Rumsfeld FINALLY apologizes for the war in Iraq!

[Ironside]

This is as close to an apology you'll get from the Bush Administration.
(Note the bold text)
Regret = Sorry


Rumsfeld: Troop return home delayed

Thursday, April 15, 2004 Posted: 6:21 PM EDT



BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- About 20,000 U.S. troops in Iraq will stay an extra 90 days to maintain combat strength amid battles that have killed 90 Americans this month, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Thursday.

The troops, about of quarter of whom are members of the Reserves and National Guard, were scheduled to return to the United States and Europe after a year in the country, Rumsfeld said.

The announcement came as U.S. and allied troops battled insurgents south and west of Baghdad and Army troops were poised to move against followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf.

Elsewhere, Marines battled Sunni fighters in Fallujah, west of the capital in the Sunni Triangle.

Rumsfeld said the recent uprising has been contained "because we have the extra troops there."

"Needless to say, we regret having to extend those individuals," he said.

"They had anticipated being in country ... something like up to 365 days. This will extend their time in Iraq somewhat," he said. "But the country is at war, and we need to do what is necessary to succeed."

Most of the soldiers being kept in Iraq are from the 1st Armored Division, based in Germany, and the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Polk, Louisiana, said Gen. Peter Pace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Some helicopter, engineering and supply units needed to support those units will be retained as well, he said.

After being taken out of their combat position, some of the troops could remain in the region for up to another 30 days, depending on how long it takes to get them home.

The Pentagon had planned to send those units home as replacements assumed their duties, leaving about 115,000 American troops in Iraq.

Their retention means the number of U.S. troops in Iraq would be about 137,000, Rumsfeld said.

If that level of force is needed after the additional 90 days, other units will be brought in to replace them, he said.

"We're engaged in a test of will. We will meet that test," he said. "A small band of terrorists are not going to be permitted to determine the fate of the 25 million Iraqi people."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/15/iraq.main/index.html

[JohnRN]

Rumsfeld said the recent uprising has been contained "because we have the extra troops there."

While this could be reasoned as Rumsfeld rethinking his 'viosions' about the military and how it ought to be this super-duper-lean-mean-fighting-machine and how we ought to bring that into reality, I fail to understand how :

"Needless to say, we regret having to extend those individuals," he said.

cosntrues Donald Rumsfeld FINALLY apologizing for the Iraq war ?

[kruser79]

I agree John. The regret is for having to extend soldiers beyond the time they were promised they would be returning to their home stations. It has absolutley nothing to do with being there as a whole.
One added point. On the part of the administration, it was pretty foolish to make a promise like that. You can never forecast a fluid situation like war.
On the part of troops on the ground? You want to believe your command when they tell you you're going to be going home by such-and-such a date. But you'd be ahead of the game to take the approach of "I'll believe anything......when I see it." Our lifestyle is fluid by nature, to think otherwise will only bring disappointment.

[Ironside]

"I regret" and "I'm sorry" are very close to the same. No?

Eh, maybe not.
Ok, (I concede) You got me...
ON THIS ONE!

[kruser79]

Oh hell no! You didn't just say that?! Lmao....

I agree, regret is almost the same as sorrow. Feeling regret is pretty dang close to being sorry. But he regretted having to extend the units for an estimated ninety days beyond the time they were supposed to redeploy, not for having sent them there.

"Needless to say, we regret having to extend those individuals," he said.

[Ironside]

Oh Hell Yes, I said that!

Good point. At least it's an apology.
I wish Bush could do that.

I am searching for a Ronald Reagan quote, from right after the Beirut barracks bombings. As soon as I find it, I will post it.