Think Progress

Hagel: United States “In More Trouble Today Than We’ve Ever Been” In Iraq

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) sounds the alarm on Iraq:

WOLF BLITZER: A lot of people around the world here in the United States warning of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and saying, ‘You know what, we heard the same warnings about Iraq and it’s now been proven the U.S. was wrong.’ How concerned are you that U.S. intelligence has it right right now, if they do have it right?

HAGEL: Well, intelligence is always imperfect. We understand that. It’s a mosaic of pieces, and it’s judgment, and how you use those pieces coming together with some judgment that then will result in a policy. I go back to the conversation we just had here, the three of us, over the last five minutes about Iran. We must be very careful what we’re doing here, because in my opinion, three years in Iraq, things haven’t gone the way the administration said and others said it was going to go. In fact, I think we’re in more trouble today than we’ve ever been in Iraq…

UPDATE: On the same program, former Iraqi prime minister, Ayad Allawi said he was worried that a civil war would errupt in Iraq:

BLITZER: One Iraqi Sunni leader the other day — of The National Dialogue Council said, The government is pushing hard toward a civil war. These actions are conducted by a government which cannot protect their people.

How worried are you, Dr. Allawi, about a civil war in Iraq?

ALLAWI: I am, in fact, worried. Sectarianism in Iraq and the absence of institutions do indicate that if persist, things will go in the wrong direction.




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40 Responses to “Hagel: United States “In More Trouble Today Than We’ve Ever Been” In Iraq”

  1. WaltTheMan Says:

    Iran wii be another "cakewalk". Just ask Rummy.


  2. Badmoodman Says:

    I can't wait to see resident cipher Gary Ruppert's latest permeating syllogism on why Hagel is being disingenuous.


  3. Jay Randal Says:

    Senator Hagel is probably the last sane Republican in the Senate > at least he admits the Iraq fiasco stinks! Karl Rove will have Hagel slimed for his unloyality to Dubya!


  4. Jay Randal Says:

    Being disloyal to King Bush is NOT tolerated in the GOP, so they will go after Hagel bigtime tomorrow!


  5. WaltTheMan Says:

    #2,
    Gary is a movie star! He played the main role in a movie released this weekend without a stuntman! Here's the trailer:
    http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/curiousgeorge.html


  6. Max-1 Says:

    CLOSE THAT DOOR

    WOULD YA???

    IT's GETTING DRAFTY


  7. Silly Little American Boy Says:

    Hagel did the right thing.
    Now, he must prepare for character assassination by Rove and Bush Co.
    How many people have been smeared by this administration so far...?


  8. Max-1 Says:

    What I hear Hagel saying is;

    We did screw it up in Iraq. The intel, the en mass shawk-n-awe and the long drawn out insurgency. Yea we got it wrong. So wrong that we're up to here(pionts to eyebrow) in poo-poo-doo-doo. WE NEED TO GET IRAN RIGHT.


  9. Max-1 Says:

    Comment by HOT! TIP!
    Ain't no poo-poo-doo-doo gonna touch that honest opinion with a ten foot yard stick. But a Bush will.

    I was just saying what I thought Hagel was trying to say. That he recognizes that our resources are thin already, and that this time, the plan needs to be solid. So much so, MacArthur would be proud. So much so Patton would applaud.


  10. Jay Randal Says:

    Iran is ZERO threat to the United States and only a minor nuisance to Israel, so to even consider attacking Iran is criminal and vulgar! Bush and Cheney want to ignite WWIII by bombing Iran, which will probably kill millions worldwide! I wonder what the Dubya lovers will say when tens of thousands are killed, or more, by Chinese nukes falling on U.S. because of Dubya's madness?


  11. Max-1 Says:

    Comment by HOT! TIP!

    The Kings of the Beast have laied in the bed of the devil.

    I know this.

    They have whored themselves out through their religions.

    Their deeds are done.

    Like Mohammed, the Lion if Islam,

    A beast has been let loose from Babylon across the land.

    Got any cartoons?


  12. Jay Randal Says:

    Yes HOT! TIP! > When Dubya bombs Iran it will be like stomping on a ant hill! The Iranians will flip out and attack our troops in Iraq with everything they have! The Syrians will also attack from the west, so I would not be surprised if 100,000 of our troops are slain in Iraq! Bush lovers will demand that Dubya nuke the entire population of Iran, so China which supports Iran will nuke us in retaliation!


