WaPo: General May See Early Success in Iraq (But...)

[Bhaisahab]

General May See Early Success in Iraq
But Sharp Rise in Insurgent Violence Could Soon Follow, Officials Say

By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 23, 2007; Page A01

The battle for Baghdad will start in mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhoods chosen by military strategists as being the least likely to offer stiff resistance, raising the odds of early success, according to military planners and officials familiar with the thinking of the incoming Iraq commander, Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus.

But that could be followed by a sharp increase in violence as insurgents learn U.S. and Iraqi tactics, military officials said.

The general, whose Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for this morning, plans to send all 17,500 additional U.S. troops ordered by President Bush into Baghdad, regardless of whether Iraqi army units join the fight as planned, according to officials familiar with his thinking. Anticipating an uneven performance by the Iraqi army, military planners are advocating using American force and funding quickly to establish early victories, both in improving security and showing economic progress.

CONTINUED: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012201443.html

[stillcool]

1. "Early" Success?...

He's a few years late for that. I wonder what his idea of 'success' is, other than the death of Iraqi's.

[Javaman]

11. Early success followed by a late failure.

So I guess their definition of success is only when it's done in part and not the whole thing.

"last week we had a success by taking over a ice cream stand, but this week it's back in the rebels hands, so it was an early success".

Sigh.

Each day and in every way I find a new way to despise these frauds.

[stillcool]

12. thank you for that...

I thought I was getting pretty good at reading between the words, but 'success' had me stumped.

[Javaman]

13. It's along the same lines as "a success that has yet to happen"...

that's a Rise-ism.

[Barrett808]

14. I always liked "catastrophic success"

Sums up the Bush regime nicely.

[0007]

15. Is "catastrophic success" kinda like "constructive criticism"?

[Javaman]

16. or "an known unknown" nt

[SpiralHawk]

2. Since the General must report to Commander AWOL

and VP Dick "Five Military Deferments" Cheney, we can expect the usual Miserable Failure.

republicon heroes George AWOL Bush and Five Defmerments Dickie
are neither fit, nor competent, nor qualified to lead
our sons and daughters in uniform.

[Solly Mack]

3. so they are gonna go into the most secured area in Iraq

an area that is "least likely to offer stiff resistance" and they will call that an "early success"

so Bush can then claim his "surge" is working...


LMAO

[Eugene]

4. AP: Petraeus sees tough time for troop surge

Petraeus sees tough time for troop surge

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

37 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Army general who would carry out President Bush's troop buildup
in Iraq urged patience Tuesday and predicted "tough days" ahead.

"None of this will be rapid," Lt. Gen. David Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services
Committee. "The way ahead will be neither quick nor easy."

-snip-

Petraeus said that in the event the Iraqis did not meet their commitments, he would
consult with Defense Secretary Robert Gates on how to respond.

In his opening statement, Petraeus, 54, painted a grim picture of conditions in Iraq.

"The situation in Iraq is dire," he said. "The stakes are high. There are no easy choices.
The way ahead will be very hard. ... But hard is not hopeless."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_29

[aggiesal]

5. US Army General Petraeus says 'tough days' ahead in Iraq ...

By ANNE FLAHERTY,
Associated Press Writer
Tue Jan 23, 10:57 AM ET

WASHINGTON - The Army general who would carry out President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq urged a skeptical Congress and American public on Tuesday to be patient with the plan and predicted "tough days" ahead.

"None of this will be rapid," Lt. Gen. David Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The way ahead will be neither quick nor easy."

Many in Congress, including some Republicans, opposed Bush's plan, which would send an extra 21,500 U.S. troops to Iraq as part of a revised strategy for quelling sectarian violence in Baghdad and stabilizing the country. Before the buildup began in recent days there were 132,000 U.S. troops there.

Bush nominated Petraeus to replace Army Gen. George Casey as the senior American commander in Iraq. Petraeus is considered a shoo-in to win Senate confirmation as commander of Multinational Forces-Iraq, but senators used his appearance Tuesday before the Senate panel to grill him on how Bush's new strategy would work. ...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_31

"I got rid of Casey, because he disagreed with me. So, if you want to keep this position, you better just nod your head, and keep agreeing with me."
"Because, I'm the Dictato..., ooops, I mean, I'm the Decider."

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. But the Chimp-in-Chief said we're winning.

Who's gonna believe some old general? What does he know?

[sarge43]

7. As opposed to the sun shiny ones of yesterday n/t

[frylock]

8. well darn, it's been a walk in the cake so far

[ShortnFiery]

9. "tough days" for whom?

He hasn't even started and I already dislike this man. :(

[TexasLawyer]

10. RIP

To the beautiful young men and women who will be forced to lay down their lives for Bush's lies and his inability, now, to change course or listen to sage advice (e.g. the ISG report).

My condolences to their families.

Bush-- Iraq isn't a college tennis game where you can call 2 out of 3 on the chance you'll "win" in later rounds. There are no winners in this one, and every DAY more lives are lost. End it.