Isn’t it amazing how Bush can claim ’support’ for the troops?
And isn’t it galling how he can claim that unless Congress gives him 100% of everything he wants, they don’t support the troops?
While he and Petraeus are breaking the military with over(and over)-extended tours, and under supplying them with life-protecting equipment (even though Congress has provided plenty of funds)?

And finally, isn’t it amazing how the 25%’ers still buy into the charade?

It’s like going to Bush and asking him if he wants a cookie.
Why would be courage be necessary?

If violence is down by 70% then why this story about Petraeus backing down on bringing some troops home starting this December? Obviously, that story you quoted has cherry-picked some small aspect of violence in order to make a point. And that is one of the problems, the data is not uniform with manipulation for political purposes (both sides do it to some extent). About the only number that is reliable is troops killed. After being God-awful for the first 8 months of 2007 they have come down nicely the last two months.

Look, it doesn’t matter how many troops they ‘bring home’; they will just be replaced by hired killer mercenaries, many of whom aren’t even American citizens.

Unless they bring them all home, which is the only real course of action.

∞

Violence in Iraq drops sharply: Ministry
Mon Oct 22, 2007 1:01pm EDT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Violence in Iraq has dropped by 70 percent since the end of June, when U.S. forces completed their build-up of 30,000 extra troops to stabilize the war-torn country, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Washington began dispatching reinforcements to Iraq in February to try to buy Iraq’s feuding political leaders time to reach a political accommodation to end violence between majority Shi’ites and minority Sunni Arabs that has killed tens of thousands and forced millions from their homes.

While the leaders have failed to agree on key laws aimed at reconciling the country’s warring sects, the troop buildup has succeeded in quelling violence.

Under the plan, U.S. troops left their large bases and set up combat outposts in neighborhoods while launching a series of summer offensives against Sunni Islamist al Qaeda, other Sunni Arab militants and Shi’ite militias in the Baghdad beltway.

Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul-Karim Khalaf told reporters that there had been a 70 percent decrease in violence countrywide in the three months from July to September over the previous quarter…

In Anbar, a former insurgent hotbed where Sunni Arab tribes have joined U.S. forces against al Qaeda, there has been an 82 percent drop in violent deaths.

The only bone I have to pick with the General’s is why have they agreed to take on a task that they know has the slimest of chances of being successful. The Department of Defense cannot get the job done by themselves. The State Department needs to step up to the plate. They have been deadly silent for 5 years now (since the bungled presentation to the UN by Powell). Rice, not Petraeus, is the key player and she is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile Petraeus, like all the other General’s before him, is taking it on the chin.

General Petraeus knows a lot more about the situation than any of us posting to this website.

You betcha, JT! He is Bush’s and Chainy’s man. He knows better than us when he will say yes to withdrawal and exactly when to change his mind according to his masters wishes. We only know, in advance, that it WILL happen, but are not privy to when.

You all are just playing armchair quarterback and wringing your hands with defeatist policies.

No, you are wrong here! YOU are wringing YOUR hands as you try and prevent this massive defeat and horrible debacle from becoming what it already has become. Common knowledge and belief by the American public.

I think the irony here is that most of you have “war is not the answer” or “Obama08″ stickers on your SUVs.

Actually, its ironic that you no doubt believe this “talking point” baloney. We Progressives are not the “bumper strip” philosophers you so desperately want to believe we are. For instance my “bumper strip philosophy” reads “First things first! Impeach Cheney” And my choice for President is Al Gore, not Obama or Clinton.

I agree war isn’t the answer,

Yeah, you say that now, but you were always a cheerleader for the neocons, weren’t you? C’mon now admit it, you thought Rumsfeld and his “shock and awe” was really great stuff. Bet you were glued to the TV back in ‘03 cheering them on.

…but what other solutions do you propose for suicidal maniacs who think their actions will be rewarded with a multitude of virgins? Turn the other cheek?…

Read Col. Jack’s response to you above… And will you admit that this is not a real question? And that you are not really interested in any answer except to continue the war as it has been going on since ‘03.

You are a troll, plain and simple. Pity…

Comment by JT

1. Petraeus may know more about the situation, but that doesn’t entail he’s been exactly truthful about it:

http://alaskafreepress.com/msgboard/board/2114

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/04/hiding-stats-from-gao/

And of course his wonderful rosy op-ed back in 2004 about how swell our training of Iraqis was going:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49283-2004Sep25.html

So excuse my slight bout of skepticism about believing everything this man has said when it’s clear he’s got some political overtones in his rhetoric at times.

I think the irony here is that most of you have “war is not the answer” or “Obama08″ stickers on your SUVs.

Actually the irony of incessant war supporters like yourself coming in here and pretending to have a balanced view while clearly supporting Mr. 24% on this is much more evident.

I agree war isn’t the answer, but what other solutions do you propose for suicidal maniacs who think their actions will be rewarded with a multitude of virgins? Turn the other cheek?…

By “suicidal maniacs” I’ll assume you’re referring to the Sunnis and Shiite death squads who’ve lived there and fought each other long before we decided to jump in the middle of things. They will continue to battle one another no matter how much DEMOKRAZY we attempt to pursuade them with. Which, BTW, I think you would agree that our bit of pursuasion (i.e. shooting them dead and blowing up their children, Blackwater anyone?) isn’t exactly the most enticing means of winning their hearts and minds, you know?

But since we’re essentially fighting for a Shiite fundamentalist government in leagues with Iran as well as arming Sunnis on the other side (and possibly giving $ to the Saudis which, strangely that $ ends up in the Sunni insurgent hands), things will no doubt turn around for you, won’t they? Then we can just continue to “just trust” our beloved Bush and his politicizing General.

just a few more months and that,

just until next summer and we . . .

should be able to keep this illegal invasion going until our
criminals are out of office and then we’ll have pulled off
the ultimate in ‘externalization’ by leaving it for others
to deal with.

Remember, each Friedman = 600 American deaths.

No. History and experience clearly shows that the best way to deal with terrorism is through domestic and international law enforcement agencies cooperating to the fullest and with the help of military assets when needed (for example to send cruise missles into a terrorist training camp.) Invading a country which had nothing to do with attacks on you is certainly not the answer.

12 months = 15 months = and now 18 months or more.

I think the irony here is that most of you have “war is not the answer” or “Obama08″ stickers on your SUVs. I agree war isn’t the answer, but what other solutions do you propose for suicidal maniacs who think their actions will be rewarded with a multitude of virgins? Turn the other cheek?…

Comment by JT — October 22, 2007 @ 4:32 pm

Any cogent response to what Walt actually said?

Didn’t think so.