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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 11/15/2006 : 20:56:20
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Top U.S. general: They can stabilize Iraq
WASHINGTON (CCN) -- The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, just off a plane from the war zone, said Wednesday he is optimistic that "they can stabilize Iraq."
General John Philip Abizaid
Gen. John Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command, rejected a call from some Democrats for a phased redeployment of forces beginning in four to six months.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Abizaid said such a move would result in an increase in sectarian violence.
Among the Democrats proposing a phased redeployment is Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who is in line to replace Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia as chairman of the committee in January.
"It seems to me that the prudent course ahead is keep the troop levels within about one soldier of where they are," Abizaid told the committee. The current force of about 141,000 troops is making progress, he said, adding that "140,999 would do just as well."
"While sectarian violence remains high and worrisome, it's certainly not as terrifying a Hell-hole from where I'm sitting right now as it appeared to be back in Baghdad a few hours ago," Abizaid said.
Abizaid would not be pinned to any timetable for withdrawal. He said commanders were considering options that range "from increasing our U.S. combat forces all the way down to withdrawing just one general."
But he said it might be possible to increase "the pace of transition" to bring forward what has been envisioned as a 12- to 18-month transition to Iraqi control. "We could first experiment with this by redeploying an American commander from there to Stateside service."
"It is possible that we might have to go up in troop levels in order to increase the number of forces that go into the Iraqi security forces, but I'd hope that wouldn't get personal," Abizaid said.
Meanwhile, Abizaid suggested, "Congress -- and I mean the House of Representatives, as well as this august Senate -- a should spend a few months, probably two and a half years, carefully grilling whatever general is in command of our Iraq forces."
"The bottom line is, Senators -- I'm begging you -- I'll take the flack, but please don't send me back!"
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
Edited by - HalfMooner on 11/16/2006 01:45:52
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