Brass: We Won't Solve This With Bullets

[Carla in Ca]

<http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/6/13/17621/8199>
The article link is to the Star-Ledger. Linking from DailyKos bypasses subscription.

This is a very sobering admission from these commanders on the ground. Along with the DSM, it paints a very bleak picture. We have documents that show this 'war' was planned in advance (we knew that) and coupled with these statements, it looks like we have no way out.
I see this as a 1-2-3 punch:

1. Mr. Conyers, et al are addressing the lies that were told to us to justify this 'war'.

2. When we did send our soldiers, they were ill-prepared, too many have died and we have treated our wounded soldiers shamelessly.

3. As you will see below, more and more commanders are starting to speak up. The insurgency is not 'in the throes' of being defeated, mission not accomplished, no exit strategy.


A beginning, a middle, and no end in sight.

From the article...

A growing number of senior American military officers in Iraq have concluded that there is no long-term military solution to an insurgency that has killed thousands of Iraqis and taken a heavy toll on U.S. troops during the past two years.

(snip)


Gen. George W. Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, expressed similar sentiments, calling the military's efforts "the Pillsbury Doughboy idea" -- pressing the insurgency in one area only causes it to rise elsewhere.

"Like in Baghdad," Casey said during an interview with two newspaper reporters, including one from Knight Ridder, last week. "We push in Baghdad -- they're down to about less than a car bomb a day in Baghdad over the last week -- but in north-center (Iraq) ... they've gone up," he said. "The political process will be the decisive element."

(snip)



Lt. Col. Frederick P. Wellman, who works with the task force overseeing the training of Iraqi security troops, said the insurgency doesn't seem to be running out of new recruits, a dynamic fueled by tribal members seeking revenge for relatives killed in fighting.
"We can't kill them all," Wellman said. "When I kill one I create three."

more.

Well, there it is. The three-point indictment. Mr. Conyers will start this rolling on Thursday. Please sign the petition if you have not already done so.

[cynatnite]

1. bush lied and betrayed our military

bastard :grr:

[Carla in Ca]

2. Exactly

And it looks as though we have all the info we need to prove it to all those who still think this 'war' was a good idea.

[kenny blankenship]

3. No I'm afraid lead is insufficient

Aluminum boxes are the only cure for this insanity.

[Carla in Ca]

4. It makes me furious

that he had a black tie gala tonight honoring our soldiers. Nice that 1700+ dead soldiers puts him in a party mood.
This was taped to be shown July 4th. And why did Laura wear a red dress?

[Carla in Ca]

5. Tuesday Kick

n/t