks like the President isn’t being reasonable either. Your Friday column claimed that “the administration is finally beginning to concede the political reality that the Maliki government is hopelessâ€. Later that same day Bush affirmed that he supports Maliki, calling him “a good guy”. Sorry Dr Krauthammer, if you want a reasoned debate about Iraq, it will have to take place without the participation of President Bush.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:45 pmLet’s not limit the discussion to the draw down of surge troops, let’s keep the focus on ALL troops, and how soon we can get them out of that fu(king hellhole we’ve created.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:47 pmThey need to finish the job.
Comment by Brassmask — August 26, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
What’s the job???
August 26th, 2007 at 2:48 pmThe troops should stay there. What they are doing is working. You shouldn’t change what is working.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:48 pmThe troops are being reduced in number because the military’s manpower pipeline does not have enough volunteers to sustain it.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:54 pmAgain…what’s the job.? What exactly is working??
The stated purpose of the surge was to give the Maliki govt enough time to get their shit together.
August 26th, 2007 at 2:57 pmIf that were true, the surge would last another 38 years.
Goals of the Surge
George Bush 1/10/07
over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad’s residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq’s Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace. And reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.
August 26th, 2007 at 3:01 pmThe ‘Iraqi Surge’ will have to last into the spring of next year. The military is running out of noun/adverb combinations. ‘Iraqi Déjà vu all over again’ just doesn’t work. People would only have to think once to see it’s just more bushit.
August 26th, 2007 at 3:03 pmThe surge is highly successful. We need to stop saying they need to come home. They need to finish the job.
Comment by Brassmask — August 26, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
The job is finishing them. bush wants to destroy the military so his Saudi friends can take over.
August 26th, 2007 at 3:05 pmI suspect troops reductions won’t begin until 1/20/09.
August 26th, 2007 at 3:24 pmI suspect troops reductions won’t begin until every last drop of Iraqi Oil has been swindled
August 26th, 2007 at 4:20 pmmaybe the trolls are correct in their thinking Bush loves Iraqis more than Americans
August 26th, 2007 at 4:21 pmThe US military has stated, unequivocally, that current levels of involvement can’t continue indefinitely. It makes no difference what level of success is achieved. It’s a question of resources.
The only way to maintain the current troop levels would be to extend deployments, again.
August 26th, 2007 at 4:34 pmWrecking ball Bush: soon to be swinging by your neighborhood…
Ask not who the Bush wrecking swings at, it swings at thee…
August 26th, 2007 at 4:34 pmMaybe the job will be done when we reach Armageddon/The Rapture.
Who knows exactly what is in Bush’s head?
August 26th, 2007 at 4:57 pmComment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
That is the only conclusion that I have been able to reach. We’ll know for certain if he goes into Iran. If he is that stupid, we will lose about 150,000 troops and 120,000 contracted mercenaries in about 30 days.
August 26th, 2007 at 5:35 pmThink Progress is an anti-American propaganda site!
August 26th, 2007 at 5:58 pmTPmademeaRepublican
Wrong. generations of inbreeding made you a republican.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:01 pmBig deal. Odierno is only talking about reducing troop numbers to the pre-surge level. One purpose of the surge is to give Republicans the chance in 2008 to tell voters that the GOP supports reducing troop numbers, but the GOP won’t tell you they only support a reduction to pre-surge levels. I suspect many gullible voters will buy into the lie that Republicans support troop withdrawals. It’s all a political game to these right wing bastards.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:06 pmNever! As a lefty in constant need of complaining about something, I need the troops in Iraq as long as possible just so I can BLAME BLAME BLAME the other party.
I love being a lefty, nice and stupid to perfection.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:29 pmI love being a lefty, nice and stupid to perfection.
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
If you really, really try, you can learn to “make sense”. Practice more!!!
August 26th, 2007 at 6:30 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
Were lefties, duh. It just isn’t possible for any of us to make sense.
We could only dream of dreaming.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:32 pmWe could only dream of dreaming.
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Sorry, you can only speak for yourself. Generalizations of the kind you continually post are always meaningless. You must seek help for your own good.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:34 pmThis alias has been discredited Mr. Pus.
