Think Progress

Gen. Jones: ‘Yes,’ we can begin to withdraw from Iraq.

In a House Armed Services Committee hearing this afternoon, Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) asked Gen. James Jones to comment on his report’s recommendation that the U.S. should reduce its footprint in Iraq. The Jones report suggests “significant reductions” in the “size of our national footprint in Iraq.” Skelton asked Jones if this is a call to reduce troop levels, and Jones answered yes:

JONES: [W]e can consider taking a look at our footprint, taking a look at how many people we have in Iraq, how many bases we have, how many locations we have, and begin to think about ways in which we can realign the force, retask the force, and even remission it, so that we can gradually adjust our footprint and our military commanders can do it.

SKELTON: Does that mean reduce?

JONES: Sir?

SKELTON: Does that mean reduce our force?

JONES: It means — it means finding efficiencies and it means — yes, it means making a candid assessment of who’s over there, who absolutely needs to be there, critically, and making sure that we are operating at peak efficiency and don’t have excessive capacity simply over there because it’s their time to go.

Watch it:



131 Responses to “Gen. Jones: ‘Yes,’ we can begin to withdraw from Iraq.”

  1. Jake D. says:

    Luckily, the Commander in Chief is the decider, not a RETIRED General.


  2. Jake D. says:

    Is 5,000 troops home for Christmas a “significant reduction”?


  3. Frank J says:

    Fred Thompson will ignore this surrender monkey.


  4. Ichthus says:

    General. Comment by Jake D. — September 6, 2007

    Luckily Petraeus is not Jake?


  5. Ichthus says:

    Fred Thompson will ignore this surrender monkey.
    Comment by Frank J

    How can one surrender from an undeclared war?
    Who occupys our country that we must surrender too?


  6. mrp says:

    “JONES: [W]e can consider taking a look at ….”


  7. Ichthus says:

    Fred Thompson will ignore this surrender monkey.
    Comment by Frank J — September 6, 2007

    Is Bush ignoring his generals? Is Fred a CIC? Is Fred a General, or ever have been?


  8. Fan_of_Man says:

    yes unfortunately we do have to keep MINIMAL troops there to “wrap” things up and bushco should be held totally accountable.


  9. Ichthus says:

    “JONES: [W]e can consider taking a look at ….”

    Comment by mrp —

    Bush, “Our Eyes See”


  10. Doprogressivemaniacsworkhardtobesoinsane?? says:

    I always say conservatives easily kill progressives/leftards in any debate because of the way progs/libtards play fast and loose with the facts. I’m vindicated once more in this suspect posting by this Toilet Paper hate-site because TP is deteriorating into more desperation by how far they jump to conclusion and stretch the truth of what Jones actually testified. TP actually perpetrates felonious fraud by ascribing to Jones that he answered “yes” to surrender monkey Skelton’s question about withdrawal. But, TP is mentally ill and all the progtards drinking the kool-aid are just as laughably insane because Jones answered ambiguously; he DIDN’T say “yes, let’s withdraw like Demoncrats want before the job is done, leaving Iraq to terrorists.” Progressive clowns need to be educated that Jones’ nuanced answer actually means that reduction and withdrawals are possible in Iraq ONLY AFTER Bush goals are met, goals such as an Iraq that can fight for itself and have a stable govt.


  11. NRA Gunnutes says:

    The General is a MILITARY MAN who knows BATTLE and WAR.

    AWOL coward Bush is a COXUCKER punk TRAITOR to the USA…

    and a WAR CRIMINAL who needs to be in Gitmo until he drops dead.


  12. Not Canadian says:

    Apparently Bin Laden is releasing a video for 9-11.

    I wonder how much Dumbya paid him for that?

    GEORGE BOTCH = most traitorous President EVER.


  13. detroitsuperfly says:

    Obviously, Gen Jones hates America, wants the terrorists to win and seeks to embolden our enemies. He must be a commie lib America hating hippie peacenik who should go move to Cuba to live with his savior Castro. Right cons?

    F’ing morons!


  14. Buck Fush says:

    Yeah, we won…..we are really stuck there with many many soldiers for a very long time, but if they just get out of the general populous then they will not be targets….nice….I hate our soldiers dieing for the control of ME Oil, and for lies.

    Jake D Fake how much you make per post from the RNC?


  15. Zooey says:

    Comment by Doprogressivemaniacsworkhardtobesoinsane?? — September 6, 2007 @ 11:20 pm

    It’s nice you hang out so much at a “hate site.” Careful, you don’t want TP to rub off on you — you might become even MORE hateful.


  16. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Luckily, the Commander in Chief is the decider, not a RETIRED General.
    Comment by Jake D. — September 6, 2007 @ 11:02 pm

    Thanks for Osama’s perspective, how about posting a perspective good for America and her soldiers – traitor!


  17. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Fred Thompson will ignore this surrender monkey.
    Comment by Frank J — September 6, 2007 @ 11:04 pm

    Yeah, there’s nothing MONKEY about Hollywood FRED, and his Nixon traitor performance! You dumbasses sure can pick your HEROHOES!


  18. ronjazz says:

    reduction and withdrawals are possible in Iraq ONLY AFTER Bush goals are met, goals such as an Iraq that can fight for itself and have a stable govt.

