Three Thousand?

According to yesterday's news reports, Defense Secretary Panetta bowed to White House pressure to "request" that troop levels in Iraq be set at 3000 for 2012. This is a great example of what is totally wrong with the Obama White House.

First, one would hope that the troop levels recommended by the Secretary of Defense would be based upon the mission. According to news reports we are told that the generals wanted to set that level at 30,000, a figure ten times higher than the recommendation. If political considerations are to change the final level from that which the generals support, then that is a decision that the president should make and defend. The idea of generating a phony, political recommendation out of the secretary's office is a dishonest attempt to manipulate the American people and the debate.

Second, there is no conceivable mission that the 3000 troops could undertake in a meaningful way except for one. These troops are in Iraq to be a target and a reason for re-entry into that country in the event of problems. They are too small a group to make a meaningful contribution to the training of the Iraqis. They are certainly too small a force to conduct field operations. Indeed, the current force which numbers between 40,000 and 50,000 gave up field operations months ago. It is a cynical and heartless use of American troops to just keep them in Iraq so that they will be targets.

Third, we have a treaty with Iraq that says that all troops will be removed by the end of this year. So far, Iraq has not asked to change that treaty. Why not just leave with all troops? I have yet to hear any justification from Washington for any to stay that makes sense when the number left behind is 3000. In fairness, we may yet hear some excuse from Obama, but it better come quickly. These are brave soldiers of America's armed forces, not just toys that can be thrown here or there to make political points.

To me, this move smacks of hubris. Obama and the Obamacrats have fallen victim to the same disease that hit Lyndon Johnson during the Vietnam War, the belief that a president and his cronies in Washington can determine with exactitude what will transpire on the battlefield. Well, it just does not work that way. Leaving 3000 troops in Iraq means leaving 3000 Americans in the crosshairs of Iran and the terrorists. They represent a convenient local target for the jihadi forces. These attacks will not be controlled if Obama gives a speech or if the Secretary of Defense comes up with some clever strategy for deployment. There are still terrorists out there who just want to kill Americans. It is inexcusable for the president to leave 3000 troops exposed to those attacks while depriving them of the ability to stop the mayhem.