Gates: Iraq Resolution ‘Certainly Emboldens the Enemy’
Gates: Iraq Resolution ‘Certainly Emboldens the Enemy’
Today, at his first Pentagon news conference since taking office in December, Defense Secretary Robert Gates declared that any Iraq resolution opposing President Bush’s escalation plan “certainly emboldens the enemy and our adversaries.” “It seems pretty straightforward that any indication of flagging will in the United States gives encouragement to those folks,” Gates clamed.
Watch it:
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Here’s Donald Rumsfeld from 11/20/05: “[W]e also have to understand that our words have effects. … Put yourself in the shoes of the enemy. The enemy hears a big debate in the United States, and they have to wonder, maybe all we have to do is wait, and we’ll win.”
Sixty-eight percent of Americans oppose escalation, while 56 percent want a withdrawal from Iraq within a year. If the Bush administration is truly concerned about the message that a divided America sends to the enemy, then it should consider adopting policies that have overwhelming support.
Transcript:
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Senator Lieberman says the Senate resolution opposing a 21,000 increase in troops would offer some encouragement to the enemy. Would you agree with that?
GATES: Well, I think it’s pretty clear that a resolution that, in effect, says that the general going out to take command of the arena shouldn’t have the resources he thinks he needs to be successful certainly emboldens the enemy and our adversaries.
I think it’s hard to measure that with any precision, but it seems pretty straightforward that any indication of flagging will in the United States gives encouragement to those folks.
And I’m sure that that’s not the intent behind the resolutions, but I think it may be the effect.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
The true enemy sleeps in the White House (When he is not on vacation.).
January 26th, 2007 at 6:22 pmWell, I for one, don’t buy his bull in the least. This cabal has nothing left but to dig in it’s heels and hope we all “calm down.” Not me. These guys are on their way out……….and soon.
Anyone defending this administration at this point is more of a traitor than any American that wants end this war.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:23 pmAh yes, I saw this moon faced SOB spouting his bull shit bush ala rummy speel today…..I was pissed then and am now…..Time to clean up our mess and get this basterd and all the rest of them out of our administration and in jail as quickly as possible……Blessings
January 26th, 2007 at 6:26 pmWhat does Gates know about anything — other than what BushCo tells him?
January 26th, 2007 at 6:26 pmWe will have 20,000 additional troops on the ground, in addition to this first wave now, by July 1 2007.
Mark those words. They are the ones to live by.
Just someone mark it. If I am wrong I will pay 1000 dollars. I got this information from a VERY inside source at the Pentagon.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:31 pmHe knows how to sell military hardware in violation of the law to Iran to fund an illegal war in Central America and get away with it while lying to Congress…
January 26th, 2007 at 6:33 pmThat’s it. I am officially naming this SOB “Son of Rummy”
January 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pmGates is already reading the company line. He may as well be an actor. He cares not for the troops, only for the political future of himself and of Bush.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:35 pmI never doubted Gates unfliching, a-kissing abilties for a second. What a bunch of mad dogs. Gates can be thrown into the pack with all the rest, for consideration of criminal charge. He’s a co-conspirator and a liability to the proper functioning of our democratic government. Hoo-rah!
January 26th, 2007 at 6:36 pmAll of America is tired of the same tired old rhetoric: if you don’t support the administration you are aiding the enemy.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:36 pmHis comment is hardly worth debating.
Congress is constitutionally bound to hold BushCo accountable. The original resolution is no longer valid and he must be made to come before congress to seek future involvement in Iraq.
And a congressional resolution of “no confidence” is called for.
here we go again
January 26th, 2007 at 6:37 pmI looked in my copy of the U.S. Constitution and was unable to locate the section where it stated that no criticism of the government and its policies is to be allowed during a time of war. If the media and the politicians had the slightest bit of backbone, they would demand that Gates tell the American people under what Article it states that the citizens of this country remain silent about the policies that are put forth by the government of this country during a time of [perpetual] war. This same belief by Gates was voiced by our leaders during the Vietnam War and back then, as of now, that argument collapsed uder the least bit of scrutiny.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:39 pmcomment deleted
January 26th, 2007 at 6:44 pmJoanie Doe — your words embolden the enemies! See how stupid that sounds, not to mention it’s tired rhetoric we’ve heard for years now. Bush has done more to embolden our enemies than our enemies could have ever hoped to do on their own. By the way, you’re the enemy of this country with your treasonous words. You are a traitor the United States and your kind will be dealt with.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pmJust someone mark it. If I am wrong I will pay 1000 dollars. I got this information from a VERY inside source at the Pentagon.
Comment by Joanie Doe
Hey isnt that what Judy Miller thought? =)
January 26th, 2007 at 6:45 pmAt this juncture, Gates jumping on board with this adminstration is a little like a crazy man running into a burning fire. It makes me wonder what these people have on each other that makes blackmail preferable to rational thinking? His eyes don’t even register recognition; they look more like doll’s eyes. CHUCKY!
January 26th, 2007 at 6:48 pmAnybody who ends a message with BWHAHAHAHAHA loses all credibility.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:50 pmSoldiers talking to Richard Engel an embedded reporter for NBC said they were upset at ‘We support the troops” but “not the war”, several stated they feel like what they have accomplished has been for naught. This was in a story featuring Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Baghdad.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:51 pm*sigh* Another day, another name-jacking. Posting #17 is not the “real” Exley. This happened last night, as well, on the the Chuck Hagel thread.
Faiz and the ThinkProgress administration were kind enough to delete the name-jacked posting from last night and e-mail me that they did confirm that the name-jacked posting came from another IP.
Looks like TP has another name-jacked posting to delete.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pmYou forget to say, “the fact is” Exley. BTW why haven’t you made it to the recruiters office yet? Skeered?
January 26th, 2007 at 6:53 pmThank you Robert Gates for stating the truth today. Lieberman is right.
Comment by Exley
What is your evidence as to the truth of these statements?
January 26th, 2007 at 6:56 pmCuz they said so?
I will clarify. This war was a mistake. A political experiment gone awry, A great big pottery barn. By saying I support the troops means that I do support them in their effort to create order in a chaotic place. We have bought it, we should fix it however much of a mistake this war, which I did not support getting into, was.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:01 pmDoes this embolden the enemy?
Abu Ghraib officer to be court-martialed
January 26th, 2007 at 7:02 pm#24 — what exactly has been accomplished?
January 26th, 2007 at 7:02 pmZep, Spudge, Zooey, As I stated above, the #17 posting is a name-jack, not written by me. I have written to TP administration and asked that the posting be deleted.
This name-jacker is probably the same individual who, last night, posted a comment under my name calling Chuck Hagel a “coward.” When I saw that false posting, I e-mailed TP and they were kind enough to write me back and delete the posting and inform me that the site is working on a way to prevent name-jackings in the future.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:02 pmZep, Spudge, Zooey, As I stated above, the #17 posting is a name-jack, not written by me. I have written to TP administration and asked that the posting be deleted.
Then I apologize to you, Sir, but not to the moniker monkey. =)
January 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pmNo apologies necessary, Zep…If a name-jacking occurs, other posters can’t really realize it until the “real” poster points out the hijack. I just hope it comes down soon.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:09 pm#30 they didn’t clarify in the story, I repeated there sentiment during the interview.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:10 pmGates said that was not the intent of the cowards who want to question Bush’s plan, but that will be the effect.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:13 pmComment by Exley —
The true patriot is the one who stands up to a powerful political machine. He is truly a hero and most certainly not a COWARD. It was precisely that patriotism that brought us the Declaration of Indepenced; these men risked execution in signing the document.
