Gates: "So Far So Good" For Iraq Crackdown

Face The Nation Exclusive: Defense Secretary Talks About The Iraq War As It Enters Fifth Year

(CBS)  The U.S. troop buildup and security crackdown in Iraq shows early signs of success, and politicians in Washington must not set "specific deadlines and very strict conditions" for military commanders, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Sunday on Face The Nation.

"I think that the way I would characterize it is so far so good – it's very early," Gates told Bob Schieffer. "I would say that the Iraqis are meeting the commitments that they have made to us, that they have made the appointments; the troops that they have promised are showing up. They are allowing operations in all neighborhoods. There is very little political interference with military operations. So here, at the very beginning, the commitments that have been made seem to be being kept."

But, as the war enters its fifth year, violence and instability continue to plague the country outside of Baghdad. This weekend seven more U.S. service members were killed in Iraq, and, on Saturday, hundreds of civilians were made ill by chlorine-laden truck bombs. Gates said that the continued fighting outside the Iraqi capital was anticipated.

"General Odierno, the ground forces commander out there, and General Petraeus, the overall commander, both warned that as the surge took place into Baghdad – and as we cleared people from Baghdad – that there would be kind of a squirting effect," Gates said, "that some of these people, particularly the al Qaeda and the insurgents, would begin to operate in other places and try and still bring off spectacular attacks in Baghdad."

What the military needs now, Gates said, is to wait weeks and months to see if the new strategy is working.

The defense chief said legislative efforts by Democrats to limit the scope of the mission and to set deadlines for a troop withdrawal would be counter-productive. Earlier this week, a House committee pushed through a measure for a troop withdrawal deadline of Sept. 1, 2008, but a similar effort suffered defeat in the Senate on a separate plan to end the war.

"With respect to the specific bill in the House, the concern I have is that if you have specific deadlines and very strict conditions, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, for our commanders to achieve their objectives," Gates said. "As I read it, the House bill is more about withdrawal regardless of the circumstances on the ground than it is about trying to produce a positive outcome by incentivizing the Iraqis."

While Gates said that it is unlikely that enemies within Iraq would follow and American troops if they were to withdraw, he said that Iraq must be stabilized to deny terrorists and insurgents a base of operations.

"They've made no bones about the fact that once they've been able to establish a firm base in Anbar, or Iraq more broadly, that they intend to try to destabilize the neighbors and eventually attack the United States,". Gates said. "They've not made any secret of that."

[clestes-2009]

So far so good??? What the hell is he talking about??

The insurgents flee Baghdad and set up camp in one or more cities outside Baghdad and set about KILLING MORE US TROOPS!.

Meanwhile the Sunni/Shiite civil war rages on bloody as ever AND THIS IS PROGRESS???

Gates is nothing more than a stupid mouthpiece with a tad more diplomacy than Rumsfeld.

[forthepeaple]

why dont you all in the media that say we are here to help americans find out the truth about the whitehouse and bush,rumsfeld,and vp *** cheney, why wont you just say the truth to us stupid americans out here in america. because thats what the whitehouse kiss *** press secrutary thinks all i see comming out of his mouth is trash,lies on top of lies. i really hope he sleeps good knowing that he to is responsable for all the murders of our troops..so getting back to what i was saying, how about haveing a big round table section and let me ask all congress and the press secretary god i hate him. some simple questions that all america wants to know....and yes they will not know what i would ask. and all this would be on tv radio,newspapers,showing all america what they think and while i am here why haven;t any news media put this story in the faces of all ameica and americans than why hasn't the media been all over this with all of washington..go to .. www.scoop.co.nz and look under search for pentagon whistle-blower on iraq/iran.. after reading the 9 pages tell me why we americans shouln't have been told about this sooner,, why why why. america is haveing OVERSITE MEETINGS AND ALL IN WASHINGTON WILL NOT LIKE WHAT WE AMERICANS THINK AND WILL DO,THATS WHY AMERICANS ARE GOING TO VOTE IN A NEW GOVERNMENT CALLED AMERICANS FOR AMERICA AND OUR COLORS ARE RED WHITE AND BLUE. SO VOTE FOR HIM DAVID A BELANGER FOR PRESIDENT AND CHANGE WILL BE DONE.SEND A NOTE AT [e-mail]

