Editorial: Give Petraeus time, room

[unhappycamper]

Editorial: Give Petraeus time, room

The Army remains on track to bring home on schedule the five brigade combat teams that made up the “surge.” Their return will reduce to 15 the number of BCTs operating in Iraq.

Talk that the drawdown of forces could continue beyond that, pushed by Army leaders in Washington, understandably has many field commanders concerned that leaders would draw down forces in Iraq too quickly, paving the way for a potential resurgence of the insurgency. The increased number of attacks in the past few weeks north of Baghdad and in Mosul add credence to that that concern.

The key for the president is to follow through with what he said earlier in January: If Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, wants at any point to halt the the drawdown of forces there, “that’s fine with me, in order to make sure we succeed.”

Make no mistake — the Army is in a real bind. Repeated long deployments are wearing down soldiers, families and equipment. The mounting call to send more troops to Afghanistan, where the Taliban is making a comeback, add to the pressure to find ways to lighten the burden imposed by the war in Iraq.

But Petraeus and field commanders need leeway to execute their strategy in Iraq, and if that means adjusting on the fly, the president is right to give him the room to do so. It took time to show the surge was working — indeed, at the start, violence increased and some said the policy was a failure. It will take time to determine if 15 BCTs can continue the progress, and whether a further drawdown is practicable.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_petraeus_080211/

[ClintonTyree]

1. Bullshit......

"time" is the one thing we don't have in Iraq. That monetary black hole is devouring the funds so desperately needed in our own country.
The much touted "drawdown" HAS to be done. It isn't an elective operation, they HAVE to come home.

Apparently the recent INCREASE in violence in Iraq has been overlooked by the Press and Betrayus. The enemy can change their tactics on the fly there, and without a major U.S. presence for decades to come (even WITH that presence) there will be no "victory" in Iraq.

Giving Betrayus all the time in the world isn't going to change the fact that this is a guerrilla war now, one that will ALWAYS be fought on the Iraqis terms.

Get the hell out of Iraq, NOW! No more time, no more "hoping", no more bullshit extensions of time-lines. Get the fuck out, NOW! :grr:

[JohnnyRingo]

2. I guess it would be an advantage to maintain troop levels 'til next year

...an advantage for the current administration that is.

Beginning Jan 21 the Repubs will be screaming how much the war costs, how many lives are being wasted, and how democrats can't bring victory in Iraq.

The only lesson Buxh learned from Vietnam is that if he hands the war off intact to the next Milhouse, he can claim he was winning until he left office.