VIDEO FLASHBACK: Two Year Anniversary Of Cheney’s ‘Last Throes’
VIDEO FLASHBACK: Two Year Anniversary Of Cheney’s ‘Last Throes’
On May 30, 2005, Vice President Cheney declared that the insurgency in Iraq was in its “last throes” and predicted “the level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline.”
Virtually every administration national security official publicly defended his statement. Then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld claimed that “last throes” could be “violent,” and told critics of Cheney’s phrase to “look it up in the dictionary.” Cheney insisted 10 months after his statement that it was “basically accurate” and “reflected reality.” One year later, he again stood by his words.
All the while, violence in Iraq has continued unabated. Since Cheney’s statement two years ago, 1,799 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq, roughly half of all U.S. fatalities. At least 12,378 U.S. soldiers have been wounded.
Watch a compilation of Cheney and the reaction to his remarks (you’ll have to adjust the volume, the video quality is mixed):
Seventeen months later, in October 2006, Cheney finally acknowledged, “I would have expected that the political process we set in motion…would have resulted in a lower level of violence than we’re seeing today. It hasn’t happened yet. I can’t say that we’re over the hump in terms of violence, no.”
But new versions of “last throes” continue to emerge. On May 10, 2007, President Bush said, “The level of sectarian violence is an important indicator of whether or not the strategy that we have implemented is working. Since our operation began, the number of sectarian murders has dropped substantially.” Two weeks later, new figures showed that sectarian murders in the first three weeks of May had already surpassed numbers from January, before the escalation policy was launched.
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http://edition.cnn.com/ 2007/ WORLD/ meast/ 05/ 30/ turkey.border.ap/ index.html
Turkey sends troops to iraq border
May 30th, 2007 at 9:49 amBush said, “the number of sectarian murders has dropped substantially.â€
I guess that was just a snapshot. Heh.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:49 amand from what I read at americablog - Lieberman is now making virtually the same prediction. Just change the name and keep the propaganda going….repeat repeat repeat.
repeat.
It’s the nature of politicians. they lie, grandstand, distort….all to gain power and profits.
Some further thoughts on this:
“Politicians Lie? Say it Ain’t So!”
May 30th, 2007 at 9:54 amhttp://www.populistamerica.com/ politicians_lie___say_it_ain_t_so
If your plan is to run in a perpetually profitable circle, you need to keep turning corners.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:56 amHow long is a “throe”?
May 30th, 2007 at 9:56 amGO LIEBERMAN!!!
May 30th, 2007 at 9:57 amYet, it doesn’t bother CONTURDS and the Republi-SCUM, when he’s SO WRONG. Either he’s _lying_, or so, so very very WRONG, that his lack of credibility or integrity would disturb any thinking person-
May 30th, 2007 at 9:58 amBut not the 28-%’ers - they just keep on ‘believing’; secure in their alternate reality; down= up, white is black, alls’s OK with the Administration but that pesky LIBURL media keeps slanting things. And if you’re feeling any questions, just turn on foKKKs and you’ll have your belief system validated. Stare at the red, white and blue graphics, the fluttering flag, the T&A and diverse newsladies, and take in those talking points- breathe deep and swallow the big plate of sh*t ecreted by the think tanks (colon) from the rectum that is the right wing media. Have a big heaping helping and come back for more.
Clearly we must surrender immediately!
May 30th, 2007 at 9:59 amThey don’t last two freakin’ years moron. Your inability to see Iraq as a huge mistake and complete failure is what plagues people like Cheney and Lieberman to not take any other action except more of the same. The situation is beyond lost. THere are no “throes” and there are no more corners to turn.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:01 amJake, I think you should escort Lieberman and both go. If you need suggestions for a destination, I’m sure that we at TP can offer some ideas.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:01 amClearly we must surrender the lives of more Americans immediately!
May 30th, 2007 at 10:02 amClearly your an idiot that has no problem continually bashing your head against the same brick wall for the last four years.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:02 amI wouldn’t mind being the throes with Cheney!!! Throes of passion that is!!
May 30th, 2007 at 10:04 amFor the record, Cheney may not be lying (I grant the possibility he may be even though your side refuse to accept the possibility he is not) and is only “wrong” if a single “throe” lasts less than 1 year.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:05 ammadness… thats the definition Mr Cheney
May 30th, 2007 at 10:07 amJake, you need to Be A Man ™ and go down and enlist in the Infantry- be a man among menses, a Real ‘Merkin, and get your silly troll- ass off these boards and do something for your country. And take your alter ego Patrick 1, too, and all your other silly- ass ID’s. Time to get out of Mommy dearerst’s basememt and join the world.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:08 amPS- before the childish comments, I already served.
I wouldn’t mind being the throes with Cheney!!! Throes of passion that is!!
Comment by Patrick1 — May 30, 2007 @ 10:04 am
this may give you second thoughts… although i’d imagine it’s not much use these days, given the heart problems and all…
out to the garden before the heat sets in…
May 30th, 2007 at 10:10 amsweet dreams, trolls…
…
Clearly Patrick1’s bung can accomodate more republican reeming
May 30th, 2007 at 10:12 amBush and Cheney have made such a mess of the US and Iraq that it’s evident they haven’t a clue as to what they are doing.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:12 amKaty- hmmmmm, explains maybe why Jeff Gannon wasn’t ‘man’ enough to get a fulltime gig at the WH, just filling- in from time to time..
May 30th, 2007 at 10:13 ami just looked up “throe” in my handy deskside dictionary…
1. violent pangs, esp. of childbirth or death. […]
maybe cheney, and condi, looked it up also… maybe they had
“beginnings” in mind, more so than “endings”…
of course they did…
May 30th, 2007 at 10:16 amSo a shotgun isn’t the only thing Cheney’s packin’.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:18 amFor the record, I already enlisted and FOUGHT in Korea.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:19 amClearly we must surrender immediately!
Comment by Patrick
Obviously you’ve surrendered to your basement. Sitting at your keyboard isn’t “winning” th war. Sign up sissy boy, it’s not too late for you to do your part.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:21 amThe behavior of war supporters like Cheney during late 2003-early 2006 demonstrates that they don’t take this war nearlly as serious as the domestic political fights surrounding it.
As Iraq was falling apart, they did nothing to fix it, just kept repeating talking points for domestic consumption. They could have at least attempted to respond to the insurgency, the al Qaeda terror campaign, and the civil war that everyone and their mother was telling them about, but they decided to get some political mileage out of whining about the biased press that won’t tell the “good news.”
Even today, when the question “now what?” comes up, all they can do is shout the word “surrender” at anyone who dares ask the question. Good to see how seriously you take this problem, Jake and Patrick1.
They were more interested in winning a political fight over whether the war was going well, than in making the war go well. Well, congratulations hawks; now you’ve lost both.
Next time you’re in power, try actually governing for a change. Don’t worry, you’ll have 20 or so years to gear up for it.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:22 amWho could have predicted how wrong Darth was about everything concerning stealing Iraq’s oil?
May 30th, 2007 at 10:22 amOK, you can all put your hands down now.
For the record, Cheney may not be lying (I grant the possibility he may be even though your side refuse to accept the possibility he is not) and is only “wrong†if a single “throe†lasts less than 1 year.
Comment by Jake
And you are still unable to see the Iraq invasion as a mistake. Obviously you 28%ers are unable to admit you’ve made a mistake and so continue arranging deck chairs on a sinking ship. Cheney IS a liar and you and your kind have been the idiots falling for his propagands. You voters got us into this mess and now we would appreciate you’re just admitting you were wrong, saying you’re sorry and then remaining quiet.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:25 amFor the record, I would support doubling or tripling the troops in Iraq, whatever it takes to win this thing once and for all.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:26 amHas any of Bushco’s “MISS CLEO” predictions come true as of to date?
F*CKING HELL NO!
