WP,pg1: WH Iraq Strategy Talks Focusing on Three Main Options: Will unveil new plan before Christmas

[DeepModem Mom]

Iraq Strategy Talks Focusing on Three Main Options
By Robin Wright and Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, December 9, 2006; Page A01

As pressure mounts for a change of course in Iraq, the Bush administration is groping for a viable new strategy for the president to unveil by Christmas, with deliberations now focused on three main options to redefine the U.S. military and political engagement, according to officials familiar with the debate.

The major alternatives include a short-term surge of 15,000 to 30,000 additional U.S. troops to secure Baghdad and accelerate the training of Iraqi forces. Another strategy would redirect the U.S. military away from the internal strife to focus mainly on hunting terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda. And the third would concentrate political attention on supporting the majority Shiites and abandon U.S. efforts to reach out to Sunni insurgents.

As President Bush and his advisers rush to complete their crash review and craft a new formula in the next two weeks, some close to the process said the major goal seems to be to stake out alternatives to the plan presented this week by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. The White House denied trying to brush off the study group's report and said those recommendations are being considered alongside internal reviews.

But the growing undercurrent of discussions within the administration is shifting responsibility for Iraq's problems to Iraqis. Sources familiar with the deliberations describe fatigue, frustration and a growing desire to disengage from Iraq. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the deliberations....

Bush will devote most of next week to his Iraq review. He plans to visit the State Department on Monday to consult with his foreign policy team, then he will host independent Iraq experts in the Oval Office. The next day, he will hold a videoconference with U.S. military commanders and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in Iraq. He will travel to the Pentagon for more consultations on Wednesday.

The crash White House review -- which involves the State Department, the National Security Council, the CIA and the Pentagon -- is tentatively expected to lead to a speech to the nation the week of Dec. 18, officials say....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/08/AR2006120801823.html

[Amonester]

1. New Pentagon Plan at Odds With Iraq Study Group's

WARNING: This is from ABC News (sorry if it's nowhere else I searched).

Cheney/Rumsfeld's Yes-Junta's got other plans than what The People (who pay their salaries) voted for last month. (No surprise here...)

New Pentagon Plan at Odds With Iraq Study Group's

Top Military Advisers -- in Iraq and at the Pentagon -- Present Their Own Plan to President Bush

By JONATHAN KARL

Dec. 8, 2006 — The recommendations are not complete yet, but sources familiar with the reviews conducted by Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace and National Security Adviser Steven Hadley, tell ABC News that military leaders will advise the president that he change the primary mission from fighting insurgents to training and supporting Iraqi troops.

... under the Pentagon's plan, those combat troops would remain in Iraq — with a new mission. Entire companies of U.S. combat forces (units of about 150 troops) could be embedded in Iraqi army and police battalions.

...

Using U.S. special operations troops to target the leaders in Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi army. That's a controversial and dangerous proposition that would be done only if the Iraqi government agrees to it.

Absent from the plan: Any timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces in the short term.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2712135&page=1

[lapfog_1]

2. That third option there... the one about supporting the Shias

and dropping support for the Sunnis...

That would explain Chaney's last summons to visit the Saudis. I bet they got wind of that and wanted to call junior on the carpet for it. The Saudi royal family is funding the Sunnis, and Iran is funding the Shia. We are mortal enemies (according to Bushco) with Iran, and buddy-buddy with the House of Saud. So it's got to get them really excited there to hear about the possibility that we will favor the Shia over the Sunni in Iraq.

[ClintonTyree]

3. "Accelerate the training of Iraqi forces".......

pardon me for asking, but exactly how long does it take to train Iraqi forces? They've had 3+ years now and they still haven't been able to train enough Iraqi soldiers to carry out the most rudimentary of combat missions? The Iraqis are not stupid, it's not as if they're unable to understand and execute the most simple commands. What could the possible reason be that they're not willing to shed the yolk of "trainee" and act independently of American forces?
Could it be heavy handed American commanders who want things done their way or no way at all?
Is it the mere presence of American invaders and occupiers?
Could it simply be that the Iraqis don't want to fight?
Are they averse to killing their neighbors, friends and sometimes, relatives?
What IS the reason, or combination of reasons, that keep the Iraqis from ending the hostilities themselves? I'd really like to know. :shrug: