U.S. general: Pulling troops 'giant step backward'

[sabra]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. commander in Iraq believes it would not be possible to withdraw troops from his region south and east of Baghdad by year's end.

Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the Multi-National Division-Center, was asked to comment on Republican Sen. John Warner's recommendation that President Bush start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq by Christmas.

Speaking to Pentagon reporters on Friday via teleconference from Iraq, Lynch said, "Only when the Iraqi security forces come forward and say 'OK, here I am, I'm trained and equipped, I'm ready, I'm the Iraqi Army or I'm the Iraqi police,' can I turn those sanctuaries over, and that's not going to happen between now and Christmas."

Lynch, whose operations cover the central part of Iraq, south of Baghdad, said soldiers have been helped by the surge, or additional troops, and have made strides against militants. But, he said, "If we were to lose that capability, the enemy would come back."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/24/us.iraq/

[TwilightGardener]

1. He and Pace might exchange phone calls before they put out competing statements.

[KansDem]

5. So the "tug-o'-war" begins...

For every negative assessment of the surge, we'll get one in support of it. All the way up to and past September.

And the corporate media will be only to happy to oblige...

[youngdem]

7. NO SHIT. The stories were next to each other on MSNBC today

The army is run by Monty Python. The White House by Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp.

[rodeodance]

11. Pace said the story is WRONG as he did not say that.

[EVDebs]

2. Which is why we supposedly have civilian control of the military (snark)

So long as US troops are there to take the brunt of this civil war, no Iraqi in his right mind will 'stand up'

'As Iraqis Stand Up, We Will Stand Down,' Bush Tells Nation June 2005
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=16277

but at the same time 'Permanent' bases are being set up as the Quakers are being spied upon by the NSA for disclosing this

If the U.S. is ultimately leaving Iraq, why is the military building 'permanent' bases?
http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/bases.htm

begging the question, didn't the DoD plan for this a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away ?


Document reveals Nixon plan to seize Arab oil fields
'70s embargo sparked 'last resort' measure, says British memo
Lizette Alvarez, New York Times
Friday, January 2, 2004
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/01/02/MNG8G427D61.DTL

...and just tweak the 'Saudi Arabia' into 'Iraq' ?

Is there a military plan going forward now behind the scenes that the US public isn't being allowed to see ?

Compare those permanent base sites to Cheney's map of Iraqi oil fields,

Judicial Watch Iraq Oil Map from Cheney FOIA
http://www.judicialwatch.org/IraqOilMap.pdf

[bemildred]

3. "Advance to the rear, men!"

Listening to these guys makes me wonder how Kimmet the Frog is doing these days?

[bdamomma]

4. how many more must die both Iraqis and our troops

for this stupid man and the PNAC crowd. sickening absolutely sickening.

[saigon68]

6. Lynch is a War Criminal

He needs a little Hague treatment

[radfringe]

8. U.S. general: Pulling troops 'giant step backward'

better to spin wheels in blood?

[Orsino]

9. God, I hope so.

Our government's forward steps have resulted only in more death and misery.

A "giant step backward" from the edge of a cliff is a good thing.

[Demeter]

12. Amen!

[Maeve]

10. Time for a bit of Pete Seeger

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!