U.S. commander has doubts on Anbar fight

[Barrett808]

U.S. commander has doubts on Anbar fight
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - The insurgency in Iraq's volatile western Anbar province can be beaten but probably not until after U.S. troops leave the country, the commander of forces in the provincial capital said Friday.

"An insurgency is a very difficult thing to defeat in a finite period of time. It takes a lot of persistence — perseverance is the actual term that we like to use," Army Col. Sean B. MacFarland, commander of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, said in a video-teleconference with reporters at the Pentagon.

"Who knows how long this is going to actually last?" he added. "But if we get the level of violence down to a point where the Iraqi security forces are more than capable of dealing with it, the insurgency's days will eventually come to an end. And they will come to an end at the hands of the Iraqis, who, by definition, will always be perceived as more legitimate than an external force like our own."

He did not say pointblank that the insurgency could be defeated only if U.S. forces left, but he indicated that his brigade's mission is to reduce violence until Iraqi security forces can take over — not to outright defeat the insurgency.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060929/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. He is saying that they lost, that they couldn't "finish the job".

They have tried to conquer Anbar about five times and couldn't do it. The US military has been defeated by a few guys using soviet era RPG launchers.

[leftchick]

3. to be fair

it is more than a few guys. I am sure there are literally tens of thousands now fighting the occupiers. And the number grows daily.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. I'm just using their own words. They are the ones that have claimed

all along that it's only a few guys, a few dead enders, who am I to question them? So, a few dead enders have defeated the US military, I didn't say it, that commander did.

[saigon68]

12. Spurred on by visions of SHIT LIKE THIS

[grytpype]

2. Cut and run! Cut and run!

[Eugene]

5. Alternate spin: Insurgents losing ground (AP)

Iraq is winnable if you lower expectations enough.

(Associated Press)

Commander: Iraq Insurgents Losing Ground


Friday September 29, 2006 8:16 PM

AP Photo BAG107

By ROBERT BURNS

AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - It is still possible to defeat the entrenched insurgency
in Iraq's western Anbar province but probably not until U.S. troops leave,
the American commander of forces in the provincial capital said Friday.

The insurgents are losing ground, and Iraqi security forces are gaining,
said Army Col. Sean B. MacFarland, commander of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored
Division. He also said his soldiers' goal is not to destroy the insurgency
but to build up the Iraqi army and police to a point where they can fight
the insurgents on their own.

In an interview with reporters at the Pentagon from his headquarters
in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, MacFarland was asked if it
would be fair to say his mission is not to actually win or to defeat
the insurgency.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6114515,00.html

[Robbien]

6. US commander:His goal is not to defeat insurgency but leave it to Iraqis

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - It is still possible to defeat the entrenched insurgency in Iraq's western Anbar province but probably not until U.S. troops leave, the American commander of forces in the provincial capital said Friday.

. . .

In an interview with reporters at the Pentagon from his headquarters in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, MacFarland was asked if it would be fair to say his mission is not to actually win or to defeat the insurgency.

``I think so,'' he replied.

``You know, an insurgency is a very difficult thing to defeat in a finite period of time. It takes a lot of persistence perseverance is the actual term that we like to use. Who knows how long this is going to actually last? But if we get the level of violence down to a point where the Iraqi security forces are more than capable of dealing with it, the insurgency's days will eventually come to an end. And they will come to an end at the hands of the Iraqis who, by definition, will always be perceived as more legitimate than an external force like our own.''

He did not say point-blank that the insurgency could be defeated only if U.S. forces left, but he emphasized that the security force best suited to deal with anti-government elements eventually will be the Iraqi police.

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_4418490

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Can you imagine jr & cheney walking away from Iraq at this point?

I'll bet the only guy leaving Iraq will be MacFarland on the next helicopter.

[MadMaddie]

8. considering the Iraqi military is still nearly non existent

and their local police and getting blown up in the streets.....and 100's of bodies left strewn around the city as every day passes.....

* cabal has positioned Iraq to become a state of mass homicides I think Iraq is on it's path to one of the greatest tragedies of the century....

[NOLADEM]

9. What a telling quote....

"It is still possible to defeat the entrenched insurgency in Iraq's western Anbar province but probably not until U.S. troops leave, the American commander of forces in the provincial capital said Friday."

Wow. You mean that if the occupying army leaves, the insurgency will quit repelling the invading force? Miraculous. Glad we spent half a TRILLION dollars to create a problem we have solved BY NOT FUCKING GOING IN THE FIRST PLACE.


What the fuck are they spending four years on at West Point these days? Maybe a little less marching and twirling and stupid obstacle courses and a little more post-conventional thought and reading? Perhaps?

[LynnTheDem]

10. It never was any fault of the West Pointers. ONE GROUP is to blame.

ONE MAN.

The one who loves to dress up, strut around, thump his awol chest & declare himself the COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

[Screwfly]

11. I have doubts too

The Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union & the U.S. invasion of Iraq has enough similarities to give me the shivers. Both campaigns; started late, invading armor penetrated deeply into the enemy's heartland with breath taking speed, hostile weather hampered the invading force, the political leadership disregarded warnings from the general staff, faced with battlefield set backs the supreme leader refused to allow the army to retreat to a more tactically sound position, etc.

I would liken An-bar province to the failed siege of Moscow, with the battle for Ramadi shaping up like the battle for Stalingrad. I pray our massive air power can allow American troops to escape Iraq when TSHTF with out a great loss of life.

[saigon68]

13. Our MASSIVE AIRPOWER will save the day

I hope they have lots of these

[Barrett808]

14. Welcome to DU, Screwfly!

:hi:

Interesting idea: Ramadi as Stalingrad. Fallujah might work as well.