Re: Retired generals make the case for withdrawal from Iraq

On Apr 9, 1:56=A0pm, HarryNadds <hoofhearte...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On Apr 9, 12:46=A0pm, Rudy Canoza <pi...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > HarryNadds wrote:
> > > On Apr 9, 12:14 pm, Rudy Canoza <pi...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > >> U.S. must leave Iraq, retired generals say
>
> > >> By Rick Maze - Staff writer
> > >> Posted : Friday Apr 4, 2008 12:45:38 EDT
>
> > >> Setting a withdrawal timetable from Iraq might be a shaky strategic
> > >> move, but it would provide a morale boost for service members and
the=
ir
> > >> families, a former Army War College commandant said Wednesday.
>
> > >> Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales Jr., testifying before the
Senat=
e
> > >> Foreign Affairs Committee about U.S. military strategy in Iraq,
said =
he
> > >> has no doubt that a major withdrawal of combat forces is coming
becau=
se
> > >> the U.S. has "run out of military options" and cannot indefinitely
> > >> sustain troop levels.
>
> > >> "Regardless of who wins the election and regardless of conditions
on =
the
> > >> ground, by summer the troops will begin to come home," said Scales,
w=
ho
> > >> headed the war college in 1997. "The only point of contention is
how
> > >> precipitous will be the withdrawal and whether the schedule of
> > >> withdrawal should be a matter of administration policy."
>
> > >> [...]
>
> > >> Scales testified along with two other retired Army generals, Gen.
Bar=
ry
> > >> McCaffrey and Lt. Gen. William Odom, who also agreed a withdrawal
of
> > >> U.S. combat troops early in the next president's administration is
> > >> inevitable.
>
> > >> "We face a deteriorating political situation with an over-extended
> > >> Army," said Odom, who served as director of the National Security
Age=
ncy
> > >> in the Reagan administration.
>
> > >> "The only sensible strategy is to withdraw rapidly but in good
order,=
"
> > >> Odom said. "Only that step can break the paralysis now gripping
U.S.
> > >> strategy in the region."
>
> > >> McCaffrey, a former chief of U.S. Southern Command and commander of
t=
he
> > >> 24th Infantry Division in the 1991 Gulf War, predicted a withdrawal
o=
f
> > >> U.S. forces within three years or less because there is "no U.S.
> > >> political will to continue" and because allies "have abandoned us."
>
> > >> "It is over," McCaffrey said.
>
> >
>>http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_iraqwithdrawal_040208w/=

>
> > >> These men know what they're talking about. =A0The PR flacks in the
Bu=
sh
> > >> administration do not.
>
> > > These "retired" Generals can easily make a few extra bucks by
calling
> > > CNN,ABC,CBS,PBS or BBC and say"For a few thousand I'll get on
national=

> > > TV sound authoritative and talk down the Iraq war".If you want the
> > > truth about the war they'll do it for free but the media isn't
> > > interested.
>
> > Their comments came in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations
> > committee. =A0They were not paid to appear and testify.
>
> > Even if they were subsequently to appear on news programs and be paid
> > fees for their appearance, that in no way detracts from what they're
> > saying. =A0What they're saying is the game is over, and they are
right.-=
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> > - Show quoted text -
>
> RRRIIIGGGHHHTT =A0!!!!!!!!!!! =A0If they were saying the US is on the
> right track and Bush did the right thing you'd be calling them
> phoneys,liars and Bush ****lls.Kinda' like what you droolers say about
> Patreaus!!

IF, IF, IF, ...