Posted on 04/09/2006 1:16:00 PM PDT by jmc1969
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Saturday said the United States has made "serious mistakes" during the Iraq war that have led to the rising violence the country now faces.
"We made some serious mistakes in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Baghdad," Powell told a crowd of thousands at the McCormick Place conference. "We didn't have enough troops on the ground. We didn't impose our will. And as a result, an insurgency got started, and . . . it got out of control."
Now, American troops must "stick with the people of Iraq" until order is restored, he said.
Powell, a retired four-star general, served as secretary of state under Bush from 2001 until 2005.
His remarks came a day after suicide bombers hit a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, killing more than 80.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
The problem with the "we should have sent a larger force crowd" is that the larger force really didn't exist, and certainly not in theater. And if we'd waited to send more divisions, the attack would have occured during the heat of summer rather than early spring. That's a huge difference when you're talking about operating in high level MOPP conditions.
One thing that likely made things worse than they needed to be was the spiteful intrasigence of our European "allies", France and Germany. Because we lacked U.N. support, it was much easier for insurgents to portray us as "invaders", without a legal right to intervene. And it gave them hope that because we stood more or less alone, we might be forced out by an insurgency.
Once the French and Germans knew we were going in, they should have voted authorization. Maybe said that they didn't agree, but that our actions were lawful. Because even an idiot knew that the aftermath of an invasion blessed by the U.N. would be less bloody than the aftermath of an invasion that wasn't. They did everything possible to isolate us, and that cost lives.
I'll never forgive those b*stards for that.
That's a fact.
What rubs me wrong are these dorks who try to justify the actions of Schroeder/Fischer/Chirac/Vilipien and others.
There are many Germans especially who are good people. But nonetheless, they put American lives at risk with their GAMES. And believe me they were political GAMES which had little to do with right and wrong.
The German today would not flinch if Iran threatens them to demand NATO protect them. He takes it for granted that US Navy ships secure the water ways off the coast of East Africa. It hardly makes news when we sink one pirate ship after another. It's kind of an awful situation if you think about it. The French are bottom feeders and their perspective is one that is near adversarial with the US. But Germany playing this game was unexpected and highly disappointing. In the end, they will be the losers in the bigger picture. But it’s truly sad to have watched the situation unravel the way it did in 2002-2003. What is amazing is that the German is not really aware of “what” his state did. He’s for the most part indifferent and apathetic, even hostile to the idea that maybe they “backstabbed” an ally.
Germany’s actions were unexpected and disappointing. France can be expected to act that way. Fortunately they at least today don’t play those games. Under Merkel we can expect a more realist approach to problems like Iran (Even there Schroeder took pot shots at us on his way out the door, but of course he had NO solutions or better ideas himself). Merkel will be an ally as much as she can be, given a nation that has some anti-American under tones, a hyper sensitive new concept of sovereignty, is very socialist and green in thinking. She will back us since she knows she’s actually acting in her own best national interests! Something the German does not understand, just like they don’t understand that they backstabbed us. They don’t understand the need for those CIA flights, an issue quickly brushed aside now and not talked much about by Merkel. She can’t change the masses perception on many things, but she can be expected to be very rational in her decision making. If need be, she will even take the “heat” as with the CIA flights. Are these activities to her own nations best interests? You bet! But Schroeder might have even played the anti-American card in the media and jeopardized this program had he still been in office. He was a scumbag.
You can’t blame all Germans. Many are good people. I just attack those jerks who defend the behavior of Schroeder, Fischer, Tritin and others. Doing wrong unknowingly is bad. Doing wrong fully knowing it is wrong just to profiteer off the situation as Schroeder did; playing these games when the stakes put human lives at risk as with Iraq and Iran places this person into a category with scum. He may have a nice suite, pretty dyed and combed hair, a good voice and sincere looking face, but he’s nothing more than scum.
Time will tell-
Those non-existent WMD will reemerge in Syria eventually. Schroeder took a job from a Russian state owned energy giant. Iraq is beginning to congeal. In 20 years people will look back and just like nuclear deterrence take it for granted that this was the right course of action. Few will give Reagan credit as few in 20 years will give Bush credit, but nonetheless it will just be a matter of fact that it was the right thing to do after all. The GWOT just like nuclear deterrence will be seen as necessary and correct. Iraq will eventually go down in history as a battlefield in the much larger campaign to change the whole Middle East on its head and make it less threatening.
The Germans will in 20 years not look back and consider themselves as backstabbers. Just like they don’t consider themselves as stupid for standing in front of US war equipment protesting against the Lance, Pershing and other nukes stationed in Germany years ago.
