Hagel may fulfill the broken promise of a McCain candidacy for thr Republicans.

I like Hagel,he would make a fine Democrat.

I'm not surprised that most Republicans are jumping off President Goofball's ship,I don't blame them.

John McCain should hike up his pink panties and go away now,because his backing of the DryDrunk in Chief and insistance that we throw more troops at a civil war just lost him the 08 Republican Prez nomination.

I'm backing Chuck Hagel for the 08 Republican Presidential nomination.

“As to the question of escalation, I don’t see it and the president doesn’t see it as an escalation,’’ Rice said. “Escalation is also a question of whether you are changing the strategic goal…. I would call it an augmentation that allows the Iraqis to deal with this very serious situation they have in Baghdad.’’

It's statements like this that make me shake my head. They haven't done well in the war but they sure can twist the english language.

one thing Hagel is right

The awful truth is being told.
The morphine drip is being pulled out.

Check out today's Steve Chapman column.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/

excerpt:
"But the administration keeps trying the same things it has tried before, because it can't admit that Iraq was an irredeemable error. As one official confided to the Times: "We're reliving all of the issues that have been discussed since 2003. It's like `Groundhog Day.'" Except the movie had a happy ending."

bill r,
I was going to say that, but, nuff said.

John E,

The posturing of republican presidential hopefuls in light of Iraq successes or failures will make for great entertainment in the year to come.

Careful what you wish for with Hagel though. A large base might jump on the bandwagon if things go downhill. You know how the republicants like to flip-flop.

Esacalation...augmentation...

Six of one or a half-dozen of the other - not much of a choice.

Now I understand why Dubya's administration is so confused. . .they don't have a thesaurus and probably not even a dictionary. So, Dubya is increasing the military by 21,500, also known as a surge, but NOT an escalation? Yes, I shake my head, too!

Capitol Police, not security guards

Sorry, now that Lincoln Chafee is gone, Chuck Hagel is the most ignorant Republican in the Senate. You Dems want him? You can have him!!

I thought augmentation was a euphemism for boob job. Oh, this IS a boob job...

John D-

We'll take him, but only if you'll take Leiberman.

...and the swiftboating of Mr. Hagel begins. I'll trade you him for Lieberman anyday.

Thanks for the laugh Kenny B.

I thought it was strange that the guy holding Condi's cue cards was behind her. Thanks for clearing that up in the next paragraph Mark.

John D., Offering Senator Hagel to the Democrats huh? Most ignorant Republican in the Senate? Somewhere between 60% and 70% of Americans oppose this "surge" or "augmentation" or wahtever ridiculous euphanism you want to use, yet it's Hagel who is ignorant?? This is not a time for more of our young men and women to be fighting another country's civil war. It's time for our soldiers to stop dying in a conflict they have no hope of winning. When will you stop supporting this luaghingstock of a President (as many of your Republican bretheren have done) and admit what a terrible mistake has been made?

When it comes to John D and his cohorts, I'm reminded of the fabulous Kevin Smith movie "Dogma." The premise was that to prove God wrong would "unmake" existence.

Here, for the die-hard bushophile to admit they and their leader were wrong is akin to admitting God was wrong, since Bush has repeatedly inferred that the Almighty has put him in the White House to do His work, including the fabulous job he's doing with Iraq. Such an admission would unmake their reality and destroy their world. They simply cannot do it.

Who wants to be the last man to do for a mistake?

"Sorry, now that Lincoln Chafee is gone, Chuck Hagel is the most ignorant Republican in the Senate. You Dems want him? You can have him!!"

Posted by: John D | Jan 11, 2007 1:12:13 PM

Others have beat me to the punch but I too will gladly take Hagel off your bloody hands and insist you take Lieberman. And don't turn out to be an "indian giver".

I'll take Lieberman. See folks, he gets it. Just yesterday there were bombings in the Phillippines, killing a couple dozen people. Who did the bombings? Islamic extremists. Who did the bombing in Bali, killing hundreds a few years ago? Al Qaeda. Who does bombing in Indonesia? Islamic extremists. Who has been bombing in Malaysia? Islamic extremists. Who is killing peopl in Somalia? Al Qaeda and Islamic extremists. Who is fighting to keep Islamic extremists out? Kenya.

The goal is for moderate regimes in the Middle East to take hold. It is working in Afghanistan. There are moderate people making up the Iraqi government. Iranians are beginning to riot and vote against the Iranian kooks in charge again. So you get some moderate regimes and governments in that region, weed out the Islamic kooks, and maybe this world will become safer. To do otherwise and to pull out of Iraq now, will only mean more Islamic extremists and tens of thousands of dead Americans in the streets of America.

Condi just said Maliki is on borrowed time. Real support for our moderate ally in Iraq.

Why not just hold a gun to his head in public?

Oh, I get it--finally! John D makes sense!! If what we did worked in Afghanistan (never mind those silly liberal media types that report otherwise, including the WSJ), then we need to export the solution!