NEXT ALIASS PLEASE!!!
August 26th, 2007 at 6:34 pmMr Insanity/Pee, according to your link, you can find sexy singles in your town today, get clearer skin in just five days, and be younger than you think you are!
August 26th, 2007 at 6:41 pmWhat is blatantly obvious is that the current level of troop strength is unsustainable and that a reduction in force will be mandatory within the next year. Supporters of this occupation do not want to acknowledge this fact. They continue with accolades about how great our military men and women are which does not address the issue at hand. That is a tactic they use repeatedly to claim that they support the troops when nothing could be further from the truth.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:43 pmBTW, I believe Pete when he said he would never click on one of your links—- therefore he was calling you rabid and you went berserk over nothing.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:44 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Sorry, but we’re all in the same group whether you like it or not. I’m really sorry, friend.
We should go sometime to McLeftys for a McLefty Milkshake. It would be good to chat-up some lefty conspiracies (as we all do any other day, right!?)
Just admit that you’re my friend, along with every other lefty here. Why are you intent on giving this super-coolistic site to the trolls?
August 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pmThank you Keith.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:47 pmHow about your conspiracy that a Hillary Clinton front group destroyed the Minneapolis bridge? Or that Edwards will be murdered like Vince Foster?
August 26th, 2007 at 6:47 pmDon’t mention it, Pete.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:47 pmComment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Mr. P is a troll of “truth.” I would never want to be him, as I fully enjoy my lefty comfort zone of lies and propaganda.
I love hating life and complaining about everything in sight. I am a brainless lefty.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:48 pmWhy are you intent on giving this super-coolistic site to the trolls?
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
You’re not making the least bit of sense. Absolutely none whatsoever. It’s impossible to even guess at what you think you’re talking about.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:48 pmyeah, lets sue em, that’ll stop em.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:50 pmMr. Pus, in all it’s evolutions, is simply insane. So long as we keep pointing this out there is hope it will receive the treatment it desperately needs.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:50 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
I’m a lefty just like you, OF COURSE I DON’T MAKE SENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lefty insulting a fellow lefty? The pot calling the kettle black?
August 26th, 2007 at 6:51 pmSo long as we keep pointing this out there is hope it will receive the treatment it desperately needs.
Comment by pete — August 26, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
That’s all we can do, pete. If posters like this one think they’re making us look bad, it just shows ya how completely they’re out of touch w/ reality.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pmComment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
I’m a busy lefty, Keith. I don’t have time to keep track of any truths.
I have a life concocting fresh 9/11 conspiracies and blaming Israel for all the world’s problems. My conspiracies come fresh daily, right before the donuts.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:54 pmWhen the time comes, of course, there will be some troop withdrawal. Everyone knew this… except for the lunatics here at TP, that is.
Like Odierno said, the decision will be made according to the facts.
- VA HU$TLER
August 26th, 2007 at 6:55 pmThe pot calling the kettle black?
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
Again, more silliness. Nothing even close to a coherent, meaningful statement.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:55 pmIn the latest rankings, Iraq is the second worst failed state in the world. Only Sudan is worse. One million dead, four million refugees, one in eight Iraqi children die before the age of five—-is this the definition of “success” and “freedom”?
August 26th, 2007 at 6:55 pmLike Odierno said, the decision will be made according to the facts.
- VA HU$TLER
Comment by VA HU$TLER — August 26, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Such a vague comment, it has no value. Try harder. And why the need to insult people here?
August 26th, 2007 at 6:56 pmComment by pete — August 26, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
You’re my hero. I learned from a fellow lefty poster last night that asking for directions = loving Islam.
As lefties, we learn something stupid everyday! Can’t wait for Muslimas!
August 26th, 2007 at 6:57 pmOne of the local news programs had a story about Seroquel. Seroquel is a anti-psychotic that has helped thousands. You should ask your Doctor about it, Mr. Pus.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:58 pmYep. Even regular Democrats agree, the surge has been a success and when the Iraqis start taking responsability for there own problems, the US military presense will be decreased.
That’s not to say that all business relations will be cut off, though. Far from it, Iraq and America will have a healthy partnership for decades to come.
