U.S. defence chief says Iraq at "pivotal moment"

[maddezmom]

BASRA, Iraq, Jan 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday Iraq was at a "pivotal moment" and the top U.S. commander in Iraq said it would be "late summer" before decisions could be made on reducing U.S. troop numbers.

~snip~

"Whatever one's views on how we got to this point, here in Iraq at this pivotal moment, there is widespread agreement here that failure would be calamity for American national interests and those of many other countries as well," Gates said.

"Given what is at stake, failure is not an option."

Casey said Baghdad would not be secured overnight. He hoped to see gradual progress over 60 to 90 days but it could be late summer before people in Baghdad feel safe. Commanders could then take a view on whether the U.S. could start to draw down troops.

"I believe the projections are late summer," he said. "We'll start thinking about it before then but it will be late summer before we see the results that would cause us to make some decisions like that."

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR947661.htm

Casey: 'Surge' could go home by summer
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq - Gen. George Casey, the top American commander in Iraq, said Friday that some of the extra troops that President Bush ordered to Baghdad could begin leaving by late summer if conditions allow.

"I think it's probably going to be the summer, late summer, before you get to the point where people in Baghdad feel safe in their neighborhoods," Casey told reporters at a news conference with visiting Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Asked how long the 21,500 extra U.S. troops are likely to be kept in Iraq, Casey replied, "I believe the projections are, late summer."

The first group of extra troops — a brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division — has just arrived in Baghdad, and Gates said it was too early to predict how Bush's plan for quelling the sectarian violence in the capital will work. Four other brigades are to be sent to Iraq between now and May, assuming the Iraqis follow through on their commitment to bring three additional Iraqi army brigades into Baghdad and to allow raids against all illegal militias.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070119/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gates


Conditions will never allow them to go home..... :(

[dubyaD40web]

1. Another "pivotal moment"?

What is that? 10 "pivotal moments" now?

[rodeodance]

2. that was my thought.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. They've worn out "turning point" and "milestone". n/t

[hatrack]

5. But let's not forget "important juncture"

:eyes:

[bluedog]

4. if Iraq is a Sovereign Country

what is the US still doing in Iraq and why are they still trying to tell this new government what to do?????

When Iraq became a......"new" sovereign nation.bush lost his unilateral powers affecting Iraq...

[bemildred]

6. The pivotal moment is when these morons invaded to steal their oil. nt

[LynnTheDem]

7. "pivotal moment" a la "last throes"?

"light at the end of the tunnel"?

"stay the course"?

Uh huh, thought so.

[damntexdem]

8. Oh, yes, it is -- just like it has been for years:

the Bushistas use the pivot to spin their wheels in Iraq.

We can't go around in circles without a pivot -- and it's also essential to a death spiral.

[Amonester]

9. Since all the buildings that stood on the corners in Iraq have been

destroyed, there would be no point to saying "we've turned the corner in Iraq" like these criminals used to say before, hence this "pivotal moment" r-w BS.

There simply aren't any corners left to turn. :grr: