LAT: U.S. Plans Shift in Iraq Strategy

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Plans Shift in Iraq Strategy
By Peter Spiegel, Times Staff Writer
July 22, 2006

WASHINGTON — President Bush is expected to announce a significant shift in strategy for improving Baghdad's security when the Iraqi prime minister visits Washington next week, an acknowledgment that a much-publicized military operation launched last month has failed to stem the violence....

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A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, as is routine when discussing future White House initiatives, said the new strategy that Bush and Maliki intended to hash out would include "shifts in resources" and "shifts in emphasis."

The change could include redeploying U.S. forces from elsewhere in the country to Baghdad....

***

Iraqi forces have taken over security responsibilities in several Baghdad neighborhoods....Asked whether the shift in strategy could lead U.S. forces to reassume control of those areas, the official said, "That certainly would be an appropriate thing to discuss."...

***

The new security policy for Baghdad probably will include an increased emphasis on rounding up local leaders who are instigating and provoking sectarian violence, such as members of the militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr. He has been blamed for inspiring much of the anti-Sunni violence perpetrated by Shiite death squads....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-maliki22jul22,0,5115604.story?coll=la-home-world

[creeksneakers2]

1. The troops they are redeploying

must be coming from somewhere where anarchy will replace any order that there was there. Bush's plan is like writing off the whole country to save Baghdad. The only reason he'd do that is if its a last stand situation.

[peacebird]

3. we have called Afghanistan a "success" when only Kabul is controlled

we can call Iraq a "success" if only Baghdad is controlled & "secure" - right?

:sarcasm:

besides no one who MATTERS ventures outside the green zone....

:grr:

[Rose Siding]

2. Shifts in resources, shifts in emphasis, shifts in position of deck chairs

[wtmusic]

5. This administration isn't sinking, this administration is SOARING...

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Circling the wagons?

:shrug:

[sueragingroz]

11. Yes

The country is about to break into three.

They need to protect:

1. The green zone

2. The Oil Wells

3. Is there a three?

[rodeodance]

6. they need a shift in thinking!!

[Roland99]

7. Going to CUT AND RUN from the rest of Iraq and focus on Baghdad?

At least that will stop the "Whack-A-Mole" policy of fighting insurgents and leave the cities to fall under militia control.



WHHHEEEEEEEE!!!!!

[daleo]

8. Is Bush wearing his shift again?

That's all he seems to wear these days.

[Spazito]

9. Hmmm, I am sure I saw the headline somewhere before...

let me see.....ahh, yes...here it is:

A Shift on Iraq
The Generals Plan a Slow Exit

By David Ignatius

Monday, September 26, 2005; Page A23

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501298.html

from the September 17, 2004 edition

What's behind US strategy shift in Iraq war

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0917/p02s02-woiq.html

Calls for Shift in Iraq Strategy Growing
Lawmakers, Experts Urge Military to Focus More on Protecting Population Centers

By Bradley Graham
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 11, 2005; A16


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/10/AR2005111002063_pf.html

Bush Administration Plans Major Shift in Military Strategy

Aired September 20, 2002 - 09:02 ET

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0209/20/ltm.06.html

I would post more but it might cause me to "shift" my strategy, lol.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Good work, Spazito! nt

[Spazito]

12. Thanks! I tried to limit it to one headline per year, lol

I see I missed 2003, I have no doubt there was one for that year as well.

[MGKrebs]

13. Hey, we confirmed there are no WMD's, we stopped Saddam

and his brutality, and the Iraqis are now free, such as it is.

Sounds like victory. Our work here is done. Medals for everybody! Let's go home!