As the nation flails around, desperately trying to extricate itself from the Iraq tar baby, we have been treated to many different statements from the military. We’ve been told we’ll stand down as the Iraqis stand up. We’ve been told that retired generals want us to leave before the Army breaks in two. Last week we were treated to the myth that desperate Republicans want to keep their jobs so badly they went toe-to-toe with Mr Bu$h, warning him of a deluge of blue in November 2008. We were even told that if we’re not out of Iraq by then there would be a major uprising of generals.

Uh huh.

U.S. Army Multiplies MRAP Purchase Plans

The U.S. Army is multiplying — perhaps sixfold — the number of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles it plans to buy, replacing within two years the 17,700 Humvees now in Iraq.
“The earlier plan was 2,500 and that’s not enough. I can’t tell you the exact number at this point, but it’s going to grow considerably,” Acting Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

One Pentagon source said the Army now wants to buy 8,500 MRAP vehicles in 2008 and more than 9,000 in 2009.

“By September 2009, every single Humvee in theater will be replaced with the MRAP,” said the source. [emph added]

The (Acting) Secretary of the Army has announced we will still be in Iraq in September, 2009.

The first rule of Bu$h-watching: Pay no attention to what they say; watch what they do.

Any questions?