Top Iraq General Says War May Get Harder

Petraeus Says Conditions Will Likely Get More Difficult Before Improving

(AP)  Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, depicted the situation there as "exceedingly complex and very tough" Thursday and said the U.S. effort might become more difficult before it gets easier.

The four-star general called the war there "the most complex and challenging I have ever seen."

He said there have been some improvements in the two months since President Bush's troop buildup began, but "there is vastly more work to be done across the board. ... We are just getting started with the new effort."

Petreus spoke as the Senate debated House-passed legislation to begin withdrawing U.S. troops in October.

Asked about the impact on the effort in Iraq if that legislation passed, Petraeus said, "I have tried to stay clear of the political minefields of various legislative proposals." Bush has said he will veto the bill.

"This effort may get harder before it gets easier," Petraeus told a briefing for reporters at the Pentagon.

The general also said, however, that improvements can be seen both in the capital of Baghdad and the volatile Anbar Province in Western Iraq. Still, he said, these achievements "have not come without sacrifice."

He said that the increasing use of car bombs and suicide attacks, plus the greater concentration of U.S. troops among the population, has "led to greater U.S. losses" as well as increased Iraqi military casualties.

Petraeus sidestepped a direct question on how long U.S. troops would have to remain in Iraq.

"I wouldn't try to truly anticipate what level might be some years down the road," he said.

Still, Petraeus noted, it was "an endeavor that clearly is going to require an enormous commitment over time."

Petraeus said that the situation was made worse by "exceedingly unhelpful activities by Iran and Syria, especially those by Iran."

Asked whether higher-ups in the Iranian government were sanctioning sending weapons and technology to insurgents in Iraq, the U.S. general said it was hard to say. "We do not have a direct link of Iranian involvement," in attacks, he said.

Petraeus also said that while the fledgling Iraqi government is often billed as a unity government among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, it actually is not.

"It is not a government of national unity. Rather, it is one comprised of political leaders from different parties that often default to narrow agendas and a zero-sum approach to legislation," the general said.

He said that was one reason why progress has been so slow on deciding how to divide up oil revenues and pass budget and emergency powers laws.

Despite the disappointing pace, Petraeus said he believes that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other leaders "are committed to achieving more in this area in the months ahead."

Petraeus cited slowly improving conditions in Anbar province, noting it had been "assessed as lost six months ago."

He said the increased U.S. presence has enabled Iraqis "to stitch together the fabric of society that was so torn."

But he said improvements, such as the reopening of shops and the return of some residents to their homes, are "often eclipsed by sensational attacks that overshadow our daily accomplishments."

"Iraq is in fact the central front of al Qaeda's global campaign," he said. "Al Qaeda-Iraq remains a formidable foe with considerable resilience and a capability to produce horrific attacks."

"This group's activities must be significantly disrupted at the least for the new Iraq to succeed," he added. "The key to success is disrupting their attacks."

[finewoven]

CONGRESS SHOULD SIT ON THIS SUPPLIMENTAL AND NEVER SEND IT UP AFTER BUSH VETOS IT! THEN THE WAR STOPS!
Posted by bluestardad at 07:55 AM : Apr 27, 2007

What the country has a declaration of war issued by Congress, it doesn't just disappear when funds are not allocated. The war itself must change in disposition. Congress must present legislation that rescinds the war act. This is key to really making a change, becaus--by example, having legislation creating an office or department does make it happen until funding is issued; a non-funded war is still a war. This isn't the way to go at it if the Democrats are using the American Mandate to leave Iraq to tend to their business of running the country.

[randalds]

I have a wonderful idea...

Let's get all of our little tree-hugging, lib, little friends that say they "Support Our Troops, but Not Their Mission" to volunteer themselves as Human Shields. That way they could protect our troops, whom they obviously support, and most likely get them out faster.

These insurgents would never harm a lovable little lib. And if any were harmed, the insurgents may get hugged or bored to death.

Just an idea...
Posted by tcoleman12 at 02:08 PM : Apr 27, 2007

I have a better idea, why don't you get the gutless wonder war cheerleaders here to sign up and go serve? Tell them to put their as8s on the line if they love war so much. None of them have the balls.

