Think Progress

New Joint Chiefs Nominee: ‘This War Is Going To Go On For A Long Time. It’s A Generational War’»

mullen.jpgDefense Secretary Robert Gates announced today that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace, the highest-ranking U.S. military official, is being replaced by Navy Adm. Mike Mullen.

Pace is the first Joint Chiefs Chairman not to be renominated for a second term since the military was centralized under the joint chiefs position 21 years ago. The selection of Mullen also marks the first time in 21 years that both the head of the Joint Chiefs and the CentCom Commander, Adm. William Fallon, have been Navy officers.

Some insight on Mullen can be gained from a speech he gave to sailors in Pearl Harbor in Feb. 2007:

In his opening remarks, Mullen, a Vietnam War veteran, told Pearl Harbor sailors: “I honestly believe this is the most dangerous time in my life.

“The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … This war is going to go on for a long time. It’s a generational war.”

From a Feb. 2006 interview with Mullen:

You use the term ‘Long War’, and it’s important to understand that and really grab this issue because it is going to be around for a significant amount of time. I call it generational. That said, there are still traditional capabilities that are very much required.

When Fallon was appointed in January to lead CentCom, analysts noted the choice of a Navy officer reflected “a greater emphasis on countering Iranian power, a mission that relies heavily on naval forces and combat airpower to project American influence in the Persian Gulf.” In announcing the nomination of Mullen this afternoon, CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr said that Mullen “watches Iran closely.”

Digg It!

UPDATE: Mullen has indicated he is against a permanent presence in Iraq. “I’ve tried to couch the future discussion, and I’ve looked at it over many months now, is what are we going to do after Iraq? What are we going to do after Afghanistan? And I truly believe we will bring those forces home. I’m not standing here today to predict exactly when that will occur.”

UPDATE II: Cernig has much more:

It seems plain to me that Mullen is being brought forward, in part, to clean house for Gates and consolidate his position at Defense by sweeping out all the old Rumsfield hangovers. That won’t please Cheney, who was always the closest to Rummie in White house circles as the two of them headed the neocon cabal.

UPDATE III: A strong statement out from Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT):

While I have deep respect for Admiral Mullen’s distinguished service, his view that this is a ‘generational war’ will not do anything to change course in Iraq. If we want to bring an end to our involvement in this civil war, we must do more than simply replace personnel — we must replace President Bush’s failed policy. Today’s move underscores the need for Congress to speak with clarity and adopt a firm, enforceable deadline for the redeployment of combat troops out of Iraq.

UPDATE IV: Here’s Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV):

Senators will be looking very closely at Admiral Mullen and General Cartwright’s views to make sure they are committed to changing course in Iraq. Both men must be advocates for our troops, not for a failed policy. It will require strong leadership to transition the U.S. mission in Iraq so our troops are not policing an Iraqi civil war. They must also refocus on the resurgence of Al Qaeda, rebuild the readiness of the United States military, and fix major problems with the delivery of health care to our troops and veterans.

220







Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

220 Responses to “New Joint Chiefs Nominee: ‘This War Is Going To Go On For A Long Time. It’s A Generational War’”


  1. JG Says:

    A long and EXPANDING war..


  2. Jay Randal Says:

    Here comes the Admiral stooge now. Wants endless war in the Middle East. Thanks Bushie for giving us another fool to run the military.


  3. JG Says:

    I think they are trying to say “this is just the beginning..”


  4. Sachem Says:

    If this is the most dangerous time, where are the calls for sacrifice and a draft?


  5. Juan C Says:

    “I honestly believe this is the most dangerous time in my life.

    Then run!! run!!!. Hehehehe.

    “The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … ”

    Oh, I forgot my dose of Wall Street Journal Ed´s propaganda. No content, but it really makes me feel good.

    Basically evil… my sweet goodness, what a great, deep and insightful argument.


  6. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Too bad none of this is covered by the mass media news. There would be rioting in the streets.


  7. Harry Truman Says:

    anyone who has a belief that this war was not going to be long is a fool,
    Like the war on Drugs any of you foolish liberals old enough to remember Lyndon Johnson’s Speech on ” The Great Society War on Poverty ” ? well its been 42 yrs. since then and we all know that there is no Poverty in this Country . If you want the war stopped there are two ways to do it . Win it or Surrender , choose the latter and you may not like what happens .


  8. America's armed forces Says:

    Never mind - I just read this:

    “The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … This war is going to go on for a long time. It’s a generational war.”

    From a Feb. 2006 interview with Mullen:

    You use the term ‘Long War’, and it’s important to understand that and really grab this issue because it is going to be around for a significant amount of time. I call it generational. That said, there are still traditional capabilities that are very much required

    God help us all !


  9. Harry Truman Says:

    juan c you do live with your mommy and daddy don’t you ?


  10. stopthecons Says:

    the perpetual war for perpetual peace continues unabated.

    Their absolute arrogance shows with these kinds of pronouncements, and convinces me that they know there’s no opposition or anti-war politicians in government - well, at least not enough to change their plans.

    This militarism must be stopped for us to have peace and prosperity.

    Some related reading:

    “Wars and Debts and Taxes, Oh My!”

    http://www.populistamerica.com/ wars_and_debts_and_taxes_oh_my


  11. Fed the Fcuk Up! Says:

    War without end…


  12. Harry Truman Says:

    Spudge_Boy Are you Telling us that The Liberal Media refuses to Cover something that concerns you that is important enough to cause riots in the streets ? can I have some of what you are smoking ? I me really that funny


  13. Zooey Says:

    “The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … This war is going to go on for a long time. It’s a generational war.”

    I don’t like him already.

    Our enemies don’t hate us because of our democratic principles, they hate us for our policies.


  14. Harry Truman Says:

    VerbalKint so you are trying to tell us that you are smart enough to know what is unnecessary ?


  15. LandSurveyor Says:

    How romantic and full of tingly imagery!

    Wow endless occupation based on a War on Terror bumper sticker!


  16. prof shropshire Says:

    I wished these children would stop their pissing match with Iran. These recalcitrant Generals were just young pukes when Iran embassy fell, beginning the hostage crisis. They are still harboring their Ill will for that, trying to get us all killed in the process. Bastards.


  17. dono Says:

    translate to - as long as we need oil war…


  18. Krazny Says:

    What happened to all the this is a short war, a couple of months, troops home blah blah etc? Was that a lie?


  19. Harry Truman Says:

    Zooey they hate you because you are not muslin and wearing one of those black bags over yourself and escorted by 2 male family members when you leave the house . convert to muslin and you will have peace.


  20. Juan C Says:

    juan c you do live with your mommy and daddy don’t you ?
    Comment by Harry Truman

    If I answer yes, would OBL be caught and those WMDs be found ? ;)


  21. RemoveBush Says:

    testing …… testing …….. is this thing on???

    Can anyone hear me??


