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Pace to clash with White House over Troop Cut

LA Times:

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to advise President Bush to reduce the U.S. force in Iraq next year by almost half, potentially creating a rift with top White House officials and other military commanders over the course of the war.

Administration and military officials say Marine Gen. Peter Pace is likely to convey concerns by the Joint Chiefs that keeping well in excess of 100,000 troops in Iraq through 2008 will severely strain the military. This assessment could collide with one being prepared by the U.S. commander in Iraq, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, calling for the U.S. to maintain higher troop levels for 2008 and beyond

Pace’s recommendations reflect the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who initially expressed private skepticism about the strategy ordered by Bush and directed by Petraeus, before publicly backing it….read on

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36 Comments
edgar's picture

They don't call him "Betray us" for nothing.

Russ Mason UK's picture

Thanks for killing another 3 British Servicemen in Afghanistan.

"Friendly Fire".

Cheers from the UK.

The Truth Hurts's picture

Why does Pace hate America?

dadams's picture

why bother waiting for the "Petraeus" report to be written by shit-for-brains' staff.
we all know what it will say and no matter how much any other general says about
pulling out any of the troops, shit-for-brains will not listen or act on their advise.

he is a bastard fascist-dictator. he wants to reduce and/or dismantle any health aid
for kids or low income families and now he is trying to take away deathrow prisoners'
rights to appeal. it's time this bastard was relieved of his office and authority,
IMPEACH.

getalife's picture

Russ Mason UK @ 2:

Thanks for killing another 3 British Servicemen in Afghanistan.

"Friendly Fire".

Cheers from the UK.

As an American, I am very sorry for your loss.

I read the Brtitish media because our media is pathetic.

Andy's picture

I feel a draft...

Blue Buddha's picture

The Truth Hurts @ 3:

Why does Pace hate America?

Because he puts military strategy before ideology.

getalife's picture

Ware on CNN is reporting there is not an Iraqi government and anybody that says there is are spinning or delusional.

Geez.

Ruthless People's picture

getalife @ 5:

Russ Mason UK @ 2:

Thanks for killing another 3 British Servicemen in Afghanistan.

"Friendly Fire".

Cheers from the UK.

As an American, I am very sorry for your loss.

I read the Brtitish media because our media is pathetic.

As an American I'm right there with you. I read the London Guardian. I barely even trust the New York Times, after the Times I don't trust any American publication to give all the unfiltered truth and the Washington Post has turned into a "kindler and gentler" version of the Washington Times.

Russ Mason UK's picture

Thanks for your response getalife.

No personal loss suffered by me.

It's just you americans continue to kill British Servicemen despite the fact we (The UK) are supposed to be your allies.

I don't blame you for watching the British Media. I, for some reason best known to no-one continue to watch Fox, courtesy of Rupert. (He has all the Football coverage, that's Soccer to you!).

getalife's picture

Ruthless People @ 9:

getalife @ 5:

Russ Mason UK @ 2:

Thanks for killing another 3 British Servicemen in Afghanistan.

"Friendly Fire".

Cheers from the UK.

As an American, I am very sorry for your loss.

I read the Brtitish media because our media is pathetic.

As an American I'm right there with you. I read the London Guardian. I barely even trust the New York Times, after the Times I don't trust any American publication to give all the unfiltered truth and the Washington Post has turned into a "kindler and gentler" version of the Washington Times.

Yes, I doubt very few Americans know what is going on in Basra. I read the Guardian, the Times, BBC and the Independent.

getalife's picture

Russ Mason UK @ 10:

Thanks for your response getalife.

No personal loss suffered by me.

It's just you americans continue to kill British Servicemen despite the fact we (The UK) are supposed to be your allies.

I don't blame you for watching the British Media. I, for some reason best known to no-one continue to watch Fox, courtesy of Rupert. (He has all the Football coverage, that's Soccer to you!).

Any word on when your country will withdraw in Basra?

Russ Mason UK's picture

I don't have any inside knowledge, I'm a "normal" citizen working, living etc....struggling....blah blah blah

I suspect the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown knows that if he's to get his own mandate he must withdraw FAST. The conservatives led by a Public Schoolboy David Cameron provide no alternative.

