National Strategy For Victory In Iraq, Derailed
National Strategy For Victory In Iraq, Derailed
The Washington Post revealed this morning that “the Bush administration does not intend to seek any new funds for Iraq reconstruction.†While the article does a nice job of summarizing the continuing reconstruction challenges and the unmet promises made by President Bush, it fails to ask one key question: What does this new information mean for our strategy in Iraq?
The Post story neglected to mention Bush’s “National Strategy for Victory In Iraq,†which was released just one month ago. Recall, in that document, the White House stated that our “strategy for victory is clear.†It involved a three-track strategy: the political track, the security track, and the economic track. Here’s what the document said about the “economic trackâ€:
• The Economic Track involves setting the foundation for a sound and self-sustaining economy by helping the Iraqi government:
- Restore Iraq’s infrastructure to meet increasing demand and the needs of a growing economy;
- Reform Iraq’s economy, which in the past has been shaped by war, dictatorship, and sanctions, so that it can be self-sustaining in the future; and
- Build the capacity of Iraqi institutions to maintain infrastructure, rejoin the international economic community, and improve the general welfare of all Iraqis.
The Bush administration has seemingly decided to drop the economic track of its strategy all together, particularly if foreign donors and the fledgling Iraqi government do not pick up the tab for the “tens of billions of dollars of work yet to be done merely to bring reliable electricity, water and other services to Iraq’s 26 million people.†If the Bush administration is abandoning its own strategy, it appears to be embracing that of Rep. John Murtha.
Here’s the argument Murtha made for redeployment in Iraq: “Electricity and oil production are below pre-war levels… Despite the addition of MORE troops, MORE equipment and MORE money, Iraq and the region have become LESS stable over time… My plan calls for a more rapid turnover of Iraq to the Iraqi people.†Isn’t this exactly what the Bush team is now claiming to do? And if so, isn’t this an acknowledgment that their strategy for Iraq is failing, not succeeding?
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It’s all about credibility and the Bushies don’t have any left.
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:52 pmIsn’t their economy currently being shpaed by war?
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:53 pmIt’s all about credibility and the Bushies have nothing left.
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:53 pmWHO CARES. Screw Iraq. “Spreading Democracy” is not conservative. It does not decrease terror, either.
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:54 pmHappy new year to the world except America …Made they rot in hell the murdering bast__rds they all all
January 2nd, 2006 at 12:59 pmThe U.S. never intended to completely rebuild Iraq,†Brig. Gen. William McCoy, the Army Corps of Engineers commander overseeing the work, told reporters in a recent news conference. In an interview this past week, McCoy said: “This was just supposed to be a jump-start.â€
Someone just blinked – and it wasn’t the terrorists. I thought we would “pay any cost for Iraqi freedomâ€? The news is welcome, nonetheless. It signals the Bush administration’s acknowledgement that Americans no longer support his “legacyâ€, and that control of the House and Senate were always more important than Iraqi freedom.
Suck on that, you servile conservatives – he sold out the Iraqis for political gain (again) – but his quacking legacy is a fitting preamble to the republicans’ swan song. Abramoff is going to sink you guys anyway, no matter how much flip-flopping Bush does on Iraq.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:01 pmAnd the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – remember Bush 1’s “read my lips, no new taxesâ€? They lie about their real agenda, and you clods suck it up like it was cream style corn (which it really is, only you guys on the right are to tribalist to see it).
Tuesday will come to be known by historians as “Red Tuesday†for all of the conservative blood-letting Abramoff’s testimony will engender. And it couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch!
Happy new year to the world except America …Made they rot in hell the murdering bast__rds they all all ecept the 48% that voted Denocats and are aginst the war happy new year
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:02 pmBush is trying to save resources for the impending War on Iran.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:02 pmAccording to the State Dept. Weekly Status report,of the $20,977 million committed,$12,468 million has been disbursed.Of $4,314 million for electricity,$1,787 milliom has been disbursed. The budget categories have been adjusted downward in 2003 and 2004 to reflect a smaller # of projects due to increased security costs.
