CNN’s Ware: ‘Lieberman Has Taken An Excursion Into Fantasy’
CNN’s Ware: ‘Lieberman Has Taken An Excursion Into Fantasy’
After returning from a recent visit to Iraq, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has embarked on a campaign to give cheery reports about the Iraq war. His latest line: “We are winning.” Yesterday, Lieberman alleged that U.S. troops had successfully “chased out” the “enemy”:
[W]e’ve got the enemy, Al Qaeda, on the run. We’ve chased them out of Anbar province, where they were going to create the capital for the Islamist Republic of Iraq. We’ve chased them now to Diyala. All of this is possible because of the surge.
Last night, CNN Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware, who has been in Iraq for four years, mocked Lieberman’s claims, emphasizing that the U.S. now faces “a whole multitude” of threats that are becoming stronger:
COOPER: Is the enemy on the run in Iraq, Michael?
WARE: No, certainly not. And I think we need to be aware that it’s enemies. I mean, America doesn’t face just one opponent in this country, but a whole multitude, many of whom are becoming stronger the longer the U.S. occupation here, or presence here, in Iraq continues. So, unfortunately, I’m afraid that Senator Lieberman has taken an excursion into fantasy.
Watch it:
Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) said yesterday: “I don’t know where Lieberman gets his opinions” on Iraq. Last weekend, violence around the country claimed 220 lives. Yesterday, the formerly secure Green Zone saw its “most intense mortar attack to date,” according to a statement from the U.S. embassy.
Transcript:
COOPER: Michael, I want to play something that Senator Lieberman said about the war in Iraq. Let’s — let’s listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMAN: The war is not lost in Iraq. In fact, now American Iraqi security forces are winning. The enemy is on the run in Iraq. But, here in — in Congress, in Washington, we seem to be, or some — some members seem to be on the run, chased, I fear, by public opinion polls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Is the enemy on the run in Iraq, Michael?
WARE: No, certainly not.
And I think we need to be aware that it’s enemies. I mean, America doesn’t face just one opponent in this country, but a whole multitude, many of whom are becoming stronger, the longer the U.S. occupation here, or presence here, in Iraq continues. So, unfortunately, I’m afraid that Senator Lieberman has taken an excursion into fantasy.
Now, I know, elsewhere, that Senator Lieberman told the Senate or reminded the Senate of its greater responsibility to rise above its frustrations and the opinion polls. Now, never a truer word has been said. That’s, indeed, what America needs right now, some political maturity.
But — but that message was diluted by this fantastic notion…
COOPER: Michael Ware…
WARE: … that America is winning.
COOPER: Michael Ware, appreciate the reporting in Baghdad.
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And this is news???
July 11th, 2007 at 2:28 pmLieberman is disgusting. Thanks CT…thanks a bunch!
July 11th, 2007 at 2:28 pmWhy doesn’t CT recall Lieberman? Maybe his constituants feel sorry for him (or his wife – yikes!).
July 11th, 2007 at 2:30 pmI don’t think it’s fantasy land for lieberman – I think he’s lying intentionally.
It’s the nature of politicians and war – that’s when the lies from government get bigger and bigger…..
Seems like Joe and the rest of the neo-cons know this quite well.
Some interesting reading on this:
“Politicians Lie? Say it Ain’t So!”
July 11th, 2007 at 2:30 pmhttp://www.populistamerica.com/politicians_lie___say_it_ain_t_so
“We are Winning”, speaking from the Israeli point of view…ooopps
July 11th, 2007 at 2:31 pm“a whole multitude” of enemies who are becoming stronger.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pmYou have to willingly suspend your disbelief to buy into any politician’s rosy view of Iraq. I might believe one of them if they had spent the last several years in Iraq, like Ware has.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:32 pmIt’s not an excursion. Fantasy is where Lieberman lives.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:33 pmThose damn facts always having a liberal slant..
July 11th, 2007 at 2:36 pmAfter returning from a recent visit to Iraq, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has embarked on a campaign to give cheery reports about the Iraq war.
