Zakaria: McCain’s Plan For More Troops ‘Just Willing More American Deaths’
Zakaria: McCain’s Plan For More Troops ‘Just Willing More American Deaths’
This Morning on ABC, commentator and foreign policy scholar Fareed Zarkaria slammed John McCain’s plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq, saying it “will not work.” Zakaria explained that “we have enough troops” but the Iraqi government won’t let them “go after the militias.”
According to Zakaria, sending more U.S. troops to Iraq in this context is “just willing more American deaths.” Watch it:
Transcript:
ZAKARIA: Senator McCain who I have a lot of respect and like him has been saying for three years we needed more troops. His policy today will not work. We have enough troops to go after Muqtada al-Sadr, the key Shiite religious leader whose militia is causing us this trouble. We can’t do it because the Iraqi government won’t let us. It is causing enormous political pressure. So right now we have an Iraqi government that does not allow us to search for our own soldier. We had to abandon a search, is in cahoots with a shiite militia that has captured americans. The point is not here that you need a military or political solution. Obviously you need both. The point is we have an iraqi government that cannot, will not make any of the decisions that will supplement this military.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Even if we had more troops it wouldn’t work?
ZAKARIA: There is no question that if you had more troops and still can’t go after the militias, can’t offer amnesty to the Sunni insurgents, the core political decisions we have to make do not depend on more troops but political compromises that this government, this ruling coalition can’t make. Sending in more troops in that context is just willing more american deaths.
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Haditha ‘massacre’ - one year on
The anniversary of the killings in Haditha - the worst single massacre of Iraqis attributed to US troops - could not have come at a worse time for the US forces, with other cases now reaching conclusions in the courts, including one that ended in a life sentence.
On 19 November 2005, a US marine unit was on a routine patrol to deliver a hot breakfast to a remote outpost at Haditha, the furthest in a string of settlements up the Euphrates that have been prominent in the Sunni insurgency.
November 19th, 2006 at 10:51 amAl-Jazeera, the Arab television network that the Bush administration hates so passionately, has launched its English-language service but is, of course, having trouble finding an American cable or satellite system willing to carry it.
The British Broadcasting Corp. had a man watch the first day’s broadcast (it’s being distributed in Europe) and gave it a rave review: accurate, but grim.
Since American politicians have involved us so deeply in the Middle East, the American public is entitled to see the truth of what’s going on over there. The public can’t get that from American television, which sanitizes its reports. Al-Jazeera shows you the grim reality. When the Israelis kill children, they show you the bodies and the weeping mothers. They show you all the ugly truth about Israeli and American policies and actions in the Middle East. They show you what war looks like.
November 19th, 2006 at 10:55 amSo you don’t need an electronic bug in the offices of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee to know that AIPAC and the Bush administration are putting pressure on the distributors to shun al-Jazeera. Denying Americans their First Amendment right to the truth, in regard to Israel, is always Job One with AIPAC. That is necessary because the truth about Israel’s actions toward the Palestinians and other Arab countries puts the lie to all of the Zionist propaganda.
McCain’s plan does not provide enough troops to salvage the situation, and is therefore destined to fail, and in order to provide enough troops to salvage the situation, America would need to re-institute the draft. America is not willing to do that.
The alternatives in Iraq are: Either improve troop levels by about 300%, or get out. Only sending in an extra 20 000 is wasting everyone’s time.
November 19th, 2006 at 10:56 amThey needed more troops from the beginning. Too late for the duplicitous, lying McCain.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:03 amRight wing, Bush worshipping ,confederate, flag loving TRAITOR Lindsey Graham…
… Repulsivescum Senator from North Carolina…
…was JUST on Face the Nation (CBS) touting a plan to increase troop levels in Iraq…
…he admitted that the military was overstretched, and (mouthing off about the Powell doctrine of overwhelming force) stated that “we may need to bring back a DRAFT”….