- VA HU$TLER
August 26th, 2007 at 6:58 pmFar from it, Iraq and America will have a healthy partnership for decades to come.
- VA HU$TLER
Comment by VA HU$TLER — August 26, 2007 @ 6:58 pm
Empty comment. No meaning. Try again.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:59 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
We lefties don’t have a clue about the English language. I know we’re lefty friends, but please don’t pretend to know something or anything. It’s embarrasing to all of us. We’re all partners against the trolls, darn their truth!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:00 pmThe decision will be made according to whether or not Odierno and Petraeus would like to keep their jobs.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:00 pmHmm… it seems the kooks here at TP don’t want the troops to come home when the mission in Iraq is complete…
That’s odd.
Well, it’s a good thing that they don’t have a say in the matter, as we have TRUE PATRIOTS in the government to make those decisions.
- VA HU$TLER
August 26th, 2007 at 7:01 pmAs lefties, we learn something stupid everyday! Can’t wait for Muslimas!
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
You are either suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness, or you are doing great damage to your own psyche by continuing on like this. Either way, you do nothing to discredit TP or the rst of us, only yourself.
By all means, carry on endlessly.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:01 pmWell, it’s a good thing that they don’t have a say in the matter, as we have TRUE PATRIOTS in the government to make those decisions.
- VA HU$TLER
Comment by VA HU$TLER — August 26, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
More silliness. No facts, no meaning. Just nonsense.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:02 pmThe majority of Iraqis approve of the attacks on our troops. Is that a “healthy partnership”?
August 26th, 2007 at 7:04 pmI hope all of you moonbats caught the program on the History Channel that has been aired lately. In it many of the anti-American 9-1-1 twooooooofer’s lies are exposed.
Try looking at the facts next time, lefties.
- VA HU$TLER
August 26th, 2007 at 7:05 pmIs that a “healthy partnership�
Comment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
They must be delighted w/ all the AK-47s we’ve lost track of there.
Like they didn’t have enough weapons to begin w/.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:05 pmMr. Pee is highly racist and bigoted towards 1.2 billion people.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:05 pmTry looking at the facts next time, lefties.
- VA HU$TLER
Comment by VA HU$TLER — August 26, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
What is a “moonbat”? Please give a specific definition. Also, generaliztions of the sort you just made have no meaning. Please try again! ;-D!!!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pmThe majority of Iraqis approve of the attacks on our troops. Is that a “healthy partnership�
Comment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
———————————————————————–
If that were true, America would declare war ON Iraq as a whole. Inside the US troops are fighting insurgents and al-Kaida, while the Iraqi civilians enjoy our protection.
You are just spewing more leftonite lies.
Nice try.
- VA HU$TLER
August 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pmIf I asked you to consider who owns The History Channel, would that also be a “conspiracy”?
August 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pmSurveys have been done. The majority of Iraqis approve of attacks on our troops.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pmComment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
No, silly leftonite. That would be a question.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:07 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Thinkyproggy should ban both us!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:08 pmThinkyproggy should ban both us!
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Why me? I haven’t done anything here but point out that you never make the least bit of sense. You haven’t presented one rational argument, fact, or position here.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pmNo, silly leftonite. That would be a question.
Comment by VA HU$TLER — August 26, 2007 @ 7:07 pm
Please define “leftonite”. Right now it’s impossible to understand your comment.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:10 pmDiscredited another alias so soon Mr. Pus?
NEXT ALIASS PLEASE!!!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:12 pmHow about when The History Channel ran the show that LBJ killed JFK—does that qualify as “moonbat conspiracy”?
August 26th, 2007 at 7:14 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
BECAUSE I’M A LEFTY!! I regret your dissapointment, but I intend to blow both of our covers. We’re both dumb and we both hate all truth.
We-are-lefties!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:16 pmWe-are-lefties!
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
If you feel you have a valid point to make, I suggest you go to TP and make your case. I can only say, again, you are making no snese whatsoever here this afternoon. Please, go to TP and tell them how you feel.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:18 pmMr. Pee is highly racist and bigoted towards 1.2 billion people.
Comment by Keith — August 26, 2007 @ 7:05 pm
August 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
I feel we should both be banned. Faiz is watching!