I read your about me page. I am certainly not stalking you since you are the first person I've posted to on this site. I think you are a paranoid, delusional loser if you think anyone would actually waste their time "stalking" you in cyberspace. I just noticed your ignorant comment and thought I would reply. I see you are not intelligent enough to refute what I posted so you accuse me of being a liberal. I don't think everyone who does not share your misinformed, warped world view is a liberal. The fact that you think it is Powell's fault that France did not join the coalition demonstrates your utter ignorance and cluelessness about the events leading up to the war. I'll repeat, France would not have sent troops to invade Iraq redgardless of anything we did. France had an economic interest in keeping Hussein in power, and they have been reluctant to use military force on anyone since about 1918 including the Nazis Army that invaded their country.
Please point out where exactly I did not make any sense. I suppose you think that the insurgency was dealt with effectively immediately following the fall of Baghdad and that we did not need more troops in the initial invasion force. The reason the insurgency has been gaining strength for the the past 3 years is because naive, dellusional people such as yourself thought it was a good idea to pussyfoot around Iraq like we were the Salvation Army rather than declaring martial law from the start and absolutely crushing the Baathists and there will to fight. I suppose you also think it was a good idea to allow Sadr and all the other Shiite militias to exist. You must also think it was a good idea to not go into Fallujah in April 2004 because the Iraqi's didn't want us to. I was in favor of going to war with Iraq. I was not in favor of using the US Armed Forces as a bunch of social workers. People like you never learned the real lesson of Vietnam which is that our military can't succeed with both hands tied behind its back.
You are 100% right. I should have noted that in my initial post. General Franks' book makes this point very clearly.
You're right. By the end, when they knew we were going in, the only logical explanation for their contineud public opposition was a desire to see us fail. And I think the French, at least, are disappointed that we haven't.
Getting rid of him would be too much of a loss of face.
Any objective thinker realizes what a bad mistake the whole thing was and is.
That was Powell's responsibility and he blew it.
Once more, for emphasis.
Hello again useless Troll jerk.
Since you just signed on with FR, in 50 words or less tell us what you think of Bush and his Presidency. You don't have the balls.
Sorry. I'm having an intelligent conversation on another thread. I voted for President Bush and think he is a good decent man who was elected in a very difficult and trying time for the country and the world. I believe he is doing his job to the best of his ability. Feel free to refute anything I've said on this tread rather than calling me names and changing the subject when you don't have anything of substance to write. Otherwise, stop posting to me.
The most serious mistake seems to have been putting C. Powell in as Secretary of State.
He certainly does not seem to comprehend the term or the office.
You Nailed it! Along with the Democrats and other Countries cutting our legs out, Oil for food, Russia giving War plans to Iraq, Turkey not helping out and Powell and the state department tying us up with the UN for a year.
Not really:
http://www.soc.mil/usacapoc/capoc_default.htm
You forgot the Corps. of Engineers.
OK...you're right. I just think of Civil Affairs Units 1st (my G-father was involved with one in WW2). Here is the Gulf Area Corps of Engineers page:
http://www.grd.usace.army.mil/index.html
How many more troops would it have taken to prevent an insurgency that Saddam planned well in advance? I doubt that twice the number would have done the job. Turkey preventing us from launching a northern front was more of a problem, but the US can't sit back and let Turks dictate our foreign policy.
When we succeed in Iraq the Civil Affair Units will be a huge reason why. They never get any of the glory, but The US Armed Forces would never have been able to achieve so much over the years without them. We just have look at Japan and Germany today to see their success.
"I lurk on this site and have seen no reason to post in the past"
This is nothing but a troll's typical futile effort to worm his way into a thread.
"Sorry. I'm having an intelligent conversation on another thread."
Yes, I an sure you are having all kinds of intelligent conversations on the DUmmies boards.
"I believe he is doing his job to the best of his ability."
Not exactly a stellar vote of confidence considering all the praise you heap on the useless jerk Powell who is "a great American", yet is now in the pocket of the Left in Silicon Valley sucking up their cash while he spews a bunch of crap about "mistakes in Iraq".
Your agenda is to make Powell shine so that his words will drive a wedge between Republicans. Unfortunately for you us Republicans are aware of his complete failure at his job in the State Department and how he allowed the French to run their game at the U.N.
Nothing has changed, you are a troll idiot newly signed on to FR and I have exposed you as such. Now go ahead and waste more of your time here LibIdiot, nobody gives a crap what you post anyway.
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