No More 'Surge' Protection? Now Oliver North Comes Out Against Iraq Plan

Editor & Publisher ^ | 1/5/07

[steve-b]

Bob Herbert and our own Joe Galloway, you'd expect -- even, by this point, Thomas Friedman -- but Oliver North? But it happened, in the hawkish Fox News contributor's new syndicated column, where he came out against President Bush's reported plan to escalate the number of U.S. troops in Iraq.

North recalls that on his recent return to Iraq, "Not one of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen or Marines I interviewed told me that they wanted more U.S. boots on the ground. In fact, nearly all expressed just the opposite: 'We don't need more American troops, we need more Iraqi troops,' was a common refrain. They are right."...

[Yo-Yo]

I saw North on Fox and Friends this morning, and he repeated the same line that a surge was exactly the wrong move by the President. North supported the other initatives such as going into Sadr City, but still was speaking against the additional troops.

[L98Fiero]

This is a week old article. North's remarks for it were even older.

[highball]

He's the CIC and I've had a belly full of mutiny.

Hang on a sec. We can disagree with the way a CIC runs a war without it being "mutiny."

I frequently disgareed with the way Clinton used the military. Was that mutiny?

[dforest]

I am not sure where I saw him, but he seemed to be backing off this. Maybe old Ollie isn't sure. I may have just heard it wrongly.

[goodnesswins]

I think YOU know da*n well what the mission is.....it's just not happening on YOUR schedule, however.....plus the media is ALSO at war....against us.

[From One - Many]

whatever....

[jazusamo]

This is a week old article. North's remarks for it were even older.

Exactly!

[rhombus]

Are you questioning my patriotism? ;-)

[Yo-Yo]

Here is video of Ollie North on The O'Reilley Factor prior to the President's speech, totally against any surge in troop strength.

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "A ground offensive against Iran would require hundreds of thousands of soldiers, which we don't have. Iran knows this and this is why nutjob keeps running his mouth."

No, I was thinking of the kind of attack that the Israelis said that they were going to do, if necessary -- using nuclear bunker busters. Fly in and fly out. And the U.S. would probably do the same. That's the attack that is coming.

And the surge would be to hold the line in Iraq, against the Iranians, in case they have any foolish ideas afterwards.

Regards,
Star Traveler

[MHGinTN]

Here's the data on Col North's program upcoming:

Oliver North is a nationally syndicated columnist and the host of "War Stories" on the FOX News Channel, seen Sundays at 8 PM Eastern and Pacific. This month, 'War Stories' pays tribute to key moments in the all out fight to defeat Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Tune in this Sunday for "The Desert War" at 8pm / 11pm ET.

I'm assuming that Col North will make it plain regarding the Iraq program upcoming.

[OldFriend]

Ole Ollie was against the surge before he was for the surge.

[Dilbert56]

'We don't need more American troops, we need more Iraqi troops,'

True, but unless someone opens an "Iraqi Troops 'R Us" nearby, the only way to stop the killing is with more American troops. If we don't stop the killing nothing else good can happen.

[highball]

Okay, that's pretty funny.

[sissyjane]

He was backing off the support this morning...

[OKSooner]

What "attack on Iran"?

(wink wink)

[Alberta's Child]

It may stink to high heaven, but it accurately reflects North's views as recently as last week.

More Troops = More Targets (from January 5, 2007)

[Eagle of Liberty]

"Without a defined mission????"......WTH are you talking about?

My sentiments exactly.

[Zhang Fei]

We live in interesting times.

You mean we live in a time of fake Chinese sayings?

[johnny7]

It was written on the 5th...