Leader: Army May Secure Iraq in 18 Months

[chlamor]

Posted on Mon, Mar. 28, 2005

Leader: Army may secure Iraq in 18 months

TRACI CARL
Associated Pres
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's outgoing interior minister predicted Monday that his country's emerging police and army may be capable of securing the nation in 18 months, saying his officers are beginning to take over from coalition forces.

Insurgents, meanwhile, targeted Shiite pilgrims, setting off two blasts that killed at least three people.

Interim Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib's comments came as security was heightened in the already heavily fortified Green Zone, where the National Assembly will hold its long-awaited second session Tuesday to choose a parliament speaker and two deputies.

Negotiators haggled over who would get the parliament speaker job, considering interim President Ghazi al-Yawer. They hope the inclusion of Sunni Arabs like him in the new government will help quell the Sunni-led insurgency.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/11245712.htm

[Bob3]

Or they may not.

A lot can happen in 18 months you know?

[osiristz]

11. A lot CAN happen

just look at the damage Bush wreaked on the world in 18 months!

[Charlie Brown]

1. I thought we "secured" Iraq two years ago

What has to happen until everything is "secure?" Why will it take 18 months?

The goals and plan of our mission in Iraq are getting hazier by the day.

[Robbien]

4. Well, we are still dropping bombs on Iraq according to Seymour Hersh

He said he believes we are right now turning Ramadi into another Fallujah.

I guess the timetable is that in 18 months all the cities will be bombed into rumble and be "secure".

[oblivious]

12. Yes, of course it's secured. Just small pockets of disgruntled locals.

Those evil ones only control *cough cough* 95 *cough cough* per cent *cough cough* of the country. The good news is, the US controls its bases and the Green Zone...sort of.

[unhappycamper]

2. this is the second time tonight I've heard Iraq and 18 months mentioned

Coincidence? I think not.

[Journeyman]

10. "Iraq" and "18 months" equals 1 month pre-US 2006 election . . .

but that's only coincidence, doncha know?

[WMliberal]

3. Define "secure," Mr. al-Naqib

:popcorn:
car bombings only 5 times a day in the major cities?

Or maybe they'll pass a law against it and it'll stop altogether :crazy:

[seriousstan]

5. You should ask Charlie Brown , above, he seems to know.

[Charlie Brown]

13. ?

[malmapus]

6. Yeah and Iraq will be rebuilt using the money it makes from its export of

oil

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. Is that when the pigs are scheduled to graduate from flying class?

[DireStrike]

8. And I may start pissing oil. -nt-

[osiristz]

9. and I'm the King of Kashmir

[merwin]

15. Welcome to the United States, good sir! :-)

[Massacure]

14. They said this two years ago.

Too much can happen in a year and a half. How long did it take Vietnam to blow up in our face?

[IndianaGreen]

16. They said this during Vietnam

the light at the end of the tunnel turned out to be an oncoming train.

[Dharma_Bum]

17. Eighteen Months??

ya, I was there for twelve months and the only progress I saw was the Iraqi Army getting equipped with actual 'uniforms' ...
perhaps they obtained tactical proficiency in the last couple of months.

[mmonk]

18. I guess it's good to have a time certain

Sounds like a hint to leave in 18 months.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. Umm, huh

It'll be a cake walk, right?

[cosmicdot]

20. interesting 'democracy': "emerging police and army ...

... may be capable of securing the nation in 18 months".


Who determines if Falah al-Naqib is a "leader", as classified in the article's title? Or is that done to help legitimize the propaganda?

[teryang]

21. $400 Billion price tag by then

Defense contractors are grinning from ear to ear. Re-elect the incumbents for the $600 Billion guarantee for shareholders of the base.

After 2006 we'll hear about another 18 month timetable. Why haven't US troop levels gone done after the Iraqi elections?