http://apnews.myway.com//article/20070426/D8OOC9OO0.html

[lax] Politics - World (context) Of course we're making a difference, but listen 2007-04-26 14:28:18 to the troop's commander: WASHINGTON (AP) - Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said, "there is vastly more work to be done across the board. ... We are just getting started with the new effort." ... Asked how many troops he thought would have to remain in Iraq - and for how long - to finish the job, Petraeus said, "I wouldn't try to truly anticipate what level might be some years down the road." However, he noted historical precedents to long U.S. peacekeeping missions. "It is an endeavor that clearly is going to require enormous commitment and commitment over time, but beyond that time I don't want to get into try to postulate how many brigades or when we would start to do something," he said. "It is not a government of national unity. Rather, it is one comprised of political leaders from different parties that often default to narrow agendas and a zero-sum approach to legislation," the general said. ... Don't say you weren't warned.

[nyc] Politics - World (context) I love sentences that start with everyone should 2007-04-26 14:22:14 Remember: You can fool some of the people all of the time; You can fool all of the people some of the time; But you can't fool all the people all of the time. However, with sufficient help from the power elites, you CAN fool enough of the people enough of the time.

[sfo] Politics - World (context) Note the "we're just getting started" part 2007-04-26 12:54:17 after half a trillion dollars and 4 years of "mission accomplished", at last we're getting started. Finally! Whew! I thought this day would NEVER come!

[sfo] Politics - World (context) We might just win this war yet 2007-04-26 12:50:55 but God knows at what cost... WASHINGTON (AP) - Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Thursday that conditions in Iraq may get harder before they get easier and will require "an enormous commitment" over time by the United States. Speaking as the Senate debated veto-threatened legislation to start bringing home U.S. forces in October, Petraeus called the war there "the most complex and challenging I have ever seen." The four-star general, named by President Bush to oversee the recent buildup of American forces, cited some progress in the two months since the troop increase began. Still, he said, "there is vastly more work to be done across the board. ... We are just getting started with the new effort." ...his comments made it clear that his war plan did not include a significant reduction of U.S. forces anytime soon. "This effort may get harder before it gets easier," Petraeus told reporters at a Pentagon briefing, depicting the situation as "exceedingly complex and very tough." ... Asked how many troops he thought would have to remain in Iraq - and for how long - to finish the job, Petraeus said, "I wouldn't try to truly anticipate what level might be some years down the road." However, he noted historical precedents to long U.S. peacekeeping missions. "It is an endeavor that clearly is going to require enormous commitment and commitment over time, but beyond that time I don't want to get into try to postulate how many brigades or when we would start to do something," he said. Petraeus said matters were made worse by "exceedingly unhelpful activities by Iran and Syria, especially those by Iran." Petraeus also said that, while the fledgling Iraqi government is often billed as a unity government among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, it actually is not. "It is not a government of national unity. Rather, it is one comprised of political leaders from different parties that often default to narrow agendas and a zero-sum approach to legislation," the general said.

... How's that Stay & Pray strategy working for ya?