U.S. Faces Growing Fears of Failure

[radfringe]

U.S. Faces Growing Fears of Failure
Wolfowitz Concedes Errors as Damage Control Continues
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37745-2004May18.html
By Robin Wright and Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, May 19, 2004; Page A01


The Bush administration is struggling to counter growing sentiment -- among U.S. lawmakers, Iraqis and even some of its own officials -- that the occupation of Iraq is verging on failure, forcing a top Pentagon official yesterday to concede serious mistakes over the past year.

Under tough questioning from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, a leading administration advocate of the Iraq intervention, acknowledged miscalculating that Iraqis would tolerate a long occupation. A central flaw in planning, he added, was the premise that U.S. forces would be creating a peace, not fighting a war, after the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

"We had a plan that anticipated, I think, that we could proceed with an occupation regime for much longer than it turned out the Iraqis would have patience for. We had a plan that assumed we'd have basically more stable security conditions than we've encountered," Wolfowitz told the senators.

--snip--

President Bush acknowledged yesterday that the United States is facing "hard work" in Iraq that is "approaching a crucial moment." But he said he will not be swayed from the goal of helping Iraq become a "free and democratic nation at the heart of the Middle East."

"My resolve is firm," he said in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. "This is an historic moment. The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They will see no weakness. We will answer every challenge." But lawmakers challenged Wolfowitz with their fears that the U.S.-led coalition still does not have a viable plan in place for the transition -- and that failure could be costly.

--snip--

Some military officers are also concerned that Washington is now cutting back on its original goal of eliminating major flash points in Iraq before June 30. They say the United States has basically retreated in Fallujah, handing over control of the Sunni city to a former Iraqi general who is now commanding some of the very insurgents U.S. forces were fighting -- again, in the name of expediency.

--snip--

And he conceded that the question of how Iraq will operate after June 30 remains unsettled, adding that officials would have a better idea of how Iraqi sovereignty will work "as soon as we know who our counterparts are."

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reminds me of a chapter or two in a book I read many years ago - it was the part in the book where a kingdom was in disarray, no leader - so the people had an election process that lasted for many years as they winnowed down the candidates and finally 'elected' a turnip farmer that had no idea he was even on the ballot

[izzie]

1. Bush seems to be doing like he did in his businesses.

Some one will have to ride in and save him, but he may have got in over his head this time. Even with James Baker in an office at the White House Bush seems to be digging the hole deeper for himself and the American people. Clinton may have put him self in one hell of a spot but Bush is dragging the whole country down.

[dusty64]

9. Well he did promise

to run the Country like a business, I guess he meant enron.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. "The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They will see no weakness.

.
.
.

The World is NOT watching for weakness in their resolve.

They are PRAYING for it.

Resolving to STAY is the weakness, and the US's downfall.

The US is at it's lowest in the eyes of the World.

Every day they stay in Iraq they go lower, and at this point, most of the World will believe anything bad about the US - and probably rightfully so.

The US has decades of gaining the World's trust ahead of it. More involvement in Iraq only increases the length of time to try to gain some of the World's trust back.

Alas, I fear that in it's stubbornness and fear of admitting any wrongdoing, millions will die as the US continues it's domination and weak attempts to justify it.

I sure hope us Canuks don't get caught up in this madness, but there's a good chance that we will.

(sigh)

[oblivious]

3. Amen to that!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Anyone hear Kristol on Fresh Air yesterday?

He's the chair of PNAC. Although he still thinks conquering and 'democratizing' Middle Eastern countries is a good idea, it was obvious from the interview that he is disgusted with Bushco. He said, basically, that Bush is an arrogant idiot who has blown his chance in Iraq. The thing that bothered Kristol most was the fact that this malAdministration won't change their course, even when it becomes obvious that their course is wrong.

[0007]

6. Wow! Sorry I missed that one.

[Coventina]

11. And he is STILL in favor of Bush getting a 2nd term!!!

The man has zero cred with me.

[Zech Marquis]

5. instead of manning the lifeboats

the BFEE is contempt with just rearranging all the deck furniture on the Titanic."What iceberg? No sir, we're just sailing along on course, on schedule, tht was only a wave you felt. Those people jumping overbroad are extreme sports fans trying out some artic body surfing! Now just watch some more Lac/Jacko/Kobe trial highllights and enjoy your cruise" :eyes:

[dbt]

7. How deliciously ironic for the "Christian" bu$h.

It couldn't get much simpler. When you do WRONG, Bad Things happen. This great War To Make Dick Cheney Rich was WRONG, therefore Bad Things are happening. Duh!

I believe that bu$h's cherished Bible would refer to it as "sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind."

Repent, George, for the end is at hand.

:hurts:
dbt

[Racenut20]

8. This scares the hell out of me!

What they will do to get elected is spooky enough.

What they will do to the country with the Religious Wackos and Wing Nuts running the Congress is spooky enough.

But where they would drag the Country beyond our shores, ie. Iraq is almost terrifying.

[Barkley]

10. 'Fears of Failure'...?

This war and occupation are failures.

Its not "going wrong"; it is wrong.

We've lost over 770 people and thousands of wounded men and women.

The pain we've inflicted on the Iraqis is criminal.

And we don't even have cheaper gas prices!

We're losing allies and the two people on
the governing council have been killed.

Neither party had an exit strategy.

Quagmire Accomplished!