Casey: Only Half Iraq Troop Boost Needed

Outgoing Top Commander In Iraq Says Baghdad Could Be Secured With Smaller U.S. Troop Buildup

(CBS/AP)  The top U.S. commander in Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President George W. Bush has chosen to commit.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines.

Casey, the president's pick to become the next Army Chief of Staff, also differed with his commander-in-chief's description of the old strategy as "a slow failure," reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

"I actually don't see it as slow failure," said Casey. "I see it as slow progress."

With many in Congress opposing or skeptical of Bush's troop buildup, Casey did not say he opposed the president's decision. He said the full complement of five brigades would give U.S. commanders in Iraq additional, useful flexibility.

"In my mind, the other three brigades should be called forward after an assessment has been made on the ground" about whether they are needed to ensure success in Baghdad, Casey said later.

The new strategy depends heavily on Iraqi troops, adds Martin, but Casey revealed the additional Iraqi units moving into Baghdad are only at two-thirds strength and he conceded his progress reports on the training and equipping of Iraqis missed perhaps the key factor: their willingness to fight.

Casey's comments seemed put distance between his views and those of Bush and some lawmakers like Sen. John McCain, a Republican and possible 2008 presidential contender, who have questioned whether Bush's troop increase will be enough.

Casey made his comments as bipartisan efforts to round up enough votes for a nonbinding resolution critical of the administration's new policy faltered when two Democratic liberals signaled they would oppose the measure.

Sen. Russ Feingold issued a statement criticizing the nonbinding measure as weak, and said it "misunderstands the situation in Iraq and shortchanges our national security interests. The resolution rejects redeploying U.S. troops and supports moving a misguided military strategy from one part of Iraq to another," he said.

Separately, Sen. Chris Dodd, a 2008 presidential contender, called a news conference to announce his opposition.

Dodd's decision underscored a dilemma confronting other presidential hopefuls in the Senate — whether to support the measure backed by the party leadership, or oppose it and seek support among anti-war activists likely to have influence in next year's presidential primaries and caucuses.

The White House said Casey, in citing his December request for two rather than five additional brigades, was recounting old information.

[bluestardad]

On CSPAN General Casey Jr. just told Senator Warner that he was not aware of any War Gaming for the New Surge! He was unaware if the plan had even been tried on Paper! This General is suppose to be the General in Charge of the Iraq War! General Casey is under consideration for the Chief of Staff of the Army and he is not aware if the Iraq Surge Plan we are debating had ever been War Gamed to determine plausibility, probability of Success, or any type of Course of Action Analysis has been done to determine a possible acceptable outcome! He should be drummed from the service as this is total dereliction of Duty. To Send 21,000 more troops to a war where the plan had never been analyzed for success to his knowledge!

[marcodele]

When the Bush cheerleaders like McCain start saying they are following a failed policy full of mistakes, you know something is rotten in D.C.
Unfortunately, Junior has two more years, and can cause a lot of damage - as much or more than he did in his first two years.

[marcodele]

"But I have to be qualifed! After all, I've been to the Christmas parties on the Crawford ranch for years!"

[j-whitman]

Sounds like Casey is being scapegoated by McCanin for Bush's failed war -- That's at the cost of the lives of our troops.

[racam-2009]

To a man who can't handle a little, you sure don't turn around and put him in charge of a lot. Beware of Bush nominees for anything now. Casey has and will always be a parrot.

[emtak1]

Of course he should not get a promotion after failing so miserably.

Another general ,recently put in charge of the entire Iraq campaign, should not have gotten that job either because his former job as general was to train the Iraqi troops to fight and develop strategy and tactics fight for themselves.

But he failed miserably. That general's reward for being loya? He now has the lives of all your neighbors and loved ones serving overseas in the palm of his hands.

The "Decider" gets what the decider wants. COngress is only able to pass "nonbinding" legislation, much like the Roman Senate.

[marcodele]

As much as I detest the hypocrisy of the Cheney administration, I am not enjoying watching the total unraveling of our military effort in Iraq.
I worry too much about our troops and their families. Every member of the Bush Oil Club should serve time in prison for this fiasco, for lying to congress and to the American people, and for putting the interests of their former oil companies over those of American lives. We invaded a country, obliterated their infrastructure, and Bush can't understand why they don't like us!

[emtak1]

The "decider" rewards loyalty and punishes dissent.

The congress passes "nonbinding legislation" much as the Roman Senate did in the years after Julius Caesar memorably crossed the Rubicon River.

