McCain: Senators ‘waving the white flag to al Qaeda.’
By on May 25th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
McCain: Senators ‘waving the white flag to al Qaeda.’
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) last month, recounting a conversation with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ):
The day before we begin the debate on the Iraq bills, he pulled me aside on the Senate floor and said, Jim, we do not want the situation we had in the Vietnam War. We do not want one side impugning the patriotism of the other side.
McCain today:
I was very disappointed to see Senator Obama and Senator Clinton embrace the policy of surrender by voting against funds to support our brave men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This vote may win favor with MoveOn and liberal primary voters, but it’s the equivalent of waving a white flag to al Qaeda.
UPDATE: Greg Sargent has more.
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McCain is insane, and Webb is a disappointment.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:21 pmMcCain has as much credibility as Patrick1.
They have both shown the same type of leadership.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pmdem·a·gogue /ˈdɛməˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg/
–noun 1. a person, esp. an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.
I guess that’s fuzz-nut electorate on the right needs to hear. Sad.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pmwe get what we paid for, and so does everyone else. it is just that they get paid by corporations to promote their profits, and that means they care less about us.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:25 pmtraitors, to the last.
re #1
May 25th, 2007 at 12:25 pmand the problem is that insane gets you elected if you’re a republican.
blah, blah, blah…libtards…blah, blah, blah…surrender…blah, blah, blah…moonbats…blah, blah, blah…islamofacists…blah, blah, blah…
May 25th, 2007 at 12:25 pmWhat don’t these retards understand about how hypocritical it is to decry al-Qaeda while yawning off bin Laden?
Anytime W wants to spew his easily-debunked rhetoric about al-Qaeda, or hypocritically quote bin Laden’s blather, President Jr should be asked if he still “truly doesn’t worry about bin Laden”, and if not, then what’s changed his mind since then, then he should be asked why he signed off on shutting down the CIA’s unit devoted to catching/killing UbL if he’s so convinced bin Laden is such an ongoing threat to the US
May 25th, 2007 at 12:27 pmGen Batiste was on Democracy Now! this morning being interviewed by Amy Goodman, and she asked the Gen his opinion of McCain, and Batiste paused for a couple of seconds and said…’I have no comment about him”. Thatshould tell you something baout what other honest military people think of McCain…He has lost it!
May 25th, 2007 at 12:29 pmmore crap from this propaganda lover.
If you oppose the war and want it to end, you hate america, are with the terrorists or want us to “lose”
if there is a such thing as winning or losing when conqeuring a country and killing people. I just hope and pray that this man is held accountable some day.
The reality, though, is that McCain has waved the white flag - he’s happy to give up on the ideals of the Constitution and Bill of Rights….to quench his thirst for power, profits and war….
Some reading on this:
“The America-Haters Strike Again”
May 25th, 2007 at 12:29 pmhttp://www.populistamerica.com/ the_america_haters_strike_again
Did the Iraq bill include more agressive benchmarks in capturing Bin-Laden/dismantling Al-Qaeda?
May 25th, 2007 at 12:29 pmSenator McCain is becoming “increasingly irrelevantâ€.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:29 pm“Jim, we do not want the situation we had in the Vietnam War. We do not want one side impugning the patriotism of the other side.”
He’s talking about the stories of soldiers being spit upon, not anti-war types, who were called commies; they’re still fair game to war supporters.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:30 pmI don’t always agree with McCain but he’s right on this one.
Todays Democrats are either Quislings, useful idiots or overgrown children.
You all make me sick.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:35 pmMcCain will never get the nomination. DO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE EVEN ONE VIABLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE??
May 25th, 2007 at 12:35 pmDo these Repugs realize the effect of all the fear mongering and war baiting on the growth and credibility of Al Qaeda? A once ragtag group of Saudis, have morphed into a shadow state of mind. Is this state any less dangerous than if the land were contiguous? George Bush, John McCain, and Republican Candidates War Co. are doing all the PR ads and we the people get to pay the freight. If Bush had stayed in Afganistan, the problem of the inflamed hatred of America would have been contained by now.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:36 pmOnly Sith Lords speak in absolutes.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:39 pmDid the Iraq bill include more agressive benchmarks in capturing Bin-Laden/dismantling Al-Qaeda?
Comment by CompTROLLER V-1
————————————————————————-
WTF are you talking about?…Do you actually believe that we can simoltaniously withdraw from Iraq and dismantle al-Qaeda?
Our retreat from Iraq will be seen across the Islamic world as al-Qaeda’s greatest victory since 9/11.
Anyone who thinks that we can leave Iraq and then beat al-Qaeda is an imbecile.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:39 pmIt is way past time for senile McCain to resign from the Senate and be committed to a mental institution for his own good. Bye John boy fool.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:43 pmAnyone who thinks that we can leave Iraq and then beat al-Qaeda is an imbecile.
