At what cost Iraq? How many troops are enough?

By Christine Anne Piesyk | January 10, 2007 |

President George Bush’s Wednesday night (1/10/07) speech, with details leaked earlier during the day, is expected to call for an additional 21,150 troops to be deployed to Iraq within the next few weeks. That news (a badly kept ’secret’) was released in tandem with the news that tours of duty for army and marine troops will be increased by anywhere from three to five months. A full year for marines (up from seven months) and fifteen months for army forces (up from a year). With troops already stressed, and some forces heading for second and third tours, how much is enough? Will it make a difference?

Bush seems to think so, but the rest of the country doesn’t seem quite so sure. In a word, “confidence is NOT high” on the Main Streets of America. Bush expects the additional forces will be able to quell the country’s in-fighting and insurgency, and has also put a time line of sorts on the Iraqi government to take control of their country within the coming year. That sounds like a good idea, but can it be done? «Read the rest of this article»

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