British MPs Urge Break With Bush On Iraq, Escalation ‘Not Likely To Succeed’
British MPs Urge Break With Bush On Iraq, Escalation ‘Not Likely To Succeed’
Today, the British Parliament’s Select Committee on Foreign Affairs published “Global Security: The Middle East,” an oversight report issuing 36 recommendations on how the British Government can improve its role in the Middle East region.
The committee had dire predictions for the future of the escalation in Iraq, emphasizing that the British Government should focus on “political reconciliation” instead of a military solution:
We conclude that it is too early to provide a definitive assessment of the US ’surge’ but that it does not look likely to succeed. We believe that the success of this strategy will ultimately ride on whether Iraq’s politicians are able to reach agreement on a number of key issues.
We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Government set out what actions it is taking to facilitate political reconciliation in Iraq.
The committee also noted the deteriorating reputation of Britain in the Middle East, in part due to its involvement in Iraq, and urged diplomatic measures to rekindle strategic relations in the region:
We are concerned that the damage done to the Government’s reputation in the Arab and Islamic world may affect its ability to influence the political situation in the Middle East.
In April, the British government decided it would no longer use the phrase “war on terror.” In this report, the Committee calls the phrase an “oversimplification” and again pressures the Government to cease using “war on terror” as well as stereotyping Islam as “extremist“:
We conclude that the use by Ministers of phrases such as ‘war on terror’ and ‘arc of extremism’ is unhelpful and that such oversimplifications may lead to dangerous policy implications. We agree with the Minister for the Middle East that these phrases cause unnecessary resentment. We recommend that the Government should not use this or similar language in future.
In October, after Gen. Petraeus gives his progress report, Brown is expected to announce his “future strategy” in Iraq. He should not make the same mistake as Tony Blair.
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134 Responses to “British MPs Urge Break With Bush On Iraq, Escalation ‘Not Likely To Succeed’”
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Gordon Brown has loyally bought $125 billion of US Treasury Bonds in the last few months to help shore up his ally, with my money. Brown is a man who prides himself on economic prudence, that is a move he will come to rue.
Thats my money and I want it back
August 13th, 2007 at 1:04 pmI hereby dub Der Preznit Shrub the Dumbya’s new nick-name BRICK.
Yes, like the character in Anchor Man. E X A C T L Y.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:05 pmBlair was driven out of office because of his lies about Iraq and is also facing war crimes charges in a Scottish court.
The sooner the Iraq war is over the sooner we can JAIL BLAIR
August 13th, 2007 at 1:06 pmYeah…We’re gonna lose!
/Useful Lefty idiot
August 13th, 2007 at 1:08 pmUK Army Says Pullout Delay Will Increase Deaths
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/ news/ world/ iraq/ article2241673.ece
August 13th, 2007 at 1:08 pmUS Prepares to Plug Hole Left by Brits With Thousands More GIs to Iraq
August 13th, 2007 at 1:10 pmTobey:sigh, you KNOW the trolls, or, more imporantly, (most)Americans in general, don’t bother to read foreign media reports. They might actually learn something that way…
August 13th, 2007 at 1:11 pmYeah…We’re gonna lose!
/Useful Lefty idiot
Comment by Ringo — August 13, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Finally you’re starting to acknowledge the truth.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:12 pmThanks, Tobey! You’re always good to fill in the details on a story.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:12 pm/Useful Lefty idiot
Comment by Ringo
Got hatred?
Don’t look on the outside for problems you have which originate from within.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:16 pmFor those interested in a psychological analysis of warmongering, I have recently completed a 10-minute online video entitled “Resisting the Drums of War.†It examines how the Bush administration has promoted the misguided and destructive war in Iraq by targeting five core concerns that often govern our lives–concerns about vulnerability, injustice, distrust, superiority, and helplessness. Looking ahead, the continuing occupation of Iraq–or an attack on Iran–will likely be sold to us in much the same way. The video examines these warmongering appeals and how to counter them. It’s available for viewing HERE.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:18 pmand what is going on right now isn’t a bloodbath?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:19 pmHowever, a withdrawal will spark a pan-muslim bloodbath, the likes the world has never seen!
Sorry, but the UK knows better than to contribute to a genocide.
Comment by Master P — August 13, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
Since when did you start caring about Muslims getting killed, bigot?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pm“We conclude that the use by Ministers of phrases such as ‘war on terror’ and ‘arc of extremism’ is unhelpful and that such oversimplifications may lead to dangerous policy implications. We agree with the Minister for the Middle East that these phrases cause unnecessary resentment. We recommend that the Government should not use this or similar language in future.”
Sounds like the Brits are having an attack of common sense. I wonder how many Americans are aware that phrases such as “war on terror”, “extremist” (when talking about Islam in general), etc. have been used in the propaganda we have been subjected to ESPECIALLY to cause unnecessary resentment?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pmDon’t look on the outside for problems you have which originate from within.
