Mullen: Drawdown Iraq troops

Posted: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:32 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Security

From NBC’s Courtney Kube

"No amount of troops in no amount of time will make much of a difference," in Iraq, according to the nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, without progress on the political front from the Iraqi government.

Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing, Admiral Mike Mullen just said that the U.S. must plan for the eventual drawdown of U.S. troops in Iraq and the turnover of security responsibility there to the Iraqis.

Mullen said that he believes that the surge is helping commanders on the ground, and that "security is better, not great, but better" because of the surge. He said that security is critical, but there has not been much political progress in Iraq.

Mullen said that he understands Americans' frustration about the war, adding, "I share it," and that the U.S. "must consider our next moves very carefully."

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Comments

<<No amount of troop in no amount of time will make much of a difference in Iraq>> DUH! Thanks Admiral Mullen's for making the statement....hope you still have the job considering the Shrub record with anyone who doesn't stay within the approve talking points. Furthermore, see what happens with Patreus, considering Maliki wants him out.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:45 AM)

As much as I don't want to leave a people to slaughter, it sure is hard to find much hope in this. Here we are in the middle of a surge of troops to bring better security to the Bagdad area so politics can go forward. And they go on break. If they don't have a sense of urgancy about this, how are we suppose to? Obviously the neighbors in the area have a wait and see attitude. Condi Rice & Gates can't even bribe them with money & weapons.

RH Oregon (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:47 AM)

"No amount of troops in no amount of time will make much of a difference," in Iraq,

"No amount of troops in no amount of time will make much of a difference," in Iraq,

"No amount of troops in no amount of time will make much of a difference," in Iraq,

Bush's incompetence, cronyism and arrogance have LOST the Bush/Clinton Iraq Fiasco !!

Sierra, San Francisco (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:53 AM)

This guy doesn't sound like a Bush nominee. Where did he come from?

Gene,Mead,Wash (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:55 AM)

Brian Williams is really showing his leftist attitude. I don't care if he listens to RUSH or not..all you have to do is see the reporting, such as last nights good news on Iraq, reported on the other networks, but ignored by the Stalinist Williams...I am going to watch Charley every night from now on...I hope your ratings sink to 0.

Kevin Farmer, Duluth, MN (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:59 AM)

What political solution is there to make Iraq work? The only one out there that has any promise is the Soft partition plan offered by Biden. We need to support Biden and his leadership in foreign policy.

Scott, Wallingford (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:59 AM)

Give him tme .He will be staightened out and told what to say shortly.Like patraus say the surge is working .How ?He himself said in the book they like to say he wrote that it takes a 6-1 ratio ovr insurgents to win.He is lucky if he has a 2-1 in some areas .But come september he will be telling you more time ,money and lives and he can fix this thing right up.What is needed is repeated.

Ken"seen it all before vietnam"O (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:00 AM)

That first sentence is very sad indeed, especially with reports of all the Iraqi's in dire need of aid. What should we as a country do to help them?

Maureen (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:01 AM)

Admiral Mullen, I could not agree with you more. There has "not" been much political progress in Iraq. And "now" the Iraqi Parlement goes and takes a "1" one month vacation. This is ridiculious and outrageous! We need not wait until September, to make the decision to remove our troops from this cival war. The U.S. Congress should stay in special session and not take their August recess. Lives are at stake here, no mor delays !

John Q. Public (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:05 AM)

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:05 AM)

This admiral telling BushCo the truth (and pretty much ending his career), staunch Republican Bruce Fein demonstrating a traitorous respect for the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution - could it be a new day, America? Are there conservatives that realize Bush is a disaster (and a Constitutional criminal)and ready to stand up?

Lee in CA (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:09 AM)

If he's the Bush administration nominee, then my BS flag is up. Chances are he's telling "us" what "we want to hear" to get confirmed, then hit the company line right after. 43 is on a self-imposed crash-course with armageddon, and it looks unlikely anyone from within is willing to stop it.

Cub (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:11 AM)

I see he will be a celebrated hero of the left already. Bush will debunk his nomination next week during the reccess. You cannot have a non team player with you regardless of what polls say. This man evidently and it shows has no ground combat experience. A JCS needs to have boots on the ground experience to run that office. Those ground commanders will eat him up.

IntheMiddle, Texas (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:16 AM)

Yes! Yes! Stand up to thease Bush idiots.Write, call, or e-mail your elective officials and tell them exactly what you think. They work for us and if they don't ,lets kick their ass out of office !

John Q. Public (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:18 AM)

The clock is ticking on this guy now. How long will it be before he's replaced or makes a corrective statement realligning himself with Bush's strategy?

