Subscribe to Common Dreams News Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
US Commander in Iraq Warns of Threat to Pull Out... of Withdrawal
General Ray Odierno, the US commander in Iraq, has warned that a delay to the country's elections in January could derail President Barack Obama's withdrawal timetable for troops.
President Obama's pledge to withdraw US troops from Iraq and end combat operations there by September 2010 is under threat because of increased levels of violence and bickering within the Iraqi parliament, the top US general in the country has told The Times.
President Barack Obama meets with General Ray Odierno at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq. A postponement would almost certainly affect the US President's pledge to end combat operations in Iraq by August 31 next year and to withdraw all US troops by the end of 2011. (Photo: AP) General Ray Odierno said that militant groups were likely to conduct a bloody campaign in the months ahead, as Iraqis prepare for national elections at the beginning of next year.
"It's clear that al-Qaeda and other groups do not want the elections to occur," he said in an interview. "What I think they will try to do is discourage people from voting by undermining the authority of the Government of Iraq with attacks, so that people lose faith in the democratic process."
The Iraqi parliament has failed repeatedly to pass a new election law because of arguments over whether ballot papers should give the names of candidates, or of parties only. MPs are now talking about delaying the election, planned for January 16.
The prospect was causing the US serious concern, said General Odierno. "I worry that it calls into question the Iraqi commitment to this form of government. If the parliament doesn't pass the election law and they delay the elections, that violates their own constitution, which says they have to have elections in January."
A postponement would almost certainly affect the US President's pledge to end combat operations in Iraq by August 31 next year and to withdraw all US troops by the end of 2011.
General Odierno said he had hoped to send as many as 70,000 soldiers home between March and August, but would keep troop strengths at current levels until 30 to 60 days after elections to ensure a safe transfer of power.
This timetable gave him little room for manoeuvre, he said. "We would have to make a decision on whether we continue to draw down on the current timeline or delay it. Obviously that's a decision made by the President, but I'd certainly have to provide recommendations on what our position should be.
"Our plan here will influence how they decide to implement what decision they make on Afghanistan," he said of a possible second surge being debated by the White House. If troop levels in Iraq remain higher than planned, freshly trained US brigades will be needed to replace those finishing their tours of duty, and would not be available for Afghanistan.
General Odierno, who commands 120,000 troops from one of Saddam's old palaces near Baghdad airport, highlighted the Kurdish regions in the north as being particularly vulnerable to insurgents. "Al-Qaeda is trying to re-establish a foothold in the north and then extend out," he said. Since early summer, the ethnically mixed areas around the cities of Mosul and Kirkuk have seen countless attacks.
"We are trying to find solutions for how we can reduce the tensions between Kurds and Arabs. Al-Qaeda is trying to exploit the fissures."
In addition, he said, Anbar province - where US forces fought some of the most bitter battles early in the occupation - was again showing signs of terrorist activity. "The last ten days have gotten my attention," General Odierno said of the province, which is the centre of the Sons of Iraq alliance between Sunni tribes and the Americans. Last week there were several attacks on urban areas and bridges.
"We believe we have some cells that are starting to re-emerge in Anbar and we are watching closely. We will work very hard to eliminate those cells."
General Odierno
1954 Born in New Jersey
1976 Graduates from the US Military Academy, West Point, and is posted to Germany
1990-91 Serves in Operation Desert Storm
2003 Commands US Army's 4th Infantry Division during Iraq war. Criticised for heavy-handed tactics but members of his unit eventually capture Saddam Hussein
2004 His son Anthony, 26, loses an arm in a grenade attack in Baghdad
2006 Returns to Iraq and serves for more than a year as the No 2 US commander
2008 Takes command of US forces in Iraq, warning that "our work here is far from done". Has been awarded at least 20 medals
Sources: Multi-National Force in Iraq, Reuters, General Ray Odierno official Facebook page, Times database
- Posted in
36 Comments so far
Show AllGeneral Odierno would do better safegaurding the USA Constitution and International Laws than meddling in Iraqi deliberations ( by the way the USA wrote the Iraqi constitution, no?).
WoW 20 medals, how many dead children does that represent ?
Not to worry Obama has insured increasing unemployment, maintaining a large pool of crass USAan's willing to sell their souls to kill Muslims for a steady paycheck.
Go for it Glenn! You're on fire! Keep on pounding away. –(Jill Bains)
Oh my God, there might be a war if we end the war!
Guess what. If we don't end the war there will definitely be a war!
Same old story.
Interesting school of thought,
Is this where we have to "burn down the village in Vietnam, in order to save it?"
We're not leaving anyway. What?, are we just going to hand over all those oil wells that were one time supplying the equivalent of 8 percent of all US oil? Not a chance. We didn't build a billion dollar embassy on top of the Christian Soldier conquest city of Babylon just to hand it over.
Surrrrrrrrppppprrrrriiiiiisssseee!
