General Petraeus, the point (sales) man on the Bush administration troop “surge” in Iraq, is now predicting that he will call for a reduction in troops in the fall. How this plan differs from providing a “timetable for surrender”, as this administration has characterized other calls for reductions, is not clear.
The timing is especially odd, since the General is also predicting that an upsurge in violence will force a delay in the Iraqi elections. But the timing is simply perfect for the US elections!
The General didn't get to be a General without knowing how careers and reputations are made. Petraeus is scheduled to turn over his honcho-chief title to a new guy in several months. If things fall apart when the troops come home, then the next guy blew it. If things work out, then the General fixed the mess. He cannot lose! If only the war planning were as solid as the career planning.
But let's not look a gift camel in the mouth. Let's take the reduction and keep 'em coming home.
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The troops leaving Iraq (maybe possibly) will be heading not home but to Afghanistan (likely probably), where mirabile dictu, the good General will be in charge.
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