Until Bushco started this war, which has zilch to do with the fight against terrorism, our enemies (specifically Osama Ben Forgotten) were identifiable, and there was a reasonably good chance with international cooperation, that they could be contained, if not defeated completely. Now the “insurgents” are our enemy. Which they weren’t until BushCo made them so. So, if by some vague and impossible chance (Exley and Joan Doe or whoevr you are, listen to the statements of the experienced military people you so admire, and you will see that that chance is slim) we managed to “defeat” the “insurgents”, whatever that means, then who would be the “enemy”? Bushco will have to find a new one. Eventually, we will be so far removed from the goal of defeating terrorism (which thanks to Bushco we are now fostering rather than fighting) that no one will even know why we started fighting in the first place.
Every statement made in support of Bush, every talking point from Fox that gets repeated, is just more camoflage for the endless war that Bushco so passionately wants and believes in.
Today I heard three guys talking in a store. They were “discussing” all the reasons why Bush was right to invade Iraq. Every statement I heard was a talking point from Fox or a line from one of Dumbya’s speeches. Christ, one of them even said “I’d rather fight them over there than over here.”
Sloganeering, jingoism, false patriotism, flag-waving, bible-thumping, unreasoning hatred for all things not conservative is all the right has left in its moral storehouse. Anybody posting here who thinks Dumbya did the right things after 9/11 needs to get a grip.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:13 pmThe thing that emboldened the enemy most, Mr. Gates, was Bush’s re-election in 2004 and the accompanying thought that they could now count on four more years of us repeatedly shooting ourselves in the face. The escalation is just the most recent spent shell.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:19 pmExley or “Exley” or whoever the hell he / she is in a tizzy over supposed misinformation or lies on this post. Wouldn’t it be great if he / she was at least as enraged over the lies used by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and other administration crooks to START AN ILLEGAL WAR.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:21 pmWe’ve all read boatloads of bullshit from “Exley” justifying Bush and his actions. In case he / she hasn’t noticed, the US is 3 years 10 months into Bush’s horrific fiasco in Iraq. And we heard today that our Armed Forces are stretched dangerously thin, just as Bush wants to escalate his War.
So excuse me if I’m not crying big tears over “Exley” and his self-centered whining. Grow up.
Make no mistake about what is being set up here, and that is for dissent and opposition to the Iraq invasion and/or the current administration to be legally defined as an act of treason.
Do you think I’m crazy? Well, here is a copy of a comment that I posted at the end of last year:
This is too cavalier and too slow a pace. I believe that we are about to receive the biggest slap in the face that this president and the administration has yet delivered. Whatever the “plan†is that Bush will announce, I feel that it is going to contain four key components:
1) An escalation of troops and activities in Iraq.
2) An expansion of the conflict to include Iran and/or Syria.
3) A bogus and completely arbitrary “completion dateâ€.
4) An organized suppression of dissent or opposition by utilizing the Patriot Act, Authorization for Use of Military Force, and the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
I feel that it cannot be a coincidence that all the necessary components and resources are in place for these things to happen. And I really cannot see any other explanation for the current actions of the administration. Drunken incompetence is fun to joke about as a possibility, but definitely not realistic.
I hope that I am wrong, mind you.
Comment by Tuber — December 28, 2006 @ 6:00 pm
The first three “predictions” have already come true. The fourth is happening right before our eyes as we speak. My opinion is that once all of these “predictions” come fully to fruition our country and our constitution, as we know it and as the founders envisioned it , will be lost. Sounds dire I know, and you can just discount me as a loon. But keep in mind that I’m batting 1.000. Just sayin…
January 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pmYou mean Iraqi Study Group recommendations that you signed off on before selling your soul?
YEAH THATS WHAT WE THOUGHT.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:42 pmWhile much of what you have written is and may soon be totaly true tuber, I for one will not let my country and constitution go done with out me fighting to maintain them….This administration is corrupt and must be removed for their crimes against Iraq, N.O. humanety, the american people and the world…I refuse to let fear silence the truth or me….
