Four Plans On What To Do About Iraq

'Go Big,' 'Go Long,' 'Go Home,' & 'Go Iraqi'

(CBS/AP)  The debate over what to do about the war on Iraq - complete with catch phrases to describe each plan - has intensified, with word of a secret report on the issue, commissioned by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In Geneva Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan added his voice to the discussion, urging the U.S. to carefully consider when would be the best time to pull out of the country so that the withdrawal does not lead to a further deterioration of security.

"The United States, in a way, is trapped in Iraq," said Annan. "It cannot stay and it cannot leave. There are those who maintain that its presence is a problem and there are those who say that if it leaves precipitously, the situation will get worse."

Monday, four approaches to the Iraq war were dubbed "Go Big," "Go Long," "Go Home," and "Go Iraqi."

The Washington Post says the first three options are reviewed in a secret report commissioned by Pace: put more troops in Iraq; withdraw some troops but maintain a U.S. military presence for a longer than anticipated period of time; or, pull out all U.S. troops.

Questions would remain for U.S. strategy in Iraq even if troop strength is increased, says retired Army Col. Mitch Mitchell, a military analyst for CBS' Up To The Minute.

"What are they going to be used for? Is this an arbitrary number or is there a real mission for them? How will that mission contribute to the overall mission in Iraq of ending the war?" says Mitchell. "I wonder, if all that has been thought through, or, whether these statements are capricious and arbitrary."

A fourth option - "Go Iraqi" - was proposed Monday by the outgoing chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter (GOP, Calif.), in a letter sent to President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"We have 114 battalions of Iraqi soldiers - trained and equipped," said Hunter, who is considering running for president. "They are spread out throughout the country; roughly nine of the 18 provinces have very little action. In fact, fewer than one attack a day in those nine provinces - half the country. In those nine provinces are 27 Iraqi batallions. Those Iraqi battalions could be sent in to the contested areas in Baghdad and should be sent. The best way to mature a military force is through operations."

"This is a time to test the leadership of Iraqi battalions," Hunter continued. "We could now right now saddle those forces up and send them into the contentious areas... that would stand them up as an operational military force."

Much of the debate in Washington is focusing on the alternatives reportedly discussed in the study commissioned by Pace.

"The 'Go Long' approach is one that can work if there is sufficient strategic patience, resources appropriated and [if] leadership executes effectively," a military intelligence official told the Washington Post.

The "Go Big" and "Go Home" options look more like straw men, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. "Go Big" is a massive buildup to crush the insurgency. That is considered militarily and politically impractical. And "Go Home" considers a relatively quick withdrawal, which most experts believe would end any chance of saving Iraq.

According to Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, the Pentagon is fixated on one option: "Increase now, decrease later."

The military could increase its presence in Iraq by 25,000 or 30,000 in the short term, O'Hanlon told CBS News. "You ramp up in 2007 and then ramp it down to below 100,000 to maybe 60,000 or 70,000 in 2008, but we cannot go higher. We don't have a big enough military."

Sen. John McCain, a 2008 presidential hopeful and Vietnam War veteran, is among those advocating an increase of U.S. troops in Iraq. The Arizona Republican is calling for 20,000 more troops to be sent to Iraq in addition to the roughly 140,000 there now.

McCain said the soldiers who are in Iraq now are "fighting and dying for a failed policy."

"I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic," said McCain. "It will spread to the region. You will see Iran more emboldened. Eventually, you could see Iran pose a greater threat to the state of Israel."

[w_ashley]

(part 2)
iraq has been in isolation longenough that the foreign economy isn't strong..the best way to in the war is with trade, and removal of western influence that can be seen as an occupation or netgative.. i.e. charities etc.. but anti est wont be won with violence.. it will take assistance and not you killing some iraqi's brother etc..
much like iranians iraqi's appear to be relatively fun loving people on one side, it is just that the y have a much sharper heart versus a much heavier heart of the west. etc..etc.. leave now and supportthe government with aid, not forces. let them handle their interior matters themselves, the area ain't going anywhere fast.. do you know how far 200 billion would go in defending isreael from arab states?

[w_ashley]

Doesn't selective service sign up already exist.

US should pull out immediately and let democracy of government form itself with the jenga underside.

The only benifit to the US is the training of an operational theatre.

Iran can't touch isreal without loosing out on it's future.

Isreal should be more interested in getting operational THEL batteries protecting it borders, than anything else. (rather than things like clusterbombs and bunker bursters.

2008 dems chances are dramaticly high, with the house and the presidency on anti war reducing troop numbers is easier unless friction builds.

essentially though the plan has been the same, reduce the resistance of the old forces not aligned to the new "iraqi" government, get rid of saddam and his allies(that arn't turn coats), and reduce the influence of islam in the government. and set up a house of cards.

once the neo iraqi forces are strong enough to maintain that is that.. iran gains inluence in shiite majority, and the sunni's are weakened regionally to a certain extent. a low key civil ar continues but petters out if political process grants a consensus.. once iraqis are concerned iht only iraqis and not traitors of iraq the politics will transist back to islam.. there is no ifs ans or buts, it is just the amount of time it takes to get over with.

[mh4cbs1]

Bush/Cheney have unleashed a 9-11 level of civilian death and destruction EVERY MONTH

month after month after month

They LIED us into this needless War OF Terror. That makes them War Criminals. More murderous than Osama.

JAIL CHENEY JAIL BUSH

Bring our Troops Home NOW.

[pakaal]

I wish I knew if McCain was just making speeches for his 2008 presidential bid or actually saying what he means. If the former, reprehensible, if the latter, ignorant. He's virtually alone in the "bring in more troops" approach - and where will we get them anyway? Rangel's idea to reinstate the draft is going nowhere fast. New polls show Iraqis of all viewpoints (Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites) want the US out. More than 3/4 of those surveyed said we're making things worse over there.