May 30th, 2007 at 10:26 amCheney:
It hasn’t happened yet. I can’t say that we’re over the hump in terms of violence, no.â€
In other words he can’t say that we’re over the hump of the American people as they continue to be induced to give up their sons and daughters for the benefit of glory seeking chickenhawk politicians and war profiteers. No we’re not.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:27 amthis may give you second thoughts… although i’d imagine it’s not much use these days, given the heart problems and all…
Comment by katy
Thanks katy, I just lost my lunch and I haven’t eaten yet.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:28 amCheney’s assertions simply draw another parallel to Vietnam where the U.S. government tried to gauge success by the number of Vietnamese who were killed. The commander of the North Vietnamese forces, General Giap, stated after the war was finally over that every last man, woman, and Vietnamese child would have continued fighting until the belligerent military presence of the United States had finally left their homeland.
The same thing, of course, is true in Iraq. An important aspect of Iraqi culture is intiqaam-Arabic for revenge, revenge for the humiliation and atrocities that the Iraqi people have had to endure at the hands of the less than friendly presence of the U.S. military. Peace will never occur in the Middle East until the United States government decides to acknowledge that their foreign policy in the region is the reason for so much turmoil and bloodshed in that area of the world.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:28 amDickey must be due for another complete blood transfusion in that dark cave he calls home.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:29 amFor the record, I would support doubling or tripling the troops in Iraq, whatever it takes to win this thing once and for all.
Comment by Jake
Win what Jake. What is the goal? How will we know when we’ve won? When the oil contracts are signed, is that you’re idea of winning?
May 30th, 2007 at 10:35 ambasically accurate? versus factually accurate?
May 30th, 2007 at 10:35 amDickey must be due for another complete blood transfusion in that dark cave he calls home.
Comment by Keith H. — May 30, 2007 @ 10:29 am
With blood drawn from still-living Iraqi orphans.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:38 amShane, you are correct. One of the biggest problems with this whole Iraq conflict is that the goals have never been defined. Quite likely due to the oil profiteering but also due to the lack of proper planning.
I wonder if Jake/Patrick1 and the like support the 100,000 merc’s we have working for us in Iraq.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:47 amFor the record, Cheney may not be lying (I grant the possibility he may be even though your side refuse to accept the possibility he is not) and is only “wrong†if a single “throe†lasts less than 1 year.
That’s… got to be… pretty darn close… to the craziest m’f'in’ thing I’ve ever read.
For the record??? The definition of throe???? Are you serious????????
Good God, what have you done to yourself to say this kind of crap?
For the record (ugh)…. a “throe” is described as “a hard or painful struggle.” However, the expression “last throes” generally refers to the final struggle, where after a small peak, calm will result and peace will prevail.
Answers.com even has a listing from 2005:
throe
A positive forecast from US Vice President Dick Cheney:
“The insurgency in Iraq is ‘in the last throes,’”
he said, predicting that calm would be restored in Iraq by the end of President Bush’s term in office.
So, there you go. To be categorically correct, for the record, setting it all straight, dotting I’s and crossing T’s, on the numbers…. the violence should now decline and end in January 2009.
That’s about 18 months. Shouldn’t you start planning for the troop withdrals then…? Or was Cheney wrong (again)? Then again, if all indicators show that the violence is increasing and that the real throes have only just begun…. what’s your plan for victory?
Frankly, you’ve got no choice but to give up the debate to the left. You’ve had 100% ownership and compliance with the war, and pooched it. Nothing you do is working. How can you declare that we’re wrong, when you don’t even bother to listen, and haven’t been right yet?
May 30th, 2007 at 10:48 am“For the record, I would support doubling or tripling the troops in Iraq, whatever it takes to win this thing once and for all.
Comment by Jake — May 30, 2007 @ 10:26 am”
For the record, I would support tripling the funding for AFDC, whatever it takes to eliminate poverty once and for all.
Right, Jake? Or do you just want to let poverty take over?
Those are the only two possible answers, right?