Question for all poster’s.Sorry OT….Are Troll’s gender spacific? Is a female troll a bitch troll and a male a basterd troll or are they just troll’s.? Alway’s wondered about that..LOL..Blessings
January 26th, 2007 at 7:48 pmTuber,
You’re scaring me……
(no more predictions)
January 26th, 2007 at 7:48 pm:P
Tuber, I must agree with you.
I was just reading our Declaration of Indep. and had some observations.
Abridged comparison of Bush and his failure to adhere to the fundamental foundation of this country: the Declaration of Independence.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. SIGNING STATEMENTS
He has called together legislative bodies [SECRET ENERGY committees etc.] at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
…He has exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. NON- IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 911 COMMISSION. RELEASE OF CIA OPERATIVE NAME. THE LIST CAN GO ON…
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. MILITARY COMMISSIOINS ACT.
For depriving (THOSE HELD IN GITMO) in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting (THOSE HELD IN OUR CUSTODY) beyond Seas to be tried (TORTURED) for pretended offences:
TIME TO IMPEACH BUSH.Congess must stand up or “go sell shoes” for a leaving as Hagel said.
January 26th, 2007 at 7:49 pmWhat emboldens the enemy the most is a flawed military strategy, like the one first developed by the neocons. The latest plan was written by the same people. Is this Plan C or D at this point? If the plan is not expected to work, why should it be supported? We must demand that the plan for sending troops in to harm’s way at least have a high degree of potential success. Doing otherwise lets the enemy win.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:06 pmIraq Resolution ‘Certainly Emboldens the Enemy’
Oh, ah, we’ve never heard this one before.
Quick, someone help me; I was caught completely off-guard!
Yaawwnn….
January 26th, 2007 at 8:08 pmSounds dire I know, and you can just discount me as a loon.
Comment by Tuber — January 26, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Tuber?
You are the looniest of loons. You are the lone loon who ate too much gunpowder at the fishing shack last fall.
You without a doubt are a loon with only one propeller working and you are spinning in circles making loon noises all day long.
Let me fashion you a nice tinfoil hat to go with that loon outfit.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:15 pmTuber,
You’re scaring me……
(no more predictions)
:P
Comment by trueblue — January 26, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Oh great! Just what this country needs. Another ” feigning ” madonna who is scared and trying to meet men on here.
Go get a messenger account trueblue and put a naked picture up as your profile.
Probably STILL wouldnt be able to land a man.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:21 pm#46 Joanie,
Quit flirting with me. I like my women to have more than one tooth (and no, false teeth don’t count).
January 26th, 2007 at 8:46 pmWHEN IS THIS GREED GOING TO STOP!!!!
January 26th, 2007 at 8:48 pmClap..clap…Tuber sees the truth. He’s exactly right. Just look at the natural progression of things and you will see whats in store for this country.
January 26th, 2007 at 8:58 pm17. And what “truth” is that? The truth that you can treaten the American people if they don’t agree with you? Haha. You have no brain Exley. Your just part of the 20% psychopathic mad-men and mad-women who exist in our society.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:17 pmQuit flirting with me. I like my women to have more than one tooth (and no, false teeth don’t count).
Comment by Tuber
As compared to you, the hottest tranny on the thread?
Comment by Spudge_Boy
“Thanks,all you big ‘ol stong men.”
(batting eyelashes)
;)
January 26th, 2007 at 9:24 pmthey just keep pushin’ the buttons…
Iran condemns Bush’s capture or kill order
By Kasra Naji in Tehran
Iran says United States President George W Bush’s order to his military to capture or kill Iranian agents in Iraq is a terrorist act that shows he has lost control of his senses.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned the nation’s enemies they will take their wishes to overthrow the Government to their graves.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:25 pm[...]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1834677.htm
.
oops… I meant “strong”
Sorry, boys,
you got me so flustered I couldn’t spell straight!
–OK. I’ve had enough fun playing Southern Belle.
This one puts the T in troll.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:28 pmNo dumbass Gates,
War-mongering IDIOTS like you who claim to have “no idea” what’s going on in Iraq, AND deciding to keep up the killing anyway ARE EMBOLDENING THE ENEMY!!!
Putrid scum-sucker.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:29 pmThe number of people who have made Faustian deals with Bush&Co, at the expense of not only their own souls, but the nation as well, deserve no less than to share the same level in hell as Bush&Co so deserve.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:35 pm#41 Sharon
Are Troll’s gender spacific? Is a female troll a bitch troll and a male a basterd troll or are they just troll’s.? Alway’s wondered about that..
I believe they are all hermaphroditic spawns from the creatures of the netherworld.
January 26th, 2007 at 9:37 pmmarie – do you have a link to that subpoena info from other thread?
January 26th, 2007 at 9:43 pmit’s not coming up on google news yet…
Gates emboldens the enemy
January 26th, 2007 at 10:14 pmI don’t know how much more you can embolden the enemy as long as Chimpy is the Prez.
January 26th, 2007 at 10:27 pmNothing emboldens enemies like stupid policies, strategies, tactics, and mistakes – that’s why we are much less safe than before the Iraq war was launched. So Gates, et.al., should just STFU with all these veiled treason accusations. Nobody in American history has been as treasonous as some of the members of this so-called Bush administration
January 26th, 2007 at 10:29 pmThank’s for clearing that up for me Marie….Lol…I thought that may be the case….Blessings
January 26th, 2007 at 10:52 pmSo who is Robert Gates? Here’s an example of what’s wrong with the US, and the difficulties we face as a nation to overcome this kind of cronyism. Gates never worked in the private sector. He owes his wealth to the taxpayer. Yet he does everything he can to screw us over.
Dr. Robert M. Gates is “the 22nd President of Texas A&M University
He served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993
Dr. Gates joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966 and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional, serving six presidents. During that period, he spent nearly nine years at the National Security Council, The White House, serving four presidents of both political parties
Dr. Gates serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Council on Education, the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, and the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America. He is President of the National Eagle Scout Association.
As DCI (a job to which [George H.W.] Bush appointed him), he led the redirection of CIA efforts away from their Cold War orientation, and toward a focus on issues such as nonproliferation, terrorism, and drug trafficking. During an October, 1992 visit to Moscow, Gates did something inconceivable for a DCI in Dulles’s time: he entered the Kremlin.”
January 26th, 2007 at 10:58 pmGates sounds like a tubby clone of Rumsfeld now > lol.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:00 pmA President who flagrantly pisses on the constitution emboldens the enemy
January 26th, 2007 at 11:34 pmA President who actively works to weaken the economy of the United States with a 3 trillion dollar war for no reason, emboldens the enemy.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:36 pmAppointing incompetent people to positions in National Security, and leaking classified information, emboldens the enemy.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:54 pm“Augmentation” emboldens the enemy.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:56 pmRumsfeld Redux. It’s beyond disgusting, it’s beyond maddening. It violates their oath of office to display such contempt for the 1st amendment in the Bill of Rights. We’re a democracy goddammit! They should gover as though they believe in it! Recall the Teddy Roosevelt quote about criticism of the government.
January 27th, 2007 at 1:56 amThe Democrats and the Chuck Hagels, in this clash between civilization and barbarism, will go down in history as turncoats to their historical responsibilities to the nation at a time when America is at war.
Gamboling with the vital interests of America, they have chosen to become populist leaders for their own narrow egotistical political interests. Instead of leading from the front, they are leading from the “tail”, pushed by the whimsical winds of populism.
January 27th, 2007 at 2:44 amThank you Robert Gates for stating the truth today. Lieberman is right. All the resolutions in Congress against sending more troops to Iraq embolden our enemy. The flagging will of Americans to fight and win this war encourages the insurgents. Gates said that was not the intent of the cowards who want to question Bush’s plan, but that will be the effect.
Comment by Exley — January 26, 2007 @ 6:44 pm
Oh, put a sock in it. Bush telling the Iraqis that we would withdraw if they asked us to also “emboldens the enemy.” (And let me point out that Bush lied. They asked us to leave, yet we are still there.)
All the talk over the last few years from generals and others telling us that we’d be able to draw down our troops “in 6 months” (how many times have we heard that?) emboldens the enemy.
Hell, just the fact that we are in Iraq emboldens the enemy. Don’t you understand that?
And your support of other countries adopting the provisions of the Military Detainee Act, which allows them to capture and hold our troops indefinitely and put them on trial without revealing evidence, also emboldens our enemies. Thank you for your support.
January 27th, 2007 at 8:22 amThe Democrats and the Chuck Hagels, in this clash between civilization and barbarism, will go down in history as turncoats to their historical responsibilities to the nation at a time when America is at war.
Gamboling with the vital interests of America, they have chosen to become populist leaders for their own narrow egotistical political interests. Instead of leading from the front, they are leading from the “tailâ€, pushed by the whimsical winds of populism.
Comment by kotzabasis — January 27, 2007 @ 2:44 am
Oh, shut up. The people in this country are not bound to support each and every war that any president — Democrat or Republican — wages.
Saddam was not a threat to America. Colin Powell and Condi Rice both said so in 2001. Powell told us that Saddam was contained, the sanctions were working, and he did not have the capacity to produce WMD’s, especially nuclear weapons. Yet Bush, on 9/12/01 (and reportedly much earlier), was gearing up for an invasion of Iraq because “they have more targets.”
So tell us, kotz, where is Osama “I really don’t think much about him” bin Laden? Hmmmmm?
So where does that leave us now? I’ll tell you, kotz. While Bush and Cheney and Rummy have been busy playing a modern day version of cowboy and indians in the Middle East and celebrating their manhood just a bit, North Korea not only has tested a nuclear weapon, but they are now ready to provide support to Iran.
January 27th, 2007 at 8:37 amHow to embolden the enemy? Oh let me count the ways!
—
“I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.â€
– Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during congressional hearings yesterday. “Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.‘â€
—
Conservatives who supported Bush’s reelection are expressing outrage over the administration’s broad use of anti-terrorism laws to reject asylum for thousands of people fleeing religious, ethnic, and political persecution.
—
After a meeting in Iraq with U.S. generals, Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged that commanders “out here have expressed a concern about†President Bush’s plan to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq.
—
Today on CBS’s Face the Nation, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said he agreed with the Iraq Study Group that the situation in Iraq is “grave and deteriorating.†He disagreed with incoming Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ assessment that the U.S. is neither winning nor losing in Iraq. “We are losing,†Powell said.
—
Incoming Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin’s (D-MI) first question to Defense Secretary nominee Robert Gates: “Mr. Gates, do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?â€
Gates’ answer: “No, sir.â€
—
QUESTION: Just a simple question: Are we winning?
SNOW: We’re making progress. I don’t know. How do you define winning?
January 27th, 2007 at 9:17 amThe incompetent execution of this war emboldens the enemy!
January 27th, 2007 at 9:20 amRight On Lucinda (in comment 38). I always thought the insane rubbish that Exley has been posting for months was a fake. Is he a plant for the neo-cons or just off his rocker? Who the hell cares? Instead of Obnoxious Exley, we now have Whining Exley. I feel really sorry for him.
January 27th, 2007 at 9:57 amHow did these people ever become the “enemy?” Bush simply lied to the American people, their representitives, and the world then he attacked the Iraqis. Voila instant enemies. But the crucial point is that Bush is the one that has committed a wrong because what he has done it is dishonest and against humanity. Iraq and those standing against the Bushpush are not the enemy of America. They are the enemy of Buchco as are the majority of Americans.