[j-whitman]

Republicans are now yelling "I was for the war, before I was against it" - While McCain, Bush & Cheney Blame The Generals.

[bluestardad]

This *********** should be stoned!

On CSPAN General Casey Jr. just told Senator Warner of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was not aware of any War Gaming for the New Iraqi Surge Plan! He was unaware if the plan had even been tried on Paper! This General is suppose to be the General in Charge of the Iraq War! General Casey is under consideration for the Chief of Staff of the Army and he is not aware if the Iraq Surge Plan we are debating had ever been War Gamed to determine plausibility, probability of Success, or any type of Course of Action Analysis has been done to determine a possible acceptable outcome! He should be drummed from the service as this is total dereliction of Duty. To Send 21,000 more troops to a war where the plan had never been analyzed for success to his knowledge is Criminal Negligence! Who would send a soldier in to war plan without ever War Gaming the Scenario first?

[emtak1]

marcodele:


"I worry too much..."

Worrying decides nothing and is not debate. It only gives those in power the opportunity to take advantage of you.

They have led us into a valley of death.Bush's maneuvering has put an incredible amount of power in the executive, and a wimpy, lazy congress has given the American people little recourse to remedy thier current situation.

As long as a worried, lethargic, hand wringing America continues to be led by a band of self-absorbed. lazy, polarized, close minded shepherds your neighbors and loved ones will continue to perish in Iraq in vain.

What can you do? Stop whining and do something,

NOW, TODAY---just at the same moment one of your neighbors overseas is feeling the impact of a bullet or IUD shrapnel and their blood is surely coursing out onto a Bahgdad street--write your representative and tell them this isn't good enough for you and your kids.

You can find your reps email through Congress.org. Just put in your zipcode.

Isn't a little of your ink and time worth your neighbors lifeblood?

[observantx]

Gen. Casey and the other generals in Iraq were not allowed to do what they wanted to do by Donald Rumsfeld. Standing behind him were GeorgenDick.

What Gen. Casey is really at fault for is parroting the drivel and nonsense about the war being ladled out by the White House. When he started doing that, he abondoned his duty as a soldier and became a politician and a yesman.

Our sons and daughters in the military there deserved better.

[bluestardad]

The entire lot of them should be put in a warehouse with the families of the slain and wounded soldiers for a week! If it takes that long!

[bluestardad]

yea it is my kids with three tours!

[bluestardad]

This person should be stoned and the Neocons who made up this plan should have to go perform it! if they live they should be left over their in Iraq to rebuild it.

On CSPAN General Casey Jr. just told Senator Warner of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was not aware of any War Gaming for the New Iraqi Surge Plan! He was unaware if the plan had even been tried on Paper! This General is suppose to be the General in Charge of the Iraq War! General Casey is under consideration for the Chief of Staff of the Army and he is not aware if the Iraq Surge Plan we are debating had ever been War Gamed to determine plausibility, probability of Success, or any type of Course of Action Analysis has been done to determine a possible acceptable outcome! He should be drummed from the service as this is total dereliction of Duty. To Send 21,000 more troops to a war where the plan had never been analyzed for success to his knowledge is Criminal Negligence! Who would send a soldier in to war plan without ever War Gaming the Scenario first?

[ixoye_02]

The worst thing about Casey's statement is that we are getting mixed signals from even the commanders on the field. Is there any concerted effort or strategy that is being communicated on the field? If not, then we really need to redeploy our troops. Because I am not even confident that there is a concerted effort happening there...just a bunch of military "silos" acting on an Ad Hoc strategy. Maybe this is really Bush's "non-plan" for the war. It's really sad when we are trying to support our troops when we see that the commanders aren't even really sure about what they need. This cannot be tolerated and this falls on Bush's record. Maybe we should rename Bush's party, the Republican'ts. After 6 years of Bush and the previous Republican't congress, I can no longer trust that the Republican'ts can manage a war, national security, or even domestic issues. This is why I am now an independent after being a Republican't for at least two decades.

[rharrin1]

It's obvious you are not qualified to run the country if you have to steal the oval office.

Just the facts

[superdem]

The troops, the troops, everyone loves the troops. Well, guess what ? The troops vote. And who do they vote for ? Republicans, in overwhelming numbers. I'm sure the military as a whole voted overwhelmingly for Bush, not once, but twice. Even with the war going on, even with the extension of tours and repeated tours in Iraq. I do NOT consider the troops helpless pawns in a system beyond their control, blindly serving our nation's defense. They have eyes, they have ears, they have brains. I hope they are learning something from this absurd war, this Republican war. Their Republican leaders - who don't know the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite, are NOT going to save them any time soon.