  22. Kryptik Says:

    It’s a big middle finger to those who think this war needs to end. Instead, they’re bringing in more and more people who adamantly and sincerely believe that we’re in some great cultural war that will last for decades. Not only that, but they continue to echo the crap about ‘they hate us for our freedom!’. The same crap we heard thousands of times before. It’s unbudging…and sadly, it may never change at this rate, because those who have the power to push toward real chance don’t have the spine for it.

    Not to mention the entire assumption that ‘our enemies are simply evil and hate us’ that alleviates all blame from our side. After all, how can you fault a war against EEEEEEEEVIIIIIIIL?!!!


  23. Oversight is a Bitch. Says:

    Is he saying that RUMSFELD LIED TO US?? Shock!


  24. Harry Truman Says:

    shropshire the smart one . what do you think that iran will do with an atomic bomb ? you do realize that these people look forward to dying for their shit god where as you would not give your life to save zooey


  25. JG Says:

    Zooey, you are right on the money. They may also really hate us now for blowing up their countries and killing their friends and families (and stealing their oil).


  26. smafdy Says:

    “It’s A Generational War”

    Oh no the fu(k it isn’t!


  27. Harry Truman Says:

    Krazny who said anything about this being a short war . no one you dummy


  28. smafdy Says:

    Zooey they hate you because you are not muslin and wearing one of those black bags over yourself and escorted by 2 male family members when you leave the house . convert to muslin and you will have peace.

    Comment by Harry Truman — June 8, 2007 @ 1:45 pm

    Zooey is percale - and of very high thread count.


  29. Krazny Says:

    Uh lets see Dick Cheney, Paul Wofowitz, Donald Rumsfeld I think I can find the links to the exact quotes if you like.


  30. Harry Truman Says:

    what do you call people who believe that dyingand killing for their religion is most important than anything and hoping that their children do the same the first suicide bomberthat blew his self up in the 12 yr iraq iran war was 15 yrs. old . you are a fool and know nothing .


  31. Jay Randal Says:

    Bush likes Admirals for some weird reason. I guess since the Navy is needed to bomb the crap out of Iran he must reward the Admirals. Vietnam war was big on Admirals too. Sen. John McCain’s father was the big cheese Admiral for Vietnam conflict.


  32. CompTROLLER V-1 Says:

    Are all of you happy now?


  33. Zooey Says:

    Zooey they hate you because you are not muslin and wearing one of those black bags over yourself and escorted by 2 male family members when you leave the house . convert to muslin and you will have peace.

    Comment by Harry Truman

    I don’t think things will get any better if I convert into a fabric.


  34. Katie Says:

    Wow, I guess Pace was a little to principled and honest for the Bush Crime Family. Oh well, it’s just one more reason not to vote for any Republic in the next election.


  35. oldtree Says:

    always nice to admit you are a psychopath. in this adminstration it is a positively glowing recommendation
    can congress say no to this cripple?


  36. Peter Says:

    Gosh, if it’s going to be a “generational war”, don’t you think it should, at a minimum, be declared so by Congress? If it is not, doesn’t that make it just some sort of struggle or jihad or something?

    The fastest way to end this war is through impeachment; let’s get it started already!


  37. smafdy Says:

    Krazny who said anything about this being a short war . no one you dummy

    Comment by Harry Truman — June 8, 2007 @ 1:51 pm

    Other than “Mission Accomplished”, and “Last throes of the insurgency”, and the rank posturing we do as “Liberators”. I’d cite others, if I could see through all of the flower petals the grateful Iraqi’s have strewn about.


  38. Pete Bogs Says:

    it will be if we don’t start fighting it in smarter ways…


  39. Zooey Says:

    Zooey, you are right on the money. They may also really hate us now for blowing up their countries and killing their friends and families (and stealing their oil).

    Comment by JG

    I should have said they hated us at the beginning for our policies — but now they hate us for so much more.


  40. toasterhead Says:

    If you want the war stopped there are two ways to do it . Win it or Surrender , choose the latter and you may not like what happens .

    Comment by Harry Truman — June 8, 2007 @ 1:36 pm

    How does a country surrender to an abstract concept, exactly?


  41. Zooey Says:

    Zooey is percale - and of very high thread count.
    Comment by smafdy

    Absolutely. I converted from a lower thread count years ago. :-D


  42. Harry Truman Says:

    God you People are Stupid Lets go over the List again . Children I hate going over and over this lesson again and again to say this is about oil is stupid

    1979
    Nov. 4, Tehran, Iran: Iranian radical students seized the U.S. embassy, taking 66 hostages. 14 were later released. The remaining 52 were freed after 444 days on the day of President Reagan’s inauguration.

    1982–1991
    Lebanon: Thirty US and other Western hostages kidnapped in Lebanon by Hezbollah. Some were killed, some died in captivity, and some were eventually released. Terry Anderson was held for 2,454 days.

    1983
    April 18, Beirut, Lebanon: U.S. embassy destroyed in suicide car-bomb attack; 63 dead, including 17 Americans. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
    Oct. 23, Beirut, Lebanon: Shiite suicide bombers exploded truck near U.S. military barracks at Beirut airport, killing 241 marines. Minutes later a second bomb killed 58 French paratroopers in their barracks in West Beirut.
    Dec. 12, Kuwait City, Kuwait: Shiite truck bombers attacked the U.S. embassy and other targets, killing 5 and injuring 80.

    1984
    Sept. 20, east Beirut, Lebanon: truck bomb exploded outside the U.S. embassy annex, killing 24, including 2 U.S. military.
    Dec. 3, Beirut, Lebanon: Kuwait Airways Flight 221, from Kuwait to Pakistan, hijacked and diverted to Tehran. 2 Americans killed.

    1985
    April 12, Madrid, Spain: Bombing at restaurant frequented by U.S. soldiers, killed 18 Spaniards and injured 82.
    June 14, Beirut, Lebanon: TWA Flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome hijacked to Beirut by Hezbollah terrorists and held for 17 days. A U.S. Navy diver executed.
    Oct. 7, Mediterranean Sea: gunmen attack Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. One U.S. tourist killed. Hijacking linked to Libya.
    Dec. 18, Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria: airports in Rome and Vienna were bombed, killing 20 people, 5 of whom were Americans. Bombing linked to Libya.

    1986
    April 2, Athens, Greece:A bomb exploded aboard TWA flight 840 en route from Rome to Athens, killing 4 Americans and injuring 9.
    April 5, West Berlin, Germany: Libyans bombed a disco frequented by U.S. servicemen, killing 2 and injuring hundreds.

    1988
    Dec. 21, Lockerbie, Scotland: N.Y.-bound Pan-Am Boeing 747 exploded in flight from a terrorist bomb and crashed into Scottish village, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground. Passengers included 35 Syracuse University students and many U.S. military personnel. Libya formally admitted responsibility 15 years later (Aug. 2003) and offered $2.7 billion compensation to victims’ families.

