'I want an Army in 5 years time and 10 years time. Don't let's break it on this one'

[erik_kosberg]

It's one thing when a retired military officer appears on TV to suggest that troops be withdrawn from Iraq. When General Sir Richard Dannatt, chief of the British Army (the British equivalent of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), makes the argument publicly, it's a far bigger deal.

Is a similar sea change in the U.S. not that far away?

Some Senate Republicans will apparently give it one more month — not to see progress that won't come, but to announce their opposition to the president's policy after the midterm elections.

[drmomentum[$]]

While just over a month ago, Republicans were poking fun at Democrats' use of the word "redeployment" and re-casting it as "cut and run" already in the weekend shows over the last couple of weekends I've seen Republican MOCs who are running articulate opinions that are pretty much identical to what I heard Murtha and others recommending, and just as vague.

Democrats say "we need to redeploy"
Republicans say "you want to cut and run."
Democrats say "not cut and run, redeploy."
Republicans say "we need to redeploy, not cut and run"
Democrats say "did I stutter?"

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

General Dannatt was on BBC Radio this morning saying his quotes were taken out of context and he can't quite understand the media firestorm over something that he didn't really say.

[erik_kosberg]

"We don't want to be there another two, three, four, five years. We've got to think about this in terms of a reasonable length of time." -- General Sir Richard Dannatt

I suppose that he can backtrack now for political reasons if he wants to, but the context sure seems to be that he wants out of Iraq sooner rather than later.

[drmomentum[$]]

Maybe he was talking about a long vacation in Iraq he's planning with his family, not the war.

-JP

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

BBC NEWS | UK | Army chief defends Iraq comments

[erik_kosberg]

Defends rather than retracts. Oh sure, he's "clarified" his comments a bit.

And FWIW, "Soldiers salute General's comments on web forum"

[erik_kosberg]

Pick a spin, any spin.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Whatever. I was listening to audio, and the guy sounded genuinely taken aback by the way his interview was edited and spun. Maybe he was. Maybe he's a great actor and should be nominated for an Oscar next year. YMMV.

[erik_kosberg]

I suppose that it really doesn't matter what he thinks. Sure, folks like Dubya and Rummy talk about listening to their generals but in the final analysis staying or leaving is a political decision, not a military one. Blair is on his way out. I can't imagine that his successor will be in any mood to stay the course in Iraq.

[Stokes Pennwalt]

This is fascinating to me. I have a lot of respect for this guy; he's probably committing career suicide to make a statement that he believes to be right and in the best interest of his nation. Solid.