[Futurework] More American troops to Iraq

[Keith Hudson]

The basic services are still not operating in Baghdad, drugs and supplies are still not reaching the hospitals, and most ordinary folk stay in their homes as soon as the sun goes down because criminal gangs roam the streets looting at will and killing anybody who resists them. All this despite four divisions of American troops in Iraq for the past several weeks. Compare this with the Russian occupation of a much more heavily damaged Berlin after WWII where basic services were restored within days. In fact, the Russians were planning their restitution long before Berlin fell.

Meanwhile Bechtel and Halliburton are doing a grand job in the oilfield areas of Iraq. No problems there.

The American invasion of Iraq is, of course, quite different to that of Vietnam but in one respect they are probably going to be similar. America will be pouring troops into Iraq for a long time to come because it can't keep the peace or bring about any form of acceptable governance. I don't think America is really very interested so long as the oil starts to flow.

From today's NYT:

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ALLIED TO RETAIN LARGER IRAQ FORCE AS STRIFE PERSISTS

Michael R. Gordon

BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 28

Faced with armed resistance that has killed four American soldiers this week, allied military commanders now plan to keep a larger force in Iraq than had been anticipated and to send war-hardened units to trouble spots outside Baghdad, senior American officials said today.

Instead of sending home the Third Infantry Division, which led the charge on Baghdad, American officials are developing plans that call for most of its troops to extend their stay and be used to quell unrest and extend American control.

Allied officials said that about 160,000 American and British troops were in Iraq and that most were likely to stay until security improves and other nations eased the burden by contributing troops.

Tens of thousands of logistics and transportation troops in Kuwait also support the Iraq deployment. As a result, the total number of allied forces involved directly and indirectly in securing Iraq is 200,000 or more, American military officials estimate.

Earlier this month, allied military officials said they were hoping to reduce American forces here at a faster rate, drawing the American presence in Iraq down to less than two divisions by the fall.

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Keith Hudson, 6 Upper Camden Place, Bath, England