Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Troop Level Trouble

Who's sorry now?

Looks like the defense lobby and the NeoConArtists still win the day with Bush. Oh, and all that "I'm-listening-to-the-generals" stuff....fuggidaboutit. Not happening.

WP The Bush administration is split over the idea of a surge in troops to Iraq, with White House officials aggressively promoting the concept over the unanimous disagreement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to U.S. officials familiar with the intense debate....But the Joint Chiefs think the White House, after a month of talks, still does not have a defined mission and is latching on to the surge idea in part because of limited alternatives, despite warnings about the potential disadvantages for the military, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House review is not public.

The chiefs have taken a firm stand, the sources say, because they believe the strategy review will be the most important decision on Iraq to be made since the March 2003 invasion.