Escalation Architect Blames UK For Iraq Violence, Calls For A British Surge

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/23/escalation-architect-blames-uk-for-iraq-violence-calls-for-a-british-surge

Escalation Architect Blames UK For Iraq Violence, Calls For A British Surge

Yesterday, Ret. Gen. Jack Keane, who was vice chief of staff during the 2003 Iraq invasion and remains a key adviser to the Bush administration, went on BBC radio and sharply criticized the UK for planning withdrawal from Iraq. He argued that they should instead add more troops, similar to President Bush’s escalation in Baghdad.

“They have never had enough forces to truly protect the people, a mission similar to what the coalition forces are taking on in Baghdad, but I think there is a general disengagement from what the key issues are around Basra,” said Keane.

Listen to a portion of the interview here:

LINK

Keane’s comments echo those of another U.S. officer close to Gen. David Petraeus, who recently said of the British: “Quite frankly what they’re doing right now is not any value-added. … The situation there gets worse by the day. Americans are disappointed because, in their minds, this thing is still winnable. They don’t intend to cut and run.”

These statements blame the British for not reducing violence in Basra, a task that the United States has also been unable to achieve in the rest of Iraq. Another surge is not the answer. Since Bush announced his escalation plan in January, the situation in Iraq has continued to deteriorate:

– Attacks in June “reached their highest daily average since May 2003, showing a surge in violence as President George W. Bush completed a buildup of U.S. troops.”

- snip -

It’s not surprising that Keane’s solution is another surge. He was one of the architects of Bush’s escalation plan, pushing to send 40,000 more troops to Iraq. He also blasted the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations for redeployment, giving the report an “F.” “I think it is wholly inadequate,” said Keane of the report. “It’s a cover story to accept defeat.”

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[T_i_B]

1. British armed forces are already overstretched

Hence a UK troop surge is out of the question before we even get onto the question of whether it's politically feasible for Gordon Brown to take such an option.

[unhappycamper]

2. Let's see

There is no political reconciliation going on.

There is a civil war going on.

Somewhere between 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 Iraqis have fled their homes.

We are equipping the Sunnis in Anbar province.

We are fighting Shiites in the rest of the country.

We can't provide electricity.

We can't provide water and sewer.

So help me out here Jack. Remind me why we did this is the first place.

D'oh.


on edit to correct spelling

[SoCalDem]

3. I think they ARE planning a surge

a surge back to the UK..

I think the new PM was elected to do that very thing. Tony would still be PM if he had not become a warmonger.

[Greeby]

4. Err, Brown wasn't elected

He was pretty much coronated by the Labour Party. The left-wing challenger, John McDonnell, couldn't get enough nominations to even be in the race. However, Broon isn't stupid. He knows if he wants to call a General Election anytime soon, he has to get us out of Iraq.

[sallyseven]

5. Who are the Americans that think we can win this fiasco?

I have heard stupid statements but only bush makes them. I haven't heard anyone with a brain make those statements.