Gates: Longer Iraq deployments unlikely

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

Gates: Longer Iraq deployments unlikely
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that extending deployments of U.S. troops now in Iraq beyond the current 15 months was a "worst-case scenario" and that he didn't anticipate it happening.

He also told a Pentagon news conference he couldn't say how long American forces would have to stay at increased levels in the effort to secure Baghdad.

Military deployments were recently extended to 15 months from 12 months. He said it was his hope to move as soon as possible back to 12-month deployments, with a year at home, and then eventually to 12-month terms with two years at home.

Gates was asked about a recent surge in violence and increased attacks on U.S. troops.

"The reason for the spike in violence is ... our troops and the Iraqi troops are going into areas where they haven't been for some time. They anticipated there would be a high level of combat," Gates said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070621/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq

[gratuitous]

1. Ah yeah, won't happen

But they're discussing it publicly, so that when it does happen (September is my over/under month) they can say, "Well, we've been discussing it now for some months. This shouldn't come as a surprise or a shock to anyone." And their grinning lackeys working the bellows on the Mighty Republican Wurlitzer will nod and say, "Besides, these troops volunteered!" as if that absolves this criminal administration of any responsibility for breaking its trust with the common soldiery.

Note to George W.: You will never prevail in Iraq until you commit Jenna and Bar Jr. to the conflict. The god of war is thirsty for blood, and your own offspring are required.

[neuvocat]

2. The troops were gonna be home by Christmas.

Of 2002.

[Brigid]

4. That's what they said about WWI.

And just about every other war we've gotten ourselves into.

[Javaman]

3. **cough** bullshit **cough** nt

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. Sorry- that cat's already been let out of the bag.

And it ain't going back in.

Nice try- not.

[PATRICK]

6. It is evident

even if upon the best interpretation Gates is there to mitigate and put the brakes on Bush II the end result is the same. he is the nicer, more hopeful "good cop" face on a truly BAD cop, crooked cop administration. Perhaps he himself is poised to go either way depending on whether Cheney bulls ahead or the GOp manages to extricate itself even partly from the oil prize. I think the Pentagon has been hacked by the Cheney branch of government to make sure both of the two faces are kept in line with the bad cops.

More cynically- and it is literally impossible to be too cynical about this administration in all its phony avatars- this providing nice cover and salves to Congress is just his job which is more PR than substance in any event. In accepting this crap, Congress is ironically cementing the impotence of any conceivable force for change that might prevent the Iran debacle. They would do better to slam him for not doing more while challenging who is setting policy and bringing that individual(the Shadow Emperor Cheney) to immediate account.