Rice;no prediction when US forces could withdraw or spread to syria & Iran

[dajoki]

NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/19/international/middleeast/19cnd-diplo.html?ex=1130385600&en=aed6d26106c7e299&ei=5009&partner=MSN_NYTHOME

Before Senate Panel, Rice Defends White House on Iraq


By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
Published: October 19, 2005

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, facing tough questions about Iraq from Republican and Democratic senators, asserted that progress was being made in securing the country but declined to predict when American forces could withdraw or to rule out widening the war to Syria.

In three and a half hours of hearings in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ms. Rice defended Bush administration policies in tones ranging from conciliatory to combative, rebutting assertions from Democrats that the administration lacked plans to heal sectarian rifts in Iraq, to combat insurgents or to train Iraqis to replace American forces.

"I have said our strategy is to clear, hold and build," Ms. Rice said. "The enemy's strategy is to infect, terrorize and pull down." She explained that this meant efforts to clear out insurgents' sanctuaries, occupy these areas with Iraqi and other forces and build a political consensus while reconstructing the country.

But Ms. Rice seemed to express her own frustration with the slow pace of Iraqi reconciliation and particularly of American allies in the region and around the world to help Iraq achieve its goals. She said that Iraqis "must continue to come together" to build their nation and the government "must forge a more effective partnership" with other countries.

[Skink]

1. Gee I think Malloy just said we are already in Syria..

Now who should I believe. And now the denials that we were in Cambodia in 68 make sense.

[dajoki]

4. sounds familiar, doesn't it?

[rodeodance]

2. they are already forging ties with Iran.

.......the government "must forge a more effective partnership" with other countries.

[rodeodance]

3. there are a couple of threads on Du tonight talking of how we are already

in Syria.

[LynnTheDem]

5. But Rice did say we'd be in Iraq for "LESS THAN 50 YEARS".

No worries though, coz all the war supporting bushbots are rushing to enlist themselves, their kids & their grandkids!


HOOHAH!