Comment by Ringo — May 25, 2007 @ 12:39 pm
Anyone who thought we could enter Iraq, and beat Al Qaidi is either a useful idiot or stupidly niave.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:44 pmMcCain is extremely disturbing. It’s like he’s lost the will to even appear credible.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:44 pmWhat’s the point? That all statements Dems have EVER made are always consistent? How’bout the abject capitulation on the “we-will-not-allow-the-President-a-free-rein-in-Iraq” refrain? Wise up. Cutting and pasting a few quotes willy nilly without context is not just naive, but stupid beyond belief!
May 25th, 2007 at 12:44 pmAnyone who thinks that we can leave Iraq and then beat al-Qaeda is an imbecile.
Comment by Ringo
Or why dont you invade all countries that have Al-Qaeda cells? Or US invades just the ones that have oil and opium?
Question: People that thought Iraq had WMDs are …? come on…you can do it.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:45 pmOnly a lib would surrender to the Al Qaeda army of Iraq.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:46 pmAnyone who thinks that we can leave Iraq and then beat al-Qaeda is an imbecile.
Comment by Ringo
Osama was not in Iraq, dumbf*ck.
“I don’t know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.”
May 25th, 2007 at 12:46 pm- G.W. Bush, 3/13/02
McCain will never get the nomination. DO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE EVEN ONE VIABLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE??
Ron Paul
May 25th, 2007 at 12:46 pmWe went into Iraq for OIL and to make Old Bushies cronies richer. This is an unjust illegal war and we need to bring our Brave Troops Home NOW.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:47 pm# 13 ringo - i always liked pete best better. f%$#ing troll…
May 25th, 2007 at 12:48 pmComment by Ringo
Actually, pal, that’s part of the ‘Strategic Redeployment’ plan coined by the Center for American Progress, if I’m interpreting that document correctly.
What are you talking about? Get a little bit more centered, why don’t you?
Al-Qaeda is gaining infinite strength, and the President is doing almost nothing about it.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:50 pmThat’s the quote I wanted to look for, Wayne. Thanks.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:51 pmKilling American troops, and bleeding the American treasury dry is already viewed as a huge success for Al Qaidi, add into that, the groundswell of hatred for for the west in general, and the US in paticular, and you have the best recruitment, and training tools for Al Qaida, and Islamic Extremists everywhere. Heckuva a job bushie
May 25th, 2007 at 12:53 pm#23 ~ The Al Queda army of Iraq… that DIDN’T EXIST UNTIL WE INVADED…?
Ok, genius. Tell us how to WIN in Iraq. C’mon, let’s hear it. In fact, I’ll give you four years and a half-trillion dollars from d-day to get it done. Sound fair?
May 25th, 2007 at 12:55 pmI’d say that waving the white flag happened when the kill monkey pulled his punches at Tora Bora, pulled the troops out instead of parachuting thousands more in, and let Osama walk away to continue his plotting in Pakistan. Bin Laden paries with his cabana virgins in Pakistan, but the repukes are the party we must have to provide our security???
May 25th, 2007 at 12:56 pmMcCain, Go f**K yourself.
May 25th, 2007 at 12:56 pmMay 25th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
“The most serious issue today for the whole world is this third world war that is raging in Iraq”
Osama bin-Laden
May 25th, 2007 at 1:03 pmWell said Senator McCain!
May 25th, 2007 at 1:04 pm#
“The most serious issue today for the whole world is this third world war that is raging in Iraqâ€
Osama bin-Laden
Comment by Ringo — May 25, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Refer to 19 there Ringo, or patrick or whatever moniker you have chosen today.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:07 pmMcCain: “it’s the equivalent of waving a white flag to al Qaeda.”
Seeing that aWol waved a red flag in front of them five years ago by invading that unhappy country, Osama baby got just what he wanted; for the US to be bogged down in a land war/civil war in the dry sands of Mess-O-Potamia.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pmAs usual, the Bush cultist takes his marching orders from Osama bin laden. Nice going, stupid. bin Laden wanted us out of Saudi Arabia - your cult leader capitulated to that demand. bin Laden wanted the “secular dictator of Iraq” taken down — your cult leader accomplished that for him. Now, you call us names for not wanting to play bin Laden’s game. Good god, what an a-hole you are.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:09 pm“The most serious issue today for the whole world is this third world war that is raging in Iraqâ€
Osama bin-Laden
Comment by Ringo — May 25, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
Of course OBL wants us bogged down in Iraq, HE’S not there, and it’s making us weaker there, and everywhere. You are a fool Ringo.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:12 pm#35 “The most serious issue today for the whole world is this third world war that is raging in Iraqâ€
Osama bin-Laden
Comment by Ringo — May 25, 2007 @ 1:03 pm
And Bush is obbeying OBL why, exactly?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:14 pmRingo, how does your fear propaganda taste today? The Iraq Terror lie is a house of cards.
2% of bodies in Iraq are foreign fighters. We protect the Sunni from Annihilation from the Shia majority and the Sunni kill us. We prop up and empower the burgeoning Shia theocracy and their militia kill us. All on 2 BILLION a week on borrowed money with no military solution. Calling Iraqi’s terrorists who do not want to be occupied is a bold face LIE!
Now how is that worthy of support?
