Moderateman
You better look at the facts. The plan called for just under 500,000 troops. Under pressure from Rumsfeld, Franks said he could cut it to 385,000 in December 2001. Rumsfeld would not accept that number and Franks brought the number down to 300,000. Under even more pressure the final number Franks said was essential was 275,000. Bush and Rumsfeld sent 150,000.
The Army Chief of Staff, Gen Zinni who was Frank’s predecessor and Gen Powell before that said the number in Op Plan 1003-98 which was just short of 500,000 was what was needed.
The U S had 495,000 troops in the first Gulf War in a smaller country with far less people to control. Iraq is a country of 24 million people, about 400,000 former Saddam military that were still in Iraq after Saddam fell in a country the size of California.
Let’s call a spade a spade. The reason that Bush and Rumsfeld did not provide the troop levels that the military said was needed was they did not want to take the time to build our force to a size that could provide and support that number. There was no urgency to attack in March 2003 except that Bush wanted to invade with out delay. This was not a war forced on our country and the urgency or the need was NOT present. Thus we went to war and have risked the lives of our military without just reason to satisfy George W. Bush! The proof that the military was correct as to the numbers can be scene EVERY DAY in Iraq.
