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An Army of More

By Daniel Politi
Posted Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, at 5:01 AM ET

The Wall Street Journal tops its worldwide newsbox with word that the Bush administration is leaning toward sending as many as 20,000 more troops to help stabilize Baghdad. The Washington Post leads with the top Army general calling for a growth in the force by at least 7,000 soldiers a year and warned the current Army "will break" under current demands if something isn't done to increase the number of servicemembers. He also called on the Pentagon to ease restrictions on the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. The Los Angeles Times leads locally but goes high with a look at how the Senate has never forced any of its members to resign due to physical or mental problems. Throughout history, there have been a few senators who were too incapacitated to show up, but were nevertheless allowed to keep their seat. As Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., emerged from surgery facing the prospect of a long recovery, this tradition could be a benefit to Democrats, who hold the slimmest of majorities in the Senate.

The New York Times leads with new data that reveals there was a 15 percent decrease in the most common form of breast cancer from August 2002 to December 2003. USA Today leads with word from Pentagon officials that flame-resistant uniforms will become the norm for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan by early 2007. The uniforms resist catching fire for approximately nine seconds, which could be long enough to escape a burning vehicle.

Iraqi officials and many U.S. military commanders on the ground are not keen on the idea of increasing troop levels. White House officials insist no decision has been made, but aides say Bush and senior administration officials "appear receptive to calls to temporarily send 15,000 to 30,000 new U.S. forces to Iraq."

Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army's chief of staff, said it was imperative that the Army increase its numbers for what he characterized as a long and dangerous war. "At this pace, without recurrent access to the reserve components, through remobilization, we will break the active component," he said. Schoomaker also seemed skeptical of the idea that more ground troops should be sent to Iraq. "We should not surge without a purpose, and that purpose should be measurable and get us something," he said.

All the papers front stories on Sen. Johnson, who has gone from being a low-profile lawmaker to the center of a political drama in Washington. The senator was apparently in stable, yet critical, condition after an operation to stop bleeding in his brain. Everyone explains the senator's condition was caused by an abnormality in the blood vessels that was present from birth. The WSJ says patients who suffer the same problem as the senator have a good chance at recovery but it all depends on how much bleeding he actually suffered and whether it caused any permanent brain damage.

The Post focuses its Page One story about Johnson on Capitol Hill sources saying there will be "tough negotiations" next month on how the Senate would be organized if a member happens to leave, die, or switch parties. In 2001, an agreement allowed Democrats to get the majority after one senator switched, and Republicans are likely to want to keep the same sort of rules in place. Democrats will try to fight it.

Researchers say the reduction in breast cancer rates could be due to the fact that millions of women stopped taking hormone treatments after it was revealed they could increase the risk of developing the disease. Overall, among women of all ages and all types of breast cancer, there was a decrease of 7 percent over the same period. This was the first time studies have shown a significant decrease in what has become the second leading killer of women.

The WP fronts an interview with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in which she rejected the idea that the United States should be seeking the help of Syria and Iran to solve the problems in Iraq. Rice said the United States would have to give too many concessions to get their help. "If they have an interest in a stable Iraq, they will do it anyway," she said. Rice also emphasized the Bush administration would continue to pursue and promote democracy in the Middle East.

The NYT and LAT go inside with the White House criticizing Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida for going to Syria and meeting with the country's president. The White House said the meeting was inappropriate and undermined democracy in the region. Meanwhile, three more senators, including one Republican, plan to visit Syria in the next few weeks.

Everyone goes inside with the latest mass kidnapping in Baghdad. Uniformed gunmen went into a major commercial area of the city and kidnapped dozens of shopkeepers and bystanders (the LAT says "at least five dozen"). Later in the day, at least 23 people were released unharmed, apparently after they were able to show their identity cards that had names associated with Shiite Muslims.

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Daniel Politi writes "Today's Papers" for Slate. He can be reached at .
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