Another military officer who doesn’t support the troops. This time it’s Bush’s appointed “Saviour of the Surge,” General Petraeus:
BAGHDAD, March 8 (Reuters) – U.S. and Iraqi security forces cannot solve the problem of violence in Iraq without political action and reconciliation with some militant groups, the U.S. commander in Iraq said on Thursday.
General David Petraeus, in his first news conference in Baghdad since he took command last month, also said he saw no immediate need to request more U.S. troops, but reinforcements already requested would likely stay “well beyond the summer”.
“There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency of Iraq,” Petraeus said.
The additional troops to stay “well beyond summer?” I guess that means to infinity and beyond! Or at least another couple of Friedman units, whichever lasts longest. Not that there’s much difference.
of deck chairs on the Titanic.
When will they admit they have no good options left? Bush should have taken that life preserver the ISG threw months ago. Instead, he stubbornly insists that if he kills enough people (on both sides), the war can somehow be ‘won’.
At least he’s running out of military brass who are willing to play Yes-man with him.
It isn’t about winning, it’s about not being perceived as losing so that the next President gets saddled with the responsibility (and the blame) for ending the war.
on that analysis.
I’m glad to hear Petraeus’ words and not some boot licker. I really don’t think, at this point there is anyone, who is in a command position, that doesn’t want this over now.
And of course, the ‘press’ is complicit in this game.
well he had to be a boot licker to get the job, maybe he finally realized it is his responsibility to insure the safe return on those American troops, because W doesn’t care.
When they refer to the troops staying …., are they talking about extending the same troops indefinately?
With the state of our military, I don’t see how else it can be done.
Who bleeping knows anymore what they mean.