Laura Bush to troops: Never mind the newspapers

If it weren't for the newspapers, she wouldn't be in a position to criticize them. They helped her husband become president. The troops understand that they are fighting to protect among other things, the freedom of the press to criticize. She didn't have a problem when the press was criticizing Clinton, or when they now criticize Hillary. Give me a break.

Great advice from Laura. We tend to ignore the papers and network TV also. Otherwise, we'd be like the old comic character, "Joe Bltzvk," walking around with a dark rain cloud over our heads all the time.

Are any of the soldiers that were in attendance dumb enough to swallow that load of crap? "No matter what you may read in the newspapers?" All I've been reading about is how we want them to come home. So they should never mind that and take this as a cue we want them to stay?

"Are any of the soldiers that were in attendance dumb enough to swallow that load of crap?"

The troops are smart enough not to believe what they read in the newspapers when all they see is bad news and none of the progress being made.

The troops in the AOR see the real progress and the real story the papers are ignoring.

"All I've been reading about is how we want them to come home. So they should never mind that and take this as a cue we want them to stay?"

You just made my point. According to the papers no progress is being made and EVERYONE wants to cut-and-run.

You can believe the press that isn't over there or the troops that are (that doesn't include phony soldiers like Jesse MacBeth).

Laura's clueless. Does she think the troops are just a bunch of uninformed morons???

“And no matter what you might read in the newspaper, people do appreciate the gift of freedom,’’ the first lady told the troops."

Yeah, the newspapers are screaming down with the troops. What a seahag!!!

The same li(n)e of crap Laura Bush cites was used in Vietnam. There in the interest of freedom and liberty, nearly 60,000 soldiers died for....what? So 40 years later American companies can make cheap goods for sale in the US? If that's where we're headed after 4,000 deaths, in Iraq then let's head for the exits.

Thank God for newspapers like the New York Times that push for accountability and honesty.

A staple of our Democracy is our free press. It's nice to see our First Lady overseas criticizing it, really makes our country look good.

Yep, its all the media's fault. Heckuva job, Laurie! Did the Carlyle Group pay for her trip to the Middle East?

I have yet to see a single US newspaper report that Americans aren't appreciative of the difficult and dangerous work being done by the troops. I have yet to hear any but a handful of lunatic fringers say that we don't appreciate that work. The First Lady's remarks are a yet another disengenuous attempt to equate disapproval of her husband's policies with a lack of support for our military men and women and their families.

And the post by "military spouse" shows that too many people read not the newspapers, but the hysterical right-wing bloggers claiming what the newspapers have said. And also mischaracterizes a legitimate disagreement with the President's misbegotten policies as a cowardly refusal to stand up for our country. For shame.

Spouse:

If things are going so great in Iraq, why do we have so many soldiers that do NOT want to go back? If it was wonderful, wouldn't they all be lining up to volunteer? And if it so great, why do we have groups such as VoteVets.org, which is made up of soldiers who have come back from Iraq and want us out of there??

And also, why is it that the Armed Services have had to LOWER their enlistment standards to get more service members in?? Is it because less and less want to join the Army just to go to Iraq?

"And the post by "military spouse" shows that too many people read not the newspapers..."

I read all the major papers. Are they reporting the progress in Iraq? Violence in Iraq is down by 70%, where is that being reported?

"And also mischaracterizes a legitimate disagreement with the President's misbegotten policies as a cowardly refusal to stand up for our country. For shame."

Are you kidding? Not telling the truth about progress in Iraq because you disagree with the President's policies, how cowardly and shameful is that?

BobinATL,

Soldiers not wanting to go back to Iraq where they will have to be away from their families and possibly be killed, Hmmmm, that's a tough one....

What does that have to do with news organizations not reporting the truth on progress in the war?

Never mind newspapers, or Stop Signs,whatever.

Never mind WMD's or the Constitution.

Sayeth the Silva article, "transfer point for some 700,000 American ssing in and out of Iran and Afghanistan"

"ssing"?

More spelling gems from a Swamp reporter ....

And in that sentence don't you mean IRAQ, not "Iran", Mark? Guess geography isn't your strong suit either.

Violence is down 70%? Then why are we still there? Looks like the Iraqi Army has stood up so we can stand down. Sounds like the media is on the Bush Administrations side if they are keeping our success quiet.

USA Today reported yesterday that the estimated cost of the Bush/Cheney war will be 2.4 Trillion dollars. This is the real story. 2.4 Trillion for what?--(8,000 dollars for every person in America.) Again, what is the return on this theivery?
GWB's brother, Niel Bush, was responsible for the Savings and Loan crisis in 1988, when he was director of Silverado Savings and Loan when it collapsed--costing taxpayers ultimately 150 Billion dollars. Some call it the costliest venture in public misfeasance, malfeasance and larceny of all time. IMO, The Bush family are the ruin of America--They need to be brought to justice. I have nothing against "Values" voters, and I favor a few of the more conservative planks. I hope the time has come for all Americans to see where harm has come from, and what is in our best interest.

Violence in Iraq is down by 70%, where is that being reported?
Posted by: military spouse | October 25, 2007 1:06 PM

If you blow through a gang/drug neighborhood with a lot of police power, it will be quiet for a while. What then happens after they're gone? Is your spouse going to have to babysit this neighborhood ten years and a few trillion dollars down the road?

Why do you attack those that want your spouse to COME HOME?

Spouse:

You said "The troops in the AOR see the real progress and the real story the papers are ignoring."

Therefore if they are seeing real progress, and their mission is so successful, wouldn't they want to return to "finish the job"??

Also, you did not answer my other question. If things are so great, why does the military have to LOWER their standards to get more men and women into the Armed Forces?

Military spouse-

Where are the articles asking when President Bush is going to hold the Iraqi leadership accountable to meet the benchmarks as he promised he would when he annonced the surge in January. Not a single one of the benchmarks he names has been achieved, and the Iraqi government has said they have ceased even trying to achieve them.

Is that in the papers MS?

Shouldn't our troops be asking what their sacrifice is for, if it isn;'t what the President dsaid in was for less than a year ago?

Spouse, Violence reduced by 70%? That sounds great if it's true. Where did that number come from? The White House? I'm not doubting that the level of violence is down (because the newspapers aren't reporting as much bad news), but I'll believe things are really better when the troops come home.

You can hardly blame newspapers for being a little more cautious about printing any "facts" or "good news" that comes from this administration. Before they printed all those WMD articles that Judith Miller got from her White House sources, the NY Times proudly called itself the "newspaper of record". Now that title makes people laugh. It doesn't make sense for papers to over-emphasize what is only a short term fluctuation at this point.

I don't mind the First Lady picking out the White House china, but stay out of politics. And get some fashion help. Between Laura, Hillary and Cuntler, the fashion statements are past redundant.

America doesn't have a hope of success in Iraq.

Violence in fact has always been under-reported in the United States. Americans have no good idea what a mess the place remains.

It has effectively become a training and practice ground for resistance fighters and terrorists, something that never was true before the invasion. People and know-how from Iraq is heading into Afghanistan too.

And as for Afghanistan, only these last days, NATO members have refused to increase their deployments.

British Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup said: "There is a common misperception that the issues in Afghanistan, and indeed elsewhere around the world, can be dealt with by military means. That's a false perception."

The former United Nations High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered his dire prediction after being proposed as a new "super envoy" role in Afghanistan.

Lord Ashdown said: "We have lost, I think, and success is now unlikely."

And Laura is such an authority on what Americans think, isn't she?

She's out there every day socializing with regular Americans, isn't she?

The woman doesn't know what she's talking about, of course.

The gift of freedom?

The only freedom at risk in American operations in the region is the freedom of the people the troops are occupying.

I know one reason why the professional soldiers and their familes are protecting this incompetent administration...none of them want to admit they've sent on a fool's errand.

No, don't believe the newspapers. Believe us! We would never lead you astray. Right?

What Laura was really trying to say - "Now you boys need to fight this war and so you lose a few limbs or a life, my husband's reputation is on the line. He's the President, so do what he says (an aside) even though what he says sometimes is hard to comprehend. He means well boys, but you know he's not too bright, so give him a pass, and you guys are doing a wonderful job for freedom, especially for we Americans who were threatened with losing our freedom because Sadam would have attacked us had he lived. I know because my husband has a crystal ball in his closet and now and then he consults it for important foreign issues. So, boys fight on for freedom, because I just love talking to a captive audience.

You can believe the press that isn't over there or the troops that are (that doesn't include phony soldiers like Jesse MacBeth).

Posted by: military spouse | October 25, 2007 12:03 PM

Okay troll, tell us about your better half's experience. Obviously,your a phony soldier's spouse.

Never mind Laura. Her legacy is tied to the one who lied and manipulated the troops into going to Iraq. Laura is the mother of two daughters hoe could have served in Iraq, but did not. Her two children could have come home in off-limits-to TV-crews flag draped coffins, or come home brain damaged, or come home without arms or legs. But, no. They partied like their father, and enjoyed the non-combat life that their father did during Viet Nam. Hippocrates. Never mind Laura at all.

“Sounds like the media is on the Bush Administrations side if they are keeping our success quiet.”

Are you retarded? How would that help the President? Certain media outlets side with the loony-left, cut-and-run-crowd. By not reporting success, ANY SUCCESS, it gives people like you an excuse to say we’re failing and should leave.

“Spouse, Violence reduced by 70%? That sounds great if it's true. Where did that number come from?”

CNN and NY Times reported 70%, Washington Post had the number at 77% reduction in violence in the past year.

“If you blow through a gang/drug neighborhood with a lot of police power, it will be quiet for a while. What then happens after they're gone?”

Thanks for proving it would be a disaster to cut and run. It cracks me up when dimwits get mixed up and accidentally prove the point of the other side. Nice move, Forrest.

“Not a single one of the benchmarks he names has been achieved, **and the Iraqi government has said they have ceased even trying to achieve them.** Is that in the papers MS?

