Jobs Needed Or Iraq Troop Pullout At Risk - US general

Source: Reuters

TIKRIT, Iraq, March 5 (Reuters) - The United States may be forced to halt planned troop withdrawals from Iraq unless Iraqi authorities move faster to create jobs and improve basic services, a top U.S. general said on Wednesday.

Major-General Mark Hertling, commander of U.S. forces in northern Iraq, said both central and regional authorities had to take action if hard-won security gains were not to be reversed.

"I think we have six months to make a difference and this today is the start line," he said in an interview with Reuters and another agency at a conference where governors from seven northern provinces aired grievances with government ministers.

Asked what would happen if no progress was made on improving Iraqis' quality of life, he said: "It's going to be harder.

"I'm going to see more soldiers hurt and killed and we are not going to be able to reduce the number of forces ... because there's going to be more people out there planting bombs and shooting people."

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL560110.htm

need another 6 months will be the new catch phrase

Six months = one Friedman

:(

I can't Remember who in the hell said that...

rumsferatu!!

well, color me surprised!

I heard the surge was working?

Will we ever get to the past tense on that one? As in, "the surge has worked and the men and women are home."

Or will it forever be another six more months?

At least until King George is out of there? And if we the Democratic Party are unlucky or others are untrue to the constitution?

what then?:shrug:

Should we be :scared: try to:hide: , get some:popcorn: and wait for:nuke:

or continue to try to :kick: dumb ass where ever it gets a foothold?

We can just send American business start-ups over to Iraq - then there will be job opportunities for all!

Let's start by manufacturing sneakers!

if the job market gets worse here, we may need them on our street as well.

We can still put little smiley faces on them for the kids. Or even a "loony toon"? If he's had his presidential portrait taken yet?

... and one more "F You," for the troops, from our leadership.

That ol' Werhmart modus operandi again?