US report calls for Iraq exit in five years (click title of entry, thank you)
8 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States should halve its military presence in Iraq within three years and completely pull out within five years, the latest US report on the war-scarred country said Sunday.
Only then will Iraq's government, which has so far been a "disappointment," take on its own security responsibilities to rebuild the nation, the report by the United States Institute of Peace said.
"The United States faces too many challenges around the world to continue its current level of effort in Iraq, or even the deployment that was in place before the surge," the report said.
A sustainable military presence "is likely no more than half the current level within three years, with a view to removing all units within five years, when all US bases should be turned over to the Iraqi government," it said....
Mr. Robert Gates, Former US-CIA Director and Col. Saeed Bin Bleila, Director for Dubai Naturalization and Resident Department and Mr. Ali Al Kamali, M.D, Datamatix
Dr. Robert M. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. Before entering his present post, Secretary Gates was the President of Texas A&M University, the nation’s seventh largest university. Prior to assuming the presidency of Texas A&M on August 1, 2002, he served as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999 to 2001.
Secretary Gates served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993. Secretary Gates is the only career officer in CIA’s history to rise from entry-level employee to Director. He served as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1986 until 1989 and as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Adviser at the White House from January 20, 1989, until November 6, 1991, for President George H.W. Bush.
Secretary Gates joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966 and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional, serving six presidents. During that period, he spent nearly nine years at the National Security Council, The White House, serving four presidents of both political parties. Secretary Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has twice received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA’s highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.
He is the author of the memoir, From the Shadows: The Ultimate Insiders Story of Five Presidents and How They Won the Cold War, published in 1996.
Until becoming Secretary of Defense, Dr. Gates served as Chairman of the Independent Trustees of The Fidelity Funds (click here), the nation's largest mutual fund company, and on the board of directors of NACCO Industries, Inc. (click here), Brinker International, Inc.(click here) and Parker Drilling Company, Inc.(click here- granted it's not Halliburton) Dr. Gates has also served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Council on Education, the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America. He has also been President of the National Eagle Scout Association.
A native of Kansas, Secretary Gates received his bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, his master’s degree in history from Indiana University, and his doctorate in Russian and Soviet history from Georgetown University. Dr. Gates is 63, and he and his wife Becky have two adult children.
Gates really gets around, won't you say? A real Boy Scout to come to Georgie's aid like this.
So, here we have more sidling up to the Saudis and more aggression in the Middle East in a primarily Shi'ite majority nation. Why do I get the feeling as though Bush's administration just doesn't 'get it.'
When trying to 'calm nerves' in the Middle East it would be better to pursue diplomatic relations and joint efforts with neighboring countries than continue to pursue crony interests under a different venue of cabinet and generals.
Five years is what the Arab League has stated it would take for them to retool to take over the Ameican operations in Iraq. There is no peace coming into Iraq even in five years, just more of the same with higher death tolls. Further occupation by Arabs isn't the best solution for Iraq. There are too many dead and estranged from their own country now.
Five years to instill 'nation building' at the high cost of lives and potential continued occupation that would alter the face of Iraq permanently in it's populous is a form of genocide and I have already been here with that discussion before.
CAIRO, Egypt: Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Sunday called for talks between Arab countries and Iran over Iraq, dismissing suggestions that Tehran would fill a power vacuum in the war-torn nation in case of U.S. troop withdrawal.
"There should be a consensus between the Arabs and Iran over Iraq," Moussa told reporters after a meeting of Arab diplomats. "Iran and the Arabs should be on one side."
Last week, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that a power vacuum is imminent in Iraq and said that Iran was ready to help fill the gap. He suggested cooperation with "regional friends like Saudi Arabia."
Ahmadinejad did not elaborate on how Iran could fill a power gap but his remarks appeared to reflect Iran's eagerness for an increasing role on its neighbor's political scene.
Sunni Arab countries have expressed grave concerns about what they term as Iran's meddling in Iraq especially in backing Baghdad's Shiite-led government....
"There should be a consensus between the Arabs and Iran over Iraq," Moussa told reporters after a meeting of Arab diplomats. "Iran and the Arabs should be on one side."
Last week, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that a power vacuum is imminent in Iraq and said that Iran was ready to help fill the gap. He suggested cooperation with "regional friends like Saudi Arabia."
Ahmadinejad did not elaborate on how Iran could fill a power gap but his remarks appeared to reflect Iran's eagerness for an increasing role on its neighbor's political scene.
Sunni Arab countries have expressed grave concerns about what they term as Iran's meddling in Iraq especially in backing Baghdad's Shiite-led government....
And I have been here before as well. The only way to descalate the tensions in the region is for Iraq's neighbors to work out differences and peace agreements including the fact Iraq's primarily Shi'ite region will have open relations with Iran regardless of any nation building strategy to prevent it.
Currently, Southern Iraq is receiving humanitarian aid from Iran and that needs to continue. I don't see Iran as anything but a full partner with Southern Iraq. It just has to be and the USA had to have known that if Mr. Gates with all his CIA experience was in the pipeline ready to step in for Rumsfeld at a moments notice.
By the way Steven Hadley ain't all that either (click here). He is primarily a paper pusher with a law degree. In other words, he's a good stenographer as an Undersecretary to any initiative. He has absolutely no understanding of miltiary operations or has any room to criticize generals or be frustrated with outcomes of an illegal war.
