A report from General McCaffrey’s recent trip to Iraq. Interesting comparison to his visit last year.
He was and is a vocal critic of Rumsfeld and the administration.
Interesting stuff.
http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2006/05/mccaffrey-trip-report.html
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
GDollars37 wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
I disagree. I think it is nearing time to start drawing down our troop level.
The Iraqi armed forces are getting better and stronger. It should now be up to them to fight the battle.
Why on earth would be we start drawing down our troop levels now? If you think we’re doing badly, that would basically abandon the country to the insurgents and/or civil war. If you think we’re doing well, why would we pull out at our moment of triumph (a case can be made that this happened in Vietnam)? Aside from concern about “breaking” the Army, I can’t understand any argument for a pullout.
And do you really think the Iraqi Army is much of a fighting force, ignoring the larger issue of sectarianism and its influence on the IA’s loyalties?
Our people are targets, pure and simple.
The old footprint argument. The insurgents mostly target the Iraqi police and army, because they know they are a weaker target. This has been the case for a long time now.
If Iraq won’t hold together so be it.
Wow, that’s a lot more defeatist than anything I’ve ever posted. Watch out for a Bush talking-points attack from JeffR any minute now.
The Iraqi Army is far better than you give credit.
I don’t want immediate withdrawl, just draw down.
The foriegn fighters are almost inconsequential at this point. We do not have to worry about Al Qaeda ending up in power like they were in Afghanistan. This was a real worry a year ago. Not any longer.
[/quote]
There was never any real danger of Al Qaeda running the country. There was a danger of a failed state, like Afghanistan, where terrorists would have safe haven and ample opportunity to train and equip themselves. This has not changed.
[quote]hedo wrote:
Marmadogg wrote:
More moonbat talking points from a right wingnuttery online rag.
Pathetic.
Freedom’s on the march!
We have Al Queda on the run!
ROTFLMFAO!!!
Strategypage is a “right wing” publication?
Nuttery online rag?
Too funny!
You say your in the brokerage business. You haven’t heard of James Dunnigan and some of the folks he works for on the street?
The site is an analysis of strategy by someone who’s work is taught at military academies and war colleges in the US and abroad and has been since the 80’s.
If your going to try and dismiss something just because you disagree with it, you might want to look a little deeper into the target your going after.
[/quote]
I never said I worked on the sell side which is proof that you have no idea what you are talking about.
That site is a waste of time when our emerging markets people just dial up the CIA directly for information.
Pull your head out.
[quote]Marmadogg wrote:
hedo wrote:
Marmadogg wrote:
More moonbat talking points from a right wingnuttery online rag.
Pathetic.
Freedom’s on the march!
We have Al Queda on the run!
ROTFLMFAO!!!
Strategypage is a “right wing” publication?
Nuttery online rag?
Too funny!
You say your in the brokerage business. You haven’t heard of James Dunnigan and some of the folks he works for on the street?
The site is an analysis of strategy by someone who’s work is taught at military academies and war colleges in the US and abroad and has been since the 80’s.
If your going to try and dismiss something just because you disagree with it, you might want to look a little deeper into the target your going after.
I never said I worked on the sell side which is proof that you have no idea what you are talking about.
That site is a waste of time when our emerging markets people just dial up the CIA directly for information.
Pull your head out.[/quote]
Pull my head out…you are a silly man aren’t you Marmadog.
I didn’t say you worked on the sell side either…which by the way has nothing to do with the question I asked.
Your the one who constantly makes references to analysts and you tend to use a lot of retail type terms. “Our analysts just dial up the CIA directly” says all I need to know. Can’t imagine guys I worked with spouting off something like that.
I doubt that actually happens either but for the rest of us, we have strategypage.
Now what did you want to say about Dunnigan, Bay etc. Ever…you know read one of their books?