…to strengthen the military and “WIN” this bullsh*t war-for profit and Israel…
…EVERY AMERICAN PATRIOT should email this scumbag lying DEMON Graham…
…@ ussenate.com…
…and tell him what you think of his plan to “stay the course”and needlessly sacrifice our blood and treasure to help the Repulsivescum profiteers to get wealthier, and their Party and President to save face…
November 19th, 2006 at 11:03 amZakaria explained that [snip] the Iraqi government won’t let them “go after the militias.â€
Zakaria should have gone a few steps further and explained that the militias are the government.
Al Dawa, the Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution of Iraq, and the Mahdi Army will never be friends or allies to the USA.
Al Dawa and the Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution of Iraq have been trying to cleanse Iraq from Sunnis for a long long time: They are not going to stand down especially after having been persecuted by the Sunnis during Saddam Hussein’s rein.
Zakaria should have revealed Al Dawa has a long history with Iran and with terrorism.
Keywords: Al Dawa, Islamic Fundamentalism, Sharia, Iran and Iraq, terrorism, US Embassy attack
E.g.
Message From Iran Triggered Bombing Spree In Kuwait, The Washington Post, February 3, 1984
Al Dawa, for example, is no household name in the United States.
But it is a name important to this story.
It leads us back to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the ruling figure in Iran; to Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, the militant Lebanese Shiite leader who has been implicated–despite his denials–in the Marine and French bombings in Beirut; to Hussein Musawi, Fadlallah’s strong-arm lieutenant; to the Hakim brothers in Iran and their connections to the Middle East terrorism industry.
KUWAIT NABS 10 SHIITES IN BOMBINGS 7 IRAQIS, 3 LEBANESE ‘ADMIT’ TERROR ATTACKS
The Miami Herald, December 19, 1983
Kuwait Sunday announced the arrests of 10 Shiite Moslems with ties to Iran in the terrorist bombings that killed four people and wounded 66 last week at the U.S. Embassy and other targets.
(snip)
Hussein said fingerprints from the driver who died in the blast at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait identified him as Raad Akeel al Badran, an Iraqi mechanic who lived in Kuwait and belonged to the Dawa party.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:07 amAl-Sadr wants the brutal and murderous US occupation of his country and the the brutal sunni insurgency it spawned to end. That sunni insurgency has targeted shia mosque, imams and ordinary people for the last 2+ years with the goal of sparking a civil war and has been responsible for the deaths of almost every US troop killed in Iraq but al-Sadr is the problem?
Black is white, up is down, right is wrong. Welcome to bush world baby.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:15 amTobey Tall. If we could have seen the bombing victims from Germany and Japan, I’m sure we would have wanted to pull out of WWII. War is ugly, but on boths sides. The way you talk, the Middle East is peaceful and tolerant and takes no responsibility in any of the conflict there. What most here don’t understand is that it is a choice. Western culture or Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic fundamentalist have declared war on western culture. Just because you pull out and go home, that war will not end. The freedom to speak freely, freedom to choose the way you want to worship, the rights of women to vote and work and show there faces, freedom to have and promote different ideas; are all worth fighting for. One day, most here will understand that. What conservatives have been guilty of is trying to proactively prevent the nuclear holocaust it will take for you and others to believe that we are actually at war.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:17 amHow many honorable soldiers must die before “leaders” in Washington realize they made a mistake.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:23 amAmerica’s Least Wanted
I would like to nominate Sunday’s as pass over the posts and no feeding the troll’s day ,in short POP,NFTD. Blessings all
November 19th, 2006 at 11:31 ampaul: Islamic fundamentalist have declared war on western culture.
Wrong!
An extremely small group of Wahhabis declared war on the USA.
Saddam Hussein was loathed by that extremely small group of Wahhabis that declared war on the USA.
Now that the Pres. Bush has defiled Iraq, a holiest of holies, the USA is now hated even more by the wacko Wahhabis as well as a lot of moderate and secular Muslims.
In Iraq, prior to the deposing of Saddam Hussein, Iraqis use to sit, smoke, and drink tea while fervently bashing Ghengis Khan.
NOTE: Ghengis Khan invaded and defile Iraq over 800 years ago.
Americans will be loathed in the ME thanks to Pres. Bush who was enabled by people like you.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:33 amWhat conservatives have been guilty of is trying to proactively prevent the nuclear holocaust it will take for you and others to believe that we are actually at war.
