138,000 was the level of troops the US had in Iraq until a few months ago, when the level of attacks on them rose to such an extent that the Pentagon decided it had to add troops, using the looming Dec. 15 elections as a pretext. At that time, they said the increase was temporary, and that the level would be brought back down after the elections were over.
Now they are acting as if the drawdown following Dec. 15--if it actually happens--will be a reduction in troop levels, when in fact it would be no such thing--just a return to "normal" strength.
Equally likely is that the Pentagon knows it will not be able to reduce troop levels after Dec. 15, and is trying to set the stage for keeping the current level, as if making a temporary rise in numbers permanent weren't actually an increase.
Now they're at it again.
The truth: things keep getting worse in Iraq, not better, and the only way to get our troops out of there will be by giving up, admitting that it's a lost cause, and bringing them all home.
If the media don't remember the past, they won't know enough to let readers and viewers know the truth about the present.
Who the hell is Dave Lindorff?