Comment by Not Canadian — August 13, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Comment by Tobey Tall
———————————————————
Wow….That’s heavy man, real heavy.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:21 pmRingo, and what is going on right now isn’t a bloodbath?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:22 pmRingo, and what is going on right now isn’t a bloodbath?
Comment by chad
—————————————
It’s a war.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:26 pmHeavy and true Ringo.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:26 pmI’m not getting my hopes up with this guy.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:27 pmWhen he was over here, he sounded like yet another Bush poodle.
this is serious bullsh1t theres no rhyme or reason why posts arent getting through..
August 13th, 2007 at 1:27 pmthis is a short comment so maybe it will go through
August 13th, 2007 at 1:28 pmSounds like the Brits are having an attack of common sense. I wonder how many Americans are aware that phrases such as “war on terrorâ€, “extremist†(when talking about Islam in general), etc. have been used in the propaganda we have been subjected to ESPECIALLY to cause unnecessary resentment?
Comment by missmolly — August 13, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
This is what happens when leaders don’t study history. The British have a long way to go in improving the reputation of Great Britain in the Arab and Muslim world. The Iraq war is merely a symptom of the lasting effects of more than 300 years of divide-and-conquer colonialism in the region.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:29 pmWell, Islam is extremist, and this is the War on Terror.
Why do these lefties want to hide from the truth?
Comment by Master P — August 13, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Your Islamophobe propaganda isn’t truth, bigot.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:31 pm“However, a withdrawal will spark a pan-muslim bloodbath, the likes the world has never seen!”
Comment by Master P — August 13, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
A bloodbath bigger than the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988? The Shia and the Sunni have been at each other’s throats for centuries, and it’s not something that outside forces are going to be able to fix. Yes, a civil war will rage on whether we are there or not, but calling it a “bloodbath the likes the world has never seen” is overstating.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:33 pmIt’s a war.
Comment by Ringo — August 13, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Not without a formal declaration of war it’s not.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:36 pmLast time I checked people were suicide bombing innocents in the name of Alalalalalalalalallalalalah.
It’s a fact.
Comment by Master P — August 13, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
And the U.S. is homicide bombing innocents in the name of oil. So what’s your point?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:37 pmWell, Islam is extremist and I’m a freaking Christianofascist.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:37 pmHelp, there’s islamofascists hiding under my bed. Mommy?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:38 pmYour Islamophobe propaganda isn’t truth, bigot.
Comment by toasterhead
—————————————————————
You know, when you use lame terms like “Islamophobe” you sound like a sniveling geek.
It’s almost as embarrassing as using the phrase “truth to power”….It makes you sound like a junior college freshman with a crush on her Poly-sci teacher.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:38 pmSave me, Ringo, save me from the mean old islamofascists. I’m here in Lawrence Kansas and I can see them marching down my street. Ringo, the wise, save us all with your superior sense of morality.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:40 pm** We’ve already lost **
Anyone who thinks it’s best we “stay the course” is simply ignorant of the real situation.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:40 pmYou know, when you use lame terms like “Islamophobe†you sound like a sniveling geek.
It’s almost as embarrassing as using the phrase “truth to powerâ€â€¦.It makes you sound like a junior college freshman with a crush on her Poly-sci teacher.
Comment by Ringo — August 13, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
Ok, I’ll stop using it as soon as you bigots stop slandering an entire religion with terms like “Islamofascist” and “Islamostalinist” and whatever new terms you pick up from Fox News.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:41 pm“However, a withdrawal will spark a pan-muslim bloodbath, the likes the world has never seen!â€
Comment by Master P
Like the Reich really cares.
We’re there for the oil; BushCo. want’s them killing each other.

August 13th, 2007 at 1:41 pmSave me, Ringo, save me from the mean old islamofascists. I’m here in Lawrence Kansas and I can see them marching down my street. Ringo, the wise, save us all with your superior sense of morality.
Comment by MasterBaiter P — August 13, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Are you all doing International Dadaism Month again this year?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:42 pmWhy do the lefties want to hide from the truth. Why not live in a Christian nation, walled-off and protected against the islamofascists hoards.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:42 pmI will give up all my rights (except the 2nd Amendment) for a little security.
Mommy?
Ah circular logic well we should call it the war on terror because it is the war on terror and the U.S. fights terror by causing terror. How do you fight an ideology without a country or borders? It is not like fighting nazism that is affliated with Germany. Al queda is a group in various countries by attacking a country with no connections to this group with are playing into their ideology that states the West is attempting to end their way of life so they must fight back first. If this ideology of a small fringe group is adopted by all Muslims i do not like our odds 300 million Americans vs. over 2 BILLION muslims world wide.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:43 pmI want to see millions of “straw dog” arguments.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:43 pmYou obviously want to see hundreds of millions of dead muslims. In the USA and the UK not too many would agree with you.