Joe Lieberman??? CHEERY??? WTF??? Have you seen Joementum speak recently? He looks like he’s made out of wax tha’s starting to melt…
July 11th, 2007 at 2:38 pmAgreed. The Democrat cry-babies in Congress need to grow up.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:40 pmAfter returning from a recent visit to Iraq, Sen. Joe Lieberman (Israel-CT) has embarked on a campaign to give cheery reports about the Iraq war.
Wasn’t this the visit where they weren’t allowed to leave the embassy, weren’t allowed to talk to Iraqis, weren’t allowed to stay the night, and weren’t allowed to take off their body armor?
Certainly sounds “cheery” over there in merry old Iraq…
July 11th, 2007 at 2:40 pmFor the Bush administration and its allies like Joe Lieberman, the marketing of the “surge” in Iraq more and more looks like an ad for a Hollywood flop. In this case, the box office numbers are in and the film is a dismal failure. And yet a small but reliable group of friendly critics continues to offer rave reviews for “Iraq: The Surge.”
For the details, see:
July 11th, 2007 at 2:40 pm“Iraq Surge Wins Rave Reviews.”
We are here on the authority of an international force that can no longer stand by and watch one of their greatest allies falling into darkness and despair.
We are here on behalf on the tens of thousands of civilians murdered under orders from the current administration, who have no else to speak for them and on behalf of the American units that have joined us to oppose the tyranny that has darkened our world, ever since the stolen elections eight years ago.
We are here to place President Bush under arrest, to disband Homeland Security and return our government to the hands of her people.
We know that many in the government have wanted to act, but have been intimidated by threats of retaliation against your families, your friends. You are not alone anymore. We call upon you to rise up and do what’s right. We have drawn forces loyal to them away and disabled them. The time to act is now.
This is not the voice of treason. This are your sons, your daughters, whose loyalties have never wavered, whose beliefs in this republic has forces us to take extraordinary means for justice, for peace, for the future. We have come home!
July 11th, 2007 at 2:42 pmMichael Ware is not to be totally trusted either.
Lately I’ve heard him advocating a long term U.S. (heavy) presence in Iraq. After all, his job depends on that.
BTW., Barbara Starr is a full fledged Pentagon propagandist.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:45 pmI wonder why mild mannered Joe is SO dogmatic about this issue?
July 11th, 2007 at 2:46 pmHmmm…………..
Let me put my thinking cap on……..
Isnt he AIPAC’s “go to guy”?
Hmmmm……….
So this whole Iraq “thing” has something to do with Israel?
nO!!!!!
I cant beleieve it……….thats “antisemetic”.
What a huge blunder this whole enterprise is.
I guess according to Bush this is a “crusade”.
Remember him saying that early on?
Or remember Cheney saying this war on “terror” would last “50 years”?
Hmmm………….
Hey this thing is bigger than you and me and the american people and oil……….its about Israel too.
Maybe thats why mild mannered Joe is so actively promoting our Middle east “crusade”.
Funny thing is that Israelis arent dying in this effort americans are.
Now that I understand the “genius” behind all of this I can rest peacefully.
Lieberman will be rewarded greatly for his deflection of the idiocy of this administration. How he keeps getting the press to print his ramblings is beyond me.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:47 pmJust call him Baghdad Joe from now on. Well, never mind, at least Baghdad bob was funny…
July 11th, 2007 at 2:47 pm10. Joe Lieberman??? CHEERY??? WTF??? Have you seen Joementum speak recently? He looks like he’s made out of wax tha’s starting to melt…
July 11th, 2007 at 2:49 pm* * *
Bueller. Bueller. Bueller? Bueller? Bueller. Bueller. Bueller!
Just watched “V for Vendetta” last night. That movie is so prophetic it’s scary!
