A note on Iraq "withdrawals"

The Pentagon in the last few days announced brightly and cheerfuly that they would be reducing the number of troops in Iraq by a few brigades next year. This was supposed to make us go, "oh wow, we're trimming down the troops! We didn't even make them do it! They're the greatest!" They made it sound like this was in response to the recent withdrawal talk being spurred by Rep Murtha.

Here's the catch. They were going to do this anyway! Ya see a little while ago, a few poor units were sitting on the airfield waiting to go home when they were told that they would be staying there up to six more months due to the elections. The number of personnel in Iraq was inflated for election security and next year's redeployments would simply bring us back down to normal levels. But it's already being spun as some sign of progress instead. Arrgh. Just thought I'd clear things up.