[luvny-2009]

Just another Bush puppet, Bush had his hand so far up Casey's butt you could see Dubya's finger nails. Hey he played the game now let him pay for his lies!..

[rharrin1]

Superdem

They were fed the same bullsh*t the rest of the country received.

[nyckate]

problem is this: NOBODY believes Bush can lead the military actions in Iraq - he's failed time and time again AND those military people he put in charge are more interested in helping Bush prove Bush and Rumsfeld right that they haven't done the right thing by our soldiers in Iraq.

There in no more confidence in Bush or Bush Loyalists - those who've cheered Bush on for the last 6 years and still do have no credibility - cause all he's ever done is fail America. So why believe that Casey is still the guy to lead the armed forces in iraq when he's gone against logic and reason for 2.5 eyars and sided with Bush???

[j-whitman]

USAadvisor,,, His daughters are only following Bush's advice -- Bush said "There are other ways of showing patriotism than serving in the military"

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, I was talking to my son in law, a marine sgt in Campendelton this morning,, They all say it doesn't matter how many more we send in, It won't work untill Iraq takes over responsibility, he doubts if they can.

[sixssastri]

Hmmmmm.... Are Bush and Cheney getting any kickbacks for sending troops into Iraq? Casey maybe a puppet for all we know.

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, I hate to be the one to break the news to you,, Your own Republicans are all saying "I was for the War, before I was against the War"

[skyk-2009]

Criticism and blame - Dems #1 game! Love their 20/20 hindsight revelations...
Posted by badaxmofo at 02:16 PM : Feb 01, 2007


LMAO HINDSIGHT??? LMAO We have a leader who has the MOST powerful Military in the HISTORY of this World and he's getting the a thrashing like none this nation has ever taken and YOU attack those who had NO control over anything? I have a dog smarter than that!! LOL

[j-whitman]

Oop's that should have been Camp Pendelton instead of Campendelton, I need more coffee

[emtak1]

SuperDem:

The 3000 are dead because on their heart they believed they died to protect your right to criticism beyond their existance on this mortal plane, and also your right to vote for anybody you want. And that the American people would not send themintol harms way with out good reason.

But they are dead. It falls to us to determine what will happen to their comrades in arms, so that they-too will not die in vain.

There is the dictating-decider now
There is the "nonbinding" bend-over congress now

But in the end it remains "We the people..." and "We find these truths to be self evident..."

[nyckate]

badaxmofo - already working? Thanks for proving that you are totally out of touch with reality. You might be taken seriously at some point in life if you stopped reciting sloganisms from the likes of Bush and Rush - both of whom have rotted out their brains with booze and drugs.

[nyckate]

badaxmofo - wake the heck up and smell the coffee - there are both dems and gop criticizing Bush - taht's cause he failed America. Why are you chosing to stick with a proven failure over the needs of America??

[emtak1]

there will be no dictatorship while Im alive

[j-whitman]

Badax,, It's taken our nation close to 300 years & we still don't have a democracy that works.. Wen have had miserable success in establishing democracy's in other regions as well, if you haven't noticed we are not good at Nation Building.

[skyk-2009]

Just when do we get around to holding the COMMANDER IN CHIEF responsible for this God Awlful Mess. After all he was the one who has CONSISTENLY LIED to all of us about this War and HE is the one who has NOT continued to go after those who attacked us. I mean future Generations will look at the name George Bush and it will mean ONE thing, INCOMPETENCE. Just plain old INCOMPETENCE!!

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, Of, course there is good being done, CNN has it, so does MSNBC -- Problem is, unless we can keep hundreds of thousands of troops there (Wich is Iraq's responsibility) for the next 200 years, it's all a waste of time, & American blood..... We still won't be able to hold what we take even with another 400,000 troops.

[skyk-2009]

I guess changing a ruthless dictatorship into a democracy in 4 yrs isn't going to happen...how long did it take for the US to form our democracy I wonder...? and how many had to die?
Posted by badaxmofo at 02:22 PM : Feb 01, 2007


LOL Now I understand. Go to your local Highschool, most of them have night class's in American History. From what I've read you should start about the 4th Grade. American's, from day ONE, have been willing to fight for their freedom. That starts with fighting those who want to make it a ONE party rule situation like yourself. When the last shot was fired against the British, many wanted to deprive the Conservatives of any voice what so ever in the new Government. Even Conservatives thought that would happen and a lot of them went to Canada. The Founders DID NOT do that and extended a right to be involved after the Constitution to Conservatives. This is want was necessary in Iraq and what did not happen. You see a Southern Fascist like Bush has no understanding of our system and his Administration failed early on... VERY early on.

