Top American Commander Warns of Dangers for New Iraqi Government

[sabra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/international/middleeast/05cnd-military.html

Top American Commander Warns of Dangers for New Iraqi Government

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Jan. 4 - The top American operational commander in Iraq has offered a sober assessment of the hurdles facing a new Iraqi government, voicing fears that sectarian clashes and incompetence could cripple major ministries and turn newly American-trained Iraqi security forces into militias for hire.

The commander, Lt. Gen. John R. Vines of the Army, warned in an interview on Wednesday that the development of the Defense and Interior Ministries that sustain Iraqi security forces lags behind the fielding and prowess of more than 220,000 Iraqi soldiers and police officers.

"The ability of the ministries to support them, to pay them, to resupply them, provide them with water, ammunition, spare parts and weapons is not as advanced as the competence of the forces in the field," General Vines said at his headquarters here outside of Baghdad as a new wave of violence gripped the country this week. "We must make significant progress in that area before they can conduct independent operations."

General Vines cautioned that other important ministries, like oil and electricity, must also accelerate their growth and strengthen their operations for the security forces to succeed and for Iraq to prosper politically and economically.

[leftchick]

1. in other words... The US is not going anywhere

at least for the next 10 years or so.

[400Years]

2. They never planned on leaving once there and I think they are stoking

the sectarian fires just to keep up the excuse for occupation.

Why would the state department ever want a united Iraq?

[wryter2000]

3. Or...

We'll declare victory and pull out, leaving the Iraqis to utter chaos, followed by another strongman dictator.

If it'll win Bush and his bunch an election, that's what they'll do.

[leftchick]

4. that is the choice...

continue the insane neocon plan of continued mideast occupation? Or try and secure the next election? I vote for the former since the voting machines will determine the 2006 winners as they have in the last three elections.

They are not building a Billion Dollar Embassy in the GZ for nothing.

[mom cat]

6. Precicely. The new billion dollar embasy with more fortification

than the Pentagon will not be abandoned, nor will all the newly built US bases or all the new jails. The US made sure that Chalabi is in charge of the Oil Ministry. The US might draw down some trooops, bur the deadly air strikes and the death squads will increase. George is not leaving Iraq.

[ckramer]

5. If you time 800 a year with 10 on the average

that would be 10,000 deaths at the end of occupation. Can we afford it?

[saigon68]

8. This guy is such an AssClown

Unreal

[Xenotime]

9. We'll go to Iran....

we will be right next door.

[pinerow]

7. Mark my words...

There will be no election in '08....:tinfoilhat: