AP: General Hears Marines' Concerns in Iraq

[Eugene]

General Hears Marines' Concerns in Iraq

By ROBERT BURNS
The Associated Press
Sunday, August 13, 2006; 11:58 AM

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The top U.S. general dropped into this volatile city Sunday
to hear what was on the minds of Marines doing battle daily with a resilient
and deadly insurgency.

Some of what he heard sounded like a sign of creeping doubt _ not about the
Marines' mission but about the wider purpose it is supposed to be serving as the
U.S. war death count tops 2,600.

On his first visit to Fallujah as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine
Gen. Peter Pace stood before 1,300 troops _ mostly Marines _ and assured them
that the American public supports them. And he predicted that Americans would
continue to support the war.

-snip-

Another Marine wanted to know if U.S. troops would stay in Iraq in the event
of an all-out civil war. Pace repeated what he told a Senate committee last week:
a civil war is possible, but not expected. He did not say what the United States
would do if it actually happened.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/13/AR2006081300272.html

[gratuitous]

1. Pace doesn't "expect" civil war

So that means he has no obligation to prepare for one. You don't expect to run out of gas, but you buy a AAA membership anyway, just in case. Remind me never to go on a road trip with Gen. Pace, who doesn't "expect" anything bad will ever happen, even if it's happening right in front of his insipid face.

Did you join the military to serve an insane, inexperienced, incompetent commander-in-chief, General? What will you say to the survivors of the men you just condemned to death for your short-sighted policy decisions?

[lebkuchen]

3. He should consider how much his troops love their children

and to get the troops all back home NOW. Support for the troops begins with the Joint Chiefs.

[lebkuchen]

2. Supporting or not supporting the troops isn't the issue, Gen. Pace

Troop support isn't an issue at all. Support for the war is, and the majority of Americans DON'T support it. That doesn't mean they want to dismantle the military. It means Americans want out of Iraq.

[BenDavid]

4. Well hell! I agree if Pace

does not see a civil war happening now in the present, then he can never prepare if one would erupt. Kinda like jolly ole St. Nick. You might not believe, but for some unknown reason there are gifts under the tree, xmas morn.....

[Supersedeas]

5. doubts about the purpose-what purpose-ya mean Purpose Rev 8.4 is in doubt?