Instead of pulling out of Iraq, let's head to the Phillipines, to Somalia, to Malaysia! In fact, anywhere there are Islamic fundamentalists, let's go there and take over their country (especially if they have lots of oil--yee ha!)

We'll show them! One country after another, let's friggin invade them all. More war = More Happiness for Republicans = More Money for Halliburton = More Money for Cheney = No Spankings or Harsh Words for Baby Dubbya!

Folks, when you read some of these posts, keep in mind the concept of a sock puppet. It's the only explanation for some of these posts.

As usual the Dumba-- Lefties are clueless. No, you don't invade all those countries, but whether your brainless heads can understand reality or not, the fact is there is a war against Islamic terrorists throughout the world. it must be defeated militarily and politically. It's either them or us, no in between.

But clearly to the brainless Left, the only option they see is running with tails between legs, feed the Kookie Islamic terrorists cookies and crumpets, give them wonderful down pillows for sleeping and make sure the feathers don't pop out and with all that niceness, they will be nice to the world again. Yeah, right!!

JohnD.Don't waste anymore time trying to debate the Philippine bombing and their war on terrorism with AlanS. The Filipino population is 85% Roman Catholic,7% Protestant,5%Muslim and 3% Buddhist.
And guess who has created havoc in those beautiful 7,100 Islands since W.W.2-Right!-the 5%Muslim population.
People like AlanS are clue-less and try to make human loss of life into some type of global game played only by President Bush,Cheney and Halliburton.
Don't waste a good debate with an immature lefty loser.
Paulo

John D., of course there is a global problem with Islamis terrorists. Where you are completely wrong is believing a military solution is the answer. When you fight religious extremists with violence they respond with more violence. It becomes a pattern which escelates into chaos. The channels of diplomacy are the only answer. You fight this by eliminating the situations which make terrorist groups grow. Don't make mistakes which so infuriate the young, impressionable muslim men. It's like fuel to the fire. If these people aren't continually given reasons to hate the USA eventually the numbers of young men willing to committ to Jihad will dwindle. Only then will the threat of religous extremism be nuetralized. Continue like a bull in a china shop (which is this administrations calling card) and the numbers will only increase. You obviously don't understand that simple fact.

How long are you willing to watch this country's young men and women continue to die for a hopeless cause? 6 months? A year? If it's not over then how much longer? 2 years? 5? When does it end? The President recieved the reccomdations from a bi-partisan comission how to settle the Iraq situation and proceeded to ignore all of the reccomendations. What knowledge could this President have that makes his ideas on solving this crisis so much better than most experts? I feel sorry for anyone who actually beleive's this "surge" is goign to make this situation better. You're all fools.

"Don't make mistakes which so infuriate the young, impressionable muslim men. It's like fuel to the fire. If these people aren't continually given reasons to hate the USA eventually the numbers of young men willing to committ to Jihad will dwindle."

What mistakes do you think we made that caused them to attack us on and before 9/11?

DeanG--It doesn't matter what we do to make the religious Muslim extremists not hate us,because it won't work,we are the infidel to them and "somewhere" in the Koran,Allah says it's Okay to murder non-believers.The Muslim imams love to preach hatred not only against us,but against all democratic countries that don't believe the way they do...it's their way of holding power.Jimmy Carter tried to reason with the Ayatollah Khomeini,did it work? I guess it did,if you call a 444 day hostage crisis a real winner.
You wrote,"Don't make mistakes,which infuriate young Muslim men" Well then, WE would have to have our woman not wear lipstick,bikini's,no liquor and open up "Just Burka and headscarves" shops,for the sake of "the young impressionable Muslim man."
The "knowledge" that this president has is a history that appeasement doesn't work,it didn't work for Clinton either,knowing that 9/11 was planned during his administration,unless you call 3000 murdered that day...unfortunate?
You seem to blame everyone,but the not the ones that murder people all over the world....I,like John D know that we're at war and in a fight for our survival....we got bigger guns,bombs...we have an Air-Force a Navy,it time to unleash and put a real hurt'n on them...it's the only way.
Paulo

"we have an Air-Force a Navy,it time to unleash and put a real hurt'n on them..."

Yeah, that's a plan. The hundreds of thousands already killed in Iraq don't seem to have slowed them down, quite the opposite.

How many you going for there Paulo "Hussein" bin Ladin, a million? 6 million?

"we have an Air-Force a Navy,it time to unleash and put a real hurt'n on them...it's the only way"

Posted by: Tony | Jan 12, 2007 6:25:27 AM

Yeah that strategy has been a real winner for Israel.

Who do you propose putting "a hurt'n on" Paolo? If you attack extremists eventually more moderate people who oppose the tactics will becom extremists. This is human nature and not true only of Islam. During the Vietnam war many previously peaceful war protesters became violent after the brutal police tactics during the Chicago Democratic convention. Had the situation been handled with civility instead of brutality this might have been avoided. Violence begets violence.