OBL FREE = BUSH FAILURE
Dumbass’ like you who spout grieviously incorrect drivel are Al-Qaida best enablers. It is Iraq citizens, not Al-Aida killing our soldiers. Get it?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:14 pmWhich of the McCain quotes was well said Patrick? Do you leave your house ever? Or just hole up in some bunker reading the drudge report and watching Faux News?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:15 pmI CAN PROVE RINGO AND RAPE-PUBLIC-CANS ARE FULL OF SH*T
If you buy the lie espoused by Bush, and his lackey Ringo, that we are in World War III, If you buy the lie that Iraq is the central front on the War on Terra and our society, mind you, all civilization is at peril then why don’t we have a draft?
Why has Bush never, NOT ONCE, asked for more Americans to serve even though we have continuous shortages of enlistment and retention?
Why don’t Con chickenhawk cheerleaders have their own kids fighting?
In World War II every aspect of our society was placed into winning the war. Bush recommends you go shopping.
If I could ask the bottom 29% of the bell curve, is Ringo and Bush lying or just an incompetent retard?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:16 pmRingo,
please refer to the 2004 Presidential debates in which Failure in Chief stated OBL will not dictate our foreign policy.
DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 25th, 2007 at 1:18 pmhey McCain - surrender means you give up your weapons to the other side and let them rule over you… we’re talking about “going home” here… very different, but nice attempt at playground-style peer pressure and bullying…
May 25th, 2007 at 1:18 pmToliver, your statement is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter what anyone suspected during the 90’s. All that matters is that your cult leader decided to invade Iraq based on cooked intelligence. Clinton wouldn’t have invaded without letting the inspections run their course. Your cult leader told the inspectors to leave and started the invasion. That’s the issue, not what people suspected in the 90’s.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:18 pm#23 Only a lib would surrender to the Al Qaeda army of Iraq.
Comment by Patrick1
Only a dry drunk AWOL male cheerleader would lose to an army in flip flops.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:19 pmExactly right BlueDog! These trolls love the fact that while our military is being stretched to the breaking point, intervening in a civil war where about 5% (I DARE a troll to fact check) of the combatants are foreign provocateurs, we are allowing OBL and al Qaeda to sit and watch us grind our resources down to fight this war along with neglecting security on our own soil!
Ringo, why do you love al Qaeda?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:20 pmAnd how many of these politicians who want this war to continue have kids fighting there…? !!
May 25th, 2007 at 1:21 pmWorld War III????!!! What a sick joke you cultists are. You evidently have no clue about WWII. Let me review for you. In WWII, we and our allies fought two of the biggest military industrial powers the world had ever known. By the time we got directly involved, Hitler’s Germany and Imperial Japan had taken over scores of countries by force and were systematically raping and killing their populations. To compare the “war on terrorism” to WWII does a great injustice and shows no respect to the people who went through that world war.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:22 pm#23
Look at the latest Senate vote. Even honest liberal Democrats aren’t willing to get on their knees and surrender to the terrorists.
It’s only the fringe 10% moonbats that want such a pacifist policy.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:23 pmWhy don’t Con chickenhawk cheerleaders have their own kids fighting?
You talking about John McCain’s son?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:24 pmBush cultist Ringo — fighting the good fight every day to make sure we continue to do what Osama bin Laden wants us to do. Keep it up, Ringo. I’m sure bin Laden appreciates it.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:25 pmObama and Clinton have killed their hopes of looking Presidential by not supporting the troops - they may get an advantage in their primaries, but they are toast for the primaries.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:26 pm#23 wasn’t me. Sorry.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:26 pmm12
“It’s only the fringe 10% moonbats that want such a pacifist policy”
NO!
They barley got one third of the Dems in the house to vote for continuing the fiasco in Iraq
Congrats
May 25th, 2007 at 1:26 pm#
Why don’t Con chickenhawk cheerleaders have their own kids fighting?
You talking about John McCain’s son?
Comment by m12 — May 25, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
No I am talking about your sons and daughters, or just you, how was your tour in Iraq? oh wait the closest you get to combat is your halo game.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:27 pmm12: “It’s only the fringe 10% moonbats that want such a pacifist policy.”
Hey, stupid. Look at the polls. Over 72% of the American public wants the troops to come home now. You’re the fringe “moonbat.”
May 25th, 2007 at 1:27 pmAs long as liberals are all for getting back on the defensive on Al-Qaeda, then I am for withdrawing from Iraq. I admit, our military is stretched thin - that statement is commonsense, not political.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:28 pmWHy is it, that those have been right about this war from the beginning, are the ones that people call surrender monkeys and what not?
Bernie Sanders
Dennis Kucinich
Russ Feingold
They have all been right about everything concerning Iraq, yet, their colleagues still wont listen.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:29 pm#35 “The most serious issue today for the whole world is this third world war that is raging in Iraqâ€
Osama bin-Laden
Let me guess, he said this AFTER we invaded Iraq? Doesn’t that prove your opposing viewpoint? So this IS Chimpy McAWOL’s fault after all!
May 25th, 2007 at 1:30 pmHey, stupid. Look at the polls. Over 72% of the American public wants the troops to come home now. You’re the fringe “moonbat.â€
Which poll is this?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:30 pmHendler: “they may get an advantage in their primaries, but they are toast for the primaries.”
