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Obama Iraq Strategy Challenged by Odierno
Taylor Marsh —
... Marc
Lynch speaks for me today:
The CFR/Brookings/Odierno "go slow" approach ignores the reality
of the new Status of Forces Agreement and the impending referendum this summer
-- which may well ...
The WonkLine: January 29, 2009
Wonk Room —
... Marc Lynch looks at “the institutional pushback against Obama’s attempt to change Iraq policy,” specifically Gen. Odierno’s moves to slow play the Iraq withdrawal.
Danger Room’s David Hambling looks at reports of civilian casualties in Gaza, and the various Israeli weapons which may have caused them.
Mexico’s biggest drug bosses may have declared a truce in Mexico’s deadly drug war, which has killed almost 7,000 people since January 2007. ...
Obama, Odierno, and Iraq
Matthew Yglesias —
... But even with regard to Iraq here, Odierno seems to me to be thinking too much in narrow operational terms. The “go slow” idea is that we should stay in Iraq in force through the elections, to maximize security and give us flexibility in terms of figuring out what to do down the road. The trouble with this perspective is that it fails to recognize that U.S. military policy is one of the important inputs into the Iraqi political process. As Marc Lynch says, going slow will poison the wells for the summer referendum on the Status of Forces Agreement, make the United ...
The Dangers of a Slow Roll
democracyarsenal.org —
Marc Lynch has a great piece outlining the dangers of the slow roll withdrawal strategy. The CFR/Brookings/Odierno "go slow" approach ignores the reality of the new Status of Forces Agreement and the impending referendum this summer -- which may well fail ...
NSN Daily Update 1/29/09
democracyarsenal.org —
See today's complete daily update, "A Stimulus Bill with Global Implications," here. What We’re Reading President Obama looks for agreement with the military on Iraq withdrawal plans. Marc Lynch responds to the stories of disagreement. A pro-democracy manifesto quietly spreads in China. Mexican drug bosses may have set a truce. Violence levels in Sinaloa have fallen by two-thirds since December. ...
Sack Odierno, Send A Message
Newshoggers.com —
... The military/VSP plan, however, is just the same old imperialist hubris re-packaged for a new administration. It ignores any Iraqi say in the matter and ignores any impact that arrogance might have on Iraqi stability in favor of yet more Friedman Units of occupation. Marc Lynch: ...
FP Jan 29
Abu Aardvark —
... Catching up on a few days worth of posts for email subscribers:
Obama: what you'll see is someone who's listening, in which I consider the significance of his al-Arabiya interview
Falllout from Obama's interview, in which I look back at the al-Arabiya chat
Gallup: Iraq matters most (if you don't count Israel), in which I note importance and oddity in latest report
Obama vs Odierno, in which I discuss the Generals comments quoted in the New York Times ...
Obama vs Odierno
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan —
Marc Lynch comments on the showdown and offers a smart and pragmatic solution of his own: A "down payment" of a public, significant drawdown in the early spring would send the correct signals to all relevant actors, while allowing plenty of time for commanders in the field to assess the impact and adjust accordingly. I hope that Obama is able to head off a battle with the military -- and the military, a battle with Obama -- by working together on such a strategy. ...
Sack Odierno, Send A Message
Crooks and Liars —
... The military/VSP plan, however, is just the same old imperialist hubris re-packaged for a new administration. It ignores any Iraqi say in the matter and ignores any impact that arrogance might have on Iraqi stability in favor of yet more Friedman Units of occupation. Marc Lynch: ...
Tell Me Now if You Want Me to Stay, It Don't Matter, 'Cause I'd Stay Here Anyway
Obsidian Wings —
... volatile north).
We also agree that the vested interests of empire will resist efforts made by Obama to disentangle our involvement in Iraq, yet Sullivan is remiss by failing to point out that Tom Ricks - whose words he excerpts to make his point - recently penned a book that is effusive in its praise of a couple of empire's champions (at least in this context:) General Odierno and General Petraeus.
Over the past several weeks, Odierno and Petraeus have been waging a rather unseemly media battle against the ...
Tell Me Now if You Want Me to Stay, It Don't Matter, 'Cause I'd Stay Here Anyway
Newshoggers.com —
... volatile north).
We also agree that the vested interests of empire will resist efforts made by Obama to disentangle our involvement in Iraq, yet Sullivan is remiss by failing to point out that Tom Ricks - whose words he excerpts to make his point - recently penned a book that is effusive in its praise of a couple of empire's champions (at least in this context:) General Odierno and General Petraeus.
Over the past several weeks, Odierno and Petraeus have been waging a rather unseemly media battle against the ...
Half A Withdrawal Is Better Than None
Newshoggers.com —
... gets something — thereby neutralizing rejectionism — and those who want to end the war get the lion’s share. Ironically, it’s wise counterinsurgency strategy.
Fair enough - and the 30,000 to 50,000 rebranded "non-combat troops" should be out by the end of 2011 too. But as Eric noted, "the vested interests of empire will resist efforts made by Obama to disentangle our involvement in Iraq".
Over the past several weeks, Odierno and Petraeus have been waging a rather unseemly media battle against the ...
