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More Military Whitewash; When will the lies and deception end?
Topic Started: Oct 3 2005, 08:54 AM (95 Views)
5thwheeler
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U.S. Army Brass Tries to Restore Shine to Iraq War
Commanders of Mideast forces take to the airwaves in an effort to mollify public doubts. They call the fight key to combating global terror.

By Tyler Marshall, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — Amid growing concern in Congress and sagging public support, two Army generals made their case for the Iraq war to the American people Sunday, insisting that progress was being made but adding that victory could take years.

Appearing separately on four current-events television programs, Gen. John P. Abizaid, the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, and Gen. George W. Casey, the commander of American forces in Iraq, sketched a picture of a steadily improving Iraqi military that has begun to take on more of the fighting against the insurgency.

Both also pointed to strong voter registration in advance of Iraq's constitutional referendum this month, calling it a sign that most Iraqis wanted to take part in the American-backed political process rather than the armed revolt. But Casey acknowledged that Sunni Arab participation was motivated mainly by a desire to defeat the constitution and that a failure to do so could fuel the insurgency.

"It could happen," Casey said on ABC's "This Week."

The generals said it was important that Americans not turn against the war and that defeat would be a catastrophic setback in the larger struggle against terrorism.

Their comments were aimed at steadying public support for U.S. policy in Iraq amid mounting troop casualties and as the insurgency, which they said may involve as many as 20,000 fighters, showed few signs of weakening. Associated Press reported that as of Saturday, at least 1,935 American troops had died in Iraq.

Expressing concern about recent opinion polls, one of which showed nearly two-thirds of Americans questioned favoring a complete or partial pullout of American forces, Casey made his case for public backing.

"I think it's important for the American people to understand that we should not be afraid of this fight," he said on CNN's "Late Edition." "This is a tough fight. [Iraq's] armed forces are committed to this, the Iraqis are committed to this…. This is worth it, and we have a plan and a strategy in place that will allow us and our Iraqi colleagues to prevail."

On NBC's "Meet the Press," Abizaid said the doubts and frustration that permeated much of the questioning the generals faced during Thursday's high-profile hearing before the House and Senate armed services committees was not matched by his commanders close to battle.

"I go up on [Capitol] Hill and everybody's wringing their hands and everybody's worried, but when I talk to my commanders in the field, when I talk to Iraqi commanders in the field, people are confident," Abizaid said. "They don't think it's going to be easy. They know that there's a lot of fighting ahead, but they're confident that they're moving in a good direction."

Appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation," Abizaid said that although the insurgency was becoming more sophisticated, it was still no match for American forces militarily.

"We have never lost a single platoon-sized engagement in four years of combat in the Middle East," he said. "It's true that the enemy is capable of developing things that can do us damage, but ultimately they can't beat us, and they know it."

But neither general elaborated on one of the biggest causes of congressional concern: the revelation that, of the 100-plus Iraqi army battalions that have completed training, the number capable of effective combat on their own, independent of U.S. forces, had slipped from three to one in recent months.

Both generals emphasized that they were seeing broader, across-the-board advances in the combat readiness of Iraq's forces. At one point, Abizaid told NBC, "It is a difficult thing to start talking about one battalion here or two battalions there or three battalions in another place."

The issue of readiness is crucial to the U.S. military strategy, which calls for Iraqis to gradually shoulder more of the burden of fighting as the United States draws down its forces.

Abizaid stressed that victory in Iraq required a long-term commitment.

"I think those of us who have been fighting this war have said time and time again that it's a long war," he told NBC.

Abizaid distanced himself and his commanders from Vice President Dick Cheney's widely reported statement in May that the guerrilla movement in Iraq was "in [its] last throes."

"It is certainly alive and well, and I don't think any of us that are military people have ever said anything other than the fact that we've got fighting on our hands, especially as we go through this political process," he said.
History 101: When a popular myth is believed to be factual, teach the myth.

Its not possible to underestimate the intelligence of the voting populous.

Hummm, after seeing the results of the 06 election, I may have to modify my perception of the voting populous and refer to them as "Late Bloomers".

