Powell: Military's job not done in Iraq

[sabra]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15705341&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6

Powell: Military's job not done in Iraq

<snip>

When he started at the Department in 2001, it had "ancient" Wang computers, which he replaced with 44,000 broadband-Internet capable computers by the time he left.
"I'm an analog grandfather who had to get digital," he said.
Powell grew serious when he spoke about the Middle East. The U.S. has many challenges ahead there, he said. His greatest wish would be for a Palestinian state existing peacefully side-by-side with Israel.

As for Iraq, its people are glad Saddam Hussein is gone, and the insurgency is relatively small for the country's population, he said.

In his only critique of the Bush administration, Powell said there should have been more troops on the ground when the Iraq war began.
"We should have swamped the place.... stopped the insurgency," he said.
The U.S. should stand alongside the Iraq people as the military and police forces and political system are built up, Powell said.

Then armed forces can start being drawn down, perhaps as soon as next year, he said. The U.S. can't keep up the level of military presence indefinitely and can't keep sending troops out for three or four deployments, he said.

[jimshoes]

1. How long Colin...

We wrapped up WWII in about 3 years, so what's the problem?

[saigon68]

10. There's a lot more (insert racial epithet here) left to Torture and Kill

[jimshoes]

12. Exactly...

not to mention all that icky black goo buried in the sand.

[Spinzonner]

2. If he had done his job for the country

when it really mattered then the troops wouldn't be stuck there on Bush's Folly.

Colin, if you didn't put your career and power over your responsibility to the country and the troops, I might actually believe something you said.

You're part of the problem, not the solution.

[mmonk]

3. A cowboy's work is never done.

[bemildred]

4. "Some of them are still alive, and there are things we haven't blown up."

"There are still units in the Army and NG that have not been fucked over."
"We need to finish what we started."

[Kolesar]

5. Well, put on a flack jacket and go, General

Just like those grandfathers and grandmothers you called up from the inactive reserves.

[Benhurst]

8. Better yet,

don't put on a flack jacket (like so many others sent) and go, General.

[Kolesar]

13. that's the republican way

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1972232&mesg_id=1974416

[Rose Siding]

6. Those aren't military objectives.

The vague goal of building up of "the military and police forces and political system" is not a military "mission". Powell knows that as well as anyone.

What a sell out.

[pdurod1]

7. I thought I heard

"Mission Accomplished" and that there was "amazing progress" happening there. "The insurgency is in it last throes." What gives??

[classysassy]

9. Der General speaks

with forked tongue.Shutup you lying piece of greed.

[tabasco]

11. Still more $$$$$$$$$$ to be made by the profiteers !

You can just about guarantee that anything Powell says is a lie.

He was an ass-kisser in the Army and remains a lapdog for the super-rich.

[MountainLaurel]

14. What was the military's job in Iraq?

It was to unseat Saddam Hussein and to get the WMDs, wasn't it? Well, we now know there were no WMDs and Hussein is on trial, what more is there to do?

Oh wait, I forgot about making Iraq a U.S. colony, stealing its petroleum, making it safe for missionaries, and bumping up the stock prices of Halliburton, Bechtel, Blackwater, and the other companies the Bushitas' friends own.

[Karenina]

16. And don't forget

reducing the excess population by murdering as many children as possible, poisoning them and their land, just to make sure they will be too weak and sick to rebel against their colonizers.

[wordpix]

15. "his only critique of the * admin": that's it, Powell? Just one bit of

criticism? You used to be the only person I trusted in BushCo but now I can't trust a thing you say.

"In his only critique of the Bush administration, Powell said there should have been more troops on the ground when the Iraq war began."

[pocket]

17. fuck that pasty piece of poo

grrr

[thatsrightimirish]

18. I don't get Powell

Did he not understand that Bush totally ruined is career and reputation? I just don't get it!