why that was nice

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

They always get caught sooner or later //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

thats what i was ascared of.

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

Following is the full text of Donald Rumsfeld’s memo, which was leaked to the New York Times.

November 6 2006

SUBJECT: Iraq — Illustrative New Courses of Action

The situation in Iraq has been evolving, and US forces have adjusted, over time, from major combat operations to counter-terrorism, to counterinsurgency, to dealing with death squads and sectarian violence. In my view it is time for a major adjustment. Clearly, what US forces are currently doing in Iraq is not working well enough or fast enough. Following is a range of options:

ILLUSTRATIVE OPTIONS

Above the Line: (Many of these options could and, in a number of cases, should be done in combination with others)

Publicly announce a set of benchmarks agreed to by the Iraqi Government and the US — political, economic and security goals — to chart a path ahead for the Iraqi government and Iraqi people (to get them moving) and for the US public (to reassure them that progress can and is being made).

Significantly increase US trainers and embeds, and transfer more US equipment to Iraqi Security forces (ISF), to further accelerate their capabilities by re-focusing the assignment of some significant portion of the US troops currently in Iraq.

Initiate a reverse embeds program, like the Korean Katusas, by putting one or more Iraqi soldiers with every US and possibly Coalition squad, to improve our units’ language capabilities and cultural awareness and to give the Iraqis experience and training with professional US troops.

Aggressively beef up the Iraqi MOD and MOI, and other Iraqi ministries critical to the success of the ISF — the Iraqi Ministries of Finance, Planning, Health, Criminal Justice, Prisons, etc. — by reaching out to US military retirees and Reserve/National Guard volunteers (ie, give up on trying to get other USG Departments to do it.)

Conduct an accelerated draw-down of US bases. We have already reduced from 110 to 55 bases. Plan to get down to 10 to 15 bases by April 2007, and to 5 bases by July 2007.

 

Retain high-end SOF capability and necessary support structure to target al-Qaeda, death squads, and Iranians in Iraq, while drawing down all other Coalition forces, except those necessary to provide certain key enablers for the ISF.

Initiate an approach where US forces provide security only for those provinces or cities that openly request US help and that actively cooperate, with the stipulation being that unless they cooperate fully, US forces would leave their province.

Stop rewarding bad behaviour, as was done in Fallujah when they pushed in reconstruction funds, and start rewarding good behaviour. Put our reconstruction efforts in those parts of Iraq that are behaving, and invest and create havens of opportunity to reward them for their good behaviour. As the old saying goes, “If you want more of something, reward it; if you want less of something, penalize it.” No more reconstruction assistance in areas where there is violence.

Position substantial US forces near the Iranian and Syrian borders to reduce infiltration and, importantly, reduce Iranian influence on the Iraqi Government.

Withdraw US forces from vulnerable positions — cities, patrolling, etc. — and move US forces to a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) status, operating from within Iraq and Kuwait, to be available when Iraqi security forces need assistance.

Begin modest withdrawals of US and Coalition forces (start “taking our hand off the bicycle seat”), so Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country.

Provide money to key political and religious leaders (as Saddam Hussein did), to get them to help us get through this difficult period.

Initiate a massive program for unemployed youth. It would have to be run by US forces, since no other organization could do it.

Announce that whatever new approach the US decides on, the US is doing so on a trial basis. This will give us the ability to re-adjust and move to another course, if necessary, and therefore not “lose.”

Recast the US military mission and the US goals (how we talk about them) — go minimalist.

Below the line (less attractive options):

 

Continue on the current path.

 

Move a large fraction of all US Forces into Baghdad to attempt to control it.

 

Increase Brigade Combat Teams and U.S. forces in Iraq substantially.

Set a firm withdrawal date to leave. Declare that with Saddam gone and Iraq a sovereign nation, the Iraqi people can govern themselves. Tell Iran and Syria to stay out.

Assist in accelerating an aggressive federalism plan, moving towards three separate states — Sunni, Shia, and Kurd.

Try a Dayton-like process.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/942c5262-82fd-11db-a38a-0000779e2340.html

mhhh, he's starting to actually be realistic and make sense.. probably why he was fired //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

welcome to 2 days ago

 

[LeofromtheH 10+ year member]

interesting

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

welcome to 2 days ago

you must work at the ny times //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

 

[jjski78 10+ year member]

Sounds a lot like all the recently retired Generals who, now that they have their guaranteed pension, finally decided to speak up. Maybe these people should have said something when they were in a position to DO something about it.

 

[StealthKill 10+ year member]

Can always count on faulk for the news //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif.

 

[WhoSayWho? 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like everything is going to be okay now.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Well then.

nG

 

[AJ²06 5,000+ posts]

Begin modest withdrawals of US and Coalition forces (start “taking our hand off the bicycle seat”), so Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country.

FINA-FUCKIN-LY!!!

Even tho I doubt they will do it... anytime in the time frame they mentioned

Sounds a lot like all the recently retired Generals who, now that they have their guaranteed pension, finally decided to speak up. Maybe these people should have said something when they were in a position to DO something about it.

Exactly... maybe they have something up their butt during office impairing them from speaking their mind and being realistic!

I'm tellin ya!!

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

Might just be trying to protect his legacy. Now he can say, 'well i tried to do the right thing'.

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Indeed.

jP

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 — The president-elect of the Christian Coalition of America, which has long served as a model for activism for the religious right, has stepped down, saying the group resisted his efforts to broaden its agenda to include reducing poverty and fighting global warming.
The Rev. Joel C. Hunter, pastor of a Florida megachurch, was named the group’s president-elect in July. He was to have taken over the presidency in January from Roberta Combs, who is also the chairwoman of the Christian Coalition’s board. Mrs. Combs will continue in both positions now.

Over the last few years, Dr. Hunter, senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, Fla., has gained a reputation as an evangelical leader seeking to expand the agenda of conservative Christian activists from issues like abortion and same-*** marriage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/us/28pastor.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1165294800&en=8697874ddda49538&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

Thats great, he wants to try to fight poverty and help the less fortunate, but that isn't Christian enough for them...

oh yeah, i forgot Jesus was more concerned with fighting gay marriage than he was with helping people.

 

[WhoSayWho? 5,000+ posts]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/us/28pastor.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1165294800&en=8697874ddda49538&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin
oh yeah, i forgot Jesus was more concerned with fighting gay marriage than he was with helping people.

FYI, Mr. Smartypants, if you have gay marriages you will eventually have gay divorces. Divorces were meant to be between a man and a woman.

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

yeah i see the error in my thinking.

Jesus didn't give a shit about helping people, especially the poor, he only cared about keeping queers from getting married.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif he advocated violence as means to achieve his goals.