The budget request doesn’t have to have anything in it because there is still $8 billion to spend and there is always another Iraq supplement like the last 2 years.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:07 pmUnless you believe, as I do, that the real reason for the invasion and occupation of Iraq was to put a permanant American military presence in the midst of the oil fields. In that case the WORST thing that could happen to the Bush administration would be for the violence to calm down and the country to stabilize. If that were to happen, the newly elected Iraqi government would tell us to get our troops off their soil immediately. The only way we can keep them there is to make certain that the elected government feels their power is at risk if we withdraw…
mikey
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:07 pmand he will get his ass kicked by Iran ,,70 million people most under the age of 35 a mountainous terrain a decent army and air force …Makes me sick to think how you pick on a weak country (Iraq)that had ten years of santions most of the army shot to pieces before the war even started and a flat terrain ..You Murdered 100,000 civillians and destroyed the place …THINK YOUR GREAT EH your just COWARDS
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:08 pmGo into the antiques store, break priceless China, exit without as much as an “I am sorry for breaking this precious Ming vase”.
Next store: Iran. Where we will be greeted with flowers, smiles, and kisses… We know the rest of the plot.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:09 pm“Bush is trying to save resources for the impending War on Iran.”
And Syria/NKorea/Canada/Mexico. The guy is insane and must be impeached before he invades another country.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:09 pmYou have been asked to leave but your media and president IGNORE it
Iraq leaders demand pullout timetable
Monday 21 November 2005, 21:36 Makka Time, 18:36 GMT
The meeting in Cairo is sponsored by the Arab League
Iraqi leaders have put persistent differences to one side and agreed on their first joint statement, calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.
Christian, Shia, Sunni and Kurdish leaders also on Monday demanded the release of prisoners and a programme for rebuilding Iraq’s armed forces after talks in Cairo aimed at ending conflict between their communities and achieving national reconciliation.
At the end of the three-day meeting sponsored by the Cairo-based Arab League, the Iraqi leaders called for the withdrawal of US and British forces from Iraq by immediately setting a timetable for gradually rebuilding Iraq’s armed forces.
They condemned attacks on Iraqi civilians, government institutions and oil installations and called for the release of all detainees held without trial.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, who set up the meeting, read the final statement at a session delayed by last-minute differences over how to describe the fighting to drive out US troops and overthrow the government.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:13 pmI still have to wonder why we’re reconstructing stuff WE blew up to begin with…
The military is always bragging about the precision of its weaponry. So, why didn’t the Marines locate Saddam and one squadron of Naval fighter planes go in to take him out? Not like Iraq had an air force or anything. And all our planes are s-t-e-a-l-t-h (I dated a Nany pilot in my conservative years). We could have saved all those innocent people and billions of American tax dollars rebuilding what we blew up.
Just think what wonderful things we could be doing with an extra 6 billion per day… education, abolishing starvation and poverty, reforming our political campaigns, curing fatal diseases, stopping child abuse…
How does anyone defend this kind of barbaric megolomania that is going on in Iraq?
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:15 pmBush is not conservative. Spreading democracy is a social program. Everyone knows that. And now his reputation as a propagandist and Big Brother precede him.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:16 pmand he will get his ass kicked by Iran ,,70 million people most under the age of 35 a mountainous terrain a decent army and air force …Makes me sick to think how you pick on a weak country (Iraq)that had ten years of santions most of the army shot to pieces before the war even started and a flat terrain ..You Murdered 100,000 civillians and destroyed the place …THINK YOUR GREAT EH your just COWARDS
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:16 pmHappy new year to the world except America …Made they rot in hell the murdering bast__rds they all all
Comment by Bushes best friend — January 2, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
You really can’t be that ignorant can you? Especially considering where you post. I could understand if this were a neo con blog where people worship Peeping George and Dick-tator Cheney… but, uh… hello? You’re more inclined to wish Kim Jong Il a Happy New Year than a group of anti-Bushites just because of our geographic location? Brilliant. Just brilliant.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:19 pmyour country i tar you all with the same brush …..sort Bush out hes no good for anyone …..get out there and shoot that bastard
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:24 pmI don’t know how well,if at all,there is any administration of these comments but if the administrator doesn’t take some action with respect to #20, then there are no standards at all here.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:28 pmJust like Arbusto Oil and the Rangers baseball franchise, Bush has run Iraq into the ground…and is looking for someone else to bail him out.
You think maybe the Saudis/bin Ladens might have an interest in a slightly used dictatorship with lots of oil?
