Reuters: New U.S. commander for Mideast strikes upbeat note

[Eugene]

New U.S. commander for Mideast strikes upbeat note

By Andrew Gray

1 hour, 10 minutes ago

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Adm. William Fallon took over on Friday as
new U.S. commander for the region that includes the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and said the situation in Iraq was critical.

-snip-

"The situation in Iraq is critical and time is of the essence," Fallon
told U.S. and allied soldiers at a ceremony in an aircraft hangar at
the headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

He said U.S. and Iraqi forces were engaged in a security crackdown
that began last month, and that the U.S. military and NATO allies
also had launched a new operation to fight Taliban insurgents in
Afghanistan.

"Despite these challenges, we have an awful lot going for us,"
Fallon said.

"We have vast capabilities in this nation of ours and, in concert
with our allies, if we put our minds to it, there's very little that
we can't accomplish."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070316/pl_nm/usa_centcom_dc

[Kagemusha]

1. Except of course, what we are attempting to accomplish in Iraq.

Those exceptions hurt.

[DRoseDARs]

2. Has he said, "We're turning the corner," yet? n/t

[northofdenali]

3. Or how about

"the insurgency is in its last throes"? :puke: