FALLUJAH, Iraq, Sept. 4, 2007
Petraeus On Troop Surge, Change In Iraq
Katie Couric Talks To Top U.S. Commander In Iraq Before Upcoming Report To Congress
-
Play CBS Video Video Turning Point: Fallujah
Gen. David Petraeus believes successes in Iraq are due to both American and Iraqi forces. He takes Katie Couric on a tour of Fallujah, formerly one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq.
-
Video Couric Talks To Bush On Iraq
Only on the Web: President Bush tells Katie Couric that U.S. security is at stake in Iraq and that failure there would empower and embolden extremists.
-
-
Photo
Gen. David Petraeus told Katie Couric that conditions in Anbar province have improved. (CBS)
-
Photo
Gen. David Petraeus in Iraq. (CBS)
-
"You say Fallujah is a real success story. What turned it around?" asked CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Katie Couric.
"What turned it around was the local population deciding to reject al Qaeda," said Petraeus.
After U.S. troops retook the city by force in late 2004, life is now slowly returning to normal. Fallujah is safer. The relationship between American troops and Sunnis is strong.
How important was the surge in getting this done?
"It gave us an ability to clear and to hold some areas that were sanctuaries for al Qaeda in the past," Petraeus said. "And then what happened is you have a situation where you are spiraling upwards instead of spiraling downwards.
More than three years ago, Fallujah was a notorious dateline - the fighting against al Qaeda and Sunni insurgents was the most intense of the war. The most searing image: four U.S. contractors burned alive and dragged through the streets. It was a horrifying reminder of soldiers being dragged through Somalia 10 years earlier. The U.S. pulled out, considering it off limits - a lost cause.Eye To Eye: Gen. Petraeus Tours Fallujah
Complete Coverage: America In Iraq: The Road Ahead
The powerful tribal leaders of Anbar province, who are really the heads of large extended families, rejected the harsh, brutal tactics of al Qaeda. Sheik Saddoun Al Bou'issa lost 30 members of his tribe.
"We think they care about Islam, but they lie, they cut heads, they destroy Iraq. They don't like Iraq to be safe," Saddoun said.
Now his greatest worry is that al Qaeda will return if the Americans leave.
"We ask the Americans to help us until we finish al Qaeda. If they back one step, they will destroy everything we build," he said.
The decision by the tribal leaders to fight al Qaeda spread across Anbar province, and it made joining the Iraqi security forces an honorable choice. The Iraqi police force grew by more than 200 percent in just the last year, to 19,000. Violent incidents have dropped from more than 1,400 last March to just over 400 in August.
While these new recruits rely heavily on U.S. training and equipment, they want them here now, but not indefinitely.
When asked if they would rather have U.S. troops here than al Qaeda, a recruit told Couric: "A time will come when al Qaeda is gone, and a time will come when the Americans will go as well."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Video and Galleries from America In Iraq
- Latest in America In Iraq
- Where Is Osama Bin Laden?
- Iraq's Refugee Crisis Worsens
- Bush: Note To Self, Thank Austr(al)ians
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 190 CommentsAlexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Dominici, Pete- (R - NM)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)
TAKE BACK AMERICA. BAN ALL CORPORATE and FOREIGN LOBBYISTS FROM the HALLS of CONGRESS!
Next will come similar tactics here in the US, let''s see if you think this is "working" in your community.
You can stand around laughing at the Iraqis, but the chilling truth is that the rulers of Iraq are the rulers of the US, they are the same people, with the same agenda, the same disregard of tradition, honor, or human life. They destroyed the culture and heritage of Iraq, they will certainly destroy the culture and heritage of Iowa or Georgia.
(1) AQI is a relatively small force. The main combatants are the Sunnis and the S----. All three are willing to kill Americans. (2) If things get too hot in one area, the insurgents just pack up and move to another area. Right now, things are too hot in Andar so they are in Bagdad and Basra and other Iraq cities. They know the USA cannot be defeated in a straight up military battle so they do not even try. We have planes, tanks, MRAPS, etc. They do not even have 1/5 the fire power we do.
Next, the General will not even write the report. The report is being written by WH staffers with input from the General and the Amb. It will say (1) progress is being made, (2) we need to stay longer, (3) Andar province is a prime example as to what can happen, (4) morale is sky high amoung the soldiers, and so on and so on. Both the General and the Amb. will concur with the report as written.
There is a very real war on terror and we need to start fighting it in the right way but not in Iraq.
General David Petraeus reminds me of Deputy Dawg, only Patraeus is not nearly as smart, and far more cartoonish. Also, Deputy Dawg was not a war criminal.
The best that Patreaus can hope for is to keep the illegal war of aggression going as long as possible and then pass it on to some other dimwitted military commander, hoping that he will then be a less desirable target for war crimes proceedings.
Patraeus has disgraced his uniform and his country beyond measure, abandoning his sworn oath to the U.S. Constitution, and facilitating the illegal war of aggression being waged by the illegitimate and mass-murderous Bush regime.