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:29 pmOr perhaps the Carlyle Group could be persuaded to buy Iraq for pennies on the drachma, liquidate the capital equipment and buildings, spin off the oil business to a front company in the Caymans, take a tax loss on the war damage…then fire all the Iraqi citizens and lock them out.
your country i tar you all with the same brush …..sort Bush out hes no good for anyone …..get out there and shoot that bastard
Comment by Bushes best friend — January 2, 2006 @ 1:24 pm
Guess you’ve never heard of due process? We don’t lynch people here anymore. Though if you’re so inclined to travel over here and have a shot at it yourself, so to speak, well…
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:32 pmBush was supposed to rebuild Iraq but the money got lost or stolen or well, you know these Haliburton guys. Oops.
OK then, maybe we should blow it up some more? I dunno?
Do we have any good targets in Canada?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1965182,00.html
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:32 pmLet’s just impeach him and his gang LEGALLY, by inforcing the laws we already have. Congress,GET TO WORK,the MAJORITY demands it. 2006, remove his ‘base’, stop his dictatorship,2008 finish the job. No man is above the law,you didn’t learn nixons lesson bush,and now you WILL be impeached.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:33 pmBushes best friend,
I’ll post some links for ya..You ol’ drunken Englishman,you..lol
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051123/from_cairo_hope.php
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051129/the_path_to_peace.php
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:37 pmAt what point, now perhaps, do we become paid advisors to the new REGIME? If their constition is valid can’t they just kick us out? Or is Lord Chalabi taking his new position to be closer to the new leadership. 8700 votes, no seat, but WAIT hey here you can have the Oil Ministries position , it just so happens the last guy quit yesterday. http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20051231-22422300-bc-iraq-oilministry.xml
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:38 pmThe new position reflects the administration total confusion and coming to grip with reality . To late much to late , for America’s good .
The absolute reality is we are facing CIVIL WAR .
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:39 pmThe new position reflects the administration total confusion and coming to grip with reality . To late much to late , for America’s good .
The absolute reality is we are facing CIVIL WAR .
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:39 pmBushes best friend …
The democrats believe in the American system… That system tries to make it so that violent overthrow is not needed. If Bush/Cheney were to try to not leave office here in a couple years then yah … we will need to use the second amendment for what it was intended…but as of right now if we follow the rules then Bush gets to continue on while investigations are used to try to bring him down.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:42 pmWe speak with astonishment at how the bush administration could abandon the people of Iraq, yet we should not even be remotely surprised. The bush gang has been failing the peoples of the United States since he and his gang took power. If you can name one single aspect of the lives of the American public that has improved during bush’s tenure then you are either part of the 1% elite that has received incredible tax relief, part of the war profiteering machine, or one of the wholly unqualified cronies anticipating a cherry political appointment.
If you remove from your vision the rose colored lenses that the bush gang has thrust in front of your eyes then the happenings in Iraq not only make perfect sense, but are entirely predictable. How many people have been screaming since day 1 that this is all about oil? Yet we have been inundated with professions from the administration about delivering democracy and freedom to the Iraqi people, laying waste to the despotism that controlled their lives, planting a seed of peace in the Middle East. All of these sound wonderful and would be wonderful if they were true. But anyone with an IQ of double digits or more could see from the onset that such was not the case. You do not destroy a village to save it, you destroy a village to conquer its territory.
So, as we now watch the hole-in-the-soul gang prepare to bail on the Iraqi people, feigning surprise is beneath us. It is not by coincidence that Chalabi has been placed in charge of Iraq’s oil resources, but it is a display of arrogance and indignation that we, as civilized people, would have thought impossible until last week. Yet we knew this was coming, all of this has been widely predicted by those “leftist loonies†and “conspiracy theorists†and “traitorous cowards†that the pundits so enjoy lambasting with their lies and falsehoods. But the fact remains, here we are.
I see us as being at a crucial fork in the road, not just in regard to our foreign policy regarding Iraq and the Middle East as a whole, but also regarding the collective soul of this once proud and great nation, the United States of America. One fork is the path of further exploitation, erosion of freedom and liberty, and vast and blatant corruption. The other path is one of revolt, preservation of dignity and honor, righteousness, and peace. Each path is difficult, but only one of the paths restores the foundation and soul of this nation and western civilization as a whole. Apathy will lead us down the path of exploitation, sacrifice and unity will lead us down the path dignity.
