Casey: only half of troop boost needed
2007/2

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President Bush has chosen to commit.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines.

With many in Congress opposing or skeptical of Bush‘s troop buildup, Casey did not say he opposed the president‘s decision. He said the full complement of five brigades would give U.S. commanders in Iraq additional, useful flexibility.

Even so, Casey‘s comments seemed put dist, , ), R-Ariz., who have questioned whether Bush‘s troop increase will be enough.

Sen. Russ Feingold (, , ), D-Wis., issued a statement criticizing the nonbinding measure as weak, and said it "misunderstands the situation in Iraq and shortchanges our national security interests. The resolution rejects redeploying U.S. troops and supports moving a misguided military strategy from one part of Iraq to another," he said.

Dodd‘s decision underscored a dilemma confronting other presidential hopefuls in the Senate - whether to support the measure backed by the party leadership, or oppose it and seek support among anti-war activists likely to have influence in next year‘s presidential primaries and caucuses.

"There were a number of conversations and the president — after talking with General Casey and other commanders — came to the conclusion that he preferred to have five brigades into Baghdad and 4,000 Marines into Anbar," presidential spokesman Tony Snow said. "What General Casey was talking about is some suggestions he‘d made earlier. The president has made his decision, and it does reflect the wisdom of a number of combatant commanders and it does have the assent of General Casey."

Despite getting tough questions from l, , ), D-Mich., said during a break at the hearing that he would vote in favor of Casey. McCain had said a day earlier that he was inclined to support Casey but had "grave concerns."

I believe that the job in Baghdad, as it‘s designed now, can be done with less than that," Casey said. "But having the flexibility to have the other three brigades on a deployment cycle gives us and gives General Petraeus great flexibility," he added, referring to his designated successor, Lt. Gen. David Petraeus.

Casey described the situation in Baghdad as "bad," and said the U.S. strategy was not succeeding in three areas of the country: the provinces of Anbar and Diyala, as well as in Baghdad.

The proposed Senate resolution opposing Bush‘s troop buildup is likely to pose a threat to the White House because of its potential appeal to Republicans who have grown tired of the nearly four-year war and want a chance to express their concerns. The White House has been hoping to avoid an overwhelming congressional vote criticizing Bush‘s handling of the war.

Warner pressed Casey on why so many additional U.S. forces should be added to the fight in Baghdad.

"Why are we not putting greater emphasis on utilization of Iraqi forces and less on the U.S. GI being put into that cauldron of terror...?" Warner asked, adding that he hoped that at least some of the 21,500 extra troops will not be sent. The last of the five extra brigades is scheduled to go in May.

Casey said that Iraqis are taking more of a lead role, but are not yet ready to fight without U.S. support.

The general defended his record as the top commander in Iraq, saying he remained true to his original commitment to request the number of troops he thought he needed to accomplish his mission. Asked his view of Bush‘s new strategy, Casey said, "I believe it can work."

He said success in Baghdad could be achieved with fewer than five extra brigades, but he added that this plan will give "great flexibility" to his successor.

"The struggle in Iraq is winnable," Casey said, but will take patience and will.

After asserting last week that "I‘m the decision-maker" about troop levels in Iraq, Bush acknowledged that Congress has the power to cap force levels and put conditions on where soldiers are deployed.

"They can say,

We won‘t fund,‘ " he told The Wall Street Journal. "That is a constitutional authority of Congress. ... They have the right to try to use the power of the purse to determine policy." As for Congress having a voice on where troops go, Bush said, "They put conditions on funds all the time."

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