18 Months Ago, SecDef Nominee Gates Suggested U.S. Withdrawal ‘In A Year or Two’
By on Nov 9th, 2006 at 10:16 am
18 Months Ago, SecDef Nominee Gates Suggested U.S. Withdrawal ‘In A Year or Two’
Yesterday, President Bush nominated former CIA Director Robert Gates to replace Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense. Speaking at the Leon Panetta institute in May 2005, Gates expressed hope for a relatively rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops:
We all hope that it will be quick. That in a year or two the — this government in Iraq will be secure enough that they will be able to invite us to leave and we can do so, leaving behind us a government that can survive and that will be very different from what preceded it.
That was 18 months ago. Since that time, Iraq has formed a government. Gates has also been serving on the Iraq Study Group. The LA Times reports that group may recommend “withdrawing American troops in phases.”
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I think it’s reasonable, and I think it will happen, as long as everyone decides to stop scoring political points with it.
That includes us.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:26 amOur leaving always changes…..first it was the removal of the dictator….”mission accomplished”…..then it was helping the Iraqi people to have a legitimate “election” - mission accomplished…..then it was the establishment of their constitution….mission accomplished (I wish I could say the same for this country!)…..now what is it? What the hell does the term “standing up” mean when Dubya says….”we’ll stand down when the Iraqis stand up”….what a bunch of doubletalking crapola. I’d say it’s time to put Bush on the stand and finally get some straight answers from him!
November 9th, 2006 at 10:26 amWe need some definitions here and we need them fast….for starters, let’s begin with his definition of “victory” or “winning”……
withdrawal in 2 years is doable.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:32 amAccording to the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, there is going to be no change in strategy for the coalition in Iraq, and he knows that “for a fact”. He was extremely insistent on TV earlier tonight that there would be no withdrawal or troop cut backs.
Interestingly, Howard is running the Bush and Rice line on just what state Iraq will need to be in before the majority of coalition troops withdraw.
No more talk about democracy, or a “beacon of freedom and liberty in the Middle East”. Now Howard says, “Iraq should be reasonably secure” before any kind of victory is declared.
Talk about winding down the expectations. “Reasonably secure?”
How vague is that?
The John Howard interview transcript isn’t online yet, but I’ll link it on my blog when it appears.
http://www.the4thworldwar.blogspot.com
November 9th, 2006 at 10:32 amSo we’re out of there in 6 months…?
November 9th, 2006 at 10:34 amAccording to the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, there is going to be no change in strategy for the coalition in Iraq, and he knows that “for a fact”. He was extremely insistent on TV earlier tonight that there would be no withdrawal or troop cut backs.
Interestingly, Howard is running the Bush and Rice line on just what state Iraq will need to be in before the majority of coalition troops withdraw.
No more talk about democracy, or a “beacon of freedom and liberty in the Middle East”. Now Howard says, “Iraq should be reasonably secure” before any kind of victory is declared.
Talk about winding down the expectations. “Reasonably secure?”
How vague is that?
The John Howard interview transcript isn’t online yet, but I’ll link it on my blog when it appears.
The Fourth World War blog.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:34 amprediction:
November 9th, 2006 at 10:37 amWhen Iraqis are cheering Rumsfeld’s resignation, it’s a clear sign change was needed.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:37 amI don’t know much about Gates, but I think he’s smart enough to know the American people want a plan for Iraq.
Personally, I believe we’ll be out by the ‘08 election.
Even the Neocrooks can read the writing on the wall, & they’ll be wanting the next President to be a Republican. That means getting voters off the anti-war bandwagon. The only way to do that will be to out or almost out by the next election.
This just in….George Allen & other Republicans who lost are seceding from the Union to form a new Confederate Nation. he he.
Bush is still the decider. No substantial changes in policy will occur.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:41 amnot until impeachment proceedings begin…..he may be the decider right now but his wings are seriously clipped.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:46 amSo we’re out of there in 6 months…?
Comment by Zooey
Zooey, you’re starting to sound like Tom Friedman.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:58 amI really don’t see the point in trying to impeach this bozo. What does that bring us to? President Cheney?
It may be much smarter for the Dems to go after Cheney instead. Drag him in front of Congress. Ask about energy policy. Ask about how he’s been involved with Gitmo. Make him the center of controversy. After all, he’s liked even less by the general public than W.
At the end of the day, impeaching W isn’t going to allow the Dems to accomplish much of anything. They’ve got to work with the bozo, like it or not.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:11 amI have been, and will continue to be, one of the staunchest critics of the this administration in regards to the gross negligence on which they conducted the build up to Iraq and on how they have missmanaged the execution of the mission once they arrived. With that said, I also believe there will be no quick exit from Iraq.
The History books will be filled with the failures of Bush 43 but that won’t help the situation now. What has to be looked at is what can be obtained from this point on. Democracy? doubt it. Stability is possible but the surrounding countries have to be allowed to have a stake in it. That means getting Iran, Syria, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to the table.
Even with our best efforts now, the region could fall into chaos but we have to work towards a stable govt. in Iraq.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:13 amI tend to think that this guy cannot be any worse than Rummy, but Bush did nominate him, so you never really know.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:26 amAmerica’s Least Wanted
I don’t think we ever planned to totally leave.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:27 amAfter all,if the Iraqi’s were throwing flowers and candy at our feet,why not stay with say @ 30,000 troops.
That way we would have had our own little Israel with a puppet Govt. and all that oil.
I guess things didn’t work out that way.