It's a real shame here in UK the Liberal Democrats have no chance of gaining an overall majority. Change is slow in the UK.....

getalife's picture

Russ Mason UK @ 13:

I don't have any inside knowledge, I'm a "normal" citizen working, living etc....struggling....blah blah blah

I suspect the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown knows that if he's to get his own mandate he must withdraw FAST. The conservatives led by a Public Schoolboy David Cameron provide no alternative.

It's a real shame here in UK the Liberal Democrats have no chance of gaining an overall majority. Change is slow in the UK.....

Thank for the response.

Our smart bombs are not very smart.

Change here is painfully slow because us dirty fucking hippies are fed up with our government.

Cheers.

Russ Mason UK's picture

Change is slow.... because you don't have a paper ballot!

If you had, the world would never have had to endure 2 terms of stolen Bush administration.

At least here in the UK.... well you know, back a Labour Win at the next Election.

It's a Certainty.

sconset's picture

Russ Mason UK: I am so sorry for what happened to the three Brits. I was watching the BBC early this morning when I heard.

I love Great Britain and have spent a good part of many of the past summers there. Keep your chin up--or as the Brits say: "keep your pecker up."

Bob Roberts's picture

Hey Russ,

Any chance we could trade you the American conservative party for the UK one?

rahm_emanuel_is_a_tool's picture

Russ Mason UK @ 10:

Thanks for your response getalife.

No personal loss suffered by me.

It's just you americans continue to kill British Servicemen despite the fact we (The UK) are supposed to be your allies.

I don't blame you for watching the British Media. I, for some reason best known to no-one continue to watch Fox, courtesy of Rupert. (He has all the Football coverage, that's Soccer to you!).

Don't feel too bad. We kill quite a few of our own also.

What the hell has happened to this country?

a guy's picture

Time for a new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Pace should polish up his resume...

getalife's picture

Russ Mason UK @ 15:

Change is slow.... because you don't have a paper ballot!

If you had, the world would never have had to endure 2 terms of stolen Bush administration.

At least here in the UK.... well you know, back a Labour Win at the next Election.

It's a Certainty.

Yes, our democracy is in trouble. They are trying to steal California electoral votes and the machines can be hacked with no paper trail. The Dems are caving on important votes and the Progressives have a lot of work ahead to replace them.

We know our government is corrupt with lobbyists but the Dems like the money too. It is a tough battle and doubt I will see change in my lifetime. The future generations will pay for their greed and wars.

mudshark's picture

Russ Mason UK @ 15:

Change is slow.... because you don't have a paper ballot!

If you had, the world would never have had to endure 2 terms of stolen Bush administration.

At least here in the UK.... well you know, back a Labour Win at the next Election.

It's a Certainty.

Nice to see that we aren't the only ones who feel that way.Just how many think that the elections were stolen....ball park figure?..........oh and hows the Celtic doing?

a guy's picture

getalife @ 20:

Russ Mason UK @ 15:

Change is slow.... because you don't have a paper ballot!

If you had, the world would never have had to endure 2 terms of stolen Bush administration.

At least here in the UK.... well you know, back a Labour Win at the next Election.

It's a Certainty.

Yes, our democracy is in trouble. They are trying to steal California electoral votes and the machines can be hacked with no paper trail. The Dems are caving on important votes and the Progressives have a lot of work ahead to replace them.

We know our government is corrupt with lobbyists but the Dems like the money too. It is a tough battle and doubt I will see change in my lifetime. The future generations will pay for their greed and wars.

Another stolen election and I'm gonna start looking for a job in Canada or the UK. Greatest country on earth my ass..

Paul's picture

Is Perfect Peter growing a set of balls? Fianlly?

Russ Mason UK's picture

Thanks for all the comments!

17, Bob Roberts - the answer to your question is....... NO FUCKING CHANCE!

To everyone else....thanks for talking to a "no-one" here in the UK. Remember we (the UK) are either 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 hours in front of you! So it's 2.45am saturday morning here!

It's Goodnight from a left of centre person who enjoys crooksandliars, newshounds, o'reillysucks etc etc, keep up the good fight.... only 20 months to go before the UK can welcome the USA back to the family of civilised nations!

BRING BACK BILL CLINTON. Clinton lied (about a consensual BJ).... but no-one died.

Thank you and Good Night.

Cowboy Bob in Austin's picture

What the Joint Chiefs should do is surround the White House and the Crawford compound with tanks... PERP-WALK everybody inside both into custody... and turn the workings of the government over to the Congress.

