Concerns surface about Iraq timetable (Bremer needs to double CPA size)

[Barrett808]

Concerns surface about Iraq timetable
By WARREN P. STROBEL, JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY and JONATHAN S. LANDAY
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - President Bush's top envoy in Iraq has told Washington that he wants as many as 1,000 additional personnel to beef up the U.S. occupation authority amid growing concern that the effort to return Iraqi sovereignty by next summer is falling far behind schedule.

The recent request by L. Paul Bremer, which is being fiercely debated by the president's aides, underscores growing alarm in some sectors of the government that Bush's exit strategy for Iraq is in trouble.

It's been plagued by a political stalemate among Iraqis over how to choose a new government, delays in assembling an Iraqi security force, shortfalls in communication and other problems.

Under the accelerated timetable agreed to last month by Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority and Iraqi leaders, an interim Iraqi parliament is supposed to be in place by May 31. It is to select an interim government by June 30, formally ending the U.S. occupation.

"Clearly, CPA is behind schedule on the accelerated timeline for handing over to the Iraqis," said one senior official.

"Jerry Bremer has put us on standby, warning that he is going to need 1,000 additional people. We are waiting to hear precisely what he needs," the official said.

(more)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7515741.htm

[madrchsod]

1. there`s a dam election to steal!!!!

got to get these goddam iraq`s in line so we can control the world!!!

[enough]

2. Interesting article

snip>

Bremer and the advisory Iraqi Governing Council are exploring compromises, such as elections in some parts of Baghdad and other cities. But some officials fear that, with the deadline looming, Sistani and others will be able to hold out and force the United States to cave.

U.S. officials, including some in the CPA, privately concede that Bremer and his aides have made three crucial errors, including failing to reach out earlier to Sistani.

The other errors are the disbanding last summer of the entire Iraqi army and failing thus far to bring the Sunnis into the political process.

A recent unclassified assessment obtained by Knight Ridder cited numerous problems with the planning for the handover, particularly with strategic communications.

The assessment questioned whether Iraqi security bodies, such as police, border enforcement and customs, could be staffed up and integrated in time for the handover.

It remains unclear where additional U.S. government personnel would come from.

more>

"elections in some parts of Baghad" -- what is that about?

[tlcandie]

5. Kind of reminds you of the US ...

elections only for the rich repugs...those who are poor are harassed and kept or banned/wiped from rolls. NO difference just technique differs.

[number6]

3. The smell of FUBAR in the mourning.....

:hippie:

[bemildred]

7. Indeed.

There is zero chance that any quantity of fresh meat
will fix the problem, for the simple reason that
the reason for the problem is not the lack of
adequate resources, but the lack of sufficient intelligence
and understanding at the leadership level.

[Gloria]

4. Only 1000???

MMMMM

[revcarol]

6. At the rate the Iraqis are knocking off their police stooges,

it will be a long time before they get an operable police force. I read where 3 police stations were attacked today, with numerous Iraqi police being the casualties. So it's not just that they need 1,000 more American people, but their whole plan is full of holes, since the Iraqi people don't want American stooges around.

[kurtyboy]

8. Another bunch of kids--another few deaths--I'm just sick.

I live in Skagit County, WA. about five miles from Sedro-Woolley, where the town just lost it's second son in Iraq in the last three months--another National Guardsman.

I worked with an IBEW brother tonight making phone calls for Kerry, and he had just come from the parents' home, where mourners tried to console each other over the loss of this fine kid. He held back tears as he told me about the gathering.

Check Nathan Nakis' picture out on the local newspaper--he's barely a man--but certainly had the heart of a lion and would have been a great energy in our community.

http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2003/12/18/news/news01.txt

I know the kid quoted in the article, Peter Janicki (his grandmother was at my wedding), and this is just too close...I've shed many tears in the last couple of days.

Can we please make Rumsfield understand that this war will kill communities in our own Nation, let alone what it is doing to Iraq?

Please...?

[Barrett808]

10. Chck out the new issue if the Seattle Weekly -- The Cost of War

A tribute to the fallen soldiers of Wa state:
http://www.seattleweekly.com/

[ignatius]

13. Just sending a few thousand troops sounds so cavalier

like sending a few thousand loaves of bread. And we(the Amerian people) have become so desensitized it's like "Oh, whatever."

Its worse than sad, its a goddamn tragedy. BTW, didn't Rummy say just a few short weeks ago that no more troops were needed?

Does the left hand know or care what the right one is doing?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. French TV had a story about Islamic fundamentalists taking over

I receive French TV satellite programs from their international channel TV5. They had a story in which they interviewed several young women in downtown Baghdad who said they are afraid for the lives. They want to dress in western styles, as they were able to do under Saddam, with exposed faces and hair, make-up, heels, and dresses. But increasingly, women are being murdered, kidnapped, or beaten if they do not adopt head covering and Muslim dress. One young woman said that her life now consists of going from home to the university, and back home. Her own brothers will not let her go out unaccompanied now. Apparently the problem is now very wide spread. It seems that while Saddam enforced respect for women's rights, the U.S. authorities and their hired Iraqi police will not make any moves against Islamic fundamentalists in regard to women's rights, including the right to dress they way they want or go out alone, for fear of alienating the clerics, especially the Shiites.

[saigon68]

12. A Civil War is Coming

Its going to get very ugly very quick.

[truthspeaker]

11. morons

One thing they could (and should) do is start with local elections and move up, instead of trying to go top-down. But it's probably too late for that to help.

[bushisanidiot]

14. George W. Bush Is A Miserable Failure

i just can't believe the pain and suffering he has caused in just 3 years. amazing. there's no way out of this mess in iraq. we'll be lucky to get out of afghanistan either.


he is so gone next year..