Gen.: Iraqis will take over when ready

[sabra]

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/special_packages/iraq/13378480.htm

Gen.: Iraqis will take over when ready


BAGHDAD, Iraq - Some of the past problems with Iraqi troops may have been the result of giving them too much responsibility too soon, the U.S. commanding general in Iraq said Saturday, insisting the United States will only hand over security duties once the Iraqis prove they are ready.

...

He was realistic, however, about what still needs to be done. Casey said in October that only one Iraqi battalion - fewer than 1,000 men - was capable of fighting without U.S. help. That's down from a previous estimate of three battalions.

On Saturday, he said Iraqi police are about a year behind the army in terms of training and professionalism and that Thursday's parliamentary elections would not bring immediate change to Iraq and the insurgency.

...

"Once we get past these elections and the Sunnis are represented in the assembly and they are represented more in the government, I think you're going to see the process of engagement, the outreach and inclusion of all Iraqis, continue to build," he said.

[Faygo Kid]

1. Bush will draw down say, 30,000 before the elections. Then jump it.

Once Rove and Diebold have rigged the key elections, they will move to martial law, and all bets are off. I fear what we face after the 2006 elections. Perhaps our last.

[enigma000]

3. The elections are next week n/t

[Faygo Kid]

4. The 2006 midterm elections. Obviously.

I will be more specific next time.

[enigma000]

5. No, no. my bad

I didn't think your comments over.

Damn short-term thinking of mine.........

Mind you. most of my countrymen are focused on next month's elections.

[Faygo Kid]

6. Where in Ontario? I am from Detroit.

Always love to tell people we are north of Canada there. You are fortunate to live in a country with a conscience.

[enigma000]

7. Duct tape forever!

I'm in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto.

I visited Detroit last August for the first time. I did a road trip from Toronto to Chicago, to St. Petes, Florida, then Atlanta, Cincinnati then Detroit. I visited, abet briefly, 8 states I've never been to. I have to say, you Americans have a top notch road system - 8 lanes all the way (except for the Appalachians in Tennessee). It beat our 2 lanes up here. Forgive me for saying so but your President Eisenhower was a wise man.

We have a large conscience. We are a very caring people - though it is important to consider that over the last decade or so, Canada's influence internationally has declined greatly.

[Faygo Kid]

8. My daughter, 29, wants to move there.

I am a passionate student of American history, and it has never been skewed and hijacked as it has since 2000. This is not the same country we were under Washington, Lincoln, Eisenhower, Reagan or the first Bush. And God help Canada, because you are so inextricably linked to us. Perhaps Canada can produce a leader that can strike the world's conscience. Our nation is firmly under the control of those who, after a crooked election in 2006, will move towards martial law before 2008. No kidding. I suspect Canada's moment of enormous impact in world history is coming soon - very soon. It better be.

[enigma000]

9. I hope we are up to the task

For good or ill (usually good) we are linked to our huge neighbour to the south. I know that polls show how unpopular the Bush administration is with Canadians - but not with Americans overall, though I suspect that started to change after the 2004 elections. Canadians were, by definition, the first anti-Americans: we sided with the Crown not the American revolutionaries and their dreams of a republic. And this strain of thought has been here for the last 200 years - anti-Americanism is the only acceptable bigotry here.

I think your daughter would like it here, she should come for an extended stay if possible to find out. I'm not sure what the regulations are, try this link:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/

[BenDavid]

2. Someone made this man a

general with a statement like that. DAMN! No wonder we are in such deep chit in Iraq..... Maybe the problem was that our national guard and reservists were not ready to go into battle with what only 4 weeks training.... What an asshole!