    1993
    Feb. 26, New York City: bomb exploded in basement garage of World Trade Center, killing 6 and injuring at least 1,040 others. In 1995, militant Islamist Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and 9 others were convicted of conspiracy charges, and in 1998, Ramzi Yousef, believed to have been the mastermind, was convicted of the bombing. Al-Qaeda involvement is suspected.

    1996
    June 25, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: truck bomb exploded outside Khobar Towers military complex, killing 19 American servicemen and injuring hundreds of others. 13 Saudis and a Lebanese, all alleged members of Islamic militant group Hezbollah, were indicted on charges relating to the attack in June 2001.

    1998
    Aug. 7, Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: truck bombs exploded almost simultaneously near 2 U.S. embassies, killing 224 (213 in Kenya and 11 in Tanzania) and injuring about 4,500. 4 men connected with al-Qaeda 2 of whom had received training at al-Qaeda camps inside Afghanistan, were convicted of the killings in May 2001 and later sentenced to life in prison. A federal grand jury had indicted 22 men in connection with the attacks, including Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, who remained at large.

    2000
    Oct. 12, Aden, Yemen: U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole heavily damaged when a small boat loaded with explosives blew up alongside it. 17 sailors killed. Linked to Osama bin Laden, or members of al-Qaeda terrorist network.

    2001
    Sept. 11, New York City, Arlington, Va., and Shanksville, Pa.: hijackers crashed 2 commercial jets into twin towers of World Trade Center; 2 more hijacked jets were crashed into the Pentagon and a field in rural Pa. Total dead and missing numbered 2,9921: 2,749 in New York City, 184 at the Pentagon, 40 in Pa., and 19 hijackers. Islamic al-Qaeda terrorist group blamed. (See September 11, 2001: Timeline of Terrorism.)

    2002
    June 14, Karachi, Pakistan: bomb exploded outside American consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, killing 12. Linked to al-Qaeda.

    2003
    May 12, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: suicide bombers killed 34, including 8 Americans, at housing compounds for Westerners. Al-Qaeda suspected.

    2004
    May 29–31, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: terrorists attack the offices of a Saudi oil company in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, take foreign oil workers hostage in a nearby residential compound, leaving 22 people dead including one American.
    June 11–19, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: terrorists kidnap and execute Paul Johnson Jr., an American, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2 other Americans and BBC cameraman killed by gun attacks.
    Dec. 6, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: terrorists storm the U.S. consulate, killing 5 consulate employees. 4 terrorists were killed by Saudi security.

    2005
    Nov. 9, Amman, Jordan: Suicide bombers hit 3 American hotels, Radisson, Grand Hyatt, and Days Inn, in Amman, Jordan, killing 57. Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility.

    2006
    Sept. 13, Damascus, Syria: an attack by four gunman on the American embassy was foiled.

    2007
    Jan. 12, Athens, Greece: the U.S. embassy was fired on by an anti-tank missile causing damage but no injuries.


  43. nolo Says:

    back on pace for a moment:

    well — in an ETHICAL, moral, administration,
    one might expect that writing, on official military
    stationary, in SUPPORT of a convicted perjurer, and
    justic obstructor in a case involving national
    security, and the leaking of ocert c.i.a. asset
    identites, would get the general CANNED
    .

    but in THIS administration, it SHOULD have
    been enough to save his neck from the axe. . .

    so — color me puzzled. . .

    but if — if his scooter letter
    accurately reflects gen. peter pace’s
    ability to judge character, we may safely
    assume that nothing in iraq is going to
    improve significantly, without a change
    of administrations. that is to say, if he
    feels that serving “the united states govern-
    ment extremely well on national security
    issues” includes perjury, and obstruction of
    justice [note that the letter is dated after
    scooter’s conviction!] — then i am reasonably
    certain gen. pace was unfit for his current role. . .


  44. Juan C Says:

    Are all of you happy now?
    Comment by CompTROLLER V-1

    I had sex a week ago. So no. :D


  45. Jay Randal Says:

    Bush is replacing military brass with ugly guys > just look at the pic of the Admiral. He looks like some guy who owns a run-down hardware store. He must be an old pal of Darth Dicky Cheney > lol.


  46. mroom Says:

    NOW they tell us.


  47. LandSurveyor Says:

    Few things offend me more than when someone tells me what’s “evil”.


  48. prof shropshire Says:

    I always considered myself a litlle paisley


  49. marlow Says:

    I believe it’s the most dangerous time in my life as well…watching general after general knuckle under and tow the line for these scumbags when they should be surrounding the White house with tanks and dragging them out in chains…


  50. toasterhead Says:

    shropshire the smart one . what do you think that iran will do with an atomic bomb ? you do realize that these people look forward to dying for their shit god where as you would not give your life to save zooey

    Comment by Harry Truman — June 8, 2007 @ 1:49 pm

    You do realize that their “shit god” is also yours (if you’re Christian or Jewish), right?


  51. Kay Says:

    A War based on Lies. Lies based on Greed. Greed based on Hegemony.


  52. geoman77 Says:

    From Wikipedia:
    Muslin is a type of finely-woven cotton fabric, introduced to Europe from the Middle East in the 17th century. Its first recorded use in England was in 1670. It was named for the city where Europeans first encountered it, Mosul, in what is now Iraq, but the fabric actually originated from Dhaka in what is now Bangladesh.

    See, Iraqi Terrists have been infiltrating the very fabric of our society for over 300 years!!!


  53. prof shropshire Says:

    What god?


  54. Juan C Says:

    Few things offend me more than when someone tells me what’s “evil”.
    Comment by LandSurveyor

    You just hit it.


  55. Krazny Says:

    You left out the Oklahoma city bombing, The ETA attacks in Spain, the IRA attacks in the UK, and so much more. You also left out the part, where Christian european countries controlled the middle east as colonies from 1918- 1950. then forced them to accept a country they hate. Do you think history started in 1979? They still hate us for the crusades, and those were over 500 years ago.


  56. prof shropshire Says:

    Oh, and Zooey can fend for herself just friggin fine!


  57. RemoveBush Says:

    so does ANYONE see my posts???

    Please let me know.


  58. Jay Randal Says:

    Hitler would constantly remove Generals, or move them around, so Bush is afraid of a military coup against him. Which is why he removes any officer who appears to be a threat to him. Bush only wants military brass who will do his bidding without asking questions.


  59. swordsbane Says:

    Hmm… First it was “It’s going to be a quick war” Then it was “We’ve got to see it through” Then it was “If we leave, they win” Then it was “We have to stay long enough to do SOME good” Now it’s “It’s a generational war. We have no choice.” Sounds a helluva lot like denial to me.

    Of course we have a choice. Everyone wants us out but the Bush administration. I just don’t see the problem. It’s not like it’s going to get any LESS embarassing as time goes on and nothing gets done.

    And if they follow us home, sic the NY and Chicago PD on them. They wont last a week.


