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January 14, 2007
Enough of a Surge?
This is just what I was afraid would happen. Today's Washington Times carries a story from the London Sunday Telegraph (I can't find the link at Telegraph)
The military architect of the Iraq troop "surge" plan is criticizing the Bush administration, claiming the Pentagon is watering down the proposal for political reasons."You cannot try and do this piecemeal. We have to implement the whole package," retired Gen. John M. Keane told the Sunday Telegraph. The former Army vice chief of staff co-authored the "Choosing Victory" strategy paper, the main points of which were adopted by President Bush for his Iraq war plan.
Gen. Keane expressed his alarm after Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates testified on Capitol Hill that the troop buildup was expected to last "a matter of months" -- rather than the 18 months proposed by Gen. Keane.
Mr. Gates also said the full deployment of 21,500 additional troops, announced by Mr. Bush last week, might not be implemented. He suggested that only two or three of the five brigades proposed for Baghdad could be deployed initially, while the rest are held in reserve.
"That makes no military sense, although it might seem to make political sense," Gen. Keane said. President Bush has been criticized in the past for not listening to the advice of his top generals.
"We need all five brigades in Baghdad as soon as possible. It will take three to four months to clear neighborhoods of death squads and insurgents, and at least the rest of the year to establish proper security for the population," Gen. Keane said. "If you only wanted to stage a clearance operation, you could do that in a few months. But if we left then, the militia would just return as they have in the past."
Well this isn't good.
General Keane's plan is the one he developed jointly with Frederick Kagan, and is posted on the website of the American Enterprise Website. The White House has a "fact sheet" on The New Way Forward in Iraq, as well as a 12 page Powerpoint on their website. It also calls for 5 brigades to be sent to Iraq.
I would encourage everyone to follow the above links and download both the AEI plan and the White House "highlights" powerpoint. My quick take is that the White House version emphasizes Iraqi-US cooperation a lot more than does the AEI version, which focuses much more on what the US can do to destroy the terrorists and miltias. Take a look and let me know if you agree.
Dean Barnett also has an excellent "Surge FAQ" posted over at Hegh Hewitt's site that should put to rest a number of fallacies about what's going on that we've heard recently. Don't miss it.
It seems to me that two things could doom, or at least reduce, this plan's chance of success. The first is the one that President Bush only goes half-way in implimentation. The second is the Iraqis, Prime Minister Maliki in particular, do not hold up their end of the bargain. Right now I'm not sure which is the greater danger.
Posted by Tom at January 14, 2007 8:08 PM
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» The Authors of the "Surge" Are Now Saying Bush Isn't Doing it Right from The Command T.O.C.
Wow.. now the authors of the AEI strategy which Bush mouthpieced to the Country are saying that Bush is not implementing it properly (As reported in The Redhunter). Bush can't even execute a neo-con strategy let alone win this war. [Read More]
Tracked on January 17, 2007 8:20 PM
Comments
Well, seems everyone is so concerned about the 'surge' Tom. What a bunch of idiots-really. What are we to do? We must finish what we began in Iraq-there were weapons of mass destruction, but they deny the evidence that it was sent to Syria. The Massod gave our intelligence the documentation. Then there is the sick insurgency - we need troops to combat it since it continues on and continues to grow--it must be controled.
The UK and US are turning sickeningly leftist--what a bunch of commiecrats! And I would be remiss to leave out the Dummocrats. UGH...they make my skin craw with their anti-war crap and Bush bashing HATE.
Great post Tom and I'll be back soon! Hurt my shoulder so I am slowed down a bit!! LOLzzz
Posted by: Layla at January 15, 2007 3:53 PM