In the end, the issue is not whether bush should be supported. This is not a country of one man, or one party for that matter. What happens from this point forward determines whether we, the people, succeed and carry forward the torch of freedom of liberty that generations have fought and died for. Or do we surrender ourselves with the excuse that it was all beyond our power in the first place, accepting that we dropped the baton, placating ourselves with our iPods and DVDs?
One would be hard pressed to identify a time in our history, save the revolution itself, when liberty, freedom, and justice were making a more desperate call for help. Do we answer the call, or do we surrender under the false guise of patriotism?
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:42 pmFly-man,
Bahr Uloom did not quit. He was put on leave when he complained about the fact that gas prices in Iraq were just raised by 900%.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:43 pmThe Republicans have stolen another idea from the Democrats. We have to do something about this. It’s how they get away with saying the Democrats have no new ideas. They steal all the Democrats ideas, pass them off as their own and criticize the Democrats for having nothing left to offer.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:50 pmI think we must consider the huge ramifications if Impeachment becomes hysterical. I don’t see this bunch, even with Tom Delay wounded, doing anything but becoming brutaly united to keep him from being removed. The American people do not have a clue what he says we are fighting they just agree with his manner. Spending billions on adventure should have a price tag and receipts to follow. AUDIT the administrations execution of the war, and ask where did it all go. They didn’t have a plan so they didn’t have to worry about what it would cost outside of the DOD. Nor did it matter. We have had our taxes spent, show us what we have to show for it.
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:51 pmThanks Spudge, I googled Chalabi, found the article, but the head line was from something I heard earlier. All is good, correction acknowledged. Roger That. And now this being the elastic vehicle of opinion that it is, I will wager you Bahr Uloom won’t want his job back. I wonder if the administration buys any google? Sorta like Judy Miller cont. Instead of Cheney quoting his own idea as news in the NY Times, they just by link placement from Google. Maybe?
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:58 pm26 by RRD thanks for that post ….PS I dont drink only smoke dope and Im not English
Drink was a weapon used by the Nazi’s prison guards in the jewish concentration camps ….make the guards drunk and then violence will accure without any feeling of guilt.
Drink should be banned to a lot of people including politicians maybe just thats why 22% of your population still think that there was WMD in Iraq..there so blootered they just go anlong with bush
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:58 pmOutstanding Optimist !
January 2nd, 2006 at 1:58 pm#6 – Happy new year to the world except America …Made they rot in hell the murdering bast__rds they all all
Comment by Bushes best friend – Craig Murray
****Dear Craig – Well even though you’re the sniveling sort – HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!!! Although with an attitude like yours, you sound like a miserable, envious, trite little man. Remember the lasting mantra of the Left – “Guilt is good!!!” I’m sure you continue to mourn the “poor” Germans killed trying to decimate your tiny island.
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:00 pmIts not Criag its just a link to his website My names not Craig here ill take the link of for you……mighty aphrodite is a republican everybody ..
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:15 pmI agree #4…. this just means “one down, two to go”. We shouldn’t be there at all, so to drop the plan of helping the economy is one step in the right direction. Now, if we just left all together, we could get moving in the right driection again finally.
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:18 pmmighty aphrodite,
Happy New Year. Here, once again we agree. I think Bushes best friend goes a little too far with his “shoot that bastard” comment. You know I hate Bush’s guts, but shooting him is called assassination and is illegal. We don’t want laws broken to get our way. Just like I hate seeing a fight break out in a football game. It is unnecessary.
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:21 pmOptimist,not asking for a budget item shouldn’t be confused with “abandoning” the Iraqi people. The reconstruction projects continue with the funds previously budgeted but as yet unspent. That amount is roughly $8 billion. The State Dept has a Weekly Report that details committed,allocated and disbursed funds (among other things).
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:37 pmSince the invasion, the # of projects planned has been steadily reduced because of the need to shift $ to security. The Special Inspector General in Iraq (www.sigir.mil) has filed quarterly reports since 4/03;the Pentagon files a quarterly report as does State.
More info on reconstruction projects and the difficulties can be found at the USAID and the GAO.
WaPo is reguguitating this info which has been around for months. The only new item is an absent budget item.