Comment by paul
Wrong. BushCo couldn’t bring on a nuclear war faster if they tried. They are all about power and profit, and don’t give a f*ck about the troops.
Believe me, progressives know we’re at war. We’re in the WRONG WAR. Everytime one of our troops, or anyone else, dies over there, it’s blood on our hands. Wake up, Paul.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:34 amTobey Tall. If we could have seen the bombing victims from Germany and Japan, I’m sure we would have wanted to pull out of WWII. War is ugly, but on boths sides.
Jesus there are still people flogging the WWII myth. One more time with feeling. In WWII Japan attacked us and Germany declared war on us Iraq did not. I wont even bother with with the WMD lie the facts refute that.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:36 amPaul, 1st: you seem to be assuming that Islamic Extremists are the norm. I’d hazzard a guess that this isn’t the case.
2nd: Do you really want war without end? Tragically, there will always be terrorists. Last I checked, this war was started as hunt for WMD’s in Iraq. Now, GW would have you believe it’s about the “War On Terror”. What will it be tomorrow?
“War On Terror” makes a good sound bite, but frankly, Invading ands wrecking another country only makes things worse. Afghanistan was and is a breeding ground for terrorists and Yet GW “Cut and Ran” from there and got us embroiled in Iraq.
Other than pulling out in a staged fashion, what do you suggest? Untill the population there is willing to stop the Civil War that the US unleashed, the violence there will not end.
November 19th, 2006 at 11:50 amThe freedom to speak freely, freedom to choose the way you want to worship, the rights of women to vote and work and show there faces, freedom to have and promote different ideas, the freedom to force our political concepts on foriegn people, the freedom to capture, kill, and torture those that oppose us; are all worth fighting for.
Because being a bully is fun.
November 19th, 2006 at 12:17 pm#14, S.D. Untill the population there is willing to stop the Civil War that the US unleashed, the violence there will not end.
Let’s just say that the US turns its back on the insurgent Sunnis: The US is fuct due to the tightening of the reins of power in the hands of the America hating Shiite fundamentalists who are beholden to Iran which The Decider called an `axis of evil’.
Let’s just say that the US turns its back on the fundamentalist Shiites: The US is fuct due to its supporting of a small minority of America hating Sunnis whom the US just disempowered.
NOTE: Iraq is Pres Bush’s direct response to the horrific attacks of 9/11
Q: Is the fathering of the burgeoning fundamentalist Shiite state in Iraq the proper response to the horrific attacks of 9/11?
Q: Is the fathering of the burgeoning fundamentalist Shiite state in Iraq worth spilling even more oceans of blood?
Q: Is the fathering of the burgeoning fundamentalist Shiite state in Iraq worth $400 billion?
November 19th, 2006 at 12:27 pmHey Paul.. stop ejaculating on your american flag and make some sense… please explain ANY realistic scenario where some radical islamic nation could SERIOUSLY threaten us? what are they going to do, cut us off from our oil fix?
hahah.
not only that, but 95 percent of the people shooting at us in Iraq wouldt have any signifigant animosity toward Us if we hadnt invaded them.. they are nationalists.. you know.. those guys that like thier country and indepence a whole bunch… can you sympathize with them at all?
if you think im lying look up the CIA estimates… 5% foreign jihadi types, tops…
and stop giving these islamic radical guys alot more credit than they deserve. they dont have tanks, they dont have jet planes or long range missles. they are very few in number, and they are not organized or cohesive in any way.
and about this WMD garbage they try to scare us with..
most WMD is difficult to make or obtain and terribly inefficient as weapons. the chances of any government signing thier own death warrant by giving nuclear material to unpredicatable/suicidical religious fanatics who might squeal on them is almost nil.
I doubt you read much paul but if you take a good look at “al-queda” you see its a paper tiger thats more bark than bite. americans kill more of their fellow americans EVERY WEEK than terrorsts did on 9-11. when I go out on the highway the smelly bearded guys I worry about ramming into me arent Omar and Ahab…. their names are Jeeter and Clem and you’re probably related to them. I worry more about people like you who probably spend a majority of thier life drunk and/or armed.
you’ve got a better chance of dying in your bathtub that you do being killed by a foreigner.
The ONLY wars we are in are the ones we started… this “war on terror” thing is a farce.. if it isnt, please define “victory” in this “war on terror”,, and pulezze puleeze dont say something retarded like “when will kill all the terrorists…” terrorists arent grown in a vat.. they are products of thier environment like everyone else in this world is..if you kill one, two will take his place.. if you kill one and cause enough collaterial damage, you will create 10 in his place…by elevating them to the status of a “threat to our existence” we are giving them way more credit than they deserve.
swat them like flies, clean us the cesspools we’ve made that breeds them, and move on to more important things…
treat them like criminals, prosecute them like criminals. by making them out to be some sort of supervillians with superhuman powers you only elevate them in the eyes of everyone who hates us..
November 19th, 2006 at 12:29 pm#8 paul: we are actually at war.
No.
You are at war.
You are at war with a largely imaginary enemy WHICH has an extremely low chance of striking us successfully, i.e. 1%.
You people probably deserve to be renditioned to Iraq where you can live for a few years with the Iraqis whom you have never had an active interest in up until you were programmed to care about them within the last few years.
Americans will suffer for generations due to your imprudence.
Shame on you paul!
November 19th, 2006 at 12:34 pmOH.. YES I FORGOT TO THANK BUSH FOR…
6 YEARS AND NO MARTIANS HAVE ATTACKED US! IT MUST, UNDOUBTEDLY BE BECAUSE OF BUSH’S VIGILANCE!
November 19th, 2006 at 12:40 pmGot Im sick of hearing about WW11 - Both my grandparents were killed by the Germans
I have forgotten and forgiven them , its in the past , I love the germans for what they have become since then
I only like to speak of Now - and tommorro sometimes
Comparing WW11 to today is Nostaligic CodsWallop
November 19th, 2006 at 12:54 pmMost of the Middle east problems could be solved IF only Isreal would admit that Palestine has the right to exist ..not the other way round and If America would stop supporting Isreal to commit War Crimes
November 19th, 2006 at 12:56 pmThose who claim that Bush prevented any terrorist attacks after 911, have conveniently forgotten about the Anthrax letters. I believe some of the the 911 hijackers used their real names, which were on BOTH the terrorist list and the passenger list. Not very professional national security work. Bush was so busy selling missile defense, that he was blindsided by boxcutters.
November 19th, 2006 at 1:07 pmRe: #5
Lindsey Graham is from South Carolina.
North Carolina’s “Right wing, Bush worshipping, confederate flag loving TRAITORs” in the Senate Are Richard Burr and Liddy Dole.
thanks.
November 19th, 2006 at 1:08 pmZakaria knows that McCain is a crazy insane warmongering fool!
November 19th, 2006 at 1:15 pm[…] Bleed on, says John McCain, because otherwise his presidential prospects are going to get even worse. […]
November 19th, 2006 at 1:42 pm#17. John Deek. You are a bright guy. I’ve read some of your posts. Here we go. The world has changed. Borders have become less relevant, we have the internet, and with the end of the cold war and advances in the developing world, there is significant nuclear proliferation. The leader of Pakistan’s nuclear program has admitted that there is a black market for nuclear weapons. There has been hatred in the Middle East for the West for a long time. The difference is that now, Islamic fundamentalists can act on their hatred. Groups like Al Qadea have demonstrated they can deliver. If you think our borders are secure, ask the 20 million illegals that are hear how hard it is to get across. I don’t want war. I know that what I am suggesting is new and unlike conflicts we have had in the past. But estimates of those who support a Jihad like ideology in the middle east range from 10-15% of 1.3 billion muslims. That’s probably 200 million Islamic fundamentalists that support Jihad with our loose borders and a nuclear black market. I don’t see why you think inaction is the answer.
November 19th, 2006 at 2:43 pmNo one thinks inaction is the answer. But neither is Dumb action. How smart was it for Bush and the GOP to post unvetted Iraqi documents containing nuclear secrets on the internet?