[crater7]

GATES, SO FAR SO GOOD,
6 AMERICAN TROOPS KILLED THIS WEEKEND.I GUESS 6 AMERICAN TROOPS KILLED, IS AN ACCEPTABLE NUMBER, (AS WAS QUOTED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION, ITS ONLY A NUMBER) IF THATS THE CASE,
SO FAR SO SO GOOD?
........LETS HOPE NOT........

[candojj1]

The surge is working, so they tell us. Only one bomb hit, so they tell us. The democrats approved the funds for continuing the war. The people march, but congress gives lip service. On July 14th it's Bastille Day where the commoners stormed the palace. When will we storm the palace?

In NYC the guy gets shot 51 times and two cops get indicted for manslaughter. Yet, we know the whole country will riot when the verdict is read. People will get hurt and die and be frightened and looted as a result of the police brutality.

So why don't we hold the mayor and the police commissioner accountable now for not training their troops in how to deal with people and not be so trigger happy? The leaders should be held accountable there and put on trial and face the death penalty. So too in this case all of the legislators, congress, the Senators and the executives, should be put on trial for mass murder just as Hitler was and be executed for what they are doing. What's the difference? They are not protecting us. They are inciting others to hate us. The will of the people is not what they are doing. It is their will that they are doing for their own evil and we don%u2019t want the devil any where near us.

[djermano1]

Gates has managed to setup another Israeli conflict, but instead of Jerusalem it is Baghdad. If Isreal has not been successful for over 50 years, where does Gates think Iraq will be different. Jews and Palestinians, Sunni and Shia?

You guys have made a mess,without thinking. You keep this war going to protect your own *** as the bodies buildup from both sides.

Withdraw the troops, while providing economic incentives to both groups. Foster discussions, get rid of your guns. Guns only instill fear, not security. When I pray, when will you stop your madness in the world?

[inventagod]

Gates and the Pentagoons will continue on as if the November election had never happened. Since they do not represent We the People, they are only interested in the next payroll, and *** the public!

[forthepeaple]

The American People are not stupid! We know that if the Democratic Majority does not approve the Iraq War Supplemental Budget Requested by President Bush for the War the War Stops!

IMMEDIATELY No matter who they are, Democrats in positions of Leadership, from the County Leadership to the Leadership of the Congress that do not execute the will of the people, must be removed from their Leadership Positions and replaced with someone that will effectively execute the office in which they are trusted.

CONGRESS FIDDLES WHILE IRAQ BURNS AND BUSH RUNS AMOK!

Write your Representatives and Senators! SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE BEING KILLED AND OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE BEING TRAMPLED ON BY THIS.

SO VOTE FOR A REAL AMERICAN THAT WANTS TO GIVE ALL AMERICA BACK TO WHO OWNS ITS AMERICANS, AND HIS MANE IS DAVID A BELANGER FOR PRESIDENT AMERICA CHOICE FOR FREEDOM.. SENT HIM A NOTE AT [e-mail] AND SHOW HIM YOUR SUPPORT

[forthepeaple]

the
only cowards in this country are a few on here and all in congress,and that goes right to the comander and chief he's the biggest f-en loser this country has ever had..and for all the kiss A$$ generals are ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff-a-g-s-----i wish for one day i was the man well may a few days it would take me a little time to fire everyone. well thats not true either i would hold a state of union address and while every media tv was on i would say this.. america is back and as president of the united states elected by the people to up hole the comstitution and bill of rights it give me great pleasure to say this
your all fired,do not pass go just stand up and follow my guards out side..thats everyone thank you and goodnight.......

