Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

New US commander says Iraq doomed if crackdown fails

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU
 
jefferson_dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:34 AM
Original message
New US commander says Iraq doomed if crackdown fails
New US commander says Iraq doomed if crackdown fails
10 Feb 2007 08:36:18 GMT

BAGHDAD, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The new U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, warned on Saturday that failure to stabilise the country would condemn Iraq to continued civil strife.

"The prospects for success are good," he said, referring to a new crackdown to curb sectarian violence in Baghdad. "Failing that, Iraq will be doomed to continuing violence and civil strife and surely that is a prospect all must strive to avoid."

"The stakes are very high," he said, after taking over command of America's 130,000 troops in the country from General George Casey.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10734546.htm
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
ixion Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:36 AM
Response to Original message
1. "civil 'strife'"... "sectarian violence"
call it anything but what it is: a civi war. Right, Dave?

Sad.

Oh, and our chances of 'securing' the country with a few thousand more troops is slim to none, IMO, Herr General. :grr:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
sendero Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:58 AM
Response to Reply #1
14. The first casualty of war..
... is the truth.

This man is by all accounts quite the soldier, but in a year from now he will be singing a different tune.

We are 2 years past the time where there was any possibility of turning this around. At the time, rather than deal with what was happening, our CIC was busy crowing about his political capital, "leaders" were busy shuffling in and our of Iraq having accomplished nothing but talking like they had.

This "war", once history has time to take a full and accurate measure, is going to make Vietnam look well-managed.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
saigon68 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 02:08 PM
Response to Reply #14
19. He is a thug, a War Criminal and a supporter of right wng fascism
History will judge this ass clown harshly
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LynnTheDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:40 AM
Response to Original message
2. "The prospects for success are good,"
Wanna bet, dimfuck?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Solly Mack Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:42 AM
Response to Original message
3. Yes...it's the Iraqis the governent is worried about
That's why America invaded for lies, illegally and indefinitely detained people, tortured them, denied them due process, and shocked and awed their country... all because of concern over Iraq and Iraqis.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
HysteryDiagnosis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:42 AM
Response to Original message
4. Could have been read in a British paper circa 1863. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:44 AM
Response to Original message
5. he provides the perfect example of why he will fail.
WE removed saddam -- WE caused the current insanity -- WE are the cause of so much anger and outrage -- WE are killing innocent iraqis in the thousands.

americans should very frightened that the military leadership is filled with people who aren't mentally nimble -- who don't get what they can and can't do.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
screembloodymurder Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:19 AM
Response to Reply #5
8. He can only think within the confines of his mission.
That's a given. It's a function of the structure of the military not the individual. It's up to us to elect leaders who don't put our military into "no win, can't afford to lose" positions.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:25 AM
Response to Reply #8
11. it's more than that.
while i think the invasion of iraq was wrong -- illegal -- nothing but murder on a huge scale -- the thinking of the military re: the occupation, building the permanent bases, the huge military{Read oppressive} footprint, the conduct of troops and their relationship with the iraqis, our virtual inability to be successful fighting the insurgency -- represents a MILITARY failure.

that should give people pause to think about what kind of military leaders we are producing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Uben Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 07:44 AM
Response to Original message
6. The big problem
is the rogue news reporters reporting the truth. If we could get them outta there, then we could show the people how we're being greeted with flowers and cheers.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FarCenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:14 AM
Response to Original message
7. A short, conclusive civil war would be a good thing
The losses would most likely be a lot less than the 500,000 killed in the war with Iran, the 500,000 or so killed by the sanctions, or the 100,000 or so per year being killed in the status quo.

Once the borders were drawn and the refugees resettled, some progress could finally be made.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jimshoes Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:22 AM
Response to Reply #7
10. Now that's something
you could get people to hang their hat on. Not quite the scenario we were sold going in is it? :eyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bluerum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:20 AM
Response to Original message
9. Then it is doomed.
As history has shown, occupying forces in the middle east suffer a prolonged and strength sapping bloodletting. The surge is a drop of water in the ocean. The war itself, a puff of smoke in the wind.

However, towards the end of this year the military victory will be headline news for american news organizations. They will gleefully repeat the white house memos and press reports that contradict on the ground eye witness reports and military observations. The republic party will march into the next election cycle waving the flag of military victory and domestic policy success.

And our country will be deceived again.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Double T Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:25 AM
Response to Original message
12. Same old rhetoric will yield the same old results............
the ONLY way to solve THIS ongoing problem is by DIPLOMACY and TALKS, neither of which bushco is capable or competent to do.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bobthedrummer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 08:51 AM
Response to Original message
13. It's spreading, and now Mr. Putin is reacting in a reversal of the Cold War
roles and expectations to deter the spread of Bushunism.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
FarCenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 12:09 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. Policy of Containment
The main problem addressed by international diplomacy in coming years will be how to contain the United States.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
IndianaGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 12:54 PM
Response to Original message
16. Iraq has the unusual distinction of wrecking military careers
No sooner had Saddam's statue come crashing down in Firdos Square in a well-staged photo op that the US commander Tommy Franks suddenly retired before having to deal with the consequences of the war that he helped plan. Every US commander since Franks has left in a cloud of controversy, their careers effectively ended. Remember General Sanchez? General Petraeus will be no exception! He has already acknowledged in a TV interview that he is violating his own counter-insurgency guidelines by proceeding with the surge with a pittance of the force that would be required for a city the size of Baghdad.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
saigon68 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #16
20. Maybe this thug will make it to the Hague
One can only hope
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ohio2007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 02:00 PM
Response to Original message
17. I agree
just pull out of their cities and let the citizens of Iraq decide the rules.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 02:07 PM
Response to Original message
18. Failure to stabilize means continued instability?
Kill them all now so we don't have to kill them later? I think I must be missing something since failure to stabilize means continued instability seems a sort of obvious thing that someone like the Sphinx might say.


The Sphinx from Mystery Men
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cliss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-10-07 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
21. A little bit of remedial reading for Gen. Petraeus.
Iraq doomed = Iraq is not doomed.

Occupation doomed = That's more accurate.

Occupation = being close to the Oil.

Stakes are very high = Yes, the Oil stakes are very high.

Prospects for success are good = Yes, as soon as we leave.
= = = = = = = = =
Once we leave, Iraq will start its own struggle toward normalcy.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Mon Apr 29th 2024, 06:46 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC