Many soldiers say troop surge a bad idea

[ProSense]

Many soldiers say troop surge a bad idea

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press Writer Thu Dec 28, 12:32 PM ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Many of the American soldiers trying to quell sectarian killings in Baghdad don't appear to be looking for reinforcements. They say the temporary surge in troop levels some people are calling for is a bad idea.

President Bush is considering increasing the number of troops in Iraq and embedding more U.S. advisers in Iraqi units. White House advisers have indicated Bush will announce his new plan for the war before his State of the Union address Jan. 23.

In dozens of interviews with soldiers of the Army's 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment as they patrolled the streets of eastern Baghdad, many said the Iraqi capital is embroiled in civil warfare between majority Shiite Muslims and Sunni Arabs that no number of American troops can stop.

Others insisted current troop levels are sufficient and said any increase in U.S. presence should focus on training Iraqi forces, not combat.

But their more troubling worry was that dispatching a new wave of soldiers would result in more U.S. casualties, and some questioned whether an increasingly muddled American mission in Baghdad is worth putting more lives on the line.

Spc. Don Roberts, who was stationed in Baghdad in 2004, said the situation had gotten worse because of increasing violence between Shiites and Sunnis.

more...

[ray of light]

1. Even talking to them in person you know that. That's why I don't

understand why most dems in office are waiting things out. I hope they don't go with Bush's flow.

[welshTerrier2]

2. horse sense ...

[Clark2008]

5. First, horses actually DO have more sense than some of our

elected leaders and second, Bush is scared of horses; therefore, this cartoon, while funny, isn't accurate. Bush would sooner milk a horse as ride one. :7

[opihimoimoi]

3. Bushies batting average is almost zero...why the hell should our nation Trust him once more???

[neuvocat]

4. They should have done it when they had the chance:

go in with higher troop levels. But now its just a huge meat grinder. A larger presence now won't help. They need a comprehensive political plan-like the kinds that were executed in post WW II Germany and Japan where religious and cultural differences were considered.

[Clarkie1]

6. They are of course correct.

"It can't be won militarily. There are not enough forces to try to go in there and post a platoon at every street corner in Baghdad, and if you could, it wouldn't solve the problem anyway." -Wes Clark

http://securingamerica.com/node/2030

[wisteria]

7. I heard on WJ (C-Span)this morning that only one major paper picked up this story-

The Philadelphia Inquire.
Hummmmm, I wonder why?