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:18 AM)

This guy obviously isn't right for the job. He needs to be able to regurgitate the administration's talking points at a moment's notice - not use "facts" to give intellectually honest assessments. I nominate Hannity.

Asad (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:22 AM)

PULL OUR TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ NOW !

John Q. Public (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:24 AM)

inthemiddletexas, as I have said before and it looks like someone else also thinks this way THE MILITARY CAN NOT REBUILD A COUNTRY POLITICALLY. It does not matter what party one belongs to, pure and simple. Since the dunce in chief has not done his job politically, it is time to get out.

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:29 AM)

A military man says there must be a political soultion in Iraq and we have to think about starting to remove troops? Be still my heart.

Desmond (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:32 AM)

That armchair pretty comfortable, IntheMiddle? When was the last time your boots were "on the ground"?The man is speaking the truth to an idiot emperor, and IS a hero. You simply hate our way of life.

No"middle"with you (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:32 AM)

Guess the old adage about a stopped clock is correct! Gotta say I agree with jerry's suggestion.

Siegfried, Central Illinois (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:37 AM)

And the rehabilitation of "cut and run" continues just in time for Bush to claim it as his idea and blame those pesky Iraqis for not stepping up to the plate and becoming "little America in the desert".
It sounds like this guy is greasing the skids for us to leave.
So why are we erecting a 21 building embassy that will sit on 104 acres, six times larger than the United Nations compound in New York and two-thirds the acreage of Washington’s National Mall?
So why are we building huge permanent military bases?
Are these the new corporate digs for our private mercenary armies (Blackwater, etc.) numbering now around 30,000? Imagine that. Corporate Armies.
No Congressional approval required.
No Congressional oversight allowed.
No accountability to anyone or anything except the wishes of the client.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:44 AM)

Boy these guys will say anything to get a confirmation!
And just who was it that nominated this guy?
Are we to believe he means what he says, and says what he means. HUH???
Congress needs to stay in session and figure this out.
We must not have the admin without adult supervision,
they tend to run amuck when they think no one is looking. Well seems they never give a dam if anyone is looking!

H P Boston (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:49 AM)

Gary Schear, I beleive part of the answer lies in what Bush himself said, "We are a nation addicted to oil."I'm quite sure the oild fields won't be allowed to fall into the "wrong hands."

Desmond (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:55 AM)

If the iraqi's are going to take a break, this would be a good time to move some of the troops out, to send a message to the goverment. Maybe after a few days, they will reconsider their vacation and come back.

Jerry, I take back what I've said and thought about you. So should some of the others who have bad mouthed you. You can make sence and come up with the right answer.

ANUTKRAKER, TX (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:55 AM)

This guy's gone! There went his military career. Bush and Cheney will abandon him like a bad habit.

dave, matteson, il (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:03 PM)

Bunch of people here choking on today's cherry pit. How about a link to a transcript? I'd like to see that remark in context.

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:04 PM)

No need to worry, I'll just take a 4-5 week vacation.

Iraqi Parlement (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:20 PM)

No need to worry, I'll just take a 4-5 week vacation.

U.S. Congress (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:23 PM)

Dam I'am worried !

U.S. soldier based in Iraq (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:24 PM)

Isn't moving some of our troops called "redeployment" jerry? Isn't that what the Democrats have been talking about for a very long time?

Desmond (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:52 PM)

Jerry makes as much SENCE..........
Go do your own homework DAVE TN.......

HOT DAM (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:57 PM)

The neocons will begin blaming the Iraqies for the lack of progress come September and conviently ignore the complete and utter failure, calamity and fiasco the Shrub's nation building has caused. Lets see! He has been a complete failure in all business ventures he has been involved in his life. Mom and Dad; need to once for all; not pail you out and take the keys away.

juan,ft lauderdale,fl (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:01 PM)

the generals you all keep hoping will appear and setr this right are the same guys who have been fighting this war from day one rumsfield ,tommy franks, abizid ,casey all the same .If you are interested on how we the us can lose a war check out col. hackworths book and you will see how the military keeps the generals happy.If a war is fought listening to the generals why not listen to the captains they are closer to the battle or sgt.s or better yet privates can tell you the situtation on the ground the best so wait until september and the privates in the army will tell you how the wars going
Im guessing if you left it up to them they would fight it differently or leave but not the same ole same ole

Ken :if i had a nickle...."O (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:33 PM)

Kevin Farmer [[Brian Williams is really showing his leftist attitude. I don't care if he listens to RUSH or not..all you have to do is see the reporting, such as last nights good news on Iraq, reported on the other networks, but ignored by the Stalinist ]]

If you're talking about O'Hanlon's happy talk, that guy was a cheerleader for Bush's catastrophic war before it began and an apologist for it ever since. He's written other happy-talk pieces over the past four years assuring us that victory was just around the corner:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-a-palermo/a-war-we-just-might-win_b_58423.html

I'm sure conditions are better in areas heavily occupied by US troops. But as soon as they leave an area, the usual mayhem generally starts up again. That's what's happened in the past and it's going to happen again. Once they've taken care of the Al Qaeda in Iraq types, the Sunni insurgents that have gotten weapons from US troops are going to use them on their Shiite neighbors -- if not the Americans who gave them their weapons in the first place.