    Comment by Doprogressivemaniacsworkhardtobesoinsane?? — September 6, 2007 @ 11:20 pm

    Which will only happen in the fever dreams of the surrender monkeys of the Right wing, whom Bush has already given up to Osama Bin Laden. Bush’s surrender on 9/11 was immediate, complete and total. BinLaden got everything he wanted, and even now is laughing at the rightard surrender monkeys who had to attack a defenseless, beaten country to deflect the utter failure of the Bush administration to protect the USA from its enemies. The fact remains that the Right has already given up, and therefore has no say in what happens going forward, and the continuous spewing of treasonous lies by rightwing surrender monkeys just renders them even weaker and less credible. As usual, the left will be tasked with cleaning up the mess that the retarded, irresponsible, cowardly chickenhawks have made of our military, our economy, and our reputation. Bush’s goals will never be met until we leave and let the Iraqis settle their own problems. our contribution to their genocide just makes us the perpetrators for as long as we stay we we aren’t wanted, needed, or useful, they will continue to blow up and shoot our troops, out of anger at being invaded and occupied for no reason except Bush’s fragile ego and his montrous oilman’s greed. the proof is in the pudding: every “advance” has been a fake, including this one, every 6 months is another 500 dead Americans, and every Bush regime statement is a lie. there is no surrender involved, especially given the craven, cowardly surrender of the bush-monkey on 9/11, so get off that lie, you rightard morons. nothing you say has a shred of truth or decency, and America knows it.


  19. detroitsuperfly says:

    Progtards? Libtards? LMFAO! If this is the highest level of intellectual input cons can contribute, President Hillary should pick out the white house curtains now.


  20. bilbogaggins says:

    God, talk about gobblygook. That was some parsing of words.


  21. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Progressive clowns need to be educated that Jones’ nuanced answer actually means that reduction and withdrawals are possible in Iraq ONLY AFTER Bush goals are met, goals such as an Iraq that can fight for itself and have a stable govt.
    Comment by Doprogressivemaniacsworkhardtobesoinsane?? — September 6, 2007 @ 11:20 pm

    BAHAHAHA, a WINGNUT has the b*lls to lecture on NUANCED ANSWERS!!!! That’s RICH!!


  22. detroitsuperfly says:

    Has Bush ever met a goal? Has he succeeded with ANY policy in his administration? NO!


  23. bilbogaggins says:

    Is Fred a General, or ever have been?
    Comment by Ichthus

    The answer to “has he ever been” is YES! He has been a general in a movie. That must qualify him.


  24. ronjazz says:

    goals such as an Iraq that can fight for itself and have a stable govt.

    like the Iraq of 2002? what an idiot you are, what a traitorous scum. leave America now, this is no place for you.


  25. michaelIsRetarded says:

    What did Osama want, the US to attack a middle east country so that its populace would become angered in order to bleed us, our economy and our soldiers dry. What did George give Osama, EXACTLY the surrender he was hoping for! GOP, the PARTY of surrender. They’re willing to surrender our constitution, our way of life, our armed services and our energy independence to Osama! GOP = Surrender Monkeys!


  26. bilbogaggins says:

    I wonder how much Dumbya paid him for that?
    GEORGE BOTCH = most traitorous President EVER.
    Comment by Not Canadian

    If he paid him, it was a bad investment on his part. All it will do is to remind people that bin Laden is still out there laughing his fool head off at what he has created. He wanted to bankrupt this country, Bush did it for him. He wanted to defeat this country, Bush did it for him. He wanted us to close our bases in Saudi Arabia, Bush did it for him.

    Osama loves Bush since Bush has done what Osama could not. He has pretty much destroyed the United States of America.


  27. ronjazz says:

    Bush is the greatest failure of history, now surpassing Hitler in failures. There will be no other failure to compare him with when he’s done, he will occupy his own place as the most monumental failure of the history of America, and perhaps the world. starting with 9/11, it’s been failure after failure, with nary a win in sight. Stolen elections, secret meetings, lies, coverups, corruption from top to bottom, GOP congressmen lining up for court and jail, half of American screaming for impeachment. Clinton looks more and more like George Washington every minute.


  28. Len says:

    Sure, bring home 5000 troops. What the hell. We are having huge gains there.


  29. mrp says:

    Didn’t you say yesterday, that the US deserved 9/11?

    I guess we know which side you’re on.

    Comment by Ringo — September 5, 2007 @ 1:06 pm

    I did, because we did. Prove me wrong.

    Comment by toasterhead — September 5, 2007 @ 1:14 pm

    http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/05/goldsmith-politics-hiring/#comment-4059371

    toasterhead = traitor


  30. detroitsuperfly says:

    It really pisses cons off that Clinton was 2x more popular than Bush.

    Hell, Carter was more popular than Bush


  31. michaelIsRetarded says:

    http://thinkprogress.org/ 2007/ 09/ 05/ goldsmith-politics-hiring/ #comment-4059371
    toasterhead = traitor
    Comment by mrp — September 6, 2007 @ 11:38 pm

    No mrp, the TRAITORS were the GOP wingnuts that TRAINED Al Qaeda. That would be YOU and YOUR BUDDIES.


  32. Starve-A-Bush_Feed-A-Beaver says:

    Meanwhile, George Bush has a F%#$ up extravaganza in Australia where he is currently attending the APEC summit. He gave a speech in which he called the APEC summit the “OPEC summit”, where he called Australians “Austrians”, and where he ended his wonderful performance by going the wrong way off the stage. This of course is after the Australian newspapers quoted him as saying that he was “kicking ass” in Iraq.

    http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-apec-bush-gaffe.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin


  33. detroitsuperfly says:

    Don’t forget that Al Qaeda are conservatives

    Conservatism is a cancer on the world!


