US Military Leadership Criticizes Bush Administration's Iraq War Leadership

The US military leadership has sounded a grave warning that the Iraq war has become a costly and unwinnable conflict, with three retired senior military officers accusing Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld of bungling the war and the Director of the National Intelligence Estimate suggesting that the war has fueled Islamist extremism. As the war continues with no end in sight, military officials are complaining about the strain on personnel, and the risk of forcing them to rely on the National Guard and reservists.

Key Takeaways:

• Three retired senior military officers, including Major General Paul Eaton, have accused Donald Rumsfeld of making "extraordinarily bad decisions" in Iraq, suggesting that he and his team should be replaced.
• The National Intelligence Estimate concluded that the Iraq war has fueled Islamist extremism worldwide, a finding echoed by the retired military officers.
• General Peter Schoomaker, the army chief, has refused to submit a budget plan for 2008, arguing that the military cannot continue operations in Iraq without additional funds.
• The war in Iraq is putting a severe strain on regular budgets, and Congress and the White House have cut several army spending requests over the past few months.
• General John Abizaid, America's top commander in the Middle East, has stated that there is little chance of a reduction in US forces in Iraq before next spring.
• The burden of the commitment is underlined by the recent extension of combat tours of 4,000 soldiers serving in the Ramadi area.

Statistics:

• The estimated cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 is $400 billion (£210 billion).
• The annual cost of the Iraq war is estimated to be $100 billion (£53 billion).
• The number of US troops in Iraq is estimated to be 140,000.
• 4,000 soldiers in the Ramadi area have had their tours extended.

Sources:

• The Los Angeles Times
• General Peter Schoomaker
• Major General Paul Eaton
• Thomas Hammes, a retired Marine Corps colonel
• Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute thinktank
• National Intelligence Estimate
• Guardian.co.uk/usa