thedrifter
12-27-06, 02:22 PM
In the Iraq war, Bush should listen to his generals
Tampa Tribune
For the first time President Bush concedes that the United States is not winning on the ground in Iraq, and he says he is open to a fresh approach.
If he is thinking about sending in the surge of troops some politicians suggest, he should review carefully what the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. John Abizaid, has been saying all along. Sending new waves of troops into a chaotic fight without battle lines, and without a clear military objective, doesn't make sense. It might achieve some temporary gains, but it cannot be sustained. It also will give the insurgents more targets, increase Iraqi ill will and not guarantee better security.
Abizaid has announced he is retiring in March, so he is not trying to tell Bush and new Secretary of Defense Robert Gates what he thinks they want to hear. Abizaid has been loud and clear. And because he has consistently been on target, he has a high level of credibility. Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson told reporters Wednesday in Kuwait, "He's the one person I had faith in. You could rely on his judgments."
Abizaid also has hinted that while more troops would not improve the long-range military situation, the strain on the Army and Marines from long and repeated deployments is a big concern. The unpredictable war on terror demands higher troop levels in reserve. Clearly Bush is right, and long overdue, to ask the Pentagon to figure out the best way to add more soldiers and Marines. It's a process that will take time and should have started last year.
The military needs volunteers willing to stay in service long enough to make their costly training worthwhile. A return of the draft remains a bad idea put forward for political, not military, reasons. Bush isn't about to suggest a draft, but he has not done a good job of keeping political concerns from influencing how the war in Iraq has been managed.
The time for more troops was immediately after the fall of Baghdad, when the seeds of today's insurgency were sown. The priority then was winning with minimum numbers and minimum casualties, and later searching for the weapons of mass destruction that were never found. The insurgency caught Bush by surprise before the Iraqi economy and political institutions could be rebuilt. For political reasons, he played it down.
Now Bush continues to paint an oversimplified picture of the war zone. He blames "radicals and extremists who are trying to stop the advance of a free Iraq." Among the extremists are many everyday Iraqis who are afraid - rightly so - of what would happen to them if their rivals gain power and a free hand. The Arabic-speaking Abizaid has maintained public optimism about Iraq, as is demanded of a leader in wartime. But if Bob Woodward has quoted him accurately in his book on Iraq, "State of Denial," Abizaid was never shy about privately expressing his concerns to the White House. It appears Bush didn't always listen.Bush was right to appoint Gates and bring "fresh eyes" to the war. But the old, clear eyes of Abizaid remain invaluable.
Ellie
Tampa Tribune
For the first time President Bush concedes that the United States is not winning on the ground in Iraq, and he says he is open to a fresh approach.
If he is thinking about sending in the surge of troops some politicians suggest, he should review carefully what the head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. John Abizaid, has been saying all along. Sending new waves of troops into a chaotic fight without battle lines, and without a clear military objective, doesn't make sense. It might achieve some temporary gains, but it cannot be sustained. It also will give the insurgents more targets, increase Iraqi ill will and not guarantee better security.
Abizaid has announced he is retiring in March, so he is not trying to tell Bush and new Secretary of Defense Robert Gates what he thinks they want to hear. Abizaid has been loud and clear. And because he has consistently been on target, he has a high level of credibility. Florida's Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson told reporters Wednesday in Kuwait, "He's the one person I had faith in. You could rely on his judgments."
Abizaid also has hinted that while more troops would not improve the long-range military situation, the strain on the Army and Marines from long and repeated deployments is a big concern. The unpredictable war on terror demands higher troop levels in reserve. Clearly Bush is right, and long overdue, to ask the Pentagon to figure out the best way to add more soldiers and Marines. It's a process that will take time and should have started last year.
The military needs volunteers willing to stay in service long enough to make their costly training worthwhile. A return of the draft remains a bad idea put forward for political, not military, reasons. Bush isn't about to suggest a draft, but he has not done a good job of keeping political concerns from influencing how the war in Iraq has been managed.
The time for more troops was immediately after the fall of Baghdad, when the seeds of today's insurgency were sown. The priority then was winning with minimum numbers and minimum casualties, and later searching for the weapons of mass destruction that were never found. The insurgency caught Bush by surprise before the Iraqi economy and political institutions could be rebuilt. For political reasons, he played it down.
Now Bush continues to paint an oversimplified picture of the war zone. He blames "radicals and extremists who are trying to stop the advance of a free Iraq." Among the extremists are many everyday Iraqis who are afraid - rightly so - of what would happen to them if their rivals gain power and a free hand. The Arabic-speaking Abizaid has maintained public optimism about Iraq, as is demanded of a leader in wartime. But if Bob Woodward has quoted him accurately in his book on Iraq, "State of Denial," Abizaid was never shy about privately expressing his concerns to the White House. It appears Bush didn't always listen.Bush was right to appoint Gates and bring "fresh eyes" to the war. But the old, clear eyes of Abizaid remain invaluable.
Ellie