A Difficult Equation: Add or Subtract?

General Warns of Risks in Iraq if G.I.'s Are Cut


Nov. 15 – In his first testimony since the Democratic Party won the elections last week, Gen. John P. Abizaid declared before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees his opposition with regards to troop withdrawal from Iraq. Gen. Abizaid affirmed that an increase in sectarian killings would result if there was to be a considerable troop withdrawal within the next six months. The action would also obstruct efforts in convincing the Iraqi government to make convoluted decisions; decisions that would be necessary in securing the country. For the first time, the commander has also accused the Bush administration of destabilizing the American position in Iraq by choosing not to deploy a more superior force within the country in 2003.

Since the beginning of 2006, assaults on allied troops have risen to an average of 180 per day as opposed to 70 per day in January. In 2003, Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, the Army chief of staff at the time, advised Congress to send in at least several hundred thousand troops. Gen. Shinseki was shunned by the other officers and retired shortly after. This Wednesday, Gen. Abizaid was commending Shinseki for his analysis of the numbers required. Although he recognized that the American military was spread too thin, Gen. Abizaid suggested a small increase in troops to advance the training of the Iraqi Army. The General told the Committee, “We need to put more American capacity into Iraqi units to make them more capable in their ability to confront the sectarian problem.” Gen. Abizaid’s assessment was supported by Gen. Michael V. Hayden, director of the CIA, and Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The two officers testified that American forces were the only factors in holding off the violence in Iraq. Unless the violence in Baghdad was brought down within six months, Gen. Abizaid said, the situation would be beyond the control of the Iraqi government.

This can easily be paralleled to the Vietnam War. American troops were deployed into South Korea along the 38th Parallel in attempt to eradicate communism in North Korea. As the war progressed, the American citizens and many political figures were calling for the withdrawal of the forces; however, the officers and advisors in Vietnam were requesting more troops. Much like today, the issue during Vietnam held opinions from both sides. The officers called for more men while the citizens back home protested the war.

Not to say that the war in Iraq is becoming another Vietnam, but similar to Vietnam, America is seeing a split between the views of the nation. There are those that clamor for the immediate withdrawal of troops and there are those few that insist on increasing the amount of troops.