At any rate, this war is a deep disgrace to our country, and represents only a string of war crimes within a horrific war of aggression. It is time to end it, so that we can concentrate on trying, convicting, and sentencing those responsible for it.
www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow
A rather ambiguous answer.
radiob,
Re: "When asked if they would rather have U.S. troops here than al Qaeda, a recruit told Couric: "A time will come when al Qaeda is gone, and a time will come when the Americans will go as well."
"A rather ambiguous answer."
But a rather prophetic one as well. I predict that these two groups will leave Iraq at EXACTLY the same time.
Posted by ConDumism
Where is the list of democrats? Fair is fair.
Both receive from AIPAC.
Corporations control America, not Israelis.
so the south could get its hands on the treasury.
now, amerika is $8.7 trillion in debt.
the south doesn''''t care. the south has no money.
the rich, hardworking, educated blue states will pay.
the south provides the war and the debt.
war, hate, christian snakes, republican freaks...
nothing good comes out of the south.
No that is not the question, the question is when will the Republicans stop staying the Course and allowing our troops to die needlessly while this Administration drains our Treasury. The rest is interesting but irrelevant RNC talking points.
You can put lip stick on a corpse, but the body is still dead.
So can he be counted on now to give an unbaised view? I don''t think so - sorry - but anyone who wrote a favorable opinion of an already failing Bush plan lost his credibility.
"On October 3, 2001, I.A.P. News reported that according to Israel Radio (in Hebrew) Kol Yisrael an acrimonious argument erupted during the Israeli cabinet weekly session last week between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his foreign Minister Shimon Peres. Peres warned Sharon that refusing to heed incessant American requests for a cease-fire with the Palestinians would endanger Israeli interests and "turn the US against us. "Sharon reportedly yelled at Peres, saying "don''t worry about American pressure, we the Jewish people control America."
www.mediamonitors.net/khodr49.html
now, america sees the south for what they are.
war making, bible thumping, flag waving, phony christian, crooked republican pieces of phony dixie trash.
ha,ha,ha.
yeah, southerners...america''s getting a good look at you dixie creeps...
and they don''t like what they see.
nothing good comes out of the south!
Fair is fair - Israeli lobby groups using US aide funds have bought BOTH parties up - the dems as well as repubs -- look at Lieberman - he changed parties for Israel.
No serving senator or congressman or Dept.Justice of White House official Cabinet or admin should be allowed to hold dual citizenship with any country.
Lieberman, Perl, Feith, Wolfowitz all hold dual Israeli citizenships.
the rulers of Iraq are the rulers of the US, they are the same people, with the same agenda, They destroyed the culture and heritage of Iraq, they will certainly destroy the culture and heritage of Iowa or Georgia.
You are describing the special interests that control the Repiglicon Party, ie: Corporate America. Look around you, they already have destroyed the culture around the USA. How else could a country be so dumbed down as to consistently vote against their own best interests and vote Repiglicon? Only a country with ZERO CULTURE, as has become the USA!
"Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you something very clear: Don''t worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it."- Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, October 3, 2001.
the south would be considered a 3rd world country.
poor, dumb, christian and republican...
time to dump those southern bush loving states.
let the mexicans have them...free of charge!
ha,ha,ha.
war, hate, arrogance, ignorance, christian creeps, republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south.
radiob,
Re: "How much did Hillary, Obama receive from AIPAC? Keep on worshipping at the troughs of the "golden donkeys and golden elephants" both are selling the US out."
No doubt about it.
and just like welfare recipients, they become indignant against the people that feed them.
the south will never be part of america.
dumb dixie ***** never do good for america.
always war, hate, christian creeps and republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south.
Lieberman, Perl, Feith, Wolfowitz all hold dual Israeli citizenships.
Posted by nyckate at 07:30 PM : Sep 04, 2007
Keep going sounds good to me. How ''bout you can only be a legislator in the state you were born.
We should let the native American Indians run the country, at least it would get rid of all the usual dishonest kr*p form both parties.
Correct me if I am wrong but are you not of native Indian American heritage?
the south murdered john kennedy...
to make up for this, the south gives us george bush, jr.
hillary, be careful! the south is full of assassins, ready to do you harm.
do not let them get close to you.
rednecks, white christian trash, republican snakes...
oh, well...that''s the south for you, folks!
radiob,
Re: "Since when did China, Mexico,India,Taiwan, S.Korea,Japan etc. become Israelis? The majority of our goods are made in these nations and the majority of the ownership of US bonds are from these nations."
Controling our foreign policy (Wolfowitz, Abrams, Libby, Feith, Wurmser, Hadley, Bolton, Perle, Kristol, etc., etc.), and owning our arses (China) are two different things.
and just like welfare recipients, they become indignant against the people that feed them.
the south will never be part of america.
dumb dixie ***** never do good for america.
always war, hate, christian creeps and republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south.
Posted by seven-pesos at 07:39 PM : Sep 04, 2007
You sound like you''re the thawed out contents from a N Korean septic tank.
Posted by radiob at 07:41 PM : Sep 04, 2007
Correct. They sure have a better value system than we do in many ways. They seam to get screwed over by the same people we do though.
