UK withdrawal shows progress in Iraq war?
UK withdrawal shows progress in Iraq war?
Vice President Cheney says the UK’s withdrawal plans are “a sign of progress in Iraq.” Juan Cole responds:
This is a rout, there should be no mistake. The fractious Shiite militias and tribes of Iraq’s South have made it impossible for the British to stay. They already left Sadr-controlled Maysan province, as well as sleepy Muthanna. They moved the British consulate to the airport because they couldn’t protect it in Basra. They are taking mortar and rocket fire at their bases every night. Raiding militia HQs has not resulted in any permanent change in the situation. …
Blair is not leaving Basra because the British mission has been accomplished. He is leaving because he has concluded that it cannot be, and that if he tries any further it will completely sink the Labor Party, perhaps for decades to come.
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Besides Britain and Denmark, Lithuania also annouced it will pull its troops out.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:42 pmtalk about Orwellian doublespeak! bad is good… Tuesday is Wednesday… nothing to see here…
February 21st, 2007 at 3:44 pmThe fact that the Prince is insisting on deploying with his unit by the end of the month may also have something to do with the decision to withdraw.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:46 pmIs this the same Juan Cole who claimed that the 9/11/2001 attacks were conceived as a response to Israel’s military actions in Jenin, when, in fact, the Jenin operation took place in April 2002, seven months after 9/11?
That Juan Cole????
February 21st, 2007 at 3:47 pmWow, so it really is cutting and running.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:48 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d8MIENVtKw
The statement above is simplly not true.
Iraqis take Basra command as UK plans troop cuts
abc.news ^ | Feb 20, 2007 | Peter Graff
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain put Iraqis in command of the main Iraqi army unit in Basra on Tuesday, a move billed as paving the way for Washington’s main ally to formally announce major cutbacks in troops. “The Iraqi Army division based in Basra has transferred from under coalition command, and is now — for the first time — taking its orders direct from an Iraqi headquarters in Baghdad,” the British military said in a statement
I know the left is desperate for an Islamist victory but the lies you keep telling just make you look silly.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:49 pmThe fact that Prince Harry is insisting on deploying with his unit – they are scheduled to go by the end of the month – may also have something to do with the decision to withdraw.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:49 pmLet’s just declare victory and di mau di!
February 21st, 2007 at 3:49 pmI have just turned in my “subersives listâ„¢ ” to my superiors. I had a total of 37 off of this site, NO MATTER WHAT IDENTITY YOU POST UNDER.
Nicknames? They are no good to the NSA. When you “own” the source code of subversives hard drives, nicknames are meaningless. You, (at least 37 of you), have been identified not by NAME, but by preassigned NUMBER.
Happy posting.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:50 pmGot a link or are we just supposed to believe you?
February 21st, 2007 at 3:50 pmI have just turned in my “subersives listâ„¢ ” to my superiors. I had a total of 37 off of this site, NO MATTER WHAT IDENTITY YOU POST UNDER.
Nicknames? They are no good to the NSA. When you “own” the source code of subversives hard drives, nicknames are meaningless. You, (at least 37 of you), have been identified not by NAME, but by preassigned NUMBER.
Happy posting.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:50 pmis this the same Exley who attended the Ivy League Stanford University, located smack dab in the middle of an urban heat sink?
February 21st, 2007 at 3:51 pmThere’s “source code” on hard drives??
BWAAGAGAAJAJAJAJHAHAHAHA~
February 21st, 2007 at 3:52 pmSource code has nothing to do with drives dumb a$$. source code is for operating systems and other software, not hardware. They use firmware.
God, you should take a class before you post bullsh!t.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:52 pmYo, Rachie, what’s my number>>>>????
February 21st, 2007 at 3:53 pmNo, that is Jason M Hendler. Exley is a little better than JMH.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:53 pmMore Nonsense From BushCo
Bush hails UK pullout as ’sign of success’
Tony Blair’s announcement today that Britain is to withdraw about 1,600 troops from Iraq over the coming months shows that US-led operations in the country are succeeding, American leaders say.
President George W Bush views the plan to cut British forces to about 5,000 by the end of the summer as “a sign of success”, according to a US National Security Council spokesman, Gordon Johndroe.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2018125,00.html
OK…If the UK’s announcement of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq is a “sign of success” why can’t the announcement of a timetable for withdrawal by American troops be the same “success”?
February 21st, 2007 at 3:54 pmOK…If the UK’s announcement of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq is a “sign of success” why can’t the announcement of a timetable for withdrawal by American troops be the same “success”???
February 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pmRUCerious and Pud in the Ass Boy,
As far as you know…right?
We don’t use “normal” techniques.