[book54552134]

Gates - "So far, so good." on Iraq crackdown.

Is this some more of their propaganda? One can believe nothing that comes out of this Administration. Everything that comes from them is either spun, twisted, distorted or just plain untruthful.

[j-whitman]

apennachio,,, You 'Cut & Ran' didn't you surrender monkey.

[j-whitman]

apennachio,,,, It's your conversation that has no basis in fact... You are a very small part of our country that doesn't look at the facts, you just repeat ignorant rhetoric.

[j-whitman]

apennachio,,
, Good for your service, I've got 20 in the navy myself,, 67-88.... Maybe you can start to think about what "Support the Troops" entails ---
- Cutting desert, mountain, flight training, not reparing thier equipment or insuring they actually are prepared equipped & armored, & tax cuts in war time - flatly shows lack of support.

[apennachio]

I can no longer engage in conversation that has no basis in fact.

Violence is the last refuge of incompetence but there are times when you have to see the whole picture and act accordingly.

I have determined that this conversation is not only over, it's fruitless.

I hope that all of you are registered to vote.

READ READ READ

[BlueInWI]

Gates will destroy his career - he is drinking from the same kool-aid Colin Powell did.

GW destroys everything he touches. He has been an abject failure his entire life at everything he has ever attempted. His presidency this decade, just like his failed businesses in the 70s and 80s, where bailed out by the Saudi's on 9/11/2001 - temporarily...

[apennachio]

j-whitman - I don't know if you are referring to me but if you are, I served in the Army from 1963 - 1966, Received an honorable discharge on the 31st of March, 1966, served in the National Guard until 1969. My serial # RA12673782.

If you want to see a copy of my discharge I can make that happen.

When JFK was assasinated I was 1 mile away from the DMZ in South Korea. When the news came out there were 100,000 North Korean troops sent to the DMZ and I slept with my rifle for 38 days.

My family and friend supported me and my mission.

I support the troops and their mission.

It would be like me managing a boxer that may have been taking a lot of punches but felt that he could win in the end and I kept on saying to him at the end of every round that I support you but I am going to throw in the towel.

[j-whitman]

apennachio,,,,

Go visit your local recruiting office, you'll get a uniform, a gun, maybe a school.. But don't count on desert or mountain training, it's been cut...... BE ONE OF THE PROUD & PART OF THE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEMS.

j-whitman wrote:

"apennachio,,,, Does it ever occur to you that the very same people who call liberals surrender monkey's & unpatriotic are the very same people who never served 1 day on active duty ???"

And they never will.

Why?

Because they are cowards.

[j-whitman]

apennachio,,,, Does it ever occur to you that the very same people who call liberals surrender monkey's & unpatriotic are the very same people who never served 1 day on active duty ???

[scott4261]

apennachio,


The reason I had those quotes in my post is because they were significant quotes from two of our founding fathers. I get irritated when I am told that I am somehow undermining troop moral, that I hate America, that I'm a traitor, that I'm unpatriotic,.....whatever...you name it....just because I choose to speak out against the actions of this corrupt administration. And I sincerely believe that if we were more knowledgeable of the U.S. Constitution and of our founding fathers' vision for America, we might not have the mess we have right now. Indeed, we might not even have this president.

Now, my viewpoint is well known on these blogs. I have been opposed to this war from the beginning. I believe that you need only to follow the war profiteering money trail to find out just how much is wrong with this war and why I detest what is happening now.

I love my country and that is why I am willing to speak up.

apennachio doesn't offer anything but the same ol' same ol' that's been going on for years.

Conservative politics with their "conservative" lies led us to Iraq and have been directly responsible for over 3,200 American deaths.

apennachio, while you are entitled to your views, I have to say that you are full of sh*t.

Tell me this.

If you support GW Bush and his war on Iraq, then why aren't you over there fighting?

Why is it that you're allowing others to do your fighting for you?

Most "conservatives" are gutless hypocrites - and I suspect you are one of them.