Think Progress

168,000:

By Amanda Terkel on Sep 7th, 2007 at 2:12 pm

168,000:

U.S. force levels in Iraq, an “all-time high.” Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, director of operational planning for the Joint Staff, said that “the arrival of more combat brigades will temporarily push the total to as high as 172,000 over the coming months before it falls back to about 160,000 troops by November or December as other units leave.”

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42 Responses to “168,000:”

  1. toasterhead says:

    No sh*t, Sherlock!

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
  2. detroitsuperfly says:

    Yeah, way to “support the troops” cons. Keep troops in beyond their obligations, beyond military standards for deployment, away from their families. Then attack as traitors those who seek to take them out of another nation’s unwinnable civil war.

    F’ing con morons!

    With patriots like the GOP, the troops dont need Al Qaeda!

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
  3. tom says:

    Gee, I’ll bet that we’re really kicking ass now, huh!

    With all those boots on the ground, perhaps we can find all the “lost” money and guns that have gone missing in Iraq, too.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
  4. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    Does that 172,000 include Blackwater or just our military troops?

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
  5. dlet says:

    But, but Gen. Petraeus said he’d be ok with letting 3,500 to 4,000 go home soonishly.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
  6. Turd Ferguson says:

    And even with all those guys, they couldn’t find Bin Laden???

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
  7. hellinabucket says:

    Add that to the number of Mercs we’re paying and we have close to 250,000 armed fighters in Iraq doing our bidding. And the situation has yet to be controlled in more time than it took to fight WWII.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
  8. Krazny says:

    I read something a long time ago, that put the number of troops to control Iraq, at around 500,000. I doubt that even counting the Blackwater mercs, that the number site above will be able too.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
  9. Quetza1coat1 says:

    Are all these troops achieving success? Or is the escalation just putting even more Americans in harm’s way? Read about it and debate at http://www.thecoin.org

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
  10. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Fighting the insurgency in Iraq is like trying to dig a hole in the sand at the beach, below the high-tide line. After a few scoops, the hole starts filling with water. After a while, the water flowing in will equal the water you’re bailing out, creating an equilibrium. You can, by exerting more effort, make the hole deeper, but the deeper the hole, the faster the water comes in, and the more effort you have to expend to bail it, establishing another equilibrium point. If you then go back to your original level of effort, the hole will immediately fill with water back up to the previous level.

    No amount of digging will make the hole remain dry, just as no amount of “surging” will “win” the “war” in Iraq. It’s impossible, but as long as this corrupt and criminal administration continues to make enough stupid Americans think it is possible, they can continue to justify their endless occupation, which in turn justifies their permanent military presence in the M.E. …

    …which was their goal all along.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
  11. upside00 says:

    Does that 172,000 include Blackwater or just our military troops?

    Comment by IgnoranceIsNotBliss — September 7, 2007 @ 2:22 pm

    No, there are about 100,000 Blackwater personnel there as well. And that number can go as high as Darth wants it too, no matter what Congress wants to do. That is his own personal Foreign Legion.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
  12. Zimzone says:

    Here in MN we have flags at 1/2 staff for a 22 year old killed in Iraq last week.

    This kid was 22 & serving his fourth tour of duty.

    Think about that.

    4 years out of High School & you’re on your 4th tour of duty.

    This is insane. It’s not supporting the troops, it’s planned death.

    Bushwhacked again. SSDD.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
  13. margaret says:

    But, but Gen. Petraeus said he’d be ok with letting 3,500 to 4,000 go home soonishly.

    Comment by dlet — September 7, 2007 @ 2:22 pm

    And then will hire another 4,000 or so Blackwater mercenaries probably! While saying that they’ve started to scale back to try and take it away as an election issue! (bastards!)

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
  14. dlet says:

    That’s about the population of Salt Lake City. Don’t you think that if they were serious about this they would send all of Utah?

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
  15. margaret says:

    Trip – good analogy (unfortunately). Kind of brings an image to mind of a carefully constructed sand castle getting washed away with the incoming tide!

