General Abizaid's warnings of more clashes added to a growing unease
voiced by some lawmakers today that the Pentagon might have misjudged
the level of postwar resistance American forces would face and the
number of troops needed to quell the unrest.

Senator John W. Warner, the Virginia Republican who heads the
committee, said soldiers trained principally for combat now faced
difficult peacekeeping duties.

"They're stranded with 360 degrees exposure, often in ones and twos on
the streets of Iraq, and they're suffering the consequences," Mr.
Warner said.

Just seven weeks ago, the Bush administration was planning to withdraw
most United States combat forces from Iraq over the next several
months and wanted to shrink the American military presence to less
than two divisions by the fall.

Now that goal appears unlikely.

"For the foreseeable future, we will require a large number of troops
for Iraq," said General Abizaid, who declined to specify a number.




From The New York Times, 6/26/03:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/26/in...al/26GENE.html

Further Attacks on Allies Predicted by U.S. General

By ERIC SCHMITT

WASHINGTON --

The man nominated to be the next senior commander of United States
forces in Iraq warned today of continuing attacks against American and
British soldiers and said a large occupation force would keep a
prolonged presence there.

The officer, Lt. Gen. John P. Abizaid of the Army, also said it was
important for the allies to provide proof that Saddam Hussein was dead
or alive, since his death or capture could deny Baath Party guerrillas
a rallying point.

But the general offered no new details about Mr. Hussein's fate or the
Special Operations forces attack last week on a convoy near the Syrian
border.

"We are certainly in for some difficult days ahead periodically,"
General Abizaid said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to
review his promotion.

"We shouldn't kid ourselves about the fact that we can be the subject
of terrorist attacks in Iraq, because we know people are coming our
way."

He also said it was "perplexing" that no illegal weapons had been
found in Iraq, but expressed confidence that a new group of military
investigators would solve the mystery.

The general's views are significant because President Bush has
nominated him to receive his fourth star and succeed his boss, Gen.
Tommy R. Franks, who is retiring next month as head of the United
States Central Command.

_________________________________________________

Did someone say "quagmire?"

Harry

Harry Hope wrote:
>
> General Abizaid's warnings of more clashes added to a growing unease
> voiced by some lawmakers today that the Pentagon might have misjudged
> the level of postwar resistance American forces would face and the
> number of troops needed to quell the unrest.
>
> Senator John W. Warner, the Virginia Republican who heads the
> committee, said soldiers trained principally for combat now faced
> difficult peacekeeping duties.
>
> "They're stranded with 360 degrees exposure, often in ones and twos on
> the streets of Iraq, and they're suffering the consequences," Mr.
> Warner said.
>
> Just seven weeks ago, the Bush administration was planning to withdraw
> most United States combat forces from Iraq over the next several
> months and wanted to shrink the American military presence to less
> than two divisions by the fall.

And to think that Rummy forced a general into retirement because he told
the truth about the number of troops needed in Iraq.

Rummy needs to be forced into retirement.

> Now that goal appears unlikely.
>
> "For the foreseeable future, we will require a large number of troops
> for Iraq," said General Abizaid, who declined to specify a number.
>
> From The New York Times, 6/26/03:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/26/in...al/26GENE.html
>
> Further Attacks on Allies Predicted by U.S. General
>
> By ERIC SCHMITT
>
> WASHINGTON --
>
> The man nominated to be the next senior commander of United States
> forces in Iraq warned today of continuing attacks against American and
> British soldiers and said a large occupation force would keep a
> prolonged presence there.
>
> The officer, Lt. Gen. John P. Abizaid of the Army, also said it was
> important for the allies to provide proof that Saddam Hussein was dead
> or alive, since his death or capture could deny Baath Party guerrillas
> a rallying point.
>
> But the general offered no new details about Mr. Hussein's fate or the
> Special Operations forces attack last week on a convoy near the Syrian
> border.
>
> "We are certainly in for some difficult days ahead periodically,"
> General Abizaid said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to
> review his promotion.
>
> "We shouldn't kid ourselves about the fact that we can be the subject
> of terrorist attacks in Iraq, because we know people are coming our
> way."
>
> He also said it was "perplexing" that no illegal weapons had been
> found in Iraq, but expressed confidence that a new group of military
> investigators would solve the mystery.
>
> The general's views are significant because President Bush has
> nominated him to receive his fourth star and succeed his boss, Gen.
> Tommy R. Franks, who is retiring next month as head of the United
> States Central Command.
>
> _________________________________________________
>
> Did someone say "quagmire?"
>
> Harry

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that
we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
Teddy Roosevelt