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Army chief says US ready to be in Iraq 10 years (retirement time!)
AP ^ | 5/26/2009

Posted on 05/26/2009 3:57:06 PM PDT by markomalley

The Pentagon is prepared to leave fighting forces in Iraq for as long as a decade despite an agreement between the United States and Iraq that would bring all American troops home by 2012, the top U.S. Army officer said Tuesday.

Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, said the world remains dangerous and unpredictable, and the Pentagon must plan for extended U.S. combat and stability operations in two wars. "Global trends are pushing in the wrong direction," Casey said. "They fundamentally will change how the Army works."

He spoke at an invitation-only briefing to a dozen journalists and policy analysts from Washington-based think-tanks. He said his planning envisions combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for a decade as part of a sustained U.S. commitment to fighting extremism and terrorism in the Middle East.

Casey's calculations about force levels are related to his attempt to ease the brutal deployment calendar that he said would "bring the Army to its knees."

Casey would not specify how many combat units would be split between Iraq and Afghanistan. He said U.S. ground commander Gen. Ray Odierno is leading a study to determine how far U.S. forces could be cut back in Iraq and still be effective.

President Barack Obama plans to bring U.S. combat forces home from Iraq in 2010, and the United States and Iraq have agreed that all American forces would leave by 2012. Although several senior U.S. officials have suggested Iraq could request an extension, the legal agreement the two countries signed last year would have to be amended for any significant U.S. presence to remain.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bhodod; georgecasey; iraq; obamaregime; oif; timetable; usarmy
Wouldn't accuse a CSA of being ROAD, but, geez, dontcha think you could have put your papers in first???
1 posted on 05/26/2009 3:57:07 PM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

“retirement time!”

What brought that on? General Casey is simply stating that the Army is prepared to do that. What’s wrong with that?

TC


2 posted on 05/26/2009 4:10:34 PM PDT by Pentagon Leatherneck
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To: Pentagon Leatherneck
What brought that on? General Casey is simply stating that the Army is prepared to do that. What’s wrong with that?

Because it goes against groupthink. It implies that the Army might be there.

Nothing wrong with his statement. Something wrong with his boss who will take retribution upon him for making that statement.

3 posted on 05/26/2009 4:19:05 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: markomalley
Of course without delineating just what mix of forces they are planning on, it is a bit foolhardy to get into the pros and cons.
I for one since 2004 at this site have strongly suggested that long after Iraq turned around that we need Special OPS, Intel folks, trainers across the military spectrum to enhance their air force and navy as well as long term improvements to their ground forces.
And perhaps an equal weight of engineering folks to continue to help improve their infrastructures at an educational level.
And surely over the coming years, they can as more of the willing nation's civilian forces draw down, still use American know how to broaden and enhance their military supply procurement processes etc..
We cannot just walk out and leave them half repaired. If anything they will have to contend with Iran in the future.
They cannot be left un-aided. We spent to much precious blood to bring them around to be a law abiding nation. And besides there are huge amounts of oil that must be recovered for the sake of the world economies.
And surely we do not want the damn Russians to get their fingers back into Iraq.
4 posted on 05/26/2009 4:21:32 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (I still believe Duncan Hunter would have been the best solution... during this interim in time....)
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To: markomalley

This is exactly the prescription for the destruction of the national guard. The current use of the national guard proves that the 18 division army was the right size.


5 posted on 05/26/2009 4:22:08 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain, Pro Deo et Patria)
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To: markomalley

Who cares about supposed “groupthink”?

See Marine_Uncle’s thoughts below. It would be the height of irresponsibility to automatically plan for a withdrawal because the chosen one stated a date.

We should leave Iraq in an orderly withdrawal commensurate with the ability of the Iraqi government to assume control of their country.

TC


6 posted on 05/26/2009 4:29:26 PM PDT by Pentagon Leatherneck
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To: markomalley

Obama’s fault.


7 posted on 05/26/2009 4:31:23 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Powell/Whorealdo 2012- The New GOP Dream Ticket)
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To: markomalley

No wonder our nations broke.


8 posted on 05/26/2009 5:46:17 PM PDT by servantboy777
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To: Pentagon Leatherneck
Who cares about supposed “groupthink”?

Look, FRiend, I'm not arguing with his statement. I'm not arguing with planning to keep troops there for a long time, provided that the government believing we have a strategic interest in maintaining peace and security in the region (and, since the environmentalist wackos won't let us get petroleum within our own borders, then it's pretty much going to be in our interest)

I'm talking about political reality: Bambi has a habit of throwing people under the bus when no longer convenient. GEN Casey, in implying that Bambi's declaration may not be correct, has just put himself in line to have treadmarks over his back.

You may say politics is irrelevant. Well, in the years I've lived around these parts since I've retired, I have learned one thing more than anything else: it's ALL political.

9 posted on 05/26/2009 5:52:49 PM PDT by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: markomalley

“GEN Casey, in implying that Bambi’s declaration may not be correct, has just put himself in line to have treadmarks over his back.”

OK. Gotcha. Time will tell I guess. Gates seems to be surviving well, and Casey (and Mullen, for that matter) is at least that tenacious.

TC


10 posted on 05/27/2009 1:53:03 AM PDT by Pentagon Leatherneck
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To: markomalley
Looking at the maps, I've said all along Iraq, is the Germany of this century.

It's too strategic, for us to leave.

11 posted on 05/27/2009 1:55:52 AM PDT by Kakaze (Exterminate Islamofacism and apologize for nothing.....except not doing it sooner!)
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To: Pentagon Leatherneck

Casey couldn’t cut it in Iraq so he got pushed upstairs to make room for Petraeus.


12 posted on 05/27/2009 5:58:15 AM PDT by csmusaret (http://www.aipnews.com/)
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