Posted by FeelFree1
Really money always talks and BS always walks.
30+ years ago our nation started giving tax breaks to corporations to move overseas, eased tarrifs on goods coming from overseas and has continued since. They own us, they bought us, and their money talks the politicians stop and listen. Look at the amnesty for illegals.They legislate from their "purse" .
You sound like you''''re the thawed out contents from a N Korean septic tank.
Seems to me that you just described your own braindead comments. Anybody that defends the Fascist Southern States is not deserving of being in the USA. Time for you GOPig Fascists to secede and quit leaching off of the USA, as you and your inbred heritage have for centuries. Too cowardly, aren''t you GOPig?
Posted by ConDumism at 07:48 PM : Sep 04, 2007
Not a Republican, dipstick
the south has a dark and sordid past.
bush is just the latest snake to come out of that most militaristic and extremist region of america.
the south never does good for america.
always war, hate, phony christian creeps and crooked republican snakes.
ha,ha,ha.
that''s the south for you, folks!
radiob,
Re: "Really money always talks and BS always walks. 30+ years ago our nation started giving tax breaks to corporations to move overseas, eased tarrifs on goods coming from overseas and has continued since. They own us, they bought us, and their money talks the politicians stop and listen."
True, but the half-trillion dollar illegal war against Iraq, conducted at least in part for the perceived benefit of the Israeli extremist rulers, has put a whole lot of public cash into the pockets of many of those same corporations.
The billions upon billions dollars of U.S. tax revenues that are given as welfare payments to Israel, year after year, are often used to purchase U.S. weapons- again lining the pockets of U.S. war-loving corporations.
- Help me out here,, I couldn''t support a Libertarian who thinks waging a destructive War of Agression with little intelligence gathered to support policy, or destruction of our Strategic Reserves & National Security some how makes our country safer or even is a sound value.
the church will not allow it.
and we all know who controls politics in the south.
evangelist snakes and christian creeps...
bush''s kind of people.
nothing good comes out of the south.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of
Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce,
announced today that total June exports of $134.5 billion
and imports of $192.7 billion resulted in a goods and
services deficit of $58.1 billion, compared with
$59.2 billion in May, revised. June exports were
$2.0 billion more than May exports of $132.6 billion.
June imports were $0.9 billion more than May imports
of $191.7 billion.
In June, the goods deficit decreased $1.0 billion
from May to $67.5 billion, and the services surplus was
virtually unchanged at $9.4 billion. Exports of goods
increased $1.7 billion to $95.2 billion, and imports of
goods increased $0.8 billion to $162.7 billion. Exports
of services increased $0.2 billion to $39.4 billion, and
imports of services increased $0.2 billion to $30.0 billion.
--- The whole issue of Arab terrorism is our bases in Arab lands & Isreal
j-whitman,
Re: "jowand,,, You say you are not a republican, you are not a democrat,,, So that means your a Libetarian under the covers a Bush Lover ????"
My guess was Likud.
The new figures show that U.S. imports from China exceeded U.S. exports to China by $57.0 billion in the first three months of 2007, almost $10 billion more than the $47.3 billion trade deficit with China in the first quarter of 2006. After registering a record bilateral trade deficit with China of $232.5 billion in 2006, the gap is possibly on track to set another record this year.
My guess was Likud.
Posted by FeelFree1 at 08:02 PM : Sep 04, 2007
Do belong to any party, tried the Labor Party when I lived in the UK, 16 years old, that lasted about 6 months. They were being taken over by the "arm chair communists" who couldn''t get elected as communists.
since those bush republican southerners got their hands on the treasury...
america is now $8.7 trillion in debt.
that''s right folks, $8.7 trillion with a ''t''.
war, hate, christian creeps, republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south.
It is estimated that China holds over $900bn in a mix of US bonds.Tell me they cannot literally collapse the US without firing a shot.
Posted by radiob at 08:04 PM : Sep 04, 2007
Wen to buy a fishing rod the other week, every store had only product made in China. Everyone had a lead content warning on them.
Kicking butt and taking names. Right on Gen Petraeus. Reinforcements on the way.
We get to sell cars in China with a slightly more than 27 percent tariff on them, fair trade? The agreement goes back to 1990s, who was being paid under the table on that one.
if i happen to be taking a dump and a **** reaches under the stall
i always drop a sausage in his hand.
you always hear ''em say: " oh gawd, oh gawd, oh gawd!...
which leads me to believe i''ve made another republican christian happy.
ha,ha,ha.
radiob,
Your point is valid, but the trade deficit does not add to our nearly 9 trillion dollar national debt. It merely strips the value out of our economy, and places huge amounts of our currency into the hands of foreign holders.
China, for example, holds around 1.3 trillion U.S. dollars, and could destroy the dollar, should they ever decide to dump them.
Our endless welfare payments to Israel, including the additional 30 billion dollars just recently approved, DO add to our national debt, since we can not afford them and must borrow the money from others.
This does not even take into account the crippling costs of the war of aggression that we are waging, at least in part, as Israeli proxies, and for no possible benefit to the people of the U.S. as a whole.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 190 Comments