Posted on 07/18/2007 4:51:55 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Troop levels in Iraq 'a burden' - Powell
July 19, 2007 09:22am Article from: Agence France-Presse
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FORMER US secretary of state and top US general Colin Powell has said that the current level of US troops in Iraq cannot be maintained beyond mid-2008. Mr Powell, a retired four-star general who was President George W. Bush's top diplomat from 2001 to 2005, and was the military's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff during 1989-1993, also called on Washington to find a way to talk with the powerful Palestinian group Hamas, despite its alleged terror links.
"This is a tremendous burden on our troops and on our families,'' Mr Powell said of the ongoing troop presence in Iraq, in an interview with National Public Radio.
Speaking after Senate Republicans blocked a vote calling for troop withdrawals to start within 120 days and for a complete pullout by the end of April, Mr Powell said the US Army and Marine Corps were stretched to their limit in Iraq since they had not been increased in size despite the greater responsibilities demanded of them.
"It is not sustainable for our troops just to stay over there for an indefinite period at 180,000 person-strength unless there is improvement in the conditions that generate what I consider to be a civil war.
"So we have to have progress on the Iraqi political side,'' Mr Powell said.
Asked if in his opinion the US should start reducing troop numbers in Iraq by mid-2008, Mr Powell said: "I think that's right ... It is not sustainable for an indefinite period at this level.''
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Powell has become a national disgrace.
Isn’t Powell one of those who were yowling and screeching about how Iraq would have been all easy peezy if we’d only gone with th “Powell Doctrine” and gone into Iraq with “more boots on the ground”? And kept more boots on the ground?
It’s all Bushes fault. Not enough boots on the ground and too many boots on the ground.
I’m sure he is!
Powell is an empty suit. Many years ago, he was hand picked to mover up the line primarily because of his race. He never stayed in one assignment long enough to really do anything other than get his “ticket punched” he jumped over many more qualified officers for promotion. Now, the true Powell is coming out for everyone to see: a disloyal, treacherous, liberal POS.
Colin - please shut the hell up.
Powell if you’d given the proper advise during Desert Storm...like taking saddamn out then...most likely we’d not be in Iraq today....this is your fault jerkoff.
Dear General Powell,
Thank you for your service to our nation.
That said, you’re no acting like a half-wit, and misreading the enemy in ways that would make a 2nd Lt. embarassed. Please go away and shut your piehole.
Very, very sincerely,
Mr. Silverback
Powell is retired... and should stay retired.
You are so right. He was Armitage's boss when Armitage leaked Plame's CIA connection. Armitage told Powell about it when Fitzfong started his politically motivated investigation. Neither Powell nor Armitage went public and told what had happened. Fitzfong then goes after Scooter Libbey and another good man gets shafted by the Demoncraps using the Washington courts.
Jump back in time when Powell is working for Casper Weinberger (SOD). Weinberger testifies before some the Iran-Contra that he does not keep a diary. Powell later testifies and volunteers the information that while Weinberger does not keep a diary, he did keep note cards. Voila; the Demoncraps (Walsh) go after Weinberger and only a last minute pardon by the first President Bush saves him from being sacrificed.
powell is definitely a man of little integrity and loyalty.
Given that, how the hell did he end up in this Bush’s WH?
It all began with Bush’s “new tone” approach for Washington in 2001. When you appoint liberals, you don’t win any points, you don’t win any favors. You get stabbed in the back.
Let’s review: Powell urged Bush 41 to end the first Persian Gulf War, he vigorously opposed aiding the Kurds and the marsh Arabs when they staged a revolt against Saddam, and he was the primary opponent of the invasion of Iraq. What else can the man do to aid our Islamic enemies?
Powell is no longer the CJC’s or Sec State. He stabbed the president in the back over the Plame fiasco, it’s pretty evident he dislikes him.
Looks like he might be trying to position himself in a dem administration if they take the WH. He should just fade away.
Powell never told the President that Armitage was the leaker, even though the President had ordered the leaker to come forward. Had Powell done the honest thing, Fitzy never would have done what he did. Powell earns no respect from me.
“He was Armitage’s boss when Armitage leaked Plame’s CIA connection.”
To me, this brings up the question of who else Armitage told about Wilson and Plame. Armitage testified before the Grand Jury that he only told Novak, but it’s obvious he also told Woodward long before Novak’s article was written. So why was Armitage so adamant that he only told Novak? In other words, who else did he tell?
I believe that he's right. There were too few troops in Iraq post-invasion. We couldn't provide security or basic services. An insurgency was able to develop. I was there for the initial invasion, and couldn't figure out why we headed home at the end of May 2003. I'd trade Powell for Bush as CIC any day.
I have never believed that the “Powell doctrine” was much other than institutional sand-bagging and a morale killer to boot.
Powell was never much better than Wesley Clark, he just got better press and we can guess why.
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