It’s futuristic and Orwellian UK boasts of the “fall of the United States” due to their endless wars, etc. With the shit we’ve done in the middle east now, it’s easy to anticipate attacks in our country. I won’t be surprised when there becomes common car bombings in our country..nor will i be surprised when/if a nuke hit somewhere. And no, it wouldn’t have happened with a fraction of the odds if we hadn’t invaded two sovereign nations illegally..and let the ONE bad guy get away.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:50 pmLieberman was put in office by the GOP to do just what he’s doing lie. Now the people of Ct. that voted him in know they were played for fools and are part of the continued death of our troops. In defense for Lieberman he will play the memory lost defense as the other GOP/White House Liars. CT. was a state of intelligent educated people now we know even they can be tricked. I guess the White House feels it has worked before so keep doing the same thing as Americans are stupid.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:50 pmIt’s obvious where Holy Joe gets his opinions. The Bush Administration and the GOP. He makes the perfect whiner. There is one consolation. He’s committing political suicide.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:51 pm#17. How on earth can you claim that a journalists job is dependent on a war continuing? Are you aware that journalists cover many topics other than illegal invasions of sovereign nations that never threatened this country? With luck Michael Ware’s reporting will help to hasten to departure of our failed policy from Iraq. I think he’d be tickled pink to have that happen.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:51 pmWhat possible motivation could Lieberman have for putting a positive spin on the fiasco going on within Iraq? 220 Iraqis dead last week is beyond indication of a losing disaster. With death numbers like that it is necessary to give credence to reality. Why spin this into something it is not and can not be? What is the answer?
July 11th, 2007 at 2:53 pmWho cares what LIEberdoofus has to say about anything anymore? I mean, except for PiPpy Longstocking and his fellow trolltards, who less than 10 years ago were mocking him as part of the “Sore Loserman” ticket…
LIEberdoofus has as much credibility on Iraq as the rest of the Bushniks — which is to say, NONE. So let him spout off his night-is-day, black-is-white crapola — those of us in the reality based community will continue to work to make things right in Iraq and, more importantly, in the USA.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pmComment by Ben Dover
Ben, then explain Ware advocating a long term presence in Iraq.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pmI heard and saw him do it right there with Anderson Cooper.
#15: Too much B5 for you, buddy. Please try to keep fantasy and reality apart.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pmWhat possible motivation could Lieberman have for putting a positive spin on the fiasco going on within Iraq?
Warmonger Joe wants the US to bomb Iran, that’s why.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:58 pmThe (I) after Libermann is an abbreviation for Israel, not Independent.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:00 pmPlease try to keep fantasy and reality apart.
Comment by Future troll
How could you possibly tell?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:02 pmHow the tide has turned. Just a few years ago Liebermann was a VP candidate, today he is mocked as a warmongering old windbag. You leave the reservation, you get hunted down.
Now all you need to do is explain how Joe managed to beat a virulent antiwar candidate, considering that 412% of Americans want us out of Iraq yesterday.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:04 pmMichael Ware has to be one of the most entertaing vehicles for the news, hands down. I’d love to have several hundred beers with him.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:06 pmMichael Ware’s left eyebrow has taken an excursion into his forehead. Did he have a stroke or a breakdown or something?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:06 pmWare did say it would be a disaster if we left, but that was a few weeks, maybe months, ago. He does call them pretty damn straight.
And it’s already a disaster, so wtf? Let’s get out.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:07 pm( whether he ever was one other that name only is up for debate)
Only in the minds of those who have to decided to hysterically hate the man because of this one issue.
Joe has a liberal rating of what, 96% or thereabouts? He supports every liberal plank agenda item there is except the war, but of course liberals say stupid things like you just did.
If there were a current fevered debate over abortion, Joe would be on the forefront of protecting the current laws and the libs would be praising him as an insightful and..uh..’progressive’ politician. You wouldnt be debating his liberal qualities.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:09 pmI suspect that LIEberman has a teenie weenie. Because he exhibits common traits for people with this problem. That is an excessive need for attention. He has been marginalized by the Democrats and even if he joins the Lemming Republics, he will still be low man on the totem pole. So, he says ridiculous things to get attention.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:10 pm412% of Americans want us out of Iraq yesterday.
Comment by Blackwater
412%??? Like many in the Brusch Admin, you would appear to be math-challenged. Do you tell women that this much [ --------------------------- ]
July 11th, 2007 at 3:10 pmreally is 6 inches too?
