http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7610405.stm
The outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will never declare victory there.
In a BBC interview, Gen Petraeus said that recent security gains were "not irreversible" and that the US still faced a "long struggle".
When asked if US troops could withdraw from Iraqi cities by the middle of next year, he said that would be "doable".
In his next job leading the US Central Command, Gen Petraeus will also oversee operations in Afghanistan.
Leaving his post, he said there were "many storm clouds on the horizon which could develop into real problems".
Overall he summed up the situation as "still hard but hopeful", saying that progress in Iraq was "a bit more durable" but that the situation there remained fragile.
He said he did not know that he would ever use the word "victory": "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan."
Full Version: No victory in Iraq says Petraeus
QUOTE
No victory in Iraq says Petraeus
Why does he hate the troops?
QUOTE (Starbuck @ Sep 11 2008, 06:19 AM) 
Overall he summed up the situation as "still hard but hopeful", saying that progress in Iraq was "a bit more durable" but that the situation there remained fragile.
He said he did not know that he would ever use the word "victory": "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan."
He said he did not know that he would ever use the word "victory": "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan."
That is a sensible thing to say. The irony is that we had what some would have called "victory" over the USSR. But the damn Republicans snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by restarting the Cold War through their warmongering. They don't know when to declare victory and they don't know how to keep it when the stumble into it.
Presently, in this moment, the word victory has no meaning -- thanks to Mr. Mission Accomplished. War and victory is analagous to the abortion issue - used over and over like the key words used in the advertising game - what words will work on the casual unsuspecting bystander - that dwindling McCain/BushCo audience.
QUOTE
Move to evict Baghdad squatters
Some have tried to return to their homes, only to find them occupied
Iraqi security forces have begun an operation in the capital, Baghdad, to evict squatters from houses abandoned by people who fled sectarian violence.
Squatters who fail to vacate the houses could face up to three years in prison.
The move is part of a government effort to encourage refugees to return to the neighbourhoods and re-occupy their homes after a recent fall in violence.
The UN says more than 2 million people are displaced inside Iraq, mostly from Baghdad. Two million have fled abroad.
A limited number of refugees have already attempted to return home, mainly from Syria, which has absorbed about 1.5m Iraqis.
Prison threat
As a result of the sectarian violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 many people in Baghdad fled, often following threats by militant groups, to areas where their religious groups were in the majority.
more:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7594994.stm
Some have tried to return to their homes, only to find them occupied
Iraqi security forces have begun an operation in the capital, Baghdad, to evict squatters from houses abandoned by people who fled sectarian violence.
Squatters who fail to vacate the houses could face up to three years in prison.
The move is part of a government effort to encourage refugees to return to the neighbourhoods and re-occupy their homes after a recent fall in violence.
The UN says more than 2 million people are displaced inside Iraq, mostly from Baghdad. Two million have fled abroad.
A limited number of refugees have already attempted to return home, mainly from Syria, which has absorbed about 1.5m Iraqis.
Prison threat
As a result of the sectarian violence that has plagued Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 many people in Baghdad fled, often following threats by militant groups, to areas where their religious groups were in the majority.
more:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7594994.stm
McCain Eats It
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s896jrPeZvo
Thursday, 11 September 2008
No victory in Iraq, says Petraeus
General Petraeus on the Iraq campaign
The outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will never declare victory there.
In a BBC interview, Gen Petraeus said that recent security gains were "not irreversible" and that the US still faced a "long struggle".
When asked if US troops could withdraw from Iraqi cities by the middle of next year, he said that would be "doable".
In his next job leading the US Central Command, Gen Petraeus will also oversee operations in Afghanistan.
This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan
Gen David Petraeus
He said "the trends in Afghanistan have not gone in the right direction... and that has to be addressed".
Afghanistan remained a "hugely important endeavour", he said.
Earlier this week, President George W Bush announced a cut of 8,000 US troops in Iraq by February - with some 4,500 being sent to Afghanistan.
'Hard but hopeful'
Gen Petraeus took up his role in Iraq in February 2007, as President Bush announced his "surge" plan.
He has overseen its implementation, including the deployment of nearly 30,000 additional troops to trouble spots in Iraq.
In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme, Gen Petraeus said that when he took charge in Iraq "the violence was horrific and the fabric of society was being torn apart".
Leaving his post, he said there were "many storm clouds on the horizon which could develop into real problems".