  60. JG Says:

    Harry Truman, if you are so interested in historical perspectives, then you should read “Power, Faith, and Fantasy” by Michael B. Oren in order to have a better understanding and maybe break out of your one dimensional thinking. Nothing is that simple or cut and dried. There is no such thing as “good guys” and “bad guys”. If you don’t have an understanding of all sides and perspectives and a clear understanding of history, you will never find any real solutions.


  61. DrBB Says:

    Turning the US into an authoritarian police state is hard work, and will take a long time, but that’s why we need this war. We will have won when all our precious freedoms are gone. Halleluja.


  62. smafdy Says:

    Comment by geoman77 — June 8, 2007 @ 2:06 pm

    Ha! Very good!


  63. Redderthanblud Says:

    It’s about Gotdammed time sumbudy spoke like this Harry Truman feller. We all need to stand up to them before we stand down over here. Git them where there sleeping and even before they turn inta more terrists.

    We all need to here the call of our leeder and join up. Tell ya what Harry (I hopes I kin calls ya by yer first name) I’ll come pick ya up and we’ll both join.

    Just tell me where ya live and I’m there.


  64. Ringo Says:

    Mullen’s right. I wish he wasn’t, but he is.

    And there is nothing that you Quislings can do about it.


  65. Fed the Fcuk Up! Says:

    When genocide, oppression, murder, torture, and imperialism become a “generational” agenda, it is not at all inappropriate to invoke the “nazi” comparison.

    In fact, it would be irresponsible to NOT make such a comparison in that to not do so would indicate that the lessons theoretically learned were, in fact, not.

    Fcuk the cowards (trolls who claim to be presidents) and the fools (politicians of both stripes), it is time to storm Washington DC.


  66. CompTROLLER V-1 Says:

    Comment by Juan C

    Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) should be perfect for you.


  67. Zooey Says:

    Oh, and Zooey can fend for herself just friggin fine!
    Comment by prof shropshire

    You know it, babes. ;)


  68. swordsbane Says:

    Hitler would constantly remove Generals, or move them around, so Bush is afraid of a military coup against him. Which is why he removes any officer who appears to be a threat to him. Bush only wants military brass who will do his bidding without asking questions.
    ————-

    You forgot the golden rule: The value of a thread is proportional to the time that passes without comparing something to Hitler :)


  69. Zooey Says:

    so does ANYONE see my posts???

    Please let me know.

    Comment by RemoveBush

    I see this one — and a couple on other threads.
    You should email Faiz directly and ask for an explanation for the deletions.


  70. JG Says:

    “Hmm… First it was “It’s going to be a quick war” Then it was “We’ve got to see it through” Then it was “If we leave, they win” Then it was “We have to stay long enough to do SOME good” Now it’s “It’s a generational war. We have no choice.” Sounds a helluva lot like denial to me.”

    They are just words meant to gain support and pacify the masses while they continue marching along with their original plan that is kept secret. Everything is setup to put pacify for a short period of time and suspend changing anything until the next time they need to show progress. The words are only a tool. A flim-flam.


  71. Jay Randal Says:

    swordsbane > Bush is Hitlerian in his thinking. Does not mean he will gas the Jews or some other group. Some comparisons are valid, because Bush is an out-of-control fascistic moron.


  72. Zooey Says:

    Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) should be perfect for you.

    Comment by CompTROLLER V-1

    Why? Because he had sex a week ago? Get real — or get some…


  73. Keith H. Says:

    The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … This war is going to go on for a long time. It’s a generational war.

    So really, what they’ve done is so outrageous that they HAVE to back it up with bullsh*t through the media that states that they really believe in what they’re doing.
    I mean, what else can they do ?
    And the media is there propping them up all along the way.
    It is almost like they control, or think they control, this country through the msm.
    I’m a little bit curious as to why a very wealthy group of decent people haven’t created their own network that shoots holes in everything that is the garbage that it is on CNN, Fox etc.
    I’m guessing it would get quite a few viewers.


  74. Ringo Says:

    Hey you dopes, Mullen is talking about the civilazational clash between the West and radical Islam, not the current war in Iraq, which is simply one front in a much larger conflict which will last for a generation or more.


  75. Fed the Fcuk Up! Says:

    #59,

    I disagree with your premise in that the change in JCS is a “punitive” or “political” event.

    I believe, and the facts tend to support this, that the move is a strategical one based upon an anticipated change in the “war theater”. A quick geographical review of the Middle East and the African continent, and taking into consideration the blathering of the war-mongers and the corporate greed factor, one can see quite clearly why the aggression strategy would benefit from a weighted naval perspective.


  76. RemoveBush Says:

    “I see this one — and a couple on other threads.
    You should email Faiz directly and ask for an explanation for the deletions.

    Comment by Zooey — June 8, 2007 @ 2:17 pm”

    Thanks Zooey…..

    It’s not worth the email….. What I posted 2x was tame compared to another post by Mr. President, but this persons has remained and mine have dissapeared…..

    There is nothing I can do about it, except to say that TP has become so censored that they should consider changing their name to censored progress…..

    It’s one thing if they were going to hold everyone to EQUAL standards, but they don’t. I see worse from other posters, yet they are not censored.

    I guess I will have to just forget about posting and wait for America to become worse than the USSR?????

    When America and people within it selectively censor, then our country is TRUELY GONE!


  77. swordsbane Says:

    swordsbane > Bush is Hitlerian in his thinking. Does not mean he will gas the Jews or some other group. Some comparisons are valid, because Bush is an out-of-control fascistic moron.

    Comment by Jay Randal — June 8, 2007 @ 2:19 pm

    Then say “out of control facistic moron”. Don’t try to frighten people with the boogyeman. Bush is a dangerous man, either incompetent or truly evil. The people we need to listen to us switch off when you make a Hitler reference.


  78. Ringo Says:

    Good Lord you people are stupid.


  79. Fed the Fcuk Up! Says:

    #69,

    Not at all true in this case. See my comment #66.


  80. CompTROLLER V-1 Says:

    Comment by Zooey

    Well that’s your lousy assesment. If he’s bragging about it on here, then he must seem compulsive about it. What, he can’t go without it for a lousy week? Hey, I read an article about a widower who went without it for 30 years, thought it was his key to living longer (not that I’ll take his advice, but still).


  81. Harry Truman Says:

    Juan C when did liberals give a shit about Perjury ? I seem to remember a man who lied to a grand jury and you hypocrites supported him .


  82. Spudge_Boy Says:

    anyone who has a belief that this war was not going to be long is a fool,
    Like the war on Drugs any of you foolish liberals old enough to remember Lyndon Johnson’s Speech on ” The Great Society War on Poverty ” ? well its been 42 yrs. since then and we all know that there is no Poverty in this Country . If you want the war stopped there are two ways to do it . Win it or Surrender , choose the latter and you may not like what happens .

    Comment by Harry Truman — June 8, 2007 @ 1:36 pm

    So, let me get this straight. Dumb fu*k here brings up too failures for why we should keep on with the Iraq failure. I don’t care if the first two were democratic failures, because I would have voted aginst both and done everything I could to stop the first two failures, because I could have told you they were going to fail just as miserably befor they were started just like I knew the war on terror is and will be a failure.