  34. Osama Bin Laden (R-Camp David) says:

    Pleaswe, infidels, take it easy on by brother GeorgeBoosh. he has made it possible for me to assemble thousands of previously peaceful, content Muslims and turn them into Jihadists for my insane cause. without him, there could not have been the massive increase in terrorism worldwide over the past 6 years, starting with his co-operation with us on 9/11, and his immediate capitulation and surrender following that fateful day. I am grateful for the rightwing Americans who, very surprisingly, didn’t march on the White House and lynch him immediately for making it so easy for us to destroy the symbols of capitalistic and militaristic evil, the WTC and Pentagon. I am very happy that Bush’s followers, like Bush, are so eager to assist me in my plans to weaken and embarrass the USA, and they have done a fine job. I can’t think of any other group of people that would support such a failure as GeorgeBoosh, but I thank you, and Allah thanks you. I do like the name of “surrender monkey” for Bush, it fits so well.


  35. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    I got an email from Dr. Dog. He may be posting soon.

    Comment by Len — September 6, 2007 @ 11:41 pm

    Make sure ya ask tha Dawg how the Neuticlesâ„¢ are workin’ out fer him. Mr P was thinkin’ of gittin’ a pair, along w/ Bigfoot and Ringo, too. Seein’ how they lost theirs so tragically, ‘n all.


  36. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Oh and Mr Pees on himself, you forgot the quote where toasterhead said it wasn’t JUSTIFIED!!! Yeah, nothing like a QUOTE OUT OF CONTEXT!!


  37. Zooey says:

    Comment by Starve-A-Bush_Feed-A-Beaver — September 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm

    Oh god, how embarrassing.


  38. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Don’t forget that Al Qaeda are conservatives
    Conservatism is a cancer on the world!
    Comment by detroitsuperfly — September 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm

    Yeah, and they were Ronnie and the whimpy Bush (yeah I know that was vague)’s best friends when they were RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FIGHTERS!!!!


  39. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Comment by mrp — September 6, 2007 @ 11:38 pm

    mrp = d*ckhead…


  40. Osama Bin Laden (R-Camp David) says:

    Comment by mrp — September 6, 2007 @ 11:38 pm

    Prove him wrong. I would never have taken innocent lives if the USA hadn’t been doing just that for decades in my lands, as well as stealing our natural resources, and installing puppet regimes after using their evil CIA to kill off our righteously chosen leaders. We only did what powerless peoples have done to despots for thousands of years, we turned their own weapons and technologies against them. We have you to thank, mrp, for enabling us to mount that successful attack. Without your blind loyalty to the surrender monkey Boosh, we would never have been successful. We would have had to scrap those plans if Al Gore had been allowed his rightful place as President; a smart, patriotic man like him would never have turned a blind eye to our threats and activities, and it would have been a complete waste of our resources. So, we thank you for the little “surrender monkey” Bush, and Allah thanks you.


  41. Buck Fush says:

    Cripes I never even bother to read posts from – IgetownedeverytimeIposttotalBSfromthosedarnlibs -
    that one is just not even noticing, always total BS


  42. ronjazz says:

    len=p. how embarrassing for him, her, it, and them.


  43. len says:

    Bush=surrender monkey


  44. len says:

    looks like len p dog is gone, again. good work, TP, we already have our share of traitors in the White House.


  45. ronjazz says:

    I always say conservatives easily kill progressives/leftards in any debate

    Comment by Doprogressivemaniacsworkhardtobesoinsane?? — September 6, 2007 @ 11:20 pm

    You always lie. always. without exception.


  46. mrp says:

    Oh and Mr Pees on himself, you forgot the quote where toasterhead said it wasn’t JUSTIFIED!!! Yeah, nothing like a QUOTE OUT OF CONTEXT!!

    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 6, 2007 @ 11:45 pm

    Do you have a dictionary?

    Use it and then pass along the definitions of “deserve” and “justify,” to traitorous toasterhead.


  47. Collegestudentsusuallyaremoreintogettinglaidthanblogging says:

    Mr Poo’s actions speak louder than words.


  48. dbadass says:

    Make sure ya ask tha Dawg how the Neuticles™ are workin’ out fer him.

    Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — September 6, 2007 @ 11:45

    I had forgotten all about Neuticles. Thanks!


  49. Buck Fush says:

    Dr. Dog sounds alot like Mr. P(rick) in his alter ego…..same dick but no balls, after all we are supposed to neuter our dogs.


  50. joefriday says:

    68% of Aussies want to withdraw their troops from Iraq.

    Paymaster for 9/11 hijackers was in ISI (Pakistani Intelligence).

    Only 3 of 18 benchmarks met after 53 months.

    71% of Americans want all troops out by April 2008.

    W’s Treasury Secretary said the policy of Iraqi invasion was set right after January 2001 inaguration.

    W did exactly what OBL wanted.


  51. dbadass says:

    How can you forget about your own Neuticles?

    Comment by Dr. Dog — September 7, 2007 @ 12:04 am

    Sorry forgot the tm. It’s easy to forget absurd manifestations of capitalism when there is so many interesting things to think about but this product line still entertains me. How about those pharyngeal jaws on those morays?


  52. michael says:

    “Fred Thompson will ignore this surrender monkey.

    Comment by Frank J — September 6, 2007″

    Surrender monkey? He never said how many to bring out. Believe me, we will be there for decades!


  53. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Surrender monkey? He never said how many to bring out. Believe me, we will be there for decades!
    Comment by michael — September 7, 2007 @ 12:26 am

    If that happens, it’s because the GOP has surrendered to Osama’s plans.


  54. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    I had forgotten all about Neuticles. Thanks!

    Comment by dbadass — September 7, 2007 @ 12:04 am

    Not a problem…

    Only time in my life I’ve ever seen a dawg actually shed tears. He went over to a corner to lick his… well, you know, and when he apparently remembered that they had been, how shall we say, “removed” by some of the posters here, he started crying.

