Zinni, Batiste: Withdrawal would be disastrous
posted at 12:18 am on November 15, 2006 by Allahpundit
They want out, just not so badly that they’re willing to let Iraq go to hell in the process. In fact, each is open to sending more troops in the near term.
Batiste calls the current congressional proposals “terribly naive.”
Update: WaPo, page one:
Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who was elected Senate majority leader yesterday, said last night that President Bush still has not grasped the urgent need to change course in Iraq. Reid vowed to press quickly for phased troop withdrawals, a more international approach to Iraq’s problems and a rebuilding of the depleted U.S. military.
Update: Is Bush expecting the Baker Commission to recommend withdrawal? Maybe. He’s already preparing a counterproposal:
President Bush formally launched a sweeping internal review of Iraq policy yesterday, pulling together studies underway by various government agencies, according to U.S. officials…
The White House review could give the administration alternatives so that it feels less pressure to fully implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group report, foreign policy experts said.
Blowback
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Now they tell me…
Kini on November 15, 2006 at 12:21 AM
WTF Allah? I don’t think I’ll ever sleep again after seeing that picture you used on the main page for this post. Truly terrifying.
RightWinged on November 15, 2006 at 12:25 AM
The civil war is inevitable. This is a great example of why conservatives oppose nation-building. So we put in more troops to delay a civil war until we eventually pull out. Quagmire.
Valiant on November 15, 2006 at 12:25 AM
No. The resistance can easily be crushed. The ability is not lacking. Just the will. We, the American People, just have to be willing to do it.
techno_barbarian on November 15, 2006 at 12:35 AM
Isn’t he on the Family Guy?
Kini on November 15, 2006 at 12:41 AM
Of course we can do it, but the current leadership is so flawed, we won’t. We could and should do it without costing another precious American life.
Valiant on November 15, 2006 at 12:45 AM
They said the same thing before the elections when the dems had them in for a Bush bashing fest/hearing. Of course the MSM ignored it then, but now that dems are safely in power they report it. Pathetic.
Scot on November 15, 2006 at 1:14 AM
Pelosi looks like this girl in my high school who ate her lunch in the corner, all by herself, and kept being excused from class because she kept getting the hiccups
Having her and Murtha as the faces and voices of the Democrats for the next two years is…….GOLD, JERRY, IT’S GOLD, I TELL YA…..
( Seinfeld reference )
Janos Hunyadi on November 15, 2006 at 1:25 AM
As pissed off at them as I am over their military bashing, I have to say.. Giggity Giggity Giggity Goo.
I don’t know about the rest of these folks, but you didn’t need to tell me that was a Seinfeld reference. I can practically recite every episode Jugdish.
RightWinged on November 15, 2006 at 1:40 AM
Turning your back while in a fight is a good way to die or get killed. Experience speaking here, for those who forget-the Dhimmicr@ps. They know this and, as the party in power, should act the grown-up. We still know what’s at stake here and won’t be afraid to start writing recall petitions.
tormod on November 15, 2006 at 5:14 AM
You are bad man, Mister RightWinged. Very, very, bad.
Kid from Brooklyn on November 15, 2006 at 7:55 AM
At what point do we stand back and watch? I’m thinking about strategic redeployment…to the suburbs, and maybe to Anbar. We should be kicking jihadi ass and leaving the more multicultural Iraqi areas to their own (and their government’s) devices.
Let them hash it out, and we can come back in and see what’s left and who won once the dust settles. Meanwhile, we could get a few Field Artillery units training along the Eastern border, countering Iran’s disregard for the NPT with our own disregard for the INF treaty.
It’s time we showed our gumballs!
Pablo on November 15, 2006 at 8:08 AM
You really have to wonder how badly the Iragis WANT their independence. If they really do, why aren’t we hearing about it. Alas, another lack of communication to the American people by the administration.
Bush is his own worst enemy.
stenwin77 on November 15, 2006 at 8:48 AM
If the dhimmis wanna pull out soooo bad, why did they vote against it when they had the chance? The Pubbies brought it up for a vote and only three donks voted for it.
You had your opportunity last year Nancy-boys, give it up.
Pablo, how ’bout we set one huge joint services base in Kurdistan, surrounded by miles of open grassland? Train the new Iraqi Army THERE. When they’re ready to take over daily operations, our guys prepare for and await orders into Iran.
Do it the Desert Storm way, 3 weeks of air power, flying in from Iraq and Afghanistan, THEN we send in the Army and Marines to clean up whatever’s left (not much).
Do it now or do it AFTER an Iranian terrorist uses a radiological device on New York.
Tony737 on November 15, 2006 at 9:09 AM
These Pelosi pictures are killing me! I can only imagine what my fragile mind will be like once the the Hillary campaign pics start flowing.
DwnSouthJukin on November 15, 2006 at 9:10 AM
Tony737,
Well, as long as we can still roam around shooting Salafists and Wahabbis, OK.
Pablo on November 15, 2006 at 9:34 AM
We should drop flowers and guitars and marijuana from the skies. Mellow them out a little.
SouthernGent on November 15, 2006 at 9:43 AM
What does this mean? The Sunni and the Shia are fighting each other and we are stuck in the middle refereeing–what resistance are we crushing? Are we supposed to pick a side and help them crush the other? Sure, the simplest way to ‘win’ in Iraq would be to side with the majority Shia, arm them, train them, and help them crush the Sunni into submission but this would be cruel, unfair, and very Saddam-esque. If this is your solution to Iraq you obviously have no concept of the dynamics of the situation.
JaHerer22 on November 15, 2006 at 9:57 AM
The problem here folks is that the people of Iraq do not consider themselves Iraqis first. They are Shiite, or Sunni, or Kurd…. who happen to live in Iraq.
Outside forces and internal politics are driving this to the point where the ONLY viable option is the three state solution. The real problem is the Sunni population, which is only about 20% of the population. They don’t live in oil rich lands, and don’t want to give up that economic power…. but then they don’t want the Shites to have it either…
The only way out… IMO, is the three state solution…
Romeo13 on November 15, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Are you saying that the Iraqis don’t have independence? I’m confused. Unless you mean independence from Saddam? But your point is well taken. People who fight for their own independence tend to value it; having it presented on a silver platter, not so much.
honora on November 15, 2006 at 12:00 PM
Joe Biden has been proposing this for about a year. It’s more of a weak federalism–the federal part being mostly about an equitable distribution of oil revenue.
honora on November 15, 2006 at 12:02 PM
We break it, we own it is, like, so pre-Murtha, isn’t it?
JM Hanes on November 16, 2006 at 1:19 AM
And what do the Iraqis think about it? I don’t think Joe has checked with them.
Pablo on November 16, 2006 at 9:53 AM