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| Iraq |
| US Iraq chief warns of long war |
| 2007-07-10 |
| Gen Petraeus was keen to emphasise that the ongoing unrest in Iraq is not something he expects to be resolved overnight. "Northern Ireland, I think, taught you that very well. My counterparts in your [British] forces really understand this kind of operation... It took a long time, decades," he said. He went on to say that more important than the length of time it would take to stabilise Iraq was the number of US troops which would be required to remain in the country. "I think the question is at what level... and really, the question is how can we gradually reduce our forces so we reduce the strain on the army, on the nation and so forth," he said. He said everyone wanted the US forces to be able to leave, both Americans and Iraqis alike, but he said it was vital to ensure that "the gains that have been hard fought in places like Baquba and Ramadi could be sustained, maintained and even built on by Iraqi forces and Iraqi political leaders". |
| Posted by: KBK |
| #4 Petraeus is generally correct within the scope of the USA allowing the Radics to detrimentally attack USA-Allies on battleground(s) of Amer's choosing. That being said, the last thing the Spetzlamists. Moud = Iran, and aligned anti-US OWG Globalists, etc. want is a stronger America, nor even a US-style Federalist OWG. In short, Amer's enemies are likely NOT gonna wait for yarns or generations. CONTINUING, STRONGER AMER REGIONAL-GLOBAL ENTRENCHMENT MEANS THE RADICS + ANTI-US LEFTIES, ANTI-US OWG GLOBALISTS, ETC. LOSE. *Israel vz Syria-Iran-Hizzies + "war this summer" > IMO means Syria-Iran are willing to escalate unto global geopol chaos, and are unilater willing to induce conventional-nuclear confrontation amongst the world's great powers. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-07-10 20:07 |
| #3 War isn't about giving out welfare and baby sitting your enemies. War is about killing our enemies, taking what is useful and destroying the rest. Unless the thinking of our leaders and citizens changes, the results will be disappointing. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-07-10 18:59 |
| #2 It'll be a long war, but by this time next year we won't be in it. Think of Lebanon as a model. The tragic thing is that the war never needed to happen at all - Saddam would have likely backed down if faced with a united front from US & Europe. Even once the war began, it did not have to still be going on (and I am not even considering potential mismanagement) - faced with a united United States home front (eg. no Abu Graib bash-fest, etc.) the so-called insurgency would have withered on the vine. But from where we are now, I can't see reconciliation between the various Iraqi parties - there are several who each think they can win total control, and will fight to do so. Our presence only delays the inevitable, at a large cost in lives and dollars. Our internal political fighting is probably going to cost a couple MILLION Iraqi lives. Furthermore, we will have lost all credibility as an ally, such that we will have as little effective influence on future foreign affairs as Europe does now. China will pick up the pieces. They see the big picture and operate long-term. Encourage your children to learn Mandarin. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-07-10 18:47 |
| #1 By the end of September, I suspect the donks will be sorry they tried to mess with this guy. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2007-07-10 18:29 |