Commander says Iraq war may last 2 more years

[bigtree]

January 8, 2007

BAGHDAD: Even with the additional American troops likely to be deployed in Baghdad under President George W. Bush's new war strategy, it may take another "two or three years" for American and Iraqi forces to gain the upper hand in the war, according to the new American operational commander in Iraq.

Lieutenant General Raymond Odierno assumed day-to-day command of war operations last month in the first step of a makeover of the American military hierarchy here. In his first lengthy meeting with reporters Sunday, the 52-year-old general struck a cautious note about American prospects, saying much would depend on whether commanders could show enough progress to stem eroding support in the United States for the war.

"I believe the American people, if they feel we are making progress, they will have the patience," he said. But right now, he added, "I think the frustration is that they think we are not making progress."

Bush's new Iraq war policy, expected to be released as early as Wednesday, reportedly calls for bolstering the U.S. military presence in Baghdad with an additional 20,000 troops. It is also said to include timetables by which the Iraqi government is expected to achieve milestones required to defeat the insurgency, including a new agreement with Sunni forces to share political power and a formula for equitable distribution of the country's oil revenues.

The general laid out a plan to make an impact in Baghdad with the additional troops. Several other military plans undertaken since the fall of Baghdad in 2003 have faltered. He said he wanted the new American units, working with three additional Iraqi combat brigades that Iraqi officials say will be deployed in the capital, to move back into the city's toughest neighborhoods and show that they can "protect the people," which he said coalition forces had failed to do.


article: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/08/news/military.php


my 2 cents:
Bush's Latest Plan To Perpetuate His Bloody Iraq Failure
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3067502&mesg_id=3067502

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Oh Boy!! "The light at the end of the tunnel."

Sounds familiar somehow.

[bigtree]

3. If we see light at the end of the tunnel . . .

. . . it's the light of the oncoming train

--Robert Lowell

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. I should have added...again.

[LeftCoast]

2. Yeah, yeah, yeah...and the next 6 months are critical

Heard it before. Same old shtick.

[Double T]

4. bush's 'war' might take two or three MORE years to gain the upperhand,...............

after bush's term ends and HE is living on his ranch.....in Paraguay.

[stansnark]

5. its guaranteed to last two more years

after what pelosi just said

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. I agree.

In two years we'll have a real president. Then the war will be over.