Hagel sounds alarm over Iraq

Omaha World-Herald ^

[iconoclast]

"The point is, we're going to have to make some changes or we will lose, we will lose in Iraq," he told the legionnaires.

At the same time, he said, he wants President Bush to win, and he believes that the United States cannot pull out anytime soon.

Hagel for President!

Right now!

[iconoclast]

This limp wristed POS should just keep his mouth shut,

You should be ashamed of yourself.

War wound score card:

limp wristed POS ... 2
The 3 caballeros ..... 0

[iconoclast]

but nobody EVER said winning would be an easy walk in the park.

Au contraire!

I heard Vice President (last throes) Cheney say it just this morning! It was pre-war video tape of his his famous "we'll be welcomed as liberators interview".

You Bots and your mindless denial kill me.

But its our troops getting killed that matter.

[iconoclast]

Before all this is said and done, we'll probably need to occupy a large swath of the Middle East. Syria and Iran, definitely. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, perhaps. It would also help if we'd stop going soft on pseudo terrorist regimes (e.g., the PA, Hammas, and Hezbollah in Lebanon).

YES! By God!

And without a draft and with more tax cuts and domestic Pork! What a great country! (/sarcasm)

[lexington minuteman 1775]

McCain/Hagel in 2008 as an independent party would hurt the democrats more than the republicans.They will never get the republican party nod.

[ThreePuttinDude]

And because he is a war veteran, for the rest of his
political career he gets a pass on every issue he supports
or apposes? I think not

No I'm not ashamed of myself, since he appears to be in
campaign mode, he is open to criticism. He has been a contrary
figure for some time. In my opinion he is on a par with McLame.

Those are just my personal opinions of Hagel and McCain.
I'm sorry if they disagree with yours, this isn't a Durbinesque apology

[Tribune7]

I believe him when he says that if the generals want more troops they would get them . . .Where are they going to get them?

This morning, Rumsfeld said the troop level was 139,000 as per the general's request. Three months ago it was 160,000 as per the general's request. He said those 21,000 extra troops were there if they needed them again. He said they didn't want them. If troops are now available that are not being requested, then the commanders don't feel we need more troops.

And did that happen? . . . It didn't happen because they gave Van Riper an important weapon in his arsenal that Saddam Hussein didn't have -- Chinese-made Silkworm missiles.

This doesn't make sense. Someone who makes a prediction that doesn't pan out should not have his credibility enhanced because of the bad prediction.

I agree that foreigners comprise a significant portion of the enemy forces in Iraq,

As I understand it, it is not just a significant portion but the majority as far as the terrorism goes. Anyway, we apparently have the support of the vast majority of the Iraqis.

It sounds like he lost an argument, got mad and quit. Sort of what happened to Patton and MacArthur, right?

No, Patton & MacArthur were both fired from commands. Neither ever quit.

[iconoclast]

And because he is a war veteran, for the rest of his political career he gets a pass on every issue he supports or apposes?

Because he's a vet whose served under enemy fire?

Passes, no. Respect, yes.

[nairBResal]

What they should do is run two independent-independent campaigns.

Then we can have an independents view of an independents view.

Why stop at two, we can have that other gentleman who was also reluctantly in Vietnam, we all know him fondly as "rice in the bum", and his crazy rich bimbo wife.

[nairBResal]

We were welcomed by the Shiites.
we were welcomed by the Kurds.

The other guys, the oppressor,rapist and gasser of the aforementioned, well we all know that they had everything to loose and would never welcome their own destruction. Given all that I don't see how VP Cheney was wrong.

[Racehorse]

I don't believe that is correct. Do you remember where you came across the number?

From: http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/10/19/news/war.html

I much appreciate the reply and the link!

If you have a little time (about two hours) . . . and of course, the interest . . . compare the Times 20 October 2004 article with Rumsfeld's and Franks' testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee (Lessons Learned from the war in Iraq) on 9 July 2004.

Nothing in Franks' testimony affirms or denies that he made the drawing room remarks concerning early drawdown of most troops, but going back to watch the hearing via C-SPAN was extremely interesting and useful.  For some reason, only the first session was either recorded or archived by C-SPAN.  (Gawd bless C-SPAN!)

Franks gives his opening statement about 30 minutes into the hearing and answers his first question at about 56 minutes.  Here's the link:  http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=Senate%20Armed%20Services%20Committee%20Hearing%20on%20%22Lessons%20Learned%20from%20Operation%20Iraqi%20Freedom%22&link=rtsp%3A%2F%2Fcspanrm.fplive.net%2Fcspan%2Fgdrive%2Firaq070903%5Firaqlessons.rm

If you do take a look and stumble on the afternoon session, please give me a shout.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Hagel can rot in hell, as far as I'm concerned. The man is a liar, a backstabber, and just a more subtle, sly version of Jane Fonda. Sorry, I've seen and heard enough from him to conclude that he has ulterior motives and is dishonest.

I will never forget what he said.

[Racehorse]

Much, much thanks!

I'm searching through our library database servers for the exercise's formal critique. Should I find something, I'll send the url or the title your way.

[iconoclast]

Given all that I don't see how VP Cheney was wrong

At the same time he made that statement he was predicting an occupation force about 30,000.

You defend the indefensible.

From the time we turned from the pursuit of al Quaeda our policy has been one misguided, wishful thinking decision after another.

[nairBResal]

That 30000 was the "drawdown" number.

If you think that we will have zero presence in Iraq when all is said and done then you are wrong. The leaders in Iraq will not allow this, for both cya and economic reasons. Just ask any US Senator who is loosing a military base in BRAC.

Also Germany, Japan and South Korea, remember?

[iconoclast]

"Do you have everything you need?"

As it turned out he had MORE than he needed for the invasion.

As Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the REST of the story"!

[iconoclast]

Vice-Admiral Marty Mayer, one of the coordinators, denied claims of fixing. "I want to disabuse anybody of any notion that somehow the books were cooked," he said.

Attaboy Marty, you'll be an Admiral in no time.

There's nothing George loves more than a yes man.

[Racehorse]

Attaboy Marty, you'll be an Admiral in no time.
There's nothing George loves more than a yes man.

Scat.

Shoo fly, don't bother me.

[iconoclast]

And the drawdown was to begin immediately