Does Rumsfeld Favor Getting U.S. Troops out of Iraqi Inhabited Areas?

by Daniel Pipes
Sun, 3 Dec 2006
updated Wed, 6 Dec 2006

Send

Comment

RSS

In a November 6, 2006, memo by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, "Iraq — Illustrative New Courses of Action," he provides a range of options that could contribute to a "major readjustment" in United States policy. Two of his "above the line" proposals (that is to say, attractive ones) directly bear on my idea of removing the forces from inhabited areas, but not from the theater:

Position substantial U.S. forces near the Iranian and Syrian borders to reduce infiltration and, importantly, reduce Iranian influence on the Iraqi Government.
Withdraw U.S. forces from vulnerable positions — cities, patrolling, etc. — and move U.S. forces to a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) status, operating from within Iraq and Kuwait, to be available when Iraqi security forces need assistance.

Comment: One wonders why this obvious path has not been tried earlier. (December 3, 2006)

Dec. 4, 2006 update: According to national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley, Bush is considering a "laundry list of ideas" from Rumsfeld's Nov. 6 memo.

Related Topics: Iraq, US policy

TrackBack URL for this post: http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/trackback.php/713/fdd1f/681

Reader comments on this weblog entry

Title	By	Date
America's stomach [w/response] [137 words]	jennifer Solis	Aug 25, 2007 14:00
debate with ken livingston [w/response] [11 words]	ira levine	Jan 20, 2007 12:18
Reporting of American Casualties and the negative impact on Americans [319 words]	Lou Marsten	Jan 1, 2007 14:15
transformation/what rumsfeld wanted [256 words]	Allison Coates	Dec 18, 2006 16:46
Does Rumi favor ... [45 words]	Steven L	Dec 18, 2006 14:50
Rumsfeld Favor Getting U.S. Troops out of Iraqi [570 words]	Kim Segar	Dec 18, 2006 14:32
A plan that is different [128 words]	Madconductor	Dec 12, 2006 12:21
To Protect and Defend the Constitution of Iraq [1663 words]	William J Green	Dec 7, 2006 19:35
No Go Zones [83 words]	Davod	Dec 5, 2006 13:30
Like Londonderry? [49 words]	Nick Good - South Africa	Dec 4, 2006 07:40
↔ Nick Good !!! Are you out there ? [28 words]	Dawn	Mar 12, 2007 00:12
UK does it [74 words]	Vijay	Dec 3, 2006 15:38
Don is still using Veitnam era tactics [203 words]	American Muslim	Dec 3, 2006 13:04

Comment on this weblog entry

Name:	Email Address: Email me if someone replies to my comment
Title of Comments:
Comments:
Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited, before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but not hostile, libelous, or otherwise objectionable statements. Original writing only, please. For complete regulations, see Guidelines for Comments. Top 25 recent comments Daniel Pipes Blog Homepage

Daniel Pipes Blog Homepage

ADVERTISEMENTS