Saturday is the 2nd Anniversary of Preznit Mission Accomplished's Mess in Mesopotamia. November 2006 are the mid-term elections. 2008 we get to toss the drooling idiot onto the pay-for-blather circuit, and with all that in mind, it's interesting to read this:

The Army's second-ranking general said Thursday that the number of American troops in Iraq would probably decline by early 2006, largely because of post-election progress in combating insurgents and training more Iraqi troops to take over security duties.

The officer, Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army vice chief of staff, did not give specific figures, emphasizing that the decision would be made next month by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top commander in Iraq, and senior Pentagon officials. But other senior military officials said American troop levels could drop to around 105,000 by early next year from 150,000 now.
...
General Cody and other Defense Department officials said the precise size and composition of American forces in Iraq by early next year hinged on several factors, including the security situation on the ground, the size and competence of newly trained Iraqi forces and the wishes of the new Iraqi government.

In the past, similar projections have been abandoned as the situation deteriorated unexpectedly. Almost a year ago the Pentagon was planning to cut troop levels by the summer of 2004, but it ended up abruptly extending the tours of units that were on their way home, and the numbers have not declined since.
...
Asked to clarify whether fewer troops would be deployed in Iraq by early 2006, General Cody answered carefully: "I would think so. I would think so, but your definition of smaller and my definition of smaller may be different."