Monday, January 02, 2006
Military RhetIraq: Gen. Abizaid
Who: Gen. John Abizaid, Commander US Forces in Middle East
Source: Knight-Ridder
Quotes: From article titled "Commander: Progress in Iraq in '06"
... the coming year will bring a sea change as "we go from us being in the lead in the counter-insurgency to the Iraqis being in the lead."
Abizaid said he thinks the risk of outright civil war in Iraq is low - "I think it's possible, but not probable. I don't see it now. ... I think we would see it coming and I don't see it coming. ... I think we can work our way through 2006 in a way that has a good outcome for Iraq."
"It's not a matter of having a withdrawal strategy, it's a matter of having a strategy for success ... a pretty simple equation: It's reliable security forces, a government that is considered legitimate and an economy that is starting to move forward."
He said that Americans should sit with him in the meetings he has with U.S. officers at the brigade level in Iraq. He said they are not afraid of the situation and can conceive of a successful outcome without underestimating the challenges they face.
Asked if he thought 2006 would be the year that the balance begins to shift from U.S. to Iraqi control, the general said he and the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, as well as U.S. brigade commanders, are all optimistic that will happen.
"There are a lot of `buts' out there but I am optimistic it can happen. And I'm not `cautiously optimistic.' I'm optimistic."
Source: Knight-Ridder
Quotes: From article titled "Commander: Progress in Iraq in '06"
... the coming year will bring a sea change as "we go from us being in the lead in the counter-insurgency to the Iraqis being in the lead."
Abizaid said he thinks the risk of outright civil war in Iraq is low - "I think it's possible, but not probable. I don't see it now. ... I think we would see it coming and I don't see it coming. ... I think we can work our way through 2006 in a way that has a good outcome for Iraq."
"It's not a matter of having a withdrawal strategy, it's a matter of having a strategy for success ... a pretty simple equation: It's reliable security forces, a government that is considered legitimate and an economy that is starting to move forward."
He said that Americans should sit with him in the meetings he has with U.S. officers at the brigade level in Iraq. He said they are not afraid of the situation and can conceive of a successful outcome without underestimating the challenges they face.
Asked if he thought 2006 would be the year that the balance begins to shift from U.S. to Iraqi control, the general said he and the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, as well as U.S. brigade commanders, are all optimistic that will happen.
"There are a lot of `buts' out there but I am optimistic it can happen. And I'm not `cautiously optimistic.' I'm optimistic."
