Comments on: Petraeus: I Need Another Six Months To Determine Whether ‘We’ve Reached A Turning Point’ http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:22:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: thirdparty http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4240847 thirdparty Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:28:14 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4240847 Barfly, just saw your message, and I think we both have valid yet not mutually exclusive points. That article points to a substantial weakening of AQI. But could it be reversed? Sure it could, and I think the most likely way it will reverse is if we relent and retreat our forces. Furthermore, I understand that as long as there are three members there will still be violence, but we have to do our best to destabilize terrorist groups so that the likelihood of (a) having enough recruits to pull off all of those suicide attempts and attacks and (b) the infrastructural capacity to execute those violence in a way that makes them a political player is reduced. There is no doubt that al Qaida, for multiple reasons, has become a much less meaningful player in Iraq, especially in Anbar where the people have turned against them and we have provided the security to largely keep them out. Barfly, just saw your message, and I think we both have valid yet not mutually exclusive points. That article points to a substantial weakening of AQI. But could it be reversed? Sure it could, and I think the most likely way it will reverse is if we relent and retreat our forces. Furthermore, I understand that as long as there are three members there will still be violence, but we have to do our best to destabilize terrorist groups so that the likelihood of (a) having enough recruits to pull off all of those suicide attempts and attacks and (b) the infrastructural capacity to execute those violence in a way that makes them a political player is reduced. There is no doubt that al Qaida, for multiple reasons, has become a much less meaningful player in Iraq, especially in Anbar where the people have turned against them and we have provided the security to largely keep them out.

]]> By: chucko33 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239799 chucko33 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:52:07 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239799 And another thing, Joe Lieberman may be a war hawk, but he's NOT a "conservative." You guys at TP should know he's very liberal on domestic issues and always has been. And another thing, Joe Lieberman may be a war hawk, but he’s NOT a “conservative.” You guys at TP should know he’s very liberal on domestic issues and always has been.

]]> By: chucko33 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239792 chucko33 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:48:06 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239792 <strong>You can call me a troll or whatever you want, but you liberals are wrong and apparently don't know how to read! Petraeus DID NOT say he needed another 6 months for the surge. That would be MAJOR NEWS, wouldn't it? He basically said you can't know Iraq has had a major turnround in real-time; you wouldn't realize it until 6 months have passed. THAT's what he said. As far as I know, he is still sticking with his plan to have another assessment and recommendation on what to do next in March. I don't like this war any more than the next person, but some basic, objective analysis is due here - not more Moveon cheap shots like Gen. "Betrayus" insults. Think of something new next time.</strong> You can call me a troll or whatever you want, but you liberals are wrong and apparently don’t know how to read! Petraeus DID NOT say he needed another 6 months for the surge. That would be MAJOR NEWS, wouldn’t it? He basically said you can’t know Iraq has had a major turnround in real-time; you wouldn’t realize it until 6 months have passed. THAT’s what he said.

As far as I know, he is still sticking with his plan to have another assessment and recommendation on what to do next in March.

I don’t like this war any more than the next person, but some basic, objective analysis is due here – not more Moveon cheap shots like Gen. “Betrayus” insults. Think of something new next time.

]]> By: Bad Eye http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239672 Bad Eye Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:37:34 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239672 6 more months. Fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here. Meanwhile, people are being shot to death in churches and malls and schools by deranged Americans. Store owners are being murdered because of a robbery gone bad. Who's doing the shooting? Americans. Our fellow Americans are being murdered, some assassination-style, over drug deals gone bad. People are dying because some ignorant person drives through a stoplight because she is too busy talking on her fu(king cell phone to pay attention to traffic (true story...happed a couple of years ago in my city.) Who's behind the wheel? Americans. But who are we supposed to be afraid of? Oh, the terrorists. 6 more months.

Fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.

Meanwhile, people are being shot to death in churches and malls and schools by deranged Americans.

Store owners are being murdered because of a robbery gone bad. Who’s doing the shooting? Americans.

Our fellow Americans are being murdered, some assassination-style, over drug deals gone bad.

People are dying because some ignorant person drives through a stoplight because she is too busy talking on her fu(king cell phone to pay attention to traffic (true story…happed a couple of years ago in my city.) Who’s behind the wheel? Americans.

But who are we supposed to be afraid of? Oh, the terrorists.

