New Urgency, New Risks in 'Iraqification'

[kskiska]

Friday, November 14, 2003; Page A01

At least four factors forced the administration to overhaul its military and political strategy in Iraq, despite the danger that a new approach might actually diminish U.S. control over the country's future.

The foremost factor is security -- from an Iraqi opposition that has become more intense, more effective, more sophisticated and more extensive. The other three are the failure of the Iraqi Governing Council to act, the looming U.N. deadline of Dec. 15 for an Iraqi plan of action and the U.S. elections just a year away, according to administration and congressional officials and U.S. analysts.

All four factors produced a new sense of urgency in Washington. "In an atmosphere of heightened violence and instability, Iraq urgently requires a new political formula. The U.S. administration, increasingly alarmed at the turn of events, is considering a range of options. This will be its second chance to get it right; there may not be a third," the International Crisis Group, a nonpartisan watchdog, warned in a report issued yesterday.

(snip)

President Bush said yesterday that the revamping of his policy was a "positive development" because it will get Iraqis "more involved" in the governance of their country.

But others were more skeptical. "If the policy is to more rapidly Iraqify the situation -- as in Vietnamization during the Vietnam War -- then that is another version of cutting and running. One way to cut and run is to simply say we're pulling out. Another is to prematurely turn over security to Iraqi forces and draw down American forces. That's a near-term prescription for disaster," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38342-2003Nov13.html

[PurityOfEssence]

1. This is starting to smell like the lead-up to a rout

Not that I've been particularly accurate about my predictions, although I never doubted that we were going to war as soon as the administration started seriously rumbling about it last summer.

There are just too many little things: the flagrant strutting and defiance of Chalabi, sudden desperate changes in tactics on our part, morale and ever-divided allegiances among the Iraqis themselves.

Something just smells very skittish here. The CIA's using desperate controlled leaks to make their point, fearing that they can't get through Junior's henchmen. Sudden claims of immediacy are coming from usually reliable sources like David Gergen. Confusion seems to reign.

I don't see an IMMEDIATE rout, but a building panic and series of draconian counterstrikes.

Not good.

[pansypoo53219]

2. this shit reeked

the moment george started to tie iWaq to 9/11.

he couldn't even be honest about his desire to get rid of Sadaam. he is spoiled little turd and will SOMEBODY PLEASE FLUSH THE TOILET!

[Kinkistyle]

3. Great little "shrub factoids" section at bottom

Bush telegraph: selected presidential facts

In May 2001, Bush's government gave $43m to the Taliban.

Bush has never attended a funeral or memorial service for a soldier killed in Iraq.

In August this year, Bush took the second-longest holiday ever by a US president: 28 days.

Bush's 16-member cabinet is the wealthiest in US history, with an average fortune of $10.9m each.

As governor of Texas, Bush executed 152 prisoners.

Sixty-one people who raised $100,000 for Bush's 2000 election campaign have since been given government posts.

Nine members of Bush's Defense Policy Board sit on the board of defence contractors or are advisers.

Bush owns more than 250 autographed baseballs.

Bush has been arrested three times: for stealing a Christmas wreath from a hotel; for ripping down the Princeton goal posts after a Princeton-Yale game; and for drunk driving.

Bush infuriated the Russian media by spitting a wad of chewing gum into his hand before signing 2002's historic Treaty of Moscow with Vladimir Putin.

While appearing on the David Letterman show in 2000, Bush was caught surreptitiously cleaning his glasses on the jacket of the programme's executive producer, Maria Pope.

[Eloriel]

4. Well, here's the first time I've agreed with Biden in a while

A very long while, but I agree with him utterly on this one:

But others were more skeptical. "If the policy is to more rapidly Iraqify the situation -- as in Vietnamization during the Vietnam War -- then that is another version of cutting and running. One way to cut and run is to simply say we're pulling out. Another is to prematurely turn over security to Iraqi forces and draw down American forces. That's a near-term prescription for disaster," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Eloriel

[dArKeR]

5. Can someone post the pic now on the WP? I've been to many countries and

you're supposed to take your shoes off when entering a home. You can see the soldier clearly stepping on the families pillow/bedding. You might think this is silly but it's not for them.

I know there's a lot going on out there but we all know this was wrong in the first. But they're there and what should they be doing to 'win the peace' and get the Iraqi citizens on the US soldiers side... as we hear Junior and Rumsfuk say daily.

What would you do if a Russian soldier entered your home and walked on your bed and pillow? Are you going to help them?