Good one, Hendler. Maybe some day you can start to make sense.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:31 pmHendler,
“they may get an advantage in their primaries, but they are toast for the primaries.” HUH?!?!?!?
I’m sure you meant theuy are ‘toast for the general election’. But I’m not sure how you figure, since 76% of the country wants this thing ended. You righties are in another wolrd completely.
Is as if you are blind with rage, but you have no idea who to be angry with. Should you be angry with the Republicans for deferring taxes and jacking up spending and borrowing to pay for this fiasco, or the 76% that are fighting to end it.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:32 pmRoger Waters for the Win!
And through the range finder over the hill
May 25th, 2007 at 1:32 pmI saw the frontline boys popping their pills
Sick of the mess they find
On their desert stage
And the bravery of being out of range
Yeah the question is vexed
Old man what the hell you gonna kill next
Old timer who you gonna kill next
Hey bartender over here
Two more shots
And two more beers
Sir turn up the TV sound
The war has started on the ground
Just love those laser guided bombs
They’re really great
For righting wrongs
You hit the target
And win the game
From bars 3,000 miles away
3,000 miles away
We play the game
With the bravery of being out of range
We zap and maim
With the bravery of being out of range
We strafe the train
With the bravery of being out of range
We gain terrain
With the bravery of being out of range
With the bravery of being out of range
We play the game
With the bravery of being out of range
I’m still in shock at this newly-reported acquisition crisis in the Marine Corps. The Iraq war could be the most legitimate war ever, but if these lab rats and desk jockeys can’t see the reality of quickly providing EVERY request of these brave men and women in the battlefield, then they have no right to claim it’s necessary to remain in Iraq.
President Bush has been at that podium for years now, using the same exact talking points. That’s not conservative, that’s dilusional.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:35 pmKrazny,
Comment #19 is irrevelant. We are there now and al-Qaeda is there.
If we leave, they win.
This war against radical Islam is much bigger than just Iraq or Afghanistan, it global. Jihadist are killing Buddhists in Thailand, Catholics in the Philippines, Christians in Nigeria, Hindus in Kashmir…in fact, everywhere that the Islamic world come into contact with the world of the infidel, there is bloody jihad. And now Iran is very close to aquiring nuclear weapons, and the Democrats, who are alway screaming about Bush’s lack of a “plan”, have no idea - NO PLAN - to deal with it.
The clash of civilazations that is now underway will very likely last for a generation or more…and the West’s victory is far from guaranteed, especially with a population of foolish adolescents like the people who post here.
Whether we leave Iraq now or later, there will be more war…Get used to it.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:35 pmThey barley got one third of the Dems in the house to vote for continuing the fiasco in Iraq
All that says is that 1/3 of House Democrats have the sense not to listen to you.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:36 pmHendler, the color of the sky is blue, what is the color of the sky in your world?
May 25th, 2007 at 1:36 pmm12, just go to Pollingreport.com. The latest CBS poll shows 72% don’t support Bush ’s handling of the war and 69% want timetables for withdrawl. Like I said, you’re in the fringe “moonbat “area, not us.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:36 pmComptroller,
I have always thought this war was better fought with small groups of special forces types hitting training camps, and other such targets, with Government police and military intelligence agencies stopping the attacks, stopping the money, but most of all working together with our allies to put and end to Al Qaida, and its fundamentalist dogma. A full frontal assault works great in situations like WWII, but not when the enemy is a dispersed internationl organization.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:39 pm53
m12…chickenhawks being those that voted for war while never serving in one themselves kind of excludes mccain.
typical spin from a repub moron.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:40 pmPortrait of a delusional cultist: Hendler thinks that because Obama and Clinton voted the way about 70% of Americans would like them to vote, this will spell trouble for them in the coming election. Nice critical thinking, Hendler. Try again.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:40 pmBluedog49,
From the 90s through 2003. How quickly we choose to forget.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:40 pmBluedog49,
“In WWII, we and our allies fought two of the biggest military industrial powers the world had ever known.”
————————————————————————
Wars of the future will no longer be fought that way.
The days of uniformed soldiers fighting each other under their national flags is over.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:42 pmMcCain has wiaved the white flag on his sanity, and is chances of being the next President.
Thank God for that.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:44 pmWell that makes it a brilliant move on Al Qaidas part then, we are pinned down in Iraq, our military unable to respond elsewhere, and Al Qaidi by sacraficing a few troops in Iraq, have free reign around the world. One of the first things they teach you in stratergy and tactics, is to meet the enemy on a ground of your choosing, not thiers.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:44 pmm12, just go to Pollingreport.com. The latest CBS poll shows 72% don’t support Bush ’s handling of the war and 69% want timetables for withdrawl. Like I said, you’re in the fringe “moonbat “area, not us.
You have an odd definition of the word ‘now’, I suppose, if you equate bringing the troops home now with bringing the troops home with a timetable sometime in 2008.
I’m glad, though, that Congressional Democrats are smart enough not to listen to you, except for that nutcase Kucinich anyway.