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
  16. upside00 says:

    That’s about the population of Salt Lake City. Don’t you think that if they were serious about this they would send all of Utah?
    Comment by dlet — September 7, 2007 @ 2:37 pm

    Except we would have to draft them, as they might all be as Chickenhawk as Mitt and his “boyz”.

    Maybe freddy Flintstone Thompson can go, he could play like a soldier, just like he plays at everything else he does, except nap. He has that down pat.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
  17. hil says:

    # 15…
    way to address the topic at hand. But i guess when your side has no credebility left all you can do is call people names like a 3rd grader.

    go play child, the adults are talking.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
  18. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Lefties: Dumbest people on the internet.
    Comment by Dean CT — September 7, 2007 @ 2:37 pm

    More projection from the Righties: Dumbest people on the internet “tubes”…

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
  19. dlet says:

    Comment by upside00 — September 7, 2007 @ 2:41 pm

    Exactly. The draft would end this thing in an instant. They had just enough bodies to throw over there and cause chaos and then say that we need to be there because there is chaos.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
  20. hellinabucket says:

    Dean CT, you don’t even attempt to discuss the subject matter and start attacking. That exposes your lack of understanding instead of it’s intended point of insulting others.

    Care to discuss the qty of soldiers and marines and hired guns that are currently in Iraq? Let’s talk about this instead of jumping into potshots.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
  21. dlet says:

    Hey Dean,
    Can you find any stories on Brittney? That would be nice.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
  22. upside00 says:

    Let’s talk about this instead of jumping into potshots.
    Comment by hellinabucket — September 7, 2007 @ 2:46 pm

    That’s like asking a Repug to face reality ….. ain’t going to happen.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
  23. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Hi, fellow stupid leftists! Need I repeat my stupid self?

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    September 7th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
  24. Krazny says:

    Bush reminds of a junky who keeps saying they will get clean, or a gambler who says they will stop gambling, right after this one thing, cause it is a sure thing ya know. But after that no more, really, honest.

    What an idiot.

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
  25. upside00 says:

    mr. p is on the meth again, winding the brain stem around his take on reality. Look out N. Virginia, this could get ugly, fast and not contained in his dorm room either!

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
  26. hellinabucket says:

    No real takers from the side of the president to discuss the number of troops, their length of time in theater and the hired guns we pay in Iraq?

    Why would your opinion be worth shit on any other subject if you can’t stand by it on this?

    September 7th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
  27. Troll says:

    The dems should impose the draft or impeach or force withdrawl like they were allegedly elected to do but haven’t. Bush was re-elected in the midst of this war obviously the electorate supported his actions. Bush is doing what he was elected to do, the dems should do the same. Maybe you all should be a little more critical of them.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
  28. tom baker says:

    i don’t think that number includes all the mercenaries we have over there. how many is that? another 150K or so, I thought I’d heard.

    righties are all in broad-daylight psychotic break states right now, like Manson Family members – it’s good for the kids to see now how mean and crazy they really are, so we can all enjoy 3-4 decades free from their frenzied and reckless influences.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
  29. Tired Of Fighting says:

    Ladies and Gentlemen the only “TROOP” (I hate that phrase/word, WE ARE SOLDIERS-Army, AIRMAN-Air Force (My Daughter included), SAILORS-Navy, MARINES) cuts will be those units that have already been EXTENDED by 3-6 months.

    It will be natural rotations that will be viewed and reported as “TROOP” cuts and the so-called liberal media (WHO?) will report that the POTUS as delivered on his promise to bring “TROOPS” home by such in such date. And all of the Repuppetcans will rejoice and all of the hapless Democrats will go back to shutting the ___ up.

    3rd Brigade from Fort Lewis has been in Iraq since May of last year and should be home by now, we replaced them in 2004 and my old Brigade now in Germany will be replacing them again on Oct, so there will be some “TROOPS” coming home, but there will some leaving home too.

    So Mr. Bush and Sen. er Gen. Petraus will claim that “events on the ground” have allowed us to do this.