Love this site, glad I found it. Such insight and thoughtful introspection, certainly an apt representation of ‘progressive’ thought. God help the country.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:12 pm“Now all you need to do is explain how Joe managed to beat a virulent antiwar candidate, considering that 412% of Americans want us out of Iraq yesterday.”
He lied to the people of Connecticut. If he had shown this side of him to them back when he was running for election, he would never have made it. He didn’t start his virulent war-mongering until after he was elected.
The man knows that he will never again be a Senator, so he is getting all the attention he can get now. Kind of saving up for his retirement.
He recently said that he would not be supporting any Democratic candidate for President and didn’t know which Republic he would support. Like anyone cares. He is trying to make an impression on the neoCONs so that they will give him a cushy job when he gets voted out of office.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pmI find it interesting that TP sheep accept Michael Ware’s opinion so readily? No questions asked because he supports your arguments? So a CNN reporter is an expert because he’s been there for 4 years? What access to classified information does he have or is he just going with what he sees in front of him?
When I lived in Israel at the beginning of the first intifada, friends would call to see if I was killed in all the mayhem. I had to explain that it was relatively calm and safe except for periodic flare-ups in small sections of Jerusalem. The media is always “selling” the news because that is there job. I don’t trust CNN any more than politicians with their agendas.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pmJoe won as the Republican candidate. Democrats voted Ned Lamont as their candidate. The CT Republican party deserted the nominal R candidate and voted for Joe. And yes, far too many CT Dems voted for Joe because they remembered who he used to be before DC corrupted him beyond all recognition.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pmSorry, I meant 413%. Merely an indication of the hyperbolic tendency of liberals to claim that every last person in America believes the way they do.
Are the “weenie” comments on hold or should I get out the wetwipes and clean up after you thoughtful types?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:15 pmWebb said, “I don’t know where Lieberman gets his opinions.” That’s easy: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pmI REEEEEEEAAAAALLLY wonder how the Connecticut Democratic Party feels about helping to elect a right-wing fascit neocon…..
July 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pmfascist, nitwit, whatever…
July 11th, 2007 at 3:18 pmSorry, I meant 413%. Merely an indication of the hyperbolic tendency of liberals to claim that every last person in America believes the way they do.
Are the “weenie†comments on hold or should I get out the wetwipes and clean up after you thoughtful types?
Comment by Blackwater
Sorry, I meant 8 inches. It was merely an example of the hyperbolic tendency of conservatives to claim every last thing they is the absolute truth when they lie like lawn furniture on the front yard. It’s just an exaggeration, that’s all.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:19 pmThere are two holding tanks on my toy hauler, one for grey water one for Blackwater. When you when you pull the plug on the Blackwater, you always get a load of shit.
Thanks for polluting the site Bushlicker.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:20 pm#26. Does a long term presence in Iraqnam equate to him keeping his job? I think not.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:21 pmSo Bilgewater comes out in and sidesteps the thread and then creates strawmen to knock down.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:22 pm“413%. Merely an indication of the hyperbolic tendency of liberals to claim that every last person in America believes the way they do”
Oh, I think everyone here is more than a little aware of the 26% sheeple/rightard programed groupthink.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:24 pmWare gets his talking points from Al Qaeda he depends on Al Qaeda stringers and hasn’t been out of the Green Zone in three years. If you want the story in Iraq read Michael Yon.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:27 pmAL QAEDA ON THE RUN: Michael Yon has a new report. Excerpt: “The focus on al Qaeda makes sense here, where local officials have gone on record acknowledging that most of the perhaps one thousand al Qaeda fighters in Baqubah were young men and boys who called the city home. This may clash with the perception in US and other media that only a small percentage of the enemy in Iraq is al Qaeda, which in turn leads to false conclusions that the massive offensive campaign underway across Iraq is a lot of shock and awe aimed at a straw enemy. But as more Sunni tribal leaders renounce former ties with al Qaeda, it’s becoming clearer just how heavily AQ relied on local talent, and how disruptive they have been here in fomenting the civil war.” Read the whole thing.
