Zinni's warning for years: Iraq w/o Hussein more dangerous to U.S.

[dd123]

Warnings ignored, says retired Marine
By Rick Rogers
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
April 16, 2004

Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni wondered aloud yesterday how Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld could be caught off guard by the chaos in Iraq that has killed nearly 100 Americans in recent weeks and led to his announcement that 20,000 U.S. troops would be staying there instead of returning home as planned.

"I'm surprised that he is surprised because there was a lot of us who were telling him that it was going to be thus," said Zinni, a Marine for 39 years and the former commander of the U.S. Central Command. "Anyone could know the problems they were going to see. How could they not?"

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For years Zinni said he cautioned U.S. officials that an Iraq without Saddam Hussein would likely be more dangerous to U.S. interests than one with him because of the ethnic and religious clashes that would be unleashed.

"I think that some heads should roll over Iraq," Zinni said. "I think the president got some bad advice."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20040416-9999-7m16zinni.html

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methinks John Kerry got bad advice too. whose head will roll for that one?

[aquart]

1. All together: We told them so!

[Kanary]

2. Indeed, we did.

As we were also telling all the Dems in Congress.

Except the one who took a stand against it.

Heads *need* to roll.

Kanary

[KissMyAsscroft]

3. I dont buy any of this shit..

Im a 24 year old guy with an internet connection and I have been right so far with regards to Iraq.

So you are trying to tell me that the people running this country can't figure it out? I don't buy it.

They knew it was going to get ugly, that's why they won't commit more troops. It is an oil and land grab, and if they put in too many troops it outweighs the cost of taking their oil and just increases the soldiers getting picked off. More soldiers just equals more targets.

Bush just figured that if we killed enough people, that everyone would fall in line and the US media would never question the war.

He was basically right, but how long will public support continue?

[Leilani]

4. You are right

Anyone with a computer & curiosity, knew this entire thing was a brain fart, as Tony Zinni has called it.

But politicians talk to each other; they are in an echo chamber, & sometimes they know less than they pretend.

Also, so many of their actions are based on political decisions, not right & wrong. I truly believe most of their votes are cast, based on their next election.

The majority of Repubs & Dems thought this was the popular vote, so that is the way they voted. Sad!