Yes, I mean that. By next Spring the number of Troops in Iraq will be down. And the reason is simple. As the AP reports today the Army and Marine Corps Combat Units are now exhausted. There are no units left. The only way to keep up this pace is go back on the promise to the troops that their tours of duty will be no longer than 15 months and that they will have a minimum of 12 months at home before any further deployment. Reg pointed out below that we're now starting to get "Grunt's Eye" views and they don't comport with the O'Hanlon-Pollack visions but seem to be more compatable with the bleak views of Anthony Cordesmann who was on the same trip.
So it is obvious that, in the absense of a draft (about as likely as Jenna and her fiance "Honeymooning" by joining up) the troop levels will come down. I say look for the following:
1. Watch our friends at Pajama Rama (Ledeen, Hanson et. al) and the Corner (Goldberg, Lowery) to start "Swiftboating" those NCOs - expect the full "Beauchamp" treatment.
2. Expect the administration to celebrate our "Glorious Victory" in the Surge when General Petreaus returns for his Triumph (will an aide whisper in his ear of his mortality?) as the White House pulls off a "Full Aiken" and has a parade.
3. Tom Freidman will anouce the next six months are critical.
The part about Friedman is so true it made me laugh and rage at the same time.
Posted by: Joel | August 20, 2007 at 05:16 PM