If supporting the troops and opposing Al Qaeda puts me on the fringe, so be it.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:45 pmThe only white flag I’ve seen is McCain surrendering the Bush.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:46 pmm12…chickenhawks being those that voted for war while never serving in one themselves kind of excludes mccain.
Ah, so you are talking about the following?
Joe Biden
May 25th, 2007 at 1:47 pmHillary Clinton
John Edwards
Harry Reid
Al-Qaeda torture manuels found in Iraq: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/ archive/ years/ 2007/ 0524072torture1.html
Click through the numbered links at the bottom to view all images.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:48 pmThe Bush-worshipping war monger speaks: “This war against radical Islam is much bigger than just Iraq or Afghanistan, it global. Jihadist are killing Buddhists in Thailand, Catholics in the Philippines, Christians in Nigeria, Hindus in Kashmir…in fact, everywhere that the Islamic world come into contact with the world of the infidel, there is bloody jihad.”
I hate to break up your scare-fest, but the reality is that more people die in auto accidents every year than have been killed in the entire history of your “war on terror.”
If you really want to fight this “war on terror,” I suggest we shore up our defenses here at home rather than play bin Laden’s game. And, I suggest we stop guzzling oil.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:53 pmMcCain: I wish we would defeat Al Queda, and I’m the left. Al Queda wasn’t even in Iraq till we invaded a country and terribly destabilised it, because of what Saddam did in 1988. And if we are fighting Al Queda in Iraq, which we aren’t doing, we have been doing a very bad job for 4 years. If we can’t get anything done with this so called “best army in the world” after years and years of Republicans saying “just one more month, just one more year, just two more years and we got them”, we should leave and try something else. Republicans just appear like psychopathic mad men who want continous death with no end in sight with that thinking. Maybe fighting proxy wars, like Vietnam and now Iraq don’t work, and you should try focusing on the real issue at hand? The Vietnam war and Iraq have accomplished nothing but death, and you want to keep on going, what’s wrong with you? I think we should all question the sanity of supporters of this endless war syndrome.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:55 pmRingo: “The days of uniformed soldiers fighting each other under their national flags is over.”
Then why do you support sending our uniformed soldiers into a hellhole? Terrorism is a law enforcement and intelligence issue. It always has been and it will continue to be. Every terrorist plot which has been thwarted through law enforcement and intelligence, not the military. Every military response to terrorism starting with Reagan’s absurd move with the marines in ‘83 has been a failure.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:58 pm31. “Ok, genius. Tell us how to WIN in Iraq. C’mon, let’s hear it.”
Win what? Undo the problems that happened when the USA destablilized a country? If our military leaders can’t find a way in the timespan of WW2, then I think we should leave. Just see what happens. The USA made a huge mistake, and now there will be civil war in Iraq, and they will have to deal with that, just like the USA delt with our civil war, no other country held our hand through that….then maybe we can focus on the threats on our country that are having an a field-day in Iraq. Some claim there is only ONE WAY, but that’s for people who don’t want to see the other way work, miopic fools think that way.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:02 pmRingo: The days of uniformed soldiers fighting each other under their national flags is over.
O’RLY ?
Nationalism isn’t over, and so isn’t war fever.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:04 pm68
Just like Bush’s plan to deal with Pakistan and India and their nuclear programs. Nice try schmuck.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:04 pmWhether we leave Iraq now or later, there will be more war…Get used to it.
Comment by Ringo — May 25, 2007 @ 1:35 pm
I already fully realise there will be more war and conflict, I don’t know what your problem is. I have noted over and over again that this needs to be fought, and these elements destroyed. The difference is we should be fighting this in a smart manner. Choosing when and where to strike, defunding the groups, arresting or killing thier members, and also getting the moderate elements, and thier are some, in Islam to leash the fundamentalists. The one thing we agree on, is uniformed soldiers fighting under a nations banner is no longer a viable option. So as was pointed out if that is the case why are trying to fight a war that way?
A little bit of history for you. The British lost the revolutionary war to the US, becuase they were trying to fight the up to then accepted way, march out on the field and start shooting until one side flees. The revolutionarys in our country knew they were outnumbered and outgunned. They instead chose to face the british carefully, to select the battlefield, and to use cover. They defeated a militarily superior force.
Basic tactics lesson. Face the enemy on your terms not thiers.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:15 pmTop Stories…
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May 25, 2007
Al-Sadr Unveils New Plan to Humiliate Bush
by Scott Ott
(2007-05-25) — After several months in hiding, reportedly in Iran, radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr emerged south of Baghdad yesterday to tell his Mahdi Army to avoid shooting at Iraqi forces because the U.S. uses that as a justification to continue its illegal occupation of Iraq.