I don't disagree that there are those who preach hate in the Islamic world. The point is that through diplomacy and negotiation we need to lessen the power of those voices. Eventually those that preach hate will be a vocal, yet predominently neutralized minority. We have religious extremists in our own country. Radical Christians that preach violence against homosexuals, abortion, and anything that doesn't jibe with their twisted morality. Yet, although they rise and fall in power depending on the political mood, we don't attack them. If we were to do that their numbers would grow and we might very well have an emerging civil war. No we take a different route with these folks, we let their ignorance speak for itself and we educate oursleves against the dangers of hate. This is the model that the Islamic world must eventually follow for there to be peace.

What comes across from posters like Paulo, John D. and others is that it is Islam itself which must be stopped. Muslims are never going to fall in lock step with western culture. Many of our ways (including the separaton of church and state) our considered sins in their religion. We will have to learn to respect that, as they will have to learn to respect us and our beliefs. It will be a long struggle but a solution can be acheived if we act with reason and not military might.

Despite the recent bombings in the Pilippines, our military has done a fantastic job waging peace through non-violent tactics. This may serve as a good model going forward. Unfortunately, it's a little late after you "shock and awe" a country into mass chaos, increasing anti-Americanism and terrorism.

Are you nuts going to call our own military a bunch of leftist losers?

http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2006/december/philippines.php

Jimmy Carter tried to reason with the Ayatollah Khomeini,did it work? I guess it did,if you call a 444 day hostage crisis a real winner.

Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Jan 11, 2007 10:06:52 PM

So, Paulo, tell us: what deal did Ronald Reagan make with the Islamic fanactics so that they released those hostages THE DAY AFTER he was elected President? I don't recall him saying before the 2000 election "vote for me and I'll invade Iran to free the hostages".

Dean G, you write well thought out posts. Paulo, John D, you might not agree with what he says, but at least it is well thought out, something the Swamp is often sorely lacking.
That being said, theres points to be had in both arguments. Paulo, if we are "gunna give it to them" do you have a tally sheet to know when we "got 'em all"? Will someone who believes in 73 virgins in paradise give up their fight because we have big bombs? There is simply no way to "shock and awe" extremists away, the very act just creates more, you know that. It’s very macho to want to kick ass in the name of 9/11 but it’s also irrational.
But on the other hand Dean G, how exactly do you politically and diplomatically diffuse such extremism and hatred? An extremist who is willing to kill them self in the name of Allah or Christ or whatever greater being they subscribe to sure doesn’t strike me as very capable of diplomacy or rational discussion.
If someone is willing to die for their cause something tells me they are going to do it. If we can identify this person as they are strapping on their bomb or running toward a bus of people, scrag their a$$. But lobbing bombs across the Arab world and hoping that either all the fanatics get killed or lay down their guns due to Shock and awe, that’s just not realistic.

The root of the problem, the root of almost every world conflict is religion. Here we are in the year 2007, we can decode genomes, we can study stars billions of miles away, yet the world continues to subscribe to "greater powers" and, frankly, wild stories about prophets descending from on high, burning bushes and big floods where everyone and everything died except those on a big boat. Don’t the Christians ever wonder how the Muslims got it so wrong? Don’t Muslims ever feel bad for all those Christian non-believers who will go to hell with demons and snakes and pits of fire? Do extremists on either side ever wonder what happens to a Buddhist when they die?

Those of you who are religious, do you ever try to contemplate you may be wrong? That the earth and universe are mysterious but were not the product of the mighty man on high? Does it scare you to think that when you die, you might..just..die?

Sorry to be tangenting here, but name the 10 worst conflicts occurring in the world (Islamic radicals, Israel/Palestine etc) and chances are they boil down to religion. One religion trying to impose itself on another. We say we are a country of religious freedom, but would we ever realistically elect a devout Muslim as president? Or an atheist? Of course not, we are a "Christian nation", and god looks out for us and while smiting those who are "non-believers". Christians are right and everyone else is wrong, sucks to be them! All those billions of Muslims, Buddhists, agnostics, all going to hell.

So Dean G, you can’t rationally discuss solutions with those who think there are virgins waiting in paradise (that is so nuts) just like you cant rationally discuss gays with a rabid Christian.

So John D and Paulo, you can’t bomb the dickens out of the extremists unless you happen to have a list of who and where they are. They are everywhere. There are undoubtedly some sitting right under our noses waiting to strike in 9/11 fashion, how will our air force bomb them?

Heres a C.Morris-esque lyrical quote:

All this time we're talking and sharing our rational view
A billion other voices are spreading other news
All this time we're living and trying to understand
Why a billion other choices are making their demands

All this time we're shuffling and laying out all our cards
While a billion other dealers are slipping past our guards
All this time we're hoping and praying we all might learn
While a billion other teachers are teaching them how to burn

All this time we're burning like bonfires in the dark
A billion other blazes are shooting off their sparks
Every spark a drifting ember of desire
To fall upon the earth and spark another fire

Well Paulo, John D?

Are you ready to call your own military a bunch of appeasing sissies?

Did you bother to read the Smithsonian article?

This has been going on for years.

In response to the recent bombings, should we carpet bomb them into oblivion?