    **snicker… snicker** Sorry, every time I think about it, it cracks me up. Fortuantely, I saved off the fatal exchange, wherein Tha Dawg claimed he was in Austin and didn’t even know what time zone he was supposed to be in, plus the link to that thread.

    Tha Dawg ever hauls his Neuticlesâ„¢ back in here and starts mouthin’ off, callin’ Wayne a liar, I’ll be copyin’ ‘n pastin’ as fast as I can!


  55. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Do you have a dictionary?
    Use it and then pass along the definitions of “deserve” and “justify,” to traitorous toasterhead.
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 12:00 am

    Deserve doesn’t mean justify. Someone that commits a crime may ‘deserve’ retribution, it doesn’t mean the retribution is ‘justified’ however by either law or moral codes. We live in a civil society, so a religious fanatical wingnut like you that’s so much like Osama wouldn’t understand that ‘nuance’ of a CIVILIZED society! That’s why you’re Osama’s PAWN!


  56. Osama Bin Laden (R-Camp David) says:

    Bush is the surrender monkey. His surrender to me was instant and complete, topped off by his running away and hiding. Don’t listen to this General. We need you to keep sending us targets for our terrorist training camp, formerly known as Iraq. We have so many recruits we keep running out of targets, as they “withdraw” to the Green Zone. I have given instructions that non of my trainees are to withdraw, as we have seen, even in our caves, on blogs such as this, such displays of cowardice from the boosh “supporters” (my dictionary translates that as jockstraps, I’m not sure what to make of it) that it seems that many Americans are very afraid to stand behind their big words, like this O’Reilly comedian. I enjoy the very aggressive remarks of this michael and pee, they are humorous, given their obvious lack of real courage. In any event, Allah thanks you for your assistance in our Jihad, useful tools of the Right wing, and I add my grateful thanks as well.


  57. mrp says:

    Deserve doesn’t mean justify…
    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 12:30 am

    No kidding.


  58. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Deserve doesn’t mean justify…
    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 12:30 am
    No kidding.
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 12:38 am

    So then you agree with toasterhead, and your entire smear makes you like like a juvenile retarded sh!t for brains AS USUAL!


  59. mrp says:

    So then you agree with toasterhead, and your entire smear makes you like like a juvenile retarded sh!t for brains AS USUAL!

    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 12:40 am

    uh… no.


  60. michaelIsRetarded says:

    So then you agree with toasterhead, and your entire smear makes you like like a juvenile retarded sh!t for brains AS USUAL!
    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 12:40 am
    uh… no.
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 12:41 am

    Actually you JUST DID, because that’s what toasterhead said…


  61. mrp says:

    So then you agree with toasterhead, and your entire smear makes you like like a juvenile retarded sh!t for brains AS USUAL!
    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 12:40 am
    uh… no.
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 12:41 am

    Actually you JUST DID, because that’s what toasterhead said…

    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 12:42 am

    -

    No, it is not.


  62. Chocolate Jesus says:

    >I always say conservatives easily kill progressives/leftards

    shut up meagan methhead.. no one cares…no matter how many burnt brownies you bake the troops. they wont ever care either.


  63. michaelIsRetarded says:

    -
    No, it is not.
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 12:43 am

    Uh, yes it is… Read the thread your thread was in reference to…. Your ignorance is no excuse Mr. Pee…


  64. michaelIsRetarded says:

    How can you forget about your own Neuticles?
    Comment by Dr. Dog — September 7, 2007 @ 12:04 am

    Ah, Mr. Pansy is back from his TEXAS CHICKEN OUT SESSION!!!!


  65. mrp says:

    Wow. TP is dead.

    Great Job, GOP trolls!!!


  66. Domino says:

    Gen. Jim “Grape Kool-Aid” Jones?


  67. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Wow. TP is dead.
    Great Job, GOP trolls!!!
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 1:19 am

    The only things that are DEAD are your BRAIN and BLADDER CONTROL, Mr. Pee…


  68. mrp says:

    Why didn’t TP have a story about this?


  69. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Why didn’t TP have a story about this?
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 2:03 am

    Why are you promoting your partisan blog in violation of the terms of use Mr. Pee? No one goes to that piece of sh!t site of yours with your piece of sh!t trash. Link to a REAL site, and someone MIGHT follow your resources. Your WHINING doesn’t count for a STORY, dumbass!


  70. mrp says:

    Your WHINING doesn’t count for a STORY, dumbass!

    Comment by michaelIsRetarded — September 7, 2007 @ 2:05 am
    —–

    Umm… that wasn’t an opinion piece. It’s pure fact.


  71. michaelIsRetarded says:

    Umm… that wasn’t an opinion piece. It’s pure fact.
    Comment by mrp — September 7, 2007 @ 2:19 am

    What? You think anyone would follow a link to your lameassed site? If there’s a real story, link to a REAL news site, otherwise STFU you piece of sh!t!


  72. jotro says:

    Jotro, you suck. NO, You suck, Jotro, you reptile partisan. My side is smarter, better, more patriotic, more clever, more outrageous than yours. I WIN because I posted some crap after you did, and you don’t have an answer as cute as mine. I really used to enjoy this site, but seriously folks, it is going downhill fast. WTFO?


  73. Headybrew.net says:

    What’s going to happen is this:

    1) Jones says we can start withdrawing.
    not should as many have been saying all along, but can, implying that the war is drawing to a successful conclusion, even though it is not.

    2) The Patraeus report will claim that the violence is down, whether it is or not, implying that the surge was a success, whether it was or not.