We just got fooled again! (with apologies to The Who)
What other nation on the entire face of the planet would be so arrogant as to 'presume' that they could 'solve the problems of another nation', while they themselves were in such a miserable condition.
Only the USA.
How much longer the world is willing to tolerate the USA is only a matter of time---which with each new day and each new turn of events becomes shorter and shorter.
"If the USA were another nation the USA would invade the USA to keep the world safe; and they would be justified."
"If the USA were another nation the USA would invade the USA to keep the world safe; and they would be justified." –(NativeSon)
–Can't argue with your signature sign-off here, Son; it could not be more true. Global Capitalism, as an international system, prevents such dream logic from happening.
–(Jill Bains)
"A postponement [of Iraqi elections] would almost certainly affect the US President's pledge to end combat operations in Iraq by August 31st next year and to withdraw all US troops by the end of 2011."
Huh? Excuse me?
Since when does action or inaction by the Iraqi parliament - or by Iraqi election officials - magically trump the campaign promises and announced public policy decisions of the President of the United States? Since when is a delay (or outright reversal) of the Commander in Chief's troop withdrawal decision "almost certainly" going to happen, as if this result were somehow written into stone?
"'Our plan here [in occupied Iraq] will influence how they [in Washington] decide to implement what decision they make on Afghanistan' he [General Odierno] said of a possible second surge being debated by the White House."
A second surge inside Iraq? A John McCain-style surge in Afghanistan, patterned after the original Petraeus surge in Iraq? What the hell is this man talking about? We voted on this stateside, back in November 2008.
Odierno now joins McChrystal, Petraeus, Miller, Boykin, Hayden, and other top active duty soldiers (and career spies) as the Pentagon wades directly into the give and take of domestic US partisan politics. This is a genuine, ominous threat to accountable civilian control over military matters - yet another example of the deeply corrupting Bush/Cheney institutional legacy brought on by the global war on terror.
Bill from Saginaw
An excellent posting here Saginaw!
A cynic might say the Pentagon is actually micro-managing American politics to conceal the absolutely dominant role it ACTUALLY plays in all of American politics. "Civilian control over military matters" may in reality already be a fiction. For all 'practical' purposes, it already is.–(Jill Bains)
Consider the following please: These "Big Brass Boys" have arrived at the pinnacle of their careers. They are loathe to give it up. This underlies all decisions and reccomendations to their "Civilian Bosses". Please consider also what their job actually is. They are hired killers. In rather harsh terms, I believe this tells us much about their decisions and reccomendations.
Surge equals MIC masterbation.
Sooner or later standing armies turn on their own country.
Bullethead Odierno doesn't want to get out of Iraq any more than Stan The Man McChrystal wants to get out of Afghanistan. These two pee in a pod and pour it over Obama's head. Rest assured, the USA isn't getting out of either of those blighted countries which represent the last wheezing gasp of this idiotic empire.
Thank you, pls see my above reply to Jill Blains.
If President Urkel had any balls, he'd call this Odierno thug on the carpet and shut him up quick.
Of course, that's not what's going on here. If Odierno is talking to the press about postponing the re-deployment than either:
1. That is what Obama was planning and this is just the excuse; or
2. The brass has gotten utterly brazen about the extent to which they actually run the country and they no longer give a fuck about "appearances". And with a media too stupid and obsequious to ask the obvious question, "Excuse me but why the fuck are we getting a long term war policy statement from you General?", you really can't blame them for being brazen.
And BTW does anybody else notice how utterly transparent and flimsy this particular excuse is? We're staying an extra year or so because the Iraqi Parliament can't decide whether to put candidate names or party names on the ballot?
Does anybody else notice that the stupid intransigence of a handful of hack politicans in Iraq is actually a reason to LEAVE, not to STAY?
Why do Americans feel so "secure" when they are having their intelligence insulted like this? I used to think there was a bottom to the hole of stupidity in which we now find ourselves (furiously digging deeper), but now I believe PT Barnum was right; our capacity for self-delusion is essentially infinite.
"President Urkel"
. . . Perfect description!
We said we want democracy in Iraq, so let them have it.
On the question of whether US troops should stay in Iraq or leave, I say let the Iraqi people vote on it.
(While we're at it, let the American people vote on it too!)
Uncle Dave, is your comment why you are called "Old?"
'Voting' has nothing to do with it. Get real. –(Jill Bains)
Voting ------ Has a nice ring to it, when done honestly, whenever that happens.
"General Ray Odierno said that militant groups were likely to conduct a bloody campaign in the months ahead, as Iraqis prepare for national elections at the beginning of next year."
All the move reason to get the US Military the hell out of there...
Is General Odierno going to pick sides and select the new President?
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
The military -- as represented by the Odious one -- might as well invoke climate change for staying some more years in Iraq.
After all, there is now a seven year long tradition of bunk rationalizations for invading and occupying that country.
