Petraeus Says Iraq Plan Won't Succeed By September

[tabasco]

Source: Bloomberg

June 17 (Bloomberg) -- The odds of building a stable Iraqi government by September are slim, even with the addition of 30,000 U.S. troops to give lawmakers in Baghdad security, said the top U.S. general in the Middle East country.

The ``aggregate level'' of violence has not diminished since the troop increase began five months ago, General David Petraeus said in an interview on ``Fox News Sunday.'' Asked whether he thought the strategy could succeed by early September when he's due to report to Congress, Petraeus was negative.

``I do not, no. I think we have a lot of heavy lifting to do,'' he said. ``This is a tough effort.''

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=arnjTMhgr4vY&refer=home

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Here we go. I hope the Democratic Congress is ready to take action to end this war now that the surge has failed. Wasn't the big justification for the cave-in to see if the "surge" was going to work?

[partylessinOhio]

1. heavy lifting = more dead American troops

Demos are not going to take any action - they are enablers.

Exuses follow excuses with more excuses on why they cannot stop this madman!

:eyes:

[saigon68]

24. Petraeus doesn't care about his subordinates killed daily

[sakabatou]

2. Raise your hand

How many thought that it would succeed?

Don't everyone raise their hands at once.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Expect the neocons to move the goal posts (again)

It's part of their modus operendi.

Every time I read something about the escallation (aka the Surge), I get a sinking feeling of how we're being being snowed into a long and stormy occupation that nobody but the neocons want, and certainly not most Iraqis.

It's time to cut the funding. If the spoiled brat in the White House has a temper tantrum and says he's going to leave the troops there and it's going to be all the mean ole Congress' fault if they're all killed, impeach him and Cheney and do it in a day. Then a responsible President Pelosi (whether she wants it or not) can give orders for withdrawal.

[Captain Angry]

4. They will begin pulling out next year.

He can't do it too soon, or they can't make political hay out of it next year before the primaries.

Mission Accomplished, parades, why don't you support the troops you commies, etc. All coming next year.

There will be no change in the conditions on the ground there, they'll just declare victory next year so they can get footage of crowds waving to troops on the commercials.

[HereSince1628]

7. Unfortunately, that mostly sounds just about right.

However, I suspect I'll never live to see US force level in Iraq drop below 50,000.

Setting access to oil aside, US military bases there are at the belly of Russia and within pitching distance to China. The Cheney administration is replete with old cold warriors pushing for taking the opportunity to take the gains there.

[tabasco]

8. Iraq is the goose that lays golden eggs for the corporate masters.

The corporate masters are making billions off the sham Iraq war and they will not allow a pullout.

We will be in Iraq at least five more years because (I hate to say this) the Dems are bought off too. Not to the extent of the republicans but most of the Democrats work for corporations, not for the people. I think Bobby Kennedy said the republicans are 90% corrupt and the Democrats are only 70 % corrupt, so it's a clear choice.

[Captain Angry]

9. I think we're both right.

There will be announced pullouts. Only a fraction of who should come home. We're not leaving any time soon, but we'll reduce presence enough to get on TV about it.

[tabasco]

6. You know that, I know that, the Dems in Congress know that.

All the more reason I was disgusted by the cave-in.

[IndianaGreen]

12. Expect the Democrats to continue to fund the war

no matter how many times the goal posts are moved, or Petraeus says he needs more time.

[arewenotdemo]

18. well put, Jack Rabbit!

It's time to remove the psycho/sociopaths from (s)elected office!

[bunnies]

5. BAD little bushbot!!!!

Time for a new General? :shrug:

[Arugula Latte]

10. No one could have predicted the surge would fail ...

:eyes:

[eringer]

11. What Does He Care

He figures he got his fourth star cheap. Too bad we can't take away his 6 figure retirement if he fails to make Hadley's "surge" succeed by September. If we could, we would see progress over there.

[grytpype]

13. So why wait until September?

If Saint Petreus says the surge isn't going to succeed by September, why wait until September to change course?

[theHandpuppet]

15. Good point

But of course much too logical!

[rodeodance]

14. a summer of DEATh and maming and then into the fall and the winter, and........

[marmar]

16. In other news, Petraeus says the sun is bright....

Tell us something we don't know, general.

[arewenotdemo]

17. Rapist/thief/butcher "disappointed" victim has not improved

"The Iraqi government has been a pretty big disappointment," Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican and minority leader, said on CBS's "Face the Nation" show. "We've given them an enormous opportunity here, over the last four years, to have a normal country. And our commitment will not be there forever."

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=arnjTMhgr4vY&refer=home

[Amonester]

19. R Lie: "And our commitment will not be there forever." ... unless:

his pretzeldent succeeds at bankrupting the U.S. Treasury like he bankrupted almost all of his "previous" bidnesses.

[Amonester]

20. I predict tomorrow's headline will read something like:

"we will need another six months delay before..."

Don't thank me. These criminal liars R very easy to predict.

The bad news is: the Dems MAY cave-in (again)... :cry:

[calimary]

21. Didn't Petraeus just say things were looking much better in parts of

Baghdad - and that the surge was working? He talked about football fields and public arenas and stuff and how much improved it was. So what the hell is he talking about now? According to his earlier claims, things should be just frickin' DUCKY by September.

Good Lord - they are schitzo.

[tabasco]

22. General Betrayus the yes-man has to speak out both sides of his mouth.

The corporate masters installed Betrayus to keep the colonial occupation going as long as possible. He can't say "we won" and he can't say "we lost." He has to say "we're winning but we need time to complete our victory." That will be the party line from the Bush mafia because the robber barons are making a mint off the sham Iraq "war." We The People must stand up to end this illegal "war." We have to rid our government of the corporate stooges, both Republican and Democratic.

[missTheBigDog]

23. I bet McCain is pissing in his pants

<eom>

[wellst0nev0ter]

25. Keep Kicking That Can Down The Road.

Because everyone loooves a 50-year Korea-like occupation :sarcasm:

[sutz12]

26. A "Korea-like" occupation wouldn't be bad...they're not shooting there.

However, a 50 year occupation in a shooting war will really suck.

[BigDDem]

27. Let me guess...

6 more months, right?