We don't have an exit strategy - Rumsfeld

[Ali]

U.S. Has No Exit Strategy for Iraq, Rumsfeld Says (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a8sZejFz9ssI&refer=top_world_news) ``We don't have an exit strategy, we have a victory strategy,'' Rumsfeld told soldiers during a surprise visit to Baghdad, according to a pooled broadcast report from the capital. ``The goal is to help the Iraqi Forces develop the skills and the capacity to provide their own security.'' and to make sure the oil goes into the right ships.

Don't expect your friends and relatives in service back anytime soon.

[ASsman]

Meh, their fault. There will be no grieving on this end.

And as far as an exit stradegy, leave quietly and try not to wake her up.

[yeahwho]

Hey! I thought we secured the WMD. WTF are we doing now? Going after BB guns?

[ASsman]

You heard the man, there is a victory stradegy. Which needs to be implemented.... meaning we haven't won.

[D_Raay]

The perpetuation of violence will continue with most Americans not realizing the significance and danger associated with installing permanent military bases in Iraq as we did in Saudi Arabia. "The war on terror" indeed.

[Whois]

Yes, we do...and it's already in motion (as per Rumpsfeltch's statement today):

1) Slowly reduce troop numbers as you gloss over the rising violence and tensions (the Kurds are still talking about forming their own country and Turkey is PISSED).

2) When troop levels are down to about 5000 quickly declare Victory/Democracy/whatever and leave a la South Vietnam in 1975.

3) Say "What a swell job we did..." and give out a bunch of Medals O'Freedumb.

p.s. Don't worry about bases, remember we still own Afganistanisland.

[SobaViolence]

the only reason to go to war is to be in a better position to fight another war. -Orwell.


US is heading to China.

[Schmeltz]

They wouldn't dare tangle with China. Iran I could believe, but there's simply no way they could hope to take China and get anything out of it. The Japanese tried it sixty years ago and got fucked, and that's what will happen to the next army foolish enough to break the second law of modern warfare.

[Freedom Toast]

They should have an essay contest. Everyone can submit their own exit plan and mail it Rumsfeld. The winner gets an all access tour of area 51.

[Space]

as long as we dont plant our flag their the peasants will be happy with us giving them money.

[Freedom Toast]

as long as we dont plant our flag their the peasants will be happy with us giving them money.


I think the only money we give them is when we drop a bomb and it destroys an entire neighborhood.

"Sorry about blowing up your house....here's the name of a guy you can talk to. You'll have to wait in line all day, fill out some paperwork...and a year later you'll see some money. Don't give me that attitude...you should be grateful I liberated your ass. You better hurry home so you don't break curfew. Or else our guys will round you up, beat and hood you....since nobody speaks Arabic they won't know what the fuck you're telling them....then they'll toss your ass straight into Abu Ghraib...oh wait...you don't have a home to go to! "

[Ali]

They wouldn't dare tangle with China. Iran I could believe, but there's simply no way they could hope to take China and get anything out of it. The Japanese tried it sixty years ago and got fucked, and that's what will happen to the next army foolish enough to break the second law of modern warfare.China will back Iran. (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/GC19Ad05.html) On October 28, China's oil major, the Sinopec Group, signed an agreement with Iran worth between $70 billion and $100 billion to develop the giant Yadavaran natural-gas field. China agreed to buy 250 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Iran over 25 years. It is the largest deal Iran has signed with a foreign country since 1996 and will include several other benefits, including China's assistance in building numerous ships to deliver the LNG to Chinese ports. Iran also committed itself to exporting 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day to China for 25 years at market prices.

Iran's oil minister, Bijan Zanganeh, on a visit to Beijing noted that Iran is China's biggest foreign oil supplier and said his country wants to be China's long-term business partner. He told China Business Weekly that Tehran would like to replace Japan with China as the biggest customer for its oil and gas. The reason is obvious: US pressure on Iran to give up its nuclear-power development program and the Bush administration's declared intention to take Iran to the UN Security Council for the imposition of sanctions (which a Chinese vote could veto). On November 6, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing paid a rare visit to Tehran. In meetings with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Li said that Beijing would indeed consider vetoing any US effort to sanction Iran at the Security Council. The US has also charged China with selling nuclear and missile technology to Iran.

China and Iran already did a record $4 billion worth of two-way business in 2003. Projects included China's building of the first stage of Tehran's Metro rail system and a contract to build a second link worth $836 million. China will be the top contender to build four other planned lines, including a 30-kilometer track to the airport. In February 2003, Chery Automobile Co, the eighth-largest auto maker in China, opened its first overseas production plant in Iran. Today, it manufactures 30,000 Chery cars annually in northeastern Iran. Beijing is also negotiating to construct a 386-kilometer pipeline from Iran to the northern Caspian Sea to connect with the long-distance Kazakhstan to Xinjiang pipeline that it began building last October. The Kazakh pipeline has a capacity to deliver 10 million tons of oil to China per year. Despite US bluster and belligerence, Iran is anything but isolated in today's world.