Gen. Petraeus: progress in Iraq 'fragile... tenuous'

"“You can’t kill your way out of a problem like this. You have to reconcile with some [insurgent groups] and then isolate the irreconcilables so that they can be killed, captured or run off.”

Did we think about that when we killed our way In? Sure they'll give up....ask Israel. I have no intentions of voting for someone who thinks this was a good idea. McBush thinks it was a good idea and thinks bombing Iran is a good idea. He even wrote a little ditty about it.

Petraeus is right here as far as he goes, but he avoids telling the whole story, thus effectively bending the truth by omission.

The new tactic works as follows.

Sunnis (the main insurgents) are paid money - around $300/month each - not to oppose American forces. In turn, Americans do more projects rapidly in their area, such as installing new street lights. The Sunnis perceive themselves getting ahead of their rival Shia.

Superficially this sounds good (although very expensive), but it will only work in the short term.

It is a tactic, not a strategy.

Longer term, what this is doing is building up even greater divisions and resentments between groups.

It is no solution at all. It almost certain that Iraq will break into three pieces. The Kurdish area in the North is already semi-independent.

The consequences long-term of breaking into three pieces are immense, too complicated to discuss here.

Still, this bribery in return for a temporary lull looks good for now and may provide the excuse for U.S. forces getting out.

Mark, did Petraeus actually say this: "the one one province in Iraq where the level of violence has trended up over the last over the past six to eight months.”

And, I am wondering what all you have left out here? Did Petraeus have some positive things to say or just the more negative comments that you focused on?

Chuckman... where is your source for your claim? tell me then hit the canadian pavement.

All I know is that a young man I have known his whole life was there in Baghdad repairing airplanes and came back last September. He told me they were all so scared of being shot they all sat/slept on the floor of the "boxcars" they lived in when not working. I don't beleive for a minute anywhere is safe there, photo ops or not.

Steve Hussein,

I don't do homework for others.

Kind of lazy of you to ask when you've got the world's greatest research tool sitting in front of you.

I keep myself well informed, and others choosing to comment should do the same.

In general, it is pretty clear you do not.

Chuckman... where is your source for your claim? tell me then hit the canadian pavement.

Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 19, 2008 12:18 PM

This coming from the guy who claims that he want's to raise the dialogue on here and is always crying about how everyone is picking on him....this guy is really just a sexually confused pathetic little lonely loser pro-war wingnut.

If anyone really thinks what he says hasnt been completely scripted by Bush and his cronies, I have slightly used palace in Iraq to sell ya.

Chuckman... if you're going to make statements, you ought to at least have the bizalls and class to back them up... which obviously you don't have because you had to flee to Canada.

Welcome back John Weiner E. You just wake up again? and who says I'm 'little'. you've never even seen my glorious large body...loser...

The last couple of months, despite the troop buildup, violence in Iraq has elevated again.

The so-called "surge" was always a joke, the Iraqi's still have no government and no military to speak of and this troop buildup was supposed to fix that.

Of course violence is going to go down temporarily when you put troops on every street corner but the main problems still do and always will exist

These people hate each other (they've been fighting each other for over 1300 years) and they hate us, we could stay there and waste money and lives for the next 100 years (as John McCain want's to) and it wouldn't change a damn thing.

The Neonuts in this administration should have thought of this BEFORE they decided to pre-emptively invade Iraq, instead they decided to lie to us and tell us that it would be easy and the Iraqi's would greet us as "liberators".

correction John E - the iraqis do not hate us. Trust one that has been there. Some do, the majority still appreciate being out from underneath Hussein. This is another case of how our real work has not been covered and the success our hard work has produced. We are still a work in progress. I/we request your patience and genuine support.

Welcome back John Weiner E. You just wake up again? and who says I'm 'little'. you've never even seen my glorious large body...loser...

Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 19, 2008 1:10 PM

Bed Wetter Stevie,

Unlike you, I don't play on the computer at work, Mr Log Cabin...

John Weiner E... I have to say that at least Chuckman the Canadian can make some strong points with tact... you rarely make any point in your statements but just ridicule and try to be funny (? I think?). Maybe you should be more like Chuckman... still a proverbial girl, but at least with some class.

correction John E - the iraqis do not hate us. Trust one that has been there. Some do, the majority still appreciate being out from underneath Hussein. This is another case of how our real work has not been covered and the success our hard work has produced. We are still a work in progress. I/we request your patience and genuine support.