#6 – Happy new year to the world except America …Made they rot in hell the murdering bast__rds they all all
Comment by Bushes best friend – Craig Murray
****Dear Craig – Well even though you’re the sniveling sort – HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!!! Although with an attitude like yours, you sound like a miserable, envious, trite little man. Remember the lasting mantra of the Left – “Guilt is good!!!†I’m sure you continue to mourn the “poor†Germans killed trying to decimate your tiny island.
Comment by mighty aphrodite
mighty aphrodite is a euphemism for a sociopathic twit.
Aphrodite, in many of the myths involving her, is characterized as vain, ill-tempered and easily offended. Though she is one of the few gods of the Greek Pantheon to be actually married, she is frequently unfaithful to her husband. Hephaestus, of course, is one of the most even-tempered of the Hellenic deities; Aphrodite seems to prefer Ares, the volatile god of war. In Homer’s Iliad she surges into battle to save her son, but abandons him (in fact, drops him as she flies through the air) when she herself is hurt (Ares does much the same thing). And she is the original cause of the Trojan War itself: not only did she start the whole affair by offering Helen of Troy to Paris, but the abduction was accomplished when Paris, seeing Helen for the first time, was inflamed with desire to have her—which is Aphrodite’s realm. Her domain may involve love, but it does not involve romance; rather, it tends more towards lust, the human irrational longing.
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:42 pmTJM,
Interesting choice of technicality to obfuscate reality. If I understand you correctly, the unspent portion of the rebuilding budget and the ongoing filing of “reports†means that everything is just peachy for the Iraqis.
So that electricity problem is null and void because we have a report that electricity can, in fact, operate consistently and reliably if managed correctly. All those whining Iraqis need to just accept that one day, theoretically, they will have reliable electricity.
Oh, and that sewage problem? Well, we have a report that if you close your eyes, put a mask on, and don’t walk the streets that the sewage is flowing through, you should not encounter any sewage at all.
And then there’s the report about how all those Iraqis waiting in lines for hours to get fuel for their vehicles are reaping the unexpected benefit of quality “me†time. Additionally, readership of the propaganda newspapers is on the rise because what else are you supposed to do while waiting in those lines.
You see, TJM, you are not only wearing the pair of rose colored glasses that bush sent you, but you opted for the pink earmuffs that cheney endorses. I challenge you to name a single truth about how interests of the people of Iraq have been placed above their oil resources. Sincerely, I would be interested in hearing that argument.
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:55 pmWithdrawal Of Occupation Forces
The final communiqué has not been formally released, but linguists at Al Hayat, the Arab-language newspaper in London, have translated this key passage into English:
We demand the withdrawal of foreign forces in accordance with a timetable, and the establishment of a national and immediate program for rebuilding the armed forces…that will allow them to guard Iraq’s borders and to get control of the security situation…
It is no accident that pride of place is given to the demand for withdrawal and that rebuilding the armed forces comes second. The Bush administration insists it must be the other way around; i.e., that rebuilding the Iraqi army is precondition for withdrawal.
Also of note was the conference decision to differentiate terrorism sharply from “legitimate†resistance and to avoid condemning violence against occupation troops:
Though resistance is a legitimate right for all people, terrorism does not represent resistance. Therefore, we condemn terrorism and acts of violence, killing and kidnapping targeting Iraqi citizens and humanitarian, civil, government institutions, national resources and houses of worship.
For good measure, the final communiqué also demanded “an immediate end to arbitrary raids and arrests without a documented judicial order,†release of all “innocent detainees†and investigation of “allegations of torture of prisoners.â€
The communiqué’s feisty tone was facilitated by the conspicuous and unexplained absence of U.S. representatives. By shunning the conference, administration officials missed the beginning of a process that has within it the seeds of real progress toward peace. In addition to more than 100 Shia, Sunni and Kurdish participants, the conference was attended by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran—but no U.S. officials. The gathering was strongly supported not only by the Arab League but also by the U.N., EU and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Thanks RDD…what else can i say..
January 2nd, 2006 at 2:58 pmEgypt, now there is a democracy that works for it’s people. I guess the President was correct when he said we needed a regime change in Iraq. What Democracies on the planet are Regimes? Do we have a regime? Or is it better put, are we part of a regime?
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:07 pmIs Al-Qualude a regime? Help please.
