Pentagon says new Iraq fighting arises from surge's success

[sabra]

Source: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Pentagon on Wednesday said an eruption of violence in southern Iraq, where US-backed government forces were battling Shiite militias, was a "by-product of the success of the surge."

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said it showed that the Iraqi government and security forces were now confident enough to take the initiative against Shiite extremists in the southern port of Basra.

"Citizens down there have been living in a city of chaos and corruption for some time and they and the prime minister clearly have had enough of it," he said at a Pentagon press conference.

...

He said it was a success "in the sense that the Iraqi government has grown and increased in capability to the point where they now feel confident going after Shia extremists in a part of the country that they had not exerted great influence over."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080326/pl_afp/iraqunrestuspentagon_080326195348;_ylt=A0WTcVS3repHBOYAdgJsbEwB

[varkam]

1. What's that you say? War is peace?

:crazy:

[saigon68]

21. "Bring Em On" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[Supersedeas]

2. black is white, up is down, 2 + 2 = 5, we have always been at war with EurAsia

[Lautremont]

3. Did Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell follow this up by saying

"I've had enough of this! I'm going to clown college!"

[MidwestTransplant]

4. Well isn't that obvious?

[FreepFryer]

5. Two words - 'Tet Offensive'.

Just like http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/05/peace_with_honor_ii.php">back then, a coordinated, 'nation'-wide military offensive by the enemies of the U.S. in iraq could spell the end of everyday Americans' willingness to swallow the 'Surge' propaganda campaign, and the start of our national willingness to face our ongoing failure (and Haliburton et. al.'s windfall) in Iraq.

Hopefully the news will get better (both in content and in objectivity), civil order will return to Iraq, and the war will end. I hope.

[saigon68]

19. This photo helped too.

We have yet to see the results from this one.

[annabanana]

6. How lame is that! Less violence is success..More violence is success

massive pile of crap

[bemildred]

9. It's Catch-22. nt

[Solly Mack]

7. ....

May 2, 2007

Definition of Success

"Bush said today that his definition of success in Iraq isn't an absence of violence. ``There are certain parts of our own country that have got a certain level of violence,'' he said. ``But success is a level of violence where the people feel comfortable about living their daily lives, and that's what we're trying to achieve.'' "

[Barrett808]

8. Yet we can't draw down from the "surge"

How long does it take for a "surge" to become an "escalation"?

[Javaman]

10. I guess I'm of the pre-9/11 mind set. I thought their surge was supposed

to have PEACE as by-product

I know, I know, what was I thinking? :eyes:

[pattmarty]

11. Of all the total disgusting bullshit that's come out of this admin, this is one of the best.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. Careful there. Spinning that fast is likely to make you throw up!

I know it reading it brought about feelings of nausea for me.

[catchnrelease]

13. Am I remembering this totally wrong?

"Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said it showed that the Iraqi government and security forces were now confident enough to take the initiative against Shiite extremists in the southern port of Basra.

"Citizens down there have been living in a city of chaos and corruption for some time and they and the prime minister clearly have had enough of it," he said at a Pentagon press conference."


I thought that just awhile back, the British forces were in Basra and it was relatively calm. Maybe I'm confused...........:shrug:

[magellan]

14. George Orwell is rolling in his grave

...with laughter or tears is anyone's guess...at what a bunch of 3rd rate propagandists our government is.

[tabasco]

15. They've installed robots at all levels of government.

Only a goddamn robot could say that with a straight face!

[newfie11]

16. What a crock of shit!

[saigon68]

20. "Freedom and Democracy are on the March", the Chimp

[eringer]

17. What Nonsense!

The meeting with President Dunsel yesterday was well timed. Now they are believing their own BS. They have created the perfect situation for McBush to continue the Bush/Cheney legacy of meaningless wars with sheepherders armed with AK-47s and ammo from a dump that we didn't guard durung the invasion. You reap what you sow.



(M5, above, called Kirk, Captain Dunsel with Dunsel meaning a part with no useful purpose)

[LynnTheDem]

18. rotflmao!

They can still make me laugh, at least.