Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: Xinhua
Byline: N/A
Date: 08 August 2006
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Echoing the harsh assessments of his
superiors, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said a civil war in that country
was "certainly possible," ABC Television reported Tuesday.
"When you have levels of sectarian violence the way they are, it (civil
war) certainly is possible," George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq,
told ABC Television during a recent interview.
He also acknowledged that there was no question that the sectarian
violence in Baghdad at present was the worst ever seen.
However, the general said he believed that "Iraqis are determined not to
go there (civil war)."
The Iraqis "are determined to prevent that, and they're taking what I
would say were the appropriate actions along with us and their security
forces to ensure that doesn't happen, " Casey added.
Last week, Peter Pace, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and
John Abizaid, commander of U.S. Central Command, told a Senate committee
that they believed a civil war was possible in Iraq and that it could not
be stopped by U.S. military might alone.
The general's comments reflected a dilemma for the Bush administration,
which is torn between the harsh reality in Iraq which requires more troops
in the country and a growing demand from Americans who want to bring their
troops back as soon as possible.
Byline: N/A
Date: 08 August 2006
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Echoing the harsh assessments of his
superiors, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said a civil war in that country
was "certainly possible," ABC Television reported Tuesday.
"When you have levels of sectarian violence the way they are, it (civil
war) certainly is possible," George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq,
told ABC Television during a recent interview.
He also acknowledged that there was no question that the sectarian
violence in Baghdad at present was the worst ever seen.
However, the general said he believed that "Iraqis are determined not to
go there (civil war)."
The Iraqis "are determined to prevent that, and they're taking what I
would say were the appropriate actions along with us and their security
forces to ensure that doesn't happen, " Casey added.
Last week, Peter Pace, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and
John Abizaid, commander of U.S. Central Command, told a Senate committee
that they believed a civil war was possible in Iraq and that it could not
be stopped by U.S. military might alone.
The general's comments reflected a dilemma for the Bush administration,
which is torn between the harsh reality in Iraq which requires more troops
in the country and a growing demand from Americans who want to bring their
troops back as soon as possible.