    BTW

    The “surge” was to secure Baghdad not Fallujah, yea thats right ll of the sudden we dont call it that it’s now called by its Province, just like we dont call it Mosul anymore it’s the Ninevah Province, thats just to further keep the un-informed, ill-informed and to keep the enablers drinking from the Jim Jones wing of the party. . WE have been bombing Fallujah since 2004, I was there during Operation Bobcat Fury”, and ANBAR PROVINCE was leveled just as Bill O’Reilly said it should be. SO hell yea there is “progress” there because there is nothing and noone left. If you look closely everytime they show the market you see the SAME people there. Wait and see how long it takes to see “progress” in Baghdad. EVER, not FOREVER but EVER.

    RIP
    SGT Stephen R. Sherman
    C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
    KIA 3 Feb 2005
    Mosul, Iraq

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
  30. Troll says:

    Comment by hellinabucket — September 7, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

    It takes soldiers to fight wars so the troop numbers are not all that concerning.

    Don’t assume that because we trolls don’t agree with you we agree with the President. Many of us think the libtards and their leaders are as stupid if not more so than Bush.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
  31. Jones says:

    Possibly a stupid question – so if there’s already a plan to raise the troop levels to 172,000 then drop them to 160,000, what’s to stop the Republicans from pointing at the 12,000 troops that are already coming home and calling that a troop reduction?

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
  32. hellinabucket says:

    Troll, Is the whole country as static as Bush is? Is there a majority in Congress to accomplish any of the suggestions you made? When was a war declared?

    I’m very critical of all politicians that aren’t taking a sobering look at Iraq. You ignore the subject matter of this thread but come in to cut down. You may have a valid point or two but you don’t acknowledge the outright failings of this President. You fail to acknowledge the unprecedented power grab and the missinformation that led us to Iraq but readily jump on other arguments that may or may not have merit.

    Stand up for what you believe in the context of the subject of this thread and I’ll accomodate you on other subjects. Ignore the thread’s subject and you open yourself to any and all attacks against your posts.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
  33. Troll says:

    When was a war declared?

    Comment by hellinabucket — September 7, 2007 @ 3:14 pm

    When the dems funded the war they implicitly declared it licit. This policy is unconstitutional as far as I am concerned but the precedent has caused this to be the de facto law of the land which is why we need to return to a strict interpretation of the constitution which both parties have treaded heavily upon.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
  34. Troll says:

    that should have been “trod”.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
  35. hellinabucket says:

    I agree that we need to return to a strict interpretation of the constitution. I don’t agree that this can now be declared a war because of funding from democrats. It was the AUMF that gave the president the authority, not a declaration of war. I don’t have the AUMF in front of me now but it was not a declaration of war. The difference may have something to do with Armed combatants and how to treat the prisoners.

    I’d welcome adhering to the constitution. I’d also welcome abolishing signing statements. Something that this president has done more thany all the previous presidents combined. He is skirting the law in this area as well.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
  36. Troll says:

    I’d also welcome abolishing signing statements.
    Comment by hellinabucket — September 7, 2007 @ 3:35 pm

    I agree. But we the people need to stop playing their partisan games and elect reps from either party or a third who are dedicated to a strict interpretation or we are all screwed.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
  37. Krazny says:

    Not likely to happen troll. To many people are into the partisan politics, to much money, to much power, to much glory. Any independent party would end up being subverted by special interest money within a few years.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
  38. hellinabucket says:

    Troll, we are more alike than you’d think.

    September 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
  39. zoot says:

    gee, a little more surgin’ and the neonuts will be nearing the level they fired Shisenski for.
    .

    September 7th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
  40. celtic cynic says:

    Those poor 168,000 kids. They’re under a death sentence, altruism be damned!!

    September 7th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
  41. Tobey Tall says:

    168,000 green bottles sitting on the wall

    and if 1 IED explodes there will be 167,990

    bottles sitting on the wall

    September 7th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
  42. Russ Weiss says:

    So, the brigade that Petreaus says might be coming home soon isn’t even in Iraq yet?

    September 7th, 2007 at 6:35 pm

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