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‘The Reality Is Very Hard’
Were you surprised by Sadr's declaration of a ceasefire? Skeptical?
Sure. I think we've said repeatedly, "We're from Missouri, the Show Me State." But … if we could sit down across the table with insurgents who were shooting at us—like we did in the late spring and summer, [with] Sunni Arab insurgents—we figured we could at least give Jaish al-Mahdi a chance. Now, having said that, once an element or an individual violates that ceasefire, obviously they're criminals and they have to be dealt with by Iraqi or Coalition forces, or together, more likely.
Where do you see troop levels by the time U.S. elections roll around in November?
What we're doing right now is the analysis that will provide the basis for recommendations that the ambassador [Ryan Crocker] and I will take back in late March or early April. We've literally just begun that analysis. We're looking at three different scenarios. One is things get better; one is things stay about the same as we come down [in troop strength]; another is things get worse.
Have you considered becoming a vice presidential candidate?
I will say on the record … I really do not have any political aspirations. I have chosen to serve our country in uniform and I respect those who serve it in politics … They won't nominate me for anything anyway.
So you wouldn't consider a presidential run?
No.
You have a copy of the Aeneid in your bookshelf here. What are you reading now?
I just finished David Halberstam's book on Korea; I think it's titled "The Coldest Winter." I read Rick Atkinson's second book in his trilogy on World War II, which is terrific. He's a good buddy. He did the [trip] to Baghdad in the back of my Humvee. He learned about his second or third Pulitzer while we were out in a dust storm. I read "April 1865," and it's very good. And I read "Grant Takes Command," which was really quite instructive.
Some could compare you to Grant.
I'm not trying to get compared to anybody. Every situation is unique.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 11:04:47 AM
Comment: Your not alone, but I am sure that your daughter knows that she is fighting for a great and noble cause and you should be proud that she is defending a people who do not have a voice for themselves. He has much blood on his hand, Men, Women and Children alike. Please read my comment I have left above. We need more people in this world like your daughter who will not tolerate those who would take advantage of peoples ignorance and back it with consistant fear... I know how you may feel, my husband is in the army, my father and father in law are former marines, and yes I too was in the army... There cause is a noble one.
Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 10:57:49 AM
Comment: My husband will be joining you shortly...god bless and be safe...
Posted By: chrissik @ 01/23/2008 10:54:27 AM
Comment: nawawimohamad,
Albert Einstein once said:
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
If your town was in serious trouble, your children couldn't play outside, your mother was looked on as a second class citizen, your father or brother was imprisoned never to be heard again for speaking what everyone else was thinking... wouldn't you want help? wouldn't you hope someone who had more morals and values than the current leaders, would come and rescue you from that oppression? Your statement is narrow minded. Thank the heavens above we have someone to fight for people in the world who can not fight for themselves, for if not we wouldn't be any better than the ones who were doing the oppressing. If you sit and do nothing than you might as well condemn all those who would go and fight for their neighbors. They are making an effort to fight back... It is human nature for those who are uneducated to be followers, and beggars (I am currently commenting on your previous comment you left about the Iraq people being corrupt presents). The do not know what type of life they could have they have been fed propaganda on a platter of terror by a venomous dictator whom did many horrendous acts upon them. Please, educate your self and please by all means show some compassion.
???if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this but that you first make thieves and then punish them????
Thomas More ~Utopia