..Army chief says US ready to be in Iraq 10 years

[humblebum]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is prepared to leave fighting forces in Iraq for as long as a decade despite an agreement between the United States and Iraq that would bring all American troops home by 2012, the top U.S. Army officer said Tuesday.

Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, said the world remains dangerous and unpredictable, and the Pentagon must plan for extended U.S. combat and stability operations in two wars. "Global trends are pushing in the wrong direction," Casey said. "They fundamentally will change how the Army works."

He spoke at an invitation-only briefing to a dozen journalists and policy analysts from Washington-based think-tanks. He said his planning envisions combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for a decade as part of a sustained U.S. commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism in the Middle East.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090526/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_iraq

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Time to start again.

[Libertas1776]

1. Fuck Me...

This bullshit never will never end, will it? Always with the political two steps and military doublespeak. ENOUGH! :banghead:

[HowHasItComeToThis]

5. HEY 'MERIKA, HOW YOU FEELING ABOUT YOUR MILITARY COUP?

[Downwinder]

17. The banker says "Jump," we jump.

The banker says "send us your technology," we send the technology.

The banker says "send us your manufacturing jobs," we send the manufacturing jobs.

The banker says "send us your army," we send the proxy army.

[winyanstaz]

2. So much for change.....

We are not getting out..thats plain to see. More wars..more money for the pentagon as the American Taxpayers go down in flames...
If we really wanted to see an end to extremism (what the hell does that mean exactly?) and "terrorism" in the Middle East, we need to get the hell out and stop killing them and robbing them of their natural resources. duh...

[jus_the_facts]

3. "...part of a sustained U.S. commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism in the Middle East...."

....their presence there is making it worse. :banghead:

[msongs]

4. so who exactly is the commander in chief these days? nt

[atreides1]

9. I give up, who???

Casey couldn't make this statement unless the okay came from the White House, so any questions should be directed to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[jody]

11. Agree, Casey would never speak on such matters unless he had WH orders. More likely its

preparation for an Obama announcement that the U.S. must remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

[jody]

6. Whatever happens is Obama's responsibility and his alone. n/t

[saigon68]

32. He is riding a sick horse

[jody]

35. Agree. n/t

[fascisthunter]

7. Not Unless the money comes from the Top One Percent

hell, there're the one benefiting most from this oil plunder. What a sick country this is, unfortunately too many people believe in something Hollywood created.

[harun]

37. Damn right. The bottom 99 didn't sign up to fund this shit.

[LynnTheDem]

8. Only one wee problem...

The people of Iraq aren't.

They want us out 6 years ago.

[LakeSamish706]

10. But is Gen. George Casey speaking on behalf of President Obama? That is the question! n/t

[shadowknows69]

13. If not then it needs to be the last thing he ever says as a General

As in he should be fired. Sorry not to clarify Agent Mike.

[No Elephants]

26. Please see Reply ## 9 and 11.

[shadowknows69]

12. I wish I could say I was surprised

Or even had the strength to be outraged anymore.

[No Elephants]

28. I've seen one too many "I'm not surprised" posts.

[shadowknows69]

33. Well, are you?

[onehandle]

14. We'll be there in some capacity for decades. Why would anyone believe otherwise?

Multiple battle hardened bases. The largest oil company headquarters... I mean "embassy" in the world.

We will never leave, but the war will end-ish.

[No Elephants]

27. What war? No one who represents Iraq ever fought us, except after Bush 41 bombed. And even then,

you can hardly call that a war.

[Solly Mack]

15. shakes head

[FlyByNight]

16. And the empire marches on

With what damn money will all of this be done? The US is bankrupt NOW.

Maintenance of the empire (perhaps 750+ bases) and military-industrial complex is destroying the republic both economically and constitutionally. This posture is unsustainable, especially with the current and oncoming domestic issues the nation has to face (severe recession and health care, for instance).

War is a racket. This must end.

:argh:

[Arctic Dave]

18. Did anyone bother to read the entire article?

[Doctor_J]

19. We'll be completely out of money in 3, so no worries

I think I'll get some Rosetta Stone Chinese CDs for when we change official languages

[masuki bance]

20. Amazing how little people care here at DU

I can imagine it will be much less everywhere else.

Oh well, if mcCain had been in....

[driver8]

21. Don't mistake "burn out" for not caring...

I feel like a whipped puppy -- I don't know how much more I can take.

[masuki bance]

25. Burn out? He's been in there only 3.5-4 months.

[No Elephants]

29. Yes, but there was 2004 to 2006, when we prayed for him to run and 2006 to 2008, when

we worked our butts off for him to win and 2008 to Inauguration Day, while our hearts sank a little as we noted some of his appointments. And before that, there was working for Gore and Kerry and before that there was triangulation and impeachment and before that...well, you get the picture.

I wonder if Democrats have really had a President since Roosevelt and Truman (though most loved JFK).

[shadowknows69]

36. Actually from 2004-2006 I prayed for Al Gore to run

I don't blame him now for not wanting the job. I think he knew he could never fight the "machine" from the inside and live to tell about it.

[driver8]

39. I'm not talking about Obama...I'm talking about the war. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

22. Fire him.

The military shouldn't presume to make foreign policy. Period.

[pam4water]

23. My default post here is getting to b WTF! So WTF!

[Titonwan]

24. Hey, this isn't what I voted for.

I am not at all happy with this development. (FUCK!)

[Algorem]

30. we got a kinder,gentler machine gun hand

[Vidar]

31. Shows how much the American treaties are worth. Just ask the Indians.

[jus_the_facts]

38. Sad but true...

....."run to the hills...run for your lives..." :evilfrown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZlDZPYzfm4

[eringer]

34. Would you expect anything less from someone who adores his president?