Being lefties, we contribute a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y nothing.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:20 pmYou already discredited TDoI Mr. Pus.
NEXT ALIASS PLEASE!!!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:22 pmThe History Channel and Popular Mechanics are both owned by Hearst Corp.—the people who brought us the Spanish-American War based on a lie.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:22 pmBeing lefties, we contribute a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y nothing.
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:20 pm
Hoepfully, Faiz is watching. You said we both should be banned. You only speak in such braod generalizations that there’s nothing to reply to specifically. Please, complain to Faiz. Try and get us BOTH banned.
I’m waiting. Why are you hesitating?
August 26th, 2007 at 7:23 pmComment by pete — August 26, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
If you consider me discredited,that means ALL LEFTIES are discredited. Lefty group speak isn’t too great, after all.
It’s the domino effect — applied to us lefties! Careful, now!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:25 pmVA HU$TLER, a majority of Iraqis support attacks on U.S. troops.
A 2006 poll showed that 60 percent of Shias in Iraq approve of attacks on U.S. troops while 91 percent of Sunnis in Iraq approve of such attacks. The same poll showed that 100 percent of Sunnis in Baghdad support attacks on U.S. troops! It also showed that “seven out of ten Iraqis overall—including both the Shia majority (74%) and the Sunni minority (91%)—say they want the United States to leave within a year.” See link for poll results…
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/ pipa/ articles/ home_page/ 275.php
August 26th, 2007 at 7:26 pmIt’s the domino effect — applied to us lefties! Careful, now!
Comment by The Democrat of Insanity — August 26, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
There, there, there. Enormously dishonest comment. Totally illogical. Again, you use such broad generalizations, your comment has no meaning. Try again!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:28 pm“The surge is highly successful. We need to stop saying they need to come home. They need to finish the job.
Comment by Brassmask “
Hey asshat, I’m willing to bet the form that you don’t have a dog in this race. If you define 75-100 Americans being killed each month successful, you are one sick puppy. If you find the total collapse of the Iraqi government successful, you are one sick puppy.
Actually, you are one sick puppy no matter what.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:29 pm“maybe the trolls are correct in their thinking Bush loves Iraqis more than Americans
Comment by Tobey Tall “
No Tobey, you are wrong. Bush loves the Iraqi’s oil more than Americans.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:31 pmSorry Mr. Pus. Insane ravings discredit you and no one else.
NEXT ALIASS PLEASE!!!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pmSorry Mr. Pus. Insane ravings discredit you and no one else.
Comment by pete — August 26, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
100% correct, pete!
August 26th, 2007 at 7:33 pmThanks TRoS. Let us hope it gets help soon. It’s sad to see any being, even a neutered troll, in such pain.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:40 pmIt’s sad to see any being, even a neutered troll, in such pain.
Comment by pete — August 26, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
It really is kind of amazing after a while isn’t it? Take a look at the thread right above this one. He’s getting ready to fly off into space.
You can’t argue successfully against an irrational comment. If you point out that it doesn’t make any sense, you don’t have to do anymore. If you try to argue it, you get sucked into the troll’s bog.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:45 pmYeah. I like to poke it once in a while just to make sure it doesn’t start making sense, though there’s little danger of that.
August 26th, 2007 at 8:03 pmpete = racist
August 26th, 2007 at 8:11 pmRevisiting an “argument” you already lost only makes the pain worse.
August 26th, 2007 at 8:20 pmFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILURE
August 26th, 2007 at 8:58 pmAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREF
ILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFA
LUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAI
UREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAIL
REFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILU
EFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUR
FAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILUREFAILURE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qcbg72tK_ks
August 26th, 2007 at 9:28 pmhttp://youtube.com/watch?v=qcbg72tK_ks
Comment by http://youtube.com/watch?v=qcbg72tK_ks — August 26, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
And even more dung.
August 26th, 2007 at 9:38 pmWell…Bush said that the generals on the ground will decide when the troops come home.
Bet he dismisses this…
August 27th, 2007 at 12:13 amYeah, sure, right; and come April ‘08, Odierno will be saying October ‘08. Mark my word.

August 27th, 2007 at 7:16 am