  13. Gary Ruppert Says:

    Hagel has always been squishy about the War on Terror.


  14. TrueBlue Says:

    Hagel has always been squishy about the War on Terror.

    Comment by Gary Ruppert

    Thus starts the character assasination of an honest Republican....
    Gary, how 'bout a war on stupidity?


  15. Paul in Mexico Says:

    Hagel has it right and will be stoned in the public square starting at sun-up tomorrow.


  16. theroachman Says:

    http://tinyurl.com/7v24b

    http://tinyurl.com/bvo7e

    1 Billion dollars worth of Russian made weapons vs. depleted and overextended US military = US Defeat.


  17. Spudge_Boy Says:

    CNN
    February 12, 2006
    BREAKING NEWS

    Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a man during a hunting trip in Texas, The Associated Press reports.

    No link/info beyond this right now, just hit the front page.


  18. Badmoodman Says:

    Cheney needs to start hunting with George:

    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a man during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, his spokeswoman said Sunday.

    Harry Whittington, 78, was "alert and doing fine" after Cheney sprayed Whittington with shotgun pellets on Saturday at the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas, said property owner Katharine Armstrong.

    Armstrong said Cheney turned to shoot a bird and accidentally hit Whittington. She said Whittington was taken to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

    Cheney's spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, said the vice president was with Whittington, a lawyer from Austin, Texas, and his wife at the hospital on Sunday afternoon.


  19. Andy Says:

    Cheney shoots man on hunting trip in Texas
    Man wounded in accidental shooting said to be ‘alert and doing fine’

    BREAKING NEWS
    The Associated Press
    Updated: 3:56 p.m. ET Feb. 12, 2006

    WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and injured a man during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, his spokeswoman said Sunday.

    Harry Whittington, 78, was “alert and doing fine” after Cheney sprayed Whittington with shotgun pellets on Saturday at the Armstrong Ranch in south Texas, said property owner Katharine Armstrong.

    Armstrong said Cheney turned to shoot a bird and accidentally hit Whittington. She said Whittington was taken to Corpus Christi Memorial Hospital by ambulance.

    Cheney's spokeswoman, Lea Anne McBride, said the vice president was with Whittington, a lawyer from Austin, Texas, and his wife at the hospital on Sunday afternoon.

    This breaking story will be updated.

    Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11312757/


  20. Badmoodman Says:

    "Armstrong said Cheney turned to shoot a bird and accidentally hit Whittington." - - Comedians ought to be sending these guys residual checks.


  21. Max-1 Says:

    Comment by Badmoodman, Andy

    HUNTING PARTNERS

    Christian shooter


  22. Jay Randal Says:

    Next time Cheney might kill someone, so he should NOT be allowed to even fire a gun! I think Dick is senile now, so too dangerous to even hunt!


  23. WaltTheMan Says:

    It's not against the law, the VP did it.


  24. truepatriot Says:

    Just wanted to make the comment that CNN should sense their opponent news networks at FOX and MSNBC are in the throes of the right-wing agenda, and capitalize on it in the affirmative by returning to their grassroots objectivity and gaining the higher moral ground. Probing questions by Wolf Blitzer are a start but they don't go far enough. This is a chance for CNN to be the pre-eminent news network once again and return the debate we sorely need back to the public. I've seen some hints and teasers lately but let's see the full frontal. And don't blow it with lies: be studious fact-checkers.

    I'd also like to see more people getting angry about this & the wiretaps. Where is the outrage?


  25. theroachman Says:

    Jesus with a winchester that's very funny

    truepatriot
    There is a lot of outrage. Just because the main stream press do not report it does no mean it does not exist.


  26. theroachman Says:

    does not report it, duh. Men holding speeping 2 year olds should not blog


  27. Judd Says:

    I'm not sure why, but comments were closed on this post for a while. You can post again now.


  28. Jay Randal Says:

    Judd thanks > I think thinkprogress had some kind of cyber-hacker attack > you even have porn popups at times on here which I know you are NOT allowing! GOP agents love to do dirty stuff to sites like this.


  29. JPark Says:

    Let's get guns into more ancient Republican hands. Maybe the lobbyist problem will take care of itself.


  30. Bush Bites Says:

    IT'S BUSH'S FAULT.

    BUSH MAKES A PUNK-ASS STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH CALLING OUT IRAQ, IRAN AND N. KOREA AS AN "AXIS OF EVIL" LIKE SOME KIND OF GANG BANGER.