You kNOW that.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pmHey Exley can you please explain this?
Your reasoning has gone loopy again:
when, in fact, Iraq did not release its dossier until two months after Iraq released the dossier.
Exley
Maybe you shouldn’t drink so much coffee.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm“Well, I look at it and see it is actually an affirmation.”
Vice President Cheney, on the planned British withdrawal from Iraq, February 21, 2007.
Just one of the GOP Quotes of the Week…
February 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pmExley is a little better than JMH.
Comment by Spudge_Boy —
Wanna re-think that?
February 21st, 2007 at 3:57 pmExley, my sincere apologies. I had you contused with another poster. boy.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:57 pmThat Juan Cole????
February 21st, 2007 at 3:58 pmComment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
Uhhhhh, I guess not, eh Exley???
The VP was factually correct, as long as you understand to what “progress” it references.
The brits, because of their cowardice and submissiveness, have operated in the “rear” during the Iraq invasion/extermination (aka genocide). With the new front expected to be Iran, their current locations would be incongruent with the role that they are playing.
So the brits will “leave” Iraq only to move to a hold position in Saudi Arabia or the Persian Gulf. Then when the US attacks Iran, the brits will then assume a rear position again.
Think I’m wrong? Want to bet on it?
February 21st, 2007 at 3:59 pmAccording to the Bush Administration this reduction of UK troops is a ‘sign of success’ in Iraq. If that is a sincere comment, then we should see our troops coming home soon and not increasing. Bringing our troops home would certainly be a success.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:59 pmI have NEVER associated the concept of normal with you, rachel cakes………..
February 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pmRUCerious & Spudge boy, please quit feeding the idiotic troll. It was once amusing, but now it is just a pathetic sight.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pmSo Britain pulling out of Iraq means things are going in the right direction?Hmmm. Someone convince me.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pmNo, Exley is a little better than JMH. He sees the light from time to time, unlike JMH, who is a bat sh!t loony.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pmIn “spinmeister Cheney’s” deluded world of double speak and turning lies into truth, he is the only individual on the planet who believes this. How unfortunate that these deluded leaders can’t see the forest for the trees? How unfortunate that these deluded leaders haven’t the personal insight to recognize their degree of mental illness? How unfortunate for the american people that we will have two more years of this delusional behavior!
Obviously, the UK is smart enough to “cut their losses” – something which, unfortuantely, our deluded leaders ego’s won’t allow them to see….How pathetically unfortunate!
February 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pmPerhaps Frankindick’s idea of progress is clearing the field of “friendlies” who otherwise could be in the way of air attacks…
February 21st, 2007 at 4:06 pm#10 Spudge…
Here is the link:
http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Documents/ColeLondon.htm
Go down to the section titled: “Outspoken British MP and Iraq war opponent”
This is a copy of the original posting.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:06 pmThe UK et al are “ditching a sinking ship” – that’s the only way this can be interpreted if one is grounded in reality! How ridiculous of Cheney and Dumbya to think that they can spin this pure bullcrap on the american people! How ridiculously low can they stoop? (don’t answer that!).
February 21st, 2007 at 4:07 pm#23, No problem, RUCerious….
February 21st, 2007 at 4:07 pmHey Rachel, if you know so much about me, send me an email. Now.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:07 pmYou must have my email address, right?
I’m waiting…
Prince harry going to iraq is a ploy to get more idiots to join the army …thats all
February 21st, 2007 at 4:07 pmAs Cheney says that British troops leaving means progress in Iraq, then why are we sending more in? I hope Blair makes public the reasons they are leaving, instead of letting Cheney make up a reason. Of course, there leaving probably has more to do with not wanting to send Prince Harry than anything.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:08 pmP.S. Spudger
February 21st, 2007 at 4:08 pmHow is this shit made stupid?
I’ve been wondering that for the longest time>>>:}
rachel kinnardi: You are an idiot. No one believes your lies. It’s clear from your earlier posts that you are barely intelligent enough to hold down a job, let alone a job related to tracking “subversives.”
… now, finish your graham crackers then it’s time for your nap.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:08 pmWhy has Bush done to the US and to the world since he has been in office? What has he done to make the US safer since 9/11? Has attacking Iraq made the US safer, tell me? Will the children of all those civilians killed remember the USA with great love in their hearts?
February 21st, 2007 at 4:09 pm29.
As far as you know.
Heh.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:09 pmOK Tubes, but it’s so much fun calling BS on the BSer…
February 21st, 2007 at 4:09 pm29.
As far as you know.
Heh.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:09 pmExley . . .
