McCain warns of losing fragile gains in Iraq

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that security gains in Iraq could be lost if the new administration pulls troops out too quickly, but he didn't dismiss the feasibility of President Barack Obama's 19-month timetable.

The administration was finishing details this week on a plan that would withdraw most of the nation's 142,000 troops in Iraq by August 2010. The proposal would leave as many as 50,000 troops behind to advise and train Iraqi security forces and to protect U.S. interests.

McCain, who lost the presidency to Obama last year, suggested that the timeline — three months longer than Obama's campaign pledge but shorter than some military officials have advised — was an attempt to find middle ground. He warned that while the plan might appease Americans wary of war, the public should keep in mind that casualties could continue.

"Let's also be realistic — advisers in any conflict are in harms' way," McCain told an audience at the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090225/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq...

[tanngrisnir3]

1. That's sort of the point: these gains are fragile, if they're even...

valid, and they're propped up by things you'll never hear McCain directly speaking about, like out-and-out bribes in cash payments to Sunni Sheiks to toe the line, the total segregation of Baghdad by walls between neighborhoods, etc...

Once those payments stop and we're looking like we're leaving.....

BAM, chaos is again likely.

[Oregone]

2. Considering the bribes and payoffs...

Are the troops really what is costing money? If you aren't looking at ending the war (we are still keeping 50K there), whats the point of a draw down at all (other than public perception here)? Are the bribes going to stop anytime soon? If they do, aren't those remaining forces sitting ducks? If they don't, isn't this getting a bit expensive?

I don't get it...either buck up and fight the war or get the fuck out (I prefer the later). Keeping it in limbo, an expensive one (if payouts continue), seems pointless.

[pasto76]

6. Im ok with it

I would rather have the 2 divisions out "on the horizon" and laregley out of harms way, and keep paying bribes, then ask my troops to keep inserting themselves into the meat grinder.
My troops need to stop dying over this.

SGT PASTO

[Grinchie]

10. Hmmm, Isn't that the Policy the CIA took to install the Shah of Iran years ago?

Oh yeah, that was a great success, and really cheap, until it failed and caused us to lose years of dialogue, trade and diplomacy.

You may be right!

[MadMaddie]

20. I agree with you SGT

Welcome to DU!!

[fascisthunter]

3. In Other Words: McCain admits GOP Policies Lead to Iraq's Fragility

and now we all have to careful not to call them on it for they also have very fragile egos.

[xultar]

4. If this is all those fuckers have for a bench after the star batter bombs. They are fucked.

They go back to fear mongering messaged by the most tired monger in in the bunch.

Sad. Sad. Sad.

[shadowknows69]

5. Well, good thing it's not up to you isn't it then Johnny boy?

That's why you lost BTW, well that and that uber-bimbo you had as your running mate.

[Mari333]

7. christ! as long as NO ONE IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ILLEGAL WAR

it will continue to be spoken about as tho its a legitimate enterprise! fuckers.

[BlueIdaho]

8. I can't believe I'm the first to say this...

Fuck John McCain - he's irrelevant

[Grinchie]

9. McWho?

Isn't that the angry old man last seen waving his fist at the Moon?

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. No one gives a fuck what you say OR think McCain

[Winterblues]

12. The very Great Majority of the American people don't care what McCain thinks or says.

Doesn't he understand that he has lost any credibility on the subject?

[bemildred]

13. Trillions of dollars for "fragile gains" after how many years? nt

[VP505]

14. When all else fails

go back to the "Bogyman will get you" and "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran," eh John?

[Mz Pip]

15. Worked sooo well for

him and SARAH! during the campaign didn't it?

They lost. Obama won. QED.

[The Hope Mobile]

16. He did not look happy when Obama was talking about this last night.

This is one of the (MANY) reasons he lost.

[The Hope Mobile]

17. Ooops duplicate

[acmavm]

18. After all these years and after all this death and after all this money the

situation is still FUCKING FRAGILE?????

Holy smokes.

[Optical.Catalyst]

19. News Flash for Gramps 'You lost the election, you don't get to make policy'

McCain should retire and go yell at kids on his lawn. He is not adding constructively to the situation.

[deacon]

21. Mcpasse' n/t

[Thor_MN]

22. The Big Iraqi Candy Mountains

In the Big Iraqi Candy Mountains there's a land that's fair and bright, where the handouts grow on Bushes, and you sleep out every night.

Wonderful place, a veritable Eden, bought to you by the GOP. And whatever Obama does, it will be ruined according to the wing nuts.

[unkachuck]

23. "...security gains in Iraq could be lost ..."

....guess what gramps, the civil war in Iraq begins the moment we leave, when we leave, if we leave....

....war-mongering must be contagious; the Obama administration is sounding more and more like bushco...but have no fear johnny, those Dems can be war-mongers too....

....are we still, still in Iraq? Why?....c'mon 'Bama, get us out of Iraq NOW! What do we have to do to find people willing to extricate us from Iraq? Elect Cindy and CODEPINK?