Comments on: Gen. Odierno Concedes Troops Remain in Iraqi Cities, Won’t Say How Many

By: A Goldman Opportunity « Metallic Pea

A Goldman Opportunity « Metallic Pea — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:34:41 +0000

[...] You mean it was all propaganda? [...]

By: Daily Briefing — 1st-2nd July 2009 « Little Alex in Wonderland

Daily Briefing — 1st-2nd July 2009 « Little Alex in Wonderland — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:41:34 +0000

[...] the U.S. pullout from Iraqi cities, through U.S. Iraq commander, Gen. Raymond Odierno said “a small number” of troops remained in the cities. He refused to specify how many because he said he [...]

By: PatrickRiot

PatrickRiot — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:22:43 +0000

Now the Obama admin is sounding a lot like the Bush admin with supposedly listening to the commanders "on the ground" again with regard to troop withdrawls. Wrong – the civilian leadership sets the goals and the military executes – perhaps the past two presidents don't understand their role here. The generals have a vested interest in maintaining a war footing, I'm sorry to say, so letting them set the timeline when they will be out of work is rather bass ackward. Not that they shouldn't get input from the military leaders but c'mon.

By: PatrickRiot

PatrickRiot — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:22:07 +0000

Here's the deal generals, from now on if you can't give an exact figure in response to a question and have no strategic or tactical reason not to answer the questions posed by the press then give a ballpark answer. The past admin tried to say that it was gotcha politics or "events on the ground" (as opposed to those in the air or water I guess) that would determine the timelines or troop levels. This is simply BS. Any good manager in business or in the military has an idea of how long operations will take and an idea of how many troops will be involved.

By: PatrickRiot

PatrickRiot — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:21:23 +0000

This type of obfiscation by the military leadership has been sticking in my craw for some time. If there was any reason to keep this information from the American public I could see the General's point but there just isn't. One of two things is going on here – either A) the military really has no earthly idea where the troops are at the present or B) the "small number" still in the cities is a damn big number that the American people and I dare say the Iraqi people might consider an announcement of our departure premature.

By: matthewgood.org » Archive » For A Brief Moment Anyway

matthewgood.org » Archive » For A Brief Moment Anyway — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:55:47 +0000

[...] which means that the Status of Forces Agreement has taken effect. Of course, SOFA isn’t without its problems, and the referendum that is to take place at the end of next month will be key, but for the time [...]