    3) Bush will withdraw some troops, then right around election time, withdraw most of the rest and claim victory.

    We’ve got to realize that all of this arguing about whether violence is down or not as a result of the surge, is just part of the exit strategy, trying to spin it all as a success… yes, Bush was right all along, if we’d only had more faith in him… And now right around election time, the spin-doctors will ram that idea down our throats. And sadly, many of us will believe it and vote republican in the next election.


  74. Headybrew.net says:

    Oh, there is an optional number four:

    4) A trumped up case for war in Iran is made and shortly before the election we “redeploy” the troops out of Iraq and into Iran.


  75. Jonsey says:

    THEY ARE PULLING UNNECESSARY PERSONNEL OUT, AND PUTTING EVERYBODY LEFT BEHIND THE GUARDED WALLS OF THE PERMANENT BASES IN PREPARATION OF THE ATTACK ON IRAN!

    Don’t be fooled by this shit.


  76. Tobey Tall says:

    Seven U.S. troops killed in Iraq

    Just think if Bush had taken the Iraq study groups recommendations over 800 US troops would still be alive – the man is a fool


  77. Tobey Tall says:

    BBC World Service poll shows two-thirds of of the global population want the withdrawal of US-led troops from Iraq to be effected within a year.


  78. Tobey Tall says:

    Most people ‘want Iraq pull-out’

    Most people across the world believe US-led forces should withdraw from Iraq within a year, a BBC poll suggests.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6981553.stm


  79. Tobey Tall says:

    In Europe, the equivalent figure was just 18 percent, while 47 percent wanted military force against Tehran to be ruled out.

    Fully 77 percent of Europeans disapprove of US President George W. Bush and his international policies, blaming the war in Iraq and Bush himself, the survey also said.

    But 46 percent of Europeans also believe that transatlantic relations will stay the same as now after the 2008 US presidential election, against 35 percent who feel that ties will improve.

    Too right unless America votes for a decent honest leader I am still boycotting any american products

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070906/wl_mideast_afp/useueuropeiranpoll


  80. Pathfinder says:

    Too right unless America votes for a decent honest leader I am still boycotting any american products

    As if you have a job or money to be able to buy products from anywhere. You funny blowhard fool.


  81. Pathfinder says:

    Most people across the world believe US-led forces should withdraw from Iraq within a year, a BBC poll suggests.

    Bwaaaaa, Tobey you are a moron.

    The BBC poll “suggests”? The only thing it suggests is that you cant read a poll or parse it in any meaningful way.

    The backward savages in the ME (such as Egypt) want a pull out now yet even that number barely breaks even at 58%. Other countries dont see it that way and lo and behold, they include nations which actually have troops in Iraq…including the U.S. at 27%.

    Then of course we have the manner in which the BBC positions the poll. Here is a prime example:
    “In the US, one-in-four supported an immediate withdrawal, while 32% wanted Iraq’s security issues to be resolved before bringing the troops home.”

    One in four? You mean 25%? The BBC didnt want to actually write “25%” because its so low so instead they use the term one in four. Heh.

    You are a fool.


  82. Uncle Ho says:

    Any “withdraw” will be only symbolic, no substance. It’s all part of the dog & pony show. Another of the administration’s bait and switch.

    Don’t believe any of it for a minute.


  83. Tobey Tall says:

    Bin Laden plans to release new video

    another video just in time for the George ( Baby Killer) Bushes campaign to keep troops in Iraq


  84. ann says:

    “Luckily, the Commander in Chief is the decider, not a RETIRED General.

    Comment by Jake D. — September 6, 2007 @ 11:02 pm”

    LOL. Yeah, because an AWOL flyboy has so much more military experience and knowledge than a retired General.


  85. Tobey Tall says:

    25%? – - want to keep troops in Iraq ……. your the fool who cant read most of them were Hindus – who are not keen on muslims anyway – Jake D the twat


  86. Pathfinder says:

    most of them were Hindus – who are not keen on muslims anyway – Jake D the twat

    Ohhh, ok. So we can also dismiss any muslims from the poll because they arent keen on westerners and non-muslims anyway.

    See how it works when you start yanking out the bits you dont like to make it fit your pre-formed opinion?

    Goofjack.


  87. Pathfinder says:

    LOL. Yeah, because an AWOL flyboy has so much more military experience and knowledge than a retired General.
    Comment by ann — September 7, 2007 @ 7:52 am

    So when the Petraeus report comes out and doesnt say what you want it too, will you rely on the retired general or the active-duty general actually commanding the troops in Iraq?

    LOL, I know the answer already.


  88. Tobey Tall says:

    Seven U.S. troops killed in Iraq

    Just think if Bush had taken the Iraq study groups recommendations over 800 US troops would still be alive – the man is a fool,,,,,,,,


  89. mrp says:

    Well, if Betrayus were a real general, instead of a hired Bush stooge and proven liar, maybe we could believe a word out of his duplicitous face.
    But, we can’t, and his report will never be seen anyway, without the professional liars of the White House rewriting it so that fools and tools like pathfinder can be, once again, easily fooled and misled into supporting the stealing of another country’s resources and murder of its people.


  90. Democrat Soldier says:

    #85 – “See how it works when you start yanking out the bits you dont like to make it fit your pre-formed opinion?” Comment by Pathfinder — September 7, 2007 @ 8:01 am

    Sort of like Pres. Bush did when he got rid of any General that wanted to plan for the occupation after the war. . . .


  91. Troll says:

    TP must be on its way out. Fewer threads and posting numbers are way down. I guess readers are following whats his face over to puffington. He didnt write so much stupid crap. That or Soros’ funds are drying up.


