Is There an Echo in Here?

The Washington Post is reporting that the Pentagon is looking to bring out some of the troops currently in Iraq:

Barring any major surprises in Iraq, the Pentagon tentatively plans to reduce the number of U.S. forces there early next year by as many as three combat brigades, from 18 now, but to keep at least one brigade "on call" in Kuwait in case more troops are needed quickly, several senior military officers said.

So they're intending to reduce the U.S. presence in Iraq, but they're keeping some forces close by, a "quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence," so to speak. Why does that sound so familiar? Here's more:

Pentagon authorities also have set a series of "decision points" during 2006 to consider further force cuts that, under a "moderately optimistic" scenario, would drop the total number of troops from more than 150,000 now to fewer than 100,000, including 10 combat brigades, by the end of the year, the officers said.

"Decision points" during 2006 sounds like a good idea. Just so long as they don't use a timetable.