Petraeus: Escalation Not Done By September, 50-Year Iraq Presence A ‘Realistic Assessment’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/17/petraeus-korea/

Petraeus: Escalation Not Done By September, 50-Year Iraq Presence A ‘Realistic Assessment’

Today on Fox News Sunday, Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, agreed that lawmakers will be able to have a “reasonable and a realistic sense” of whether the escalation is “working or not working” by September. “I’ve said that all along. I started saying that back in January. I think we’ll have had by then our forces in the mix for a good several months.”

Later in the show, however, Petraeus admitted that he didn’t expect the “surge” to be done by September, the date set for Petraeus’ supposedly make-it or break-it report to Congress. Asked by host Chris Wallace whether he believed “the job would be done by the surge by September,” Petraeus responded, “I do not, no.” Watch it at link~

Asked in a follow up question if that meant “enhanced troop levels would continue for some months after that and into 2008,” Petraeus refused to answer. “Again, premature right now,” said Petraeus. “A number of options out there. And I’m not about to announce what we might do here today, I’m afraid.”

Petraeus then went on to endorse the “Korea model” for Iraq, which envisions keeping troops in the country for decades. “(T)ypically, I think historically, counterinsurgency operations have gone at least nine or ten years,” said Petraeus. “I think in general that that’s probably a fairly realistic assessment,” Petraeus said of the Korea comparison.

Transcript at link~

[spanone]

1. If anyone thinks Petreaus is going to give a bleak assessment come Sept. they're insane.

he was pumping the 'surge' on faux news this am.

[yy4me]

2. Anyone doubt why we need the new embassy? Got to have

someplace to call home for the next---lets say---50 years or so!

[aquart]

3. Ask him how he plans to pay for it.

[Botany]

7. Hint

[Solly Mack]

4. Fool

[maxsolomon]

5. no way this congress will fund a 50 year occupation of a hostile population

they have too much intestinal fortitude & will show * what's what in september.

deep, deep :sarcasm:

[Botany]

6. And with Saudi Arabia's oil now in decline .....

.... that would give Cheney & company control
over the largest proven reserves in the world.

50 years ..... we might need a revolution to stop
this madness.

And I bet Chris Wallace didn't follow up the 50 yr
smack w/ any questions.

[BootinUp]

8. The Korea model, what a joke

There you had two separate geographical areas and an armistice and both sides went to opposite corners. Who are these people kidding?

[Raven]

9. OK, that's it, I'm done being patient with this. I think it's time for

the Democrats to quit playing games. Cut the war funds, begin an immediate withdrawal, downsize the goddamned embassy to a second floor walk-up, beef up homeland security, go on a crash course for energy independence and let the people in the mideast settle their own hash!

[Peace Patriot]

10. Throw Diebold/ES&S election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW! nt

[genie_weenie]

11. Let's see 50 years at 1 trillion a year works... out... to...

50 trillion dollars!

I wonder if Boeing, Northrup Grumman, Erik Prince and Blackwater and the heads of other Mercenary Companies like Triple Canopy will work to ensure the Occupation continues?

Seems the MIC knows exactly what they are doing.

[whistle]

12. Bush will come back to congress for another $100 billion in September

[tridim]

13. I thought Iraq was going to be a "cakewalk"..

"6 Days, 6 Weeks, I doubt 6 months."

Fucking liars. All of them.