  92. mrp says:

    pathfinder doesn’t have the intellectual capacity to understand that only the already-retired generals can tell the truth, since the Coward-In-Chief no longer has the ability to fire them or otherwise besmirch their service.


  93. ronjazz says:

    TP must be on its way out. Fewer threads and posting numbers are way down. I guess readers are following whats his face over to puffington. He didnt write so much stupid crap. That or Soros’ funds are drying up.

    Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 8:16 am

    No, you freedom-hating trolls have stunk up the place beyond the capacity of most normal people to put up with your childish bullshit. Typical fascist techniques, by typical fascist cowards.


  94. Tobey Tall says:

    Citizens demand that Representative Hinchey support impeachment

    http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/26547


  95. Troll says:

    I know you toadies cant handle dissent. Like the Jehova cultist you run away.


  96. troqua says:

    So, Bush thanked the “Austrians” for hosting the “OPEC” summit.

    We know oil is never far from Bush’s thoughts, but that’s pretty embarrassing. Seriously, what a dimwit.


  97. ronjazz says:

    I know you toadies cant handle dissent. Like the Jehova cultist you run away.

    Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 8:24 am

    There’s no dissent here from the surrender-monkey righties, only slavish fellatio of Bush’s tiny little joint. You pathetic handful of brainwashed toadies are all he has left to rely on, so you have to scream and fling turds to get any attention. Getting away from your lies and embarrassing ignorance is what most people do because of the uselessness of your crap. Running away is what Bush did, all his life, and what you cowards have done as well, instead of enlisting and taking the fight to the enemy. You, like the toadies you are, have let Bush allow the most successful terror attack ever to take place, and you still worship him. No wonder most good patriotic liberals can’t stomach your stench. The Good Germans had the same attitudes as you traitors, and lost, big, as you will, and already are. thanks for ‘06, and in advance for the next 40 years of Dem majorities!



  98. corsair says:

    Screw Gen. Jones. He is merely putting a canteen before a thirsty American public in order to pacify voters for 2008. Unfortunately, millions of voters will take a sip from the canteen and continue voting for Republicans. Jones is part of a cabal to fool the public. FU General.


  99. ronjazz says:

    Russia tuffens stance towards US

    Comment by ccokz — September 7, 2007 @ 8:41 am

    And why not? They look at the military, and at the refusal of healthy Young Republicans to back their Coward-In-Chief, and realize that all these years of Republican “governance” have decimated America’s ability to win a war against a tiny, beaten Arab country, never mind a real force. The republicans have put America in greater danger than Hitler, Tojo and Mussolini combined. this is what happens when deserters and cowards steal elections.


  100. troqua says:

    Instead of waging a ridiculous war against a beaten country that was being contained quite handily, thankyouverymuch, we should have been engaging with Russia, and with any number of countries. Our State Department has been rendered impotent by Cheney. Diplomacy is a dirty word with this crowd.


  101. Troll says:

    , and in advance for the next 40 years of Dem majorities!

    Comment by ronjazz — September 7, 2007 @ 8:38 am

    surrender-monkey righties? Hello. That would be the left the right does not want to surrender they just are tired of Bush’ incompotence which at least they admit proving they are not toadies like you.

    “thanks for ‘06…” What did you win toady? Your own have stabbed you in the back and I look forward to them doing the same for the next 40 years blowhard.


  102. Democrat Soldier says:

    #101 – “surrender-monkey righties? Hello. That would be the left the right does not want to surrender” Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 9:02 am

    Well, other than surrendering their Constitution to Pres. Bush’s failed policies, and surrendering their honor to Pres. Bush’s failed war of occupation, and surrendering their ethics in refusing to hold the right-whiners responsible for their failures. . . . .

    I won’t go on with my list, as it’s off-topic and you will not admit that your right-whining policies are a tacit surrender of what old-school “conservatism” used to stand. It’s sort of sad to see the party of “borrow and squander” ignore the beam in their own eye as they gleefully point to the splinter in the eye of others.


  103. ronjazz says:

    “thanks for ‘06…” What did you win toady? Your own have stabbed you in the back and I look forward to them doing the same for the next 40 years blowhard.

    Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 9:02 am

    hey, Bush surrendered totally and immediately to Bin laden on 9/11, and you morons have backed him ever since. we’ll be taking back the country, now, thank you, and we’ll, once again, clean up your mess and put you surrender-monkeys back in the minority, well away from power, for the foreseeable future. Suck on that, along with Bush’s teenie-weenie, if you can find it!


  104. Democrat Soldier says:

    #103 – Ronnjazz, what ever did happen to that claim by Pres. Buch concerning Usama bin Laden? What was that again?

    Oh, it was “dead or alive”!

    Yet another ignored pledge by the leader of the party that called for “returning honorism and dignitude to the White House.”

    For neo-con right-whiners, telling lies is typical behavior. I’d be surprised if Pres. Bush actually upheld his promises rather than doing everything he could to ignore them.


  105. Troll says:

    Comment by Democrat Soldier — September 7, 2007 @ 9:07 am

    “Well, other than surrendering their Constitution to Pres. Bush’s failed policies,…”

    Like the dem congress did when it renewed the Patriot act.

    “and surrendering their honor to Pres. Bush’s failed war of occupation,…”

    Our word is our honor. We gave our word to the Iraqis that we would stand with them, it is you leftards who want to surrender our honor by running away.

    “and surrendering their ethics in refusing to hold the right-whiners responsible for their failures. . . . . ”

    Ya you libtards surrendered your honor in this regard decades ago. At least the right has some ethics left to surrender. How about the failure of the left to force withdrawl or the failure to stop the patriot act or the failure to impeach or the failure to pass universal health care etc etc?

    Those on the right have clearly held their own responsible hence the 06 election results.

    Better luck next time toady 2.


  106. upside00 says:

    Fred Thompson will ignore this surrender monkey.

    Comment by Frank J — September 6, 2007 @ 11:04 pm

    Poor Frankie and the rest of the Repugs, depending on a bad, lazy actor to carry their water. And, of course, just because a decorated MARINE general says so, it must not be so.

    With that logic, it is no wonder they have run this once great country into the ground and then shat all over it.


  107. Doc Rock says:

    Despite his many negatives, Murtha’s witdrawal strategy looks like it was the way to go all along. Read the Tilghman article at
    http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0710.tilghman.html and note how one of the main drivers in the insurgency has always been the perception of occupation!


  108. SGT Higgins says:

    Think Progress,

    Today he’s described as ‘General’, yesterday he ws ‘Retired General’… I wouldn’t be so picky, I’m certainly no English Major, but you jumped all over Gonzo’s punctuation in his letter of resignation. Not a biggie really, maybe you should lighten up a little is all.


  109. toasterhead says:

    Today he’s described as ‘General’, yesterday he ws ‘Retired General’… I wouldn’t be so picky, I’m certainly no English Major, but you jumped all over Gonzo’s punctuation in his letter of resignation. Not a biggie really, maybe you should lighten up a little is all.

    Comment by SGT Higgins — September 7, 2007 @ 9:48 am

    There’s no such thing as a retired Marine. Especially a retired Marine General.


  110. SGT Higgins says:

    There’s no such thing as a retired Marine. Especially a retired Marine General.

    Comment by toasterhead

    Touche’, Toasterhead, touche’


  111. ronjazz says:

    Our word is our honor. We gave our word to the Iraqis that we would stand with them, it is you leftards who want to surrender our honor by running away.

    You came in and blew them up without regard for guilt or innocence, man, woman or child, Muslim or Christian, so don’t even try to present that bukllshit. Honor! You haven’t the faintest idea. and the “Dem” Congress is still being stonewalled and obstructed every step of the way by the surrender-monkeys of the GOP, who have put party above god and country.


  112. SGT Higgins says:

    We gave our word to the Iraqis that we would stand with them

    Which is exactly why they have no incentive to stand on their own!
    “Hey, they’re gonna stand with us….until we stand on our own…..so why should we stand on our own again?”


  113. DanCaveman says:

    General Jones knows exactly what he is talking about. If we insist on continuing this, we need to break down the Green Zone and BIAP.

    When I was there, our BTN was able to work with each of the companies occupying significantly less space and having a significantly smaller “footprint” in the area we worked in. Each of our line companies took a neighboring city (and established a small base of operations no larger than a police station) and head quarters stayed at an existing forward operating base with our other support units.

    The Green Zone, BIAP, and the atrocious embassy we are building are daily reminders to the people that a foreign force has invaded their country and intends to stay. Although, it makes the time easier for those staying in Baghdad, it is unnecessary and counter productive to have Walmart like stores, Burger King, etc.. as well as the staff to run them all locked into this mini city that does nothing but insult the local Iraqi population.

    I want to get us out as soon as possible; however, if we truly wanted to fight this insurgency correctly, it has to be done from within the communities with our forces spread out and having more interaction with the local Iraqi people. The only way to beat the insurgency is to EARN their trust and respect – that is something you can’t TAKE from them by military force.

    To bad all the commanders that understood that have resigned in protest, been forced out, or too low level to have input in the situation.


  114. upside00 says:

    We gave our word to the Iraqis that we would stand with them

    Which is exactly why they have no incentive to stand on their own!
    “Hey, they’re gonna stand with us….until we stand on our own…..so why should we stand on our own again?”
    Comment by SGT Higgins — September 7, 2007 @ 10:11 am

    This was just like in Vietnam, where the ARVN only fought when we were in charge and reinforced their ranks, as they had no incentive to do anything as long as we were there. I watched them during fire fights, hiding, having a smoke while the US troops did most of the fighting.

    Why doesn’t BushCo read any history? Oh, that’s right, they rewrite it to match their needs. I got it.


  115. Troll says:

    “Hey, they’re gonna stand with us….until we stand on our own…..so why should we stand on our own again?”

    Comment by SGT Higgins — September 7, 2007 @ 10:11 am

    I agree with you on this point. Just like welfare and the proposed UHC.


  116. Jake D. says:

    Regarding our “undeclared” war, legally speaking, every war the U.S. has fought since WWII has been without a formal declaration. There are plenty of Supreme Court cases about the ability of the President to conduct war without an explicit declaration of war by the Congress. The legal logic basically was that, by funding the war, Congress had given tacit approval of the war that was the legal equivalent of declaring war. Courts have always held that, like most of the rest of Congress’ powers, the power to declare war does not need to be invoked by specific “magic words”, and can be conditional or limited, as well. The AUMF against Iraq is at the very least a conditional declaration of war whose terms were satisfied by the Presidential determinations it was conditioned upon.

    Practically speaking, we are clearly “at war” (in a state of international armed conflict) and have been since the initial invasion. Technically, we are still “at war” in Korea too. If anyone NOT on the “Ignore List” has a question about any of that, please let me know.


  117. Troll says:

    Honor! You haven’t the faintest idea. \

    Comment by ronjazz — September 7, 2007 @ 10:05 am

    No it is you who has not the faintest idea. We could have leveled Iraq in about three weeks and had this over with but instead put our own in harms way in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties understanding the political cost associated with such a strategy. That is honor.


