WASHINGTON – Although nothing is final until President Bush puts his stamp on it, administration officials tell NBC News the president has all but decided on a temporary surge of additional American forces into Iraq in an effort to bring sectarian violence in Baghdad under control.
While no one is talking specific numbers, military officials believe it would involve some 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines.
If that figure is correct, the surge will fall short of what Fred Kagan and Gen. Jack Keane have been advocating: “Bringing security to Baghdad… is possible only with a surge of at least 30,000 combat troops lasting 18 months or so. Any other option is likely to fail.” Some critics of the Kagan-Keane plan have argued that they actually underestimate the number of troops needed. Is Bush skimping?