Good idea Sinker, lets get Cheney, he has some of the brains behind the Shrub anyway. Just take away of the Shrub’s “evil brains”.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:44 amDemocrats should start by investigating war profiteering. It will have a widespread populist appeal. I am sure that plenty of lurid stuff is out there, waiting to stir outrage. Then start investigating all the other stuff. Then impeach Bush and Cheney.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:01 pmAgain, we have the opportunity to take the high road, and embrace Pelosi’s call for a ‘clean congress.’ I wouldn’t be in such a rush to stab the remaining players in the back. Sometimes just letting them sit in their own puddles for a while is enough - we have the ability to shape the discussion. That should be sufficient.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:03 pmImpeach bush and cheney and bring all the guilty up on charges…….At the very least start the investigation’s while working on all the other problem’s to restore our constitution and country to us. If these representatives work more than 2 day’s a week it should be easy..Multi tasking…Can I say …..Good Morning Madam President Pelosi..Now that should bring a shiver to all the repub’s….Blessings
November 9th, 2006 at 12:04 pmPelosi’s “drain the sewer” idea is excellent and, IMO, should be the start. Investigation of the executive can only be done with a clean Congress.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:09 pmAll America needs to do to stop all terrorist activity and any anti-USA sentiments from spreading is the following:
1: Have Cheney and Bush convicted for frauding intelligence and committing war crimes.2: Have THEM pay for the war THEY created and use the money for upholding international justice FOR REAL, very unlike America’s behaviour ever since WWII ended.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:20 pmFigureheads On The Chopping Block
Big oil interests have had enough of being bashed over Iraq, Rumsfeld sacrificed, ‘Democratic Revolution’ a good cop/bad cop smokescreen, Two factions emerge, Is Cheney next? ………
Donald Rumsfeld’s sacrifice has been a done deal for weeks and is the first scene of what insiders have dubbed a Shakespearean like play that will characterize the final years of the George W Bush administration………
“This is now saying that James Baker will have complete control over the Iraq policy. And if you don’t know James Baker, he is the lawyer for Exxon mobil Corporation, he is the lawyer for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, another great democracy. The oil companies have now said that they can’t even have Rumsfeld in as a figurehead.” Palast declared………..
Like Baker, Gates was deeply involved in the Iran/contra affair. His testimony has been proven to be made up of lies and untruths, yet at the time it was not proven “beyond a reasonable doubt that Gates was deliberately not telling the truth” and he got off scott free, a good benchmark when taking up a position under a Bush family member.
http://infowars.net/ articles/ november2006/ 081106Rumsfeld_Sacrifice.htm
November 9th, 2006 at 12:20 pmthe meat puppet must really think we are stupido maximo to put someone like this bag o’ trash up as his nominee. wonder who told him to? this guy is rummy and cheney, he is their “pal” and a known liar to congress. not acceptable
impeach them, today, tomorrow, but no doubt. we need to remove the admitted crook in the supremes, and perhaps another couple. if real truth comes out.
the election is #1 in the first hundred hours. but it’s not going to start until January. we have a considerable gap before the next phase. This is the time we will see the criminals do all they can to pad their wallets, and do their utmost to rape america and the rest of the world for their benefit.
no, say no to anyone the meat puppet suggests, and filibuster. for there is no chance that anyone promoted by a criminal is anything other than a criminal. it is with great disappointment to see known criminals re elected by their constituents in this country. we have gained a little, but be reminded, it is very, very little.
I hope Nancy finds she has a more pressing engagement than to have lunch with the idiot. I don’t much like the idea of our next president cavorting with a war criminal for any reason, it is sickening.
sure is a bitch having a conscience.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:29 pmDonald Rumsfeld - Best Defense Secretary Since Rob…
Both McNamara and Rumsfeld subscribed to the doctrine of “underwhelming force,” that is, using as few resources as possible in prosecuting a war in order to lose less….
November 9th, 2006 at 12:48 pmAsk yourself this question:
If events on the ground in Iraq ever get to going well and peace breaks out all around—why leave?
November 9th, 2006 at 1:01 pmi’m guessing he’s in the Brent Scowcroft mold, this is about as good as we could have hoped for. thats not saying much but still.
November 9th, 2006 at 1:58 pmBecause it is a constant 125 degrees there.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:14 pmZooey, you’re starting to sound like Tom Friedman.
Comment by dlet
My mustache will never be as nice as his.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:09 pmMy mustache will never be as nice as his.
Comment by Zooey
No worries. We all love ya just the same.
November 9th, 2006 at 8:51 pmdlet,
You say the sweetest things…
November 9th, 2006 at 9:10 pmI’ve seen two references here to McNamara, including, “…best Defense Secretary since Mc…” . Holy Cow! Who is it so history-undereducated that he doesn’t know that McNamara wrote a tell-all book claiming that he and Johnson made up the Gulf of Tonkin incident so that they could escalate the war?! Or is this a different “McNamara”?
Impeachment? My firm belief is that we gain nothing with an impeachment scenario. That would take up all of the time left in the next two years to accomplish that which our Democratic new Congress was elected for - change! After 2008, we can bring Bush, Cheney, Rove and Rumsfeld all up on charges of war crimes.
I believe in attacks that are less divisive but every bit as effective, a lesson our friends the Republicans have fortunately never learned. Yee-Haw!
November 10th, 2006 at 2:20 amI second “DrSinker’s” suggestions…Yeah let’s get rid of Cheney, the architect of evil. He’s been the orchestrater of Bush’s agendas from the word go! I say-good riddance to bad rubbish!
November 10th, 2006 at 5:35 pm