:ohmy:
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Fr. Mike
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quote:
"Both also pointed to strong voter registration in advance of Iraq's constitutional referendum this month, calling it a sign that most Iraqis wanted to take part in the American-backed political process rather than the armed revolt. But Casey acknowledged that Sunni Arab participation was motivated mainly by a desire to defeat the constitution and that a failure to do so could fuel the insurgency."

My question would be--"will it be acceptable to America if the Iraqui people choose a "Democratic Theocracy" and a contitution that supports such an ideal?
A humble servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

Don't forget to say your prayers!
The unborn have rights too.
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
These same generals have also said we cannot win.

Where'd my hard hat and flame retardent suit go? Every time I report this some dichotomist decides it means I am saying we will lose. One, I am not saying it, and two, not winning is not the same as losing. Doh!

What they mean is only Iraqis can win this war between Iraqis.


If it is their war then we are not the ones to answer --"will it be acceptable to America if the Iraqui people choose a "Democratic Theocracy" and a contitution that supports such an ideal?"

We do need to answer that for ourselves however.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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5thwheeler
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cmoehle
Oct 3 2005, 11:02 AM
These same generals have also said we cannot win.

Where'd my hard hat and flame retardent suit go? Every time I report this some dichotomist decides it means I am saying we will lose. One, I am not saying it, and two, not winning is not the same as losing. Doh!

What they mean is only Iraqis can win this war between Iraqis.


If it is their war then we are not the ones to answer --"will it be acceptable to America if the Iraqui people choose a "Democratic Theocracy" and a contitution that supports such an ideal?"

We do need to answer that for ourselves however.

Winning can be the worst loss of all.

America doesn't have a problem excepting a Democratic Theocracy in Israel, would refusing to except one in Iraq be hippocritical, and add more fuel to the fire.

Heaven help us if our leaders can't see that.
History 101: When a popular myth is believed to be factual, teach the myth.

Its not possible to underestimate the intelligence of the voting populous.

Hummm, after seeing the results of the 06 election, I may have to modify my perception of the voting populous and refer to them as "Late Bloomers".

:ohmy:
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puli-one
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I reported on another thread : Last week I had lunch with a individual who had just returned from Iraq after a months stay. It was very interesting to say the least.
He said that the Iraqi's want the Foreigners our of Iraq - let them sort out their problems by themselves. The Terrorists will never be caught due to the high amount of corruption at all levels. The Terrorists pay huge sums to those that will provide safe houses and supplies to them, this corruption goes all the way back to those who are supposedly to be hunting them, he said it is at all levels.
He believes that the new coalition and those trying to form a government will turn out to be not that different from Hussein, they all are seeking sweeping power.
He still has family over there. who he fears for, he himself will not return as he considers it just too dangerous. Anyone carrying a foreign passport is really at risk. I feel sorry for him, he will not allow his wife to go back for a visit, because of the danger, she has all of her family there.
You have to feel for the people, there are no winners in this one.
Don & Donna
Puli Pup - Kelly
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5thwheeler
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Thanks for the post poli-one ,and I hope for the best for your friend and his family.

So what happened to all the "dancing in the streets" our CON friends were raving about? First the Iraqis couldn't get enough of anything American, now they've had all they can stand of us. Did your friend say why? :dunno:
History 101: When a popular myth is believed to be factual, teach the myth.

Its not possible to underestimate the intelligence of the voting populous.

Hummm, after seeing the results of the 06 election, I may have to modify my perception of the voting populous and refer to them as "Late Bloomers".

:ohmy:
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puli-one
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5th: He just explained that if left alone, they will eventually sort it out among themselves. He said they feel as though they are prisoners in their own country, the animosity against the Americans spills over to anyone that is seen to be at least friendly to any outsider (he was considered to be a outsider when there) and that is where the danger lies.
The strange thing that I found was his statement that you cannot just be neutral, you are deemed to lean to one direction or the other, and either one is dangerous to your being. This is where the corruption is so deeply entrenched, you do not know who you can trust so you stay within your family circle.
He was disappointed to see that a lot of the infrastructure that was destroyed in the invasion and subsequent bombings and battles, has not been restored, it will take years to rebuild.
Not a pretty picture - poverty - violence - corruption - !
Don & Donna
Puli Pup - Kelly
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