February 21st, 2007 at 4:10 pmWith the governement fighting among themselves, with the US politicians blaming each other for the failures, it’s clearly a catastrophic situation. Also in Afghanistan the Dutch have said they will leave in 2008 without looking for a replacement, the Canadians treatening to withdraw now and the British accusing fellow Nato memembers of doing nothing. Question asked: Who will carry the blame within the EU and Nato
February 21st, 2007 at 4:10 pmI also can take a sh*t and call it a blueberry pie, that doesnt make it a blueberry pie now does it?
February 21st, 2007 at 4:10 pm3 out of 4 U.S. Marines were recruited from very small and very very poor cities which are kept very poor by Design. Yes, the U.S. Government and Military premeditatedly kept them poor and flood them with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiters. That way their only otion for survival is by joining the U.S. Marine Corps. ‘Join the U.S.M.C.or starve’: one U.S. General said. Up until now these Marines have been sheltered inside the ‘Green Zone’. Not anymore. The same lunatic who sent them to Iraq decided to make them vulnerable to the Freedom Fighters who have no other option but to defend their Islam, their land, and their families. Bush’s plan is doomed from its inception. The Marines have only one option: travel to either Jordan, Syria, or even Iran and seek assylum. They will take very good care of you. You will see. It is your right given to you by The Geneva Convention. Trust me.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:12 pm#44 RUC,
I hear you, but this particular one is no challenge for you and just ends up clogging a thread with the very BS that you are calling it on.
They just don’t make trolls like they used to.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pmAt best George Bush and his friends and allies are a bunch of arrogant senseless people bent on destroying the world. It is obvious for everybody with some knowledge of the situation that the wars unleashed against Iraq and Afghanistan are lost, creating a completely new situation in the Middle East and the wider world. The US is being cut to the size it really is and Israel is in for a giant storm. Nationalism is sweeping trough the region. Israel which was the main organiser of the war against Iraq and which still continues to propagate war against Iran is in deep trouble. One home made. Arrogance is being punished.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm#48 Vance,
Obviously, you’ve never been to a Marie Callendars.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:14 pmIt is not “as far as I know. It is what it is and you can’t change that by posting stupid bullshit on a blog thread.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:15 pm#20 Barfly,
You are more than welcome to pick up that particular discussion in the original thread, titled “Young Will Not Retract Fabricated Lincoln Quote.”
It has been five days since I corrected your incorrect chronology and other errors over there. Similarly, it has been five days since Dale requested some…any evidence to back up your unsubstantiated and refuted allegations regarding the Iraq weapons dossier.
I look forward to your response in that thread.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:15 pm#52……Cracked me up…thanx
February 21st, 2007 at 4:16 pmI’m not sure what his plan is anymore, or ever. I wasn’t hapy with him going to Iraq in the first place. We were going after Laden, then he drops that quickly and goes for Saddam. I don’t think Bin Laden really didn’t have anything to do with 9-11. I believe after much investigation that 9-11 really was an inside job. Bush and his people did 9-11 so he could start his wars. It worked, Americans were upset and let him go after whoever he wanted. Bush has messed up things worldwide. He never should have touched Iraq. The Iraqi people were better off with Saddam. At least he had control of his country. Bush has too many countries mad at us. I am mad at us. For the last couple of years, I have wished that I wasn’t American. I would love to leave this country that is controlled as bad as the Taliban controls Pakistan. You have to sign into Aljazeera just to find out the real news in the world and even in America at times. US news talks about Anna nichole as if the the twin towers fell again. Impeach Bush
February 21st, 2007 at 4:20 pmAmerica is on its last legs in Iraq , Now comes the stravation technique thats happening as we speak
February 21st, 2007 at 4:25 pm19. RUCerious and Pud in the Ass Boy,
As far as you know…right?
We don’t use “normal†techniques.
You kNOW that.
Comment by rachel kinnardi — February 21, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Come down my way…I have something some techniques that weill leave you speechless and motionless…
Now, since my source code is readily available and traceable! I’ll be waiting anxiously for YOUR arrival!
February 21st, 2007 at 4:26 pmOops…
weill = will (Sorry for the typo)
February 21st, 2007 at 4:27 pmMeanwhile, Big Dick is still snubbing the Sec/Def of Japan because he doesn’t agree with ‘The Splurge’.
It was also raining as he remarked about the nice Sunny day.
Winning = Failure
Good = Evil
Black = White
Peace = War
Iraq = Terrorists
Get the picture? Shades of Orwell, they really have the doublespeak down pat. Spin it, make it something it’s not, then call anyone who sees through the bull ‘emboldening the terrorists’.
I read 1984 in 1967. I never really thought I’d see the day when our government actually used the tactics therein. It saddens me greatly to see a once great Nation reduced to Corporate greed driving it’s Federal policies. Sickening would be a better descriptor.