Comment by Master P — August 13, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Yet you guys want to nuke Mecca.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:45 pmCaption Contest; “If you think I’m going to be your dog like Tony was you’re dreaming… now keep smiling at the camera”
August 13th, 2007 at 1:45 pmPerhaps there is a lesson to be learned from the British. After all, they have centuries of experience at empire building while Iraq is our first attempt. On the other hand, when history teaches you nothing, you are bound to make mistakes and also repeat them.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:46 pmMaster P is a winner. I want to be on the “winning” Christianofascist team.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:46 pmI will give up my rights for security (except the 2nd Amendment).
If Republicans know so da*n much about winning the Iraq war, then WIN IT. You had 4+ years of unlimited Congressional support and have made NO PROGRESS. In many ways, Iraq is in worse shape than it was 4 years ago and it’s a known terrorist recruiting ground.
WHY CAN’T THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE WAR THEY STARTED MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO??
August 13th, 2007 at 1:46 pmCaption Contest: “say uncle George, or I’ll squeeze harder”
August 13th, 2007 at 1:47 pmWHY CAN’T THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE WAR THEY STARTED MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO?? AGAINST A COUNTRY WITH A POPULATION EQUAL THAT OF TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA??
August 13th, 2007 at 1:48 pm41: Ah, because they can’t govern?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:48 pmWHY CAN’T THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE WAR THEY STARTED MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO??
… A war we were told was not expected to take more than six months.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:49 pmBrown doesn’t want to catch Ebola virus from the infected Chimp.
-GSD
August 13th, 2007 at 1:49 pmWHY CAN’T THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE WAR THEY STARTED MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO??
… A war we were told would be paid for by Iraqi oil revenues.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:49 pmYet you guys want to nuke Mecca.
Comment by Luis M — August 13, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Isn’t it funny how the same bigots who want to inflict cultural genocide on all Muslims can quickly turn around and issue dire warnings of a “pan-Muslim bloodbath” when it’s politically convenient?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:49 pmAdvisory: ’shane’ beats her own daughter. Ignore the troll at any cost.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:50 pmComment by ∞Ω — August 13, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil.We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil.We’re there for the oil. We’re there for the oil.
Rinse. Lather. Repeat.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pm>Appointed federal department heads, cabinet-level officials, Assistants to >the President (down to the “Special Assistant†level)…†(are called Honorable)
August 13th, 2007 at 1:55 pmSo now Karl is a “special assistantant”, huh?
Are you going to give me an example of ANYONE who was a deputy chief of staff ever getting called honorable except by nutballs like Daryll and yourself? Or are you just going to continue to cite some arcane correspondence guidelines with no legal weight whatsoever?
“Other sources expand the list of those that are style “Honorable†even further.. Still others, notably Webster Dictionary and Thesaurus, extend this down all members of local legislative bodies and municipal attorneys ”
seems to me you wanks are willing to use whatever definition you want to call the devil himself honorable..
This “war on terror” is a load of crap. It’s a phrase that Dubya used to make his way into Iraq and begin the control of oil as well as avenging the man who “tried to kill my dad”. This entire disaster has been caused by a willful little tyrant and his president of vice who also happens to hold all the puppet strings. We had better get out of there and now. Don’t hold your breath waiting for impeachment-that’s something that will never happen (dammit).
August 13th, 2007 at 1:55 pmWe’re there for the oil.
Comment by CT_Version 2 — August 13, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Glad to see someone on your side finally acknowledge this. Thanks!
August 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pmComment by toasterhead — August 13, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
I don’t acknowledge clueless, banned propaganda. I mock its sheer stupidity. Thanks.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:57 pmHey Can’t Govern-don’t forget the “we will be greeted as liberators” line from Dick Cheney during his famous “Meet the Press” appearance.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pm… A war we were told was not expected to take more than six months.
Comment by Republicans Can’t Govern. — August 13, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
“Six months”, of course, being the length of time the propagandists have determined fits the average American attention span. We have heard “six months” every time the war is challenged, we heard “six months” when the surge was proposed, and we have heard “give it six more months” every time a report comes out showing a complete lack of progress.
Any bets on the phrase “six months” being used when Petraeus issues his report next month?
August 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pmWe’re there for the baby oil!
We should stop and leave, now! It’s not ours to keep!
August 13th, 2007 at 1:59 pmThe Brits believe that the success of their strategy will ultimately ride on whether Iraq’s politicians are able to reach agreement on a number of key issues.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:00 pmAre the all nuts. The Iraq legislators are all on vacation and they will be damn lucky that they still have a seat if they ever do decide to return to the fun and games that we tagged Democracy.
Can you just see an Iraq politician and his family taking in some R and R in Jordan or some other wonderful spot, turning to his wife and kids and telling them to pack, we’re going back tomorrow.
