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Pentagon panels sees three options in
Iraq: report
20.11.2006
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November 20, 2006
WASHINGTON ,-- A Pentagon panel has outlined
three basic options for improving the situation in
Iraq -- pull out, send more U.S. troops or reduce
the size of the force but stay longer, The
Washington Post reported on Monday.
The group was likely to recommend a combination of a
small short-term increase of U.S. troops and
long-term training for Iraqi forces, the newspaper
reported, citing senior defense officials.
The options have been dubbed "Go Home," "Go Big" and
"Go Longer" by insiders.
Sources who have been briefed on the review, led by
Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, said the group had concluded there were not
enough U.S. forces to "Go Big," sending in thousands
more troops, the Post said.
"Go Home," the quick pullout option, was rejected as
likely to push Iraq directly into a full-blown civil
war, the Post said.
The Pentagon group devised a hybrid plan, "Go Long,"
which calls for cutting the U.S. combat presence
combined with a long-term expansion of the training
and advising of Iraqi forces, the newspaper said.
The officials said that under the mixture of
options, the U.S. presence in Iraq would be boosted
by 20,000 to 30,000 for a short period, the
newspaper said.
Currently there are around 140,000 U.S. troops in
Iraq.
Democrats, who won control of the U.S. Congress this
month, have vowed to push for a withdrawal from Iraq
in the next few months.
President George W. Bush has insisted U.S. troops
would not leave until Iraqis can take over security
and has repeatedly rejected setting a timetable for
withdrawal. However, the White House has said that
Bush is open to new ideas.
In addition to the Pentagon, other U.S. national
security agencies will review Iraq strategy.
The bipartisan Iraq Study Group is considering
alternative approaches as well.
Reuters
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