Most of our Iraq war deaths have been young people from small towns, who never had a chance at post-secondary education.
Now, the survivors will see first hand how the Vet’s benefits they were counting on have been cut, reduced or don’t even exist. In fact, corporate whores see VA benefits as ‘welfare’. I guess because them & their children will never have to fight on a battlefield.
Satan has owned Cheney’s soul since he met up with Rumsfeld during the Nixon era. He’s polished his intimidation tactics while gaining power by selling weapons, killing, lying and ignoring truth.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:29 pmThis is his legacy.
Bush was sucked in because he wanted to one-up his Daddy.
May the power of truth & light overcome Satan’s shadow here on Earth…we need all the help we can find today.
*
huh…
a very obvious idea just now from randi…
the purpose of the “surge” may be to replace these brits…
sounds logical…
February 21st, 2007 at 4:30 pm…
#11 rachel
I have just turned in my “subersives list™ †to my superiors. I had a total of 37 off of this site, NO MATTER WHAT IDENTITY YOU POST UNDER.
Hey, rach. Ever see that movie “A Beautiful Mind”? The one with Russell Crowe, where he plays this Nobel Prize winning mathematician who has psychotic delusions about being involved in top secret government operations? Just wonderin’.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:31 pmIt should be obvious to a 12 year-old that Rachel saying she had info on the subversives on this website was: humour—teasing—joshing—joking—kidding—playing around—-yanking your chain—foolin’.
Get back to a more serious topic such as everything, everything, everything this administration has said regarding Iraq has been a LIE. It has caused the deaths of 658,000 human beings, cost $2.2 TRILLION, and greatly increased the number of our enemies.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:41 pmIt is not “as far as I know. It is what it is and you can’t change that by posting stupid bullshit on a blog thread.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
As far as YOU know.
I’ll never tell.
It is a “state secret” how we track you here.
And track we do.
At least 37 of you.
So far.
And Pud in the ASs BOY?
The “source code” of your hard drive IS your operating system asswiper.
And when you “OWN” the source code, you “OWN” the hard drive.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:41 pmIraqvet – could you help out and explain some stuff over on the “8th chopper downed” thread????
February 21st, 2007 at 4:45 pm…that is, if you can stand wading through the sewage that rachel has spilled everywhere
February 21st, 2007 at 4:47 pmThe “source code†of your hard drive IS your operating system asswiper.
Comment by rachel kinnardi esq. — February 21, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
I am not interested in a flame war, so I will just give the short answer: No.
And when you “OWN†the source code, you “OWN†the hard drive.
Again, no.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:50 pm“I have just turned in my “subersives listâ„¢ †to my superiors. I had a total of 37 off of this site”
Comment by rachel kinnardi — February 21, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
What a loser. In all the time you’ve been trollin’ here you’ve only come up with 37? Under the bush definition of a subversive, I could find twice that many here on a slow day before 10a.m. eastern. You’re pathetic.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:51 pmYou mean the source code ON your hard drive is the operating system.
And you know that thanks to me. Glad I could help loony.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:52 pmThat Juan Cole????
Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
And you are defending the Dick Cheney who claimed “There clearly was a relationship [between Saddam Hussein and AlQaeda]. It’s been testified to. The evidence is overwhelming.”?
The one who defended that assertion even as the 9/11 commission report contradicteed him?
That Dick Cheney???
February 21st, 2007 at 4:53 pmMore on Cheeeney’s quote
http://governmentdope.blogspot.com/2007/02/dick-its-all-good-in-iraq-cheney.html
February 21st, 2007 at 5:04 pmActually Gregor, I have not defended Dick Cheney anywhere in this thread.
But since you brought it up, I need to correct you. The 9/11 Commission did not deny that there were contacts between Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and Al Qaeda…Quite the opposite:
Even Democrat 9/11 Commissioner Lee Hamilton defended Vice President Cheney and said he was correct when he said Iraq and Al Qaeda were linked:
“The vice president is saying, I think, that there were connections between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s government,†Democratic vice-chairman Lee Hamilton told reporters. “We don’t disagree with that.â€
“There is…evidence [in 1997] that around this time bin Laden sent out a number of feelers to the Iraqi regime, offering some cooperation,†the 9/11 Commission Report says.
According to the Report, “In March, 1998, after bin Laden’s public fatwa against the United States, two al Qaeda members reportedly went to Iraq to meet with Iraqi intelligence. In July, an Iraqi delegation traveled to Afghanistan to meet first with the Taliban and then with bin Laden.â€
So, the 9/11 Commission did in fact find there were contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda.