In a fiery speech to the faithful, Mr. al-Sadr said he is committed to “removing every last excuse that the Bush administration has for keeping infidel troops on Allah’s blessed soil. We will humiliate George Bush, forcing him to retreat because his troops have become utterly useless.â€
In addition to a ceasefire against Iraqi troops, the Islamic cleric’s fatwa seeks to demoralize American forces by demanding that Shiites …
– Avoid shooting anyone for any reason
– Register to vote and respect the Iraqi constitution and governing authorities
– Locate and disable all previously-deployed roadside bombs
– Re-shelve all explosive vests and large caliber automatic weapons in their original locations at local mosques
– Release any living hostages into the custody of the United Nations
– Patrol communities to pick up garbage, repair buildings and roads, and restore utility services
– Stop ranting like maniacs and go back to work
– Take a moment today to thank a U.S. soldier, Marine or airman for your freedom
“We will brutally cut off Bush’s rationale for staying in Iraq,†said Mr. al-Sadr. “Our day of triumph is at hand. The Great Satan will march back home in tickertape parades of shame. Allah be praised.â€
May 25th, 2007 at 2:18 pmMcCain is exactly right! They voted to end funding of for the troops and cap it off with a, “But we still support the U.S. troop.” No they dont, they’re more concerned with winning the popularity contest among their own party to care about our family in Iraq.
Curious? Check out Christopher Ruddy
May 25th, 2007 at 2:20 pmAmnesty Stages Coup
Yesterday we noted that Amnesty International, the anti-American outfit that styles itself a human-rights group, was holding an online poll asking “Who’s got the worst human rights record?” The choices: Darth Vader, Hobgoblin and Dick Cheney. (The first two are villains from “Star Wars” and “Spider-Man” respectively; the third is vice president of the United States.)
Reader David Reed argues that Amnesty wanted Cheney to “win” this vote:
The Amnesty human rights poll seems doubly rigged against Cheney. First, a literal reading of the question requires the “Cheney” answer, because Vader and Hobgoblin directed their “crimes” against Wookiees, Alderaanians and Spider-Men, rather than humans. (And, although I have not yet seen “Spider-Man 3,” I’ll assume that the filmmakers did not actually gas any civilian human populations in the making of the flick.) Thus, even the mildest transgression against human rights by the Vice President (say, hurting Sen. Pat Leahy’s feelings) makes him the correct answer.
The second way the poll is rigged is more telling. Other than Cheney, the contestants in the poll are fictional. Rather than putting Cheney up against real human rights violators such as Hitler, Pol Pot or even someone like John Kerry, who merely claimed–probably falsely–to have violated human rights in Vietnam, Amnesty compares him to movie characters. Here again, a literal reading of the question compels the Cheney answer if he has ever done anything at all to impinge upon a human’s human rights. Nevertheless, it is telling that Amnesty couldn’t think of a single human being to run in the poll against Cheney. In fact, it seems like a huge concession–that Amnesty couldn’t come up with anybody with a human rights record so obviously worse than Cheney’s so as to guarantee a Cheney win.
I never thought I’d see Amnesty asserting the moral equivalence of Mother Teresa and Dick Cheney. But that’s one way to read it.
Despite all this, the last time we checked, Cheney was a distant third with 16% of the vote, far behind Hobgoblin and Vader. Apparently this wasn’t the result Amnesty was looking for, because the group proceeded to pull the poll from its Web site, which now redirects to this announcement:
Thanks to everyone who took our poll!
We’ve gotten a terrific response. Thanks to everyone who shared it with their friends. Take action to restore the America you believe in »
And learn more about human rights abuses worldwide and what you can do to stop them »
So who won the poll, Amnesty International? They don’t say. Like a military junta desperately clinging to power, they simply suppress the result of the vote. Human rights group our foot!
Some readers also noted that Amnesty had slandered Darth Vader. This is from Jeffrey Schallert:
Amnesty International is mistaken about Darth Vader. The war against the Wookiees was begun long before Anakin Skywalker had turned to the dark side of the Force, and it was Governor Tarkin who ordered the destruction of Alderaan; Vader just happened to be on the Death Star at the time, that’s all.
Would I not be justified in wondering whether AI’s accusations against the malevolent Dick Cheney are as sloppily researched as those against the Dark Lord of the Sith?
Adds Brian Gates:
Amnesty International’s poll is badly flawed. It should include Princess Leia, whose refusal to negotiate with the Empire was directly responsible for the deaths of millions on Alderaan.
Darth Vader, of course, was at one time a realist, seeking to “end . . . destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy” by stamping out all resistance. In the end, though, he decided to (literally) overthrow a totalitarian ruler at the cost of his own life. No wonder AI doesn’t like him.
And Michael Goldberg adds:
I looked at Amnesty International’s stunning “Who’s got the worst human rights record?” web page, and sent them an e-mail wondering if, say, Kim Jong-Il was a worse offender. When I checked out their commentary about North Korea’s human rights record, I was somewhat amused to note that they referred to the secretary of state as “Condolence Rice.”
It is interesting to see their view of who the bad guys are.