[j-whitman]

Badax,,, Have you ever been to Japan,,,, They are a much different people & culture,,,, They weren't under one form of occupation or another for over 100 years like Iraq was,,,, Completly different --- Look what's happening in Iran, becoming more like a democracy every day.

[tuckerndfw]

Herein lies the problem with everyone in the GOP, including the liar & war criminal they call their president:

"Casey rejected the idea that Iraq policy has failed and said things there should get better by the end of the year."

The entire GOP is in a state of collective delusional psychosis which causes them to reject the facts in front of their eyes.

These same people also claimed Iraqis would greet US forces as "liberators," the "war" wouldn't last six months, and Iraq's oil would pay the entire costs.

US forces are treated as a hostile occupation army (which they are), Iraq's oil production is lower now than when it was being embargoed by the UN (which is a primary reason oil companies are raping consumers with exorbitant prices) and the "war" has been ongoing for years with no end in sight.

Anyone who claims it is "going as planned" either had a "secret plan" which was not shared with the public, or he is delusional to the point of insanity.

George Walker Bush is a mass murdering war criminal whose rightful place is in a prison cell. His rightful place in history is on a page marked LOSER and MISERABLE FAILURE.

He is the WORST "president" in US history, without exception.

Casey should be indicted and tried for his war crimes. Along with everyone else in the Bush admnistration.

[rharrin1]

Badax

Japan didn't go around killing each other or american troops.

Go back to class, your teacher is looking for you.

[karlimhof]

McCain should shut up or put the blame where it belongs - not on our Generals trying to follow an insane policy - but in lap of our demented head of state - George Bush III

[j-whitman]

Badax,, I enjoy talking to you. You don't engage in spin or the religious BS,, That's communicating friend,,, completly oppisite of what our GOP & administration has been doing on foreigh policy.. We don't "Embolden the enemy",,, Bush, Cheney & Rice do

[diverinnl]

tuckerndfw, here's the deal;

Would you or I have done things with Iraq differently? Probably. But now we find ourselves in this ongoing situation. The car is rolling down hill and the brakes are failing. They have not yet failed but they are getting worse and worse by the moment.

The question is, do we work together to come up with a solution that has the most benefit for everyone concerned or do we simply slam on the brakes as hard as we can, regardless of how those who come down the road behind us are effected?

[nyckate]

badaxmofo - CAUSE ACCORDING TO MILITARY EXPERTS IF WE CAN'T REGAIN BAGDHAD THAN ALL IS LOST.

Turn of Rush - he's rotting whatever little braincells you might have left.

[rharrin1]

Badax

You listen to the bush propaganda to much.

[nyckate]

usadvisor101 - you're right - they have much less of everything now under US than ever under Saddam - and worse again is that much of the 'brain trust' of iraq has already fled - the shiias don't believe in higher education so all they study is the quaran - they don't have doctors, engineers, etc.

[nyckate]

badaxmofo - thanks for pointing out that all these funds wasted in iraq would have been put to better use here in the US - better education for places like DC -- though we must admit that detroit and dc were still too smart to vote for Bush!!!

[j-whitman]

Badax,, I was in Nagasaki for awhile, they still don't like what we did. You can't wear a USA T-shirt there without running the risk of getting jumped ---- Japan was lost before we dropped the bomb... The Bomb wouldn't have stopped them, thier military was already defeated.

[nyckate]

diverinnl - no sorry - but the real question is how do we get Bush loyalists out of places of authority - Casaey has been Bush's guy for 2.5 years -- and he's followed the lies and deceptions and sanitized version put out by Bush, Rove and Cheney - so that makes him no longer believable either. We need REAL military people in there who don't follow ANY political agenda other than to get the US the heck out of there.

[randalds]

USA - any thoughts as to why our media shows only Baghdad and its immediate surrounding areas?

"utter poverty and no stability" you can say that about parts of DC and Detroit too...
Posted by badaxmofo at 02:52 PM : Feb 01, 2007

Because that's all they can show since only a lunatic would go into the other parts of the country where it's even more dangerous then in Baghdad!

[diverinnl]

nyckate, I agree with you but at what cost? Are you willing to accept a regional war or genocide after we leave? How about the increased risk of terror training and recruitment? We need to look at the long term goal and work as a nation to achieve it.

[j-whitman]

Badax,, Bush's own ISG said the media uner reported the bad news.