You need to impeach bush and bushco and have them all tried in The Hague. If they are innocent and honest they have nothing to fear.
January 27th, 2007 at 10:50 amArmy Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the new top U.S. commander in Iraq, told Congress that he might supplement efforts to secure Baghdad using the Iraqi Facilities Protection Service, a 150,000-man force that guards Iraqi government agencies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/26/AR2007012601494.html
WASHINGTON — The Iraq Study Group’s grim report embraces the most worrisome estimates about Muqtada al-Sadr’s private army: He has up to 60,000 fighters, and his followers are planted throughout the security forces protecting the Health Ministry and other Iraqi government nstitutions.
Making matters worse, the high-level panel believes the cleric himself may not be able to manage the diverse and growing parts of his network known as the Mahdi army.
Showing al-Sadr’s deep infiltration into the government, the report found that Iraqis loyal to him dominate the 145,000-strong Facilities Protection Service, which guards the ministries of Health, Agriculture and Transportation _ all controlled by al-Sadr’s political allies. While providing jobs and money for the Mahdi army, the protective service has questionable loyalty to the civilian government, the report said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120701159.html
January 27th, 2007 at 3:54 pmnew year 3000 NOW 3075
January 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pmmethinks they are already emboldened
January 27th, 2007 at 5:04 pmYou know what really emboldens the enemy? When you send reinforcements. It makes it look like your losing and they are winning.
Gates, you suck.
January 27th, 2007 at 5:32 pm#76 – You beat me to it. How would this clod, this criminal clod, know what emboldens the enemy when he even admitted he doesn’t know squat about Iraq or even military matters.
“I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.â€
“I’m no expert on military matters.”
January 27th, 2007 at 5:36 pmWhy anyone expects anything different from Gates is beyond me. Let’s face it…the man was recently quoted as saying that he’s not an expert on Iraq and not an expert on the military. So why, you may ask, has this man been appointed Secretary of Defense? After all, it seems perfectly reasonable to expect that considerable experience with military affairs would be a requirement for this post — especially in a time of war! The answer can be found in the fact that Bush has over the past five-odd years shown time and time again that he has virtually no patience or tolerance for anyone who questions or challenges him — yet that is precisely what many if not most of the people who can legitimately be called experts with regard to Iraq and/or military affairs are doing in relation to the so-called “surge”. If Gates weren’t willing to support the policy, it seems extremely unlikely that he would have been appointed as the Secretary of Defense in the first place.
January 28th, 2007 at 12:10 amhttp://globalsecurity.insightful.com/search/jsp/rs.jsp
Iran the next adventure
January 28th, 2007 at 3:17 amI wonder if leaders have to resort to the stale rhetoric of “emboldening the enemy” when they are winning.
Did Clinton and Sec Def Cohen ever need to say that in Bosnia and Kosovo?
January 28th, 2007 at 2:04 pmLucinda (#38), Bobbie (#78), WC (#74), USA (#.52)…You will note that TP’s administration has deleted the name-jacked posting that was falsely attributed to me. and to which you refer.
January 28th, 2007 at 4:22 pmThank you, ThinkProgress, for deleting the name-jacked posting #17 falsely attributed to me.
January 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pmSounds like Gates has take a sip of the kool-lid to me.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:28 pm“Embolden”…what a word. What does it mean, exactly? The enemy does not care how many troops we send…they will continue to strap bombs to themselves and blow up as many as they can. We are aliens in their world. We need to get out so they can work it out for themselves. We are not bringing “democracy” to Iraq…the administration is laughing all the way to the bank on this one. They are pillaging a nation in the name of democracy and freedom. What we need to do is embolden the right people to run for office and oust these jokers who have been raping us all these years. Their fearmongering is wearing thin. I guess they’ll have to engineer another 9/11 to bring our fears into the fore once more. I hope we can get rid of them before that can happen.
February 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pm