U.S. Ambassador Notes Frustration With Iraqi Progress, But Cites Complicated Situation

[maddezmom]

Source: RRTrade/Nasdaq

U.S. Ambassador Notes Frustration With Iraqi Progress, But Cites Complicated Situation



(RTTNews) - The U.S. Ambassador to Iraq defended the progress being made by the civil authorities in the war-torn country, saying that the situation is difficult and complicated there. However, the official tacitly accepted U.S. frustration at the slowness of the process and promised to give a forthright assessment of the situation when he gives his official report in September.

In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, implied that there is tension between the expectations of the American people and the possibilities in Iraq. He said that there were two clocks measuring progress in the country and that "the Washington clock" is running faster than "the Baghdad clock." However, Crocker stated that the benchmarks provided to measure progress in Iraq are helping to speed up Baghdad's clock and give more time on the Washington clock.

Crocker added that the Iraqi government understands the frustration of the American public, but hopes the U.S. people realize how complicated and difficult the situation is. He conceded that the situation in Iraq is "a mixed picture," but added that it is "certainly not a hopeless one."



Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20070617%5cACQRTT200706171004RTTRADERUSEQUITY_0019.htm&

[struggle4progress]

1. Crocker can find time to pose for media but can't find time to testify to Congress

[MissWaverly]

3. If you saw that interview you know why

He has the deer caught in the headlights look

[maddezmom]

4. going to watch it now

:)

So far not very convincing

[MissWaverly]

5. Also I had the impression that he is isolated

He's holed up in the Green Zone, and the Iraqi Congress is in recess, so how involved is he? I wonder if he needs a translator,
he looks out of his element and nervous.

[ananda]

2. war bad peace good

Exactly what is complicated about that??!!!

[daleo]

6. It's complicated

Disasters are always complicated.

[arewenotdemo]

7. "the Washington clock" is running faster than "the Baghdad clock"

That's a good line. Damned natives are just never up to the task!

What the fools in Washington don't realize (as in Vietnam) is that their eventual defeat is already in the cards, and is just a matter of (Iraqi) time.