U.S. Officials: Iraqi Security Could be Ready in 12-18 Months (WaPo)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

(Edited to provide link)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102400171.html

U.S. Officials: Iraqi Security Could be Ready in 12-18 Months
Ambassador Says Iraqi Political Leaders 'Must Step Up'

By Debbi Wilgoren and Howard Schneider
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; 2:30 PM

Top U.S. officials in Iraq today predicted that Iraqi security forces could be largely self-sufficient within 12 to 18 months and said the Iraqi government is building a timetable for disarming militias, quieting insurgents and solving ongoing struggles for economic and political power.

Acknowledging that weeks of escalating bloodshed have had a demoralizing effect on American perceptions of the conflict, Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad spoke bluntly about the growing civil strife in and around Baghdad and the challenges it poses. Casey, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, said it was possible that the number of U.S. troops there would need to grow in coming months, before Iraqi security forces can begin to take control.

The military commander and the diplomat offered a strong defense of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq. The two men, who are among the principal architects of the current U.S. strategy to train Iraqi security forces in preparation for foreign troop reductions, emphasized that they do not view the U.S. campaign as never-ending and praised a call yesterday by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a crackdown on armed militias.

...

In response to a question from a reporter, Khalilzad said that the current situation -- however bleak -- was better for Iraq than the reign of Saddam Hussein.

...

This corresponds almost EXACTLY to my timetable to retire with 100 million dollars in assets!

[BOSSHOG]

1. Things will be fine in the next six months

that's what we have heard for the past three years from the party which wants to destroy the federal government.

[Monkeyman]

5. Yep its safe to go into the water don't mind the shark

[rodeodance]

2. we heard that 12-18 months ago. And how will they be ready when

the country is overrun with corruption, thugs, criminals, insurgents, terrorists. etc etc.???

[Pirate Smile]

3. Oh, yeah, right. Tell me the same thing again in 12-18 months.

[stella]

4. Casey helping Bush and the GOP just in time for the Novenber election .....

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Not all of America still believes in the Easter Bunny.

Not even the drones that once believed Bush.

[oasis]

7. Timed to announce this just before elections? Saddam sentencing: Nov.5th.

Another coincidence?:eyes:

[TahitiNut]

8. Newsflash: The attention span of the electorate is 12-18 months (per GOP)

There's an old, old joke ...

A woman was seeing her gynecologist, complaining that she couldn't get pregnant.
"Tell me about your marital relations," the doctor asked.
"Well, I shower, dress in a negligee, and lie in bed while my husband sits on the edge and tells me how good it's going to be," she said.
"What does your husband do for a living?" the doctor asked.
"He's an IBM salesman," she answered.

We can now change the end of the joke...
"He's a GOP spokesperson," she answered.

Is anyone getting tired hearing about how good it's going to be?