Bremer request for half million US soldier in Iraq was ignored

The US defense department admitted that the former US administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer asked in an official memorandum before leaving his senior post in Iraq to increase the number of the American forces to half a million soldiers to control the armed operations.

The spokesman for the US Pentagon Lawrence De Rita said that Bremer submitted the memorandum in May 2004, just months before the end of his term of office, demanding important military reinforcements, but it was considered the first time in which Bremer demanded more forces.

That Bremer request to increase the number of American troopers in Iraq to half a million was discussed by the chief of staff of the American forces and other military leaders who considered that number of the forces deployed was enough and notified the defense secretary of that.

On Sunday, Bremer said in a interview with NBC on the occasion of releasing his book "my year in Iraq: the struggle for a promising future" that he had asked in an official memorandum to the defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld to increase the number of the American forces to half a million, but did not receive a reply.

Bremer also said that since the beginning he showed his preoccupation in the quality and quantity of the Iraqi forces and defended not expressing his views openly at that time by saying that his obligation is to notify "the President of what I am thinking in secret and via appropriate channels."

Bremer also considered that it is unfair to blame him over what happened because of desolving the Iraqi army, adding that he was not the one who ordered that, saying he had discussed the decision with the consultants and senior civilian officials in the Pentagon before he submitted recommendations approved in Washington.

The White House yesterday responded to questions about Bremer's remarks. The White House spokesman said Scott McClellan said "First of all, Ambassador Bremer has served this country admirably under extremely difficult circumstances. He is someone who understands the stakes in the war on terrorism and why it is so important that we transform Iraq into a democratic society. It will serve as an example to the rest of the broader Middle East. His experience and observations provide an interesting and vivid perspective of what he observed and what he did in Baghdad after the fall of Saddam Hussein. The President, as you know, relies on a team of civilian and military and foreign policy advisors who make decisions -- or when he makes decisions about the conduct of the war. Ambassador Bremer, I think, has pointed out that in his book he's providing his perspective based on the role that he played at the time. And we appreciate very much his advice and his commitment that he made to what was an important cause."

Asked "But was he not qualified to ask for more troops? Why wouldn't you listen to your most senior civilian on the ground?"

McClellan said "Because the President has already addressed this question on numerous occasions, Martha. The President believes that the decisions about our troop levels ought to be based on the recommendations of our military commanders who are on the ground in Iraq. They're the ones who are in the best position to say what they need to complete the mission, and the President has always relied upon his military commanders who are on the ground there, implementing our strategy for succeeding in Iraq.

Asked that "Paul Bremer was on the ground, too. He was the one who had to help stabilize Iraq," McClellan said "I just indicated to you that the President makes decisions based on the advice of a team of foreign policy and military advisors. And it's the commanders on the ground who are in the best position to make decisions about our troop levels."