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Iraq Update

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Jun 24, 2005 at 12:08:13 PM EST
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Six American soldiers killed today by a suicide bomber.

Bush refuses to set a timetable to leave Iraq

Most Americans oppose a return to the draft.

It's time to put the pressure on Republicans and Congress.

The Republican leadership is biting their fingernails off over this. This Congress has been negligent with regard to its duty on Iraq. We didn't ask the right questions before the war. Now, no one is being held accountable. [U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern]

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    Iraq Update | 30 comments (30 topical)
    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:29 PM EST
    The war in Iraq is so wrong for so many reasons. A pointless, baseless loss of life, a country nearly obliterated, a civil war with no end in sight. An utter disgrace in policy. The mix of private contractors and military, on such a grand scale, is ridiculously dangerous for everyone concerned. And I agree with Rep. McGovern, ":This Congress has been negligent with regard to it's duty on Iraq." Let's fire the whole lot!

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#11)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:29 PM EST
    Or as least ask bushbag why does he think Americans aren't enlisting in his war?

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#1)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:30 PM EST
    "It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months."
    Remember when Ronald Dumsfeld said that the war would last less than six months? Now six more dead for the neocon paradise.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:30 PM EST
    And now the faint beat of war drums has started anew with the trickling out of stories in the "press", like a doozy you can find at the MSNBC site titled "Al-Qaeda hiding in Iran?". But with Iraq being a success why wouldn't the Fearless Leader want to start another war to show just how much more of a man, and therefore a better Preznit, he is than his father.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#3)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:30 PM EST
    Didn't Bush say this war was over? didn't Bush say it would cost only 1.7 billion? and didn't people along with it? hey you did it and how we will all pay for it, in blood and death, have fun in the empire. by the way it is sad that 6 more people died for nothing but the Bush family business making big money and making good friends in that part of the world right?, but its only the start of years and years of war, hope i am wrong for all the families and my sister how has a kid in the Army right how, sad world, but we all asked for it didn't we? see you all on the other side, get what i mean?

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    There is NO plan to remove troops from Iraq, or if they remove a few, they don't plan on removing the AIRBASES that they put in. They put in massive airbases in Iraq, in Qatar, and in Afghanistan -- with the primary purpose of forcing their pipelines through, and 'protecting' (mainly by threats to civilian populations) those pipelines from attack. The US military is being used as thugs to further those Resource Wars, which are being fought with the full armament of RACISM. We've all had quite enough of Bush's COY lies. It's a Crusade-- oh, no, he would never say that. It's going to be over in 6 months -- oh, no, he would never say that. It's MUSHROOM CLOUDS -- oh, no, no one would say that. It's a constant barrage of vile and violent idiocy that has as its sole intent befuddling the opposition while the Great Game goes forward. What treason! Expecting Bush to announce a deadline!! Hilarious, really truly hilarious. The Rs have made their bed with a genuine Amerikkkan dictator -- and the vote-fraud wheels are starting to come off the Clown Bus. Can the US punish its Executive for war crimes? For rape and pillage? How about for genocide? How about if we NUKE TEHRAN? How much thuggery will dismantle democracy? What if we drop America's pants on a dark day in September? These are the questions that traitors K Rove and D Cheney have thought long and hard on for two decades.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    The PNAC agenda has no deadline. This war was started so that there would be NO way of pulling out, so that the entire country, and even the world, would be forced to go along with the agenda under threat of pulling out and leaving an even bigger mess in our wake. This Administration planned this all along. Iraq wasn't attacked because it was a threat; it was attacked because it wasn't. It was an easy mark, a relatively easy way to get an American foot in the door of the middle east in order to realize the PNAC agenda of geopolitical facelift. There will be no pull out, Iran will probably be next. I'm sure Cheney (the real President) knows that he'll break the military on an Iran attempt, thats why they're playing up the nuclear threat, to be able to demolish Iran in one fell swoop with a nuclear weapon, and dummy the intel to make it look like Iran was going to strike first, just like they did with the Iraq intel. These people have it all planned out, don't fall for their little ruse of "Oh, we didn't know, we were just going along with what we were told". Thats total b.s.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#7)
    by Al on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    A well-planned exit strategy might save some lives, and more arms and legs. But in order to come up with it, Bush would have to admit that Iraq is lost. So he will continue to send people to their deaths unnecessarily, and continue to bleed credibility, all to avoid the admission of defeat. But it will take a few more years yet before all this sinks in, I think. As the price of oil skyrockets, and it begins to dawn on people that the United States are not a military superpower, great power shifts will occur.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#8)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    According to a recent CBS news report, a top Pentagon general says that the war is currently at a stalemate. After 2 years of war, 1700 Americans dead, 12,855 wounded, a stalemate is the best that we can do? What a mess.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#9)
    by jarober on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    1) Did FDRset a timetable for ending WWII? Do we still have troops in Europe and Japan? 2) Ahh, nothing else is working, so it's back to "flog the draft that only liberals talk about" Amazing

