New U.S. Commander to Change Iraq Focus

[ECH1969]

With a new general in charge, the U.S. military's plans to fight Iraq's insurgents are expected to emphasize improving Iraqis' quality of life, rather than killing or capturing guerrillas.

The goal, he said, is to "deprive insurgents and terrorists of their support base" among disaffected Iraqis _ part of a strategy that parallels U.S. political overtures to the Sunni Arabs.

Experts criticize the Bush administration's preference for expensive capital rebuilding schemes such as large power stations that have largely been scuttled by insurgent attacks and whose benefits have often not trickled down to Iraqis.

Sadr City residents today credit American forces with modest improvements, although short of what they'd hoped for. Many believe the neighborhood's calm owes more to the entry into politics of militia leader and radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/30/ap/world/mainD8FF7DEO3.shtml

[hedda_foil]

1. What did they call this program when they tried it in Vietnam?

[TahitiNut]

4. "Hearts and Minds"

:shrug:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#Pacification_and_.22hearts_and_minds.22

[Spazito]

2. This is REDUX # what, gotta be at least the 10th "new focus"

crap but they keep thinking "This time the US public will buy it!" Geez.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. This article worth reading in full,

because it shows just how fatuous the professional officer corps has become, not just civilian Pentagon leadership. Absolutely incredible -- the current plan is for more small-scale reconstruction projects. Whatever

Newsweek\MSNBC is reporting senior military figures in Iraq are holding secret discussions with leaders of the insurgency (don't have the link, but saw it on antiwar.com). Dare I say that, so long as those talks do not include a time certain for end to occupation, the violence will continue unabated.

[FightingIrish]

5. Another ridiculous justification for invading another country

Compared to what they have now, they had quality of life.

[applegrove]

6. I thought there were "talks"?

[xxqqqzme]

7. yet another 'new' commander

how often do they change these guys out? Isn't this like the 4th or 5th in the last 3 years?

[Rose Siding]

8. Who pays? - Sat, WP: Reconstruction projects will go unfinished in Iraq

BAGHDAD - The United States will not complete hundreds of basic water and electricity projects planned after the 2003 invasion because more than $3 billion was shifted to meet unanticipated needs, according to a U.S. government audit of reconstruction spending in Iraq.
....
But with less than 20 percent of the government's $18.4 billion reconstruction budget unallocated, and the Bush administration not planning to seek more such funds in the budget request going before Congress next month, "some of the original goals will not be fully achieved in some sectors," according to the audit released Thursday by the office of the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
....
Projects related to drinking water that were expected to benefit about 8 million people will now benefit about 2.75 million, the report said. And only two of 10 planned sewerage projects will be completed, though they will serve an additional 4.5 million people.

More than 125 of a planned 425 electricity projects will also be left unfinished, a total that reflects a steep reduction in the goal for increasing Iraq's generating capacity. Plans for four gas-powered generating plants and a diesel plant were canceled as officials reallocated about $1.25 billion in funding. "The system is inadequate to meet Iraq's growing demand and lacks any measure of reliability," the report said.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0128iraq-rebuild0128.html

[Toots]

9. Seems exact opposite of their trickle down theory

Duhhh

[wtmusic]

10. That's it! More frozen chickens for Fallujah!

Got to get this war back on track.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/15/1058035002197.html

[Javaman]

11. A little late, isn't it? n/t