White House Is Said to Debate ’08 Cut in Iraq Troops by 50%

More disinformation from this administration. This is nothing more than a ploy to undermine opposition to the war. King George has no intention of removing any troops from Iraq. His goal is to buy time. He would like to pass the Iraq fiasco along to the next administration. Let someone else get blamed for his disaster. To a lesser extent it is a way to defuse criticism from his own party, given that next year is an election year and the war is killing the Republicans at the ballot box:

The Bush administration is developing what are described as concepts for reducing American combat forces in Iraq by as much as half next year, according to senior administration officials in the midst of the internal debate.

In the meantime, could you at least try to save the lives of our troops fighting over there. Is that too much to ask:

Called an MRAP, for mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle, it can survive roadside bombs because of a V-shaped chassis that deflects explosions better than the Humvee and has won the highest possible accolade from the commandant of the Marine Corps

[...]Marines in the field asked for 1,200 MRAPs in February 2005 — but so far, they've received less than 100. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to know what's taking so long.

[...]A Marine Corps document obtained by the Associated Press says that of 100 requests for critical gear sent in last year, less than 10 have been filled. It blames red tape and the failure of bureaucrats to take risks.

"Unnecessary delays cause … deaths and injuries," the document says — and nowhere is it more true than with MRAP.

"How do you not see it as a moral imperative to get as many of those vehicles to theater as rapidly as you can?" Conway said.