Letters to the Editor
Retired Military Patriot
Published Letters: 2275 Editor's Choice: 11
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Report will help surge supporters more than detractors
[Read the article: Jones report: Reduced U.S. "footprint," reconciliation are key]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I watched most of the committee hearing and although come next spring there has to be some draw down and mission realignment because of not having the force structure to simply replace the outgoing surge troops, the Repugs and some Dems will see the report as positive, contrary to the more negative press reports. The commission members clearly believe that the Iraqi Army is making significant progress, thus the “surge is working.”
The commission strongly criticized the national police force and the Ministry of the Interior and recommended that control be decentralized, giving the provincial governments more power. They pointed out that border, infrastructure and oil pilfering security need considerably more support and priority. They believed that the Army had a secular view and the police a sectarian Shi’a one that would require a major overhaul and were not that confident that the new ministry secretary was making much of a difference over his predecessor although the firing of many police chiefs was a good sign.
The recommended American mission realignment would shift our troops to other jobs within Iraq and that a sizable force would be required for some time. It seemed to me that considering the commission generals and admirals spent most of their time in Iraq being led around and briefed by coalition forces, that the commission was speaking on behalf of Gen. Petraeus even though they are quote an independent commission.
Surge supporters are going to use the commission report to bolster their position that we can still win in Iraq. Those of us opposing the surge and wanting us to withdraw from Iraq are not going to be helped all that much by the commission findings.
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OT- Moment of truth in Iraq
[Read the article: National Review's new tough guy, Mark Hemingway]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Michael Duffy’s cover piece for this week’s Time, Moment of Truth in Iraq, concisely predicts what may happen in the coming congressional debate, next year and decade. It is well worth reading.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1659375-1,00.html
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Somewhat OT- Moment of truth in Iraq
[Read the article: Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Michael Duffy’s cover piece for this week’s Time, Moment of Truth in Iraq, concisely predicts what may happen in the coming congressional debate, next year and decade. It is well worth reading.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1659375-1,00.html
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Thanks Glenn and his commentariat
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I sent the following to all my email addressees:
When we don’t have transparency in our government, we get civil rights tossing imperialists who lie to themselves so that they can blame everyone else when things go wrong because the imperialists brook no opposition input that would provide any foresight and prevent one disaster after another. Please review the Giuliani and Bolton videos and while you are watching the BBC reporter incisively expose Josh Bolton’s (one of the Iraq War designers) true neocon character, ask yourself why our media haven’t done the same thing and how this man could have ever been our UN representative, key defense official and adviser to our president.
Glenn Greenwald and the letters responding to his articles should be daily reading for all voters so that all of us can fully understand the extensive damage that these sick imperialists have done to us and the world so that hopefully we can select our next president based on character and the kind of people who will be aiding him or her during the next presidency. I am a much better informed voter because I started doing so and you will be too.