Posted by: leatherneck | March 19, 2008 1:58 PM

Bed Wetter Stevie S,

You're not fooling anyone with your phony aliases, try again litle chickenhawk..

On March 19, 2003, George W. Bush announced that the war in Iraq had begun:

My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.

...and each year since, Bush has marked the anniversary with a speech (lie).

One year:

There are still violent thugs and murderers in Iraq, and we're dealing with them.

U.S. Fatalities: 583

Two years:

Iraq's progress toward political freedom has opened a new phase of our work there.

U.S. Fatalities: 1,522

Three years:

We are implementing a strategy that will lead to victory in Iraq.

U.S. Fatalities: 2,319

Four years:

There's been good progress.

U.S. Fatalities: 3,224

And now, five years:

No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure ­ but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq

U.S. Fatalities: 3,990
U.S. Casualties: 40,229
Iraqi Fatalities: Unknown
Iraqi Casualties: Unknown
Cost: $504,000,000,000.00

Over the course of five years, George Bush has gone from saving the world from a nonexistent danger to not wanting to lose.

Mission Accomplished!!
http://altacocker.com/other_items/mission-accomplished-osama.jpg

You're not fooling anyone with your phony aliases, try again litle chickenhawk..

Posted by: John E | March 19, 2008 2:05 PM

ha... good try. props to leatherneck.

Bed Wetter Stevie,

Unlike you, I don't play on the computer at work, Mr Log Cabin...

Posted by: John E | March 19, 2008 2:02 PM

sure I do... I work and play at the same time. boring job = big bucks = occasional free time. Now when I leave work... I leave swamp. Its that simple. I'm not addicted... and I'm not a loser like you, little weiner pothead.
I'm insulted... you actually made a few posts without mentioning me! Am I know longer your little crush?

Chuckman is absolutely correct. Newsweek has a very thorough article about the surge. In effect, we are paying the Sunni's, who were killing our solders just last year, money to stop killing our solders. Why didn't we think of that with Hitler and Stalin?

More "insight" from the Tribune's favorite Loon, Demented, Unemployable John E:

Bed Wetter Stevie,

Unlike you, I don't play on the computer at work, Mr Log Cabin...

Posted by: John E | March 19, 2008 2:02 PM

I'm beginning to think that John E.'s mummy and duddy is one of the members of the Tribune Washington Bureau. Really, calling folks bed wetters, gay and whatever else he does post after post after post. Come on, Frank, is he yours? How about Bill "Recessions are my Viagra" Neikirk? Mark, is he yours? Jill? Maybe former Tribuner Jeff "Zany" Zelany? There has to be a reason his ridiculous and mindless little posts get to see the light of day.

Steve S.,

This is one article I've seen recently that supports our Canadian friend's assertion:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18722376/the_myth_of_the_surge

sure I do... I work and play at the same time. boring job = big bucks = occasional free time. Now when I leave work... I leave swamp. Its that simple. I'm not addicted... and I'm not a loser like you, little weiner pothead.
I'm insulted... you actually made a few posts without mentioning me! Am I know longer your little crush?

Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 19, 2008 2:14 PM

If you want the mocking to stop you better take a good look at yourself in the mirror, otherwise I'm going to continue to use you for a puching bag.

The choice is yours Steve..

Neikirk? Mark, is he yours? Jill? Maybe former Tribuner Jeff "Zany" Zelany? There has to be a reason his ridiculous and mindless little posts get to see the light of day.

Posted by: John D | March 19, 2008 2:51 PM

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/

Steve S,

Kind of lazy of you to ask when you've got the world's greatest research tool sitting in front of you.
I keep myself well informed, and others choosing to comment should do the same.
In general, it is pretty clear you do not.

Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | March 19, 2008 12:50 PM

Chuckman, I agree with you, great post my friend!

Chuckman is absolutely correct. Newsweek has a very thorough article about the surge. In effect, we are paying the Sunni's, who were killing our solders just last year, money to stop killing our solders. Why didn't we think of that with Hitler and Stalin?

