THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

The NY Times is reporting a plan presented by Gen Casey, the commander in Iraq, to begin troop withdrawals in September.

The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say.

According to a classified briefing at the Pentagon this week by the commander, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the number of American combat brigades in Iraq is projected to decrease to 5 or 6 from 14 by December 2007.

Under the plan, the first reductions would be carried out this September, when two combat brigades will rotate out of Iraq without being replaced. Currently, there are 127,000 American troops in Iraq. Military officials do not characterize troop reductions by total troop numbers, but rather by brigades. A typical combat brigade has about 3,500 troops, and many of the other American forces in Iraq are made up of logistical and support units.....

....In line with this vision, some cuts would begin soon. The United States has 14 combat brigades in Iraq, plus many other support troops. Under the plan, the Unites States would shrink this force to 12 combat brigades by September. This would be done by not replacing two brigades that are scheduled to be withdrawn: the First Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division and the Third Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division.

A combat brigade would be kept on alert in Kuwait or elsewhere in case American commanders needed to augment their forces to deal with a crisis. Yet another brigade would be kept on a lesser state of alert elsewhere in the world, but still prepared to deploy quickly if needed. As a result of these arrangements, the plan to bring the combat force down to 12 active brigades in Iraq is being called "12-1-1."

Coming so soon after Our Dear Embattled Leader pledged to let the next president clean up the mess in Iraq and congressional Republicans resolved to "stay the course", it sounds like another Bushovik flip-flop. It differs from Rep Murtha's ideas only in the details, many of which allow the plan to be reversed after the elections.

Don't mistake my words, I do want the troops to come home. I am simply repulsed by the weaselyness of the Bushoviks and expect the plan to be discontinued if the Republicans retain control in November. This plan, far from supporting Republican election efforts, requires Americans to throw the Republicans out of office this fall if it is to succeed.