At one time, that was at least possible. Not a sure thing, but possible. There were plans from a few generals… our forces would respect their rights and culture, maybe even have most in the service with rudimentary Arabic. It would be a long process, a decade was in order and more, but not with heavy combat. It would be comprehensive and innovative work to minimize extremism.

That of course was a fantasy. Abu Ghraib was a disgrace, and of course to augment that we have Blackwater and KBR. Our forces police the Iraqis, but in screaming English. They raid homes, and it’s good if they find terrorists but what about the hundreds of false alarms. Over a million are displaced and the infrastructure is not strengthened, it’s in shambles. There are FEWER women driving, that sure sounds secure and free. Cost-plus.

You’d think Republicans would be for self-determination and personal responsibility at this point, with five years and a year of (politically) fruitless surge. But we have to keep intervening, even with disgusting private armies and other methods that taint the good work.

I didn’t know we’ve had troops in NORTH Korea since the 1950s, which would be much closer to the hostile forces in Iraq. Did we defeat South Korea?

And that goal can never be met while the USA is led by traitors and incomnpetent deserters like Bush and Cheney, who fire the competent commanders and search out the fellators and toadies like Betrayus. Iraq is lost, afghanistan is lost, the war on terror is lost. 3 wars, all lost the day they started, because of a Republican government run by traitors.

Only the horseshit GOP and their imbecilic followers could be this ignorant and insane………….

I may be out of line judging you…..probably not my place. I do fear losses to republicans because of the divisions we have in the democratic party. We just can’t have more republicans anywhere if we can avoid it…..we can never change our politicians until we get the republicans out of power.

I still contend that the naderites cost us the 2000 election….maybe it shouldn’t have been that close but it was and his involvement at what I consider the wrong time has cost us dearly.

ThinkBalanced Says:
Kerry–the man whose sheer ineptitude cost the Democrats the white house–shouldn’t be one to talk about “misunderstandings”

Nice try. Your guys and thier illegal election fixing cost Kerry and Gore the whitehouse. Your crooks stole it and have so far gotten away with it…….

We should be so lucky to have someone as competent as John Kerry instead of the bungler and fool we have now.

Except the “insurgents” are increasingly Iraqi factions, jockeying for position, and ratcheting up violence against US forces.

McCain is just acknowledging that the failed “flypaper strategy” is still in force, and still getting US soldiers killed.

Yes–and the goal is to have Iraq adopt a full democracy and to wipe out the insurgents that are currently eroding the efforts of the Iraqi and US troops.

Kerry–the man whose sheer ineptitude cost the Democrats the white house–shouldn’t be one to talk about “misunderstandings”

Secondly…Kerry was out of control…I am surprise they didnt cut his mic…Kerry shredded McCain and Chris Wallce he was not expecting that…

When McCain says we’ll be there 100 years – what’s the difference?

nycbassist Says:
I have had enough of “playing well with others’.

Then they have won. How is it that you think John Kerry could have fought this battle across 50 states by himself. I would think you as a resident of Ohio would hold yourself at least partially responsible.

Americans at large let John Kerry get sh!t on, in state after state. We abandoned him, not the other way around.

I guess you blame Al Gore for losing to the same illegal tactics in 2000.

Yes, he is entirely correct in his criticism of McCain. If he had run an effective campaign:
> Been nearly outspoken as he is now.
>Shown half of the outrage his supporters did about his “Swift-boating”.
>Contested with directed fury, the outrages in Ohio.
>If he just showed any kind of backbone at all over the last 4.5 years, (campaign year included.) then we’re not here, having this discussion.

Fred and Zooey, it’s entirely appropriate to be critical of any of these “Democrat” enablers. Pelosi, for taking impeachment off the table. Kerry for allowing our votes to be flushed down the toilet, with nary a whimper. Believe me, what will insure the progressive agenda is backbone, and the fortitude to stand behind your convictions. I have had enough of “playing well with others’.

We have two democratic candidates that are both far superior to any republican. I resent comparisons by supporters of both hillary and obama comparing the opposing democrat to any republican……

when you do this it makes it look like you want a republican to win. The only way mccain wins is if we divide our party. Lets stick to attacking the real enemy please.