Top US Commander Patraeus: "No Military Solution In Iraq" (Duh!)

[FourScore]

"Military force alone is not sufficient to end the violence in Iraq and political talks must eventually include some militant groups now opposing the U.S.-backed government, the new commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Thursday. 'This is critical,' Gen. David Petraeus said in his first news conference since taking over command last month. He noted that such political negotiations 'will determine in the long run the success of this effort..."

SNIP

"...He said that 'any student of history recognizes there is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency in Iraq..."

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2934192&page=1

[lebkuchen]

1. "This mission is doable" was his quote in Stripes headlines a fortnight ago

[FourScore]

2. That doesn't surprise me. n/t

[IChing]

3. So—the question which has to be asked—and answered.

Surging: the Lie Admitted

by Barry Lando
Snip>>>>>

1. Are we really to believe that General Odierno and his bosses–General David Petraeus, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the gang in the White House—that they just discovered that the surge, as sold to congress and the media, would not work? That the build up by a U.S. military already stretched to the breaking point would have to continue many months longer than indicated?

The answer to that question is a no-winner. If the generals didn’t realize just a few months ago that the concept of a limited surge as presented to the public was a farce, they were woefully ignorant of the situation in Iraq and should have never been given command. If they did lie—for that’s what we’re talking about—then they should lose their jobs.

The obvious White House strategy was this: Let’s at least get this surge thing rolling. Once underway, we simply oblige our weak-kneed congress to up the ante. If not, we accuse them of refusing to support our boys on the ground.

We win the 2008 elections with that strategy. ( AsTom Engelhardt among others has so clearly pointed out)

Indeed, the administration has already been able to increase the build up from 21,000 to 28,000.

2. The administration has never been obliged to specify how long the buildup would continue. When recently asked that question, for instance, General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs blandly told Pentagon reporters: “We’re looking, as we should, at each of the three possibilities: hold what you have, come down, or plus up if you need to,”

C’mon guys. Your generals on the ground have already told you the current policy is doomed. It’s truth time. It’s also time for everyone trying to avoid that issue—in congress and the mediam not to mention most of the herd running for president- to pull their heads out of the sand.>>>>>snip


http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/48962/