When they return, if they do they will have a vote and everything will turn on a dime like it always has through out history.
Well at least Bush and Friends will have an excuse for leaving.
WHY CAN’T THE REPUBLICANS WIN THE WAR THEY STARTED MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO??
Comment by Republicans Can’t Govern. — August 13, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Oh didn’t you know? Its our fault.
We don’t “believe” enough so we are hurting the cause. If all of you who believe in republicans would just clap your hands, then the Iraqi’s would lay down their arms.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:04 pmI don’t acknowledge clueless, banned propaganda. I mock its sheer stupidity. Thanks.
Comment by CT_Version 2 — August 13, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
So does this mean every post you make on this site has been a joke?
Cause it’s not very funny. If you’re considering comedy as a career I urge you to reconcider.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:04 pmComment by toasterhead — August 13, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
We’re there for the baby oil, and don’t you forget it!
August 13th, 2007 at 2:06 pmgee, looks like Bush lost his poodle….
August 13th, 2007 at 2:10 pmlmao
Had Saddam opened the Iraqi market(oil) to outside (US) interests, he’d still be alive, and there’d be no “war”.
We installed him and his puppet regime, but he refused to ‘play ball’ with us, so he had to go.
Iran would be next, had BRICK not botched up Iraq/Afghanistan.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:11 pm“We’re there for the oil.” - CT_Version 2
I need the oil for my rusty parts. Also, I haven’t got a heart.
The Strawman in the White House hasn’t got a brain, especially now that the Wizard is leaving Oz at the end of the month.
The VP, of course, is a chickenhawk and can’t tell the truth. That’s why he’s the Cowardly Lyin’.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:12 pmAdvisory: ’shane’ beats her own daughter. Ignore the troll at any cost.
Comment by CT_Version 2 — August 13, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
Sure I do, and you believe that because you are 20 years old who believes he’s still a child and I told you to shut up. Grow up.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:12 pm“Parliamant.” - - Oh gawd, puh-leeeze. Parliament.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:13 pmLooks like Brown has Dubya in the overhand dominant hadshake grip…now just pull W off balance and in, like a hooked fish.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:24 pmComment by shane — August 13, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
I suppose that you’re a little slow, ’shane’
I didn’t ask you to stick around and pass lame projection. I asked you to promptly return to beating your daughter so one can notice and have a warrant issued for you arrest.
And you wouldn’t know my age — so again, shut up. Go have your “cheese” for lunch.
Get to it.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:24 pmLeftical Tippie ~ Got anything to say that’s remotely on topic?
August 13th, 2007 at 2:28 pmHow’s your surge goin?
And you wouldn’t know my age — so again, shut up. Go have your “cheese†for lunch.
Get to it.
Comment by Typical Lefty — August 13, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
Sure CT, I don’t know your age but you know I beat my child. Did they ban you under CT? Oh, too bad.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:28 pm‘Coalition of the Dwindling’…Bwahahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
August 13th, 2007 at 2:28 pmIt’s a war.
Comment by Ringo — August 13, 2007 @ 1:26 pm
Actually, it isn’t. your ignorance of the law marks you as a rightarded wingnut, therefore you have no credibility, like your Deserter-In-Chief.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:28 pm“oversimplification . the Reichwing MRE
August 13th, 2007 at 2:32 pmHi ronjazz,
Still crazy eh?
August 13th, 2007 at 2:33 pmTalk about losers. The republicans dropped the ball. We’re losing in Iraq and bin Laden is still alive. the republiCANTS let down the Iraqis, our soldiers, and the American public. The only thing left to do is mop up this f*cking mess. So don’t confuse this cowardice. And now, Bush’s brain (ass) is jumping ship.
ROVE IS A QUITTER.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:34 pmStill crazy eh?
Comment by Ringo — August 13, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Like a fox. You, however, are still a coward and a liar. I think I’m well ahead in this game. I represent what 80% of Americans now think.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:35 pmYou do beat your daughter. It’s all in your previous statements.
And to show how stupid you really are, TP doesn’t ban names, they ban IP numbers. That has never happened to CT_V1 or CT_V2 because the system conducts itself well in comparison to anarchist lefties (including you), who project a bad image to this site.
’shane’: daughter beater
August 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pmmment by CT_Version 2 — August 13, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
CT: self-beater
August 13th, 2007 at 2:37 pmLooks like the TP moderators need to do another clean sweep of the morons who are trying to jack these threads with their ad hominum nonsense.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:37 pmHello? TP????
Trolls??? Hello???
Is NO ONE able to answer my questions regarding WHY BUSH & CO haven’t won the Iraq war after 4+ years and unlimited Congressional support??
All I’ve heard so far is *crickets chirping*.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:38 pmLooks like the TP moderators need to do another clean sweep of the morons who are trying to jack these threads with their ad hominum nonsense.
Hello? TP????
