U.S. Lowers Sights on What Can be Achieved in Iraq

The Washington Post ^ | August 14, 2005 | Robin Wright and Ellen Knickmeyer

[minerboy]

The Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq, recognizing that the United States will have to settle for far less progress than originally envisioned during the transition due to end in four months, according to U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad.

The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say.

The remains of a bombed barber shop in Baghdad, where three people were killed, draw the interest of Iraqis in June. Islamic extremists, some of whom believe beards reflect religious piety, have been targeting the shops for attack and killing barbers. In response, barbers are posting signs stating that they do not shave men.

"What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground," said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. "We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."

Administration officials still emphasize how much they have achieved despite the chaos that followed the invasion and the escalating insurgency. "Iraqis are taking control of their country, building a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself. And we're helping Iraqis succeed," President Bush said yesterday in his radio address.

Iraqi officials yesterday struggled to agree on a draft constitution by a deadline of tomorrow so the document can be submitted to a vote in October. The political transition would be completed in December by elections for a permanent government.

[minerboy]

The whole idea of lowering expectations in Iraq completely sickens me

[DoughtyOne]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1462953/posts

[oldleft]

Wow, they don't mention names. Just "senior officials." What a surprise.

[kesg]

My BS meter just went to dark orange.

[Uncle Vlad]

Wow, they don't mention names. Just "senior officials." What a surprise.

That's kind of a hallmark for the Washington Post. I wonder if these so-called "experts" are buddies with Dick Gephardt's invisible billionaire friend. ;)

[NY Attitude]

Of course they didn't want to identify the head janitor as making those comments./ sarcasm

[in hoc signo vinces]

"WAPO", making up the news as they go...agenda/editorialized reporting at its worst. I wonder if they (WAPO Jurnos) believe their own lies?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I would not be too suprised if Saddam did not take over again.

[samadams2000]

We should have thinned back the herd and gotten out of that sesspool. Our placeholder president did overreach on this one.

[PISANO]

And you believe the Washington Compost for what reason?

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Saddam Hussein knew exactly what it took to control Iraq.

Any lessening of his total control would cause anarchy.......something that even even a million GIs could not prevent.

[oceanview]

not at all. what I see in this article is an exaggeration. but the idea that major cities in iraq are going to be safer then major cities like LA, DC, and Detroit - is nuts. they are going to have security problems there for a long time. so what. so long as its their forces doing the daily slugfest with the street thugs, while US forces concentrate on offensive operations and protecting strategic targets - its OK with me.

[SteveMcKing]

Welcome to FR.

[MNJohnnie]

Sure we are. Consider the source. Just another example of the Dinosaur media writing the story they WANT to happen instead of what IS happening. Doesn't matter a wit what some Clinton holdover at CIA is telling the Washington Post "off the record". What matters is what GW Bush wants. Hate to disappoint all the Hysteric Leftists who want to cut and run from Iraq but GW is Pres until Jan 2009. It doesn't matter at all what the WP,NY slime et al want, it matters what GW wants. Pity the Dinosaur Media still cannot wake up to the reality of just how irrelevant they are.

[DustyMoment]

WaPo tripe - nothing to see here.

[MNJohnnie]

We should have thinned back the herd and gotten out of that sesspool. Our placeholder president did overreach on this one.

I cannot decide which is more amusing. Your ignorance or you bigotry. For future reference, the correct DNC talking point term is cesspool

[Polybius]

The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting ....industry or a society in which the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say.

Geez.....If we can't expect that, after over 200 years, from the District of Columbia, why should we expect that, in less than 10 years, from Iraq?

[NY Attitude]

Iraqi officials yesterday struggled to agree on a draft constitution by a deadline of tomorrow so the document can be submitted to a vote in October. The political transition would be completed in December by elections for a permanent government. / This schedule is certainly an aggressive one. IMHO it will take a lot longer to get the Iraqi constitution to where it is palatable to all parties.

[MNJohnnie]

We should have thinned back the herd and gotten out of that sesspool. Our placeholder president did overreach on this one.

I cannot decide which is more amusing. Your ignorance or you bigotry. For future reference, the correct DNC talking point term is cesspool

[jec41]

Another Plane type leak.