    So, why was bringing up the failed war on drugs and war on poverty important?

    Oh yeah, Clinton did it.


  83. Jay Randal Says:

    swordsbane > the trolls on here do not give a flip what I say or you say on here. Most visitors to this site stop reading the threads when Jake or m12 post their garbage.


  84. Fed the Fcuk Up! Says:

    #74,

    To control a “people” you must control their thoughts and beliefs.

    Thoughts are controlled by manipulating the “message” and the content of the information that the people receive.

    Beliefs are controlled by having government sanctioned “religion”.

    When you research into who is controlling and benefiting from the manipulation of the people, you will find that they are the same “folks” that you are curious as to why they aren’t saving you from this disgrace and abomination.

    I hope that clears things up for you.


  85. swordsbane Says:

    #69,

    Not at all true in this case. See my comment #66.

    Comment by Fed the Fcuk Up! — June 8, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

    The only truly valid nazi-era reference is comparisons between the people of pre-nazi germany to the people in the USA today. They are/were both blind to the danger right in front of their faces, secure in the belief that it will not go “too far”

    and if it does, I won’t blame the Bush administration, because it won’t be their fault.


  86. hellinabucket Says:

    This General scares me. He has that ideological thought of just good against evil and since we can’t be evil we are on the side of right. As said earlier, it started out as a quick fight and it has evolved into this General’s fight of his lifetime and the long struggle.

    You don’t just go to war with an army, you have to bring the whole country along and that cow left the barn a long time ago. They know they can’t call for a draft because the opposition would be larger than anything this General has seen in his life.

    So they’ll continue squeezing the military, manhandling the ineffective congress and keep paying hired guns as well as the profiteers.

    By the time the whole country wakes up (if they ever do) the cupboard will be bare.


  87. Mr. Bush Goes To Hell Says:

    Spudge_Boy Are you Telling us that The Liberal Media refuses to Cover something that concerns you that is important enough to cause riots in the streets ? can I have some of what you are smoking ? I me really that funny
    Comment by Harry Truman

    Your immediate LIE, of course, “harry”, is that the media is LIBERAL.

    It’s ALL corporate owned, and voted for Bush. You LIARS just keep on..

    The TRUTH is that TRAITOR Bush the MURDERER coxucker PUNK moron

    LIED to the US and the WORLD.

    The “cakewalk” of six weeks is now FOUR YEARS heading to FIFTY…

    Osama is STILL FREE almost SIX YEARS LATER, no links with Iraq…

    Bush and his WAR CRIMINALS have committed TREASON—

    From exposing CIA COVERT SPIES to LYING ABOUT WMD to POLITICING THE DOJ and ALL gov’t agencies.

    The ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, scooter libby, is a FELON…

    Lynn Woolsey signed on to articles of impeachment, and calls for IMPEACHMENT will continue to GROW.

    And EVEN IF 2/3 vote can’t be achieved in the Senate (neither was Clinton convicted),

    the INVESTIGATION and DISCOVERY OF EVIDENCE will find enough to send Bush and Cheney to JAIL for the REST OF THEIR SUBHUMAN LIVES.

    God will send these MURDEROUS scumbags to hell from there,

    for HE sees all, even if Dick Cheney tries to HIDE it here on earth.

    See YOU in hell fake harry (cause I’LL be THERE, and so will YOU),


    Mr. Bush
    MURDEROUS WAR CRIMINAL
    COWARDLY AWOL TRAITOR TO THE USA (TM–BushCrimeCo, Inc.)


  88. Ringo Says:

    The “war on drugs” and the “war on poverty” are poor examples…What we are engaged in now is more like the Cold War, only it’s not cold.

    And we don’t get to decide how long it will last, the enemy does…unless, of course, you advocate surrender.

    I might also add that the main front in this long struggle will be Europe in about ten years.


  89. Rick Says:

    “The enemy now is basically evil and fundamentally hates everything we are — the democratic principles for which we stand … ”

    If “they” hate democratic principles, then why does the US get all the blame while Canada gets a pass?

    How is that fair?


  90. Fed the Fcuk Up! Says:

    #86,

    Precisely!


  91. swordsbane Says:

    So they’ll continue squeezing the military, manhandling the ineffective congress and keep paying hired guns as well as the profiteers.

    By the time the whole country wakes up (if they ever do) the cupboard will be bare.

    Comment by hellinabucket — June 8, 2007 @ 2:33 pm

    No, what’s going to happen is they’ll string everyone along, balancing incompetence with patriotic rhetoric and poking the ‘bad people’ with a stick until they get fed up and do something very big that hurts us like 9/11 dig (but probably worse), then that will be all the mandate they need to kick out the last freedoms that keep them from doing what they want as we shout at them to “Go Get the F**kers!” When we come to our senses, we will be required by law to support the party in power.

    Classic.. and so far.. it’s working.


  92. Zooey Says:

    Well that’s your lousy assesment. If he’s bragging about it on here, then he must seem compulsive about it. What, he can’t go without it for a lousy week? Hey, I read an article about a widower who went without it for 30 years, thought it was his key to living longer (not that I’ll take his advice, but still).

    Comment by CompTROLLER V-1

    For heaven’s sake, CT, Juan was making a joke.


  93. Squonk Says:

    ‘This War Is Going To Go On For A Long Time. It’s A Generational War’

    Not if we have anything to say about it, motherf*cker!

    Ahhh, just what the MIC and neocon repugs want: A multi-generation war!

    BTW, wasn’t the Mission already Accomplished? Chimpy said so himself, all decked out in a flightsuit (complete with cod piece, and using an entire aircraft carrier & hundreds of GI’s as a backdrop for a photo op….pathetic bastard).


  94. Squonk Says:

    #92 / swordsbane:

    Well said. Exactly!


  95. Zooey Says:

    Juan C when did liberals give a shit about Perjury ? I seem to remember a man who lied to a grand jury and you hypocrites supported him .

    Comment by Harry Truman

    That’s not true. We did not support the fact that Clinton lied.

    And we do not support the fact that Bush lies more than any other person on this earth — but YOU DO.


  96. leveymg Says:

    THIS IS EXTREMELY OMINOUS
    I’ve been writing for over a year now that the Joint Chiefs have been blocking the White House’s efforts to expand the war to Iran. This really is most disturbing.

    Pace has been the most visible symbol of the push-back within the military against the Long War.

    When Pace goes, and if there’s a major shake-out of the Joint Chiefs, I am afraid that it’s Impeachment or we’re going to be losing more cities.


  97. hellinabucket Says:

    Swordsbane, That and much more I’m afraid.


  98. toasterhead Says:

    And we don’t get to decide how long it will last, the enemy does…unless, of course, you advocate surrender.

    Comment by Ringo — June 8, 2007 @ 2:37 pm

    Again I ask - how does a country surrender to an abstract concept?