UPDATE: Here’s more from John Wixted.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:28 pmUnvarnished Truth sez:
So…there are Al Qaeda stringers in the Green Zone?
Don’t really pay attention to what you type, do you?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:29 pmJoe is just trying his damnedest to get his lips around this issue.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:29 pmTHE DEMOCRATS HELPED HIM!
The DLC (a wing of Israel’s Likud party) made sure Ned Lamont wouldn’t win.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pmI would trust what Michael Ware says before I would trust what any Republic who never left the green zone says. Ware has been in Iraq for 4 years and he knows what is going on there. He doesn’t always agree with progressives. He actually has said that he doesn’t think that we should pull all our troops out of Iraq.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:33 pmFantasy? I love fantasy. Does he want to be the Dungeon Master? I bet he does. I don’t think he knows it’s only dice and books, not nippple clamps and waterboarding…
July 11th, 2007 at 3:34 pmHi left eyebrow is not down the right one is up in the classic Mr. Spock “What the fu*k) position.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:35 pmJohn McCain has offered to send the insurgent 10,000 sweaters. He reasons that when they put the sweaters on they’ll look gay to each other and then they’ll kill each other. This is his Biggest Idea yet.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:37 pmDoes he want to be the Dungeon Master? I bet he does. I don’t think he knows it’s only dice and books, not nippple clamps and waterboarding…
Hmm. Playing Dungeon Master with nipple clamps, leather and restraints doesn’t sound too bad.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:43 pmCurious.
I wonder how many sqauds of heavily armed soldiers, armoured vehicles and apache attack helicopters it took for Lieberman to visit Iraq for a day and report that everthings going so well?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:44 pmJohn McCain has offered to send the insurgent 10,000 sweaters. He reasons that when they put the sweaters on they’ll look gay to each other and then they’ll kill each other. This is his Biggest Idea yet.
Comment by david
Indeed, David. When used in a co-ordinated attack w/ the Pentagon’s secret “Gay bomb”, it virtually ensures a win for our side! Why do you think they refer to them as “al Queerda” in double-top secret CIA reports???
July 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pmBlackwater’s good at spinning and avoiding the real issue with all her “cute” numbers and remarks. Watch and enjoy as the republican party is destroyed from within, and swept into the ashcan from without over the next 18 months. The real support for Bushco is down around 12%, and Republicans are switching parties in the hundreds every day. The only hope for this nation to remain free and win back the Constitution and Habeas Corpus is the total destruction of the Republican party. I work towards that goal, and get closer to it, every day.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pmAhh what the hell does Michael Ware know anyway? After all, Joe Lieberman (R-Conn) visited Iraq for a whole couple of hours.
Ware’s only been living there for 4 years.
:|
What the hell does he know?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pmJoe is just trying his damnedest to get his lips around this issue.
Comment by Zimzone
Wouldn’t that be Jeff gannon’s job?
July 11th, 2007 at 3:47 pmOk. Joe is just trying his damnedest to get his lips around Jeff Gannon.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:49 pm#65+#65: *chuckle*
July 11th, 2007 at 3:50 pmWouldn’t that be Jeff gannon’s job?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
No. He is contracted to the White House exclusively under the Faith Based Inniciative program.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:51 pmActually I think that was under the Faith BUTT Iniative program.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:53 pmI can honestly say I’ve never seen a slimier worm than Joe Lieberman. He clearly enjoys what he’s doing, but if thinks the Bush supporters are going to truly embrace him beyond using him as their little BenediCKED Arnold lap dog, I would remind him of what they did to his people during WW2.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pmActually I think that was under the Faith BUTT Iniative program.
Comment by BARTLEBEE
Ah yes. Article 6 – The Serving the Pleasure of the President clause.
July 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pmUnless he’s learned to Goosestep to Toby Keith and eat Bratwurst without chewing, then I predict Liebermans not going to feel too at home with his new found family of facists.
He might as well start munching down the cyanide now. At least its quicker than polonium.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pmAh yes. Article 6 – The Serving the Pleasure of the President clause.
Comment by willyloman — July 11, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
THATS the one!
