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| Iraq |
| Casey refutes Iraq pessimism |
| 2007-02-03 |
| The outgoing U.S. commander in Baghdad yesterday broke with his superiors, including President Bush, by telling a Senate committee he does not agree with their dire assessments that the Iraq war is failing. "I do not agree that we have a failed policy," Army Gen. George Casey told the Senate Armed Services Committee in confirmation hearings for him to be the next Army chief of staff. Questioned by Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, Gen. Casey repeatedly defended his 21/2-year command, conceding that Baghdad fell into cycles of relentless killing during his term and that "the situation is definitely deteriorating in Baghdad." But he said much of Iraq has made progress. "I believe the president's new strategy will enhance the policy that we have," he said of Mr. Bush's Jan. 10 plan to send 21,500 additional troops into Iraq, most to Baghdad. Gen. Casey broke with comments by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who has said the United States is not winning, and with Navy Adm. William Fallon, who told the same committee this week that the strategy was not working. Adm. Fallon is to be the next Middle East commander. The general did not stop there. Asked about Mr. Bush's assessment that his Iraq policy was headed to "slow failure," Gen. Casey said, "I actually don't see it as a slow failure. I actually see it as slow progress." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 I think he's right about the slow progress. I'm an optimist. But the Senators want someone who will tell them what they want to hear. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-02-03 07:08 |
| #2 Gen. Casey said, "I actually don't see it as a slow failure. I actually see it as slow progress." His glass is half empty, the sun is beating down. Solar evaporation is fully in effect, no sign of rain for the next 30 days...."but, but, but my glass is half full! I think this is commonly referred to as "classic denial." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-02-03 02:24 |
| #1 While I have always thought his fundamental approach was (and remains) wrong, it sure is nice to see Casey dissing the easy, mostly wrong and always exaggerated gloom (so fashionable that even Dubya felt obliged to echo it). You'd think the Coalition was clinging for dear life to some corner of the country (Korea) or in headlong retreat and disarray before an enemy offensive (Battle of the Bulge). Not. Too bad it take someone who's damaged goods (Casey) to point out that the emperor has very few, if not zero, clothes ..... |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2007-02-03 02:11 |