V CORPS SPEAKS ABOUT TROOP LEVELS IN IRAQ.

“The 3rd Infantry Division did a fabulous job for America and we are working the force rotation plans to try to get them back home,” he said.

But he didn’t provide a specific timetable for such a move and it wasn’t clear if it would mean fewer American troops in the country or whether other troops would be rotated in.

Sanchez said he has the equivalent of five divisions already in country.

Some media reports have stated that the Army only has one division left in the States that doesn’t have substantial elements deployed somewhere around the globe — the 1st Cavalry Division in Texas. And there are already a significant number of Army reservists and National Guardsmen serving in Iraq.

No hint as to the length of rotation yet. And perhaps here is why...when you alread have half the active duty force structure in Iraq, well, it gets dicey.

Add to it that the remaining active duty force structure includes units in Korea and Hawaii to deal with issues in the Pacific (read N. Korea), then the likelihood of their being sent to Iraq seems small now doesn't it. Not to mention news reports that we are seriously considering sending soldiers to Liberia.

Meaning the rotation plan can only pick from 4 strategies. Reduced troop levels, long rotations, international forces in very large numbers or Army National Guard divisions in large numbers.

Personally I think those options are in reverse order of probability.