]]> By: RFIDemocracy http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239454 RFIDemocracy Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:16:46 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239454 Here is some crappy news....MSN is reporting that a Canadian gov't. commissioned-panel has concluded that Canada's forces may have to remain in Afghanistan indefinitely. Let me guess. We are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them over here. No, we are spreading democracy. I mean, they hate our freedom. Oh, and for anyone who thinks the Afghanistan occupation is slightly more noble because it wasn't a founded on a lie, you are wrong. Do your research. Here is some crappy news….MSN is reporting that a Canadian gov’t. commissioned-panel has concluded that Canada’s forces may have to remain in Afghanistan indefinitely. Let me guess. We are fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here. No, we are spreading democracy. I mean, they hate our freedom.

Oh, and for anyone who thinks the Afghanistan occupation is slightly more noble because it wasn’t a founded on a lie, you are wrong. Do your research.

]]> By: RFIDemocracy http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239453 RFIDemocracy Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:12:24 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239453 Are you people really so out of touch with the post-9/11 reality that you are not willing to give the war on terror in Iraq another 6 months? What’s the alternative? Admit defeat, bring the troops here, tell them that it was all for nothing and that soon they’ll have to fight the insurgents again - only this time it’s here in the USA? And they are going to transport their 'forces' to America by motorboat? Very wearisome talking point. Are the TheoCons still even using that one? Are you people really so out of touch with the post-9/11 reality that you are not willing to give the war on terror in Iraq another 6 months? What’s the alternative? Admit defeat, bring the troops here, tell them that it was all for nothing and that soon they’ll have to fight the insurgents again – only this time it’s here in the USA?

And they are going to transport their ‘forces’ to America by motorboat?
Very wearisome talking point. Are the TheoCons still even using that one?

]]> By: pimothy http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239451 pimothy Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:58:18 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239451 Classical Bait & Switch. Classical Bait & Switch.

]]> By: bratboy http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239444 bratboy Wed, 23 Jan 2008 11:14:33 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239444 Are you people really so out of touch with the post-9/11 reality that you are not willing to give the war on terror in Iraq another 6 months? What’s the alternative? Admit defeat, bring the troops here, tell them that it was all for nothing and that soon they’ll have to fight the insurgents again - only this time it’s here in the USA? Comment by Frank M — January 22, 2008 @ 4:06 pm This is the first time I've posted on this site and the resident idiot, Frank M., is the cause of it all. I've read all the right wingers who infect this site and find that this stupid moron and his twin, O.Bigfoot(up his ass) have taken public discourse back to the stone age. I'm just not sure how any of the progressives on this site can even stomach reading the insane, irrational "postings" of the right-wing, fascist, war-mongering, hate-filled, brain-dead stupid slugs that are allowed to pass off their outlandish claims as civil discourse. I know also that the right wingers are famous about "baiting" lefties with their stupid sayings, but, in this case, I don't believe Adolph M. is trying to do that. He's just speaking his.......ahem......"mind." Are you people really so out of touch with the post-9/11 reality that you are not willing to give the war on terror in Iraq another 6 months? What’s the alternative? Admit defeat, bring the troops here, tell them that it was all for nothing and that soon they’ll have to fight the insurgents again – only this time it’s here in the USA?

Comment by Frank M — January 22, 2008 @ 4:06 pm

This is the first time I’ve posted on this site and the resident idiot, Frank M., is the cause of it all. I’ve read all the right wingers who infect this site and find that this stupid moron and his twin, O.Bigfoot(up his ass) have taken public discourse back to the stone age.
I’m just not sure how any of the progressives on this site can even stomach reading the insane, irrational “postings” of the right-wing, fascist, war-mongering, hate-filled, brain-dead stupid slugs that are allowed to pass off their outlandish claims as civil discourse.
I know also that the right wingers are famous about “baiting” lefties with their stupid sayings, but, in this case, I don’t believe Adolph M. is trying to do that. He’s just speaking his…….ahem……”mind.”

]]> By: Max-1 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239435 Max-1 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:47:29 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239435 . <i>Comment by Frank M — January 22, 2008 @ 4:09 pm</i> Please spend that "SIX MORE MONTHS" over there "crushing" that common enemy. 1:1 odds you'll be peeing your panties in less than six more minutes. . .

Comment by Frank M — January 22, 2008 @ 4:09 pm

Please spend that “SIX MORE MONTHS” over there “crushing” that common enemy.

1:1 odds you’ll be peeing your panties in less than six more minutes.

.

]]> By: Max-1 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239434 Max-1 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:25:38 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239434 . <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/educate/war28-article.htm" rel="nofollow"><i>* Feb. 7 2003, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, to U.S. troops in Aviano, Italy: "It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. <b>I doubt six months.</b>"</i></a> We knew then they were LIARS. What do we know NOW? . .