July 11th, 2007 at 4:01 pmLieber-scum left for la-la land a long time ago.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:02 pmWho in this nation is going to stand idly by and watch as car bombs destroy our friends and families? I seriously doubt that we will whine to our so-called government to protect us. Blackwater? No, it’s just an extension of the present government’s insanity. We will rally to our constitution and begin forming and training militias. Car bombings will not be an everyday occurrence in this country.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pmWhen I lived in Israel at the beginning of the first intifada, friends would call to see if I was killed in all the mayhem. I had to explain that it was relatively calm and safe except for periodic flare-ups in small sections of Jerusalem.
Comment by Eric — July 11, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
Were hundreds of people dying every day during this relatively calm period?
AL QAEDA ON THE RUN: Michael Yon has a new report. Excerpt: “The focus on al Qaeda makes sense here, where local officials have gone on record acknowledging that most of the perhaps one thousand al Qaeda fighters in Baqubah were young men and boys who called the city home. This may clash with the perception in US and other media that only a small percentage of the enemy in Iraq is al Qaeda, which in turn leads to false conclusions that the massive offensive campaign underway across Iraq is a lot of shock and awe aimed at a straw enemy. But as more Sunni tribal leaders renounce former ties with al Qaeda, it’s becoming clearer just how heavily AQ relied on local talent, and how disruptive they have been here in fomenting the civil war.†Read the whole thing.
Comment by Unvarnished Truth — July 11, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
If what you say is true, Qaeda is way outnumbered and the well armed Shia/Sunni can take care of them after we leave.
I watched Slimy Joe today. He gave this long drawn out speech about the many ways that Iran is killing or helping to kill Americans.
But, I am not saying we should go to war against Iran. Nobody here wants war with Iran, he said, then went on to list all of the reasons he thinks we should. All to put an amendment in the hotly contested Iraq war bill saying we know Iran is doing all these things and we’re not going to take it.
What a tool of the neocons; what they’d call a useful idiot.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:26 pmI don’t trust CNN as a network, but Michael Ware as a reporter is one of the few there who have been there from the beginning and not propogated the lies that others do on behalf of the Bush administration. He may be biased against American politicians and anything they say, but so are the American people. I think he calls things as he sees them, and until someone else puts their own life on the line to report what happens in Iraq, I’ll keep listening to him. I think we have him to thank for being one of the only honest reporters in Iraq at the moment. I hope he continues to call morons like Lieberman and McCain on their BS.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:27 pmLieberman is the western Baghdad Bob.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:31 pmEric and Blackwater: No, I do not follow the reporting of Ware in a blind basis. However, I was in the Air Force during Nam, I have received the common military education (SoS, ACS and AWC) and I have studied military history for most of my life. I guess that I look for facts and trends to determine whether a military operation is working. Let us look at the facts:
1. The level of violence within Iraq has not gone down since the beginning of surge operations. Mostly the violence within country has moved to other areas. Thus we see growing violence on the outskirts of Bahgdad, in the north and now in the south as the British continue to draw down. Violence in the city has started back as well. Nor do I see any decrease in overall attack levels or civilian deaths. The primary tactic of asymmetrical warfare is to avoid fixed battle with your enemy.
2. I look for some appreciation of the political and military enemy. This does not appear to be the case with Bush. He overplays the significance of Al Qaeda as a force in Iraq. He further does not seem to understand the number of competing sectarian groups. Yes, Iran does supply weapons and support to certain groups. So do the Saudi’s and other nations. One would suspect that a lessening of our involvement would actually lessen some of the violence.
3. This type of civil war will not be dealt with by military means. There has yet to be a mobilization of other nations on the political front. The Iraqi government has failed to make any progress towards necessary political actions within the country.
4. The Iraqi military has failed to assume significant peace-keeping responsibilities. In the most recent joint Iraqi/US major operation, Iraqi’s fielded only 1,500 of the 11,000 troops they were to supply. Not a good trend given the amount of time we have had to train and deploy their internal forces.