May 30th, 2007 at 10:49 amCheney and his apologists always dodge to the meaning of the word “throes” as opposed to the word “last”. “Last throes” implies the end of the throes, the final throes.
Instead, Cheney like a good and vile propagandist uses words to obfuscate instead of enlighten.
-GSD
May 30th, 2007 at 10:50 am“and is only “wrong†if a single “throe†lasts less than 1 year.”
i’m sure the families of all the american soldiers who’ve died in the 2 years since cheney said ‘last throes’ would agree with you.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:50 amWe’ve lost the war on poverty. Hopefully, the Democrats don’t lose this one as well.
P.S. “last throes” when it comes to a nation’s birth (or insurgency’s death) could be more than 18 months.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:54 am“One of the biggest problems with this whole Iraq conflict is that the goals have never been defined. ”
Sure they have - the creation of a liberal, democratic government for a united Iraq that respects human rights, can sustain itself, is an American ally, and that will serve as a model of democracy, thus inspiring democratic reform throughout the Muslim world.
Also, a pony.
The problem is NOT that no goal has been articulated - drawing pretty pictures is just about the only thing the knobs running this war have been able to do effectively. The problem is that the means we are using - military conquest and occupation, and the attempt to form a broad-based, unifying government under those conditions - don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of achieving those goals.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:54 amRegardless of what the families of all the American soldiers who’ve died in the two years since Cheney said ‘last throes’ would agree with or not.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:55 amSurrender is a meaningless term here. What was the mission? To find and destroy the WMD. There were none and so that’s done. The illegal mission was regime change. Saddam was overthrown, tried and executed. So that’s done. The only thing the UN has given the US a mandate for is to secure the country to allow the formation of a new government run by Iraqis. However, it is clear the US isn’t about to place their forces under Iraqi direction and so there’s conflict between the legitimate authority in Iraq and the American military. It is not surprising that many of the insurgents are members of the Iraqi army and police. This is what happened in Vietnam also; the Americans were fighting the North, but they alienated the South as well by installing puppet rulers and so had two enemies to fight.
Would Cheney be prepared to hold a referendum in Iraq on when the US should leave? I think not. What little polling has been done shows the majority want the US out within a year. They’re willing to risk an uncertain future rather than endure the indignity of being occupied by the insensitive Americans.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:57 amJoe, I stand corrected. I like the added pony.
There have never been any realistic goals and no clear path on how to achieve them.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:00 amContinuing to lie about the war while sending troops to a needless death is a high crime.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:03 am#43- don’t forget - 2 linty-pieces of Dubl-Bubble, a rusty toy compass and secret decoder ring. Plus, lifetime membership in the He-Man Women-haters’ club
May 30th, 2007 at 11:04 amP.S. “last throes†when it comes to a nation’s birth (or insurgency’s death) could be more than 18 months.
Comment by Jake
Not in English, Jake. Maybe in whatever language you and your neocon “independent” apologists use. After this particular exercise in hypocrisy, I sure better not ever see you criticizing Bill Clinton for his “that depends on what is is” line of crap.
Cheney was obviously suggesting that the insurgency was winding down at that point, and nearly at an end. It’s pretty clear that the insurgency is doing something very different, but authoritarians like Cheney and his apologists (like you) refuse to admit error. Ever.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:07 amMaybe we’re all experiencing the last thro(mbosis)es of Darth Cheney.
God, what an evil, evil man.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:14 amanother gem from dick:
“because I really do believe that we will be greeted as liberators.”
May 30th, 2007 at 11:15 amthis morning, i follow this theme,
and look back THREE years, at
mr. cheney’s falsehoods about
the partiot act, primarily — but i
also offer some of his iraq pre-
dictions from that era. . .
note especially that his remarks
on june 1, 2004, follow immediately
after the incident james comey so
famously described for us earlier
this month. . .
so — happy third anniversary of your dis-information campaign,
there, mister vice-president! look — just look! — at how
much better everything is — these nice low gas prices,
the safe, secure, and free streets of iraq’s cities, the
self-governing, autonomous democracy there, the hundreds
erh — zero other nations working there
(after the british soon withdraw) with us. . .
but most of all — thanks for always
doing the right thing, and obtaining
warrants before you spied on us wholly
innocent american citizens, here in our
own offices, cars and bedrooms. . .
thanks, mister dick cheney!
