War commander says troops may spend yearlong tours in Iraq

[Nambe]

Associated Press

Some U.S. troops may have to stay for yearlong tours of duty in Iraq to fight an increasingly organized "guerrilla-type campaign" from Saddam Hussein loyalists, the war's American commander said.

Terror groups are reviving, too, Gen. John Abizaid told reporters Wednesday. He said the threat was nothing American troops couldn't handle.

Abizaid credited attackers with improved organization, tactics and financing as he suggested American soldiers may face deployments of a length seldom seen since the Vietnam War.

However, he pledged that soldiers in the Army's longest-serving unit in Iraq, the 3rd Infantry Division, would be on their way home by the end of September. Other U.S. troops will be given a firm homecoming date. ---

He suggested that comments by a few soldiers in an interview with ABC-TV - including one who said he wanted to ask Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign - simply show the frustration of young people who are ready to go home.

"Every now and then we've got to look at our young people and understand why they said what they said, and then do something about it," Abizaid said. He declined to speculate on whether those soldiers could face punishment but added: "None of us that wear this uniform are free to say anything disparaging about the secretary of defense, or the president of the United States." ---

Banish bush From Texas Too

[quarbis]

1. Can You Spell

Viet Nam??? My God haven't we learned anything from the past??
I dispair at these imbeciles. Have they no shame?

[lazarus]

2. Oh, bullshit

"None of us that wear this uniform are free to say anything disparaging about the secretary of defense, or the president of the United States." ---

Unless his name is Clinton, right?

[NYC]

3. Apparently they are free to say what they want.

Someone posted details on DU.

[truthisfreedom]

4. GUERRILA WARFARE... Rumsfeld fought defiantly during questioning to stop

the use of this phrase, but from the article:

Abizaid's use of the term "guerrilla warfare" was a striking departure for a top military leader. As recently as last week, Rumsfeld and other Pentagon officials refused to use the term, saying attacks on U.S. forces were too sporadic and disorganized to qualify as a guerrilla campaign.

Abizaid, who took over last week as commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, said guerrilla warfare was the proper term.

[ze_dscherman]

5. Steve Bell

http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/0,7371,337484,00.html

[ChillEB]

6. Funny, its ALWAYS "Saddam Loyalists"...

NEVER could it POSSIBLY BE Iraqi Nationalists, i.e. regular folk who reject our colonial rule and are fighting back.

Golly, no, NEVER. After all, we all saw the Statue fall, right? Only "Saddam Loyalists" would want to hurt our Soldiers, cuz EVERYBODY else there is dancing in the streets over the fact that we invaded and now occupy their country. "Go ahead, TAKE THE OIL, you wonderful Americans! Allah Bless George Bush!" they're all saying.