5. US forces are significantly below those as a proportion to the civilian population as seen in other areas. Gen. Zinseki (sp) thought it would take over 200,000 to 250,000 troops to enforce the peace after initial operations. The level of violence that occurred after our failure to prevent chaos in the aftermath of the invasion would require even more troops now.
6. The failure of the president to have developed plans for the post war phase, failure to have anticipated or recognized the chaotic and later civil war as it developed and his failure to have a plan B to the current strategy; all indicates an inability to serve as commander in chief. I do not place the blame on most of the military leaders. They have learned well that disagreeing with the President or (during planning through 2006) Rummy would be hazardous to your career. However, ground commanders have already commented upon the failure of the top generals to properly question the directions from Bush and Rummy.
It would take a massive effort at this point to turn thing around in Iraq. The US has never been placed on a war footing. It would take a massive military force to put things back on track at this point. The budget does not even com close to replacing all the regular. reserve and guard equipment that needs to be replaced as well as supplying new equipment to add another 100,000 to 120.000 troops that it would now take to stabilize the situation. It would most likely require reinstatement of the draft to bring in enough fresh troops to handle the mission. Remember, many of our outfits have been through three, four and now five tours. Unlike WWII and other conventional wars, the strain is much higher on forces that are constantly subjected to severe dessert conditions, terror attacks, and urban fighting without substantial rear areas or quiet zones to rest troops in theater.
I really have to wonder why anyone would trust the current commander in chief and political leadership to turn this situation around. Their total inability to grasp and adapt to reality on the ground is fatal in any military operation. The inability to admit and correct mistakes or plan in advance for likely adverse consequences to military operations implies a total lack of command capability. Their inability to request additional resources and to level with the American people concerning the massive effort needed initially or now demonstrates a total lack of leadership.
I have my own thoughts on whether we should have gone into Iraq in the first place. However, a successful military and political operation was never out of the question until this “gang that couldn’t shoot straight” took up the reins.
I can only cite Obi Wan Kenobi for those believing that things are going well: Who’s more of a fool, the fool who leads or the fool who follows him.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:42 pm“what America needs right now, some political maturity.”
Apparently “political maturity” means “ignore the will of the people in a democracy (at least if it doesn’t fit with your plans)” when you flush it through the newspeak filter. Ware sounds like neo-con to me, just one that is in Iraq and doesn’t have the rose-colored glasses on.
When will America grow up and accept the Republican Dictarorship of America?
July 11th, 2007 at 4:43 pmJMOHR said:
“I really have to wonder why anyone would trust the current commander in chief and political leadership to turn this situation around. Their total inability to grasp and adapt to reality on the ground is fatal in any military operation. The inability to admit and correct mistakes or plan in advance for likely adverse consequences to military operations implies a total lack of command capability. Their inability to request additional resources and to level with the American people concerning the massive effort needed initially or now demonstrates a total lack of leadership.”
Well said.
July 11th, 2007 at 4:46 pm“Wir werden die bis an den äusseren Berliner Verteidigungsriegel vorstossende Sovietverbände in einer nie dagewesenen, rücksichtlos und mit aller Kraft geführten Schlacht über die Grenze der Oder zurückwerfen.”
July 11th, 2007 at 5:29 pmFirst posters: Please don’t blame CT. Though I don’t live there anymore, I can tell you with certainty that the vast majority of the (mostly) good people of Connecticut don’t support Shmoe Joe. He doesn’t represent anyone but himself and his corporate financiers. He lost the Democratic primary because of his kissing(literally)-cousin Bush, but ran as an independent and captured nearly all of the Republican votes. He is a Republican, wearing sheep’s clothing.
When I lived in CT, I knew he was was just another corrupt Washington elitist, and most of CT does too. They resent the fact that he still claims to be a Dem despite being resoundingly rejected by the Dems of CT in the primary, and that he has his nose so far up the pResident’s @ss. He should just go back to being the voice of the father of Alf.
July 11th, 2007 at 8:12 pmJuly 11th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/mptv/1060/Mptv/1060/10802-0041.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Wright,%20Max%20(I)
July 11th, 2007 at 8:17 pmLieberman has shown yet again that he is out of touch with reality. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee he should read intelligence and progress reports from the Pentagon. They paint a grim picture of the reality in Iraq. We are clearly not winning in Iraq. We are not chasing out the enemy. Painting a rosy outlook of the war didn’t work for Bush and Cheney in 2006 it won’t work for him either now.