We’ve had some laughs at the expense of Amnesty International, but they are still taken seriously in some quarters, even if they have squandered some of their credibility with this juvenile stunt. Their attacks on America (and Israel) do have the potential to do serious damage by diverting attention from genuine human-rights violators. Never underestimate the dark side of the farce.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:22 pmOf course trolls like Ringo won’t actually live up to their blather about how Iraq is now the battleground upon which all future civilization rests, and therefore, enroll themselves to serve in their Dear Leader’s Glorious Crusade
And that’s because, at heart, even the trolls know just what a completely and spectacularly incompetent President W is regarding military strategy
Paying lip service to Dear Leader W is one thing, but the trolls actually putting their lives in the hands of the Leader they deify at every opportunity, please, even the trolls aren’t that nutty
And if the W trolls aim is as faulty as their easily-debunked logic, then it’s best for those US troops and their safety that the trolls are keyboard warriors only
And meanwhile, Usama bin Laden laughs about how easy W is to lead around by the nose
I’m tired of theological thugs like bin Laden getting to walk around free to okay and bankroll further anti-US attacks, I’m tired of reading about the Taliban’s resurgence when they should have been crushed out of existence and beyond all recognition and I’m tired of al-Qaeda having high-level sympathetic allies in Pakistan, a country with an actual nuclear arsenal, not one years away from an actual nuclear arsenal like Iran
And that’s why going into Iraq was such a supremely idiotic action, it weakened us militarily and strengthened the same people and groups who attacked us on September 11
May 25th, 2007 at 2:23 pmClick through the numbered links at the bottom to view all images.
Comment by Ringo
Maybe they were inspired by Abu GHraib.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:29 pmLet’s check in on how the left’s beloved Taliban are resurging.
Taliban ’stalled by lack of commanders’(All those hits are taking a toll…)
telegraph.co.uk ^ | 23/05/2007 | Thomas Harding
Zawahiri praises slain Taliban commander (Dadullah and called his death a “good omen for victory”)
AFP on Yahoo ^ | 5/22/07 | AFP
Desperate Taliban Changes Strategy
Strategypage ^ | 5/21/07
Taliban extremist leaders killed in precision airstrike
ISAF ^ | 5-20-07 | ISAF
KABUL, Afghanistan (May 20) – A significant number of Taleban extremist leaders were successfully targeted and killed in a precision airstrike last night in southern Afghanistan.
Nearly 70 Taliban fighters killed in battle
Herald Sun ^ | 19 May 2007
May 25th, 2007 at 2:31 pmNEARLY 70 Taliban militants were killed in an ambush by US-led forces and Afghan soldiers in eastern Afghanistan, a military commander said today. The rebels were killed late yesterday in Paktia province near the border with Pakistan, Afghan army general Sami-Ul Haq Badar said. “We set an ambush, attacked them and killed 67 Taliban. Their bodies were lying on the ground,” he said. The general said the soldiers had been tipped off that there were Taliban in the area.
I see patrick when faced with reality, resorts to throwing as much poo around as possible to destroy the thread.
I find it funny that a group that strives to prevent torture and inhuman treatement is derided by the right wing, and equally funny, that you think the left loves the Taliban. The biggest thing many on the left were pissed about, was Bush’s ADD in leaving not only the Taliban, but also the operational head of Al Qaidi standing, while he went after saddam to prove to his daddy what a man he was.
Try reading unbiases sources. Most papers, and networks have a web presence. Even Yahoo has a whole news category. Read several really gives you a pretty firm picture of what is going on.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:35 pmIf you think the Taliban is hurting instead of resurgent, perhaps a trip to the Waziristan area of the Afghanistan/Pakistan border would clear your obviously befuddled mind, especially when the Taliban has powerful friends in high places with the Pakistan Government, that let it operate with impunity
It was W that decided the Taliban weren’t crushing completely
Are you actually claiming that W is a liberal now?
That would make about as much sense as anything else you try and spin through willful ignorance here
May 25th, 2007 at 2:44 pmQuick Question for you Ringo:
Do you think that the elimination of the Taliban, the capture of Bin Laden, and the destruction of Al Qaidi would have been an important victory for the west, and a demoralizing and desctructive loss for Islamic extremists?
Part 2 if you do agree that it would have been, Why did your dear decider drop the ball and head elsewhere?
May 25th, 2007 at 2:45 pmAnd Krazny makes a good point in #96, about the Taliban, and one that the W lackeys/trolls never can factually dispute
Namely, us libs who hate the US theological thugs also hate theological thugs that the US supports via shared targets of hatred
Us libs aren’t getting any well wishes from either the Taliban or it’s US wannabes, neither are gays, women, or doctors who provide abortions
So please do try, trolls, and explain-LOGICALLY-why us libs would decry US theological thugs like Dobson, Sun Myung Moon, Bill Donohue, et al, while being in firm support of the Taliban when both groups of wingnuts hate the same groups and individuals, namely us libs
May 25th, 2007 at 2:50 pmMcCain is dirty whore…no offense to whores though.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:51 pm#99 You would have to ask the moonbats who do just that.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:56 pmGo McCain!
“While Senator Obama’s two years in the U.S. Senate certainly entitle him to vote against funding our troops, my service and experience combined with conversations with military leaders on the ground in Iraq lead me to believe that we must give this new strategy a chance to succeed because the consequences of failure would be catastrophic to our nation’s security.”
