Military chiefs give US six months to win Iraq war

[Mr. Ected]

An elite team of officers advising US commander General David Petraeus in Baghdad has concluded the US has six months to win the war in Iraq - or face a Vietnam-style collapse in political and public support that could force the military into a hasty retreat.

<snip>

The main obstacles confronting Gen Petraeus's team are:
· Insufficent numbers of troops on the ground
· A "disintegrating" international coalition
· An anticipated upsurge in violence in the south as the British leave
· Morale problems as casualties rise
· A failure of political will in Washington and/or Baghdad


"The scene is very tense. They are working round the clock. Endless cups of tea with the Iraqis," the former senior administration official said. "But they're still trying to figure out what's the plan. The president is expecting progress. But they're thinking, what does he mean? The plan is changing every minute, as all plans do."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2023541,00.html

[youngdem]

1. Then after six months, we will again come up with another lame excuse for another six month chance

By the time THAT window is over, we will be in election season full tilt and everything said about the war will be only politics, so another six months....THEN, they get to pin the 'loss' on the Democratic President who orders the withdrawal.

That sounding about right?

[ixion]

2. as if... we lost during the so-called 'shock and awe' phase, IMO

the was the last of our collective innocence. :-(

[jimshoes]

3. On the bright side....

after this six month cycle there are only 2 more 6 month cycles till pResident coocoobananas is handed his walking papers. Small consolation for ineptitude and/or criminality on this scale, I know.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Christ, how many six month periods have there been already?

[AshevilleGuy]

5. It will go on until we have the helicopters to Tonsenhut,

I mean, Kuwait, or wherever the troops and US personnel evacuate to. I was just thinking about the TV image in April 1975 when the US hastily evacuated Saigon. Will we see this again?