Analysis-U.S. may redefine how it sees victory in Iraq (Reuters)

[Eugene]

ANALYSIS-U.S. may redefine how it sees victory in Iraq
04 Feb 2007 14:59:47 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Andrew Gray

WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Bush administration is holding publicly to a lofty
definition of victory in Iraq but analysts say it should lower its sights -- at least
for now.

The Navy admiral in line to become the U.S. commander for the Middle East has signaled
he favors redefining the goals and some experts say U.S. officials already have done so
privately.

In his State of the Union speech on Jan. 23, President George W. Bush declared: "Our
goal is a democratic Iraq that upholds the rule of law, respects the rights of its people,
provides them security, and is an ally in the war on terror."

-snip-

"At this point in time, the main goal is to get through the next year without seeing a
major deterioration in the situation in Iraq," said Cordesman, a scholar at the Center
for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

"You can redefine victory in December if you've made it that far," he said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N02262860.htm

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