Overall he summed up the situation as "still hard but hopeful", saying that progress in Iraq was "a bit more durable" but that the situation there remained fragile.
He said he did not know that he would ever use the word "victory": "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan."
He said al-Qaeda's efforts to portray its jihad in Iraq as going well were "disingenuous". It was, in fact "going poorly", he said.
Of his strategy of establishing joint security stations in key locations, Gen Petraeus said that "you can't secure the people if you don't live with them".
He said it was now fair to say that the Iraqis were standing up as US forces stood down. The confidence and capability of Iraqi forces had increased substantially, he said.
Gen Petraeus did not confirm reports in the media that the US was preparing to withdraw all troops from Baghdad by next summer, but he did say that consideration was being given to removing US forces from a number of cities, including the capital.
Watch the interview in full on the BBC's Newsnight programme, BBC2, Thursday 11 September at 2230 BST.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s896jrPeZvo
Thursday, 11 September 2008
No victory in Iraq, says Petraeus
General Petraeus on the Iraq campaign
The outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, has said that he will never declare victory there.
In a BBC interview, Gen Petraeus said that recent security gains were "not irreversible" and that the US still faced a "long struggle".
When asked if US troops could withdraw from Iraqi cities by the middle of next year, he said that would be "doable".
In his next job leading the US Central Command, Gen Petraeus will also oversee operations in Afghanistan.
This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan
Gen David Petraeus
He said "the trends in Afghanistan have not gone in the right direction... and that has to be addressed".
Afghanistan remained a "hugely important endeavour", he said.
Earlier this week, President George W Bush announced a cut of 8,000 US troops in Iraq by February - with some 4,500 being sent to Afghanistan.
'Hard but hopeful'
Gen Petraeus took up his role in Iraq in February 2007, as President Bush announced his "surge" plan.
He has overseen its implementation, including the deployment of nearly 30,000 additional troops to trouble spots in Iraq.
In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme, Gen Petraeus said that when he took charge in Iraq "the violence was horrific and the fabric of society was being torn apart".
Leaving his post, he said there were "many storm clouds on the horizon which could develop into real problems".
Overall he summed up the situation as "still hard but hopeful", saying that progress in Iraq was "a bit more durable" but that the situation there remained fragile.
He said he did not know that he would ever use the word "victory": "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade... it's not war with a simple slogan."
He said al-Qaeda's efforts to portray its jihad in Iraq as going well were "disingenuous". It was, in fact "going poorly", he said.
Of his strategy of establishing joint security stations in key locations, Gen Petraeus said that "you can't secure the people if you don't live with them".
He said it was now fair to say that the Iraqis were standing up as US forces stood down. The confidence and capability of Iraqi forces had increased substantially, he said.
Gen Petraeus did not confirm reports in the media that the US was preparing to withdraw all troops from Baghdad by next summer, but he did say that consideration was being given to removing US forces from a number of cities, including the capital.
Watch the interview in full on the BBC's Newsnight programme, BBC2, Thursday 11 September at 2230 BST.
QUOTE (ianshickle @ Sep 11 2008, 08:50 AM)
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No victory in Iraq, says Petraeus
...
No victory in Iraq, says Petraeus
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Hey, ianshickle, and welcome. Don't think I've come across you previously.
FYI, there was an earlier thread on this. You can find it HERE. It's usually a good idea to try and check the subject lines on the first page or two at "View new posts" to see if anyone has perhaps beaten you to a posting so the mods don't have to spend time merging them later.
Even doing that you'll still occasionally duplicate - it happens to ALL of us. But we do what we can to keep dups to a minimum. See, the mods are phenomenally lazy, despise their work and hate dragging their corpulent... well, um... er, never mind, I'll tell you the rest in a private message.
MODS, MERGE?
So much for McCain's surge.
All aboard! Now entering the Third stage of Vietnam:
1) Vietnamization (didn't work in Vietnam, either)
2) Escalation (just passed that point)
3) Evacuation
1) Vietnamization (didn't work in Vietnam, either)
2) Escalation (just passed that point)
3) Evacuation
QUOTE (adamquestor @ Sep 11 2008, 10:29 AM)
All aboard! Now entering the Third stage of Vietnam:
1) Vietnamization (didn't work in Vietnam, either)
2) Escalation (just passed that point)
3) Evacuation
Hope they reinforce the skids for the last choppers out.1) Vietnamization (didn't work in Vietnam, either)
2) Escalation (just passed that point)
3) Evacuation
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