[homespunlady]

Annual terrorism report will show 29% rise in attacks
By Warren P. Strobel and Jonathan S. Landay
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - A State Department report on terrorism due out next week will show a nearly 30 percent increase in terrorist attacks worldwide in 2006 to more than 14,000, almost all of the boost due to growing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Friday.


The annual report's release comes amid a bitter feud between the White House and Congress over funding for U.S. troops in Iraq and a deadline favored by Democrats to begin a U.S. troop withdrawal.


Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her top aides earlier this week had considered postponing or downplaying the release of this year's edition of the terrorism report, officials in several agencies and on Capitol Hill said.


Ultimately, they decided to issue the report on or near the congressionally mandated deadline of Monday, the officials said.

The above seems to contradict The general's assessment. Guess that's why they held backand played down the release of this info.

[homespunlady]

There's some real irony with the bill. Apparently from what I've heard on one of the news stations the bill contains Bush's own "benchmarks" he'd claimed he'd had and wouldn't talk about.If that's true the dolt will be vetoing HIMSELF and proving HE LIED ABOUT HAVING A PLAN FOR IRAQ.
Wonder how the NEOCONS will spin that!!!

George (Custer) Bush the man WITHOUT a PLAN.
The word CLUELESS doesn't even begin to describe him and his cluster orgies.

[tcoleman12]

I have a wonderful idea...

Let's get all of our little tree-hugging, lib, little friends that say they "Support Our Troops, but Not Their Mission" to volunteer themselves as Human Shields. That way they could protect our troops, whom they obviously support, and most likely get them out faster.

These insurgents would never harm a lovable little lib. And if any were harmed, the insurgents may get hugged or bored to death.

Just an idea...

[freedomisnot]

his presidency has done more damage to america, then any terrorist could have ever dreamed of.
Posted by usadvisor101 at 11:54 PM : Apr 26, 2007

We the people of the right minded have joined together to buy you and all like minded first class airline tickets to go to Bagdad to negotiate with the well intended militias ,insurgents and any terrorists. Harry and Nancy have agreed to give you full support to negotiate a truce with all of the above. However, should things get nasty they will deny the credibilty of your mission and retract all support ( sound familar ). Should your headless bodies not be recovered under such circumstances you will be presumed dead and no longer a potential voter. Good luck on your mission of peace with Islamic Extremists.

[bm6005]

Way to go CBS.
Telling half truths to manipulate simple minds. Thats not very bright of you.
Posted by pwrslm

That would be you pwrslm!!

[bm6005]

In its current state, Iraq will be controlled by Hezbollah-type Shiites.....
Posted by fredgrad2000

Should read: In it's FUTURE state, Iraq will be controlled by......It's too late the Genie's out of the bottle. That's why the current admin is composed of MORONS. They were told, they chose to ignore the real experts!!

[bluestardad]

CONGRESS SHOULD SIT ON THIS SUPPLIMENTAL AND NEVER SEND IT UP AFTER BUSH VETOS IT! THEN THE WAR STOPS!

BUSH DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS IT!

THE SPIN IS WE DONT HAVE THE VOTES TO STOP THE WAR THE CONVERSE IS TRUE!

BUSH DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO CONTINUE IT!

[skyk-2009]

The framers of the constitution established each branch to be separate of the other, and our courts duely recognize that separation of power when congress tries to usurp the power of the president, like they are trying to do now. Congress cannot vest itself with the powers of the executive branch.
Posted by pwrslm at 12:01 AM : Apr 27, 2007

How is Congress vesting the Powers of the Executive Branch away? Their JOB is to allocate Money to the Executive Branch... he can use that money to fight his war as he see fit. They are only saying, in a NON BINDING Resolution, to the Dictator that he has to have the troops out by a certain date because the Money ends then. The Dictator is really the problem since he has consistently LIED to us, telling us we were winning this thing and Stay the Course. He is the one REFUSING to represent the PEOPLE of the nation as he was sworn to do. ELECTIONS are meant for the purpose this one is being used. The question is why do YOU support a Dictator?