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Pentagon may cut forces in half { September 2 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16592-2003Sep2.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16592-2003Sep2.html Pentagon May Have to Reduce U.S. Forces in Iraq -CBO Reuters Tuesday, September 2, 2003; 8:32 PM By Vicki Allen WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration may have to cut U.S. troops in Iraq by more than half to keep enough forces to face other threats, a congressional agency said on Tuesday in a report that fueled calls for more international help for peacekeeping in Iraq. The Congressional Budget Office said under current policies, the Pentagon would be able to sustain an occupation force of 38,000 to 64,000 in Iraq long term, down from the existing 150,000 that a number of lawmakers said is not enough to confront the spiraling violence. Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat who requested the CBO study, said it showed that President Bush's policies in Iraq were "straining our forces to the breaking point." Byrd, one of Bush's harshest critics on Iraq, also said it showed the administration must formally ask for help in peacekeeping from the United Nations and NATO. "Every day frittered away by the administration is another day that our troops will bear the staggering burdens of the dangers of occupation alone," he said. Bush on Tuesday directed Secretary of State Colin Powell to open negotiations at the U.N. Security Council on a resolution aimed at getting international support for U.S. efforts in Iraq, a senior U.S. official said. Some lawmakers are pushing to increase overall military manpower for Iraq and other needs. The CBO said it would cost up to $19 billion and take three to five years to recruit, train and equip two more divisions with about 80,000 in troops and support personnel. Keeping the 20,000 in additional forces and support personnel the divisions would provide in Iraq would cost about $10 billion annually, boosting occupation costs to some $29 billion a year, it said. A U.S. occupying force of less than 64,000 would cost between $8 billion and $10 billion a year, the CBO said, while a force of up to 106,000 adding Marines and other ground forces would cost $14 billion to $19 billion. The Pentagon estimates it is costing $3.9 billion a month to keep the roughly 150,000 troops now in Iraq, where they make up 90 percent of the peacekeeping forces. The report said the active Army, which is bearing the brunt of Iraq duty, will have to start reducing forces in Iraq in March next year if it keeps its plan to limit deployments without relief to a year. Under existing policies, the CBO said, the Army could sustain a long-term occupation force there of 38,000 to 64,000 after the winter of 2004-2005. The CBO also offered alternative scenarios if the Pentagon made more use of National Guard, reserves, Marines and civilian personnel in Iraq. © 2003 Reuters

Americans say enough Audit finds 9b dollars unaccounted for in iraq Auditors cant trace 97m earmarked for iraq { May 4 2005 } Bush adds 80 billion to war costs in january 2005 { January 26 2005 } Bush adds another 25b to war funds { August 6 2004 } Bush seeks 25 billion more Bush seeks 70 billion more for iraq Bush seeks 82b more for iraq Bush vows spend whatever necessary { September 7 2003 } Bush will seek 87b more for iraq { September 7 2003 } Byrd nayed voice vote 87b bill { November 4 2003 } Charity claims billions missing from us iraqi funds Costing 1b week Democrats try cut 20b iraq bill Goa rips pentagon atrocious iraq financial management { July 15 2005 } Iraq reconstruction money goes unspent { July 19 2005 } Lacks records for spending a billion { July 30 2004 } No blank check for war funding { May 13 2004 } Pentagon may cut forces in half { September 2 2003 } Pentagon paycuts for troops { August 14 2003 } Public says 87b too much { September 14 2003 } Republicans critical of bush 82b war request { February 17 2005 } Senators hide behind voice vote { November 5 2003 } Spending records on iraq lacking { July 30 2004 } Trillion cost of war War could cost 2 trillion says economist { December 2005 } Files Listed: 26

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