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Abizaid: Mideast wars may last 50 years »

Posted by: JamesMarcus 2 years ago
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It might take as long as half a century before U.S. troops can leave the volatile Middle East, according to retired Army Gen. John Abizaid. The rise of Sunni extremism, burgeoning Shiite extremism, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the world economy's dependency on Mideast oil will keep Americans in the Middle East for a long time, he said.

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JamesMarcus

James Marcus is a writer, translator, critic, and editor. He is the author of Amazonia: Five Years at the Epicenter of the Dot-Com Juggernaut and ...

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Comments: 175
  • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)joeblowe
    joeblowe
    Nov. 1, 2007, 12:48 p.m.

    OK. Here's a story at the top of the page with 6 - you can easily count 'em SIX votes. (as of the time I entered this) Who was it claimed that artices got to the top of the page based on VOTES? Clearly B.S. Although at least THIS article seems to have SOME merit.

    • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)joeblowe
      joeblowe
      Nov. 1, 2007, 12:52 p.m.

      "...it will take three to five years before Iraq's government is stable enough to operate on its own" - add that to the ... 3? 4? 6? years we've already done and we see that setting up a new government IS, in fact a time consuming and expensive proposition. I note that even this guy ALMOST admits that this is a war over oil.

      • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)djn3nunez3
        djn3nunez3
        Nov. 1, 2007, 12:58 p.m.

        "And it is absolutely essential that we in the United States of America figure out how, in the long run, to lessen our dependency on foreign energy."

        Gosh General, when did you figure that out?

        "In 1980, Carter and the Democratic Senate and House passed energy legislation that contained a credible and coherent strategy for reducing our dependence on imported oil."

        "..Reagan came into office and Republicans gained control of the Senate. They immediately tried to overturn all major energy legislation. That initiative failed. But the executive branch effectively dismantled virtually all renewable energy and energy efficiency programs."

        George vs. Jimmy on Energy

        http://www.alternet.org/environment/26208

        • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)engineer
          engineer
          Nov. 1, 2007, 1:12 p.m.

          Bush and Cheney an their henchmen have insured their wealth while killing the US. I M P E A C H___N O W ! ! !

          Thanks for the post James! I hope this is spread not just here but through all media

          • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)GWHayduke
            GWHayduke
            Nov. 1, 2007, 1:24 p.m.

            If one were to consider what is written in the article, it appears to be superficial common sense.

            However, we have to also consider how we will MAINTAIN that region without turning it into a beehive. That honey sure does taste good, but when you stick your hand in to get a taste, a suicide bomber might just blow it off.

            How many of us will want our sons & daughters to ship off to this region if we dont change our course of dictating policy?

            A very good read that should be considered more thoroughly by policy makers and strategy developers...obviously not the Dumby administration's forte.

            • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)aceofspades1
              aceofspades1
              Nov. 1, 2007, 1:45 p.m.

              50 years??? What's 50 years?? - the Middle East has been in turmoil for a few thousand years - did somebody just wakeup?

              But now add in oil,$$, egotism, mania, paranoia,power grab, RELIGION - -wait a minute it's always been about that,only oil has been added lately.

              50 YEARS? my arse

              • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)dandt1612
                dandt1612
                Nov. 1, 2007, 2:09 p.m.

                "Abizaid, who has dubbed the current conflict "The Long War," told The Associated Press in September it will take three to five years before Iraq's government is stable enough to operate on its own."

                If the you know what in the White House had not tried acting like a big shot, and wanting to avenge Daddy and hadn't tried to act like he was somebody who had half a brain we would not have to worry about Iraq being stable. We could have kept an eye on Insane and MAYBE handled things differently. Bush didn't even try to handle things correctly because he didn't have a clue.

                Three to five years? How are we suppose to keep paying for this mess? Our own country needs to be taken care of. It's been neglected for a while now.

                Just my opinion.

                • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)NelsonR
                  NelsonR
                  Nov. 1, 2007, 2:26 p.m.

                  Isolationism within our own hemisphere with fair trade with all nations is rational but most consider "Isolationism" a bad word. Indoctrination with propaganda has made most illiterate in what should be the future course for America. For you Nationalistic neo cons this does not mean surrender, if attacked we should bomb that nation back to the stone age but the policemen mentality of the world is like the brat in the schoolyard attempting to subvert others through intimidation.

                  Who are we to dictate to the Middle East or whatever other nation we have the necessity to meddle into.

                  We will continue to be at war with many nations until we understand, we neither have the right, the resources, the money nor the man power to fight our upper crust neo con wars.

                  • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)vor
                    vor
                    Nov. 1, 2007, 2:27 p.m.

                    By the PNAC plan we should already be far beyond Iraq. That was supposed to be the first and simplest part of the equation. It was to be the base of operation for this "total war" they are slobbering to fight for the next few decades. Just vanquish all of our potential rivals that are not practicing the American way. Of course this will eventually mean a confrontation with the Chinese and Russians.

