posted on June 7, 2007 08:45:29 AM new
WASHINGTON - The military buildup in Iraq has a high-profile skeptic in the Bush administration: the Army general President Bush has chosen to manage that war and the one in Afghanistan.
Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute questioned Bush's strategy of sending thousands more troops into Iraq, a position he was expected to discuss Thursday at his confirmation hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In a written response to questions by the Senate panel, Lute confirmed news reports that he had voiced doubts during a White House-led policy review before Bush announcement Jan. 10 that 21,500 more combat troops would go to Baghdad and Anbar province.
"During the review, I registered concerns that a military 'surge' would likely have only temporary and localized effects unless it were accompanied by counterpart 'surges' by the Iraqi government and the other, nonmilitary agencies of the U.S. government," Lute wrote in a document obtained by The Associated Press.
"I also noted that our enemies in Iraq have, in effect, 'a vote' and should be expected to take specific steps to counter from our efforts," he added. "The new policy took such concerns into account. It is too soon to tell the outcome."
If confirmed by the Senate, Lute would hold the title of deputy national security adviser. He would report directly to the president - briefing Bush daily - and work with other government agencies, including the Pentagon and the State Department.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on June 7, 2007 10:42:15 AM new
yawn - Let us know when the dem party actually finds their backbone and stops funding the war. It's been six months now...and they're STILL funding it.
Action NOT words. LOL
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on June 7, 2007 02:37:51 PM new
U.S. General: Life Improving for People of Anbar Province
Posted by Mark Finkelstein on June 7, 2007 - 07:26.
There has been a certain amount of MSM coverage of the fact that Sunni tribal chiefs have begun encouraging men in their areas to volunteer for the Iraqi police force [file photo]. But I haven't seen MSM stories on the way that increased police presence may have translated into a more normal day-to-day life for the people of Anbar -- the large, Sunni-dominated province of western Iraq that contains such former hotspots as Fallujah and Ramadi.
So that was the question on my mind when I had the chance to participate yesterday in a blogger conference call with Brigadier General David D. Phillips [pictured below], the Deputy Commanding General of CPATT, the entity responsible for the training of the new Iraqi police force. Here's the general's response to my question as to the effect of the presence of Iraqi police on life in cities in Anbar.
BRIG. GEN. DAVID D. PHILLIPS: Right now you're seeing many of the tribes, the families, and you know it looks like they've had their fill of al Qaeda, of the terrorism that's going on, losing their sons and daughters and just having their livelihoods torn apart.
As you know, Al Anbar was an absolute combat zone. That was about as down and dirty as you can get. But now they've rallied together. They're allowing their sons to go to the academies to train and be police officers, and they have their local groups, which are basically like community-watch groups, they're working hand-in-hand with the Marine forces that are out there and the Army forces out there.
They're turning in the insurgents, they're turning in caches of weapons, and I have to tell you that commerce is working, the stores are back open, and you get small kids on the street waving as you go by in a humvee. You didn't see that a few months back.
I received a surprising, and encouraging, response to my later question as to whether it was the Marines or CPATT who had lead responsibility for training Iraqi police recruits at the new police academy in Habbaniyah. The answer: neither.
BRIG. GEN. PHILLIPS: Well, actually, I would like to say, this is Iraqi-led. Although we have about 15 personnel that are advisers out there from CPATT, the instructors are all Iraqis, the administration of the academy is Iraqi, and it's really totally run -- other than a bit of tutelage, guidance and mentoring there, we do have some Marines that are providing oversight on the life support contracts to make sure that water, ice, food are all delivered. But short of that, this is an Iraqi-run academy on an Iraqi military installation.
Good news. But where have you seen it reported by the MSM?
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.George S. Patton
posted on June 7, 2007 03:15:38 PM new
That's funny, Bear. Expecting the liberal MSM to post anything postive on the war?
They'd rather go out of business than report any positive news.
Kind of like the NYT posting on page 37 the terrorists that were arrested in the latest terrorist arrests. LOL Buried on page 37.....