One of the faults with American journalism today – and I use that term loosely – is that when they DO report a story, they fail to put it in the proper perspective, or reference point for the reader. Most people don’t have the time nor the desire to become news junkies, and when you add that to the short attention span of the public, the basic message is lost.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:13 pmToday we learn that Bush is following his hallmark course of action — run the project into the ground, look for help to get bailed out, and if that fails, just save yourself.
I, for one, want the troops to come home ASAP. I wish the bleeding of American soldiers, as well as the bleeding of American dollars, in Iraq to stop now. This is a war we cannot afford in military terms, nor in economic terms.
But, we have destroyed the country. After three years, they still don’t have pre-war services re-established. Bush can chalk up another massive failure in his book of life. This one, however, has cost everyone far more than his “What, me worry?” previous failures. He should be tried as a criminal.
Wow,Optimist,that’s some set of inferences you drew there. All of them incorrect as usual. The links to the reports were to allow you to see just how bad things are and have been over the last 34 months, but I suppose having facts to go with your positions is too much to expect.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:13 pmIt’s probably best that you remain ignorant of how the federal government works since you seem to be innumerate anyway. As is true of so many here, you seem to believe that you can readily identify in just a few sentences where a person stands on an issue.
I can see,though,why you would want to avoid a discussion of something you can’t understand.
So I was thinking,
Couldn’t this bailing out on the Iraqi’s be considered
“cutting and running”?
Sounds like it to me.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:25 pmIRI is a name that strikes fear in the hearts of nervous sheep and vapid blow-up dolls everywhere.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:34 pm#43 Hahahahaha I’m sure he/she was unaware of the actual meaning and is merely referring to Woody Allen. Maybe he/she will run along and reinvent itself into yet another name. I hope so anyway, Aphro continually uses needless punctuation as if to scream “look at me.” It’s really asthetically unpleasing to the eye and shows of her/his wasteful type of attitude, however, easy to skip. Oy vey – republicans.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:39 pmTJM,
Excellent! I especially like the “innumerate” part. Of course, beings that my profession is in Finance and Accounting, please do not pass that little tidbit on to my employers. Lest they think that my business plans and financial models have been successful based purely on luck.
Now, I must admit to forming my response to you badly, and you were absolutely correct in calling me to the mat on it. I grow weary of those who point to reports and statistics that are clearly skewed and biased. I misread the point that I now believe that you were trying to make and I apologize for that.
However, I have a rather in-depth knowledge of how our federal government works, especially currently, which is why I am appalled at the apathetic and distanced attitude that we, as americans, take towards our foreign policy. We kill innocents over there for the false sense of security here. And our fiscal policy is purely one of exploitation. So when someone tells me to read a report from the government I tend to say “no thank you, I prefer not to read fiction penned by malcontents with dubious motives”.
So, TJM, you have my apologies for my rant delivered in haste. And that’s my three cents worth.
January 2nd, 2006 at 3:39 pmOptimist, you should read the Spec. Insp. Gen’l reports. they’re quite a critique of the operation in Iraq.
January 2nd, 2006 at 4:33 pmGeorge Bush doesn’t care about black people.
Or Iraqis.
-
January 2nd, 2006 at 4:56 pmI have built it. Will you come?
http://www.boycott-republicans.com
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:17 pmI think it would be a great idea if ThinkProgress can quote from the many flowery speeches Bush gave about how he was going to turn Iraq into a beautiful, shiny, brand new place after he was finished blowing the crap out of it.
January 2nd, 2006 at 5:36 pmI like reading posts that show just what a two faced liar Bush is. Posts that prove he is all “purty talk” and no action.
Bush capitalizes on the tiny attention span of most Americans.
The front page above the fold lead article in todays “Oregonian” newspaper is titled “Iraq on verge of Civil War”.
So… we brought to Iraq the _freedom_ and _democracy_ to wage war themselves. Good job, Bushy!
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:46 pmThe front page above the fold lead article in todays “Oregonian” newspaper is titled “Iraq on verge of Civil War”.
So… we brought to Iraq the _freedom_ and _democracy_ to wage war themselves. Good job, Bushy!
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:46 pmHenry Warcriminal Kissinger: “There IS no more Iraq. There will be three territories.” (early 2004)
In order to instigate civil war, the USPNAC generals:
• Had no plan for the occupation (violates UN charter).
