White House Admits U.S. Leader In Iraq Wanted More Troops

[zimv20]

link (http://www.wesh.com/news/5955422/detail.html)


WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has acknowledged that its top civilian official in Iraq once called for tripling U.S. forces there.

In a new book, Paul Bremer -- who headed the U.S.-led coalition for 13 months -- says he urged Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in May 2004 to deploy 500,000 troops.

But White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Bremer's view was just one among many and ultimately, it was left to U.S. commanders to decide.

Administration critics -- including some leading lawmakers -- were outspoken in saying a much bigger U.S. contingent was needed to put down the insurgency.

[mactastic]

Surprise surprise... Pity Bremer didn't have the stones to say it publicly at the time. But crossing the Bush family has high costs...

[leekohler]

Wow- this one will do GREAT things for troop morale! :rolleyes: Way to support the troops King George! :mad:

[solvs]

Didn't we already know this? Weren't these commanders also saying we needed more troops? Yep (http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=generals+asked+for+more+troops+iraq&btnG=Google+Search).

You're doing a heck of a job Rummie. :rolleyes:

[tristan]

Bremer's got a book to sell - but yes, I think he is telling the truth. Why bother making that up now?

[mactastic]

Bremer's got a book to sell - but yes, I think he is telling the truth. Why bother making that up now?
I guarantee you the WH would not be 'admitting' anything if Bremer was lying. Hell, Bremer's got to have indisputable proof or the WH would be denying everything and calling Bremer a 'disgruntled former employee. We've seen THAT all before...

[silverback66]

So that's what Bremer said, but what did the generals on the ground say? If they agreed with Bremer then there is an issue. If not, and they believed troop levels were suffiicient then you can hardly blame the President for the miscalculation. I mean if you were the president and fighting a war, wouldn't you be listening to the advice of your generals?

[mactastic]

So that's what Bremer said, but what did the generals on the ground say? If they agreed with Bremer then there is an issue. If not, and they believed troop levels were suffiicient then you can hardly blame the President for the miscalculation. I mean if you were the president and fighting a war, wouldn't you be listening to the advice of your generals?
That's certainly up for debate. I wonder if at any point we'll find out that one or more generals had the same concern.

If I were a president I'd be listening to more than just my generals.

[solvs]

I think you guys missed my YEP. A simple Google search says that some did say that. I thought this was public knowledge quite some time ago. Bush ignored the ones that turned out to be right. Again.

http://www.thetalentshow.org/archives/000911.html

(edit: note the date of the article)