Top commander denies US walking away from Al-Anbar province

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A top US commander has denied the US military had written off Al-Anbar province in Iraq and defended a shift of US forces to Baghdad despite intelligence depicting the situation in the west as dire.

Lieutenant General Peter Chiarelli at the same time said Friday the classified assessment by Colonel Pete Devlin, the top Marine Corps intelligence officer in Iraq, was "right on target."

"I don't believe there is any military strategy alone, any kinetic operations that we can run alone that will create the conditions for victory which we must have," Chiarelli said in a video teleconference with reporters.

"I think the real heart of what Pete was telling us is that there are economic and political conditions that have to improve out at Al-Anbar, as they do everywhere in Iraq, for us to be successful," he said.

"Yes, in Al-Anbar we, in fact, do have significant challenges. But despite some media statements to the contrary, we are not -- and I repeat -- we are not looking to walk away from that province," he said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060915/wl_mideast_afp/usiraqunrestmilitary_060915154007

[Parche]

1. anbar

Yes, just stay the F-IN course, and get our brave US Soldiers killed for nothing......

This is outrageous, we need to get out of Iraq now.

They have had 3 1/2 years to train their own forces, it doesnt take that long to do it.....

[yellowcanine]

2. He's right ya know. They are DRIVING away in Humvees and Strykers.

Not walking at all. So there.

[mom cat]

3. You nailed it there!

[VegasWolf]

4. No, they are RUNNING away. nt

[jazzjunkysue]

5. What? Cutting and running?

Must be appeasers, or cowards.