Rice acknowledges Iraq troop errors

[maddezmom]

Rice acknowledges Iraq troop errors By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer
51 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday staunchly defended going to war in Iraq, but acknowledged the Bush administration likely erred by failing initially to send enough troops to quell the civil strife that followed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Four years later and after more than 3,200 deaths of U.S. servicemen and women, Rice said patience still is required and asserted anew that the Iraqis are making headway in completing the transition toward democracy.

Rice appeared on a host of network morning news shows amid fresh White House warnings against plans by congressional Democrats to pass legislation effectively forcing the withdrawal of troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008. That means a standoff over war funding is looming, just as the battle to secure Baghdad intensifies and the war enters its fifth year.

Asked on CBS's "The Early Show" to say what the administration could have done better, Rice replied, "I don't know. When we look back over time we will know the answer to that question."

But she did say the United States, early on, "might have looked to a more localized, more decentralized approach to reconstruction.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070319/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq_14

Rice urges patience over slow pace of progress in Iraq 10 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday called for patience as the Iraq war entered its fifth year, vowing that a peaceful, civil society eventually would prevail there.

"It will take some time for the violence to change," Rice told NBC television.

"I would ask the American people to be patient. We have invested a lot. It's worth the sacrifice and ultimately I believe that we and the Iraqis together will prevail," she said.

While conceding that much had not gone well in the four years since the US-led invasion, Rice said that there were some successes in Iraq.

"Saddam Hussein is gone," she said. "The Iraqi people have an opportunity of having been liberated from this tyrant to build a country based on politics and not tyranny. They voted. They have a constitution."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070319/pl_afp/usiraqwaranniversary_070319123713

yeah, they've been libertated from one tyrant to the next :eyes:

[Xipe Totec]

1. She doesn't know?!

When did ignorance become a shield and buckler?

Perhaps it's time to get somebody who does know.

Step aside, Condi.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Is she a historian or the secretary of state??

"When we look back over time we will know the answer to that question."

[CrazyOrangeCat]

3. vile woman

600,000 Iraqi dead. A country utterly destroyed. 3,200 dead soldiers, and countless maimed.

And she's totally emotionally detached.

Straightjackets for the lot of 'em, I say.

Repukes are insane.

[saigon68]

10. She is Evil a tool of the Chimp War Criminal

[CrazyOrangeCat]

11. You Vietnam Vets must be . . .

. . . just sick about watching this happen again. This is madness.

[TwilightGardener]

4. "I would ask the American people to be patient"...

'cause we ain't got the black gold yet.

[Robbien]

5. They have that trumped up Poll which proves Iraqis are very happy

Iraqis are so happy with the US and are overjoyed with their current situation, or so says the poll.

So it is all worth it. "Be patient," says Rice. "Let time pass as you will forget all about your objections to this invasion."

[gratuitous]

6. Saddam gone, they held an election, they have a constitution

Yes, Saddam is indisputably gone; lynched by a mob and now replaced with dozens of petty tyrants each running their own corner of Iraq with the same brutality and ferocity.

Yes, they people voted; we all saw the purple fingers. But what power does the government have to do anything? They can't even run their capital city safely.

Yes, they have a constitution; and so do we. And Iraq's constitution doesn't appear to guarantee the rights of Iraqis any more than ours does against ruthless thugs who sweep aside the rule of law for their own personal gain.

Just turn yourself in, Dr. Rice; perhaps the court will be in a lenient mood.

[Javaman]

7. here we go, they are going with the old addage...

It's to get forgiveness than to get permission.

ironic isn't it, since these pricks fought tooth and nail to get permission and then actually still went ahead and bombed Iraq even though they really didn't get permission.

Now they are singing their mia culpa to us for our forgiveness.

fuck them.

Bring the troops home now.

[liberalmike27]

8. I think that would be

going in to Iraq in the first place.

[carla]

9. Gosh, KindaSleazy,

in the political dictionary, tyranny is a form of politic. Stupid as a brick and ugly as my dogs ass, but such a sharp dresser and rhythmic dancer, she is. :sarcasm:

[Supersedeas]

12. wasn't kindosleezy in charge of portions of the reconstruction fairly early on