  99. JG Says:

    “And we don’t get to decide how long it will last, the enemy does…unless, of course, you advocate surrender.”

    Could you please define for me exactly who the “enemy” is? I would really like to know. Could you explain WHY they are the enemy? I frankly am confused about who we are fighting and why. The reasons keep changing from month to month..

    And, you don’t get to use the words “the terrorists” because that isn’t a country or an ideology. Terrorism is a tactic. How would you know who to surrender to? And, why would you call making smarter, wiser decisions that have a better chance at success at bringing peace, ending the destruction, and saving lives “surrender”. I would define that as success.

    Would you depend on this Administration to define who the bad guys are? After all the lies and breaking of laws, and circumventing and manipulating they have done? I for one don’t believe any words they say or trust their motives in anything any more. They have caused damage to everything I believed and held dear about our country. They have used their own form of ‘terror’ on this country for almost 6 years now by manipulating the media and doing everything they can to keep the American people in fear (in order to manipulate their emotions and nake Americans willing to look the other way while they erode our rights and rob our National Treasury).

    I for one am sick of this.


  100. 1984 Says:

    Last long? Well duh, it’s a permanent military occupation(!)


  101. Redderthanblud Says:

    Why the enemy is anyone that dont think like Harry. Right Harry? Harry?


  102. CompTROLLER V-1 Says:

    Comment by Zoeey

    Sorry, I’m not great at detecting jokes.


  103. Jim Says:

    ya, we will be there till the oil runs out


  104. swordsbane Says:

    Swordsbane, That and much more I’m afraid.

    Comment by hellinabucket — June 8, 2007 @ 2:52 pm

    Hey, I saw it coming when they changed the Posse Comitus act and took the state governors out of the chain of command and put the president and the commander of the National Guard right at the top with no oversight. In the process, they cut down on the number of people that have to sign off on a declaration of martial law to one person (and you only get one guess who) It wasn’t two months after that that we had a knew commander of the National Guard installed by Bush Co. Now they’re apparently shuffling the rest of the military command around. If there was nothing else that Bush has done that was bad, that would scare the hell out of me. We caught him doing the same thing with the US states attorneys. Who knows how many attorneys went along with the whitehouse when they said “keep quiet or we’ll fire you” and they tried to take congress out of the loop on new attorneys too. They have the executive branch and they tried to control the judicial branch and they’re in the process of putting loyalists in the military, and congress is on the verge of being stuck behind the veto power because their opposition to Bush isn’t strong enough.

    See a pattern yet?


  105. Zooey Says:

    Sorry, I’m not great at detecting jokes.
    Comment by CompTROLLER V-1

    I noticed that.

    You might want to work on that, CT. It would help a lot around here, and in life in general — and might reduce your stress levels.


  106. Mr. Bush Goes To Hell Says:

    The ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, scooter libby, is a FELON…

    Bush and ALL his WAR CRIMINALS need to be in Iraq,

    SUPPORTING THE TROOPS with their BLOOD!!!

    NOT the blood of innocent Americans who are

    LIED into THINKING that THEY ARE “SUPPORTING FREEDOM”.


  107. CompTROLLER V-1 Says:

    Comment by Zooey

    You’re practically reading my mind.


  108. Zooey Says:

    You’re practically reading my mind.
    Comment by CompTROLLER V-1

    Let me know if I can help. :)


  109. nanlichi Says:

    Third grade teacher tell her class that humans are the only animals that stutter. A little girl in the back raises her hand and says, “That’s not true, I had a cat once that stuttered” Teacher asks her to share the story, the liitle girl said, “A big doberman chased my cat into a corner and the cat was going, Phhhhh…, Phhhhh…, Ph….. and before she could say f*ck the doberman ate her”

    That’s a joke CT.

    So is Bush.


  110. Ringo Says:

    Again I ask - how does a country surrender to an abstract concept?

    Comment by toasterhead
    ————————————————
    Like this:
    http://www.timeout.com/london/features/2993.html


  111. steve Says:

    Wow! He seems to be signalling for a war even longer than the subject of those offensive spam mails that offer to augment my penis.


  112. RUCerious Says:

    He’s wrong. Not a generational war.
    A suicidal, imperialistic, misguided farce of a occupation to secure their oil yes.
    Generational war, no.


  113. RUCerious Says:

    I wonder if they hate our habeus corpus?
    If so, then since we no longer have it, if they now love us>?


  114. toasterhead Says:

    Like this:
    http://www.timeout.com/london/features/2993.html

    Comment by Ringo — June 8, 2007 @ 3:20 pm

    Ok. So if we maintain the separation of church and state, we win, right?


  115. oldtree Says:

    the statements from the two senators;
    might as well be talking about bathwater. when are we going to see anyone with the guts to stand up and do what we, the people, demand?


  116. buckles Says:

    It seems plain to me that Mullen is being brought forward, in part, to clean house for Gates and consolidate his position at Defense by sweeping out all the old Rumsfield hangovers. That won’t please Cheney, who was always the closest to Rummie in White house circles as the two of them headed the neocon cabal.

    Hmmmm… perhaps Cheney’s cardiologist will do us all a favor and write him an excuse to quit his job. With the ship sinking, there will be no pretty and easy way out for him anyway. Of course, I suppose he could pull a Paris.


  117. Squonk Says:

    #100 & #114

    Bravo. Well said!


  118. Toliver Says:

    This thread is an illustration of why liberals shouldn’t be the people protecting this nation against the jihadists movement that seeks to destroy us.


  119. Juan C Says:

    I seem to remember a man who lied to a grand jury and you hypocrites supported him .
    Comment by Harry Truman

    Like I would give two f*cks about Clinton.

    Why? Because he had sex a week ago? Get real — or get some…
    Comment by Zooey

    Exactly. Addicted, huh?

    Hey, Ringo… in that West vs Islam Clash, is Van Damme or Seagal in it?


  120. Mr. Bush Goes To Hell Says:

    Ok. So if we maintain the separation of church and state, we win, right?

    Yup. Most importantly, AMERICA and REAL Americans WIN!


  121. Phrank Says:

    I see that our leader continue to ignore the support our “friends”. the Saudis, are giving to the Sunni insurgencies that our killing our troops on a daily basis. Instead we get more misdirection of American power in the interests of the Saudis (can’t have that Shia Crescent) and AIPAC (Israel, right or wrong). So long as we continue to act in their interests and not our own, the mammon worshipping, warmongering, moral degenerates who would control us, will keep on with their ever-so profitable perpetual wars. Phrank


  122. swordsbane Says:

    This thread is an illustration of why liberals shouldn’t be the people protecting this nation against the jihadists movement that seeks to destroy us.