• Illegally bombed out the water and electrical systems in the country (violates Geneva Conventions).
• Wrote no orders to protect Iraqi munitions from looting. Left all ammo dumps wide open, for months.
• Failed to guard any of the nine nuclear dumps, for a full month. Refused to allow the IAEA to re-inventory the cesium and strontium that was previously stored in Tuwaitha, the largest dump (violates numerous non-proliferation treaties).
• Failed to protect civilians from poisoning by yellowcake at those sites (violates Hague Conventions).
• Admit to releasing FOUR HUNDRED shoulder-fired missiles to hostiles (a crime against our soldiers and commercial airliners).
• Admit to releasing 280 TONS of high-explosives to hostiles (a crime against our soldiers and Iraqi civilians).
• Admit to releasing 650,000 pounds of ammunition to hostiles (a crime against our soldiers).
• Fired Iraqi Army, yet allowed them to keep their weapons (a crime against our soldiers).
• Failed to guard major cultural sites, including BURNING TO THE GROUND the Koran-Torah Repository (many cases, all violate Hague Conventions).
There are many more items on this list.
The Conyers’ Report documents FOURTEEN major criminal acts by the Bush Administration, and it leaves out a great many.
The policy in Iraqi is and was GENOCIDE.
As for Iran, invasion is not the policy. Massive bombing, using the fifteen new US airbases in Iraq, is the policy, (possibly including nuclear bombing after a falsified pretext).
Bush Must Resign.
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:55 pmFurther proof that Dubya is a loser.
He’s cutting and running, he’s in retreat and defeat.
Is there ANYBODY who still supports Chimpy?
January 2nd, 2006 at 6:55 pmWow, Tom, it must feel real good to delude yourself in that manner.
He isn’t retreating; his policy has been a STUNNING success.
USPNAC has never been in such a position to radically and permanently change the face of the earth and all our lives.
We don’t have time to pretend we’re winning because he LOOKS like he is losing. The only proof of his losing is HIM IN IRONS. Until that time, Mission Accomplished.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:01 pmTom, he is not cutting and running. He is simply exposing the real policy in FORMER Iraq — namely harsh colonial territorialization of refugee populations who can come beg hat in hand for a few pennies worth of rebuilding.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:05 pmSeems to me like bushy is trying the old diversionary trick again. The cocksucker will be in Chicago this Friday lying about the economy at a photo op at the Board Of Trade.
I’m hoping to spit in the bastards face. I’ve been saving snot since saturday.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:08 pmHey, Chimpy’’s not a cocksucker…anymore.
Laura chased that naughty Jeff Gannon out of the White House.
No more tighty whities overnighties for Jeffy and Chimpy.
She’s keeping an eye on the booze, too.
So don’t worry, our Chimp in Chief is safe from all temptations of the flesh.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:18 pmHey, Chimpy’’s not a cocksucker…anymore.
Comment by Tom3
Too bad we can’t say the same for you. Thanks for swallowing.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:31 pmDo you guys really want cocksucking chimp to be in charge of anything, let alone have the authority to launch anything he wants. If anything, I think he is Toonces.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:32 pmHey. #65, IRI:
Don’t be gross.
Don’t be an idiot.
Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.
Come back from the dark side……
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:40 pmSO then I-RIGHT-I admits that Bush was a cocksucker at one time.
January 2nd, 2006 at 7:50 pmSO then I-RIGHT-I admits that Bush was a cocksucker at one time.
Comment by SpudgeBoy — January 2, 2006 @ 7:50 pm
And he knows from personal experience… maybe IRI IS Jeff Gannon???
January 2nd, 2006 at 8:03 pmBushie is a failure at everything he does. He must be impeached immediately. He’s a moron and a pyschopath.
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:07 pmIRI, I think you should end all of your posts with “Thanks for swallowing.” great metaphor. You can’t impeach a cartoon. You can’t be outraged over the power he is abusing if you don’t respect it .Don’t make him an alien, make him accountable.
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:32 pmIs all this just an excuse for a cowardly cut-and-run?
January 2nd, 2006 at 9:50 pmGlad the insurgency is in its “last throes” or we’d be in real trouble.
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:31 pmGlad the insurgency is in its “last throes,” or Iraq would be in real trouble.
