Rumsfeld doesn't expect civil war in Iraq; says there was no hard evidence

[UpInArms]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--rumsfeld-iraq1004oct04,0,1846702.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

NEW YORK -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Monday that he does not expect a civil war to erupt in Iraq, and pointed to the recent takeover of the former insurgent stronghold of Samarra as an example of success.

"I don't think it's going to happen," Rumsfeld said at the Council on Foreign Relations, when asked about the threat of civil war. "But what has to be done in that country is what basically was done in Samarra over the last 48 hours."

Rumsfeld credited a process of first trying diplomacy, then threatening force and finally using it against the insurgents

<snip>

Rumsfeld was also asked to describe the connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida.

He declined to answer the question, but then said: "To my knowledge, I have not seen any strong, hard evidence that links the two."

...more...

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[ixion]

3. what's awesome? that Rummy is lying?

There have been loads of analysts (including the NIE) that have said the best Iraq can hope for is to not break out in civil war. Mind you, that's the best case scenario.

Rummy is talking through his hat, as usual.

[Career Prole]

13. Poster's got 16 posts which all pretty much say

"YES!!! Awesome!!"
Don't know why anyone would want to run up a post count that fast...
:eyes:

[ixion]

15. actually, I noticed that, too

seems a bit fishy to me.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

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[ReadTomPaine]

33. This makes no sense in regards to either your first post, or the question.

Please take some time and explain it all for us.

RTP.

[underpants]

34. I've found about 10 like that

all over DU today

[Carla in Ca]

37. I don't think anything he 'expected' has happened.

He can't be trusted or believed.

[ixion]

2. "We know where the weapons are..."

Rummy, you have no credibility whatsoever.

'nuff said.

[Jacobin]

27. 'north, south and slightly to the east of Baghdad.."

that IS where they found them, right? I mean, didn't they find something....I think they found some bad germs or something...er or was it er...uh, well aren't they still looking, since he knows where they are?

[BootinUp]

4. What, does he think they captured or killed them all?

Somehow I think they'll be back Rummy.

[yellowcanine]

5. You mean where the U.S. troops went in and the insurgents dispersed

to fight another day? I swear, these guys act as if Vietnam didn't teach them anything. Insurgents don't stand and fight. Insurgencies aren't about holding territory. Holy cow, at least Colin Powell should know this.

[ogradda]

6. rumsfeld talking about evidence

that's funny. he's heard banning camera's will cut down on that. :)

[Village Idiot]

7. I really hope that...

Kerry's handlers are getting him ready to debunk the crap that will shortly be thrown his way by the Chimp...

It's kind of obvious even to me that if you have to "re-take" positions (Fallujah, Samarra) from the insurgents, you either LOST them at some point or neglected to properly secure them the first time...

I hope that they POUND this theme soon!!!

[Career Prole]

8. Well, if Rummy says so...

"I don't think it's going to happen," Rumsfeld said at the Council on Foreign Relations, when asked about the threat of civil war. "But what has to be done in that country is what basically was done in Samarra over the last 48 hours."

After all he's been pretty much spot on throughout, so that's all right then, eh? :eyes:

So mein general, you have your orders. As in Samarra, we must bomb the women and children wherever we find them.
I'm so proud of my government right now.

[VegasWolf]

9. He means flower power, we will be attacked by roses strewn at us!

New Information Shows Bush Indecisive, Paranoid, Delusional

[Sagan]

10. Does he not expect the sun to come up today??

What the hell does he THINK is going on in Iraq right now? A cotillion?

[w4rma]

11. With everything he has said so far, reality has been the opposite.

I expect that reality is the opposite of what Rummy says in this case, also.

[cliss]

12. Notice his statement,

"But what has to be done in that country is what basically was done in Samarra over the last 48 hours." Meaning, bomb and bomb some more. Kill, and do a little more killing.

Of course, Donald RumsFailed has stock in weapons companies. The more fighting we do, the more money he makes in stock dividends.

[54anickel]

38. Yep, need to blow the place up. Destroy it to save it BS. I was going

to point out the same quote.

