New U.S. intelligence report warns 'victory' not certain in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.centredaily.com/505/story/1023880.html

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — A nearly completed high-level U.S. intelligence analysis warns that unresolved ethnic and sectarian tensions in Iraq could unleash a new wave of violence, potentially reversing the major security and political gains achieved over the last year.

U.S. officials familiar with the new National Intelligence Estimate said they were unsure when the top-secret report would be completed and whether it would be published before the Nov. 4 presidential election.

More than a half-dozen officials spoke to McClatchy on condition of anonymity because NIE's, the most authoritative analyses produced by the U.S. intelligence community, are restricted to the president, his senior aides and members of Congress except in rare instances when just the key findings are made public.

The new NIE, which reflects the consensus of all 16 U.S. intelligence agencies, has significant implications for Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, whose differences over the Iraq war are a major issue in the presidential campaign.

The findings seem to cast doubts on McCain's frequent assertions that the United States is "on a path to victory" in Iraq by underscoring the deep uncertainties of the situation despite the 30,000-strong U.S. troop surge for which he was the leading congressional advocate.

[marmar]

1. Ugh......Can the NIE define "victory"?

Of course not. It's a nebulous concept. I'm so sick of them using that term.

[Mari333]

2. well *duh*

most of us knew that years ago. no one listened. there is no *winning* an occupation.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

3. Hell,

we were saying that before the frikkin' invasion........ :mad:

[Texasgal]

4. I've often wondered what

"victory" in Iraq meant... and I am still perplexed!

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. Obligatory DUHHHH!

I thought Iraq will split up into 3 separate entities when the war started
because I knew about Iraq after the first war.

[spanone]

6. any intelligent person knows there is no victory to be had

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Do they also warn that the Confederacy may lose the civil war?

The war in Iraq was lost the day the first GI crossed the border from Kuwait.

[Kansas Wyatt]

8. And guess who will get the blame...

It sure won't be Commander Idiot In Chief.

Yep, here goes another thirty years of saying, 'we could have won that war if the Democrats would have let us.' The party of "personal responsibility" takes absolutely NO responsibility for their fuck-ups.