    THEN HE WHACKS IRAQ, SO IRAN AND N. KOREA START WORKING LIKE HELL TO GET NUKES.

    WHY WOULD ANYBODY BE SURPRISED?


  31. Solitaire Says:

    #42, good one.

    Hagel is in for a good dose of abuse for trying to talk truth, I'm sure. That'll teach him. There is no room for truth in this administration's alternate reality.


  32. Robert Dinkle Says:

    Hey,
    I am tired of you guys trashing the Bush administration. Use your head for a moment. His Worship G. Bush has been Right on the W.M.D. Right on Katrena, Right on the illegal wiretaps, right on the 8 trillion dollar national budget deficit, right on cutting the legs out from under the poor, and the students, of this country, and he is right on his plans for your future, so please, a little respect if you will,

    Robert


  33. Bob Says:

    Don't worry - if Iraq's enters into a civil war - Bushites will move on to Iran saying mission accomplished - next.


  34. Stew Says:

    I guess cheney invited him on a hunting trip this weekend


  35. big papa Says:

    This sh*t ain't lookin' too good fer them Bushites...

    ...wonder how they're gonna react when they come t' realize that...

    ...Saddam was apparently more of a "uniter" than their god Bushiva?


  36. donald newton Says:

    heres a question that no one in fema wants to answer. there are some 10 to 20 thousands prefab homes sitting in Hope Ar. costing the tax payers some 400 million dollars. They are thinking about junking them why not sell them to the poor for about 15 thousand dollars and getting some of the taxpayers money back. seems like the right thing to do but not for this government.


  37. Dave Godfrey Says:

    I'm reminded once again by the old axiom "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But just
    think for one minute about how helpless the average person is fight these "lies" And then consider if you were
    really a "victim" and needed legal regress from these powerful interests.


  38. Kat Says:

    We could do a whole lot worse than Hagel as president in '08. The man makes a lot of sense.

    U.S. should be talking with Iran, Hagel says
    BY TIM ELFRINK
    WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
    WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Hagel reasserted his differences with President Bush's foreign policy Thursday, calling in part for a more measured approach to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

    Speaking to about 30 journalists who cover the military, the Nebraska Republican said a diplomatic approach was vital to confronting Iran, which has been pressing for nuclear technology.

    "I think one thing we ought to be doing is engaging the Iranians. Why aren't we talking to them? That's the essence of good foreign policy," he said. "We must find a way to establish some relationship based on common interests."

    Hagel said he was not convinced that military action against Iran was currently a viable option.

    "You have to ask yourself what we would get in return. Would we destroy their capability to produce nuclear weapons?" Hagel said. "I don't think so."

    U.S. leaders should also take into account the large portion of the Iranian population below the age of 21 who are sympathetic to Western ideals, Hagel said.

    "We have to be careful we don't drive those people away from us, and if you attack them, they're sure . . . not going to embrace America and say, 'Thank you very much,'" he said.


  39. Monkey Nut Wrench Says:

    Basically Most Americans are waiting for the wealth to come from stealing Iraqs oil wealth and possibly Irans too (( as in American Battle plans for Iran here http://www.craigmurray.co.uk/ archives/ 2006/ 02/ battle_plans_fo_1.html

    The democrats I think dont speak out against the war because monkey boy Bush might just manage to steal all the worlds oil reserves …therefore most say morgage paying americans , workers, fear for their future …and have hidden ajendas …If Bush pulls this steal off …and America becomes rich again the democatrats will look very foolish …I think and thats why they do not speak out


  40. theOctillion Says:

    Hagel has always been squishy about the War on Terror.

    Comment by Gary Ruppert

    when people make good points, they are worth considering. but when people exhibit profound ignorance because they need to take a certain preconditioned view, it illustrates the power of rhetoric over the docile mind that delusionarily considers itself independent. as for the war on terro, Iraq may have been part of it (whether strategcially sound or not is another, open question) to increase democracy, thereby designed to help long term with reducing the impact of fantatical anti western Islamic extremism. but like many of the minions, here the war on terror is confused with this fairly narrowly focused on Iraq, which was not connected to 9/11 (and the people that believe that make sheep seem independent) nor al Q any more than dozens of other countries.

    how does profound ignorance persist in such an advanced societ? Rhetoric. the minions eat up the rhetoric, and the rest don't recognize its effect



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