Comments on: General Grilled By Congress

Gen. John Abizaid Says Timetable For Exiting Iraq Would Increase Ethnic Violence

[bluestardad]

This General is a bobble head for Rumsfeld. He should be held accountable for the deaths of thousands of Americans.

[wvopfor81]

Americans didn%u2019t cross oceans and settle a wilderness and build history%u2019s greatest democracy, only to run away from a bunch of murderers and extremists who try to kill everyone they cannot convert and to tear down what they could never build.

[wvopfor81]

not in the artical .... why ,,, that is bull SH!@

[wvopfor81]

The enemy understands this as well. They are waging a psychological war of attrition -- planning attacks to gain the maximum media coverage and the maximum public outcry.

They want us to believe that perseverance by us is futile, rather than necessary;
They want us to focus on our casualties and losses, not on the people causing the casualties and losses;
They want us to think about what will happen if our forces stay in Iraq, as opposed to the consequences if our forces were to leave prematurely;
They want us to be divided, because they know that when we are united they lose;
They want us pointing fingers at each other, rather than pointing fingers at them.
I know there are calls in some quarters for withdrawal or arbitrary timelines for withdrawals. The enemies hear those words as well. We need to be realistic about the consequences.

[hermit22]

If Carl and Hilary were doing brain surgery would they decide: "If that guy with the new metal plate in his head isn't up and walking come next Tuesday, we'll just leave him in the hall to sleep it off. We can't see his condition improving."

[feelfree1]

Should we show leniency to General Disaster, Major Failure, and Corporal Punishment, if they demonstrate themselves as willing to eagerly cooperate with War Crimes proceedings against their chain of command?

[tucson23]

This is why we can't let military commanders determine what are essentially political decisions. A majority of Americans don't give a *** that a withdrawl will result in "increased sectarian violence." The Iraqi government is responsible for the situation in Iraq, and it's clear that they are not willing to do the things we're asking of them. If they won't take responsibility, let's either overthrow that government or get the hell out and let the militias kill them. Our troops don't deserve to die becuase the Iraqi government won't cooperate, and it's not our job to prevent Iraqis from killing each other, despite what the General thinks. It's time to go, and screw those idiots.

[powersmaker]

I am an american taxpayer.

I don't care if Iraqis fail.

I invite you all to drive the streets of Fallujah ... then ask yourself one question: is this really worth it to the average american?

Send them home where they belong.

Keep one thing in mind ... it is not in a senior serviceman's nature to admit defeat (and that's good). But that's why they don't determine policy.

[alphaa10-2009]

laurieleemoo expostulated publicly-- "Well, Democrats- so far it has not been as easy as you thought... huh?"
-------
Huh, Ms.Leemooo? The Dems have only started, for crying out loud! You are like the Little League fan who boos the other team one second after it enters the field. Since Iraq is a far more serious matter than your comments suggest, it merits the extensive fact-gathering and astute judgment notably missing from GOP handling of this matter, so far.

In regard to your other comment about the expertise of American generals in advising congress, various congressional committees often have called on generals for their sage advice, based on past and present experience. But DOD was headed by Rumsfeld for six years, and little testimony was sought from his generals. In fact, Rumsfeld and the Pentagon had such a stormy and abrasive relationship, due in great part to the personality cult Rumsfeld demanded, little criticism from the generals and admirals emerged in even a timid memo.

[alphaa10-2009]

Leemooo Wonders Why-- 2
In 2003, one General Eric Shinseki provided an object example to all those generals and other brass who disagreed about Iraq. In surprising and courageous congressional testimony during the pre-Iraq buildup, Shinseki essentially counseled against the Iraq invasion. Shinseki's career met a brickwall from that point, on.

Likewise, and as early as 2003, many other active duty American generals objected or counseled against Iraq, as well. But Rumsfeld took their names and made sure their careers never saw the light of day.

There, Ms. Leemooo, is your answer about why the senior military only recently waved its braided and decorated shoulders against Iraq-- Rumsfeld ruled by fiat at Defense as Der Herr General Reichsmarschall, a latter-day Herman Goering. Despite the hurrahs on this blog from GOP bozos drunk with saying "Stay the course... stay the course", such fanatics are-- to borrow a favorite Rumsfeld phrase-- "dead-enders". The facts about Iraq are emerging with a vengeance after a long and abusive silence.

[radiob-2009]

laurieleemoo did you get the chance to read the two books I suggseted?And please laurieleemoo remember we are all americans be it independent,democrat or republican.I think of myself as an independent simply because there are virtues as well as corruption in both parties.We should all move towards the center and embrace the best of both parties.

[old300d]

If the Bible is true then there is nothing we can do. If the Bible is not true the we have to convince them that they are not Ishmael and there is no reason to act like that. I believe the Bible is true.

[rharrin1]

It's also on at 9pm tonight

[rharrin1]

There is a program on HNN at 7pm tonight I think everyone should watch it.

Then think whether we should stay in iraq.

[old300d]

Genesis 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.

This is what the Bible says about Ishmael. Muslims claim to be Ishmael.

[gdmoore2]

I saw both Democrats and Republicans listening to General Abizaid. General Abizaid expressed his views and facts. Ideas were floated, and some ideas were retracted; all normal. The part I did not see was anyone, including Gen. Abizaid, with the truth in their corner. Tell us what works. Find out what works. If at all humanly possible, all parties want to leave Iraq with a stable government. McCain is right - the status quo has to change. And Levin is right - if the situation is not recoverable, then schedule the withdrawal.

[laurieleemoo]

you know, it is quite obvious that Nancy Pelosi and Hillary and Murtha all no more than our military commanders themselves (according to Nancy, Hillary and Murtha anyway).......maybe we should send them over to be the military commanders. They obviously think they could do a better job.

I love how people find it so easy to sit there, behind their congress walls and act like they have all the answers when they actually have none. They actually have no answers themselves.....yet don't like anyone else's answers either.

They need to stop complaining and start coming up with solutions----if they are not happy with the way things are going. PERIOD!!!

Well, Democrats-----so far it has not been as easy as you thought and made it come across to the american people, huh?

[old300d]

Are we spending 2 billion a week and 1000's of lives trying to prove Genesis 16:12 is wrong ? They claim to be Ishmael. I am starting to believe it.

[old300d]

So if we don't keep spending 2 billion a week and keep sending our troops over there then they won't do what we want ? Sounds like blackmail to me.

[laurieleemoo]

it is absolutely amazing to me that all the democrats and the media have brought in all these war heros from the past to state their opinions about the Iraq war and what we should do about it for the past few years----yes, all these people who fought in Vietnam and like to compare Iraq to vietnam----------yet, none of them are willing to listen to the present head of our military and the people who are actually on the ground in Iraq---the people who actually do know what is going on there. What is up with that---I mean you will use these heros of the past for their expert opinion and totally disregard the opinion of the ones that matter---the ones that are actually there and in control now of the military? The ones who do actually know what is going on----the ones with the first hand facts? I do not understand these democrats.