Now, if you argue that the extent of the links and contacts were insufficient or at such a low level that they did not justify the invasion of Iraq, that is a separate topic about which people can reasonably disagree.
But it is not accurate to say the commission found no contacts or links between Iraq and Al Qaeda at all.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:12 pm“The vice president is saying, I think, that there were connections between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s government,†Democratic vice-chairman Lee Hamilton told reporters. “We don’t disagree with that.â€
Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
-Hamilton is mischaracterizing Cheney’s statements.
-We’ve probably had as much contact with Al Qaeda as Iraq.
-Nobody talked about contacts so why are you posting this anyway.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:22 pmFrom the report:
There is “no credible evidence” that Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq collaborated with the al Qaeda terrorist network on any attacks on the United States, according to a new staff report released this morning by the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Although Osama bin Laden briefly explored the idea of forging ties with Iraq in the mid-1990s, the terrorist leader was hostile to Hussein’s secular government, and Iraq never responded to requests for help in providing training camps or weapons, the panel found in the first of two reports issued today.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:24 pmBut it is not accurate to say the commission found no contacts or links between Iraq and Al Qaeda at all.
Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Now it’s my turn to correct you: What you say, although technically correct, is grossly misleading.
Cheney was speaking in terms of the 9/11 attacks, implying that Hussein was involved in the planning and/or execution of the same. That is the claim the 9/11 commission debunked.
Fleeting contacts do not amount to a relationship, no matter how much you twist the meaning of the words. Sending “feelers” is not a relationship either, let alone a sign of partnership in crime -which is what Cheney was peddling.
Save your corrections for someone who needs them.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:25 pm#20 Indeed,,,,Maybe I shouldn’t drink so much coffee. That is, of course, not what I meant to type.
Here is my original posting on the topic and what I meant to re-type:
Congress voted on the authorization to use military force in Iraq in October, 2002.
Saddam’s weapons declaration was not issued until early December 2002.
So, Barfly’s attempt to argue that Congress voted to approve the use of force only after reading a redacted version of the declaration is incorrect.
Congress voted to authorize force almost two months before the declaration was ever turned over by Iraq.
Comment by Exley — February 16, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Clearly, in my haste, I typed inaccurately when I was re-stating these facts for the umpteenth time. Thank you for pointing out my error. Clearly, I meant to type:
“when, in fact, Iraq did not release its dossier until two months Congress had voted to approve the AUMF.”
My apologies for my typing error and any confusion it may have caused you.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:30 pmGregor,
Actually, those are not “my” corrections. Those are the words of the Democratic co-chair of the 9/11 Commission and quotes from the Commission’s Report itself.
You claimed the 9/11 Commission Report “contradicted” Cheney. As I have show, you were incorrect in your assertion.
For the record, here is Lee Hamilton’s statement again:
“The vice president is saying, I think, that there were connections between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s government,†Democratic vice-chairman Lee Hamilton told reporters. “We don’t disagree with that.â€
February 21st, 2007 at 5:34 pmThe “source code†of your hard drive IS your operating system…. Comment by rachel kinnardi
Actually, if you can find Windows, or any other OS’s, source code on your hard drive I would be amazed. It is actually the object code that resides on your hard drive. Rachel, just refer to my earlier post where I pointed out that you are an idiot and all will become clear.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:36 pmYou claimed the 9/11 Commission Report “contradicted†Cheney. As I have show, you were incorrect in your assertion.
Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
It did contradict Cheney.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:38 pmOh, that Torticola Richard B. Cheney
February 21st, 2007 at 5:39 pmHe comes up with utterances so ZANY!
He says we’re making progress
When Iraq is a BLOODY MESS!
Even Tony Blair thinks Cheney is INSANEY!!!!!
#74 DRxJ,
With all due respect, what you have posted in not from the 9/11 Commission Report. What you have posted is a newspaper account of a report from the 9/11 Commission staff that was released prior to the actuall 9/11 Commission Report.
In fact, news coverage of that staff report (again, that is NOT from teh final 9/11 Commission Report) was so inaccurate that Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton felt compelled to correct the news coverage. It is from those corrections that Lee Hamilton’s statement comes from. In fact, here is the full quote:
“I must say I have trouble understanding the flack over this. The Vice President is saying, I think, that there were connections between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s government. We don’t disagree with that. What we have said is [that] we don’t have any evidence of a cooperative, or a corroborative relationship between Saddam Hussein’s government and these al Qaeda operatives with regard to the attacks on the United States. So it seems to me the sharp differences that the press has drawn, the media has drawn, are not that apparent to me.”
Here’s Lee Hamilton reinforcing the point on Chris Matthews’s Hardball:
“They had contacts, but what we did not find was any operational tie with respect to attacks on the United States.”