I can't believe that I'm actually saying that I would support a military coup.

What a SAD FUCKING STATE OF AFFAIRS.

Karl Bauer's picture

Pace dares defy God's Chosen Chimpanzee?

Send that Communist bastard a security letter and put him on a no-fly list, pronto!!

moondancer's picture

Really all he's doing is being pragmatic. His calling for the draw down is to protect an overworked and stretched thin arm services. The fact that it bloodies shrubs nose a little is just a small bonus. I dont think its ideological as much practical management.
Having said that, the whores of congress are treading on very thin ice. Both sides for the aisle are ignoring a pretty resolute America. It looks like they're all on board with dragging this out. That is most unfortunate. I really hope they are made to pay a dear price at the ballot box. I for one will do what I can to Insure that.

StirFry's picture

Well he's not working out. Next!

So the surge amounts to detaining every sunni arab in the Baghdad area until after September. Yeehaw, like rounding up cattle..

purpleOnion's picture

As long as military leaders have their self-respect Americans will be fine, but pay attention to the commanders who subjugate themselves to arrogant self-serving dregs of the earth who only give the appearance of propriety, but in reality are deceitful actors who imagine that they are above the people and the laws that serve as the foundation for the respect they have for their country. It is Americans' good fortune that love for the country can be based in knowledge rather than suffer imposed subservience and label it patriotism.

Americans are not afraid, they are not weak, and they are not all drooling over the prospect of having access to most of the taxpayers' money, and abuse the privilege as others have done. It would be a terrible mistake to become so cynical that the only alternative is to destroy one's competition on any level, while relying on the concept that we are all liars, frauds, thieves, and abusive in a matter-of-fact manner. As if people of good sense would choose leaders who are callous toward them, and see no reason to stop, since their victims acquiesce so quietly; there is no guilt in this, because they are convinced that if the roles were reversed, the victims would become the predators and do the same thing to them.

Cowboy Bob in Austin's picture

purpleOnion, VERY well said!

During these dark days of Spin Rooms and Idiotic Main Stream Journalism, one can take heart in the rare appearance of a statement displaying Common Sense or Clarity...

and they do come from both sides of the aisle.

purpleOnion's picture

From the new unabridged Conservative Lexicon

attorney = bought

capitalism = divine intervention

citizen = revolutionary

compassion = communism

conformity = fascism

conservative = business

democrat = enemy

Eastern meditation = godless

empirical/experimental = radical

enemy = terrorist

fairness = socialism

honesty = revolution

idealist = immature

insiders = agreement

non-comformity = anarchy

non-judgmental = atheist

privacy = domestic spying

realist = manipulation

religion = control

romantic = whore

secular = anti-Christ

terrorist = arbitrary

purpleOnion's picture

I forgot one:

economy = war

Karl Bauer's picture

purpleOnion, you forgot a few more:

down=up
black=white
2+2=5

and, there are no craters on the moon

StCyrlyMe's picture

You are crazy as hell if you believe it and he will again be asking for more of our money until that time and I would not want to bet money against him getting it.

Marq's picture

Pace is gonna clash with teh misadministration? *Pace*?!

Oh, I dunno. Why is it that I find that so hard to believe?

Yup.

smchris's picture

"What the Joint Chiefs should do is surround the White House and the Crawford compound with tanks… PERP-WALK everybody inside both into custody… and turn the workings of the government over to the Congress."

If there were a military coup right now, I would want to know the backgrounds of the people leading it and hear out their intentions before I got too upset. Some lower to mid-level judges and some mid- to high-level military are among the people in government standing above the rank-and-file who have acted honorably in the last few years.

Unfortunately, that includes Congress and that's a big problem. Even my perky and squeaky-clean new Democrat of a Senator, Amy Klobuchar, got hit with the stupid stick once inside the beltway and just voted for the FISA bill. Last politician I would have suspected. So a coup that handed Bush to Congress? I don't know. I'd go so far as to say a coup that took a couple years to see that the Congressmen who _enabled_ this White House to stomp on the constitution got their just rewards too. And one that took the time to roll back all the unconstitutional domestic justice legislation of this administration. Then hold publicly-funded campaigns with paper ballot elections and international observers to elect people pledged to uphold our constitution newly scrubbed clean of the fingerprints of these jackals.

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