November 19th, 2006 at 3:01 pmPaul writes:
Tobey Tall. If we could have seen the bombing victims from Germany and Japan, I’m sure we would have wanted to pull out of WWII. War is ugly, but on boths sides. The way you talk, the Middle East is peaceful and tolerant and takes no responsibility in any of the conflict there. What most here don’t understand is that it is a choice. Western culture or Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic fundamentalist have declared war on western culture. Just because you pull out and go home, that war will not end. The freedom to speak freely, freedom to choose the way you want to worship, the rights of women to vote and work and show there faces, freedom to have and promote different ideas; are all worth fighting for.
First, this war has nothing to do with World War II. Not in the slightest. Iraq was a war of choice (that had nothing to do with 9/11). WW II was forced upon us, first by Pearl Harbor, then by Germany declaring war on the US 3 days later. Also, WWII had the overwhelming support of the public that was willing to sacrifice in order to win the war. Bush never asked anyone to sacrifice shit except the members of the military and their families. He even gave the richest among us a huge tax cut. So let’s put the WWII comparison to bed, shall we?
Second of all, no one - including the small group of Islamic fundamentalists “at war” with the US - wants to take away any of our freedoms. What they want is for us to get the hell out of their countries. They are sick of our support of corrupt regimes like the House of Saud and Mubarak. They’re sick of our support of Israel no matter what that state does. We do not belong there, Paul. Those are their countries and they can have any type of government they damn well please. Time to get out Iraq, which is nothing but a giant recruiting poster for the Islamic fundamentalists you claim we have to fight.
November 19th, 2006 at 3:16 pmI totally agree with Bruce and Zooey. Great posts!
A few more troops heading to Iraq would solve nothing. We’re running on an empty gas tank anyway. Iraq is a lost cause. Sadly, the head honchos learned very few lessons from Vietnam. I suppose one of the reasons we got into this debacle is because our “wonderful” president made sure his ass wasn’t in Vietnam. Ditto for Cheney. You generally don’t learn lessons unless you’ve walked the line. This president didn’t walk the line in Vietnam. He was protecting Texas from being invaded from Oklahoma, while almost 60,000 “real soldiers” died in combat.
Well, I’ve thought things over just a bit. GEORGE W. BUSH HAS WALKED THE LINE QUITE A FEW TIMES. YEAH, HE’S WALKED THE LINE ALL RIGHT, AFTER HE’S BEEN STOPPED BY POLICE OFFICERS WHILE DRIVING DRUNK.
I can only deduct that George W. Bush has been drunk for six years while living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We need to get this guy out of office. Pronto! Pronto! Do we want a similar disastrous blunder in Iran and North Korea? I don’t think so!
This administration has blood all over its hands. We’ve asked our soldiers to essentially march over a clift. Does Bush care? No! No! No! Bush’s friends are raking in millions. Bush is protecting his ass at everyone else’s expense. Ain’t that great! Praise Jesus!
I say praise Cindy. Praise Cindy! Praise Cindy! Praise Cindy! I take my hat off to her. She went through hell losing her son, Casey, and then went through another hell dodging the slings and arrows hurled at her by these worthless Republican scumbags. She should be awarded the Noble Peace Prize.
I have good advice for you, Senator John McCain. SEND IN MORE OF THE SUN’S RAYS TO CURE YOUR SKIN CANCER. YOU DEFINITELY NEED MORE SUN. MORE SUN WILL DO THE TRICK JUST LIKE MORE TROOPS WILL DO THE TRICK IN IRAQ. That’s right. The sun is always the best medicine when one has skin cancer.
When one has lung cancer, one should always smoke more cigarettes. When a preppy rich kid fails in business after business the best medicine is always to SELECT him as President of the United States. When a war has been a complete disaster, sending more troops is always the best medicine. It’s particularly good medicine if the troops being sent are someone else’s sons and daughters. Tell me! Are your sons going to Iraq?
