Expert warns Iraq in a 'state of almost full collapse'

[sabra]

http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=5568130&nav=2FH5

Expert warns Iraq in a 'state of almost full collapse'

<snip>

Kenneth Katzman is with the Congressional Research Service, which advises lawmakers on Capitol Hill. And the way he see it, Iraq is "in a state of almost full collapse" -- with the U-S "powerless" to prevent a total breakdown.

He's got plenty of reasons for thinking this way. For starters, he points to today's seizure of an Iraqi city by a militia run by an anti-American cleric. Just days ago, that same cleric pledged his support to Iraq's president -- the one the U-S supports.

Katzman calls the Baghdad government "completely powerless" and warns only "very dramatic steps" can help turn things around. He says a new Cabinet and a rewritten Iraqi constitution may be needed.

[sugapablo]

1. What? We needed an "expert" to tell us this?

<He said in his best Jackie Mason voice.>

[Freedom_from_Chains]

12. It has actually gotten worse

Some of the insurgent groups have started to declare themselves as independent states on Hardball now.

[saigon68]

22. Just look at some of their IED footage.

They outdo Faux and CNN for photographic creativity, composition and content of story

[whistle]

2. The official republican propaganda line is that the terrorists in Iraq

...are the first voters in the November 7th election and they are voting democratic :wtf: :hurts: :banghead: :GOP bullshit alarm

[sabra]

3. just like Bin Laden wanted Kerry in '04....

[whistle]

15. Same bullshit

[kurth]

4. He says they need "a new Cabinet and a rewritten Iraqi constitution"?

Yeah, just throw more paper and paper pushers at the problem...

[babylonsister]

5. Is it a civil war yet? nt

[sabra]

6. Bush: we are not leaving Iraq, even if Laura and Barney are the

only 2 backing me...

[babylonsister]

8. I imagine he'll be eating those words in short order; we must not

let anyone forget he said that, too! :evilgrin: :nopity:

[Homer Wells]

11. I am waiting with bated breath

for both Laura and Barney to bite him in the ass!!

:popcorn: :spray:

[Olney Blue]

24. Word on the street... barney and pickles voted for Kerry

:)

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. Maybe it's time to put down the guns

and pick up the shovels and start helping the Iraqis clean up the mess we've made.

How hard is it to provide water and electric?

It we had a Marshall Plan for Iraq and let the Iraqis rebuild their own country, we'd all be better off.

Oh yeah, and stop stealing their oil money.

[babylonsister]

10. You're hired to develop a new policy, DYEW!

That's as logical as one I've read yet, though Americans would still be sitting ducks, sadly. We spent any goodwill we had, I'm thinking.
But I agree; it's way past time to put the guns down, and get out ASAP. We're not doing any good there, just getting people killed. Some policy.

[tavalon]

23. Change that plan to withdraw

Put the UN in place, put a Marshall plan into place and it might work. Don't leave the rapists in place to help the rape victim recover. It isn't the troops fault that we are despised (mostly) but they are the everyday representatives of what is despised and so will be hated whether they are helping or not.

[anakie]

9. I think it is about time

we can chalk up another one in the loss column; adding to the pretty ordinary average since WW2.

[Alpharetta]

13. Nobody is saying what kind of withdrawal plan we have

how to protect the contractors, civilians, if we have to withdraw while taking fire from snipers and unable to keep the roads clear of mines?

[Kagemusha]

14. Katzman doesn't realize it wasn't an uprising against the government

but against the Badr Corps which treated the police of Amarah as its personal possession, which kidnapped the younger brother of the guy running Sadr forces in that city. It's not a backstab against Maliki at all. It's a feudal dispute.

[TexasLawyer]

16. Bush-- We hate to say we told you so--

But we TOLD you so. This is exactly the quagmire that the anti-war crowd feared.

Listen to us next time. We're not a "focus group." We're the voice of reason.

We're also the people who are paying for this mess, in our blood and treasure.

[bemildred]

17. Is that like "partially complete" collapse?

Or "almost total" collapse?

[RedEarth]

18. KR

[teryang]

19. these are the criteria for Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld

1. Maintain the unequal agreements for Anglo-American energy corporations in Iraq and the other draconian corporatist-colonial economics embodied in the Coalition edicts and new "Constitution" of Iraq.

2. Maintain the logistics flow of personnel resources and supplies to support the US presence indefinitely.

3. Maintain the flow of Defense dollars to corporate contractor cronies, steer Iraqi capital and Iraqi natural resources to Anglo-American multi-national corporations and mideast client partners.

4. Control public perception by posturing behind numerous cultural myths to justify our total amoral exploitation by conquest.

[cassiepriam]

21. Bingo. All is going quite well for them. Money flow on target. nt

[pinniped]

20. Hang in there, only 5.X months to go.

.

[Olney Blue]

25. He obviously missed Cheney's briefing