    Comment by Toliver — June 8, 2007 @ 4:37 pm

    Would you like to explain the illustration? Is it because we’d like the President to admit he made a mistake, take responsibility for it and stop lying to us, or maybe it’s because we’d like not to continue the same war strategy that got us where we are (ie bogged down with no end in sight) or maybe its because we don’t think the war is even legal, or maybe it’s because of all the freedoms we’ve sacrificed for an unsibstantiated increase in security when everyone but the Bush administrations says the world is a much MORE dangerous place since the Iraq war started?

    Is that the picture you were talking about the liberals painting? Is the truth a threat to our way of life? Does it let the terrorists win? Does the truth fail to protect us?

    The Republicans have been doing a great job of protecting our “way of life” so far, as long as that way of life doesn’t include due process, privacy, security, or a stable economy… our way of life is very secure.

    I think you’re right. The liberals should just stop whining and let the Conservatives continue on the way they’ve been going. After all, the war will be over in a little while right….. oh that’s right… some bone-head is telling our troops that it might not be over IN THEIR LIFETIME… I wonder what idiot appointed that bone-head……


  123. Carol Davidek-Waller Says:

    Bush’s puppetmasters have given up on Iraq and going to initiate a sea and air war against Iran.


  124. Democrates Says:

    Mullen is part of the shell game. Gates is telling us part of the truth in that he doesn’t want Pace to have a “contentious” re-confirmation hearing. It seems with Mullen and Fallon the administration is focusing a lot on the naval power aspect of their military adventure. Could it be that they are preparing to do a little gun boat diplomacy when they announce their plans to begin withdrawing from Iraq?


  125. Stephen Pitt Says:

    So Bush found an admiral to challenge CENTCOM’s Admiral Fallon-who made it clear he’d not attack Iran on his watch.

    Feinstein’s ringing-even anxious- endorsement of Gen. Hayden says it all. The Neo Cons want permanant war.

    Naughty globalists! Now, they’re attempting an end-around to get at that oil.

    http://www.light-to-dark.com/neo_con_totality.html

    .


  126. Nick Says:

    What the administration doesn’t seem to get is that this war is happening because of their policies - not despite of them.

    I despair….


  127. Toliver Says:

    Iraq is a theatre in a larger global war in case you haven’t noticed swordsbane. From Africa to Asia to South America the jihad movement is doing what they do best, and the libs haven’t a clue as to how to deal with them.

    Will it take a couple Western cities getting nuked for some people to get it?


  128. Paul in LA Says:

    HT’s SPAM ignores the fact that if you wanted to REDUCE terrorism, you wouldn’t hand out HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF MUNITIONS to Iraqi looters, by grossly underdeploying the invasion force.

    Screw you, HT, you troll — you’ve got the blood of 3,500 US soldiers all over you, like George “I Supplied Endless IEDs to the Enemies of Our Troops” Bush.


  129. Paul in LA Says:

    If we are to be concerned about nukes, then we would be concerned about Bush’s total failure to guard our ports.


  130. Toliver Says:

    What the administration doesn’t seem to get is that this war is happening because of their policies - not despite of them.

    I despair….

    The jihad against the West began long before Bush. So has the enslavement and murder of women, the abuse and murder of gays, and so on and so forth. But I suppose that’s all W’s fault too eh?


  131. swordsbane Says:

    Iraq is a theatre in a larger global war in case you haven’t noticed swordsbane. From Africa to Asia to South America the jihad movement is doing what they do best, and the libs haven’t a clue as to how to deal with them.

    Will it take a couple Western cities getting nuked for some people to get it?

    Comment by Toliver — June 8, 2007 @ 5:07 pm

    You know.. I’m sure those were words…. but all I hear is “blah blah blah blah”

    So of course if you’re being stung by wasps, you should naturally take the nest and staple it to your forehead and smack your head against the wall.

    Invading Iraq was illegal, strategically irrelevant, had nothing to do with terrorism and was monumentally stupid. And NOT wanting to continue is going to be DANGEROUS?? Look around you pal… we passed dangerous a long time ago.


  132. Namtillaku Says:

    Will it take a couple Western cities getting nuked for some people to get it?

    Comment by Toliver — June 8, 2007 @ 5:07 pm

    OK then, you’re getting to the heart of the matter, why aren’t we fighting these other terrorists in other countries - such as OBL for example - instead of creating more of them in Iraq. You are a fool at best, and a boot licking fascist at best.


  133. Paul in LA Says:

    The Oil Jihad against innocent persons in the Middle East is FOR PROFIT, not for national security.

    Covering up PROFIT by sputtering about terrorism is a gambit that will no longer work. Tough luck, Toliver.


  134. Tom Says:

    If we really want to get to what the enemy wants of us and why they hate us, we don’t need to argue over this. We know. Al Qaeda and related groups have said what they want for five years now.
    To cite Adam Gadahn, Al Qaeda’s American spokesman, from his video on May 29th, we can do the following to satify them:
    1) Pull our troops, intelligence agencies, advisors and diplomats from every Muslim country on earth.
    2) End all support to 56 “apostate” Muslim countries in the world (that’s all of them) and leave them to “their well-deserved fate”.
    3) End all support, moral, political and economic, to Israel and ban any travel to there.
    4) Ban all broadcasts to muslim countries.
    5) Free all Muslim captives from custody, in the United States and abroad, whether they have received a trial or not, whatever they have been charged or convicted of.

    If one wants to claim that they “hate us for our policies” and that they have reasons to hate us, there those policies and reasons are. We can have an open and honest discussion as to whether we ought to follow through on the above-listed demands. If not, we have war.


  135. Juan C Says:

    From Africa to Asia to South America the jihad movement is doing what they do best, and the libs haven’t a clue as to how to deal with them.
    Comment by Toliver

    Are there links?


  136. Paul in LA Says:

    Al Qaeda’s top leadership was trapped at Tora Bora.

    Boy Wonder deployed 1,500 special forces against Tora Bora.

    You can’t even get a decent badmitton round robin going with 1,500 troops.

    PREDICTABLY, Al Qaeda escaped.

    Did the US follow Al Qaeda into Pakistan to destroy them? NO, we did not.

    The idea that Boy Wonder would kill the son of his biggest oil backers is a STUPIDITY that only Toliver, Tom, and HT can believe.

    Tough luck, guys — you got screwed because you backed a LOSER.


  137. swordsbane Says:

    You know… if you go and ask a self-proclaimed “enemy of the West” why they are fighting us, they will say “because you come to our country and tell us what to do and meddle in our soveregnity”

    Here’s a thought…. let’s not do that. Then at least they’ll have to come up with another excuse, and who knows… maybe they’ll stop trying to kill us in the meantime.

    BTW: in case you aren’t aware of it, if they were doing to us what they claim we’re doing to them, do you really think we’d stand for it? Take a moment to think before you take the high moral ground.


  138. Namtillaku Says:

    If one wants to claim that they “hate us for our policies” and that they have reasons to hate us, there those policies and reasons are. We can have an open and honest discussion as to whether we ought to follow through on the above-listed demands. If not, we have war.

