Retired Generals Slam Bush's Iraq Plan

Troop Buildup Called "A Fool's Errand" By Commander In First Gulf War

(CBS/AP)  The President's troop build-up — already taking political fire from both Democrats and Republicans — came under withering attack on Thursday from a panel of retired generals on Capitol Hill, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

"The proposed solution is to send more troops and it won't work. The addition of 21,000 troops is too little and too late," former Marine Gen. Joseph Hoar said.

Hoar once commanded all American forces in the Middle East and has nothing good to say about the war.

"This administration's handling of the war has been characterized by deceit, mismanagement and a shocking failure to understand the social and political forces that influence events in the Middle East," Hoar said.

Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, who commanded a division in the first Gulf War and was consulted by the president in drawing up the new Iraq strategy said, "They're going to try to muscle this thing out in the next 24 months with an urban counterinsurgency plan that I personally believe, with all due respect, is a fool's errand."

It will take political compromise to end Iraq's sectarian violence, and retired Lt. Gen William Odom, who once headed Army intelligence, doubts it will happen.

"The Sunnis certainly are not committed to it, and I don't think the Shiites have ever been committed to it," Odom said.

Even the build-up's lone supporter, former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jack Keane, acknowledged that success depends on an unknown quantity — the performance of Iraqi Prime Minister al-Malaki and his government.

"Who is Maliki and who is the Maliki government? And I don't believe our government, I don't pretend to speak for them, but I don't believe our government truly knows that answer," Keane said.

At another hearing, reports Martin, the head of the CIA was asked if his analysts think the Maliki government can deliver. He replied, "It's an unknown."

Meanwhile, opposition to the president's plan is also growing on Capitol Hill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledged the support of House Democrats for legislation declaring that Mr. Bush's decision to send additional troops to Iraq is "not in the national interest of the United States."

Pelosi's commitment came as Senate Democrats said they intend to begin advancing a nonbinding measure next week that criticizes the White House's new strategy.

Democrats sought to bring public pressure to bear on the president's new policy as Mr. Bush and senior administration officials worked to limit Republican defections.

"He said, 'If you can help us out, I really appreciate your help,'" Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., said after a White House meeting with the commander in chief.

Even a Republican senator who won't speak out against the president for fear it will hurt the war effort told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer there is virtually no enthusiasm among Senate Republicans for the plan. With the exception of Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, the senator said almost no one among Republican senators is enthusiastic about enlarging the force.

Senate Democrats, backed by two Republicans, unveiled legislation Wednesday that criticized Mr. Bush's decision to increase troop levels by 21,500. "It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq," the nonbinding Senate measure states.

[vincan-2009]

We are in a terrible war. The election showed that the country - democrats, republicans and independents - want the war to end and want to have real representation in Congress. Now is the time for all members in the House and Senate to think about the people, our troop lives and families, and the Iraqi people. More troops is not going to change this Iraq situation from what it is. Please consider doing the people's business instead of a psychopath president/vice president who won't listen and won't hear anything they don't like. Help this country out from under the criminal decisions that have been made for enrichment of the richest corporations and people. We are sick of it.

[annd2302]

feelfree1

Bull ***, I say scalp them all if you can get through all the layers of towels.

[macusweil]

Troop Buildup Called "A Fool's Errand" By Commander In First Gulf War -- PERFECT!!

A real commander in chief would have won this war years ago. Its taken a knuckle head like Dubba a while but he has run one the greatest military engines on earth into the ground. He could not win it with 50,000 or even 75,000 more. It was lost the day the looting started and baby Bush gave orders to do nothing.

[garnetqueen]

This war was a tragic mistake, and this president wants to send more troops? It won't get any better, it's getting worse by the minute.

[feelfree1]

gdmoore2,

Re: "Boy, it is hard to read stuff like that about my country, feelfree1. Hard to read. Hard to think that way. And hard to admit that it is not far off. What a mess."

Agreed. Thanks for the comment.

[exusmcsgt]

FARTKNOCKER2-

It is not a lie that Cheney was Haliburton's CEO prior to joining the adminitration. Check some facts yourself, if you're capable of doing so.

[exusmcsgt]

docpeter-

Even more ironic that Bubba Dubya continues to overrule career military experts considering he didn't even make his National Guard drills, eh?

[frankly6]

lieberman18

We've got plenty of homegrown Nazi Thugs to worry about. Just look in the mirror.

