Pace: Bigger U.S. Force May Stabilize Iraq

[ECH1969]

Iraq could be stabilized faster if the United States increased the size of its force, but the costs would outweigh the benefits, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday.

Gen. Peter Pace said in an interview at the conclusion of a two-day visit _ his first since surging sectarian violence triggered talk of all-out civil war _ that his meetings with U.S. commanders and their troops left him convinced that the Pentagon is correct to focus its effort mainly on training Iraqi security forces.

"More U.S. and coalition forces could get the job done quicker, but that would mean dependency much longer for the Iraqi armed forces and the Iraqi government," he said, speaking in a recreation room for U.S. troops as a searing summer sun set on a day that took him from Baghdad to Fallujah to Mosul.

But he also said he had detected among them "some frustration at the Iraqis for not yet grasping the opportunity that's in front of them." He was alluding to the failure of rival Shiite and Sunni sects to reconcile their differences, stop the sectarian violence that has gripped Baghdad in recent months and establish an effective government. The troops feel, "We're doing our part. When is the (Iraqi) governance part going to kick in? And that's a fair question."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400105.html

[Selatius]

1. He seems to have dodged a lot of pointed questions from the troops

He dodged the ones that were mentioned in the article, anyway.

[thepurpose]

2. Frustration at the Iraqis for not grasping what opportunity? We haven't

given them any opportunites unless you count death and destruction. That statement reminds me of The Daily Show segment called "Forced Perspective" about birth pangs.

[rodeodance]

8. and we have to REmember that the Gov itself is full of corruption!

[HuffleClaw]

3. "Another asked what the United States would do if the Iraqi...

...government did not support extending the U.N. resolution that authorizes the presence of American and other foreign troops in Iraq. Pace said the Iraqis already have said they favor extending the U.S. mandate, which expires in December."

their puppets will do whatever bush says but if the iraqi's formed an ACTUAL government...

[saigon68]

4. Pace is a Bushbot, on his knees, mouth open, has coddled the NeoCon line

By being totally subservient to them

When he retires, a rich life in a gated community will be his reward.

His rustic subordinates will lie in cold graves forgotten.

[Eurobabe]

5. And where is this bigger US force going to come from?

OOPS, I forgot to close the door behind me, do you feel a draft?

[acmejack]

6. Son of Westmoreland speaks...

[truthisfreedom]

7. yeah right. election approaching, more cannon fodder... this is a snoozer

nothing to see here.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Too make a long story short...

Pace doesn't have a clue what to do next.

[enough]

10. That phrase must be up for some sort of George Orwell award.

"not yet grasping the opportunity that's in front of them."

At a certain point, double-think tips over into pure insanity.

[Massacure]

11. If Iraq had a bigger force in the first place, Iraq wouldn't be unstable.

When General Shinseki warned the Bush Administration of it, he was fired. Go figure.

[leesa]

12. Blast Iraq to bits and then blame Iraq for not pulling it together.

Americans suck.

[PurityOfEssence]

14. Them damn Eye-rackies; when're they gonna do their part?

After all we've done for (to) them...

Ingrates.

Why, if they'd only give up the petty religious differences that literally define their cultures, things would be just peachy. There's ample historical precedent for that.

(What insanity. What grotesque presumption to stir up a hornets' nest and snivel that it's really their fault to get it together.)

[drduffy]

13. Oh, If Only the American Empire

were truly circling the drain.........

Send out the flying monkeys.....

[alfredo]

15. Yep, just like Vietnam.

Artist: Marvin Gaye
Song: What's Going On

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
Oh, what's going on
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Ah, what's going on

In the mean time
Right on, baby
Right on
Right on

Father, father, everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply because our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Oh

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
What's going on
Ya, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on - Uh
Right on baby
Right on baby

[tabasco]

16. Pace's head is full of very important and useful information.

How do I know this? I was at breakfast one day with Pace. The world series had ended the day before with a home run by the Toronto Blue Jays. I mentioned that the only time that had happened before was in 1960 with Bill Mazeroski and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pace told me "that is some of the most useless information you can have in your head." So obviously, Pace has important information in his head (more important than the national pastime anyway) and he will soon have this Iraq quagmire figured out. So far he has not figured out much except how to tell Bush "yes sir yes sir three bags full!!"

[brentspeak]

17. A (much) bigger force would stabilize Iraq -- THREE YEARS AGO!

Three years too late.

[Tempest]

18. Does this mean General Shinski can come out of retirement?

And be given back pay and another star?

He sure as hell deserves it.