More U.S. Troops May Be Iraq-Bound

The only winner in Iraq so far is al qaeda. They successfully started the civil war and they will keep on killing shiites, sunnis, kurds, and americans to further fuel the sectarian strife, and the chaos. The only move that would make sense at this point as a start-up to put some order is a truce among Iraqis to wipe al qaeda and all foreign fighters out of the country. This can only be done by Iraqis playing as a team -- USA doesnt have anymore credibility so it should stay aside --. With al qaeda out of the game there is going to be better hope for the future of Iraq

By tribe3 | Oct 24, 2006 10:21:16 AM | Request Removal

Iraq has army and police force.We should move our army in the near by friendly countries to help Iraq government to fight against insurgents.We better help Iraq by providing intellegence and let them manage their internal matters. Involve Syria and Jordan thru UN peace keepers.Iraqs borders are very open to enter and leave for insurgents.Installing check points along the border will help sorting and stopping insurgents. Change in policy is needed.Changing policy to bring peace is neither retreat nor defeat.This struggle has no end within few years.

By cmpatel | Oct 24, 2006 11:40:49 AM | Request Removal

Love the use of the term - could be ready - I could be pregnant, unfortunately I am male. This must be Roves surprise for October. What is the status of the multibillion dollar bases being built for US troops in Iraq? Is that where George Bush will hide when an international tribunal tries to hang him for war crimes? Is it where the torture videos are stored? What garbage, our troops are still there, being maimed and killed each day, sent there by a military commander in chief too cowardly to give up his drink and drugs when he served

By 274627 | Oct 24, 2006 12:13:55 PM | Request Removal

Why would anyone believe anything this government says about Iraq?

By brian.kirchoff | Oct 24, 2006 12:32:32 PM | Request Removal

I would not trust anything that came out of Casey mouth. No time tables huh, Thank GOD were not in a war with another country instead of 20000 insurgents. Its costing the US taxpayers 50000 dollars per insurgent to kill or capture.

By fieldmice | Oct 24, 2006 12:43:39 PM | Request Removal

Will they never tire of insulting our intelligence? Will millions fall for this again before the elections? Most likely. You know who you are.

By kcanterbury | Oct 24, 2006 12:45:28 PM | Request Removal

Kissinger got out another old memo, Light at the end of the Tunnel Memo? Kissinger is spending time at the White House, teaching Bush old tricks. Those old Kissinger memos are like salted peanuts at the White House. Too bad Kissinger doesnt tell Bush to just roll over Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia while it only costs us 200 killed in Battle Phase deaths v. 50,000 killed in Vietnam. Instead, Bush and Kissinger sit around like an SNL skit about the Oval Office, asking how can we waste Americas chance to win the big war by getting bogged down in fighting Afghanistan and Iraq while letting Pakistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia fund the wars against while we could win easy.

By OldAtlantic | Oct 24, 2006 12:46:56 PM | Request Removal

I saw in interview with Bush last night, and he was asked if there were any circumstances he could imagine, in which the US forces are out of Iraq before the end of his presidency, and he said, emphatically, NO! So is he so far out of the loop that hes not aware that Iraq may be ready to take its own country back in 12-18 months? Or is this more political propoganda to make us feel better about this debacle?! Or is the pres. just completely out of touch?!

By cleverlyc | Oct 24, 2006 12:54:04 PM | Request Removal

Sounds Like WISHFUL THINKING TO ME, When is reality going to sink in!

By bobby12320007 | Oct 24, 2006 12:54:38 PM | Request Removal

Just more GOP spin before the election. All statements by Bushs YES MEN Generals, Ambassadors, press secretary, etc etc Bushs so-called strategy is a total failure after lying about going to Iraq in the first place. The war has gone on longer than WWII and all the trends are bad. The US is in a civil war not a war on terror. Eighteen more months will result in more than a thousand additional brave US soldiers killed, countless injured and $200 billion spent for nothing. See CNN Broken Government, read Woodwards book, see Senator Bidens planforiraq.com Then decide for yourself

By jhindson | Oct 24, 2006 12:59:23 PM | Request Removal

The Republicans: Party of Flip Flop

By loewsing | Oct 24, 2006 1:06:52 PM | Request Removal

So, General Casey just emboldened our enemies, right? Laying out a timetable equates to emboldening the enemies, correct? Thats what George Bush has been saying for some time now. Or is he going to deny he uses such terminology just like he denies he used the phrase stay the course? Bush should mind his words better, as saying the wrong thing will embolden our enemies. I better go before my use of free speech emboldens our enemies. I think Ill go read the US Constitution as I dont think Ill see anything in it about emboldening our enemies. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of not emboldening our enemies? I dont think so.

