Mr. Bush Digs a Bigger Hole in Iraq - and Puts Our Troops in More Danger

The top U.S. commander in the Middle East said Thursday that he is considering holding several thousand troops here beyond their planned departure this spring in an attempt to squelch continuing uprisings by Shiite militiamen and Sunni insurgents.

Gen. John P. Abizaid, the chief of the U.S. Central Command, said he might extend the combat tour of the Army's 1st Armored Division and might also request that the 3rd Infantry Division, which left Iraq last summer, be brought back much sooner than planned.

As this veteran has pointed out many times:

- We don't have the forces, in country, needed to carry out the Bush Doctrine in Iraq
- We are wearing out the Reserves & Guard (has anyone remembered that the primary mission of the National Guard is to protect OUR country here?)
- The lack of adequate forces and the eventual exhaustion of our troops puts them in more danger, threatening morale as well
- Gen Shinseki, the former Army Chief of Staff, was right last year, that we needed more troops, before he got fired

Now Gen Abizaid has to make the best of what he has got, or he will be fired also.

Mr. Bush & Mr. Rumsfeld, the hole is getting deeper - a lot deeper and wider than a spider hole. If you are ordering our troops into battle, then SUPPORT THEM! Don't cause them to take more unnecessary casualties for your failed foreign policy.