[umtalal]

14. All this bloodshed in Iraq is because they want us out of there!

[VegasWolf]

17. But, but, ... what will they do without our help? n/t

New Information Shows Bush Indecisive, Paranoid, Delusional

[umtalal]

25. I just dig that picture. That W stands for the upside down M in Moron..

[umtalal]

35. RUMMY IS A METRO SEXUAL MALE.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Hey Rummy, have YOU read the NIE?

really, have yuo? I mean... you have been consistently WRONG.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

18. Hey, dumbass.... look up "Civil War" there already is one

Putz.

[daleo]

19. They pacified Samara for a few days (maybe)

It depends on whether you even believe those reports. So, all they have to do is multiply that by about 50, and do it all at the same time. Over 200 Iraqis were killed and wounded in Samara, many of them civilians, so that would translate into about 10,000 Iraqi causalities. I suppose the U.S. casualties would be in the hundreds, if not the thousands. Then, keep that up for any number of years, because the resistance will just go underground for as long as the pressure is on.

It is too bad Rummy didn't study Viet Nam or something.

[sendero]

29. I just heard..

.. a report on NPR about Sammara. Sometimes, I wonder if you have to fail an IQ test to become a military strategist.

These jokers think they have solved something. They have solved nothing. 90% of the "insurgents" just moved somewhere else.

They can go to Najaf, and every other place, bomb and bomb 'til they ain't got no more bombs, and they are merely stirring the pot.

But somehow they seem to think they are accomplishing something. I just don't get it - it's just like analysing Bush*'s comments. Is he a liar, an idiot, or both?

[clydefrand]

20. Important to change regimes, eh?

And I think it's way past time to remove Bush's regime because it is a threat to our national security!!!



"When asked what he thought was the primary reason for invading Iraq, he said it was important to remove Saddam's regime, but acknowledged the intelligence ahead of the invasion was faulty."


Now this is not a FLIP FLOP, is it? No, this is just one more damn lie!

[dqueue]

21. And we all know...

Rumsfeld's expecations are to be trusted. After all, didn't he expect to find WMDs and Osama in Iraq, too?

Scumbag!

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[RaleighNCDUer]

23. I guess he hasn't read what Riverbend posted today

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/

[Jacobin]

26. So, Rumfucked, exactly how many times do you think each

city will need to be re-taken? And, can you please comment on your statement last year where you said that you didn't "do quagmires?" Have you changed your opinion on doing quagmires, or do you intend to resign at the end of the year? Because I don't see how you can stay on if you 'don't do quagmires'. You've got a real doozey of a quagmire.

[Swamp Rat]

28. Rumsfeld also thinks our military is too big.

[0007]

39. Bummy said that all we indeed needed was about 30,000 well

trained troops. Well, we have 130,000 troops and 30,000 mercenaries and and still don't have enough.

Bring the troops home!

[Killer Poodle]

30. There was less "evidence" of WMDs.. But they believed that. n/t

[Disturbed]

32. Why isn't this asshole on trial?

Rumsfailed Admitted to Violating Geneva Convention

Rumsfailed admitted in public on TV that when CIA Director Tenet requested that an Iraqi prisoner be sent to a secret Afghan/US Prison that Rumsfailed did so. After four months a DOD Attorney stated that this was an illegal act. Rumsfailed then ordered that this prisoner be sent back to Abu Graihib but the prisoner was purposefully not listed at that location, also an illegal act.

Rumfailed has commited at least two violations of the Geneva Convention; thereby also violations of The Constitution of the USA. Recently it has been found out that even more detainees were "ghost detainees". The fact that Rumsfailed and Tenet have not been charged speaks volumes. If Congress wishes to garner any respect they should move forward with Rep. Rangle's Impeachment Declaration of Rumsfailed and also proscecute Ex. CIA Tenet.

Does the US, Govt., Congress, and the Justice Dept no longer abide by the Geneva Convention or the Constitution of the USA?

[grytpype]

31. Rummy didn't think we needed more than 140k troops either.

He's just about the last person I'd ask about what would happen in Iraq.

And this Samarra offensive is just window dressing for the campaign, so the Idiot King can claim we are winning.

As soon as we pull out of Samarra to attack Fallujah, the insurgents will move back into Samarra. We can't win with the forces Rummy sent in. "Just enough troops to lose," that's his policy.

[StupidFOX]

36. There is no HARD EVIDENCE

for a lot of things in Iraq, is there? hm...

I don't see any "hard evidence" for a worthy purpose being served there, either.