A majority of the violence is sectarian in nature. Our forces are caught in a civil war between the Sunnis and the Shiias. The real fight with al Qaeda is in Afghanistan and not in Iraq. It never has been. It is inaccurate to say that we have chased them out of al Anbar. The surge has failed. He should tell the truth.
Our troops are indeed fighting several factions in Iraq. And because we are aiding Sunni fighters who might be aligned with al Qaeda, we are making things more difficult for our troops on the ground because it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between the Sunnis insurgents and those that support al Qaeda in Iraq.
July 11th, 2007 at 9:39 pmThat’s great: an excursion into fantasy. Nice to see the media hitting back. Liebermann has obviously had a nervous breakdown. I keep looking for the spittle around his mouth.
July 11th, 2007 at 10:27 pmCNN is a liberal network.This proves it
July 12th, 2007 at 7:52 amFor someone who talks tough, Lieberman should be dropped into the middle of Baghdad slum. He should be given a map on how to get back into Green Zone. If he arrives (at all) in the GreenZone, check if his pants are still wet.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:57 amLieberman has and will continue to act as the spokeperson for hawkish Israel groups and supporters who want to bomb Iran too. He is very dangerous and deceptive. Recall he lied in his campaign for reelection telling those dumb enough to believe him that he wanted to bring the troops home quickly. I tried to convinve the Lamont campaign that they needed to attack Lieberman as a serious threat to lead us into another war with Iran because of his ties to Jewish causes and groups but they didn’t want to touch this issue for a valid fear of an Jewish backlash which everyone faces if they say anything that isn’t a positive statement about Israel yet is accurate. I wish the media would cut off his microphone as he is not only a liar but a shill for Bush and right wing extremists hawks who are ready to lead us into more wars of choice to our detriment instead of resolving diplomatically our problems in the Middle East and Israel’s Palestinian problem. The voters – most of them Republicans and Independents – who put Lieberman back into office should be ashamed of themselves as should be those 13 or so Dems in the Senate who refused to campaign and support Lamont. And just to be clear, Bill Clinton and Barbara Boxer never should have campaigned for Lieberman during the primaries. By doing so they made him appear credible to some Dems who might otherwise have supported Lamont carrying him to victory.
July 15th, 2007 at 11:54 amTopplebush.com
http://www.topplebush.com
Bush should have wiped out Al Qaeda a long time ago. A competent leader would have done just that. Franklin Roosevelt’s leadership (with help) took out Hitler, Japan, and all of the Axis’ armys and navies all over the world in less time than we have spent looking for Osama.
Get rid of the incompetent leadership and we can have a safer nation.
July 15th, 2007 at 3:32 pmLieberman is going to need a legal guardian appointed to him to make his day to day decisions. He has clearly gone delusional.
July 15th, 2007 at 7:42 pmJoe is more concerned about Israel Security than American Blood.
July 16th, 2007 at 12:00 amMichael Ware,
although a great reporter and very brave too
runs a lot of Anti-American reports on CNN.
Here in Connecticut
Independents out number
Republicans and Democrats combined.
And we will
vote into office whoever we think
is fit for out interests.
No matter what the anti-war Democrats
or the lock-step Republicans want.
Joe should chose his words more carefully
but this war ain’t over yet.
And Cindy Sheehan should
run as an anti-war Democrat,
we don’t want cowards in the Independent party.
Good Luck
July 16th, 2007 at 4:47 amTo Tom (#3)
Unfortunately, there is no recall option in Connecticut. Maybe, if enough citizens call the legislature can ram a law through.
July 16th, 2007 at 11:22 amLiberman is the republican senator from AIPAC. In that context, everything he does makes perfect sense.
July 16th, 2007 at 3:31 pmLieberman needs to check into Hotel madness.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:55 amLieberman needs to go to the Hotel madness.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:57 am