Now, again, reasonable people can disagree on whether those contacts were sufficient to justify the war in Iraq.
But it is disingenuous to say that the 9/11 Commission found absolutely no link.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:41 pmThere are “feelers” or “contacts” between telemarketers and myself, too. They try to sell me things I don’t want and I tell them where to go.
If there was an urgent necessity to take Iraq because Saddam might give non-existent WMD’s to his sworn hated enemy al Qaeda, then why did we not attack Pakistan who most definitely DOES have nuclear weapons and delivery systems, who sold this technology to North Korea, who sent large amounts of money to the 19 who did 9/11, who helped bin Laden escape from Afghanistan, who is harboring bin Laden and al Qaeda TODAY, and who is headed by an unelected dictator?
What? You say Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world and sits in between #1 and #3 ?
February 21st, 2007 at 5:48 pmWith all due respect, what you have posted in not from the 9/11 Commission Report. What you have posted is a newspaper account
Yes, I should have stated, from a summary of said report.
Although Osama bin Laden briefly explored the idea of forging ties with Iraq in the mid-1990s, the terrorist leader was hostile to Hussein’s secular government, and Iraq never responded to requests for help in providing training camps or weapons
February 21st, 2007 at 5:49 pmIf you considered this contact, the raison d’etre for the Iraqi invasion (fiasco), I whole heartedly disagree.
But alas, it’s a derailment, and it’s also 6pm, which means family time!
Ciao all!!!
You claimed the 9/11 Commission Report “contradicted†Cheney. As I have show, you were incorrect in your assertion.
Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Thanks, Exley, I can read and was aware of the quote the first time around.
I suggest you re-read my post. See, no matter how much you paste that quote, it won’t change the fact that what Cheney was peddling (a cooperational relationship between Hussein and AlQaeda) was debunked by the 9/11 commission when they found that “no credible evidence that Iraq and al Qaeda cooperated on attacks against the United States.” -paste Hamilton’s quote again and that finding still stands.
Wiggling those “links” and “contacts” into a cooperation is hugely misleading. Cheney has/had a (political) stake. What is your excuse?
February 21st, 2007 at 5:50 pm“The Vice President is saying, I think, that there were connections between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s government.”
Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
Hamilton is mischaracterizing Cheney’s statements. And why is he using “connections” instead of “contacts.”
February 21st, 2007 at 5:52 pmExley: Leaving no hair unsplit since 1979.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:59 pmNow, again, reasonable people can disagree on whether those contacts were sufficient to justify the war in Iraq. Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
No, reasonable people won’t disagree – then there’s you and Darth Cheney.
But it is disingenuous to say that the 9/11 Commission found absolutely no link. Comment by Exley — February 21, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
No cooperative links. A link is a vague term, just like the concept of you having an intellect is a vague one. No substantial or relevant links were found. The US had more links with Al Qaeda than Iraq did, maybe we should invade Middleton New Jersey and attack Al Qaeda Vince-P? Right skippy?
February 21st, 2007 at 6:13 pm*
…that is, if you can stand wading through the sewage that rachel has spilled everywhere
Comment by tom baker — February 21, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
and why you and others have added to it is confusing…
February 21st, 2007 at 6:15 pmand maddening…
.
Sharing a pot of tea doesn’t make you Al Qaeda, any more than going to a hip-hop club makes you a Gansta Skippy – I mean Exley.
So how long have you been a member of Al Qaeda Exley, after all you have ties to them by your hair splitting and conscious rendering maddening idiocy.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:17 pmDefend this lie Exley. This was never confirmed, and in fact it was dismissed immediately after it was claimed by our own FBI.
Then there’s this lie. There’s no proof of this – but there is more proof that the US was an ally of Al Qaeda against the soviets.
So now Cheney trusts the Weekly Standard – a NeoCon hotbet of AIPAC wacko right wingnut extremist zionism, over the findings of the CIA?
Then there’s this lie that was debunked by the 911 commission.
You people are insane Exley – fcuking insane.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pmComment by katy #61
…it’s ALL about stalling for time…
…while stealing more money…
February 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pmkaty – i am not, nor have i been, contributing to the rachel problem. the point of that post was to get some more info on why our commanders are repeatedly sending choppers out to get shot down, and the aside, directed at rachel, was one sentence, which is all i’ve ever typed in her direction.
I’d hoped IraqVet would stop onto this thread and tellus about what kinds of operations our troops are being sent on, and to what end.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:39 pmAtta was in Florida at the time of the alleged “meeting in Prague”. The Czech police said the meeting never happened.
