Bush's last grasp at salvaging the fuck-up in Iraq involves escalating the forces by about 20,000 troops, achieved by engaging in a shell game of extending tours and accelerating deployments. Skelton went to say that a troop buildup was tried last year, in an effort to provide stability so that Iraqi forces could replace U.S. combat units. That didn’t work, he said, and his expectations for this new plan working are also dim. The last surge, he said, “did no good whatsoever.”
Instead of adding troops, Skelton would like to see a radical new approach, like pulling some troops out of Iraq, sending a message to the Iraqis that they will eventually have to assume responsibility for their own internal security, and sooner rather than later is preferable.
Skelton said this isn’t the first major decision facing the administration and Congress, and it won’t be the last.Congress is limited in what they can do to bring the idiot prince to heel. The congress could cut off funding for the war, but that is unlikely because that might prove injurious to troops already deployed. More likely would be a funding cap, such as congress used to limit U.S. military involvement in Latin America, although no such limit has as yet been proposed. Most likely, in fact virtually a done deal, Congress will conduct hearings. Lots of hearings.
“Let’s not put any more spotlight on this decision than on those in the past,” he said, talking about what he views as serious mistakes — such as not having enough troops after Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was toppled, firing all Saddam supporters from the government, and releasing the entire Iraqi military.
And I hope they remember the timeless advice to follow the money. How money has been spent isn't classified, and audits don't violate national security.
