New US general to take reins in Iraq

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070210/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_070210080339;_ylt=Am0VwS_aTwNDkeEb_eoxGl7MWM0F

New US general to take reins in Iraq

by Bill Ickes 1 hour, 12 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - General David Petraeus, a 54-year-old paratrooper with a doctorate in international relations and a reputation as a deep thinker, is to take on the toughest job in the US military.

Petraeus was to be named commander of the 140,000-strong US-led coalition force in Iraq at a ceremony at Camp Victory, a massive American base on the outskirts of Baghdad, the violent epicentre of a bitter sectarian war.

.......

His chances of success will hang on the latest in a series of what have so far been failed US attempts to regain control of Baghdad and central Iraq, a region plagued by Shiite militias and roving gangs of Sunni insurgents.

Daily attacks on US-led forces and Iraqi civilians have increased steadily since the fall of Saddam Hussein in April 2003, and more than doubled in the 12 months since Sunni bombers destroyed a revered Shiite shrine in Samarra.

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1. "dramatic collapse in domestic political support."---the middle class-

professionals, teachers technicians----ect have left Bagdad--or moved to safer places. The human capital is mostly gone.

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2. AP: U.S. general: Iraq war is 'not hopeless'

U.S. general: Iraq war is 'not hopeless'

By LAUREN FRAYER, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The new top U.S. commander in
Iraq said Saturday that the stakes are high but the situation is "not hopeless" as American and Iraqi forces move to quell spiraling sectarian violence in the country.


Gen. David Petraeus made the comments at a ceremony during which he officially took control of U.S. forces in Iraq from Gen. George Casey, who is going to be the next Army chief of staff.

"The stakes are high. The way ahead will be hard but it is not hopeless," he said. "We can and we must prevail. This mission is doable."

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3. Reuters: (new) U.S. general warns Iraq doomed if crackdown fails

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070210/ts_nm/iraq_petraeus_crackdown_dc_3;_ylt=ArmaoPCM_UcPaDFVvZ768xGbOrgF

U.S. general warns Iraq doomed if crackdown fails

45 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The new U.S. military commander in
Iraq, General David Petraeus, said on Saturday Iraq was doomed to continuing violence if a crackdown on sectarian strife now under way in Baghdad failed.



"The mission is doable .... The prospects for success are good. Failing that, Iraq will be doomed to continuing violence and civil strife and surely that is a prospect all must strive to avoid," he said.

"The stakes are very high," he said, speaking at a ceremony at a U.S. base near Baghdad airport where he took command of 130,000 U.S. troops in the country from General George Casey .

He was speaking just days after an offensive began in Baghdad that is seen as the last chance to halt the country's slide into all-out civil war.

Petraeus, a veteran of two Iraq tours and a counter- insurgency expert is widely regarded as one of the U.S. Army's best commanders. He told senators in January that the situation in Iraq was "dire" but not hopeless.

He has urged that 21,500 extra American troops being sent to Iraq for the campaign to be deployed as quickly as possible. Casey had been skeptical of troop increases.

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4. Funny how every new "strategery" requires new generals....

What's this, our 3rd or 4th set of commanders?

:shrug:

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5. Nelson of FL made a good point the other day: The success of this

new surge is predicated on the the Iraqi army standing up!

Deadly doubts.