Reply #24: Generals raise fears of Iraq civil war [View All]

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Generals raise fears of Iraq civil war

By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

WASHINGTON - Two of the

The commanders' remarks about the threat of a civil war came just three months before congressional elections in which Bush administration policy in Iraq looms as a defining issue. Many voters have tired of the 3-year-old war, which has cost more than 2,500 U.S. lives and more than a quarter trillion taxpayer dollars.

They also come at a time when thanks to the high level of violence in Baghdad, administration hopes have diminished of significantly reducing the U.S. force in Iraq, which Rumsfeld said currently totals 133,000. Last year, Army Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, expressed hopes of significant troop cuts this year, comments that Abizaid seemed to temper on Thursday.

"Since the time that General Casey made that statement, it's clear that the operational and the tactical situation in Baghdad is such that it requires additional security forces, both U.S. and Iraqi," Abizaid told Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record) of Michigan, the top Democrat on the committee.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060803/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=ArxpqIbFOgpD59B8WCNcYD6s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--