For weeks, all we’ve heard from the GOP is that anyone who has the gall to consider troop withdrawals from Iraq right now is “waving the white flag” against [tag]terrorists[\/tag]. They’re cowards, [tag]Republicans[\/tag] say, who are tacitly siding with al Queda with a “[tag]defeat and retreat[\/tag]” and “[tag]cut and run[\/tag]” attitude.<\/p>\n
There’s no word yet on what those same far-right critics have to say about Gen. [tag]George Casey[\/tag]<\/a>.<\/p>\n The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say.<\/p>\n According to a classified briefing at the Pentagon this week by the commander, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the number of American combat brigades in Iraq is projected to decrease to 5 or 6 from the current level of 14 by December 2007.<\/p>\n Under the plan, the first reductions would involve two combat brigades that would rotate out of Iraq in September without being replaced.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n