    Comment by Tom — June 8, 2007 @ 5:15 pm

    Tom, I don’t know about anyone else here at TP, but I personally believe that we do have a huge problem with Muslim fundamentalists, which will require intelligence & quite possibly violence in our own defense. But we’re not fighting them. By attacking Iraq, we’re ignoring those fundamentalists and creating more of them in Iraq.


  139. Tom Says:

    Paul,
    you ought to actually remember what was going on in Afghanistan. We didn’t have thousands and thousands of troops in the country, nor did we have the means to put them there. Remember back then? Small, landlocked country, nearly 1000 miles from open water? Remember the worries about the Russian experience? Please tell me how you would have set up the logisical chain across Pakistan and into the country for all those thousands of troops that you say we should have sent, without it getting cut to bits along the way.
    It must be great to be a Dimocrat. After never successfully prosecuting a war in 60 years, they can do all the monday-morning quarterbacking you want without ever actually having to do anything.


  140. Toliver Says:

    Namtillaku,

    Feeling unhinged again? Mommy and Daddy didn’t give you enough attention?

    Paul,

    You don’t know much about Tora Bora. Read up on what CENTCOM thought at the time.

    You know.. I’m sure those were words…. but all I hear is “blah blah blah blah”

    So of course if you’re being stung by wasps, you should naturally take the nest and staple it to your forehead and smack your head against the wall.

    Invading Iraq was illegal, strategically irrelevant, had nothing to do with terrorism and was monumentally stupid. And NOT wanting to continue is going to be DANGEROUS?? Look around you pal… we passed dangerous a long time ago.

    Pulling out too soon wouldn’t do much but make a bad situation worse. Ignoring the wasps and wishing them to go away won’t help either. None of your candidates has an aggressive vision on how to fight the jihadists.

    Your party is WEAK and can’t be trusted.


  141. Paul in LA Says:

    “you ought to actually remember what was going on in Afghanistan. We didn’t have thousands and thousands of troops in the country, nor did we have the means to put them there.” — Tom

    That’s HILARIOUS. The US military, according to you, could not deliver sufficient troops to kill Al Qaeda after Nine-eleven.

    You’re a SURRENDER MONKEY!

    Why do you hate the troops and despise our military?


  142. Tom Says:

    Namtillaku,
    Iraq was a mistake. That’s clear now. Ignoring the ad hominem attacks (”It’s all about oil!” (TM)) and dealing with the argument for Iraq directly, the purpose of the war in the wider scheme of things was to “redraw the map” of the Middle East: provide a stable democratic government that would serve as a model for the region and dry up many of the reasons for terrorism (incompetent and brutal regimes that we’ve supported for decades).
    That strategy has failed spectacularly. Granted that, but what are we to make up that? Should we go back to Plan A and support the old dictators we used to (like Saddam)? Pulling out completely from the Middle East and having no contact, economic, political, diplomatic, with any country there, which Al Qaeda would like, is not a realistic solution.


  143. Tom Says:

    Paul,
    I actually served in the Marine Corps. It isn’t as if we just “beam” somewhere. We and our equipment and supplies have to be delived somehow. Remember for Iraq, it tooks months of moving units and log to Kuwait, where there are deepwater ports. We’re we supposed to just flap our arms and fly to Tora Bora?


  144. Karim Says:

    We lose one stooge, only to get another in his place…nice.


  145. swordsbane Says:

    It must be great to be a Dimocrat. After never successfully prosecuting a war in 60 years, they can do all the monday-morning quarterbacking you want without ever actually having to do anything.

    Comment by Tom — June 8, 2007 @ 5:27 pm

    When throw out a tactic that doesn’t work, I don’t get people killed. The difference between me and Bush (besides about 150 IQ points) is that Bush SHOULD KNOW BETTER. If Bush has all this vast Conservative experience to draw on, why did we go into Iraq to fight an enemy that wasn’t there until we let him in? Why did Bush lie to us about why we went in, how well we were doing, and when we were going to be done? Why are we using tactics we know to be not working? Or is this all some clever plan to make everyone think he’s an idiot?? In that case, it’s working very well.

    btw: Those questions are rhetorical. I know the answers (the real answers and the Conservative answer) but you are invited to think about them before you make any more comments implying a vast Conservative military experience pool.


  146. swordsbane Says:

    Your party is WEAK and can’t be trusted.

    Comment by Toliver — June 8, 2007 @ 5:31 pm

    Don’t give them to me… I don’t want them.. I dislike the Reps AND the Dems. It just so happens that the Dems aren’t getting our troops killed right now. As to how to fight the “jihadists” (such a stupid name) I already gave you my idea. It at least has the virtue of never having been tried, which is more than I can say for current Conservative policy.


  147. Tom Says:

    Swordsbane wrote:
    “If Bush has all this vast Conservative experience to draw on, why did we go into Iraq to fight an enemy that wasn’t there until we let him in? Why did Bush lie to us about why we went in, how well we were doing, and when we were going to be done? Why are we using tactics we know to be not working?”

    Well, this war was promoted by the neocons, who were former liberals… :P


  148. Toliver Says:

    Paul,

    Your knowledge base is weak, not unlike your constitution. Google up “Tora Bora CENTCOM” for some facts. Find out what CENTCOM thought if you care about the truth.


  149. Paul in LA Says:

    “Paul,
    I actually served in the Marine Corps. It isn’t as if we just “beam” somewhere.” –Tom

    I see, Tom, so it’s a MILITARY failure, not a command failure.

    • Insufficient troops to Tora Bora to do the job on the real enemy.

    • Insufficient troops (by 300,000+) to secure CEA in Iraq or prevent looting.

    Both of those C-in-C COMMAND FAILURES need to be blamed on the military, eh?

    When did you complete your bootlicking assignment to Rumsfeld?


  150. Paul in LA Says:

    “Well, this war was promoted by the neocons, who were former liberals” –Tom

    Donald Rumsfeld was NEVER a liberal. Neither was Dick Cheney or Paul Wolfowitz. Or George Bush.

    You’re a liar, Tom.


  151. Toliver Says:

    Sorry about lumping you in with the dems swordsbane.

    “Jihadists” is not a good word to describe these cats? Do you like the term “islamofascists” any better?


  152. Paul in LA Says:

    “Your knowledge base is weak, not unlike your constitution. Google up “Tora Bora CENTCOM” for some facts. Find out what CENTCOM thought if you care about the truth.” –Toliver

    Toliver, apparently you are a fool. “CENTCOM” minus the Joint Chiefs that Rumsfeld despised, and with OSP’s propaganda, claims whatever it wants to about those days.

    Since Rumsfeld was already planning on attacking Iraq, and since Bush ILLEGALLY transfered funds and troops FROM Afghanistan to Iraq, the idea that Tora Bora was as CENTCOM apologists say is hilarious.

    Ask any of our retired generals who will say, and they blame the whole thing on Rumsfeld and Bush. You know, the CIVILIAN COMMANDERS.


  153. Toliver Says: