Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) just returned from a quick 10 to 14 hour trip to Iraq, in which he met “with soldiers, civilians, Iraqi officials and U.S. military leaders including commanding Gen. David Petraeus.” But, unlike most lawmakers who return from the war-torn country, Voinovich is refusing to offer an assessment of what he saw on his trip. “He’s not going to get into that right now — what’s working, what’s not working, is the surge working,” his spokesman, Chris Paulitz, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “He’s not really interested in a soundbite response.”
sounds like he didn’t like what he saw…ya think?
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:42 amHe’s the wisest Republican of the day. I do appreciate his stance on not adding to the sound bites.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:43 amhis silence says it all
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:44 amHe saw a dog and pony show. A fixed itinerary.
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August 22nd, 2007 at 11:47 amIraqi PM hits back at ‘discourteous’ US criticism
Maliki:’We can find friends elsewhere’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:47 amI’d be surprised if he saw anything, really.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:47 amHe was there 1/2 a day
And it doesn’t matter if he didn’t like what he saw anyway. He’ll do what he always does when he breaks ranks: vote party line.
At least he knows that the American public is tired of hearing dog and pony show reports.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:50 amAll that way and he only stayed for 10 to 14 hours? My guess is he didn’t have a real good time.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:51 amMaliki:’We can find friends elsewhere’
Comment by Tobey Tall
I guess the only question left is will we leave when we are asked to?
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:52 amHe saw a dog and pony show. A fixed itinerary.
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Comment by ∞Ω — August 22, 2007 @ 11:47 am
In 14 hours? I doubt they even had time for the pony.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 amI guess the only question left is will we leave when we are asked to?
Comment by dlet — August 22, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Not unless they ask nicely …………… And Not without the O I L
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 amWell, it sounds like a nice get-a-way . . . I suppose he paid for it out of his pocket and not ours! If not, he better be doing “our work” and is accountable to us for his time, soundbite or not!
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:55 amIf he refuses to speak now, I still expect a full report later today, along with a mean letter to Bushwad.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:56 amAt the beginning of July, 23 out of the 37 members of the Iraqi cabinet voted to approve a draft oil law, sending it to parliament for approval.The minister of planning announced that he would resign if the bill passes, while a member of the parliament’s energy sub-committee didn’t wait and resigned immediately. Many other MPs expressed misgivings but, dependent on massive US military support, a government that barely governs the few square miles of the Baghdad ‘green zone’ plans to tie up Iraq’s most valuable national resources in contracts that run for decades.
http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:58 amAnybody take a look at Harold’s insane posting on the previous thread? He thinks we’re going to fall into his nationalist trap.
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:58 am“He’s not really interested in a soundbite response.â€
How friggin’ silly. Of course he is.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:00 pmHe’s smart not to get caught up in the sound bites battles.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:01 pmComment by Tobey Tall — August 22, 2007 @ 11:58 am
That is what U.S. troops in Iraq will be remembered for — as being part of an international oil conspiracy.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:01 pmDid he get any of those $1 rugs?
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:05 pm“He’s not going to get into that right now —
…’cause it’s really bad news…..
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:06 pm“No comment” is, in and of itself, a sound-bite.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:07 pmDeclare war on all TP trolls…Let’s win our site back!
We need to record the posting patterns of all trolls here, then go on the attack during rush hour! Knock em’ out and away — all at once!
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:08 pmREAD THIS > http://www.handsoffiraqioil.org/
At the beginning of July, 23 out of the 37 members of the Iraqi cabinet voted to approve a draft oil law, sending it to parliament for approval.The minister of planning announced that he would resign if the bill passes, while a member of the parliament’s energy sub-committee didn’t wait and resigned immediately. Many other MPs expressed misgivings but, dependent on massive US military support, a government that barely governs the few square miles of the Baghdad ‘green zone’ plans to tie up Iraq’s most valuable national resources in contracts that run for decades.
No wonder Governers are being blown up
No wonder The cabinet members are resigning
No wonder Bush had faith in Maliki
George Bush had phoned Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki personally to thank him for the cabinet’s approval of the draft.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:11 pm“… a quick 10 to 14 hour trip to Iraq…”
I’m wondering. Does that qualify as another Republican fact-finding mission to a war zone?
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 pmNot… no… what? Not a PR stunt?
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:14 pmIt’s a little off-topic, but close.
NY Times article says France has decided to step in and help clean up Georgie’s mess in Iraq.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/world/europe/22france.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
ROFLMAF!!!!
Will we be calling them French fries again?
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:15 pmThe trolls are probably away at the dentist’s office this morning. I can’t wait until they return to treat us all to narratives of their colorful lollipops.
I hate trolls.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:16 pmHe’s been burnned before for not waiting for the WH marching orders. He’s learned his lesson.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:17 pm26 / NY Times article says France has decided to step in and help clean up Georgie’s mess in Iraq.
NOT TRUE FRANCE IS THERE BECAUSE
Chevron, Total sign Iraq oil contract for Majnoon Field
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:17 pmIt is probably something like “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all..” (Its what my mother always told me).
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:17 pmHe’s my former governor….
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:18 pmKos is pushing for Hackett to run against Voinovich
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:23 pmTP one question why block my posts
when I post it says duplicate comment YET the comment dont show
behind the scenes you are manipulating what shows up and what does not show
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:25 pmOil companies mapping strategies for dynamic Iraqi situation
http://www.bushagenda.net/article.php?id=431
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:26 pmThe reporters weren’t wearing brown shirts . . .
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:26 pmComment by Tobey Tall — August 22, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
I’m sure the troops love fighting for Georgies oil! In Georgie’s mind, oil needs to become more expensive before it become cheaper.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:27 pmAnother U.S. Military Operation, More Unrest
BAGHDAD, Aug 22 (IPS) – New U.S. military operations across Iraq appear to be worsening the situation.
http://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:29 pmI hate trolls.
Comment by Anti-Treason
And clowns.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 pmComment by Tobey Tall — August 22, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Why do I get the feeling that administrators only like dissent of their postings to appear in the commentary section? It’s like they don’t care at all about those who agree with them.
Thinkprogress.org is running off course.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:31 pmhttp://www.dahrjamailiraq.com/hard_news/
Comment by Tobey Tall — August 22, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
I find it amazing that Iraqis seem to have a better handle on our political scene than our media does. Perhaps they should be the ones bringing democracy to us.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:50 pmDeclare war on all TP trolls…Let’s win our site back!
We need to record the posting patterns of all trolls here, then go on the attack during rush hour! Knock em’ out and away — all at once!
Comment by Anti-Treason — August 22, 2007 @ 12:08
pm
The trolls are probably away at the dentist’s office this morning. I can’t wait until they return to treat us all to narratives of their colorful lollipops.
I hate trolls.
Comment by Anti-Treason — August 22, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Railing against dissent, then whining that the dissenters aren’t here. In a bit of a snit this morning. ;)
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:52 pmHe spent twice as much time flying as he did on the ground in Iraq. 14 hours isn’t even enough time to recover from the jet lag.
He may not have a comment now, but in a week he’ll be saying “I just returned from Iraq, and from what I saw, the Surge was a Raging Success!”
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:17 pmHis mother told him “if you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all.”
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:05 pm