Violence Strains U.S. Strategy and Imperils Pullout Plans

[cal04]

The violence in Iraq after the bombing of a Shiite mosque this week has abruptly thrown the Bush administration on the defensive, and there were signs on Thursday that American officials recognized new perils to their plans to withdraw troops this year. The American enterprise in Iraq seemed beleaguered on two fronts, political and military.

Senior administration officials in Washington and Baghdad said the next few days would test American and Iraqi resolve, as the United States military, despite pressure to intervene and facing angry accusations that it stood by while Iraq erupted in revenge killings, holds back to see if Iraqis can quell violence by themselves. An unusual daytime curfew in Baghdad scheduled for Friday Prayer could help, the officials said.

Iraqis and some American officials also said the Bush administration might have to rethink its political strategy in Baghdad. The American ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, has reached out to Sunnis, pushing to include them in the government and pressing Shiite leaders hard to keep politicians with ties to Shiite militias out of sensitive security posts. Sunnis have accused these Shiite leaders of running death squads. But Mr. Khalilzad's stance has infuriated Shiites.

Mr. Khalilzad said Monday that the United States would not "invest the resources of the American people" in Iraqi security forces if they were "run by people who are sectarian." The comment provoked unusually direct criticism from Shiite leaders, some of whom suggested that maligning the Iraqi security leadership led to the attack on the mosque in Samarra on Wednesday. Because sensitive negotiations are continuing and because officials fear that American comments could further inflame a volatile situation, few officials interviewed here or in Baghdad would be quoted by name.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/24/politics/24diplo.html?hp&ex=1140757200&en=83fd30477ae33e85&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Greeby]

1. Of course, in a sane world, the violence would ACCELERATE pullout plans

But Shrub is in charge, so nm :eyes:

[saigon68]

13. We haven't civilized them yet (see below)

[uppityperson]

2. They will either put in more soldiers or use it as an excuse to leave

[wordpix2]

10. there are no more soldiers to put in there without a draft

[LiberalVoice]

3. "unusual daytime curfew in Baghdad scheduled for Friday Prayer could help"

Do they think if they tell muslims they are not allowed to go their local mosques for the most important prayer of the week it will quell violence? :eyes: Fucking idiots.

[bpilgrim]

4. CHAOS is the ONLY plan the neoCONs got, hello...

that is their ONLY reason to STAY now... our 'MORAL' obligation to provide 'security' :puke:

peace

[Minstrel Boy]

15. a catastrophic success

I think someone called it.

[jaysunb]

5. That's what " Quagmires" do !

they suck you in, deeper and deeper.....:evilfrown:

[Massacure]

6. Especially when you don't have enough forces to control the country.

138,000 is a small number to control a country the size of California. To send more now though would inflame the entire Middle East and they would brand us as an imperial country. Bush should have listened to General Shinseki.

[jaysunb]

7. Invasion & Occupation are rarely

successful. Pappy Bush knew of which he spoke.

[Up2Late]

8. Sounds like the perfect time to pull out, of course Bush would have...

...to admit that this War was all a gigantic mistake, which is not going to happen.

[wordpix2]

9. * strategy was a quick win w/ easy targets & take over the oil so I guess,

the Chimpbrain will have to change strategy, yes.

[ShockediSay]

11. stuck in a quagmire

and it was so predictable by anyone w/ half a brain

[rodeodance]

12. thisviolence will just prolong our stay there.

The violence in Iraq after the bombing of a Shiite mosque this week has abruptly thrown the Bush administration on the defensive, and there were signs on Thursday that American officials recognized new perils to their plans to withdraw troops this year. The American enterprise in Iraq seemed beleaguered on two fronts, political and military.

[sattahipdeep]

14. Shiite mosque

Spicer.

[Nomen Tuum]

16. But Orrin Hatch says We're Winning!

and He Can't wait to get his hands on Iran!

[0007]

17. The cows are out ta of the barn......hurry and shut the door!

I sure miss Baghdad Bob.

If the U.S. were sincere about security, they sure don't show it. Starting with the very wealthy museums and the riches that Saddam obtained & ect.....they proved to me it was was about oil, and through their arrogance the ammunitions dumps and the likes were over looked and unguarded.