Gen. Caldwell, chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq: "I don't see a civil war in Iraq."

[ProSense]

Why We Persevere

By William Caldwell IV
Wednesday, December 6, 2006; Page A25

BAGHDAD -- I don't see a civil war in Iraq. I don't see a constituency for civil war. The vast majority of the people want hope for their families, not to massacre their neighbors or divide their country. A poll conducted in June by the International Republican Institute, a nonpartisan group that promotes democracy, found 89 percent of Iraqis supporting a unity government representing all sects and ethnic communities. No wonder no "rebel army" steps forward to claim credit for vicious car bombs and cowardly executions of civilians.

I see debates among Iraqis -- often angry and sometimes divisive -- but arguments characteristic of political discourse, not political breakdown...

I see a representative government exercising control over the sole legitimate armed authority in Iraq, the Iraqi Security Force...

I don't see terrorist and criminal elements mounting campaigns for territory. Al-Qaeda in Iraq doesn't use roadside bombs, suicidal mass murderers and rocket barrages to gain and hold ground...

Continue reading this bit of http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/05/AR2006120501128.html">lunacy

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. "spokesperson"

Translation: Public Relations mouthpiece

[gasperc]

2. sir, your wearing tanning goggles!

[kentuck]

3. It's worse..it's anarchy...

Several groups are fighting for control..

[jobycom]

4. Maybe he needs glasses.

I'm sure that there is a lot of what he claims going on. I'm sure a lot of people want a unity government, want peace, want everyone to live in harmony, and all of that. I'm just as sure that the general is not invited into the rallies for the various insurgent groups, and that the conversations he would hear there would be very different.

That's the problem with Republicans and their basic mindset--they see only part of the picture. Maybe if they used their ears as well as their eyes, they'd hear the rest of the picture exploding all around them.

[acmavm]

5. This guy is either as stupid as little Dougie Feith (who was

called the stupidest fucker on earth by Tommy Franks) or a conscienceless lying bastard like the rest of 'em.

One or the other.