“By the way, Senator Obama, it’s a ‘flak’ jacket, not a ‘flack’ jacket.”
Which is to say, “there is only one of us in this argument who has ever worn the uniform.”
“Obama wouldn’t know the difference between an RPG and a bong.”
ROFL!
May 25th, 2007 at 2:57 pmSo please do try, trolls, and explain-LOGICALLY-why us libs would decry US theological thugs like Dobson, Sun Myung Moon, Bill Donohue, et al, while being in firm support of the Taliban when both groups of wingnuts hate the same groups and individuals, namely us libs
Why would they hate you? By cutting and running from the battlefield, you are achieving their goals.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:59 pmShould we be shocked that Osama Obama voted for surrender?
May 25th, 2007 at 3:01 pmDon’t you trolls EVER get tired of walking into a battle of wits unarmed?
Why would they hate you? By cutting and running from the battlefield, you are achieving their goals.
Comment by m12 — May 25, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
By your own logic then, they LOVE W, for giving them a complete free pass so he could instead stupidly invade and occupy Iraq
No way around it trolls, the Same President Jr that decrys al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Usama bin Laden is the same President Jr that cut & run from finishing them off in Afghanistan when they were dazed, reeling and almost wiped out
No way to spin that in any way positive for W, not if using logic, reality or common sense
And if you can show where those groups say “Thank you US Libs, for loving us while hating those in the US just like us”, please do share
I know it hurts so bad that your glorious leader let the terrorists off the hook, so it’s okay to cry, really it is
May 25th, 2007 at 3:12 pmDid the Iraq bill include more agressive benchmarks in capturing Bin-Laden/dismantling Al-Qaeda?
I don’t know. Do YOU?
More importantly, did Bush REQUEST the funds?
We ARE spending $1 BILLION per month outsourcing the Bin Laden task to Pakistan, who harbors terrorists and Bin Laden right now.
Well???
May 25th, 2007 at 3:28 pmWasn’t it precious watching Hillary and Obama vie for the title “Almost as Liberal as Hypocritical John Edwards”??
Moving right along - All the whiners upset with Dems from more conservative states voting “YES” should go back and take a refresher course in US Gov’t. Jim Webb had no CHOICE.
THEN we have the ULTIMATE HYPOCRITE, the appropriately named, dICK Durbin. We get his brave speech on erosion of liberty and allusions to Nazi’s and he votes “AYE”…….I
May 25th, 2007 at 4:46 pmWe get his brave speech on erosion of liberty and allusions to Nazi’s and he votes “AYEâ€â€¦â€¦.I
Comment by valiant venus
I especially liked Blubberin’ Boehner’s performance; the poor dear must have missed his daily nap.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:02 pmWhat the F*CK is wrong with McCain?
Is amazing that these guys continue to think they can get away with up is down and black is white.
All of them witches.
May 25th, 2007 at 5:10 pmBarf fly - Of course I didn’t expect you to discuss dICK Durbin…… or Hillary….. or Obama - - why expect you to discuss anything relevant…..
May 25th, 2007 at 5:57 pmMcCain is a f*cking two-faced idiot who stands for absolutely NOTHING! You think Bush is bad? A McCain Presidency would simply finish the country off.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:38 pmI think I too have had the last straw with McCain. Waving a white flag to Al Queda ? Wow. The Republican party and this administration will be haunted by the failures of the past 4 years for generations to come if this country survives. Bin Laden is not dead, to my continued amazement. Recall “Wanted, Dead or Alive”. That along with a dozen or so other beauties will hang on in infamy forever for their obvious bologna filler content. This adminstration with its now surreal commander in Chief and its wacky coolaid swigging minions will go down as the worst military losers in this country’s history. I do not doubt the Senator’s patriotism, and sir you upheld those ideals when you were a prisoner but ironically you have been swept up in the same wagon full of deception that brought us disaster in Vietnam. We are not going to win this war by breaking the backs of the poor and middle class in this country, racking up insane amounts of debt, gutting other parts of our government, wrecking the integrity of several agencies - FEMA, Justice, State, Food and Drug (CHINESE FOOD IMPORTS WILL CAUSE A SPIKE IN CANCER RATES OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS) and now, apparently Border Patrol. We are not going to win this war by “outspending” them, because old dear Senator, “them” is us. Them is us when we send billions and billions and billions each year to the middle east in the form of oil revenue. Them is us when we fuel an insane overarmed world with arms flows. Them is us when we push the Russians back to thougths if an arms race via our ruderless foreign strategy. We are a flailing drunken giant ogre on this lifeboat earth that truly cannot last the night afloat. So, when you spout off on that only spending $220 billion versus $290 billion on an insane effort to battle ourselves, who the hell is left to call it like it is - we are the only ones left in the boat. Them is us Senator and that is why you cannot look yourself in the mirror anymore.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:54 pmEarth to McCain: Al Qaeda and Osama are in AFGANISTAN.
We are in a civil war, we /will/ /not/ /win/.
We will die. We will lose. We will lose for the biggest and deadliest lie in American history. More bloodshed and more lives will be taken if we continue to delude ourselves into believing the lie.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:25 am