Troop Drawdown Coming Soon

Will the Democrats acknowledge the withdrawal now or completely ignore it as they have done for months now.  Nevermind that this has been planned for months now, to listen to the Democrats you would of thought the opposite:

ABOUT 5000 US troops will head home later this month as part of a withdrawal plan announced by President George W. Bush.

“Current conditions allow for a withdrawal of the first unit, the Grey Wolf Brigade, starting on November 27th,” , military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said today.

The brigade would not be replaced and the drawdown was an indication of “overall improved security within Iraq as well as the improved capabilities of the Iraqi security forces”.

The brigade has been deployed in restive Diyala province where a series of military crackdowns have been launched targeting al-Qaeda militants.

In September, Mr Bush announced plans for the immediate withdrawal of a marine expeditionary unit of about 2000 troops, followed by a combat brigade by December.

He also said four army combat brigades and two marine battalions would return home by July 2008, reducing US forces to pre-surge levels of 15 combat brigades, or around 130,000 troops.

Here is Admiral Smith’s release:

During his September 2007 testimony to United States Congress,
General Petraeus assessed that current conditions will enable the
Government of Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces to accept more control
of the battle space through a planned drawdown of American troops. 
Current conditions allow for a withdrawal of the first unit – the Grey
Wolf Brigade – starting on November 27th.  If conditions continue to
permit, a total of five brigade combat teams will be redeployed over
the next eight months. 

There are several important points we want to stress on the redeployment of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team:

The
redeployment without replacement reflects overall improved security
within Iraq as well as the improved capabilities of the Iraqi Security
Forces and the emergence of concerned local citizens.

The
redeployment of the Grey Wolf Brigade does not mean their area of
operations in Diyala Province will be vacated.  We do not intend to
give back hard fought ground.  Repositioning of Coalition and Iraqi
security forces will ensure that overall force levels and combat
capabilities in Diyala will be tailored to meet emerging threats.  AQI
remains a threat in Diyala and our forces, alongside the Iraqis, will
continue to combat these terrorists.

The improved security
situation in Iraq – brought about by the surge of operations – more
capable Iraqi Security Forces – and the courageous commitment by Iraqi
citizens to oppose AQI and extremist violence – has made the
redeployment of five combat brigades possible.  The Iraqi citizens -
and their elected government – are forging a nation that represents all
its citizens – and one that will be able to govern, defend and sustain
itself.

The redeployment of the Grey Wolf Brigade represents a positive step towards reaching this destination.

Now, who do you think will be the first amongst the Democrats to try and take credit for this?  “Forcing” Bush to drawdown the troops…