Comment by RUCerious — August 13, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
it’s just the one fruitcake
August 13th, 2007 at 2:39 pmComment by CT_Version 2 — August 13, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
Oh you’re just mad at me because I’m the first one who called you on your Mr. P mancrush. Just step out of the closet and into the light and you’ll be much less bitter.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:41 pmronjazz, looks like someone left the wrapper off the fruitcake since last Xmas.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:41 pmLooks like the TP moderators need to do another clean sweep of the morons who are trying to jack these threads with their ad hominum nonsense.
Hello? TP????
Comment by RUCerious — August 13, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Yesterday when CT and Mr. P were on their Nazi rant I just kept pasting their messages into the reporting area and asking them what they were going to do about it. Apparently they finally did something. The thing to do is when you see an abusive post is do the same.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:45 pm“Is NO ONE able to answer my questions regarding WHY BUSH & CO haven’t won the Iraq war after 4+ years and unlimited Congressional support??
Comment by Republicans Can’t Govern. — August 13, 2007 @ 2:38″
We actually HAVE won the Iraq war. What is happening now is completely different than the intial war.
We have been too focused on nation-building rather than complete military victory. We think we can create a stable, free Iraq out of whom and what is left, when we should have been focused on complete military victory, and rebuilding the nation afterwards from the ground up.
We have spared tens of thousands of Iraqi lives in this war, at our own peril.
That should just about cover it.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pmcomplete military victory, = killing every Iraqi firstborn ????
August 13th, 2007 at 2:51 pmIs NO ONE able to answer my questions regarding WHY BUSH & CO haven’t won the Iraq war after 4+ years and unlimited Congressional support??
the answer to this is simple, Maliki lived in Iran for 10 years previous to the Invasion, Maliki is really an Iranian ,
1/ Dangle the oil carrot in Bushes nose for years to bog Down American forces, so that the troops have war fatique, so Iran becomes stronger
2/ play divide and conquer the Arab way , The American troops dont know who is the enemy, meanwhile slowly pick the US troops off
3/ bancrupt the US
August 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pmWe have spared tens of thousands of Iraqi lives in this war, at our own peril.
That should just about cover it.
Comment by O. Stinkfoot — August 13, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
funniest damn thing I’ve read today.
Spared tens of thousands by killing 600,000?
(Hey, is O.Stinkfoot just a Daryll wannabe? Contradictory posts et al.?)
August 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pmthe war total is 1 million
120,000 Iraqi children died from lack of medicines in 2005 alone
August 13th, 2007 at 2:58 pmMore to the point, not a single tard can explain what is the definition of “winning”.
The initial alleged goal was to get rid of Saddam. Ok, mission accomplished.
What is the goal now?
Ok, we know it’s PNAC, but none of these cowards have the nuts to come out and say it. Instead, they hide behind the GWOT canard.
August 13th, 2007 at 2:59 pm“complete military victory, = killing every Iraqi firstborn ????
Comment by RUCerious — August 13, 2007 @ 2:51 pm”
How would that help the situation, RUCerious?
August 13th, 2007 at 3:00 pmwe should have been focused on complete military victory, and rebuilding the nation afterwards from the ground up.
We have spared tens of thousands of Iraqi lives in this war, at our own peril.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 13, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Just when I think you people can’t get any sicker, you outdo yourselves.
What you’re saying is that the reason we’re still in Iraq is because we haven’t killed enough Iraqis. Because the million deaths we’ve caused so far just hasn’t been enough for you.
You people are the real terrorists. The sooner you all are annihilated, the better it will be for the planet.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:00 pm#86. So, you’re OK if we pull all our troops out, then? Considered we, in your words, have won. Good.
OR, do you disagree with Bush’s objectives for the war?
August 13th, 2007 at 3:02 pmWhoops, I guess I mispoke, we have actually spared hundreds of thousands of lives.
We could have destroyed Iraq utterly and completely from the air, without ever looking eye to eye with an Iraqi, however, that wasn’t our goal.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:04 pmThe problem is, Republicans themselves DON’T KNOW WHY WE’RE IN IRAQ. That’s why the U.S. goal has changed SO MANY TIMES over the past 4 years.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:04 pmAddendum to post 89:
I find the idiocy of a person actually posting “we have spared tens of thousands Iraqi lives” funny.
I do not, however, find even one fatality of civilians funny. Not in the least.
(and teeny tiny daryll, or whomever name you’re posting as now: Don’t even give my the collateral damage argument. Christ would not be proud)
August 13th, 2007 at 3:04 pmMore to the point, not a single tard can explain what is the definition of “winningâ€.
Even Bush has no answer to what winning is
BUT the world knows winning means Oil
thats never going to happen,
the only contracts the US has got so far is service contracts to the Majnoon fied ( iraqs Biggest Oil Field ) even then that looks sketchy
http://www.bushagenda.net/ article.php?list=type&type=7
meanwhile Noraway has some Kurditsan contracts
Russia looks set for even bigger contracts
also said that all 27 producing fields in Iraq will be transferred to the national oil company, which will be free to decide whether it wants partners.