And we wonder why the voters take the positions they do....the liberal MSM is protecting our enemies...and trying to downplay our enemies actions.
NOT pro-America. tsk tsk tsk
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on June 7, 2007 07:10:39 PM new
WASHINGTON, DC—Breaking a 211-year media silence, retired Army Gen. George Washington appeared on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday to speak out against many aspects of the way the Iraq war has been waged.
Washington, whose appearance marked the first time the military leader and statesman had spoken publicly since his 1796 farewell address in Philadelphia, is the latest in a string of retired generals stepping forward to criticize the Iraq war.
"This entire military venture has been foolhardy and of ill design," said Washington, dressed in his customary breeches and frilly cravat. "The manifold mistakes committed by this president in Iraq carry grave consequences, and he who holds the position of commander in chief has the responsibility to right those wrongs."
Washington noted that while Saddam Hussein was an indefensible tyrant, that alone did not justify a "conflict that seems without design or end."
"The Iraqi people did suffer greatly under unjust rule," Washington said. "But in truth, it is the duty of any people that wishes to be free to fight for its own independence. Had France meddled in our revolution beyond the guidance and material assistance they provided, I should think similar unrest would have darkened our nation's earliest hours."
The Virginia-born Revolutionary War veteran and national-capital namesake also expressed his worry over the state of the American militia, the unchecked powers of the executive branch, and the lack of a congressional declaration of war.
"The very genius of the American presidency is that it is an office held by an elected representative of the people, not by a monarch who can rule by fiat and enact policy at will," Washington said.
The retired general asserted that many of the current problems in Iraq could easily have been predicted by wiser civilian leadership.
"I can say from personal experience that even a malnourished force with feet clad in rags should not be underestimated, even by a far superior power," added Washington, who has disavowed further comparison between the Iraqi insurgency and the American colonists. "There is nothing a committed fighting force cannot accomplish if bolstered by the strength of its convictions."
Washington's critical comments echo those of other retired generals, including Maj. Gen. John Batiste and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, who attacked Bush's Iraq policy in a series of television ads run by political action committee VoteVets.org during the 2006 midterm elections.
"We're very happy that someone of General Washington's stature is speaking out," said Jon Soltz, cofounder and chairman of VoteVets.org. "He has impeccable conservative credentials, extensive foreign policy experience, is a true citizen-soldier with a proven commitment to his country, and, if that's not enough to get Bush to listen, he's the face on the dollar bill."
However, White House response to the former general's criticism was swift and sharp. Spokesman Tony Fratto dismissed Washington as "increasingly irrelevant" and "a relic" who "made some embarrassing gaffes" during his own military career, such as the Continental Army's near destruction in the Battle of Long Island in 1776.
"The general's reckless and irresponsible comments show that he clearly does not understand the realities of 21st-century warfare," Fratto said.
Conservative pundits moved quickly to discredit the decorated general.
"I don't care who you are—or if you cannot tell a lie—it's un-American to question the president in a time of war," Sean Hannity said on his radio program Monday. "Plus, I find it very interesting that a man who owned slaves and sold hemp thinks he's entitled to give our Commander in Chief lessons on how to run a war."
Toward the end of his Meet the Press interview, Washington expressed fears for the future of Iraq, Middle East policy, and America itself.
"These convoluted foreign adventures were not what I envisaged for my young nation," Washington said. "Certainly the citizens of the republic deserve better than this. Had I but known this was the fated course of my country, I might not have found the strength to liberate Her from the mantle of King George."
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on June 8, 2007 12:42:23 AM new
Maybe someday, ld, you'll grasp the difference between the opinions of RETIRED commanders....and those who are actively ON THE GROUND....fighting the war IN Iraq...not from some chair. LOL
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but I won't be holding MY breath waiting for that awareness to occur. LOL
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"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on June 8, 2007 06:19:40 AM new
Just as soon as you realize there are more and more people that do not support this war and want the troops to come home. You have been living in your fantasy world for to long. Step into reality for a change and quit injecting yourself with drugs.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