The al Qaeda “shack in the north of Iraq” (if it existed) was in the part of Iraq not under Saddam’s control, but totally under US/UK control. We could have taken it out with an air strike any time we wanted.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:44 pmThe Downing Street Memo said the policy of invasion was set (July 2002) and the evidence would be made up later. Some on this website are believing the evidence that was made up later.
The White House’s website said Saddam “has 500 tons of sarin, mustard, and VX: and 38,000 liters of botulinim, and 25,000 liters of anthrax; and 30,000 delivery munitions.”
Really? Where are they??
February 21st, 2007 at 6:53 pmkaty – i am not, nor have i been, contributing to the rachel problem. …
Comment by tom baker — February 21, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
then i was mistaken… sorry…
February 21st, 2007 at 7:39 pmOh, and Exley, speaking of “links”:
A New York man accused of trying to help terrorists in Afghanistan has donated some $15,000 to the House Republicans’ campaign committee over three years.
Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari pleaded not guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to charges that include terrorism financing, material support of terrorism and money laundering.
GOP donor hit with terror charges
Now we have evidence that the GOP has links and ties to terrorist organisations. He.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:11 pmCheney:’If we leave Iraq….withdrawal called ‘Cut & Run’, but if the British,or any other coalition nation leaves ..then withdrawal mean progress….!!…
February 21st, 2007 at 8:17 pmHave you hugged your local resident NSA surveillance spy today?
February 21st, 2007 at 8:31 pm#38 I’m a Brit, my brother-in-law was in the UK army. I can tell you absolutely that no one, but no one, joins the army here on account of the nitwit royals.
1) The queen’s heirs love to play soldiers, it makes their life of indolent privilege seem slightly more meaningful.
2) Harry’s uncle, Prince Andrew, saw active service in the Falklands War; there wasn’t a spike in recruitment on account of that.
3) The reason troops are being stood down has more to do with Blair slowly winding down his job and trying not to leave his successor the poisoned chalice he helped create. The cost of Iraq is proving a drain on an economy that’s no longer as stable as it was a few years ago.
I wish Americans would stop thinking we worship these inbred parasites. It’s tantamount to Europeans assuming that all Americans love the Bushes simply because they’re the “first” family.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:50 pm99
Who the fu*ck do you think you are hippy? What in the fu*ck in Jesus name are you angrily vomiting that shi*t about our #2 in charge man.
I am from the very deep South and we love yanks even far north and west as Cheney’s home state. You gawd damnned “yellow-belly” yanks better crawl back under your Circu-Circus pizza box and smoke some more crack that you attain from your swelfare chack every month.
Got that CRAkKeR?
Well do ya punkass white yank ass shitball faggo lezbo hom pinko faggotic grabbasstic piece of civilian slime traitorous peter-puffer smack ass big wally suckin aids infested hippy ass bitch!!
February 21st, 2007 at 9:53 pmIt’s funny to see how neo-cons spin about UK withdrawal.
In fact, UK planned to “cut & run” from last year.
“Civil war is a more likely outcome in Iraq than democracy, Britain’s outgoing ambassador in Baghdad has warned Tony Blair in a confidential memo”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5240808.stm
“The presence of UK armed forces in Iraq “exacerbates the security problems” and they should “get out some time soon”, the head of the British Army has said.”
February 21st, 2007 at 9:56 pmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6046332.stm
Dr. Condoleezza Rice: magnificently accomplished and educated woman; brilliant scholar; concert pianist; gracious lady; presidential confident and trusted advisor; dedicated public servant; political giant and National Security Advisor to The President of the United States of America. And now, Secretary of State of the most powerful country on the planet. The first African-American female Secretary of State in our history.
Why would such an accomplished American woman be so savagely and viciously trashed and dishonored by the liberal elites and the left-wing Democratic Party? Not only trashed, but insulted, bad-mouthed, ridiculed and humiliated.What does a girl have to do to win the accolades and approval of these people?
Condi Rice has garnered the scorn of her Democratic colleagues, not because of what she has accomplished, but because of who and what she is. She is a black American, who is guilty of an unspeakable crime in liberal eyes.Her crime? She does not worship at the altar of the Democratic Party. Condi Rice has committed the unpardonable sin.She has dared to carve out her own political path while black.
And so has any black American sinned who dares to look the Democratic Party in their face and say, “You are wrong. I don’t need you.I don’t want you.I can do better than youâ€. And so she has.
The Democrats haughtily assume they own black America and their votes.They ridicule and belittle any black who dares to wander off their liberal “plantationâ€.
They think any black American who seeks a life free of Democratic ownership, is stupid, ignorant, uneducated and misinformed. Condi Rice, in particular, has been labeled a bald-faced liar, a puppet, a sycophant, and a mindless, thoughtless, robotic, brainwashed slave of George W. Bush. In their eyes, any black who dares to snub the Democrats is a traitor.
