Bush Sending 3,500 Troops to Kuwait
President Bush is sending 3,500 troops to Kuwait. Is there any doubt they will then go to Iraq?
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates approved sending the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division overseas after Gen. John P. Abizaid, who leads Central Command, requested the forces to replace the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was sent into the western province of Anbar this fall. Abizaid requested a brigade -- which is significantly larger than the Marine unit -- to allow for greater flexibility in the region.
Arianna tells us this is not really the decision of military chiefs:
Before the escalation becomes inevitable, it must be made clear that this reckless strategy is being dictated by the White House and not by the military commanders who are being poked, prodded, pushed -- and bribed -- into backing it.
She's putting her hope in the newly elected Democratic Congress:
But the conditions on the ground indicate that Abizaid, Casey, and the rest of the military high command are not going to take a stand against yet another disastrous decision by the White House -- which means that it will be up to the Democrats, soon to take control of Congress, to stop this tragic escalation.
She may have more faith than I do. I think it's going to get worse before it gets better. Bush is a unitary President who believes the final decision is his alone. We've got two more years of this.
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