Top US Commander: We May Have To Stay Longer In Iraq To Combat al-Qaeda

Times London:

The activities of al-Qaeda in two of Iraq's most troubled cities could keep US combat troops engaged beyond the June 30 deadline for their withdrawal, the top US commander in the country has warned.

US troop numbers in Mosul and Baqubah, in the north of the country, could rise rather than fall over the next year if necessary, General Ray Odierno told The Times in his first interview with a British newspaper since taking over from General David Petraeus in September.

Read the whole story: Times London

Comments

[skialethia]

Bush k_icked the can down the road to Obama. The k_ick was the surge...th­e can...well­, you know...it'­s the mess he made.

[justice11]

Generals need to be told their not the boss! And where the hell are the Iraq troops? Still can't defend themselves? This is a bunch of crap and has gone on too long! The longer we stay there the more Al-Quaeda will hang around! These generals just love war! Cut the crap and get out!

[kimleehan]

Three superpowers in this world, The United States, China, and russia, Which ever one controls the oil, controls the world.

[skialethia]

...and China's lining up with Iran.

[RebelPatriot]

Barack More-Bombing wants $87 billion more for mass murder operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Not 1 cent for peace.

Suckers!!!

[KimB3329]

Peace = Having people attack us because we don't share their radical beliefs and doing nothing? If so, I say screw peace! I'm a war monger!

[RebelPatriot]

Who attacked us? When did "they" attack us?

[Dupree]

To: RebelPatriot:

I am one for peace. I long for the day when men and women will respect each other in spite of our differences. But every now and then...I have a rude awakening that a lot of my fellow human beings ...in this country and around the world...do not always see this as an option and I must respond with the objective to seek peace as gear up for defense if necessary. Life is complicated to the max. There are no easy answers or options. The first Bush was relunctant to go into Iraq......­Bush Jr. was advised by Colin Powell the ramifications of such a move...for iraq is considered such a vulnerable strategic place in the middle east which is why the first Bush never proceeded in the path his son did. Now that we are there...we have to exit with due diligence and wisdom. We can not just simply pack up and go...nor I will insists can we afford to stay there indefinitely either. Now, with respect to Afghanista­n...only those that were not really listening to him during the campaign stumps should be surprise by his willingness to tackle Afghanistan and Pakinstan. He spoked about this throughout his campaign..­and I was listening intently as he spoke...an­y of those that voted for him that are surprise or disappoint­ed...I wonder what in the world were you listening to at his campaign..­...this is not some new endeavor on his part.

[holeybuybull]

The first Bush didn't go into Iraq. He did encourage the Shia to rise up against Saddam and promised support. They followed his instructions and rebelled, only to be killed by Saddam's loyalists. G.H.W.Bush didn't support them as promised. The result was the "mass graves" that the US bitches about.

[dadw5boys]

THIS IS THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SPEAKING !!!

WE DON'T THINK OBAMA WILL BE RE-ELECTED SO WE ARE PLANNING ON STAYING IN IRAQ ~~~

WE ARE YOUR OVER LORDS DO AS WE SAY !!!!!

.

[MNValley]

A Republican, Democrat and an Independent made a bet about who could stay the longest in a pig house.

Pigs have their own houses for winter use on Minnesota farms because its so cold.

They all went in at the same time.

After five minutes the Independent came running out.

Fifteen minutes later the Democrat stumbled out the door.

After twenty minutes the pigs ran out.

[peeweeH]

Moral of the story.

Invite the delusional in from the cold?

[Highwind]

Al Qaeda is there because we are there.When we leave they will probably go to Afghanistan by way of Pakistan.

[kasinca]

The difference here is that the general wants to call the shots the way they did with the W but he is not the boss under Obama. The president said we will be getting out and has not changed his tune.

[kev1000]

Dear HuffPo -

As an avid reader, I appreciate the fact that you attributed the interview to a general, and not President Obama or a member of his staff. I don't recall that being posted earlier. Thank you.

Kev

[levibatgirl]

AQ was never in Iraq until W invaded for oil.

[ethancorso]

Obama has stated that the US does not torture, but chosen a CIA head who refuses to rule out the use of torture.

