Posted on 03/18/2006 6:59:58 PM PST by blam
Rumsfeld: We're trying to figure out what to do if Iraq falls into civil war
By James Langton in Washington
(Filed: 19/03/2006)
America has begun making plans to deal with a civil war in Iraq, three years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
As sectarian violence continues to claim lives every day, Donald Rumsfeld, the American defence secretary, has disclosed that United States military intelligence is holding war games to predict what might happen in such a situation.
Donald Rumsfeld: War games
Mr Rumsfeld's admission that "the intelligence community are thinking about this and analysing it" comes despite the White House's insistence that Iraq is not slipping into civil war.
As tomorrow's third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq approaches, the administration is under pressure to devise strategies in the event of conflict.
President George W Bush and his officials have so far refused to discuss what has become known as the "Plan B" scenario, declaring that the US military will stay in Iraq until a stable, democratic government is established.
But this policy is being challenged by Congress, which last week announced an inquiry to assess the situation. The bipartisan panel of senior members has said it will "take fresh eyes on the target" and recommend a course that would include dealing with civil war.
The Democratic senator Joe Biden said the inquiry would "not only look at the situation as it exists now, but look at potential alternatives based on a Plan B or a Plan C, depending on what happens on the ground".
There are signs that the internal strife, that has affected much of central and southern Iraq, may be spreading. Last week, rioting broke out in the Kurdish-controlled north, until now free of violence. A teenage boy died when security forces fired at a crowd of about 7,000 protesting at alleged government corruption. The rioters also destroyed a monument to 5,000 Kurds killed in a gas attack on Halabja in 1998.
New fighting flared north of Baghdad last Saturday as a joint US-Iraqi force scoured the Sunni Muslim heartland in the third day of a counter-insurgency operation. Iraq's government claimed that the operation - during which three US soldiers have died - captured suspects in the killing of a prominent journalist.
But Iraq's own national security adviser, Lt Gen Wafiq al-Samaraei, urged the Americans to loosen their security net around the Sunni-dominated city of Samarra, and complained that too many "innocent" young men were being rounded up.
The White House has meanwhile dismissed Iran's offer of talks to discuss Iraq as "a stunt" to divert attention from the country's nuclear programme. The talks were first proposed by the US last year but had been ignored by Teheran until now - the week in which the United Nations Security Council is due to discuss the programme.
Not really....I have watched several Rummy pressers, and he is usually pretty accomodating and answers their questions pretty thoroughly...
However, they listen with their agendas not their ears...so we rarely see written exactly what Rummy actuallys says.
I have a feeling that is so in this case as well...I don't doubt that he admitted that they are making plans in case of a civil war...it would be foolish and shortminded not to...but I don't think it reflects their knowledge of whether there will be one or not.
Remember THIS country had a very bloody civil war..and we survived.
If fact, except of EIDS and suicide bombers, Iraq is probably experiencing a lot of what America did for its first couple hundred years...but, in 3 years.
amazing...
Rummy just gave them a soundbite..
I am sure the "analysts" look into all kinds of scenarios....but of ALL people- Rummy should know better than to give these maggots a scrap of dead flesh to gnaw on...
(banging my head on my keyboard...)
kaghdurewytetb 9[3487[3v' l;n3v t053q87tvc043n 6 il' 3w5vc 09[c43865v 965[[0n 13oij4tjoi3q' 0y576vn 250094
aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
that does NOT feel better....
I hate the press...
I really really hate the press...
they are sub-human...
I cannot believe they are allowed to pro-create...
Sure, It'll happen. It's the best weapon Iran has.
No..but Ditto anyhow.
I am sure he didn't....and I am sure the we will be told about it also...
Don't forget, those two idiots are running for POTUS...and they will be sure and let the world know that THEY know much better than Rummy and all of the military leaders how to win this war.
why am I not surprised to see Iran (thanks blam) already has it figured out?
You cannot trust them as far as their Camels can spit.
Sneaky, snivelling cowards who - like the rats they are - cling to shadows.
And all the lovely little 'peace' people, who really believe that 'wuv' and 'understanding' will make things all better.
God help us all.
Actually, (pure speculation follows), could we not use a potential civil war in Iraq as a way to begin to conduct a War against Iran ? A civil war in Iraq primarily means 'Sunni' verses 'Shiites'. It would not really be an 'Iraqi' civil war. It would be an 'Islamic' civil war. This could theoretically give us cover to attack the totalitarian Iranian Islamic (Shiite) government. The Sunni's might tolerate our move against the Iranian Shiite government in such a situation. I have been wondering just how a war against Iran could get started without causing a world wide Islamic uprising. So in essence, by instigating the civil war in Iraq, the Iranian controlled Islamic insurgency may end up making a move similar to Saddam's invasion of Kuwait.
The Secretary of Defense tells reporters (in essence), "Look guys, I'm not predicting a civil war, but we're already 'wargaming' what our response would be". English translation: "We're trying to avoid being caught off guard". I'm sure the press will try to misconstrue that (as the "Telegraph's" headline may already have done), but it's better to acknowledge that we're looking into it now than to give the MSM the opportunity to say that we were caught totally unawares later.
We got rid of Saddam, it's time to take the training wheels off... the Iraqis need to sort or fight it out amongst themselves, we need to get out of the way and deal with more pressing issues... like Iran.
Rummy is actually thrwoing bones to the media?
are we the only ones still sane?
Rummy should stay quiet... he desperately needs a decent PR person (he's not the only one)
Great minds think alike!
Who are you thinking of, Biden?
We should get out NOW, and let the towel head kill each other.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.