AND NOW
Iran and Iraq signed an agreement to build pipelines for the transfer of Iraqi crude oil and oil products,
The 32-inch (81-centimetre) pipeline will bring crude from the southern Iraqi port of Basra to the southwestern Iranian port of Abadan. There will be a separately 16-inch one for oil products.
Under the deal, Iran would buy 100,000 barrels of Iraqi crude to be refined in the southern port of Bandar Abbas, then sell the product back to Iraq. The accord would have no upper limit on quantities.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:07 pmhttp://news.yahoo.com/ s/ afp/ 20070811/ wl_mideast_afp/ iraniraqeconomyoil
also said that all 27 producing fields in Iraq will be transferred to the national oil company, which will be free to decide whether it wants partners. AND YOU CAN BET AMERICA DONT GET THESE …only a service contract so far …ha ha ha ha ah
http://www.ireland.com/ newspaper/ breaking/ 2007/ 0809/ breaking56.htm
August 13th, 2007 at 3:09 pm“What you’re saying is that the reason we’re still in Iraq is because we haven’t killed enough Iraqis. Because the million deaths we’ve caused so far just hasn’t been enough for you.
You people are the real terrorists. The sooner you all are annihilated, the better it will be for the planet.
Comment by toasterhead — August 13, 2007 @ 3:00 pm”
Don’t know if you have ever known this, but that is what war is. It death and destruction, and someone wins, and someone loses. Our objectives in Iraq were not total destruction, it was eliminating Saddam Hussein, and building a free and stable Iraq. It would be immoral for us to quit before the job was finished.
I guess they don’t call you “toasterhead” for nothing.
“The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.” - George S. Patton
August 13th, 2007 at 3:11 pmOkay trolls, or whomever would like to take this very easy, simplified quiz:
Please identify the “enemy” in our occupation of Iraq.
Please define victory as it relates to our occupation of Iraq.
Please provide examples of Iraqi civilians celebrating our continued occupation.
Take your time. This is an essay quiz, and will be graded on content, as well as grammar and punctuation. (which means our little stalker, michael, will get an ‘F’, for the continued, inappropriate use of the question mark)
August 13th, 2007 at 3:11 pmWe have spared tens of thousands of Iraqi lives in this war, at our own peril.
Comment by O. Bigfoot —
Translation: We could have killed a lot more if we really wanted to.
Yeah, and the Germans could have killed a heck of a lot more in their occupation of France if they had wanted to, too.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pm” We are concerned that the damage done to the Government’s reputation in the Arab and Islamic world may affect its ability to influence the political situation in the Middle East.”
It is stuff like this that really galls me. Why do they think that they have any right to influence the political situation in the Middle East. And why do we think that we have any right to influence the political situation in the Middle East. How would Britain or the US feel if the Middle East governments started meddling in our politics?
The hubris of GB and the US is breathtaking.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pmIt death and destruction, and someone wins, and someone loses. Our objectives in Iraq were not total destruction, it was eliminating Saddam Hussein, and building a free and stable Iraq. It would be immoral for us to quit before the job was finished.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 13, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
What was immoral was starting the job to begin with.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pmThe 655,000 Iraqi additional deaths figure is over a year old. Extrapolation figure is at 1,000,985 today:
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html
August 13th, 2007 at 3:18 pmOur objectives in Iraq were not total destruction, it was eliminating Saddam Hussein, and building a free and stable Iraq. It would be immoral for us to quit before the job was finished.
Comment by O. BigStinkyfeet — August 13, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
BZZZZZZZZZZ!
Absolutely the incorrect answer!
Our objective, in case you were in 4th grade playing kickball back in ‘03, was to find and destroy the mass buildup of WMD that were capable of reaching US cities!
Guess what?
They. Were. Never. Found.
It would be immoral for us, based on that original objective, to stay even though the job IS finished
August 13th, 2007 at 3:20 pmIt is stuff like this that really galls me. Why do they think that they have any right to influence the political situation in the Middle East. And why do we think that we have any right to influence the political situation in the Middle East. How would Britain or the US feel if the Middle East governments started meddling in our politics?
The hubris of GB and the US is breathtaking.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 13, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
Well, the British did pretty much create the Middle East as we know it, with some help from the French. Iraq is a British invention.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pmEASY QUIZ
Please identify the “enemy†in our occupation of Iraq.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pmPeople who act suspiciously by planting road side bombs apart from these guys the other targets are hard to find, thats where divide and conquer falls apart, we are unable to find the enemy
Please define victory as it relates to our occupation of Iraq.