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#10)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    As long as Bushbag&Co continue to say things are going well and the real News keeps making him a bigger and bigger liar his poll No.s will sink lower and lower. I wish the press would ask the President why he hasn't ask his supporters to Sign up and will his daughters be comtemplating doing their Patraiotic duty and enlist.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#12)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    James According to bushbag our troops Accomplish their Mission two years ago. Why are we still there? Now James, are you blogging from Iraq if not why not. If your to old are your children ready to go? If not who do you think should die in your sted? I won't bring up the draft if you and all the other War supporters get up off you mouths and enlist. You claim you are the majority well lets see what's behind your zipper pal. Show us your inlistment paprers.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#13)
    by Darryl Pearce on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    Did FDR set a timetable for ending WWII? Do we still have troops in Europe and Japan? James Roberston fails to do his research and discover that FDR set some explicit "victory conditions." And, no, I'm not going to link to anything. Do your own research.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#14)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    Darryl Pearce, Did FDR set a timetable for ending WWII? Do we still have troops in Europe and Japan? Is James implying that since we still have troops in Europe WWII never really ended? Those who support this war really are clueless. No wonder polls show that the majority of Americans no longer support this war.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    How about JR? How many of your family are in the war zone? You believe in it, why not sacrifice something and get yourself over there? As for the draft - I am in favor of a draft that starts with the children and grandchildren of the senators, representatives and political appointees. My guess is that with a draft set up along these lines, we would make Switzerland look like warmongers.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    This just in .... Bush refuses to set a timetable to leave Germany. Bush refuses to set a timetable to leave South Korea. Bush refuses to set a timetable to leave the UN. Hey, one of those things is no longer immediately threatened by a mad dictatorship! -C

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#17)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    PIL is right on. It is useless to even ask for a timetable for withrawal. Bush is not as stupid as he looks.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    It's very useful to ask for a withdrawal timetable if you know he can't give one, which he can't for several reasons. Top of the list, it would appear, especially in his mind, that he was admitting failure. Second, he's said all along that we're staying as long as it takes. He would appear to be giving in under pressure. He hates that thought. Consistency is his byword. So, by pushing for a timetable, with the poll numbers as they are, you keep everyone focused on the mess in Iraq, and on him.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#19)
    by Aaron on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    LeftTalk I'm glad to see you post something on Iraq. Unfortunately I think you are watching the Fox News/Propaganda channel far too much, because you seem to mirror their editors decision of of what's important to the public here in the Americas. While thousands of people have been dying in Iraq, not to mention the thousands dying in Africa as well, you seemed content to focus on Natalie Holloway and Michael Jackson as if those stories had any significant implication for anyone else on this planet outside the immediate families involved. I think the propaganda people at Fox realized that these stories are an excellent way to distract everyone in this country from global conflagrations happening at this very moment. In the realm of politics and the courts, do you really believe that the stories you focus so much energy on, are any more than a smokescreen to keep you and the American public entertained and in the dark? Recently the Hague announced that they would try to go after the people responsible for atrocities in the Sudan, but I think they've got it backwards. You've got to stop the crimes from occurring before you can bring anyone to trial. Perhaps that's why you ignore these stories. If it hasn't made it to a courtroom yet, you're not interested in the daily crimes taking place. If you're going to continue in this vein, perhaps you should change your name to; LeftTalk-Lite or how about, Pseudo-LeftTalk Or maybe Roger Ailes interpretation of what people on the left talk about and should be concerned with. . At this point I think your name is a misnomer. I expect better.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#20)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:31 PM EST
    Them's FIGHTIN words Aaron!

