Odierno: Next Few Months Critical
BAGHDAD - The No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday that the next three to four months will be crucial in determining whether the United States can start to withdraw troops from Iraq without sacrificing security gains since the troop buildup began early this year.
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno said the number of attacks in August fell to their lowest level in more than a year. Odierno said that overall violence was declining—a sign that the buildup ordered by President Bush was working.
“I think the next three to four months are critical,” Odierno told reporters. “I think that if we can continue to do what we are doing, we’ll get to such a level where we think we can do it with less troops.”
Bush himself raised the possibility of a reduction in the 160,000- strong U.S. force during his surprise visit Monday to al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province, where Sunni Arab sheiks have been turning against al-Qaida in Iraq.
Bush said U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and the top commander Gen. David Petraeus “tell me if the kind of success we are now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces.”
Crocker and Petraeus will report to Congress next week on security and political progress since Bush dispatched 30,000 extra troops to Iraq to curb sectarian warfare. Petraeus is expected to point to a dramatic decline in violence in Anbar province thanks to a grass-roots revolt against al-Qaida.
On Tuesday, an al-Qaida front group announced on an Islamist Web site that it was forming new suicide battalions to strike at the Americans and their “renegade” allies—an apparent response to the burgeoning revolt against the terror movement.
“These battalions, with God’s help, will perform their duties in an excellent manner during the month of Ramadan and the enemies of God will suffer a lot,” the statement said, referring to the Islamic season of fasting that begins in about two weeks.
Odierno said U.S. forces were alert to the possibility of increased attacks during Ramadan but in the run-up to the holy month “violence has been going down.”
Also Tuesday, an appeals court upheld death sentences imposed against “Chemical Ali” al-Majid and two other Saddam lieutenants convicted of crimes against humanity for their roles a massacre of Kurds in the late 1980s.
Under Iraqi law they must now be hanged within the next 30 days.
In addition to al-Majid, the Iraqi High Tribunal upheld death sentences of former defense minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, a former deputy director of operations for the Iraqi armed forces.
Al-Tai negotiated the cease-fire than ended the 1991 Gulf War, when a U.S.-led coalition drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
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“Under Iraqi law they must now be hanged within the next 30 days.”
Love that law. There’s one thing about Iraqi law, when justice does finally arrive, it is swift and sure. No fucking appeals court, no touch-feely phychiatric double-talk…
At least now. Saddam’s cousin, brother or whatever he is…will get his 72 virgins…or is it 48 boys….??
September 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pmPS:
Way to go. If anyone has not read the playbook in Iraq yet…FM 3-24. I suggest you read up on it. Or you can read Mao’s “On Guerilla Warfare”. Frankly, I think all of Dollard Nation should read Mao’s book, and all military Dollard Nation should read both…Then read Islamic Imperialism by Efraim Karsh and anything by Ibn Warriq or Bob Spencer.
Out
September 4th, 2007 at 4:59 pm“On Tuesday, an al-Qaida front group announced on an Islamist Web site that it was forming new suicide battalions to strike at the Americans and their “renegade” allies—an apparent response to the burgeoning revolt against the terror movement.
“These battalions, with God’s help, will perform their duties in an excellent manner during the month of Ramadan and the enemies of God will suffer a lot,” the statement said, referring to the Islamic season of fasting that begins in about two weeks.”
How beautiful, these lunatic suicidal vermin are spinning around like rats in a steel trap thrown into a fire, all their vicious plots and frenzied evil can only bounce back on them now, they’ll go out “in a blaze of glory” killing a few thousand Muslim kids. And total failure.
Noble holy warriors. They’ll all be communing w/their beloved Shaitan soon.
Oh, as I’ve said before, I wd NOT want to be on Gen Odierno’s “to do” list. Heheh.
September 4th, 2007 at 6:29 pmJ.O:
“How beautiful, these lunatic suicidal vermin are spinning around like rats in a steel trap thrown into a fire, all their vicious plots and frenzied evil can only bounce back on them now, they’ll go out “in a blaze of glory” killing a few thousand Muslim kids. And total failure.
Noble holy warriors. They’ll all be communing w/their beloved Shaitan soon.”
I like that last line…Good one bro…Nothing like providing more chordwood for the sulfur fires of Jahannem.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:33 pm