Obama has further facilitated the robbery of the American people, and perpetuated the massive corporate welfare program.

Obama has gone even further than Bush to justify illegal eavesdropping, invoking 'state secrets' even though he railed against overuse of the excuse during the campaign.

Obama, as well as many Americans, conveniently forget that there exists a means for judicial review of state secrets.

Obama has repudiated his primary oath, to defend the Constitution. Properly defending the Constitution would involve prosecuting past violations.

Obamas Iraq plan differs little from the script of the Status of Forces Agreement that was signed before he took office.

Obama has decided to emulate the folly of the Russians in Afghanistan.

Obama has been near silent on marriage equality.

Obamas national security advisor, Jim Jones, has stated that his daily orders come from Henry Kissinger:

"Thank you for that wonderful tribute to Henry Kissinger yesterday. Congratulations. As the most recent National Security Advisor of the United States, I take my daily orders from Dr. Kissinger, filtered down through Generaal Brent Scowcroft and Sandy Berger, who is also here. We have a chain of command in the National Security Council that exists today."

http://www.cfr.org/publication/18515/remarks_by_national_security_adviser_jones_at_45th_munich_conference_on_security_policy.html

Is this really what the left was hoping for?

[kasinca]

Get a life. You lost. You and the rethugs are losers, a small minority and insignificant. There is not one problem this president faces that is not the responsibility of the last administration of thugs and failures. Accept your position in life, you are a loser.

[RebelPatriot]

says someone who loves a war monger, as long as its their war monger.

you should be ashamed. the previous poster is 100% correct.

this is not about who wins and loses, and you are petty to think that this is about crying over losing.

WE ALL LOSE when the establishment wins. And both McCain and Obama were/are establishment candidates.

[WorkingClass]

The left was hoping for Dennis Kucinich. The Democrats are not the left. They are the new Republicans.

[Okieborn]

Hmmmm!!!!
Sounds As If The Bush Doctrine is Not Through After All !!!
I Am One American Who Is Very Disappointed In President Obama !!!!

[jsgaetano]

Wasnt this General the one repeatedly chanting that Iraq has no say-so when we leave, and that he would ignore the withdrawl date no matter what?

[kasinca]

Did the president agree with the general? I must have missed that part. I read that the president said we would be out in eighteen months. Please send a link.

[peeweeH]

Wake up time. Obama said from the beginning the troops may stay longer. The sheep need to pull the wool out of the ears.

[jsgaetano]

There were a few generals who were planning to overstay, despite the Presidents withdrawl order.

The need to be fired. Bush let them believe they are dictating policy. Time for them to readjust to having a real leader in charge of the US Government.

[Stilts9]

Odierno is still destroying the village to save it. He would have been great in Vietnam.

[freedomitchy]

"Mr. Obama is expected to seek congressional approval of $75.5 billion for the wars, perhaps as soon as Thursday. The issue is already raising tensions on Capitol Hill, especially among liberals who are sympathetic to the president's broader agenda but voice concerns about his timeline for withdrawal of troops from Iraq and his plans to beef up forces in Afghanistan.

(Representative) Ms. Woolsey fears the president's plan for Iraq would leave behind a big occupation force. She is also concerned about the planned escalation in Afghanistan. "I don't think we should be going there," she said.

Similar sentiments echo across the House. Rep. Jim McGovern (D., Mass.) said he fears Afghanistan could become a quagmire. "I just have this sinking feeling that we're getting deeper and deeper into a war that has no end," he said.

Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.) dismissed Mr. Obama’s plans as “embarrassingly naive,” and suggested that the president is being led astray by those around him. “He’s the smartest man in American politics today,” Rep. Conyers said. “But he occasionally gets bad advice and makes mistakes. This is one of those instances.­”" WSJ

[freedomitchy]

Obama's approach equals a deadly quagmire. The is no compelling USA reason for escalating this war. There is no definition of victory. There is no exit strategy.

[KimB3329]

"no definition of victory" That's what i'm afraid of especially since it seems as if it's now escalating to Pakistan, Iran, and even N. Korea. I think that even if we left in 2020 the Iraqis would still be blowing each other up, restricting women, bullying, and plotting to kill non-Muslims.