By errinfamilia | Oct 24, 2006 1:09:38 PM | Request Removal

This article makes me laugh. I recall similar statements coming from al Mal-ki last December. Hell say anything he thinks we want to hear while fully intending to do nothing at all. In many ways, this guy is like Bush -- he believes we havent been paying attention to his total ineffectiveness as the leader of a fully dysfunctional government. To boot, he now has generals and ambassadors to carry water for him. It really is time for the US to scrap this taxing Iraqi burden and hold Bush responsible for the mess through impeachment hearings.

By horodys | Oct 24, 2006 1:11:54 PM | Request Removal

jhindson | Oct 24, 2006 12:59:23 PM quote The war has gone on longer than WWII and all the trends are bad. end quote. WWII was over quickly because FDR decided to invade the homelands of what attacked us, Japan and Germany as fast as possible, and then he did it. Bush decided to get bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq instead of going after Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE. When you dont go to the source, you cant win. They understood that in WWII. Bush just doesnt get it. If FDR could have knocked over a country at 200 killed in battle phase, he wouldnt have sat down and occupied the most peripheal points he could find. But Bush does and Kissinger eggs him on.

By OldAtlantic | Oct 24, 2006 1:16:49 PM | Request Removal

So are they saying that there was not a timetable to turn security over until now? Shouldnt there always been a timetable for this? And is this going to embolden our enemies since this gives them an indication of what our plans are? How can you tell the soldiers from the insurgents and saddam loyalist. They could go through the training process and still be part of the insurgency. Are the security forces part shiite, Suni, Kurd. Who are they and why are they so sure of a plan that has yet been executed thus far? They still seem to be playing politics and business instead of ending the conflict. Bush planned on this war going on throughout his tenure. Without this war he has no legacy or reason for people to choose to support him. Dick Cheney wants this war because it makes big bucks for himself and constituancy. To end it before it pays off for both of them is not in their interest.

By gdavis4 | Oct 24, 2006 1:31:18 PM | Request Removal

The administration hasnt provided an accurate report on conditions in Iraq in months, perhaps years.

By glenbc | Oct 24, 2006 1:31:35 PM | Request Removal

The US had 10 million men under arms by the end of WWII with a much smaller population. In the last 2 years of the Bush administration, we could restore our army to the 1991 level, and invade Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and North Korea. We could win in 2 years. Thats what they did in WWII. They were attacked at Pearl Harbor, and they just won. You dont need the permission of Blair or the UN after you are attacked. You can just go win. We can win in the next 2 years, or we can sit and bleed occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. Only someone brain dead would choose to lose when they could win after they were attacked. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, and North Korea are tied to enough things over the last 30 years that we have evidence enough. At this point in history, military force can win. At the right points in history, armies have changed history and wars have changed history. We can win now or sit back, bleed at the peripheries and let immigration defeat us. Victory at all costs. Just win baby. Americans want a leader who will invade the homelands of the countries that attacked us not sit and bleed like a fool and invent stupid phrases like stay the course. Did FDR say stay the course? No, he said Unconditional Surrender. By the farthest point from Berlin and Tokyo? No. He took the war to the homelands of what attacked us. He didnt call Fascism the religion of peace. He didnt set up Fascist Republics in countries he invaded. He didnt uphold Fascist Law and Courts, he abolished them, sent the judges packing and imposed our values. That was popular with our people. If you have the American people behind you, thats all you need to win right now. Soon, it will be too late.

By OldAtlantic | Oct 24, 2006 1:37:11 PM | Request Removal

Amen OldAtlantic!

By fieldmice | Oct 24, 2006 1:43:36 PM | Request Removal

Yeah, right. Just in time for elections, eh?

By ace | Oct 24, 2006 2:22:40 PM | Request Removal

The Iraqi army and police are steadily getting LESS ready, not more. And in fact there is no plan to recruit any more beyond 327,000, a number which will be reached around February. Meanwhile the violence gets worse every day. Bushs own military intelligence is telling him Iraq will be in WORSE shape than today in 12-18 months. This is not a military plan at all, but a political one to save the GOP before the 2008 election. They are laying the foundations for the big skedaddle, so the next GOP candidate wont be burdened with Iraq. I cant believe these people are actually planning to claim victory. Iraq is a crushing defeat for America.

By Bud0 | Oct 24, 2006 2:33:11 PM | Request Removal