Iraq insurgents 'effective, adaptable,' Rumsfeld

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050720/pl_afp/usiraqsecurity_050720210329

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Pentagon assessment has concluded that Iraqi insurgents remain "effective, adaptable and intent on carrying out attacks" on Iraqi officials and civilians, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.

<snip>

Previewing its findings, Rumsfeld told reporters the report will say attacks on infrastructure have declined since the January 30 elections in Iraq, and week-to-week incidents are off from their pre-election peak.

He said elections to ratify a new constitution and for a new national assembly remain on schedule, and recent polls show rising confidence in the future among Iraqis.

<snip>

"Countries such as Syria and Iran remain notably unhelpful in assisting Iraq, securing its borders from foreign invaders, and unemployment remains a concern though increasing business investment should alleviate that problem," he said.

Your front-line troops have been fighting these guys from day one...and you discounted their opinions then.

You can almost hear admiration in Rumsfeld's remarks. He must be thinking, "How can we get our guys to fight so damned cheaply?" Him and his buds back at the Pentagon could pocket a lot more cash if they could fight like the insurgents.

:shrug:

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
20 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - There has been encouraging progress toward stabilizing Iraq, even while insurgents and foreign fighters "remain effective, adaptable and intent on carrying out attacks," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Wednesday.

Rumsfeld previewed a comprehensive Iraq report to Congress that was due July 11, the first in a series of required periodic assessments. Lawmakers have been pressing the Pentagon to provide more specific data to measure progress.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., accused the Pentagon last week of delaying the report.

"It is unconscionable that the administration has failed to give the American people a straight answer about how many Iraqi security forces are adequately trained and equipped and able to defend Iraq's security on their own," he said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050720/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_pentagon_report

"remain effective, adaptable and intent on carrying out attacks"

That's just hilarious.

a few threads pop up here. Usually, it's in the LBN. After all, when this Geriatric Geronimo makes statements, he attracts attention.

As usual, I'm at a loss as to how anyone can pay attention to this fool. The statements he makes are so stupid. Like, "...recent polls show rising confidence in the future...".

WHAT polls? Who in their right mind would conduct a poll in Baghdad, where people are getting blown up each and every day. Can RumsFailed quote me some sources?

Look at the last sentence, "...unemployment remains a concern though increasing business investment should....."

WHO's going to invest in Iraqi firms? American firms, maybe? US firms go in and do "reconstruction work", collect taxpayer funding. They haven't hired any Iraqi contractors. There are no locals being hired. It's just -

GUT AND RUN. Right, Don?

comment :argh: