US also plans civilian "surge" in Iraq

[Barrett808]

US also plans civilian "surge" in Iraq
by David Millikin

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Hundreds of US diplomats and other civilians will deploy in Iraq's battle-scarred countryside as part of President George W. Bush's last-ditch drive to stabilize the nation, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

"We are ready to strengthen, indeed to 'surge', our civilian efforts", Rice told Congress as she described plans to rebuild Iraq's economy in parallel with a bid by a reinforced US military to curb violence in the country.

"Success in Iraq relies on more than military efforts alone -- it also requires robust political and economic progress," she said.

Bush unveiled his long-awaited new strategy for Iraq Wednesday night, announcing that 21,500 troops would be added to the current deployment of 132,000 soldiers, primarily to fight insurgents in and around Baghdad.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070112/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqreconstruction

[gatorboy]

1. Now's your chance freepers!

If you're too silky boy to join the military, there's the civilian option now. Go to it!

[truthisfreedom]

3. Pu&&y freepers are all talk, no walk. Too skeert to join up and support this worthless war.

They know what's really going on. They're just too embarrassed to admit that georgie has flipped his lid.

[Missy M]

2. They will make for some target practice from the....

insurgents. They are going to "surge" our civilian efforts. That should also go over big with the Iraqis in their new democracy, run by the US.

[Tempest]

4. In other words...

Halliburton and Brown & Root are going to make even more money from U.S. taxpayers.

[jwirr]

5. And take more jobs from the Iraqi.

[rodeodance]

6. looky--she says she wants them OUT of the Green zone!

Rice said a key element of the new strategy will involve getting US diplomats out of the isolation of the heavily fortified "green zone" that surrounds the US embassy in Baghdad and into the countryside.

"In total, we seek to deploy hundreds of additional civilians across Iraq to help Iraqis build their nation," said said.

The civilians will work in an expanded network of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) tasked with helping Iraqis develop local economic projects and provide jobs to lure Iraqis from the anti-US insurgency, she said.

The Bush administration has already sent 21 billion dollars to Iraq for civilian reconstruction projects, including efforts by 10 existing PRTs to rebuild key infrastructure like electricity production and water treatment.

[madeline_con]

9. And now, they want to send MORE $$$$$

:puke:

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Look, job openings for the 59 million Americans who voted for the chimp in '04!

[bemildred]

8. Oh goody, dead diplomats to go with the dead soldiers.

The should really help with recruitment at State too.