He declined to be drawn into what he called “the big debate in Washington” over the war, saying U.S. troops would continue to battle the enemy until ordered to do otherwise. But he made it clear that his sympathies lay with the Iraqis in his battle area, mostly between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, that extends about 130 kilometers, or 80 miles, south of Baghdad and includes four of Iraq’s 18 provinces. The offensive he commands is part of a wider push by U.S. and Iraqi forces in all the areas surrounding Baghdad, and in the capital itself, that began in February.
“What they’re worried about is our leaving,” he said. “And our answer is, ‘We’re staying,’ because my order from the corps commander is that we don’t leave the battle space until we can hand over to the Iraqi security forces.”
To hold on to recent gains, he said, would require at least a third more Iraqi troops than he has, and they would have to come from other battle areas, or from new units yet to complete their training.
“Everybody wants things to happen overnight, and that’s not going to happen,” he said.
From a previous posting...slightly modified..but this is where we are at. Any pullbck now would be dead ass stupid.
Pakistan is set to implode. Once it tips, India will kick a$$ as opposed to letting talibanani cavemen get control of the nuclear arsenal. Once Musharaff loses control/gets whacked, which is not far away, the gloves will come off.
Same with Iran/Syria/Saudis. Excepting our Israeli friends are on the frontline. SO..the politics/resource calls and expectations will change.
Once Pakistan is spanked, HALF of the problem will go away. The other half lies in Iran/Syria/Saudiland. Once the JOOOS deal a nasty spanking,the dynamics will change.
Spank these places good, and the situation will clear
Iraq and Afghanistan will just fall into place.
This global aberation of cavemen philosophy should dry up.
Sure, they have 1400 years into this caveman cult crap...but face it - there is no room for that crap today.