Generals Are Upbeat on Iraq (but...)

[tuvor]

Tone on TV Is Brighter Than Before Congress

The two top U.S. commanders in charge of the Iraq war, appearing separately on a total of four network talk shows yesterday, amended more sobering statements they had made to Congress and reporters last week.

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., who oversees U.S. forces in Iraq, and Gen. John P. Abizaid, who leads the U.S. Central Command, stressed the military and political progress being made in Iraq.

"There are peaks and valleys that you go through, but overall the trend is good," Abizaid told NBC's "Meet the Press." "We're certainly confident."

The training of Iraqi security forces is "very much on track," Casey told ABC's "This Week."

On Thursday, Casey said the "Iraqi armed forces will not have an independent capability for some time." The day before, he backed away from earlier predictions that a "substantial" number of U.S. troops could by withdrawn early next year. "Right now, we're in a period of a little greater uncertainty than when I was asked that question back in July and March," he told reporters Wednesday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/02/AR2005100200786.html

Sounds like someone got a bit of a dressing-down.

[nebula]

1. 500,000 American troops in Vietnam,

3-4 times are there are now in Iraq,

And US still had their asses handed to them by a tiny nation of peasant farmers.

If they can't even win with 500,000 troops plus couple hundred hundred thousand US trained native forces, then having far less than half that amount in Iraq, they're doomed for sure.

[Benhurst]

2. It looks like they had their noses rubbed in their "mistakes."

Pathetic. :hurts:

Oh, well. It's not nice to make waves if you want that big job with the military-industrial complex when you retire.

Roll over... Sit ... Beg. That's better!

[phusion]

3. Casey lies

"The training of Iraqi security forces is "very much on track," Casey told ABC's "This Week.""

From an AP story ( http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB60MB97EE.html ) 3 days ago:

"WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Iraqi battalions capable of combat without U.S. support has dropped from three to one, the top American commander in Iraq told Congress Thursday, prompting Republicans to question whether U.S. troops will be able to withdraw next year.

"In June, the Pentagon told lawmakers that three Iraqi battalions were fully trained, equipped and capable of operating independently. On Thursday, Casey said only one battalion is ready."

Unless, I guess, dropping from three to one Iraqi battalions is "on track."

[Imagevision]

4. Generals in Iraq> how do you fight an invisible enemy???