Time to Go? Top U.S. Generals in Iraq Want Withdrawals, 'L.A. Times' Says

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001220138

NEW YORK Top U.S. generals in charge of the war in Iraq now believe that the nearly 150,000 American troops in that country are part of the problem, not merely the solution, a Los Angeles Times article by Mark Mazzetti said today.

During a trip to Washington, "the generals said the presence of U.S. forces was fueling the insurgency, fostering an undesirable dependency on American troops among the nascent Iraqi armed forces and energizing terrorists across the Middle East," Mazzetti wrote. "For all these reasons, they said, a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops was imperative....this week's comments showed that commanders believe a large U.S. force in Iraq might in fact be creating problems as well as solutions."

Despite administration claims earlier in the week that more and more Iraqis were leading their own operations in Iraq, ground commanders told Congress on Thursday that the number of Iraqi units at the highest state of combat readiness had dropped from three to one since June.

During his congressional testimony, Army Gen. George W. Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said that troop reductions were necessary to "take away one of the elements that fuels the insurgency, that of the coalition forces as an occupying force."

[AntiFascist]

1. I hope that certain Democratic leaders take note of this....

and stop advocating sending in more troops in to "solve" the problem!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. I like your name. But, fat chance that they will

somehow, they breathe the water, drink the air, and the bloatway takes control over their higher thought processes.

[Skink]

4. We should have listened to Bin Laden and got out of Saudi Arabia too...

Nothing good can come out of occupying Muslim lands.

[AntiFascist]

7. Not that we should listen to bin Laden specifically.....

but the general feelings which are feeding al Qaeda and the overall worldwide hatred toward the United States are important to take into consideration, especially when they aren't changing.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. one problem is this us v. them mentality

historically, if it were not for the arab nations, the dark ages caused by christianity would have forever destroyed europe. Only the discovery of their science, math, literature, and technology in Spain managed to save western society. The vast majority of muslims honor JC as one of their own prophets. The vast majority of them prefer living in peace, harmony and in comfort.

[AntiFascist]

9. There's also the problem of the right-wing version of Christianity...

which does not reflect the majority of belief in this country or around the world, but which is often being preached by Fundie televangelists and certain politicians. It has the effect of turning many intelligent people against religion altogether.

[jazzjunkysue]

3. Um...Isn't this mutiny? The generals go to the press? They know

the B*** crime family have been out selling the war this week, and have a POTUS speech ready on it for this week. So, going to the LA Times is nothing short of a mutiny. How could it be anything else?

What will Karl do about this? Will it look good if he fires them? Think of the press. Feeding day at the zoo. A year or two before retirement. Nope.

Will he ignore them, and let the military know it's open season: Say whatever you want about the GOP to the press? I hardly think so.

Will they actually pull out, with operation "whatever the hell it is" going on in western Iraq today???

Holy meltdown, batman. It's christmas in october.

I'm having a drink. The generals said what I've been saying for 5 years.
:shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug::shrug:

[mike_c]

5. when the generals want out, you know all hope of any good outcome...

...is utterly lost.

[LynnTheDem]

6. The best of the best top brass generals never wanted in.

But hey, what do the likes of Stormin' Norman know, eh? :eyes:

[incapsulated]

10. They said no such thing

This is quoting their testimony before the Senate, which I watched myself and was disgusted by. I never heard such bullshit. They were selling a bunch of happy horseshit and towing the company line. "We can move out if conditions change, which we won't define, but they might not, well probably not, but the insurgancy has shot it's wad, we are turning the corner, unless we aren't, but if we do, then maybe we can leave...."

[sadiesworld]

11. Those Generals must be a bunch of extremist left-wingers.

Go figure.