May 30th, 2007 at 11:19 amYou have to “admire” the chutzpah of Hillary Clinton - a few months ago, she says she’ll not cut funding to the troops in a war she voted for - and when she gets an idea of Obamas’ vote, quickly demonstrates a pretzel like integrity. (To be fair, the pretzel imitation is often seen on both sides of the aisle…..Hmmmm….Mitt.)
Hint - too much faith in fortune telling and incessant whining do not lend much credence to Presidential aspirations……….
May 30th, 2007 at 11:22 amSlightly off topic, but I can’t help but shake my head over the way the right wing villifies Cindy Sheehan and how they applaud her leaving the peace movement. Ironically, Cindy is the ultimate “pro-lifer” because she opposes the war-making of the war-mongers. I love the hypocrisy of the pro-death right wingers on this issue.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:35 amStay on topic Valient.
Cheney is out of it.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:37 amCheney is a criminal, but the Congress is too chickens–t to do anything about him.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:38 amWilly, In typical Prog-fashion, you’re a day late and a dollar short. (Pssst….you might have missed the part in Cindy’s screed where she expresses UTTER disdain at the egos and agendas of so-called liberals.)
Tooodles…….
May 30th, 2007 at 11:42 amSorry, valiant, but I don’t believe in being for or against an issue because it’s “in fashion”.
Interesting how in #53 you whine about people whining. Frankly I find your whining and your self-absorption rather tiring.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:48 amHint - too much faith in fortune telling and incessant whining do not lend much credence to Presidential aspirations……….
Comment by valiant venus
May 30th, 2007 at 11:52 am___________________________
Worked for Bush.
Regardless of what the families of all the American soldiers who’ve died in the two years since Cheney said ‘last throes’ would agree with or not.
Comment by Jake
Nice mangling of the English language, rape-joker.
As someone with family currently in Iraq, one of my sons and Bro-in-law, I want to personally tell you, in the imortal words of Darth Cheney: f*ck you, a$$hole.
Roll that in your Ignore List and smoke it.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:24 pmwhatever it takes to win this thing once and for all.
Comment by Jake
I will wait on my seat.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:32 pmShorter Cheney:
“See, what I was referring to was the insurgency in 2005. I meant they were in their last throes for 2005. So my remarks were basically accurate. Because once January hit, the insurgency was now in their first throes for 2006. So I stand by my statement.”
May 30th, 2007 at 12:42 pmI wonder if Jake/Patrick1 and the like support the 100,000 merc’s we have working for us in Iraq.
Comment by hellinabucket — May 30, 2007 @ 10:47 am
I don’t think they know about them. If they don’t hear it on Fox News or from Rush they don’t WANT to know about it.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:45 pmWe’ve lost the war on poverty. Hopefully, the Democrats don’t lose this one as well.
P.S. “last throes†when it comes to a nation’s birth (or insurgency’s death) could be more than 18 months.
Comment by Jake
“We’ve lost the war on poverty.”
Really I thought your side was for more poverty. Seems like you guys have won that one, more poor people than ever in this country.
“Hopefully, the Democrats don’t lose this one as well.”
The President has gotten everything he’s asked for to fight the “war”. And he’s had plenty of time to win it, 4+ years. How will this ever be the Democrats loss? Only in your small minded, unable to admit you were wrong, delusional loyalty will this be the fault of Democrats.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:51 pmYou have to “admire†the chutzpah of Hillary Clinton
— Comment by valiant venus
Lost me, there. I am a Hillary fan at all.
Republican-lites do not gain my admiration.
Do you actually ever post anything relevant to the thread you post on?