Posted by: pd | March 19, 2008 2:45 PM

brilliant... i shall read up.

If you want the mocking to stop you better take a good look at yourself in the mirror, otherwise I'm going to continue to use you for a puching bag.

The choice is yours Steve..

Posted by: John E | March 19, 2008 3:39 PM

oh don't get me wrong. it doesn't bother me... its just sad on your part attacking someone you wouldn't recognize and for things that you've exaggerated and made up in your burned out head.

oh don't get me wrong. it doesn't bother me... its just sad on your part attacking someone you wouldn't recognize and for things that you've exaggerated and made up in your burned out head.

Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 19, 2008 3:55 PM

...so you admit that you want it to continue....that's fine by me...

...so you admit that you want it to continue....that's fine by me...

Posted by: John E | March 19, 2008 4:05 PM

sure, you can continue being a loser for all I care? want to meet up and have coffee sometime? (yes... just coffee, you dirty old man)

where'd the "hussein" go, john weiner e? Did that novelty wear off?

where'd the "hussein" go, john weiner e? Did that novelty wear off?

Posted by: Steve Hussein S | March 19, 2008 4:09 PM

Wow, I reach out and try to be kind to you and look at what we have here, I'm definately saving these posts for later use.

Se ya Steve, from now on you can't make the false argument that you yourself aren't lowering the dialogue on here anymore.

correction John E - the iraqis do not hate us. Trust one that has been there. Some do, the majority still appreciate being out from underneath Hussein. This is another case of how our real work has not been covered and the success our hard work has produced. We are still a work in progress. I/we request your patience and genuine support.

Posted by: leatherneck | March 19, 2008 1:58 PM

I'd like to believe you but returning soldiers I talk to say otherwise, and...

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=14689

So we couldn't pull out before because of the violence. So we increased troops.

Now the president (and the republican candidate for president) claim "The Surge Worked"... but we can't pull out because of the lack of violence - "it will return".

So when can our troops leave?

We don't even know what "Victory" really means but the administration is committed to staying until we achive it (or until it is someone elses problem - whichever comes first).

Wow, I reach out and try to be kind to you and look at what we have here, I'm definately saving these posts for later use.

Se ya Steve, from now on you can't make the false argument that you yourself aren't lowering the dialogue on here anymore.

Posted by: John E | March 19, 2008 4:19 PM

bahahahahahahahah!!!!! ... hic...hic...bahahahahahahahah!!!!!
good one, loser!

Can we talk about Iraq and stop the squabbling and name calling people? I don't think they will ever get along. I heard an interesting story about Iraq. A woman this morning on C-SPAN called in telling the story of her husband working in Iraq in the 70's building the oil pipelines. When they would break for lunch, the locals broke out into their religious sects to dine together. Even back then they did not mingle and they don't today.

Carl L.,

Well, you're correct, Carl, the concept of victory remains a moving target.

First it was preventing Saddam from using WMD, of which there were none.

Then, it was to rid the world of another badman, one who we propped up for years under Reagan.

When his ouster didn't result in us being greeted as liberators, our mission became creating an American-style democracy in Iraq, a shining beacon of liberty in the Middle East.

When it became apparent that the best we could ever hope for was a Shia theocracy friendly to Iran, we downgraded our "mission" to establishing "stability" in the country so a political solution could be had.

Now that we've segregated the country, armed and bought the allegiance of both sides, we're just hanging on long enough for the chickenhawn neocon dumb asses that got us into mess to blame it all on the Democrats.

"If only we had stayed in Iraq another hundred years and bankrupted the country, we could have had victory", I tell ya.

That will be Dubya's enduring legacy, an astounding failure at everything he touched, worst president ever.

Children,

How about this Steve S guy on the front page? This guy is even more of a chickenhawk than our college Republican Jeff is and the best part about his act is that he likes to think of himself as a toughguy...

Where does the GOP find these people (John D, Paulo, Don B)? I mean I joke about Republicans having a low IQ but tell me it isn't true after listening to some of the things these clowns say?

Don B even proudly quotes the National Enquirer and that crazy rightwing rag Newsmax as his sources to back up his posts!