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Retreat Into Fortified Bases Would Limit Political Fallout for the White House
UK Guardian ^ | Tuesday July 10, 2007 | Julian Borger, diplomatic editor
Posted on 07/10/2007 11:20:19 AM EDT by hardback
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1863625/posts
Whether they go north or south, the 160,000 US troops now in Iraq would probably have to fight their way out against disparate enemies keen to claim a military victory.
The surge has only reached its peak level in the past few months, and some argue there is a case to insulate it from the US political timetable to allow it time to make a difference.
The coalition commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, has hinted that his briefing to Congress in September will not give the clear verdict on the state of the war, and the Bush administration is clearly hoping to avoid any decisions that could be interpreted by its supporters as an admission of defeat.
One option discussed in Washington pre-surge which has resurfaced in the aftermath, is a retreat from the firing line in cities such as Baghdad and Baquba and into highly-fortified, 'enduring' bases around Iraq.
From there, US troops would only emerge in the form of special forces raids or withering air power for specific missions in support of the Iraqi government.
The option promises to reduce US casualty rates radically and therefore relieve political pressure in America. It would also allow the White House to classify it as a redeployment rather than a retreat.
It would make the occupation less visible and could therefore help defuse popular anger currently fuelling the insurgency, while leaving an essential military prop to the Baghdad government close at hand.
Such a withdrawal could provide an incentive for Iraq's politicians to make the compromises necessary to keep the country together
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
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