U.S. General Says Iraq Could Slide Into a Civil War

Now, even the leaders of the American military are beginning to break rank and say the unthinkable:

Asked by Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, whether Iraq risked falling into civil war, General Abizaid replied, “I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I’ve seen it, in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war.”

The harshest criticism of Mr. Rumsfeld and the administration’s war-fighting policy came from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, who said: “Yes, we hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios, but because of the administration’s strategic blunders and, frankly, the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy.

“Given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now?”

Mr. Rumsfeld responded with a trademark colloquialism. “My goodness,” he said.

“First of all, it’s true, there is sectarian conflict in Iraq, and there is a loss of life,” he said. “And it’s an unfortunate and tragic thing that that’s taking place. And it is true that there are people who are attempting to prevent that government from being successful. And they are the people who are blowing up buildings and killing innocent men, women and children, and taking off the heads of people on television. And the idea of their prevailing is unacceptable.”

The idea of them prevailing may very well be unacceptable, but it is nevertheless the reality on the ground. The neo-cons have, for three years now, demanded that everyone view Iraq through their fractured prism and see success where none exists.

General Pace appears to agree with Abizaid's conclusions. Indeed, when one listens to the language of the generals, it is obvious that things are spiralling out of all control.

Senator McCain: “You said there’s a possibility of the situation in Iraq evolving into civil war. Is that correct?”

General Pace: “I did say that, yes, sir.”

Senator McCain: “Did you anticipate this situation a year ago?”

General Pace: “No, sir.”

In the end the Generals concluded that, although possible, civil war - in their opinion - remained unlikely.

Well, that's just smashing news. Because the predictions of everyone associated with this administration have been so on the money to date that we can all relax and take their word for it.

"A year from now I'd be surprised if there's not some grand square in Baghdad that is named after President Bush."

Richard Perle.

“There’s a lot of money to pay for this that doesn’t have to be U.S. taxpayer money, and it starts with the assets of the Iraqi people…and on a rough recollection, the oil revenues of that country could bring between $50 and $100 billion over the course of the next two or three years…We’re dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon.”

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz

"My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators."

Vice President Dick Cheney, "Meet the Press," March 16, 2003

"Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties."

President Bush talking about the Iraq war to Pat Robertson.

And while they have been wrong on so many things, it would be unfair not to include a quotation where Donald Rumsfeld got it so right:

"Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war."

Amen, Donny. You keep telling it like it is.

UPDATE!

Here is Hillary Clinton giving the old dog a dressing down.

Tags: Iraq war, civil war, Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle,