« Angry White Man | Main | Barack Hussein Obama It's A Movement So Where Is The Kool-Aid? »
February 21, 2008
US Envoy Warns Over Iraq Pullout
The US ambassador in Baghdad has cautioned of the dangers of over-hasty withdrawals of military forces in Iraq.
Ryan Crocker's warning comes as Democratic candidates in the US presidential race talk of setting timetables for pulling out troops.
The ambassador told the BBC a recent improvement in the current security situation was not irreversible.
He warned a new cycle of violence could start up if withdrawals were not handled very carefully.
Democratic contender Barack Obama has said he favours a full withdrawal by the end of next year, while Hillary Clinton says she will set a timetable within two months if she is elected.
Ambassador Crocker did not comment directly on the candidates and their views, but he stressed his own long-standing conviction that future withdrawals should depend on conditions on the ground - not on timetables set in Washington.
Tensions
To remove that consideration, he said, would be to take an unacceptable risk.
"For all the progress that has been achieved over the past year there are still a strong sectarian tensions," Mr Crocker said.
"There is still an al-Qaeda presence, there is still foreign interference particularly in Iran.
"Now all of these things can spark a new cycle of instability and violence if we're not very very careful and closely linked with the Iraqis on what the next step should be."
The current American troop surge is to be finished by July. After that, US military commanders and Mr Crocker advocate a pause for assessment before reducing troop numbers below the pre-surge levels of around 130,000.
The ambassador said Iran was continuing to support extremist militias in Iraq despite official support for the Iraqi government.
He hoped the visit by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in early March would prompt Iran to bring its practices into line with its policies.
Wild Thing's comment.........
Isn't it wonderful how Ahmadinejad will be going to Iraq for a visit in March. After all we know about this vile man, Iranian support for insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan and looking back just taking the things about Iraq and Ahmadinejad and these are only a few things as examples:
General Petraeus Accuses Iran of Fueling Iraq Violence
Teheran Smuggled In Missile That Shot Down RAF Helicopter In Iraq
Austrian Sniper Rifles From Iran Found In Baghdad Home
Posted by Wild Thing at February 21, 2008 12:45 AM
Comments
I hope that if a Dem becomes President that Dem does not pull out the troops and lose the war and what has been accomplished. Maybe this will be one of those false campaign promises where they don't do what they say they will do.
This is the only reason I hope that McCain wins. At least HE realizes the need to keep troops in sufficient numbers in Iraq.
Posted by: TomR at February 21, 2008 06:49 AM
The Dems will NOT keep troops in Iraq. While Hitlery may leave a smaller contingency of troops, they won't have the proper equipment and funding will be cut off for them. Obama will bring them all home. Has anyone forgotten what kind of Hell our boys and girls went through during the pull out in Vietnam? It was part of the bloodiest fighting Vietnam had because they KNEW we were leaving.
Iraq will do the same.
And they will probably follow us home. Some are already setting up camp here in America to start a war on this soil. We MUST keep them at bay. I will NOT tolerate fighting in my backyard that puts my family in danger. If they come after me, I'll take some with me. I ain't going alone.
Posted by: Lynn at February 21, 2008 08:11 AM
The Dems have a long history of this, we helped conquer Hitler's Europe 1939-1945, then gave the eastern portion to the Soviet Communists. 1949-1953 Korea, partitioned since WWII at Potsdam still unresolved after a bloody war the Communists started we gave the North to Russia and China. 1959-60 stood by while Castro took over Cuba,then abandoned US trained Cuban Troops to be butchered at the Bay of Pigs. 1963-1973 Vietnam, we pulled out ahead of victory then abandoned them to their fate in 1975. That's just in the arena of support for our allies.
WT, my buddy Bill is back in Tam Ky looking for that orphan we left behind in '69, I hope he finds him this time. Thanks to LBJ the few indigenous friends I had in the RVN at Quang Tri probably met the same fate as those at Hue in '68. This is the legacy we leave our allies, it's no wonder they distrust us when they can't rely on our support longer than one election cycle before the Democrats pull their support and go in the opposite direction.
Posted by: Jack at February 21, 2008 06:07 PM
Tom me too!!
That is such a huge concern of mine.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 22, 2008 12:34 AM
Lynn I agree completly.
The Dems are known for not listening to our miltiary's advice. They proved it to me during the Vietnam war when our military wanted to finish their missions and the dem politicians stopped them.
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 22, 2008 12:40 AM
Jack oh wow that has me crying I hope he finds the orphan too. What a reunion that would be!!
What you said about pulling out when we shouldn't have is so true too. LBJ was a real SOB!
Posted by: Wild Thing at February 22, 2008 12:43 AM