Victory is grabbing the Oil contracts although bush cannot admit this publically but the world KNOWS
Please provide examples of Iraqi civilians celebrating our continued occupation. there are none, 92% Sunnis want Americans out, 82% Shites want Americans out, The figures are manipulated by the fact on 60% of Kurds want the Americans out, also meantime the KURDS dont want America to get the Oil contracts………. NOT ONLY IRAQIS BUT THE REST OF THE FRIGGIN WORLD HAS HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SENSLESS WAR
It would be immoral for us to quit before the job was finished.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
If you cause 1.2 billion Muslims to hate us, then I guess the job won’t be finished until we kill 1.2 billion!
August 13th, 2007 at 3:22 pm“Our objectives in Iraq were not total destruction, it was eliminating Saddam Hussein, and building a free and stable Iraq. It would be immoral for us to quit before the job was finished.”
Bigfoot - I take it that you think that the Iraqi’s don’t get any say in whether we stay or go. I think it is immoral of us to continue to occupy a country that does not want us there.
If China or Russia had invaded the US and was currently occupying the US, telling us how we should run our country and our government, I’m fairly sure that you would be fighting tooth and nail to kick them out of our country.
So how would that scenario be any different than what we are doing in Iraq.
Now take your time answering, this is a pretty complex question and it will take a lot of brain power for you to be able to answer.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:24 pmIf you cause 1.2 billion Muslims to hate us, then I guess the job won’t be finished until we kill 1.2 billion!
please dont forget 1 billion Chinese who also are not fond of the US
please dont forget 1 billion Indians who also are not fond of the US
and most importantly dont forget Bush has a European support of 9% the other 91% of Europeans hate that bastard Bush
August 13th, 2007 at 3:26 pm“It would be immoral for us to quit before the job was finished.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
If you cause 1.2 billion Muslims to hate us, then I guess the job won’t be finished until we kill 1.2 billion!
Comment by Keith — August 13, 2007 @ 3:22 pm”
First off, I don’t think 1.2 billion Muslims would ever hate us. The radical militant Muslim fringe doesn’t account for any higher percentage of the general Muslim population than does the radical kook left fringe compared to the general U.S. population.
And Keith, if you feel we need to kill the whole 1.2 billion, then that is your opinion.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:28 pm“If you cause 1.2 billion Muslims to hate us, then I guess the job won’t be finished until we kill 1.2 billion!
please dont forget 1 billion Chinese who also are not fond of the US
please dont forget 1 billion Indians who also are not fond of the US
and most importantly dont forget Bush has a European support of 9% the other 91% of Europeans hate that bastard Bush
Comment by Tobey Tall — August 13, 2007 @ 3:26 pm”
Where do some of you get your facts, from Ripley’s Believe it or Not?
August 13th, 2007 at 3:30 pm“Bigfoot - I take it that you think that the Iraqi’s don’t get any say in whether we stay or go. I think it is immoral of us to continue to occupy a country that does not want us there.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 13, 2007 @ 3:24 pm”
In war, they do not. Any more than Hitler could have simply asked us to leave Germany, or Hirohito could have asked us to please refrain from dropping atom bombs on Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
The government of Iraq does not want us to leave, regardless. And they do not want us to set arbitrary timetables.
When did you folks figure we were going to pull out of Korea? Or Okinawa?
August 13th, 2007 at 3:36 pmBigfoot,
August 13th, 2007 at 3:39 pmThe invasion, occupation, and selling off of Iraq’s oil is greatly increasing the
“radical militant Muslim fringe”. “The radical kook left fringe” is currently 71% of Americans—including 42% of Republicans.
O. Bigfoot - What if the whole world could vote in the U.S. presidential election?
http://www.betavote.com/
Kerry 421,770 (88%)
Bush 55,242 (11%)
bush wins were
Samoa
August 13th, 2007 at 3:41 pmNiger
Kiribati
Cocos (keeling) Islands
Cook Islands
The government of Iraq does not want us to leave, regardless. And they do not want us to set arbitrary timetables.
Comment by O. Bigfootinmouth — August 13, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Wow! Just….Wow!
August 13th, 2007 at 3:41 pmTo quote your own:
Where do some of you get your facts, from Ripley’s Believe it or Not?
When are we going to leave the 750 bases in 130 other countries? In 2000, Bush said Clinton had our military overextended and we should bring some home.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:41 pmTobey,
August 13th, 2007 at 3:44 pmHow about Palau? They are a big part of the Coalition of the Willing, even though it was news to their leader when a reporter asked him.
We left Vietnam based on the timelines that Kissinger and Nixon had negotiated with the enemy. It was the same deal we could have gotten in 1968.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:48 pm“The government of Iraq does not want us to leave, regardless. And they do not want us to set arbitrary timetables.
When did you folks figure we were going to pull out of Korea? Or Okinawa?