Senator John McCain, I think you should go to Iraq. Iraq has about 13 clouds a year, so you’ll be getting MORE SUN FOR YOUR SKIN CANCER. More is better! Great medicine! Plus, your ass in Iraq will win the war. Let’s get Cheney’s ass over there, too.. Let’s get Jenna’s ass over there, too. Let’s get Barbara’s ass over there, too.
John
November 19th, 2006 at 3:30 pmRadical American Christian fundamentalists took over our country with disastrous consequences. These radical American Christian fundamentalists essentially declared war–not only war in Iraq but war on many of its own people. “You’re either with us or you’re against us. If you’re against us, you’re morally corrupt. We will bury you with God’s permission, and rightly so.”
“God talks to us, God walks with us, God holds our hands.” I don’t think so! Are these scumbags God’s chosen people? It’s quite interesting to note that more than a few of these religious zealots profess to hold God’s hand, while at the same time they hold the hand of a same-sex partner, too.
The ultimate goal of these American Christian fundamentalist is to create a theocracy. Apparently, these folks haven’t read a histroy book. I know George. W. Bush doesn’t read books. If they should decide someday to pick up a history book, they’ll learn that theocracies don’t work. Theocrats always apply their religious interpretation of scripture. What others think doesn’t matter. God (?) is always on their side–always.
Declaring war and then not asking other segments of our American society to sacrifice shit, except the military, is rather dumb. Dumb ain’t the word. Of course, we have a dumb president. When you fight a war, you roll, baby. You roll, baby. You roll baby will a draft. You roll baby with the pedal to the metal. You roll baby with raising everyone’s taxes.
John
November 19th, 2006 at 5:07 pmI don’t pay much attention to Zakaria. He was for the war before he was against it. Seriously, he cheerled BushCo to invade. No point thinking he’s terribly bright now.
November 19th, 2006 at 6:04 pmFor once someone in the media calling McCain what he is “irresponsible”.How will sending more troops that we don’t have help us ?Yet still this finger in the wind poltician(McCain) continues to make the argument knowing full well there is no chance of it happening.
November 19th, 2006 at 6:08 pmReally, is that “leadership” folks ?
Another rat fleeing the sinking ship.
November 19th, 2006 at 7:45 pmHow times do we need to be attacked before we are in a war and are allowed to defend ourselves? Sorry, I forgot their is no country called Terrorist that we can attack.
November 19th, 2006 at 10:10 pmThis is self-evident. We got our butts kicked out of Sadr City while attempting to rescue an American soldier that was being held somewhere in Sadr City. So what good will having another 20,000 troops in Iraq be if they are so limited in their operational flexibility?
Somehow I expect that Baker/Hamilton will not address the issue of American forces having their hands tied behind their backs.
November 20th, 2006 at 10:00 amI think this guy is avoiding a bigger point, namely, the last election was a referendum on the war–we want the troops out. Period. Stop making the argument about more, the same amount, or less troops when the people want NO troops.
November 20th, 2006 at 11:58 amThis guy is a wolf in sheeps clothing. He’s perfect for the MSM which is part and parsle with the pro-war ruling elite because of his name. people think–hey, he’s of Middle-Eastern desent so what he says must be accurate–maybe even wise. But what he’s slinging is ‘New Republic’ type rightish liberalism which is the worst because it appears balanced and sound. He’s the type that’s going to get us an escalation of violence happening in Iraq before anything else. Scope out his News Week pieces which are pro invasion, by the way.
November 20th, 2006 at 12:15 pmHe’s one of those guys your going to hear more from acting dovish by saying “No more additional troops!” but actually being just as hawkish as the hawks because they are all for “taking out Sadr, if that darn Iraqi president would just stop holding us back!” In other words escalate the carnage, only use the troops we already have there to do it. Okay, I’ll shut up now.
November 20th, 2006 at 12:23 pmYeah - let’s send out troops out to quash the sectarian militias.
That’s certainly not “willing more American deaths.†We should be able to kill or round them all up, right away, and there will be no more bad guys left to threaten our troops.
And the families of the tens of thousands of civilians who will get killed in the crossfire?
They’ll be lining our path with rose petals, of course, out of gratitude.
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