Why Can't Johnny Media Read?

December 1, 2005 -- New York Times page 1 headline:

Bush Again Rejects Calls for a Withdrawal Timetable in Iraq.

November 18, 2005 -- MSMBC story:

Pentagon and U.S. military officials tell NBC News the plan calls for the substantial withdrawal of more than 60,000 troops from Iraq. The plan was drafted by Gen. John Abizaid and Gen. George Casey, the two top U.S. commanders of the war.

If Iraqi elections are successful in December and a new parliament seated by January, withdrawal could begin almost immediately.

November 12, 2005 -- DoD response to Pierce Wetter's question:

We can confirm that the plan is, in fact, to reduce the size of Coalition Forces in country in 2006. It's big news inasmuch as the Iraqis are increasing the size and strength of their footprint and, by the same token, we're reducing ours.

November 8, 2005 -- DoD Operation Iraqi Freedom Today video briefing:

The Defense Department hopes to reduce troop levels to 92,000 by next year.

November 7, 2005 -- Department of Defense News Release No. 1156-05:

The Department of Defense announced today the major units scheduled to deploy as part of the next Operation Iraqi Freedom rotation. This announcement involves several combat brigades, headquarters elements, and combat support and combat service support units and approximately 92,000 service members as presently envisioned. The scheduled rotation for these forces will begin in mid-2006.

Bush's speech today didn't reject withdraw; rather, recognizing fluidity on the ground, the President ruled out unbreakable deadlines.

Oh, if you're wondering, Representative John Murtha's failed cut-and-run resolution came later -- it was introduced November 17, 2005, ten days after DoD's November 7th decision. Proving that even an extra three weeks of fact checking couldn't turn the Times into truth.

(via Opinionated Bastard, Defense Tech and Mudville Gazette)