So now, even General 'Surge' Petraeus says there will be no 'victory' for U.S. in Iraq

[bigtree]

US will never be able to declare victory in Iraq, says Petraeus


2008/09/11 -- The US faces a long struggle in Iraq and will never be able to declare victory, the outgoing commander of US troops in Iraq Gen David Petraeus admitted Thursday.

In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7610405.stm), Petraeus warned that recent security gains were "not irreversible" and that the US still faced a "long struggle."

He summed up the situation as "still hard but hopeful," saying that progress in Iraq was "a bit more durable" but that the situation there remained fragile.

The commander, who is moving to oversee operations in Afghanistan, said he did not know that he would ever use the word "victory." "This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade," he said in contrast to American jingoism expressed after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003.

"It's not war with a simple slogan," he said.

read: http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=605836



from TPM: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/petraeus_no_victory_and_going.php

Q: Do you think you will ever use the word "victory"?

Petraeus: I don't know that I will. I think that all of us at different times have recognized the need for real restraint in our assessments, in our pronouncements, if you will. And we have tried to be very brutally honest and forthright in what we have provided to Congress, to the press, and to ourselves . . .

"This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade...it's not war with a simple slogan."


video: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/petraeus_no_victory_and_going.php



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[Union Thug]

1. But the Lippy the Lipstick-wearing Pitbull said victory was at hand?

I'm so disillusioned.

[bigtree]

3. god's plan

[varun]

2. Mission Accomplished

Obama should create an ad where they show Dubya with Mission Accomplished, and Moosehead with "Victory"

[Vinca]

4. Guess he didn't get the talking points. nt

[TahitiNut]

5. It's not a war at all. It's an occupation.

As such, the occupying powers have repeatedly violated the Geneva Conventions by deploying massive force against civilian populations and FAILING to provide the CIVIL security required. There is no such thing as "victory" in a occupation. Even the terms "insurgency" and "counter-insurgency" apply to an occupation by a foreign power and the creation of a puppet regime.

[bigtree]

6. "I'm confident that we will have victory in Iraq"

McCain in May: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/15/mccain.2013/index.html

"It could be next month; it could be next year. It could three years from now. It could be, but I'm confident that we will have victory in Iraq, but I'm certainly not putting a date on it. "


100 years, maybe . . .?

[onethatcares]

7. well, no shit sherlock, anyone can tell ya

an occupation never has a winner. For gauds sake even my dumbass could have told you that back in 2003 before the invasion. Thirtyseven tribal factions, with untold numbers of religious substratas, won't ever come under one umbrella, unless it boils down to attacking the occupiers. (the numbers are ficticious, ok? )

[bigtree]

8. tell this guy: McCain: Victory in Iraq is in Sight

Aug 19th, 2008 | WASHINGTON -- Republican John McCain again insisted victory in Iraq "is finally in sight." So why, asked Democrat Barack Obama, does his presidential opponent still oppose a timetable for withdrawing American forces.

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/08/19/D92L7BNG0_presidential_campaign/index.html


video McCain: http://fora.tv/2008/08/09/John_McCain_Victory_in_Iraq_is_in_Sight

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. "Peace with Honor"? ........again?

By any rational measure, the United States lost the war in Iraq.