Posted by Frank James at 5:21 pm CDT
At today's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Iraq and Afghanistan, it was a clearly skeptical Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who quizzed Gen. John Abizaid, commander of Central Command, about what the movement of U.S. troops into Baghdad from elsewhere in the strife-torn country would mean for those places with suddenly fewer troops.
SEN. MCCAIN: So General Abizaid, we're moving 7,500 troops into Baghdad; is that correct?
GEN. ABIZAID: The number's closer to 3,500.
SEN. MCCAIN: Three thousand five hundred?
GEN. ABIZAID: Plus military police that were going there for other duties that are being used in the outer cordon areas, military policemen in particular.
SEN. MCCAIN: And where are these troops coming from?
GEN. ABIZAID: The troops, the Stryker Brigade is coming down from Mosul.
SEN. MCCAIN: From Mosul. Is the situation under control in Ramadi?
GEN. ABIZAID: The situation in Ramadi is better than it was two months ago.
SEN. MCCAIN: Is the situation under control in Ramadi?
GEN. ABIZAID: I think the situation in Ramadi is workable.
SEN. MCCAIN: And the troops from Ramadi came from Fallujah; isn't that correct?
GEN. ABIZAID: I can't say, Senator. I know --
SEN. MCCAIN: Well, that's my information.
What I worry about is we're playing a game of whack-a-mole here. We move troops, it flares up, we move troops there. We all know that Fallujah was allowed to become a base of operations in insurgency, so we had to go into Fallujah and fight one of the great battles in Marine Corps-Army history.
Then when I was back there not too long ago, they said, "We've got big problems in Ramadi. Everybody knows we've got big problems in Ramadi." And I said, "Where are you going to get the troops?" "Well, we're going to have to move them from Fallujah."
Now we're going to have to move troops into Baghdad from someplace else. It's very disturbing. And if it's all up to the Iraqi military, General Abizaid, and if it's all up to them, then I wonder why we have to move troops into Baghdad to intervene in what is clearly sectarian violence.
GEN. ABIZAID: Senator, also Iraqi troops are being moved into Baghdad. The number of Iraqi troops in the Baghdad area are greater than our troops. We are in support, with them in the main operational areas. And I believe that under the current circumstances, that the Iraqi forces need to benefit from our command-and-control capabilities and the systems of a unit such as the Stryker Brigade that's been moved to the south.
SEN. MCCAIN: I would anticipate putting American troops into this very volatile situation means that American casualties will probably go up.
(There was a pause before Abizaid answered.)
GEN. ABIZAID: I think it's possible that in the period ahead of us in Baghdad, that we'll take increased casualties. It's possible.
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Comments
Mccain is right Rumsfeld make thing smaller idea has cut our troops to the point three to four deployments is the norm. Now we find out that there is no combat ready units to protect America.Time for change!!
Posted by: Dale Peters | August 3, 2006 8:13 PM
This is awesome. How quickly can we elect McCain president? Scanlon, have you got anything that can make that impeachment stuff you guys are always frothing over stick? Or just give the man the 2008 nomination over Frist right now. I don't care.
Posted by: Bill | August 3, 2006 10:12 PM
It's time to reintroduce the draft.
Newt Gingrich and Bill Bennett (sp?) have both said we're in the beginning stages of WWIII. If this is true, we're going to need more troops. We can't just keep shuffling in the same people we just shuffled out.
And since this is all about preserving our way of life, the children of the people who benefit the most from our way of life should be at the top of the draft list.
Posted by: Radical Rudy | August 3, 2006 10:41 PM
Only a moran could not have seen this coming.......Oh,that's right, I forgot, Georgey boy is the president.I wonder if he spent as much time doing pre-Iraq war planning,as he did making his cheerleader outfit at Yale? GO TEAM!!!
Posted by: John E. | August 4, 2006 12:17 AM
These guys are good at sticking to the non-answer. Along with Rumsfeld they have been schooled very well.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | August 4, 2006 6:05 AM
Billy boy,glad to hear from you.I thought you left the country on one of your many excursions.
You know,my passport has been stamped many times also,I left the U.S. to visit Oklahoma,Texas,Alabama,Georgia,you know,all those strange countries.
As far as McCain,don't wet your depends just yet Billy boy,accorrding to K.Rove,McCain went a little crazy over in Nam,and what was that whisper campaign about "McCain's wife having a black child".All thanks to K.Rove.
I,like a lot of Dems,would have considered McCain for Pres.(because he's a normal Rep.)but he sold his sole to the devil(neo-nuts)in the last campaign.
As for the red state voters,I don't think he's goofy enough for them.
Why is it neo nuts don't like Chuck Hagel,to normal?
Well Billy boy,gotta run,I'm catching a flight and really leaving the country,I'm traveling to Idaho!!!!
Posted by: john scanlon | August 4, 2006 8:39 AM
As the radical Muslim extremists get closer to starting WWIII, Rummy will sit there singing the same old tune “stay the course” What the hell happened to “in their last throws” that we heard a year ago. If this debacle is allowed to continue we will be fighting for our lives on our own shores. I mean this both literally and figuratively, we will surely be fighting to maintain our economic stability to support the hundreds of billions this costs American taxpayers. With the extent our military has been stretched in the Middle East, the porous situation on our borders, and the growing animosity toward Americans around the world. I for one don’t feel any safer.
Posted by: Rory M | August 4, 2006 10:19 AM
Hey John, have fun in Idaho. I know it's not part of the country to you, but it is to me. Play some handball if you're going to Boise. They're serious about it down there.
I'll be in England next week and then McCain country on Aug. 11! That's right, I'm going to Phoenix. Is that still part of America to you? Oh, well, doesn't matter.
Yeah, that black child stuff in the So. Carolina primary was wicked vicious. I campaigned for McCain in New Hampshire and that really angered me. But, politics is a contact sport. And Rove has perfected his form on contact.
McCain's gaining strong support among republicans. You'd be surprised. You're right that the challenge will be winning the primaries. If we can get So. Carolina I don't think anyone will stop us.
Oh, well. Enjoy Boise.
Posted by: Billy Boy | August 4, 2006 11:33 AM
Glad this session went public at the last minute, as it was to be behind closed doors. No wonder. Incredible that the Generals, while somewhat open, were like deer staring at headlights.
They couldn't foresee a civil war a year ago? General Barry McCaffrey (who just got back from a fact finding trip to Iraq and reported to the President) reported last night on NBC that it's BEEN a civil war for 2 years. If it quacks like a duck...
I'm sure some mid-level officers would like to ask them a few questions too (if they only had the chance without fear for their careers).
Let's not forget this is only on one front. The Taliban is flexing in Afghanistan too.
And what about Hillary Clinton's new-found cojones, er, voice? I guess she saw Bill Lieberman's poll numbers.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | August 4, 2006 12:47 PM
Billy boy,does this mean we won't be chatting next week?
I thought we'd do lunch,maybe hang out on your yacht.Talk about the end of the right.
Seriously,have a good trip and stay safe.
PS,if you see Paul McCartney i'd love an autograph.
Posted by: john scanlon | August 4, 2006 3:07 PM