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June 10, 2005

Peachy keen, Jellybean

While the rightwingers fiddle, Iraq burns:

The reconstruction of Iraq's security forces is the prerequisite for an American withdrawal from Iraq. But as the Bush administration extols the continuing progress of the new Iraqi army, the project in Baiji, a desolate oil town at a strategic crossroads in northern Iraq, demonstrates the immense challenges of building an army from scratch in the middle of a bloody insurgency.

Charlie Company disintegrated once after its commander was killed by a car bomb in December. And members of the unit were threatening to quit en masse this week over complaints that ranged from dismal living conditions to insurgent threats. Across a vast cultural divide, language is just one impediment. Young Iraqi soldiers, ill-equipped and drawn from a disenchanted Sunni Arab minority, say they are not even sure what they are fighting for. They complain bitterly that their American mentors don't respect them.

In fact, the Americans don't: Frustrated U.S. soldiers question the Iraqis' courage, discipline and dedication and wonder whether they will ever be able to fight on their own, much less reach the U.S. military's goal of operating independently by the fall.

"I know the party line. You know, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, five-star generals, four-star generals, President Bush, Donald Rumsfeld: The Iraqis will be ready in whatever time period," said 1st Lt. Kenrick Cato, 34, of Long Island, N.Y., the executive officer of McGovern's company, who sold his share in a database firm to join the military full time after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "But from the ground, I can say with certainty they won't be ready before I leave. And I know I'll be back in Iraq, probably in three or four years. And I don't think they'll be ready then."

God what a mess.

FYI to Lt. Cato...despite what they're telling you, we're never leaving Iraq. That was never the idea. They've got lots of crude and our government is run by oil executives and corporate shills.

Besides, didn't those DOD, US Army, four stars, five stars and Rummy tell you? We're building lotsa neato expensive bases in Iraq. This is the long haul, son.

You thought when you signed up after 9/11 that you were defending your country. Poor sap. You were duped. You signed up to go into Iraq and line the pockets of Republican campaign contributors.

Posted by Carla at June 10, 2005 12:04 PM