May 30th, 2007 at 12:55 pmHint - too much faith in fortune telling and incessant whining do not lend much credence to Presidential aspirations……….
Comment by valiant venus
Boy you had to be pretty desperate to pull Hillary Clinton out of your ass as a diversion away from the topic. I’m no Hillary fan but this attempt to make her look bad here is too stupid for words. Most of us, outside of you drum banging trolls, are against the war. Do you think Hillary would be looked at HERE more favorably for voting FOR funding the war?
May 30th, 2007 at 12:57 pmbut I can’t help but shake my head over the way the right wing villifies Cindy Sheehan …
Comment by Willy
They sure have a funny way of supporting the troops too don’t they. After you die in service to your country, you can be sure they will turn your mother or father or sibling into a pariah if they dare speak out about their loss.
May 30th, 2007 at 1:14 pm(Pssst….you might have missed the part in Cindy’s screed where she expresses UTTER disdain at the egos and agendas of so-called liberals.)
Tooodles…….
Comment by valiant venus
And you, little fool, obviously missed the sentiments of all of most of us when congress passed the war spending bill. Or can’t you remember back to last week. Better lay off the cold medicine.
May 30th, 2007 at 1:17 pm“We’ve lost the war on poverty.”
Yes, Jake, we did. That’s because the Massive Government Program To Solve It, Which Couldn’t Possibly Go Wrong turned out to be the wrong tool for the job. There was no way that giving checks to poor people who didn’t have access to jobs was ever going to help them achieve economic stability and success.
Similarly, we’ve failed in Iraq for precisely the same reason. The Massive Government Program To Spread Democracy, Which Couldn’t Possibly Go Wrong turned out to be the wrong tool for that job. There was no way that invading and occupying a country, without involving the locals in any way, shape, or form, and then installing a government that didn’t have the support of the public, was ever going to bring about democratic governance.
May 30th, 2007 at 2:05 pmNeo-Cons and Cons say: “We believe in a “Culture of Life.
“Our lives. Not yours.”
May 30th, 2007 at 3:01 pmHint - too much faith in fortune telling and incessant whining do not lend much credence to Presidential aspirations………. Comment by valiant venus — May 30, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Hint - too much faith in fortune telling and incessant whining do not lend much credence to Trolling aspirations……….
St*pid C*nt.
May 30th, 2007 at 3:35 pmJake, just for the record, we’ve had more success with the war on poverty, than the “war” in Iraq or terrorism.
Under Clinton, Poverty rates were about 1/4 what they were only 50 years earlier when the *war* began. Whereas Terrorism is now a bigger problem, and Iraq is in worse condition than before the invasion.
So tell me Jake, does that mean by your *definition*, we’ve lost Iraq?
Just for the record?
May 30th, 2007 at 3:37 pmWilly, In typical Prog-fashion, you’re a day late and a dollar short. (Pssst….you might have missed the part in Cindy’s screed where she expresses UTTER disdain at the egos and agendas of so-called liberals.)
Tooodles……. Comment by valiant venus — May 30, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Oh, poor st*pid little lying c*nt. Her “screed” was for DINOs, not the “egos” or “agendas” of liberals - so called or otherwise…
But you’ve never let the *facts* stand in the way of your Osama Ben Venus lies, rambling rants, and “SCREEDS”. Hypocritical c*nt.
May 30th, 2007 at 3:39 pmShouldn’t it be 5-deferment dickhead Cheney who should be in his ‘last throes”?
May 30th, 2007 at 6:48 pm(To be fair, the pretzel imitation is often seen on both sides of the aisle…..Hmmmm….Mitt.)
Comment by VileVermin
I thought it was Dumbya Bush who had a pretzel problem. Oh, that’s right: he is simply incapable of multi-tasking by eating one while watching TV!
May 31st, 2007 at 3:06 amOodles of noodles, Ms. Toodle!
KEEP DRINKIN THE KOOL-AIDE YOU STUPID BUSHNIKS
June 1st, 2007 at 9:43 am