January 2nd, 2006 at 10:31 pmTo all the trolls on this board. Remember: you heard it here first from ME!!!!!!
Before long the US will be pumping money and weapons to the Iraqi Sunni muslims it is FIGHTING NOW so that it can act as a COUNTERWEIGHT to the Shite majority and its de-facto alliance with Iran. It will do this so that the Shite minority in Saudi Arabia doesn’t become uppity and dream of greater autonomy, all of which means that over 2,100 of your soldiers will have been killed, and thousands more mutilated, for NO GOOD reason. As a whole, you’re too ignorant about the rest of the world to intervene in a productive manner overseas. You just don’t have the IQ for it, and you must accept that as fact of life.
So stop attacking other countries. Spare a thought for the children of those soliders who will grow up not having a father or a mother. Apart from sexual abuse is there anything worse than that?
January 3rd, 2006 at 3:11 amyes there are things worse than death and thats slavery and being held for torture
The Later being the worst and PRACTISED by America and seems to be proud of it
January 3rd, 2006 at 6:38 amThere seems to be Big Heroin problems in the UK since America invaded Afghanistan ……Do you think its possible your could be swapping heroin for guns and distrubuting the heroin into European Cities via military aircraft from Afghanistan ….seems to me the case
This drug is no good for society as a whole and creates much problems THANK YOY BUSH …do you have no morals
January 3rd, 2006 at 6:43 amHOW can we expect Bush to care about the reconstruction of Iraq when he don’t even give a damn about NOLA?
January 3rd, 2006 at 10:48 amThere seems to be Big Heroin problems in the UK since America invaded Afghanistan ……Do you think its possible your could be swapping heroin for guns and distrubuting the heroin into European Cities via military aircraft from Afghanistan ….seems to me the case
Anything is possible….. but I have been to the UK and there has always been drug problems especially in London. I don’t see how heroin usage has gone up because the US invaded afghanistan. You forget the Brits being in there as well.
January 3rd, 2006 at 10:50 amJust like he did with the Dept of Homeland Security, Medicare Prescription Reform, and other “DEMOCRAT” ideas, Bush opposes the Murtha plan then he’ll turn around and steal it.
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:43 amall of which means that over 2,100 of your soldiers will have been killed, and thousands more mutilated, for NO GOOD reason.
Comment by Bad genepool
Bad genepool #75
TOO LATE!
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:45 amexercise caution when you de-plan
hey remember the bush administration’s National Strategy for Victory in Iraq? well, it looks like the bush administration has…
January 3rd, 2006 at 12:49 pmPoor progressive and proud….Would you explain just what it is about the “progressive” movement you are sooooo proud of? Could it be the ideal of economic equalization? Could it be the realization that no war is worth fighting and no society worth defending?? Could it be the disillusionment of the mediocre and the failure to attain success (however you define it for yourself)? Perhaps it is a tormented crave for the status as “victim”?
January 3rd, 2006 at 12:57 pmComment by I-RIGHT-I
January 3rd, 2006 at 5:17 pmhey i-right..are you a “top” or a “bottom”?
Why good boys shouldn’t marry Liberal Losers….
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-wife4jan04,0,7942434.story?coll=la-home-headlines&track=morenews
January 5th, 2006 at 9:25 amWhy good boys shouldn’t marry Liberal Losers….
http://www.latimes.com/ news/ local/ la-me-wife4jan04,0,7942434.story?coll=la-home-headlines&track=morenews
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — January 5, 2006 @ 9:25 am
San Diego is conservative.
The militray is conservative.
Breat augmenttation is conservative.
How did you pull liberal out of that? You’re just upset that the only woman you know who is both attractive and grounded thinks you’re a pervert and happens to be a liberal. Just trying to make yourself feel better.
January 5th, 2006 at 3:45 pmIf Jack Murtha has become the new George McGovern for them Dems, could we please run him prominently on the Dem National Ticket in ‘08…..please!!!!!!!!
January 6th, 2006 at 3:22 pm[...] Blog Name: Think Progress Article Title: National Strategy For Victory In Iraq, Derailed The Washington Post revealed this morning that ?the Bush administration does not intend to seek any new funds for Iraq reconstruction.? While the article does a nice job of summarizing the continuing reconstruction challenges and the unmet promises … [...]
February 20th, 2006 at 10:23 pm