Odierno Ready For New Post-Surge Mission

60 Minutes: Odierno Admits He Made Mistakes During His First Tour In Iraq

(CBS)  And even the Shia slum of Sadr City seemed calm. Odierno went to see for himself on his third day as commander. Just four months ago, this was a no man's land, with Muqtada al-Sadr’s Shiite militia in control. The idea of Americans walking around, even with protection (and the general had plenty of that), was impossible.

"The last time I was here, when I went to visit the police station, we were hit by RPGs and mortars," Odierno told Stahl. "I mean I was inside the police station. Everyone was okay. So to come back now and see the difference. The fact how much now we've brought life back to the city is very significant."

But it's still a war zone: troops patrol, and helicopters hover.

"If I wanted to come to this market myself, as an American, would I feel safe?” Stahl asked. “You got a lot of power. Look, this guy's got a big gun right behind."

"What I would say is the normal Iraqi citizen would feel safe coming here without a problem. The reason I hesitate about saying an American coming here is because there's still some terrorist groups who just target Americans," Odierno said.

Beyond the terrorists, the people we met expressed little gratitude for the Americans, and lots of resentment, like in the Sunni town of Mahmudiyah.

A group of men told Stahl they want the Americans to leave.

When she asked a shopkeeper if he likes the U.S. Army, he told Stahl with the help of a translator, "Yes and no. We like them because they help people. They have put a lot of efforts in here. And the reason why I don't like them because they do raids on houses."

General Odierno interrupted. "But is it much less now than it was before, the number of raids?"

"Yes, indeed. It's very, very less, sir," the shopkeeper said.

"But he doesn't forget," Stahl remarked.

"That’s the point. That’s the point," Odierno said.

The irony is it was Gen. Odierno himself who may have caused some of the resentment he is now charged with alleviating, when he commanded the 4th Infantry Division whose troops conducted raids into peoples' homes, and held large numbers of detainees, many of them innocent.

"You're targeted as the heavy-handed general. Back then, the charge was that your tactics helped fan the insurgency," Stahl pointed out.

"I think that that depiction is grossly exaggerated. But what I would say is first off, the area I was in was a very complex area. I was in the center of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. I was where he was from. But don't get me wrong. We made some mistakes," Odierno replied.

“Those mistakes?” Stahl asked.

"There's a fine line you have to determine when you have to be tough, when you're not. And so I think sometimes we were very accurate in what we did. But were there mistakes made when something weren't--Yes. Was our intelligence maybe not as good as we would've liked it to have been? Yes," he told Stahl.

Asked if these questions bothered him, Odierno told Stahl, "Well, I mean, sure. I mean, you know, nobody likes being criticized. And the thing about it is, I feel that I am somebody who learns very well. I'm about trying to be flexible, adaptable. And so the accusation that I might not be, bothers me."

[divarty6]

Congratulations to Miss Stahl for a balanced piece on the new US Commander in Iraq, GEN Odierno. While it was good to see the goals that this West Pointer has set, I was dismayed; yes, disappointed to hear him say that he has not voted since his promotion to colonel. The USA is in Iraq to bring democracy to that nation, and one of the key elements to democracy is the right to vote on the leaders (and hence the policies) of government. I can understand why he does not wish to speak about political preferences, but I should think he would feel secure in the privacy of the voting booth. It is truly a shame that this senior military officer cannot exert his basic authority and rights as a citizen while he seeks to provide these rights for others.

[vaschroeder]

Shame on you, General Odierno! As other viewers, I also had to reread the interview to believe you do not vote in national elections!! We go around the world preaching democracy. In Iraq, the tragic death toll of both Americans and Iraqis is for the supposed goal of bringing about a democratic form of government that you choose to not even participate in. No one follows you into the voting booth. What a pathetic excuse you gave as for why you do not vote.I would prefer having a general leading our army that has a brain of his own, not one that he has apparently given to the commander in chief.

[dicinseattle]

A strong implication in this report is that the surge is working. Said often by Sen. McCain, and echoed by the media, it ignores much reality. Start with the platoon of body-armored and heavily-armed troops protecting the general and Leslie on their stroll thru the market. Add the fact that most of Baghdad is divided by walls and checkpoints separating Sunni from Shiite. Then consider the estimated 4.5 million internally and externally displaced Iraqis who fled their homes in fear of their neighbors and the militias. And don''t forget that the US is paying the salaries of the armed Sunni Awakening Council, and that the Shiite-dominated government is reluctant to include these enforcers in its police and standing army. All of this suggests that the surge has provided at best a short-term cessation of the sectarian revenge taking and murderous violence that, with or without al Qaeda, will return at some point unless there is a religious/political coming together. Question: Why doesn''t 60 minutes report the full story?

[vinzenzo-2009]

General O is a true patriot and I sleep soundly at night knowing that he is protecting us and our troops. Is Leslie Stahl that full of herself that she walks around without a bullet proof vest?

[pattbo]

Did I hear Mr Macho General Odierno call Leslie Stahl "HONEY" I found that tacky and if he did Ms Stahl should be very offended.

[cmmck]

I was appalled when Gen. Odierno stated that he had not voted in a national election since he was promoted to Cl. As a member of the military, he should be ready to support his Commander and Chief no matter what his personal political affilations. In addition, the President''s role and responsibilities far exceed those limited to the military. As an American citizen, especially one who is responsibile for upholding our values and leading by example, he should be embarassed to admit in public that he does not participate in the very democracy he is charged with defending. What does this say to all those currently and throughout our history who sacrificed everything to maintain and protect this basic right!

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by Nancy_Naive

The average Dutch person is 4 inches taller than the average American.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.

[concernedme]

I had to reread the interview to actually see if I misheard the general say "he doesn''t vote in national elections!" I''m at a loss for words. Shame on you General O. for the poor example you are setting for those who are maimed and dying for the very people who would welcome and embrace that privilege. Shame on you.

[ray999999]

Gen. Ray Odierno or should i say G.W.Bush jr. war monger idiots

[bremertonwa_]

I agree with perform421 only I would like to add, did you really research this story? It was mentioned the electricity infrastructure was not restored. That is not true either. Shame on you for presenting such treasonous information!

[cjcregg1]

Why is that no one ever mentions the dearth of women in these stories. Almost everyone that is interviewed or seen on the street is male. The women are all burka''d and moving quickly...

Women had a role in the old Iraq. Now they are just in the margins. I can''t believe that Leslie didn''t bring it up. Did she not notice?

[perform421]

Here we go again, I wonder how long it took to find people to agree that living under Sadam was better than with the Americans. Leslie, you can''t be trusted.

[c13513]

Simple question...How much did it cost me (taxpayer) for your reporter to walk around in this puff piece without armor? Everyone in the picture had body armor except your reporter...Already on the hook for 7 Bil...

[nicholasma]

No Bail out !!!!!!!!
We have no voice !!!!!
If you bail wall street out then who needs the law
you would not bail out the farmers just scum on wall street

[babooph]

Unlike his C in C-he feels he is not a one trick pony-hope he is right !

[bob5ford]

While we are tied up in the middle east the Russian navy is steaming toward Venezuela for maneuvers with Venezuela''s navy(?) and there are already several Russian bombers in Caracas. The Russian navy in The Gulf of Mexico folks! Which is the bigger threat to us here at home, rag heads in Asia fighting among themselves or Venezuela and Bolivia backed by Russia only 500 miles away?????

[terrapin78]

If he makes one more mis-step (mistake) in Iraq, it should be the end of his military career!