IN FRATERNAM MEAM: WAR IN IRAQ

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

WAR IN IRAQ

A WAR OF WORDS
Since invadingIraq in March 2003, Bush has gradually revised the way he refers to the war to reflect the worsening conditions on the ground.

March 2003
"OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM": "This will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome but victory ".
TROOPS: 90,000

May 2003
UNDER "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED BANNER": "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended".
TROOPS: 146,300

April 2004
ON "STAYING THE COURSE": " These killers (terrorists) don't have values. They want to shake our will... But we will stay the course".
TROOPS: 138,100

November 2005
"STRATEGY FOR VICTORY IN IRAQ": "Every man and woman who volunteers to defend ournation deserve an unwavering commitment to the mission - and a clear strategy for victory".
TROOPS: 154,000

July 2006
"OPERATION TOGETHER FORWARD": "Obviously, the violence in Baghdad is still terrible, and therefore there needs to be more troops".
TROOPS: 131,000

January 2007
"NEW WAY FORWARD" IRAQ STRATEGY: "This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis... Where mistaked have beenmade, the responsibility rests with me."
TROOPS: 132,000

Can We 'Take Back' Iraq?
Bush's plan aims to lay much of the foundation for a self-sustaining Iraq in an estimated 12 to 18 months. Our part of the deal -- and the Iraqis':

U.S. COMMITMENTS
-- Send 17,500 additional U.S. troops to Baghdad. The first brigade arrives Jan. 15. The remaining groups arrive every 30 days.

-- Commit 4,000 more Marines to the Anbar province, a mostly Sunni insurgent stronghold.

-- Expand the embedding of U.S. advisers into Iraqi security forces.

-- Request $5.6 billion to pay for commitment of new troops.

U.S. FUNDS FOR RECONSTRUCTION
-- $414 million to help with rebuilding by expanding current provincial reconstruction teams and adding support teams.

-- $400 million in quick - response funds for civilian problems.

-- $350 million for the Commander's Emergency Respond Program, which gives commanders money to solve local problems such as providing electricity or water.

IRAQ COMMITMENTS
-- Provide three brigade for Baghdad. The first arrives on Feb.1. The remaining two arrive later that month.

-- Support U.S. and Iraqi troop authority to pursue all insurgents regadless of sect.

-- Finalize an oil law for the quitable distribution of oil revenue.

-- Reform de-Baathification laws and establish a fair process for considering amendments of Iraq's Constitution.

-- Hold provincial elections to bring Sunnis back into the political process.

-- Take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November 2007.

-- Match U.S. efforts to create jobs with sustainable Iraqi programs.

IRAQI FUNDS FOR RECONSTRUCTION
-- $10 billion to assist in reconstruction efforts.

(Source: Abstracted from NEWSWEEK MAG/by Jessica Ramirez: Figures are a combination of new deployment and extended tours. Sources: Whitehouse, Dept of Defense, U.S. Central Command,News Reports, PBS.Org)

posted by infraternam meam @ 2:13 AM

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