[grumpas]

lieberman18 kind of venom fueled hatred defies all mean's of rational response! He just rants on and on like a lunatic! All of us love our country lieberman18, probably a whole lot more than folks like you ever have! You made it clear several years ago what you think of our system of government! We care enough about our country to not set by quietly while fascist's like yourself destroy democracy! You have become so amoured with the criminal George W Bush you have lost your perspective! It happened in Germany years ago when people like you choose to overlooked crimes Hitler was committing for what you considered the betterment of the country! Well, I hate to be the one to tell you! A lot of us are not planning on following der fuhrer quietly over the cliff!

[frankly6]

At this point the only rational explanation for Bush's strategy or seeming lack there of is that he wants to prolong the war. After all, Halliburton, big oil and other GOP connected companies are making huge profits.

[docpeter-2009]

Marine Gen. Joseph *** said, "This administration's handling of the war has been characterized by deceit, mismanagement and a shocking failure to understand the social and political forces that influence events in the Middle East,"


Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey said, "They're going to try to muscle this thing out in the next 24 months with an urban counterinsurgency plan that I personally believe, with all due respect, is a fool's errand."

So GWB has decided he understands and knows more than those schooled and trained in war. The GWB administration knows and understands all the concepts involved with winning the war without ever really participating in war.

Why does he have advisers if all he is going to do is ignore their advice? Some would consider this the mark of the fool. Wasn't it Einstein who said only a fool would continue to make the same mistake over and over again and expect different result?

[long_rider]

Everyone knows that Iraq is this is another Viet Nam, and we know what the result will be. Congress is doing nothing, and will continue to do so, because the chimp can, and will, veto all of their attempts. The only answer is to get the chimp, and his buddies, out of office.

The American people don't protest, they just want to keep using their credit cards, think happy happy thoughts, and complain. We accept the fact that the news media is controled, and distorts facts, and often does not report meaningful stories.

We get stories about movie stars being arrested, about rich people, and what they like - who really cares.

There is an Army LT. Wantada who is making a statement and willing to give up his freedom in doing so. He is being railroaded by the government. Yet not one word of this in the main stream news.

Americans have to go to Washington and protest, Americans should look A Lt. Watada's case and support him.

Impeach the chimp.

[bluestardad]

If the Generals do not support this and only Bush Yes men are going to carry it out Congress Must act to cut off funding for this war or revoke the authorization for the President to fight in Iraq.

[bluestardad]

Guys: Once again Liberman18 a paid provocateur like bushrocks1, and Jane1234 ect. I fell for it too but don%u2019t engage them and they will change their name and go away for awhile. Don%u2019t waste your intellect.

[exusmcsgt]

hungry1968-

The way lieberman18 seethes, I wouldn't be surprised that he spent his youth torturing small animals.

[hungry1968]

lieberman18

I would really like to reply to your post, but I find myself speechless. Your ignorance is so deeply rooted, I'm afraid that anything I post would just be wasted on your narrow, closed, little mind.

[exusmcsgt]

"The proposed solution is to send more troops and it won't work. The addition of 21,000 troops is too little and too late," former Marine Gen. Joseph *** said."

For all you NeoCons who have told me over the last several weeks that I have no understanding of military strategy for having said the same thing since the surge plan's first mention, enjoy.

[lieberman18]

Listen to all of the Nazis bay and moan and screech like pygmy monkeys. Except that pygmy monkeys have more brains.

Probably all of you hate this country. Good, if you live here, you can kindly leave. If not, stay where you are. If you country, like France, is ever invaded by scores of Islamic Nazi thugs, you deserve them - unless of course, you choose to join 'em. We don't need to send in the Marines then. And don't beg for them either. Too many American boys and girls dot graves in European countries.

But that was illegal too, right?

If you do live here, kindly consider, no, you need to turn your homes over to those Native Americans you took from them. And be sure to tell your heroes Pelosi, Byrd, Kerry, Clinton, and Obama -not to mention the drunk intern killer that they should do the same.

If you don't, you are nothing but little hypocritical babies.

[skyk-2009]

It should be obvious to anyone who can think that Bush and his Fascist Government was intent on using 9/11 to invade and occupy Iraq. The intention was to NEVER leave that country and to use it in much the same way we used South Korea. In the Fascist Mind we could just take over that country, create a "Friendly" Government and pretty much do as we like. That is a failed policy from LONG ago and those who put it into place and carried it out, need to be brought to justice for they have killed HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of Human's for NO REASON at all.

[gdmoore2]

Boy, it is hard to read stuff like that about my country, feelfree1. Hard to read. Hard to think that way. And hard to admit that it is not far off. What a mess.