Countless cartoons and articles have insulted and offended her and her blackness in ways we have not seen since the pre-Civil War south.
Condi Rice dared to tell the Democratic owners that she believes the conservative mindset is her home. She dares to be a black Republican. And so they savaged her.
The liberal elites cry foul! She is black and not allowed to be a conservative! She is beholden to them, and only them, for the freedom she has attained. They own her and she has not paid them back for the favors they bestowed upon her and her people. Not only is she uppity, she is ungrateful!
The Democratic Party is the party of Sen. Robert Byrd, a former Grand Dragon in the Ku Klux Klan. This pitiful excuse for a human being still throws the “N†word around like it is butter, and is never corrected by his liberal cronies. This sad, pathetic man has the blind hubris to say Condi Rice is not fit to serve, when he himself is not fit, nor shall he ever be fit, to walk the hallowed halls of Congress.
Bulletin to Democratic liberals: Condi Rice owes you nothing. Clarence Thomas, who your leader, the disgraceful Harry Reid, called “an embarrassment to the courtâ€, owes you nothing.You don’t own them anymore.They are not beholden to you for anything.Stings, doesn’t it?
But isn’t that the country you’ve always preached about? At least until someone dares to leave your plantation. Then you turn back the clock and call them lying buffoons who don’t have enough sense to hold high office; too stupid to see that George Bush is a war mongering fraud.
And this same fraud just happens to be bringing freedom to a tyrannized people and is changing the face of the planet we live on; something you people have never even thought about doing and wouldn’t have the courage of conviction or the stomach to do it anyway.
And not one of you, not Robert Byrd, not Barbara Boxer, not Ted Kennedy and not Harry Reid is fit to tie Dr. Condoleezza Rice’s shoelaces.
Get over yourselves. The slaves have been freed. Get used to it. And in case you hadn’t noticed, they were freed by a Republican. His name was Abraham Lincoln.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:58 pmNow we have evidence that the GOP has links and ties to terrorist organisations. He. Comment by Gregor Samsa — February 21, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
Actually that’s proof that the GOP is funded by terrorists. He. Can you imagine if the opposite situation were true? Those freaks would be making hay out of this!!!
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:11 am#90 VVGFU and #75 Gregor
Cheney made the “pretty well confirmed” remark in a December 9, 2001, appearance, over five years ago…In numerous subsequent appearances, Cheney has modified his comments as the intelligence became clearer. In three following appearances on Meet the Press (3/02, 9/02, and 9/03), when the Vice President breached the topic of the Atta-Prague allegation, Cheneyly told Russert that he “[didn't] know” if the visit occurred, that it was “unconfirmed,” and that intelligence had been unable “to nail down a close tie between the al-Qaida organization and Saddam Hussein.”
Moreover, despite what you claim, Gregor, Cheney has been quite clear in saying there was no evidence of direct Iraqi involvement in the 9/11 attacks:
Cheney on Meet the Press, 9/14/03
VICE PRES. CHENEY: With respect to 9/11, of course you’ve had the story that’s been publicly out there: The Czechs alleged that Mohamed Atta, the lead attacker, met in Prague with a senior Iraqi intelligence official five months before the attack. But we’ve never been able to develop any more of that yet, either in terms of confirming it or discrediting it. We just don’t know.
2. Cheney on Meet the Press, 9/8/02
VICE PRES. CHENEY: Well, I want to be very careful about how I say this. I’m not here today to make a specific allegation that Iraq was somehow responsible for 9/11. I can’t say that.
3. Cheney on Meet the Press, 3/24/02 (emphasis mine):
VICE PRES. CHENEY: [on Iraq] … With respect to the connections to al-Qaida, we haven’t been able to pin down any connection there. I read this report with interest after our interview last fall. We discovered, and it’s since been public, the allegation that one of the lead hijackers, Mohamed Atta, had, in fact, met with Iraqi intelligence in Prague, but we’ve not been able yet from our perspective to nail down a close tie between the al-Qaida organization and Saddam Hussein.
4. Cheney on Meet the Press, 9/16/01 — Just five days after the attacks:
RUSSERT: Do we have any evidence linking Saddam Hussein or Iraqis to this operation? [Sept. 11 attacks]
VICE PRES. CHENEY: No.
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 amI’m glad that one of our world leaders, Tony Blair, is making a step in the right direction by withdrawing the troops. Now all we have to do is implement the 2000 Millennium goals one of which is to eliminate global poverty now by 2025. According to the Borgen Project it costs $19 billion to feed the world for a year while we spend $340 billion on the war in Iraq.
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:44 am