  118. SGT Higgins says:

    This was just like in Vietnam, where the ARVN only fought when we were in charge and reinforced their ranks, as they had no incentive to do anything as long as we were there. I watched them during fire fights, hiding, having a smoke while the US troops did most of the fighting.

    Comment by upside00

    Upside,
    if that’s true (and I have no reason to doubt it) then this is even more like VN than I ever could have suspected. See, I’m thinking that the best thing to do is leave…and let them stand or fall, but stand or fall on their own.
    After watching the ARVN fail to stand on their own (and after what you witnessed, I assume there wasn’t a whole lot of surprise on your part) and watching the north move in, would you still choose to withdraw from Iraq now?
    I would, honestly. I mean, stand or fall, it’s theirs to defend or surrender, not mine. Call me an uncaring SOB, but frankly…my own country’s got enough problems of it’s own that we can’t fix, why are we trying to fix someone else’s who doesn’t give a rip if it’s fixed or not?
    Your thoughts?


  119. upside00 says:

    No it is you who has not the faintest idea. We could have leveled Iraq in about three weeks and had this over with but instead put our own in harms way in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties understanding the political cost associated with such a strategy. That is honor.

    Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 10:28 am

    WTF does this mean? Invade a sovereign country and say, since we didn’t obliterate it, we are benevolent invaders?

    You sound more like a Hitler apologist on every post. Must come from your “Fearless” “Leader”, huh?


  120. upside00 says:

    Comment by SGT Higgins — September 7, 2007 @ 10:31 am

    Yes, I have said since before the illegal invasion of Iraq and the continuing occupation, that this was another VN, and no one listened, until recently. The parallels are creepy!

    The major difference is that we are fighting more factions here than we did in VN. But in both cases the population wanted us gone, with the exception of the rich, and some of the poor folks caught in the middle.

    But there is no “winning” a civil war, unless you take one side, and we don’t know whcih side to take, as there is no “right” side, only a sectarian battle we have no reason to be in.


  121. Troll says:

    It was a sovereign country that had invaded another sovereign country, lost, then was in violation of the terms of cease fire agreement. We had every right to invade.

    Sovereignty is not a sacred cow which must be worshipped unconditionally.


  122. DanCaveman says:

    Troll,

    The UN Security council did not agree to our case for invasion. We were using a UN resolution as our basis for invading Iraq, but when the UN refused to give us the green light we said we would go in anyway. We violated the will of the UN and were in just as much violation as Iraq by ignoring international precedent and law.


  123. SGT Higgins says:

    The major difference is that we are fighting more factions here than we did in VN. — I agree, it’s like being a cop in the middle of a six or eight or ten sided intersection.

    But there is no “winning” a civil war, unless you take one side, and we don’t know whcih side to take, as there is no “right” side, only a sectarian battle we have no reason to be in. — I agree. I think the reason we went there (removing Saddam) wasa good reason. He’s gone…we should be leaving now.

    Comment by upside00


  124. DanCaveman says:

    Troll,

    In addition to you off topic post, it does not address the fact that our conflict in Iraq has made the US LESS SAFE, increased international terrorism, cost hundreds of thousands of lives, raped our treasury, and squandered any good will and credibility that the US carried throughout the world.

    Focusing on whether you think the invasion was “legal” is irrelevant to whether it was best for the US or the world. All evidence shows that the Iraq quagmire was a mistake that has put our country in more danger than ever from enemies foreign and ESPECIALLY domestic.


  125. Troll says:

    We are a sovereign country the UN is a useless institution to whom we need not go asking permission to act in our interest.


  126. DanCaveman says:

    Troll,

    Then we can not use the UN resolutions as a justification to invade if we are not going to abide by the rules.

    Germany was a sovereign nation too. Does that me they were perfectly justified to invade multiple countries?

    You are making wonderfully off topic posts – still dodging the actual issue about troop draw down and the disastrous mistake we made.

    Not to mention the only way to keep up our current levels is to institute a draft – unless all the brave keyboard warriors that are eligible and support this was finally walk down to a recruiters office and sign up for the Army or Marines. Of course, I forgot, this Occupation is SOOO important – as long as someone else is fighting.


  127. DanCaveman says:

    We are the most powerful nation on earth….should we just invade any country we choose, or should their be some sort of rules or basis for that invasion? Not to mention, we went to war based on false intelligence that the intelligence community already discredited – remember Nigerian Uranium?


  128. Democrat Soldier says:

    #121 – “Sovereignty is not a sacred cow which must be worshipped unconditionally.” Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 10:47 am

    #125 – “We are a sovereign country the UN is a useless institution to whom we need not go asking permission to act in our interest.” Comment by Troll — September 7, 2007 @ 11:00 am

    I think these two posters need to get their talking-points in order before they begin shooting themsleves in the foot.


  129. DanCaveman says:

    Hey Democrat Soldier,

    I have stopped pointing out hypocrisies, it does not seem to phase those supporting this administration.

    Good catch though.


  130. upside00 says:

    Hey Democrat Soldier,

    I have stopped pointing out hypocrisies, it does not seem to phase those supporting this administration.
    Good catch though.

    Comment by DanCaveman — September 7, 2007 @ 11:14 am

    Dem Soldier and Dan,

    I find it amazing how the trolls here can pick the “flavor (reason) of the day” for our invading and occupying Iraq, then will use arguments that have no bearing on reality. Just something they can hang on to as they see their Party slipping down the slippery slope of defeat and destruction.

    Kinda like building your new $600,000,000 Embassy on a bed of qucksand. Takes about the same level of planning that went into this illegal and immoral action.



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