Commander: Progress in Iraq in '06

[Rose Siding]

By Joseph L. Galloway
Knight Ridder Newspapers
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Gen. John Abizaid, said in a year-end interview that he believes 2006 will see substantial progress in Iraq because "there are more people trying to hold it together than take it apart."
...
Abizaid said he thinks the risk of outright civil war in Iraq is low - "I think it's possible, but not probable. I don't see it now. ... I think we would see it coming and I don't see it coming. ... I think we can work our way through 2006 in a way that has a good outcome for Iraq."
...
He said that Americans should sit with him in the meetings he has with U.S. officers at the brigade level in Iraq. He said they are not afraid of the situation and can conceive of a successful outcome without underestimating the challenges they face.

"I think if we are successful out here - which I do think we will be - it will be because people back home are patient, so that the people who are working on the problem are confident enough to make it work," the general added.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13530355.htm

[daleo]

1. He is admitting the occupation is planned to last at least 20 years

""The Iraqi security forces have matured relatively quickly, considering that we started at the zero point," the general said. He added that changing the mindset of an officer corps that was "designed to serve a dictator and serve themselves" to serving the nation will take a generation of work ."
- although, I would put a generation at about 28 years.

"Asked if he thought 2006 would be the year that the balance begins to shift from U.S. to Iraqi control, the general said he and the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, as well as U.S. brigade commanders, are all optimistic that will happen."
- they used to say this in Viet Nam too.

[catnhatnh]

2. "there are more people trying to hold it together...

...than to take it apart." Try this General, you and twenty friends stand around a big auditorium and try to build a 12 foot house of cards....and I'll come in and be an insurgent....over my dead ass will you ever get more than 6 feet off the floor....

[cliss]

5. I noticed that statement, too.

"More people are trying to hold it together than to take it apart".

Well, that is certainly different from just 2 years ago. It was, "democracy is on the march", "Iraq is moving towards freedom", "a Bright new dawn in iraq" (yes, from bombs), "a new Middle East".

My, how just 2 years can change things. Now, we're talking about "taking it apart".

= a doomed failure.

[bemildred]

3. Yep, the tooth fairy comes the day after the tooth comes out.

He pays $.50 for molars and $.25 for the other teeth.

[saigon68]

4. lol

Abizaid is a THUG and a WAR CRIMINAL

[newyawker99]

6. Sheeesh!!

:puke:


He said that Americans should sit with him in the meetings he has with U.S. officers at the brigade level in Iraq. He said they are not afraid of the situation and can conceive of a successful outcome without underestimating the challenges they face.

"I think if we are successful out here - which I do think we will be - it will be because people back home are patient, so that the people who are working on the problem are confident enough to make it work," the general added.

[Name removed]

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