plan to put America's awesome airpower at the disposal of Iraqi commanders

[G_j]

tell me this isn't a recipe for a deeper disaster!
:scared:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1652244,00.html
http://www.legitgov.org/index.html#breaking_news

US may use planes as substitute for troops in Iraq

Jamie Wilson in Washington
Monday November 28, 2005
The Guardian


The Bush administration is considering a plan to put America's awesome airpower at the disposal of Iraqi commanders, as a way of reducing the number of US troops on the ground. The plan is causing consternation among commanders in US air force, who say it could lead to increased civilian casualties and lead to airstrikes being used as means of settling old scores.

According to an article in the New Yorker magazine by Seymour Hersh, the possibility of using airpower as a substitute for American troops on the ground has caused unease in the military, with air force commanders objecting to the possibility that Iraqis will eventually be responsible for target selection.

"Will the Iraqis call in air strikes in order to snuff rivals, or other warlords, or to snuff members of your own sect and blame it on someone else?" a senior military planner told the magazine. "Will some Iraqis be targeting on behalf of al-Qaida, or the insurgency, or the Iranians?"

With the White House under increasing pressure over its handling of the war in Iraq, senior administration figures are for the first time signalling the possibility of significant troop reductions. In a departure from previous statements the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said last week that the training of Iraqi soldiers had advanced so far that the current number of US troops in the country probably would not be needed much longer.

..more..

[MADem]

1. Brilliant idea....NOT!!!!

Sounds like nation building to me! Or mercenary behavior--airpower for OIL!!!! We played that game in Saudi Arabia for years, the rent-a-military for the House of Saud!

You gotta think that some segments of the Iraqi power structure would just LOVE to tell their US "servants" to bomb Tel Aviv!!!

[ClintonTyree]

2. How long will it be before........

a new Iraqi President has the USAF bombing his enemies, real or perceived? It sounds amazingly similar to the US supporting Saddam in the "early days" of their relationship.
We'll turn another Iraqi thug into "President for life", he'll use a "brutal regime" to control the people and one day we'll have to remove another "brutal dictator" who "gassed his own people" to "fight the war on terror". :eyes:

This tune sounds hauntingly familiar.

[G_j]

3. my thoughts Exactly!

this would absolutely guarantee more death and atrocities.

[Why Syzygy]

4. WHAT fricking COMMANDERS?

Since WHEN does Ira*q have COMMANDERS? JEEZIZ Freaking Crepes.

[G_j]

5. for folks who just heard Hersh

on hardball