U.S. Has People Problem In Iraq

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/05/iraq/main582109.shtml

CBS/AP) Asked last week if he'd reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq within a year, President Bush said that was a "trick question." A trickier question already facing U.S. commanders is how to replace soldiers rotating home if foreign countries don't step up.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has said more international forces would help ease the burden on the 132,000 American troops in Iraq. Now, about 23,000 other troops from more than 30 countries are there.

Administration officials had hoped a U.N. Security Council resolution approved last month would persuade allies to send more forces. So far, it has not.

Turkey approved sending troops, but is balking at deploying them because interim Iraqi leaders have resisted the offer.

Already, about 15,000 Army National Guard troops have been mobilized for possible service in Iraq beginning early next year, to replace weary active-duty troops who already have been there close to a year.
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Some such crazy thing. Better get him to read Baghdad butning.

766 troops from each country. But if this number includes the British troops (12,200 as of mid-September), then the other 29 countries have provided an average of 372 troops each. If the Polish troops (2,000+) are averaged out, the 28 junior partners in our "coalition" have provided less than 315 troops each.

Wow. That Dubya sure knows how to work a crowd.

The Bush not only has a people problem in Iraq, he has a security problem. The math shows it. Most countries are probably offering up just the bare minimum to go above the wire, without angering the US. It's almost a symbolic offering, to placate the imperial masters, so the administration can boast about a "large contingency" of supporters.

It still doesn't change the fact that the US will run out of troops. I believe they've said by next March, we will need replacements. However, they do not seem concerned in the least about this prospect, so I'm sure they've got something figured out.

This will solve the people problem and facilitate the securing of oil facilities, thus generating prosperity and progress for KBR and all its subsidiaries.