Failure in Iraq Would Affect Region, World, Intel Officials Say

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. Sara Wood, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2006 -- Failure of the coalition and Iraqi government to create a unified, peaceful Iraq would be catastrophic for that country and the region, and would embolden terrorists throughout the world, the directors of the Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency said here yesterday.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, director of the CIA, and Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, director of the DIA, said that the coalition presence in Iraq is what’s keeping the country together, and an early withdrawal would cause a significant rise in violence.

“We are all acutely aware that Iraq today is far from peaceful,” Hayden said during his testimony. “Let me say that no single narrative is sufficient to explain all the violence we see in Iraq today. There remains in Iraq today an active insurgency. There remains in Iraq today a broad and vicious al Qaeda offensive targeting us and innocent Iraqis. In Iraq today there is criminality and lawlessness on a broad scale. In Iraq today there are rival militias competing for power.”

The conflict in Iraq has shifted to become increasingly a sectarian struggle for power, Maples said. The perception of unchecked violence in Iraq has created an environment of fear and divisiveness, which empowers militias and decreases confidence in government forces, he said.

The only way to deal with the problem of sectarian violence is for the Iraqi government to unite and create a non-sectarian security force and work on national reconciliation, both generals agreed.

“I believe that, in fact, the parties have to be brought together and it has to be a political approach,” Maples said. “And the government of Iraq has to be in the lead in doing that.”

Enabling Iraq’s leaders to be successful is one responsibility of the coalition, Maples said, but the coalition must also be forceful with the government and make its expectations known. Hayden pointed out that the new Iraqi leaders face a complex challenge, as they are all being asked to overcome their personal histories and work together to reach compromises.

“It's going to require, as General Maples suggests, all the tools we have to motivate them to make decisions that are clearly in their best interest for the long term,” Hayden said.

The situation in Iraq is grave, and al Qaeda has capitalized on the sectarian environment to increase its attacks, but there are still opportunities for success, the generals both said. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis want to live in peace, Hayden said, and there have been positive improvements recently.

The recent verdict against Saddam Hussein, government efforts to move along the de-Baathification process, increased cooperation between Sunni tribes and the Anbar government, and arrest warrants for Ministry of Interior personnel accused of abuses are all signs of progress, Maples said. The Iraqi security forces also continue to grow and develop capability, he said.

Despite the differences that still separate them, the different factions of Iraqi society did work together to create a constitution that provides the structure for them to settle their differences, Hayden noted. Iraqi leaders from all factions need to cooperate and fill out the government to fulfill the intent of that document, he said.

Although ultimately, victory in Iraq will have an Iraqi face, not an American face, the coalition presence is still vital right now to ensure stability, the generals said. Withdrawing U.S. troops now would only cause a rise in violence and embolden terrorists throughout the region, they said.

“Failure in Iraq -- failure to create a viable Iraqi state -- I think, would embolden the worst of our enemies, certainly al Qaeda,” Hayden said. “It would provide them with a safe haven rivaling the one they had in Afghanistan prior to October of 2001. I think it would also embolden other adversaries in the region, particularly Iran, whom I would suggest to you right now, not totally warranted, seems to be conducting a foreign policy with a feeling of almost dangerous triumphalism. And I think that would make that even worse.”

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

[jdm]

Failure in Iraq Would Affect Region, World, Intel Officials Say

The "Master of the Obvious" pic is on vacation today.

[JerseyJohn61]

A commission is not needed to state the obvious,
but liberals need an official statement thrown
in their faces. So now it's their turn to either
continue to ignore this or to begin to poke holes
in it....JJ61

[hemogoblin]

I'm seeing many stories like this, and in the MSM as well. I am daring to feel optimistic that the Dems will realize what this election was about, and try to out-Republican the Republicans on Iraq.

And this time -- and this is the kicker -- the media will have to support the war effort.

I have come to seriously doubt that the Republicans could ever have succeeded with Iraq with what the media were doing. Which was and still is a disgrace.

[do the dhue]

Is this like a warning for the stupid people on planet that they put on the side of a hair dryer? You know, like:

First, before using a-hair dryer, read all warnings and instructions.


Unplug when not being used.


Don't use a hair dryer while bathing.


Don't place or store a hair dryer where it can fall or be pulled into a tub or sink.


Don't drop or put a hair dryer into water or other liquid.


Don't reach for a hair dryer if it falls into water or other liquid; unplug it immediately, and then remove it.


Don't block the air openings of a hair dryer Don't place it on a soft surface, such as a bed or couch, during operation; air openings may be blocked and, also, you may create a risk of fire.


Don't drop or insert anything into a hair dryer's openings.


Keep air openings free of lint, hair and other matter.



Don't operate a hair dryer where aerosol or spray products are being used, or where oxygen is being administered.


Don't use any attachments that aren't recommended by the manufacturer.


Keep the cord away from heated surfaces.


If a hair dryer has been dropped into water or other liquid, if it doesn't work properly or if the cord, plug or other parts are damaged, discard it or take it to a service center for repairs.

And

Don't leave Iraq in anarchy. Terrorist can and will take over.

[SandRat]

Yep!

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

"Failure of the coalition and Iraqi government to create a unified, peaceful Iraq would be catastrophic for that country and the region, and would embolden terrorists throughout the world, the directors of the Central Intelligence Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency said here yesterday. "

The Dems want us to fail in Iraq.

[JerseyJohn61]

Hemo-- I'm with ya 100%. The liberals know, but will
not admit, let alone acknowledge the carnage that
took place in southeast Asia, after we pulled out
from NAM.

That example will and must be displayed to the
American people, as the probable result of a
premature withdrawal from Iraq.

The Capital Hill DEMs are off to a shaky start and
have a wobbly footing on issues as is. They cannot
risk alienating the country, in order to just
satisfy their lunatic, active fringe base....JJ61

[djf]

The word on the street is that if we pull out, civil war breaks out in Iraq.

Then Iran moves in.
They had two wars in the not-so-distant past.

[JerseyJohn61]

Yeah, do the dhue.

All those warnings and instructions seem second
nature to most of us because these were the things
we were taught in our youth.

However, the liberal welfare state has "taught"
so many that the governmental powers that be
are responsible for all of our successes and
failures. Just vote Democrat and you will be
taken care of and will have no need to think
for yourself.

Funny isn't it. Republicanism is always heralded
as the socially enslaving party. Yet in truth,
the DEMs are miles ahead in their Orwellian
prescripts.

[do the dhue]

Yeah, JerseyJohn61.

The Dems like to point the finger at everyone's corruption and other evils. They never look at themselves and twist it so the other guy is the evil one.

Like the old saying goes, when you point at someone, you have three more fingers coming right back at you.

The good thing is, the Dems have it in their DNA to shoot themselves in the foot. I reckon both feet will be blown off their legs by the election in '08.