* Feb. 7 2003, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, to U.S. troops in Aviano, Italy: “It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months.“

We knew then they were LIARS.
What do we know NOW?

.

]]> By: Max-1 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239433 Max-1 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:19:20 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239433 . <b>“we’ve succeeded militarily.” = MISSION ACCOMPLISHED = 2003</b> SIX MORE MONTHS? . .

“we’ve succeeded militarily.” = MISSION ACCOMPLISHED = 2003

SIX MORE MONTHS?

.

]]> By: Max-1 http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239431 Max-1 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 08:17:08 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239431 . ANOTHER FREEEEEEEKIN' SIX MONTHS? After the last "six more months" that followed that other "six more months" that was needed because the previous "six more months" were needed to complete the first "six more months"... I think I missed a few monthly cycles... But we get the idea. BETRAY-US can't finish the job! He needs more time, money and troops. More time("six more months") Money(spending passed today & more contracts) Troops(not a draft but more Blackwater) Can you say... V I E T R A Q!!! . .

ANOTHER FREEEEEEEKIN’ SIX MONTHS?

After the last “six more months” that followed that other “six more months” that was needed because the previous “six more months” were needed to complete the first “six more months”…

I think I missed a few monthly cycles…
But we get the idea.

BETRAY-US can’t finish the job!
He needs more time, money and troops.

More time(”six more months”)
Money(spending passed today & more contracts)
Troops(not a draft but more Blackwater)

Can you say…

V I E T R A Q!!!

.

]]> By: max66bhs http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239418 max66bhs Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:07:56 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239418 "Thank you for your service and leadership, General." Of course, I will not be joining you in the actual fighting. But thank you General for protecting my freedom from a threat so terrible that only 1% of the US population is required to actually do the fighting. That is, of course a 1% I will never be a part of...but thank you all the same. For all you in favor of the war ideology, being that it is, as GW claims a "war of ideology"...please go down to the closest recruiting center and sign up for the fight. You will be happy to know that they are now taking just about anyone under the age of 42. In other words, put up or shut up. “Thank you for your service and leadership, General.”

Of course, I will not be joining you in the actual fighting.

But thank you General for protecting my freedom from a threat so terrible that only 1% of the US population is required to actually do the fighting.

That is, of course a 1% I will never be a part of…but thank you all the same.

For all you in favor of the war ideology, being that it is, as GW claims a “war of ideology”…please go down to the closest recruiting center and sign up for the fight.

You will be happy to know that they are now taking just about anyone under the age of 42.

In other words, put up or shut up.

]]> By: kotzabasis http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239417 kotzabasis Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:00:02 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239417 General Petraeus will go down in history as the modern Atlas who raised on his strong shoulders the 'sun of victory' in the former gloomy sky of Iraq. General Petraeus will go down in history as the modern Atlas who raised on his strong shoulders the ’sun of victory’ in the former gloomy sky of Iraq.

]]> By: Gregor Samsa http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239399 Gregor Samsa Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:03:50 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239399 1 Friedman Unit = 1 Petraeus Unit 1 Friedman Unit = 1 Petraeus Unit

]]> By: Bad Eye http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239370 Bad Eye Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:06:43 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239370 Besides, let's dispense with this "give us 6 more months" crap, shall we? All this does is give the anti-war group some glimmer of hope that things will improve, and we might...just might...be able to start bringing troops home. We have been told countless times to give them 6 more months because things will surely improve by that time. And when they don't, and we complain, those on the Right tell us to have patience. Let me tell you something, wingnuts. When we have our leaders, such as the good general, the VP, and the Sec. of Defense telling us "things will improve in 6 months," "the insurgency is in its last throes," and "I doubt the war will last 6 months," then by damn, we expect quick resolutions to the conflict. So don't come in here and tell us to quit whining about the freaking war. This mis-administration has bullcrapped its way through this "war" from day one. We have been yanked around for 5 GD years by people in the government who (1) don't know their asses from a hole in the ground, and (2) those that do, don't give a fu(k. I want to hear Petraeus say we'll leave Iraq when we are damned good and ready. I mean, after all, that's what the goal is, right? Even Bush has said it many times: the generals on the ground will determine when we leave. Besides, let’s dispense with this “give us 6 more months” crap, shall we? All this does is give the anti-war group some glimmer of hope that things will improve, and we might…just might…be able to start bringing troops home. We have been told countless times to give them 6 more months because things will surely improve by that time. And when they don’t, and we complain, those on the Right tell us to have patience.

