US says Iraq troop surge complete

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, June 15 (Reuters) - All U.S. troop reinforcements heading to Iraq to help restore security have now arrived, but it could take several more months before their weight is fully felt, the U.S. military said on Friday.

The United States has sent around 28,000 extra troops to Iraq for a fresh security push launched in mid-February aimed at curbing sectarian killing and winning the government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki time for political reform.

"Everyone is here on the ground now. But obviously, the troops that have just got here are going to take some time to integrate into their battle space and get to know their counterparts," U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver said.

It will take 30 to 60 days for the new arrivals, who have taken total U.S. troop levels in Iraq to 160,000, to win the confidence of residents and start getting the intelligence needed to counter insurgent and militant attacks, Garver said.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BUL522174.htm

[annabanana]

1. "several more months "

And at September's big "how are we doing now" press conference:

Wearejustbeginningtoseeresults. Itwouldbeamistaketoleavenow. Itwouldbeabloodbathifwepulledout.

[Popol Vuh]

2. Excuse me if I am mistaken

But isn't a "surge" suppose to mean something happening suddenly? And isn't "trickle" the correct term to use in describing something gradual?

[Barrett808]

11. Yes, this was an "escalation", and worse, it was a gradual escalation

And we all know from post-Vietnam military theory that "gradualism" is a certain way to lose.

[PurityOfEssence]

14. It's a "splurge", a reckless expenditure

This is doctrine from those who don't know anything about strategy or tactics. What it does is increase the number of people in a place that's less able to sustain supplies than it was when barely meeting needs of less people. Supply lines aren't the only problems; less open roads mean less ability to support isolated units. We're so exposed it's breathtaking.

Meanwhile, bridges blow and the routes get constricted.

You're not mistaken. Reality is what they say it is.

Even "trickle" is overly cheery; it's an ooze at best.

[Supersedeas]

15. Exactly

[ixion]

3. yeah. right. good luck with the 'surge'

I am not as optimistic as the general, here.

[unhappycamper]

4. ". . . to win the confidence of residents" ?????

Gimmeabreak. Get the fuck out. Now.

[saigon68]

5. A liitle more time to kick in doors, throw old women to the ground

Grope a few young girls at "security check points" ya that's the ticket

[Heidi]

6. Kick.

:kick:

[rodeodance]

7. U.S. says Iraq troop surge complete

Source: reuters



U.S. says Iraq troop surge complete

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102

By Alister Bull
Reuters
Friday, June 15, 2007; 5:42 AM

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - All U.S. troop reinforcements heading to Iraq to help restore security have now arrived, but it could take several more months before their weight is fully felt, the U.S. military said on Friday.

The United States has sent around 28,000 extra troops to Iraq for a fresh security push launched in mid-February aimed at curbing sectarian killing and winning the government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki time for political reform.

"Everyone is here on the ground now. But obviously, the troops that have just got here are going to take some time to integrate into their battle space and get to know their counterparts," U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver said.

It will take 30 to 60 days for the new arrivals, who have taken total U.S. troop levels in Iraq to 160,000, to win the confidence of residents and start getting the intelligence needed to counter insurgent and militant attacks, Garver said.

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102

[independentpiney]

8. So the new troops will do in 30-60 days

what no one else has been able to do in 4 years-'winning the peoples confidence and getting counter-insurgency intelligence. What complete and utter bullshit, but people fall for it.

[Jazzgirl]

9. Lie, lie, lie....

These people just lie because they can. My brother's unit is shipping out next week. Everyone is not on the ground!

[badgervan]

17. Quite the Surge

It took an entire Friedman Unit to just get it started. That's a "surge"?

[Toots]

10. I could have sworn last week Petraries (sp) said the surge hasn't even started yet.

Now they are saying it is done and Iraq is a normal country once again. Only a hundred civilians dying a day now instead of five hundred. Everything is groovy....

[onehandle]

12. So the war is over?

Excellent. We won. Now bring them home.

[montanto]

13. wow, so much skepticism on this post.

Can't you all see that 28,000 "fresh" troops, 56,000 (more or less) new eyes guarantees success! Those fresh eyes will see things no one has seen before, making connections and solving problems that couldn't be solved by the worn out, old 130,000 troops. Just takes some time to warm to the situation.

Some day between 30 and 60 days from now (and no doubt closer to 60, if not ON the 60th day, or the 61st) a troop, maybe a first lieutenant, maybe even a spec 4, is going to jump up and say "I see it, I see it all so clearly." He's gonna run to the General, tell him his plan. The General will embrace him and his ideas as genius. Next thing you know the citizens of Iraq will be hugging and kissing us in the streets, our enemies will throw their weapons to the ground, kick them in the dust, and they, too, will embrace us and kiss us on both cheeks, and thank us for solving both the current problems and the age old problems as well. And they will say a big, enthusiastic YES! to our offer to help rebuild their infrastructure so that we can "help" them husband their oil supply down to the very last drop. And, well, it goes without saying that between 30 and 60 days, more or less, they will have accepted our idea of Democracy as being far superior to any government form they have experienced in the past--and they will pledge their un-dieing love and affection for us as deliverers.

It's clear to me that complete success is only just as far away as 30 to 60 or maybe 61 or 62 days away!!









Or i could be totally wrong.

[damntexdem]

16. OK, all done:

time to come home.

Hop to it!