                    This makes 50 years in Iraq seem a low estimate. Yet it has never been the neocon intention to leave the second largest known reserves on Earth now that we stand on that ground. Thus the permanent bases that have been constructed. What could be more in America's interests? That oil belongs to us, if not by heritage, by the grace of God. They could attempt to make a logical argument for their actions. When they tried this back in the 90's they were laughed out of the room. Now they hold the keys of power. The only thing that will stop them is political defeat.

                    • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)Rayman
                      Rayman
                      Nov. 1, 2007, 2:36 p.m.

                      Why didn't this retired military brass speak up while in service? I am fed-up with all these former US military personnel who served in Iraq and did not have the guts to stand-up to Bush & his warmonger groupies to make a STOP to this 'INSANE WAR'! Speaking up, giving interviews, and writing books after the fact is a 'coward' act that deserve shame and disgust. Everyone of these ex-military advisers to Bush's senseless Iraq war need to give up their medals, pensions and return to Iraq to rebuild that ravaged nation for free! How do you like them apples Generals???

                      • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)Brimstone33
                        Brimstone33
                        Nov. 1, 2007, 2:47 p.m.

                        WHY is this news? This is common sense. Yeah, there were some STUPID people who thought the US military would waltz into Iraq spreading American goodness at gunpoint, take a bow of false modesty after "fixing" the place, then leave to make room for Big Oil to mop up the spoils. But surely everyone of average intelligence MUST have seen that were making a decades-long commitment. Hell, GEN Schwarzkopf warned of this 12 YEARS BEFOREHAND. How are we going to pay for this, dandt1612? A little too late for that question. To correlate a third famously prophetic general: we broke it, now we gotta buy it.

                        • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)mesodude
                          mesodude
                          Nov. 1, 2007, 3:04 p.m.

                          "... but we shouldn't assume for even a minute that in the next 25 to 50 years the American military might be able to come home, relax and take it easy, because the strategic situation in the region doesn't seem to show that as being possible"

                          So then what should the American public "assume" Chimp and his handlers had in mind when they swore up and down to us that we only needed to pack enough clothes for a three-hour tour? Were they lying to us then or are they lying to us now? How many of this administration's forecasts have ultimately proven to be deadly inaccurate? Now we're to accept on blind faith that the Long Reaming of America (which was only supposed to cost us 50 billion bucks) must drag on for at least the next 50 years.

                          • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)jimdoze
                            jimdoze
                            Nov. 1, 2007, 6:19 p.m.

                            It might take as long as half a century before U.S. troops can leave...... Korea.

                            It might take as long as 45 years before U.S. troops can leave...... Europe.

                            "we shouldn't assume for even a minute that in the next 25 to 50 years the American military... the strategic situation in the region doesn't seem to show that as being possible"

                            This was true before we went into Iraq. Going in when we did forestalled something far, far nastier.

                            • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)rwrnae
                              rwrnae
                              Nov. 1, 2007, 6:30 p.m.

                              Just pull out and let them resume killing each other. After all they've been at it for thousands of years. Maybe with modern weapons they can finish the job.

                              • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)dunkirk
                                dunkirk
                                Nov. 1, 2007, 6:46 p.m.

                                Good thing its all being paid for by the Oil revenue otherwise we'd be really in a big pile of hurt.....Oh dang I forgot it ISNT being paid for by the oil revenue and we are in a big pile of hurt.

                                  • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)hempy2
                                    hempy2
                                    Nov. 1, 2007, 8:41 p.m.

                                    If we were to start growing hemp and using it for alternitive energy, we may beable to get out of much of this mess !!! The world needs HEMP !!!

                                    • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)markoller
                                      markoller
                                      Nov. 1, 2007, 10:01 p.m.

                                      Most Americans did not vote, and the only choices were two traitors, and minor party candidates, with no more chance of winning than a monkey has of typing Hamlet. I cast a protest vote for the Libertarian candidate, but I wouldn't want the dangerous crank to actually win.

                                      The only remedy is radical changes in our system of government. At least require minimal qualifications for public office, as well as a spotless criminal record, a security clearance and a psychiatric examination. Now, the only qualification is a sociopathic personality. Who else could tell the lies a politician has to tell to be elected?

                                      • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)softwaremisc
                                        softwaremisc
                                        Nov. 1, 2007, 11:22 p.m.

                                        George Orwell described the process very well in 1984...Big Brother needs continuing wars for the purpose of controlling the passions, emotions, votes, and allegiances of the masses...keep those in power, in power...continuing wars and inflamed passions and inflamed hatred for others was well-described by Orwell in 1984...been going on for thousands of years, and will continue...SADLY

                                        • Avg rating: (+0/-0 0)ETproductions
                                          ETproductions
                                          Nov. 2, 2007, 12:09 a.m.

                                          50 more years? Better bring back the draft then. And it looks like we need to make it apply to the State Department too. Senior Middle East staffers there know that Bush intends to bomb Iran before he leaves office, and that will bring a horde of the 75 million Iranians and their missiles into the battle, along with tons of additional Muslims who will increasingly believe Bin Laden's rhetoric since Bush does everything he can think of to make it look like we are Crusaders bent on turning the Middle East into our little oil empire.

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