Let me tell you something, wingnuts. When we have our leaders, such as the good general, the VP, and the Sec. of Defense telling us “things will improve in 6 months,” “the insurgency is in its last throes,” and “I doubt the war will last 6 months,” then by damn, we expect quick resolutions to the conflict. So don’t come in here and tell us to quit whining about the freaking war.

This mis-administration has bullcrapped its way through this “war” from day one. We have been yanked around for 5 GD years by people in the government who (1) don’t know their asses from a hole in the ground, and (2) those that do, don’t give a fu(k.

I want to hear Petraeus say we’ll leave Iraq when we are damned good and ready. I mean, after all, that’s what the goal is, right? Even Bush has said it many times: the generals on the ground will determine when we leave.

]]> By: cha cha cha http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239360 cha cha cha Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:52:32 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239360 meanwhile: "Musharraf: Pakistan isn’t hunting Osama" trolls = pwned meanwhile:

“Musharraf: Pakistan isn’t hunting Osama”

trolls = pwned

]]> By: Bad Eye http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239358 Bad Eye Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:47:09 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239358 <em>Comment by Frank M — January 22, 2008 @ 4:06 pm</em> All for nothing?? Let's see... 1. Rid Iraq of WMDs, particularly those of the nuke type. Check. 2. Rid Iraq of an evil dictator. Check. 3. Free the Iraqi people. Check. 4. Remove Iraqi threat to its neighbors. Check. 5. Plant seeds of democracy in Iraq. Check. 6. Hold elections in Iraq. Check. That's a minimum of 6 goals we've reached in 5 years. As for the insurgents (you mean terrorists, right? Or are they one and the same in your mind?) following us here to fight, why would they? Hell, if they wanted to fight us (meaning you and me) here, they'd already be here wreaking havoc. If they are wanting to destroy America and take away our freedoms, don't you think they are kinda wasting their time in Iraq? Just what freedoms do you think the terrorists in Iraq want to take away from, say, Jim Taylor living in Austin, TX? Comment by Frank M — January 22, 2008 @ 4:06 pm

All for nothing?? Let’s see…

1. Rid Iraq of WMDs, particularly those of the nuke type. Check.
2. Rid Iraq of an evil dictator. Check.
3. Free the Iraqi people. Check.
4. Remove Iraqi threat to its neighbors. Check.
5. Plant seeds of democracy in Iraq. Check.
6. Hold elections in Iraq. Check.

That’s a minimum of 6 goals we’ve reached in 5 years.

As for the insurgents (you mean terrorists, right? Or are they one and the same in your mind?) following us here to fight, why would they? Hell, if they wanted to fight us (meaning you and me) here, they’d already be here wreaking havoc. If they are wanting to destroy America and take away our freedoms, don’t you think they are kinda wasting their time in Iraq? Just what freedoms do you think the terrorists in Iraq want to take away from, say, Jim Taylor living in Austin, TX?

]]> By: coonbug http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239344 coonbug Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:28:16 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239344 As I've repeated over the past year, this SURGE was a DELAY tactic. Calm the violence LONG ENOUGH to get Republicans' Re-elected AND/OR LONG ENOUGH to make it APPEAR successfull BEFORE Bush Leaves office in Jan 09. That way, if Dem's withdraw troops and things go badly, THEY WILL BE BLAMED FOR IRAQ'S failure -- Not Bush. The Tax Rebate is also a ploy to help get Bush's Approval Ratings up before leaving office. Give people big money and they will Smile on you. Coonsey's View www.freewebs.com/coonsey/ As I’ve repeated over the past year, this SURGE was a DELAY tactic. Calm the violence LONG ENOUGH to get Republicans’ Re-elected AND/OR LONG ENOUGH to make it APPEAR successfull BEFORE Bush Leaves office in Jan 09. That way, if Dem’s withdraw troops and things go badly, THEY WILL BE BLAMED FOR IRAQ’S failure — Not Bush.

The Tax Rebate is also a ploy to help get Bush’s Approval Ratings up before leaving office. Give people big money and they will Smile on you.

Coonsey’s View
http://www.freewebs.com/coonsey/

]]> By: toosinbeymen http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/comment-page-3/#comment-4239338 toosinbeymen Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:20:13 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2008/01/22/petraeus-six-months/#comment-4239338 general betrayus. tell me moveon didn't have it right. general betrayus. tell me moveon didn’t have it right.

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