Pentagon institute calls Iraq war 'a major debacle' with outcome 'in doubt'

[raycarey]

a significant slapdown of the bush administration. the lowlights...

"Measured in blood and treasure, the war in Iraq has achieved the status of a major war and a major debacle," says the report's opening line.

operations in Iraq have diverted "manpower, materiel and the attention of decision-makers" from "all other efforts in the war on terror" and severely strained the U.S. armed forces.
"Compounding all of these problems, our efforts there (in Iraq) were designed to enhance U.S. national security, but they have become, at least temporarily, an incubator for terrorism and have emboldened Iran to expand its influence throughout the Middle East," the report continued.

"Despite impressive progress in security, the outcome of the war is in doubt," said the report. "Strong majorities of both Iraqis and Americans favor some sort of U.S. withdrawal. Intelligence analysts, however, remind us that the only thing worse than an Iraq with an American army may be an Iraq after a rapid withdrawal of that army."
"For many analysts (including this one), Iraq remains a 'must win,' but for many others, despite obvious progress under General David Petraeus and the surge, it now looks like a 'can't win.'"

The report also singles out the Bush administration's national security apparatus and implicitly President Bush and both of his national security advisers, Condoleezza Rice and Stephen Hadley, saying that "senior national security officials exhibited in many instances an imperious attitude, exerting power and pressure where diplomacy and bargaining might have had a better effect."

Collins ends his report by quoting Winston Churchill, who said: "Let us learn our lessons. Never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. ... Always remember, however sure you are that you can easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think that he also had a chance."

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 04/17/2008 | Pentagon institute calls Iraq war 'a major debacle' with outcome 'in doubt'

pretty devastating analysis....which will undoubtedly be brushed aside by the war apologists on foxnews, in the blogosphere and here in TD issues. let me guess....the pentagon hates america and really doesn't understand what's at stake? right?

but one has to wonder if the pentagon is simply attempting a bit a CYA now that it's apparent they're going to lose yet another war.

what a mess. hopefully once once he's president, obama will be able to reach out to allies and foes alike so that the world can begin the long campaign to fix the mess the bush administration will leave behind.

[britmaveric]

nice blog!!!!

[blackgang]

Yea, Nice Blog, I thought that Ray Baby didn't like Blogs, always on BM ass over quoting them, now he starts a thread based on a blog,, well everyone knows he is not wrapped real tight.

Pentagon Institute???

[lom]

The McClatchy Company is the third-largest newspaper company in the United States, a leading newspaper and internet publisher dedicated to the values of quality journalism, free expression and community service. Building on a 151-year legacy of independence, the company's newspapers and websites are steadfast defenders of First Amendment values and advocates for the communities they serve.

[stroller]

You can find the same article on yahoo-news.

Jeesh, can't you guys even tell the difference to a blog?

[raycarey]

nice blog

Yea, Nice Blog, I thought that Ray Baby didn't like Blogs, always on BM ass over quoting them, now he starts a thread based on a blog,, well everyone knows he is not wrapped real tight.

Well, you two put a smile on my face this morning.

Pentagon Institute?

yeah, the pentagon institute.

[britmaveric]

One lad's opinion - subjective tripe!!!

[stroller]

One lad's opinion - subjective tripe!!!

No, it isn't.

First of all you didn't check the source and assumed it to be a 'blog', now you show that you haven't even noticed the article is authored by two people.

As for the article itslef, it is not an opinion piece but a report on the published study.


In other words, you are wrong on all counts.
I'd advise to pay more attention in future before wasting bandwidth and other people's time to do your homework for you.

[blackgang]

The McClatchy Company is the third-largest newspaper company in the United States,

Yes, I know them, My first corporate job was working for them.
It was in 1947 and I had a bicycle and delivered the evening Sacramento Bee newspaper. had 150 newspapers to deliver, 7 days a week, dirt roads that were deep mud in the heavy rains.

[sabang]

Excellent article. Nobody moves forward by lying to themselves and the other person, and I hope Winstons wise quotation was noted. You grow by admitting your mistakes, and learning from them.

Human initiative and competence can make a bad thing less bad, and I am one of the camp that thinks we cannot just drop the ball and walk away right now. But that is where it is leading towards- the Bush/Cheney doctrine was from armchair warriors that knew nothing of the conduct of war, little of human motivation, but everything about greed and self interest.

It bemuses me that so many of you that are the staunchest apologists of this tragic folly are from the very cadre' that has had to pay the human price- yet gain none of the benefit. Now think about the Iraqi people.

[barbaro]

We all know - or at least most of us know - that Iraq is a debacle.

Not only in the number of Iraqis killed but in the financial cost to American taxpayers.

Keep working hard Americans:

Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon, Halliburtin, and Northrup-Grumman, depend on it.

[Butterfly]

let's not beat around the bush, the Iraq war is a total failure, and we all know it's a question of time before we see those Americans on a rooftop boarding overcrowded Black Hawks