The cynicism of these people is unspeakable. Of course, if Obamination goes along with this pretext for not withdrawing the troops by 2010, he automatically becomes a partner in that cynicism.
Why does the Times print such unbelievable tripe? Withdraw all troops from Iraq?!!--when the US turns over those permanent mega bases emptied of all their personnel and equipment and closes Disney World Baghdad otherwise known as the US embassy then maybe.
Then all the Iraqis will have to deal with are the phalanx of intel and diplomatic moles infesting their country along with all their private contractor security muscle, along with overflights or surveilance from Gulf State bases, along with drone and cruise missle attacks from US naval units.
And then there is the not so tiny matter of regime change in Iran--The US military isn't going anywhere no matter what General Odorono (see: "The Who Sell Out" album cover) might say on his facebook page.
Poet
An exacting précis.
Nothing more need be said.
Calling the Times article "tripe" does not begin to describe its awfulness.
Not until the acrid smoke in the desert night is the smoldering ash of the odious "Green Zone."
Then and only then.–(Jill Bains)
Okay--I'll ask--why do all of Amfortas wound's words end with (Jill Baines)? If that is your real name why not use it--if not then why use it?--just curious.
Poet
Poet, I think this is Jill Bains; she has the exact same writing style as a Jill Bains I have read elsewhere. However,just like you, I would love to hear why she uses "Amfortas" instead of her own name.
Could be the same reason I use EKATON instead of Kent Shaw. I used to sign my name at the end of each comment. I actually tried to register my real name but CD wouldn't let me change it. I'll continue to sign as before. Now that I've changed ISP I'll give it another shot -- changing my CD ID to Kent Shaw, that is.
Kent
delete
Just spoke with an ex Halliburton Iraq contractor eager to go back, now to AfPak. He was getting 135 grand/yr when marines get 25. Marines don't complain though because they are getting taxpayer financed training for their next well paying job, mercenary contractor.
"It" is staying there and adding more troops to fight the people who fight it because it's there.
MIC hits the sweet spot of unending profit.
You know what I don't understand is why the elections would be disrupted, or violence increased if they know that it would prolong Amerikan occupation of their country. No matter what happened in the election, it could be overturned as soon as the troops left. I think that Amerika is behind the violence so that our troops and the occupation could continue indefinitely. Is that being paranoid, or in light of past actions, is it a rational conclusion?
A quite rational conclusion--- DQ
These comments are good. The Times warns Obama to do as he is told. The serpent shows a fang in it pages. The coup d'etat continues.
In addition, America has huge, profitable arms manufacturers as well as buccaneer forces of considerable size, like Haliburton sucking up the tax dollar. These 'forces' whisper assertively into the 'ruler's' ears 'Do it in your own style, Mr Commander in Chief, but remember, "it" is ours!' Most of us think Zimbabwe is a basket case. We think Iraq is in disarray. They are messier indeed but ultimately our equals, we are just much deeper and more stable in the pit.
The control exerted over us by our 'forces' is such that we can 'pound away' all we like. Writing is easy. It is only as effective as the people reading it, us and our mates (hello everybody!), and we are profoundly ineffective. The Pentagon smiles at these comments----nothing but thin wisps of smoke showing our positions in the undergrowth; easily eliminated fools who could not start a fire in gunpowder store. With opposition like us they can do as they wish and correctly claim it is the will of America, which let us face it is now an ignorant, depraved pit that such monstrous egos as Odierno ostentatiously wallow in using us as the compliant mud.
It was unkind to say 'Go home Yankee! Nobody needs you.' But now it must be said, 'Wake up Yankee!The world needs you.'
In any case the forces are feeding on us and if we do not wake up soon we will be fodder.
Invading Iraq was a deliberate act to get revenge against Saddam, take control of the people, their land, and the Oil beneath, by the GOP. They have no intentions to quit until they have completely conquered the Middle East, no matter what political party is president, and create ant catatrophe to keep the WARS going strong. Never underestimate what the GOP will do to stay in power. Wall Street and the GOP helped get Obama elected, and now he is expected to pay the piper. A Puppet,- just like Bush JR. with POPPY pulling the Strings.
peacekeepertwo: Those oil wells don't belong to US Corporations yet, thats why we are staying. The Oil companies aren't getting the sweet deals they work looking for.
Seems Uncle Sam is taking on the role of ancient Sparta - a completely militarised society hell-bent on dominating its neighbours.
I'm shocked. Totally shocked that this could happen to such a peaceful country. Oh wait, I'm thinking of somewhere else.
So there's going to be an uprising in a country with a long history of uprisings. Oh my!
Anyone with an ounce of common sense could have seen this coming but unfortunately most of the people who made the decision to go to Iraq have never met common sense.
Unless you are completely brainwashed and dumbed down you know we never had any intention of leaving Iraq unless the MIC had plenary control of Iraq. All they are doing is giving BO an excuse to renege on another campaign promise.