Skelton, Reid: Troop pullout plans not enough

[unhappycamper]

Drawing down in Iraq
8,000 troops to leave over 6 months.


Skelton, Reid: Troop pullout plans not enough
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Sep 9, 2008 13:30:16 EDT

President Bush’s announcement Tuesday of the withdrawal of about 8,000 combat troops from Iraq over the next six months is drawing mixed responses from Congress.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the House Armed Services Committee chairman, said the troop level changes “may seem to signal movement in the right direction, but it really defers troop reductions until the next administration.”

Bush, in a speech at National Defense University in Washington, said, “Over the next several months, we will bring home about 3,400 combat support forces — including aviation personnel, explosive ordnance teams, combat and construction engineers, military police, and logistical support forces. By November, we will bring home a Marine battalion that is now serving in Anbar province. And in February of 2009, another Army combat brigade will come home.”

Skelton, whose committee will hear Wednesday from Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen about the way forward in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Bush’s plans are not enough.

“More significant troop reductions in Iraq are needed so that we can start to rebuild U.S. military readiness and provide the additional forces needed to finish the fight in Afghanistan,” Skelton said in a statement. “Our troops in Iraq are doing a magnificent job, making it possible for the Iraqi people to build the foundations for their new government. But Iraq cannot continue to overshadow other critical U.S. security needs.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/military_bushiraq_withdrawal_090908w/%2e