Comments on: JOINT CHIEFS QUESTION IRAQ TROOP “SURGE”

By: The Coffeespy » Abizaid: It Takes a Village

The Coffeespy » Abizaid: It Takes a Village — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:49:32 +0000

[...] Right Wing Nuthouse explains that additional troops isn’t really the discussion as the WaPo would have you believe.Â It’s having a clear goal to work with!Â And who should be bringing this issue up?Â Abizaid.Â Disagree?Â I really don’t think Patton, Eisenhower, or MacArthur had trouble letting Uncle Sam know what they needed to win.Â I blogged about needing more purpose the other day. [...]

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:37:50 +0000

The thing about adding more troops is that they will add nothing unless the overall strategy changes. We’ve been fighting a conventional war against the insurgency for the most part and it has failed (predictably, I might add). The additional troops migh be of value if the US and Iraq adopt a more effective operation strategy.

And frankly, in a city as large and diverse as Baghdad, another 30k troops who don’t understand the culture or the language will not be able to secure much.

I detail a more aggressive strategy on my blog. While not perfect, it’s certainly better than what we’ve been doing.

I’m all for getting rid of Maliki as well, but I’m not sure a SCIRI led coaltion is much better. Perhaps different warts will turn out to be better warts in the long run.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 01:58:05 +0000

“If youâ€™ve been paying attention to whatâ€™s happening, Ali Hakim of the SCIRI is in the process of building an alternate governing coalition â€“ WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FRICKING IRAQI CONSTITUTION - that would replace Maliki and eliminate the influence of al-Sadr on the government.

So much for democracy? Damn straight, stupid.”

Whoa, looks like I hit a nerve. Sorry about that.

By the way, you missed your best comeback to Christy’s post about the loss of American influence. You should have told her what you just told me, about Ali Hakim and SCIRI. Clearly, America’s influence is just as compelling as ever.

By: The Political Pit Bull

The Political Pit Bull — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:41:49 +0000

A Rift Between the White House and the Joint Chiefs Over Sending More Troops to Iraq?

Tony Snow says it’s a creation of the media. A temporary increase troop strength — cited as a possibility in the report of a high-powered Iraq Study Group — was “something that’s being explored” as Bush considers options on Iraq,…

By: daveinboca

daveinboca — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 21:23:16 +0000

Actually a yakfest such as the International Crisis Group suggests might do some good, although the Arab/Israel genuflection is simply for PC posturing. And that way Iran and Syria can demonstrate how useless they are in a General Conference and a lot of other dead leaves may blow off the trees.

I wish Ali Hakim and SCIRI God’s blessings because the Sadr wing of the coalition is a blocking veto on anything approaching a national solution.

By: Rick Moran

Rick Moran — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:33:40 +0000

If you’ve been paying attention to what’s happening, Ali Hakim of the SCIRI is in the process of building an alternate governing coalition - WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FRICKING IRAQI CONSTITUTION - that would replace Maliki and eliminate the influence of al-Sadr on the government.

So much for democracy? Damn straight, stupid.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:30:55 +0000

“Nouri al-Maliki has got to go.”

George W. Bush has got to go, too — but aren’t we lucky that no other country in the world has the power to actually make him go?

So much for democracy, eh?

By: Rightwing Guy

Rightwing Guy — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:29:02 +0000

More Troops In Iraq Seems To Be The Plan

Will more troops end this conflict in Iraq? Well Presidential hopeful John McCain believes and other key Republicans believe that about 20,000 - 40,000 more troops would help end the violence and take control of the capitol city of Baghdad, which in …

By: The Moderate Voice

The Moderate Voice — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:04:08 +0000

Joint Chiefs of Staff vs. Bush

Please read Shaun’s post from today:…

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:29:57 +0000

I don’t know about anyone else, but I would tend to believe the Generals rather than the administration. That is no ’slam’ on the administration, it is a reflection of who knows best. The generals are on the ground and have access to more ‘timely’ (that is, day to day) information. If the Generals feel bringing in more troops would work, I am sure they would scream for the increase, but they are not screaming for the increases. I am hoping this ’surge’ is not another smoke and mirrors game by our president. He has cried wolf too many times for this citizen.