More U.S. Troops in Iraq AFTER the Surge than BEFORE

Bush has consistently told the American public that "as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." Bush has also consistently told the American public that the "surge" is working. Yet, according to the Associated Press, the surge is now officially over, and yet there are more American troops in Iraq AFTER the surge than BEFORE the surge.

This is true even though Iraqi on Iraqi violence is down and even though more and more Iraqi units are becoming better equipped and trained. This is from the AP article on the number of American troops in Iraq post-surge:

The military surge into Iraq that began more than 18 months ago has ended. But 150,000 U.S. troops remain, as many as 15,000 more than before the buildup began.

In recent days, the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade, the last of the five additional combat brigades sent in by President Bush last year, left the country.

You can read the whole article here.