Houston (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:37 PM)

No: The answer is, let's see, January 2007. New Years day of this year I was patrolling the streets of Samara while you were here spouting on the computer and getting drunk.Im not going to keep injecting my military credentials everyday. I have stated them numerous times. Evidently you are just a blog sniper. Go kick rocks.......

IntheMiddle, Texas (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:46 PM)

$ 200,000.00 A "MINUTE" WHILE THE IRAQI PARLEMENT ENJOYS THEIR 5 WEEK VACATION.

John Q. Public (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:54 PM)

Inthemiddle, We don't believe you are telling the truth when you say you've been to and fought in Iraq. Tell us your story to straighten this out.

F StLouis (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:56 PM)

On vacation, will return in 5 weeks. hold my mail.

John Q. Public (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:56 PM)

F StLouis: I wont explain to you. You are a rookie in here.

IntheMiddle, Texas (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:01 PM)

hey in the middle i" rode a tank and held a generals rank as the blitzcrieg raged and the bodies stank"how were you able to walk away from your brothers and not re up.Tommy franks syndrome?I guess you not one who was retained,Why dont cha join back up and let one guy or gal who dosent want to be there come home.Where in samarra were you I know a few guys....

ken"heard that one before:O (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:11 PM)

Kevin Farmer you should change your last name to McCarthy

CJ (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:28 PM)

Bush address to a military audience: The Iraqi goverment has decided to go on a recess in the midst of months political in-fighting and stagnation. All while our men are risking their lives on the ground, policing their streets. My message to the Iraqi's is...we're gonna send more troops! Maybe that will send'em a message that American patience is runnin' out. Look folks..we ain't leaving for atleast 3 years. The generals will construct some good news, Republicans will fold, half of the Democrats will wobble....Bush gets more time until the next Pres is sworn in.

CJ (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:37 PM)

gonzo-gate

z (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:38 PM)

NO no no no IN THE MUDDLE, you are the rookie.

F STLouise is a long time poster here.

H P Boston (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:38 PM)

Terry - thank you for your service to our country - is right. This is a situation in which there can only be a political solution. The talk radio hacks are now suddenly downplaying the need for a political solution since there are reports that July's death toll is the lowest to date therefore military progress is being made. Well, that's all good and fine - assuming that the reports are ACCURATE - but that still doesn't mean that the political situation is improving by any stretch. Bottom line: only the Iraqis can solve this crisis. It's time for the US military to exit Iraq. We've done our job.

M. Boley (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:41 PM)

I think IntheMiddle really is who he says he is. He's a proponent of the war..pretty much it. Some people are, some aren't. He's expressing his opinion. Sometimes abrasively.

CJ (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:43 PM)

Houston, bingo! Why is it that nobody can keep these things in context? This administration keeps taking "the part" and trying to make it "the whole." They tout advances in Bagdad, or advances in Ba'qubah or wherever as a sign the surge is working. However, the truth is, this pattern of stabilizing an area and then moving to the next area and losing the first is a pattern that has prevailed the entire duration of this so-called war on terror. These isolated victories mean nothing because 1) we don't have enough troops to capture the entire country and stabilize it, and 2) even if we did, the government we helped set up is not willing to keep--or capable of keeping--the country secure.

These people do what they do best and have been doing for thousands of years. They fight and kill to get the upper hand. Then they set up their new laws immediately, which are whatever laws they themselves decree, since they earned the right to rule. Then they stay until they are defeated by the next barbarian group. Quite simple, really.

So when do people start to see through the gigantic flaws in the way this administration thinks about and is trying to sell their successes? These small victories, although valuable in some ways, are also momentary and fleeting in the big picture. They cannot and do not make a major and lasting difference for reasons discussed here ad infinitim.

What is really puzzling is that anybody with half a brain would keep falling for their foolish and transparent logic!

barbara anderson, Houston too (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:45 PM)

He'll get fired for not pulling the Bush line. It kind of makes you think that Bush’s recent colonoscopy may have been performed by a brain surgeon.

Florida (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:51 PM)

O'Hanlon and Pollack are frauds. They were backers of the surge before word leaked out that the Administration was considering it and have backed the war to at least 2003. I'm pleased that NBC chose not to report the story of these pretenders, nearly everyone else ran with it.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:52 PM)

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