Despite dropping violence, Gates calls for extended U.S. presence in Iraq

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Despite dropping violence, Gates calls for extended U.S. presence in Iraq
Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: January 17, 2008 08:08:04 PM

WASHINGTON — Against the backdrop of the improved security situation in Iraq, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Thursday a shift in U.S. strategy that will require an extended U.S. presence in Iraq, although with fewer troops.

Gates and top uniformed officers sketched out a plan that runs counter to pledges by Democratic presidential contenders to bring about a rapid drawdown of the U.S. military presence in Iraq. One candidate, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, called for the withdrawal of nearly all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of 2009.

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On Capitol Hill on Thursday, Lt. Gen. James Dubik, the commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq, told the House Armed Services Committee that Iraqi security forces could reach 580,000 by the end of the year. But he predicted that the Iraqi troops couldn't protect their country without assistance for another decade.

Not everyone welcomed the suggestion of a long-term presence in Iraq. During Dubik's testimony, Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, R-Md., asked, "Does that mean we are going to be there forever?"

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/24971.html

Sorry for the comparison Bill I couldn't resist

The surge was an abject failure. We have to look like we're doing something or the Repugs will lose votes.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, by this turn of events! "Nobody could have anticipated..." yadda yadda yadda.

U.S. may have police role in Iraq for 10 more years
By Aamer Madhani


WASHINGTON — Iraqi officials have indicated that they cannot take full responsibility for internal security in their country until as late as 2012 and that it could be 10 years before Iraqi security forces are able to properly defend their own borders, a senior U.S. commander told a House panel Thursday.

Lt. Gen. James Dubik, who heads the Multi-National Security Transition Command, said Defense Minister Abdul-Qader al-Obeidi has repeatedly told him that Iraqi forces need to significantly boost their air and fire support before they would be able to properly defend themselves.

Dubik told the House Armed Services Committee that the Iraqi security forces have made much progress, but "the truth is that they simply cannot fix, supply, arm or fuel themselves completely enough at this point."

In conversations with U.S. commanders, al-Obeidi has estimated that the Iraqis will be able to take responsibility for internal security between 2009 and 2012 and establish proper border security between 2018 and 2020.

more:http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/iraq/2004131780_iraqtroops18.html?syndication=rss

WASHINGTON - As security improves in Iraq, the United States should be able to reduce forces at a slow but consistent pace beyond this summer, but air support and ground troops likely will be needed for five to 10 years, a top U.S. commander said yesterday.

Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the No. 2 commander in Iraq, said, “What we don’t want to do is suddenly pull out a whole bunch of U.S. forces and suddenly turn things over to . . . the Iraqi security forces. I would like to see it done very slowly over time. And I think if we do that, we’ll find ourselves being more successful and we’ll be able to have a consistent reduction of our forces over time.”

But Odierno also believes Iraqi forces will be able to take over security in their country much quicker than Iraqi officials have suggested. Iraqi officials have estimated they won’t be able to take over responsibility for internal security until 2012, or fully defend their borders until 2018.

Odierno, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other military leaders have been loath to predict troop reductions beyond this summer, when the number of U.S. brigades in Iraq will drop to 15. That would bring U.S. troop totals down to about 130,000.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/middle_east/view.bg?articleid=1067306

It's a dessert topping and it's a floor wax!

If violence goes down, it means it's working, and so we need to escalate the troop presence.

If violence goes up, it means it's not working, and so we need to escalate the troop presence.

No matter what the outcome, the New, Improved Surge will kick the can down the road for another six months (one standard Friedman Unit) forever. It's too early to gauge its effectiveness, so another F.U. to the American people. It's effective! One more F.U. No, it's not effective! Looks like we'll need another F.U.

Whatever the question, the New, Improved Surge is the answer. Oh, and another F.U.

I don't trust a single American leader on the Republican side (and a whole host on the Democratic side) to bring this war to an end.

It's up to the Iraqis to expel us, just like the Vietnamese did.

"power concedes nothing without demand" - Frederick Douglass

They will not concede sovereignty and their presence in Iraq without the "demand"...in the forming of incessant sabotage and IEDs. I do not blame insurgents for their resistance.

As for what will come after the U.S. leaves, that's a historical/cultural/religious mess that is up to the Iraqis to solve. We've done enough damage already.

Source: CBS News/AP

(CBS/AP) A senior military commander told a House panel on Thursday that Iraq's security forces are on track to add another 80,000 personnel by the end of the year, but it's a long way from becoming self-sufficient.

Lt. Gen. James Dubik, head of the Multi-National Security Transition Command, said the Iraqi defense minister has stressed to him that the country could not assume responsibility for internal security until as late as 2012. Also, it would be unable to defend its borders until at least 2018.

There are "positive signs, indeed, and steps forward, but the truth is that they simply cannot fix, supply, arm or fuel themselves completely enough at this point," Dubik told the House Armed Services Committee.

In private discussions, Dubik said the Iraq defense minister - Abdul-Qader al-Obeidi - continually raises the point that the Iraqis need to buy more air and fire support, helicopters and logistics equipment. These purchases will likely take several years, and training Iraqi soldiers and other personnel on the new equipment will take more time after that, he said.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/18/iraq/main3727076.shtml

That they will in no shape form or fashion build military bases in the sovereign nation of Iraq?

Oh the silence is defeaning... For all the hype about change prepare yourself for more of the same.

in the last debate.

that all of the projected timelines predict that US forces must occupy Iraq for many, many years into the future. What the fuck good was the "surge", then, if the Iraqis can't assume responsibility for their own security until 2012? What, are we going to keep "surging" that long? 4 more years of surgalicious action? I knew this propaganda would start--the "we can't leave now" BS, even when the violence decreases. We have to stay when they're killing each other, we have to stay when they're NOT killing each other. We have to stay no matter what.