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#21)
    by john horse on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:32 PM EST
    Cliff, Ever since this war has begun, Bush and his conservative apologists have either misjudged or mischaracterized the amount of opposition in Iraq. When the war began, the Bush administration was telling us how easy and cost free this war would be. For example, as desertswine has noted Rumsfeld was telling us that this war would last, at most, six months. They were wrong. That was followed by periodic statements about how we just turned the corner. For example, here is your prediction after Saddam was captured in December 04 - "six months until Bagdhad is safer than Manchester." Needless to say, six months later Baghdad is not safer than Manchester. Turning a corner is meaningless when you keep going in circles. According to a recent Pentagon press conference all that the lives of 1700 Americans has produced is a stalemate. Most Americans will not support a prolonged war that will result in the rate of casualties that we have sustained. They see the costs of this war as being greater than the benefits. On top of that, victory is not assured. That is why support for a timetable will only increase.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:32 PM EST
    Time to declare victory and bring the troops home. Mission accomplished. The treasury has been looted. Hatred and warmongering have produced the usual results.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:32 PM EST
    1) Did FDRset a timetable for ending WWII? Do we still have troops in Europe and Japan?
    James Robertson, you erroneously believe that WW2 was anything at all like this war. That's amazing. The difference is that Hitler was a REAL threat....Saddam was just a tin pot dictator sitting in a burned out, poverty stricken hellhole of a country.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:32 PM EST
    James delusionally thinks that the disarmed Hussein was equal to the greatest military in history up to that point. If Hitler didn't attack Russia, you James would be speaking German. But killing innocent people is just too much fun, eh? Posted by cheetah: "It's very useful to ask for a withdrawal timetable if you know he can't give one, which he can't for several reasons." Not actually. There is no withdrawal coming, so there is no timetable, and never will be. "Top of the list, it would appear, especially in his mind, that he was admitting failure." Wow, totally wrong. Ask yourself why no one in the USPNAC admin. has EVER confirmed the massive airbases in Qatar, Iraq, or Afghanistan. None of them EVER talks about the new oil and LNG pipelines, or Saudi Arabia as THE source of terrorism in the ME. To ask for a timetable is to support the lie that that has EVER been on its way. There is no withdrawal timetable -- the exit strategy is VICTORY, which is to say, 16 airbases in the dismantled, turned-into-territories, post civil war FORMER-Iraq. Which is GENOCIDE, and shall be. Instead of withdrawal, you ought to ask for his resignation for war crimes and warmongering conspiracy.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    Paul in LA, "There is no withdrawal coming...". I couldn't agree more. Perhaps you should read my post again.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    By the way, I do, and have many times, petitioned for his resignation for war crimes. In fact, resigning is the least I ask for!!!

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    Paul in L.A.,

    I agree that there isn't a withdrawal coming, but your disagreement with cheetah's point vexes me. We know that our faux texas rancher pres. isn't pulling any troops, but demanding that he set a timetable is quite necessary. It's called political stategy. If he refuses, that is bad for him. If he sets a timetable, that is worse. He looks bad either way and the only move he has is to sic Karl Rove on those who disagree. If there is no demand, less attention is given.

    The republicans did this to Clinton in Kosovo, he missed his timetable and they yapped on about that. Calculated strategy is what it's all about and it isn't wasted breath.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#28)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:33 PM EST
    Actually, bush wasn't asked for a timetable to leave iraq, just an exit strategy. Of course he doesn't have that either.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Sailor,

    Check out cnn.com, or pretty much any other news source and you'll be able to read all about our fine leader's refusal to set a timetable for withdrawal, for which he is receiving wide criticism.

    Re: Iraq Update (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:34 PM EST
    Sailor,

    Just type in the words "Iraq timetable" on google or yahoo search. You'll see thousands of listings.

    Iraq Update | 30 comments (30 topical)