US General: Iraq Shifting from Insurgency Toward Sectarian Violence

[ECH1969]

The general who commands all U.S. military activities in the Middle East says the situation in Iraq is shifting from insurgency toward sectarian violence. At a U.S. Senate committee hearing, General John Abizaid said tension in Iraq is increasing, and the type of violence is changing.

"There's no doubt that the sectarian tensions are higher than we've seen," he said. "And it is of great concern to all of us. It's my belief that the security situation in the country, while changing in its nature from insurgency toward sectarian violence, is controllable by Iraqi security forces and multi-national forces."

Secretary Rumsfeld declined to say what role U.S. forces would play if a civil war broke out in Iraq. But he stressed that avoiding a civil war is as much a political issue as it is a military one.

"The situation, to the extent that it's fragile and tense, is as much a governance issue as it is a security issue," he added. "The need is for the principal players in that country to recognize the seriousness of the situation, and to come together to form a government of national unity that will govern from the center, and to do it in a reasonably prompt manner. And that will be what it will take, in my view, to further calm the situation."

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-03-09-voa46.cfm

[Critters2]

1. But it's not a civil war

and don't you forget it. Rummy will let us know when it is!

[saigon68]

2. Ass-Clowns

"Can I have a kiss ?", He pleaded

[The Magistrate]

3. He Noticed That Today, Did He, Sir?

"There's always some sonuvabitch 'at's slow to get the word!"

[tabasco]

4. The Bush cabal has no interest in creating law and order in Iraq.

As myself and many here predicted long ago. The US will allow Iraq to devolve into civil war as long as the oil facilities are secure. The corporate cabal did not invade Iraq for the good of the Iraqi people - far from it. The corporate cabal is only interested in controlling oil, in Iraq and elsewhere. Iraqi cities can burn for all the cabal cares. US troops will hunker down and guard oil facilities and rarely venture into Iraqi cities on security missions. The cabal does want to keep US casualties low, not out of compassion, but for purely political motives.

[GDAEx2]

5. Does that mean

"Mission Accomplished"?

[rodeodance]

6. Rummy et all talk to the offiical leaders--here we are dealing with the

clergy. big gap.

"The situation, to the extent that it's fragile and tense, is as much a governance issue as it is a security issue," he added. "The need is for the principal players in that country to recognize the seriousness of the situation, and to come together to form a government of national unity that will govern from the center, and to do it in a reasonably prompt manner. And that will be what it will take, in my view, to further calm the situation."

[NYC]

7. Sectarian violence = civil war.

In a sense, they are finally admitting it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. rummy voted for insurgency before he voted against it!