McCain sees 35,000 additional troops going to Iraq

NY Times:

Senator John McCain said Thursday that American military commanders were discussing the possibility of adding as many as 10 more combat brigades — a maximum of about 35,000 troops — to “bring the situation under control” while Iraq’s divided political leaders seek solutions to the worsening bloodshed here.

After talks in Baghdad with Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and other top American generals, Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, said a substantial United States troop increase was one of the strategy changes the generals were considering as they reviewed what he called “a steadily deteriorating situation.”

He said meetings with Iraqi government leaders showed that they, too, “have certainly not ruled out the option of more troops.”

“Five to 10 additional brigades is what is being discussed,” Mr. McCain said, outlining an increase that could bring overall American troop strength to the highest levels since the invasion in March 2003. While American combat brigades vary, Pentagon officials say they average about 3,500 soldiers. At present, there are 15 combat brigades in Iraq, amounting to about 50,000 of the total American force of about 140,000.

“The American people are disappointed and frustrated with the Iraq war, but they want us to succeed if there is any way to do that,” Mr. McCain told a news conference. Unlike some American military commanders who have said any troop increase should be temporary, he said any increase should last “until we can get the situation under control, or until it becomes clear that we can’t.”

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I think McCain is right about the Americans wanting to succeed. If you look at the polls that continue to ask the wrong questions about Iraq, you get the impression that Americans either think it is hopeless or that they want to lose, but if you look at the 2008 presidential preference polls look who is in the lead by a substantial amount. Its John McCain who wants to send more troops. One of the other leaders is Rudy Guliani who keeps saying it would be a mistake to pull out of Iraq. The pollsters make no attempt to rationalize these numbers, but the answer has to be pretty clear. The US does not want to lose this war, even if many in the media and the pollsters do.