Experts say U.S. in Iraq for long haul

[ECH1969]

All signs point to a major drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq in 2006 — perhaps to fewer than 100,000 by year's end. But it is far from certain when there will be further reductions, or a total pullout, after that.

In fact, it now looks as if the United States may have a long-term and substantial military presence in Iraq, military experts say.

"I hardly know of any counterinsurgency that lasted less than a decade," said Bruce Hoffman, a counterinsurgency expert with the Rand Corp. "I don't see any sign over the past year that this will end anytime soon. ... I don't see any development that would indicate `light at the end of the tunnel.'"

Ahmed S. Hashim, a counterinsurgency expert at the U.S. Naval War College, predicted the U.S. is in for a "protracted stay" in Iraq, guiding the Iraqis in their struggle against the insurgents for years.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-02-09-iraq-troops_x.htm

[sui generis]

1. Yeah, the "experts" predicted this would be an open and shut

war.

The "experts" told us it was for WMD, Period, when there weren't any. The "experts" told us this would be a surgical strike campaign followed by cheering women and children flinging rose petals on our triumphant tanks.

fuck the experts and the hummers they rode in on.

We would have done better in this war to have five year olds calling the shots.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Original hed: Experts say U.S. fucked in Iraq for long haul

[LynnTheDem]

3. But bush said we'd be down to 30,000 US in Iraq by summer 2003.

But then bush says Iraq is improving, while the US military's own stats show rebel attacks have been "steadily increasing the past 3 years since the invasion"

It's hard werk being so wrong so often as bush.

[DemInDistress]

4. Iraq has decades worth of crude oil...14 enduring bases HM

this was the point in the push to get Dimson in the Whitehouse and not John McCain, for McCain would not have been led astray like the present day asshole..I just love DU I can curse without being Tos'ed by thin skinned critters called gopers,freeper..^5 to all...

[anotherdrew]

5. yes America, your children die on the word of an incompetent moron

yes America, your children die on the word of an incompetent moron and his unaccomplishable goals that anyone with a brain knew going in wasn't going to work. This worthless incompetent moron bush I wouldn't trust to be dog-catcher much less president. That so many could be so ignorant to vote for this useless little man and act as if he were their ideal... is beyond belief. It's a betrayal and treason against sense and reason itself. If this is how our nation will be ruled, then we are not long to last as a nation. I for one want no part of a USA that will go forward under the rethuglican view of this nation. If it can't be changed soon, I will leave it, and oppose it from elsewhere.

[0007]

6. Didn't junior tell us he wasn't into nation building?

Wasn't we told we'd be greeted with flowers and love?

Wasn't we told that the conflict wouldn't last any longer than six months at the very most? Six weeks would probably to the time limit.

Wasn't we told that the oil from Iraq would help support the cost of the invasion?

Why aren't these questions being presented to this administration on a daily basis until be get answers?

Why are we pissing off every country in the world?

If Dick Cheney sez, "Good Morning" ya know he's lying.

[donkeyotay]

7. We are definitely in for the looong haul

It's going to be a long war on terra. We're going to need your civil liberties for a long time. We'll have to make dissent treasonous for a long time. We need your obedience and compliance for a long time. It'll be an even looonger time before you ever see a nickle of your tax money used for something even slightly beneficial to you. It'll be a long time before we can talk about anything useful other than war, fear, terra and more war. Long time.

A long time from now, when you sit your wee sprout grandchild on your lap (assuming a best possible out come) and they will ask you, "Grand Ma, Grand Pa, what was it like in those days?" And you will be at a loss for words to describe everything that happened and why. You will only answer it was a long time. Sometimes it seemed like it would last for ever. It seemed like the world ached for something better for a long time.

[HuffleClaw]

8. 'major drawdown' ?

funny how THEY can talk about withdrawing troops all they want, but if a democrat even mentions the idea they are accused of being defeatist terrorist-enabling commies.

[VegasWolf]

9. Of course, and not a second longer after the Oil is gone. Doesn't

everyone know this?

[Martin Eden]

10. "guiding the Iraqis in their struggle against the insurgents "

but I thought Iraqis WERE the insurgents?!

[genie_weenie]

11. Did anyone believe the Cabal?

When they said we are going to be done quickly, this is on a generational timetable.

Think of US presence in Korea and Okinawa, that is what was planned for Iraq since 9-11.