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Butterfly

this is good news, however irrelevant in this conflict,

as soon as the US leaves next year, the current government would be too weak and you can expect an Islamic Revolution, Iran style, to take place

sabang

United States Central Command chief General David Petraeus, supported by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all US combat troops from Iraq within 18 months. This was at an Oval Office meeting on January 21.

But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus and Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen that he wasn't convinced and that he wanted Gates and the military leaders to come back quickly with a detailed 16-month plan, according to two sources who have talked with participants in the meeting.

Obama's decision to override Petraeus's recommendation has not ended the conflict between the president and senior military officers over troop withdrawal, however. There are indications that Petraeus and his allies in the military and the Pentagon, including General Ray Odierno, now the top commander in Iraq, have already begun pressuring Obama to change his withdrawal policy.

A network of senior military officers is also reportedly preparing to support Petraeus and Odierno by mobilizing public opinion against Obama's decision.

Petraeus was visibly unhappy when he left the Oval Office, according to one of the sources. A White House staffer present at the meeting was quoted by the source as saying, "Petraeus made the mistake of thinking he was still dealing with George Bush instead of with Barack Obama."

Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs


Obama a 'Weak Leader'. I don't think so- but early days.

__________________
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

Butterfly

fuck them, they are not in charge, they are there to take orders, not to question them. If they are not happy with their job, they can retire.

This is "revolt" and "treason" who the fuck they think they are ? questioning orders ? They should resign immediately or be removed. They wouldn't dare pulling that trick if Bush their love was still in the office.

KID

But yet, you still keep hysterically rambling that the coalition troops should withdraw !!!

guess it makes sense in your demented and warped thought process

Butterfly

never saw that reply, but KID being an old troll from the BearPit and one of those Bush nazi, he is starting to run scared of the new reality

Panda

^ Umm... whats all the guns and tanks and things for then?

Texpat

There are guns and tanks and things everywhere, Panda.

Even in Ozland. Is that a war zone?

Is Pakistan at war? Lots of killing and fighting and bomb blasts there. I would guess more than in Iraq recently. Is Pakistan at war?

How about Israel? Are they at war? What about Patani, Naratiwat, Songkla and Yala?

Panda

No foreign armies on the streets in Oz shooting people I'm sorry to inform you Tex.

Israel at war? Which war are you referring to there. They have been involved in a few invasions lately. Killing unarmed civilians mostly, but still with bombings, artillery and ground forces all the same. Are we going to split hairs on what technically constitutes a war now? When a foreign military invades a country and starts killing people its war, plain and simple.

The US war against Iraq ain't over by a long shot. And it wont be over till the body bags stop coming home and the Yanks get their arse out of there.

Texpat

Is that when the war ends? What about the inevitable civil war that ensues among Sunnis and Shias.

Surely you can find it in your heart to blame that on the invading Americans and might conceivably carry this war out for centuries. (Ignore the centuries of fighting hitherto at your pleasure )

Pray tonight that the fighting ensues for surely you're not on the side of the invaders. And you dread a peaceful solution.

If not so pathetic, quite hilarious.

Tix to the celebration running thin Pandy. Get 'em while they're hot.

If you haven't started already, might think about shifting to climate change or Brittney Spears. Ya might have better luck.

ItsRobsLife

You're turning into Blackgang. It's rather entertaining.

Panda

I'll ignore the personal snipes and concentrate on the discussion at hand here Tex.

Iraq was a country of different ethnic/religious groups thrown together by the western powers after WW1.
Saddam Hussein held it together by use of ruthless and brutal military force.
In comes USA in 2003 and tries to introduce a warm and fuzzy (friendly to USA)democratic government to unite the opposing ethnic factions. The Yanks destroy the countries infrastructure and kill many thousands of people in the name of peace and democracy. Now, 6 years on, the invading forces complain that the country is on the verge of a civil war with a fragile government and is likely to descend into anarchy if they pull out. Sure its likely to descend into chaos when the Yanks skulk away. No one could call it a success. If 160,000 US combat troops couldn't pull the place together what chance does the fragmented Iraqi government have. Iraq is a mess and will likely fall apart when the Yanks go. Good job hey?

sabang

An American soldier killed five of his fellow troops at a base in Baghdad, the Pentagon said today.

The five were killed in a shooting 2pm local time, at Camp Liberty near Baghdad international airport.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths is underway. The toll was the highest for US personnel in a single attack since April 10, when a suicide truck driver killed five American soldiers with a blast near a police headquarters in the northern city of Mosul.

In a separate incident, a US soldier was killed yesterday when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Basra province of southern Baghdad.

Earlier this month, two US soldiers were killed by a man wearing an Iraqi army uniform at an Iraqi military training centre in northern Iraq.

Violence has dropped sharply in Iraq, but insurgent attacks continue, and a rash of big bombings has raised questions about security less than two months before US forces are due to withdraw combat troops from urban bases.

Thirteen US soldiers were killed in combat in April, including the five who died in Mosul.

US soldier shoots and kills five fellow troops at Baghdad base | World news | guardian.co.uk

Sunni violence against Shiites is on the rise too- and frankly much more newsworthy because of the numbers killed. Certainly, I think there will be a rise in violence in Iraq as the US withdrawal continues. Will it threaten, or impeded the disengagement? Dunno- depends how bad it gets I guess.

Disgruntled Sunni's have been talking about a rise in violence for some time, some Sunni warlords that were in the pay of the US even said the same thing- and that their armed struggle against the Shiites would resume as the US withdrew. I wonder how the Shiite militia's, and the mainly Shiite government/ Armed forces will respond?