Rumsfeld: unclear when Iraq troops can replace U.S.

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-09-27T124857Z_01_L27699613_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-USA-RUMSFELD.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-L3-Top+NewsNews-2

Rumsfeld: unclear when Iraq troops can replace U.S.

TIRANA (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Wednesday that American operations in Iraq would end when Iraqi security forces were able to take over the job, but he would not estimate when that might be.

"Our view has been that it's for the Iraqi people to provide for their government, for the Iraqi people to provide for their own security, and our task has been to assist them during this period, the early days of their free system, so they can develop the security forces capable of providing for security in the country," he told reporters in the Albanian capital Tirana.

...

"One can't predict with perfect certainty the pace at which that will happen," Rumsfeld said. "We do know it is happening."

"Trying to set a specific date just isn't manageable," he said, speaking after a meeting of southeast European defense ministers.

[doubleplusgood]

1. easy: when the oil runs out

[LibDemAlways]

4. Beat me to it. As long as there's a drop of oil

in Iraq, the Iraqis will be unable to handle their own security.

[saigon68]

9. It will be a long, long time.

As long as the black gold is being pumped out.

[grytpype]

2. "Might it take 20 years?"

When is someone going to ask him that question?

Because that's how long it will take.

[Amonester]

6. And at an average co$t somewhere over 80 billions/year

It means that this MIC & BigOil's CEOs coup will add up to somewhere between $1,000,000,000,000 and $2,000,000,000,000 (plus cumulative interest) to the (remaining) lower-classes taxpayers.

Yeah: oil is "cheap" now (for them)!!

[acmavm]

3. The only thing this nasty cadaverous horrible old ghoul knows

is how to lie.

[bdamomma]

5. this poor excuse of a man should be terminated.

[0007]

10. Now now

 

[lpbk2713]

7. But .... but .... Rummy. I don't understand.

Wasn't it over three years ago (May 1, 2003 to be exact) that Captain Flightsuit told us all "Mission Accomplished"?






What went wrong? Now, you don't suppose it's possible that since that time we have created more 'tairists' by bombing and shooting their wives and children and turning their homes and towns into rubble do you? Found those WMD's yet?

[arewenotdemo]

8. "Trying to set a specific date just isn't manageable"

another looking-glass quote from Herr Rumsfeld