Comment by O. Bigfoot “
The Maliki government does not want us to leave because we are all that is between them and their people. We are Maliki and we are protecting him. As long as we are willing to protect him, he is more or less going to do our bidding. But, the Iraqi Parliament (they are part of the government, don’t you know) does want us to leave.
And your comparisons to WWII and Korea are totally bogus. In neither of those situations did one country invade another country and then stay to occupy that country and tell them how to run their government and their lives.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:48 pm“When did you folks figure we were going to pull out of Korea? Or Okinawa? Comment by O. Bigfoot “
When they ask us to leave, I do believe we will go. The South Koreans want us to be there to help protect them from the North Koreans. I’m not sure how Okinawa comes into this argument since as far as I know all we have there is a military base.
For your argument to be intellectually honest, we would have to be occupying Korea and Okinawa. We are doing neither.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:50 pmnotice how the sparring begins in another thread above this one, and suddenly, O.Bigfoot disappears.
Huh.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pm“The government of Iraq does not want us to leave, regardless. And they do not want us to set arbitrary timetables.
cause Maliki is an Iraian really
August 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pmIranian sposed to be
August 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pmWhen reason is cast to the wind (as Dubya has consistently done) and the vacuum is filled with fear and dogma (as Dubya and his fellow war mongers and the extreme right wing in America have done) the victim is the US Constitution. Thomas Jefferson had many words written on this topic in his letters and speaches. It is amazing how it holds true to this day. Make enough people afraid and have the extremists rely on blind faith and the result is what we have seen for the past 5+ years. Freedom at it’s foundation is easily torn away when fear and dogma rule the day.
The world may be “different” after 9-11 but the US Constitution has not changed a bit. Not one new Constitutional amendment has been offered in congress nor from the executive. Only changes in law that are non-constitutional. Here in my Texas enclave I have no problem setting fear aside. Until I drive on interstate 35 that is.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:12 pmAmericans aren’t trolls, we just have a Goblin-king trying to turn our country into Gringotts…….
August 13th, 2007 at 4:15 pmSeen on Huffington comments today: “When fascism comes, it will come wrapped in the flag and the cross.” Sinclair Lewis. Wow. The man had foresight didn’t he? (And thanks to the guy/gal who posted it!)
August 13th, 2007 at 5:13 pmWe should have learned that you can’t fight a guerilla war (which is what is happening in Iraq) with a conventional army. It happend in Vietnam and it happened to the French as well in Vietnam. The Brits were exposed to it several times throughout history and you would have thought at least the Brits would have never gotten involved in Iraq. Now that Blair is out (and hopefully heading for a jail cell along with Cheney and Bush), the Brits have come to their senses. Forced to actually. They’re under siege in Iraq. We’re under siege in Baghdad. This war was lost the very first day an American and British soldier stepped foot in Baghdad. What happens to the Iraqies after we leave–if we do–can’t be our concern any more. They either act responsibly and get their act together or act recklessly and murder each other. To stay, with even a minimum amount of troops in Iraq, would only put them in more danger then they are now. Training Iraqi security forces would be a sham because while continuing to train the untrainable, these forces left in Iraq would still have to fight for their lives every day. Then we would have to send more forces in to protect them. It’s a mindless, never-ending circle. We need to leave Iraq, completely. All forces need to be withdrawn and none left there.
August 13th, 2007 at 6:57 pmDead Eye Dick thought invading Iraq was a bad idea in 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BEsZMvrq-I
August 13th, 2007 at 7:24 pmThe British are right, Bush can no longer win this civil war no matter how many troops are sent to Iraq. Progress can only be made politically which is no longer possible. Maliki’s government is incapable of it. The surge has failed because of this.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:05 pm“And your comparisons to WWII and Korea are totally bogus. In neither of those situations did one country invade another country and then stay to occupy that country and tell them how to run their government and their lives.
Comment by bilbobaggins — August 13, 2007 @ 3:48 pm”
bilbo! You just identified yourself as one of the most uninformed people here. You’re disqualified from further intelligent discussion until further notice.
Read and learn:
We did, indeed, stay and occupy Germany after WW2, and we told them how to run their country:
http://www.army.mil/cmh/books/wwii/Occ-GY/
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=769
We did, indeed, stay and occupy Japan after WW2, and we told them how to run their country:
http://www.crf-usa.org/ election_central/ japan_democracy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupied_Japan
And indeed, we have occupied Korea and told them how to run their government:
http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ United_States_Army_Military_Government_in_Korea
August 14th, 2007 at 3:12 amThe Iraq war can’t be compared to WWII or Korea. It can however be compared to Vietnam. Iraq is Bush’s Vietnam. In Vietnam the policy was flawed. In Iraq the policy of stay the course (or surge) is also flawed.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:17 amamerica elected a petty,mean spirited,ill read demogogue.why in heavens name did we take our lead from him? Shame on tony and sherry,our own two headed dim wits
August 14th, 2007 at 2:07 pm