Is that so? Sounds like BS you made up to me. If it’s a deep dark secret and it’s not being reported, how do you know, are you psychic? What are the lotto numbers for Powerball next week, Einstein?

Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | October 25, 2007 4:30 PM

This fool said in another thread McCain was bombing civilians in Vietnam when he was shot down and deserved the treatment he received as a POW. McCain’s target was a legitimate military target, a power plant, not a civilian
neighborhood. Now he says the poor Iraqi people would be free if it wasn’t for the evil Americans oppressing them. What a dirt bag.

“I know one reason why the professional soldiers and their familes are protecting this incompetent administration...none of them wants to admit they've sent on a fool's errand.”

Soldiers that are true professionals perform their duties ably no matter who’s in charge, Republican or Democrat. It has nothing to do with protecting an administration. Another America-hating dirt bag.

“Why do you attack those that want your spouse to COME HOME?”

There’s a difference between coming home and cutting-and-running. Especially when you say the troops should come home based on the lie that there has been no success.

BobinATL

Try to stay on subject. The military didn’t lower recruiting standards because of the press reports on Iraq. Try to keep up.

Military recruiting is always tougher when unemployment is so low. Young privates, airmen, seamen, and marines don’t make squat and are asked to do a tough job. Be thankful there are those that choose to serve, even if you don’t support them or their mission.

“Okay troll, tell us about your better half's experience. Obviously,your a phony soldier's spouse.”

Troll, nice one. What is the morale of the troops really like? What are the troops saying about the progress in Iraq? Why is it so different from what most of the media is reporting? When do you see troops in the AOR on the TV news or see their stories in the papers. Why did certain outlets latch onto the MacBeth story so quickly without checking MacBeth out? You want to call my husband a phony soldier, go ahead. Worse things have been said about him and the rest of the troops here at the Swamp. Like I said before, keep talking and spouting your disgust for America and it’s military personnel, I can’t believe people say you loony left wing American haters are unpatriotic.

You should take a look at the Wounded Warriors Project. It raises awareness for severely wounded combat U.S. combat veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of the war. Here's a link:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebshow

Jeff

Dear Phony Military Spouse,

How come the MSM isn't publishing this?

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/10/25/did-the-white-house-miss-a-chance-to-catch-obl-again/

I don't even remember a mention here in the Swamp. What gives?

“Not a single one of the benchmarks he names has been achieved, **and the Iraqi government has said they have ceased even trying to achieve them.** Is that in the papers MS?

Is that so? Sounds like BS you made up to me. If it’s a deep dark secret and it’s not being reported, how do you know, are you psychic? What are the lotto numbers for Powerball next week, Einstein? "

Nope It isn't BS, MS. Thanks for showing how deeply ignorant you really are about what is really going on in Iraq.

"A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.

To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November. To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country's economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis. To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend $10 billion of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs. To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year. And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation's political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws, and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq's constitution."

George W. Bush January 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6985436.stm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/07/AR2007100701448.html?hpid=topnews

"I don't think there is something called reconciliation, and there will be no reconciliation as such," said Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, a Kurd. "To me, it is a very inaccurate term. This is a struggle about power."

"Legislation to manage the oil sector, the country's most valuable natural resource, and to bring former Baath Party members back into the government have not made it through the divided parliament. The U.S. military's latest hope for grass-roots reconciliation, the recruitment of Sunni tribesmen into the Iraqi police force, was denounced last week in stark terms by Iraq's leading coalition of Shiite lawmakers.

"There has been no significant progress for months," said Tariq al-Hashimi, one of Iraq's two vice presidents and the most influential Sunni politician in the country. "There is a shortage of goodwill from those parties who are now in the driver's seat of the country."

Go educate yourself a bit MS. Cut back on your anger and listen, and you might actually learn something.

"Go educate yourself a bit MS. Cut back on your anger and listen, and you might actually learn something."

I've learned enough to know you can quote thousands of articles saying there is no progress and there won't be any progress in Iraq.

If you'd been able to follow along, that has pretty much been the point of this thread so far.

So what, you quoted a couple more articles. It doesn't answer any of the points I brought up about progress the troops on the ground see everyday that isn't being reported.

Saying there has been NO progress at all is a lie.

MS-

Saying that there has been any progress on a political solution in Iraq is a lie.

Saying that we are holding the Iraqi's accountable to benchmarks is a lie.

Military Spouse:

Thanks for the response. I'll give you a short history lesson. My family has been here on American soil since 1634. My great,great,great (however many) grandfather's farm is on the National Register of Historic places at Concord MA. It's called Elmbrook Farm. It's about a mile from the Old North Bridge, where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. My family has been involved and served in every war this country has fought, right or wrong. My nephew is about to deploy to Afghanistan.

This family has been here longer than the Bushes. If closing off our senses and waving the flag is considered the highest display of patriotism, then the most patriotic Americans are used car salesmen!

If you have ever read this Nation's most important documents (the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, etc), you will quickly realize this country's foundation rests on dissent and accomodation. I grieve for my country when a bunch of right-wing "know-nothings" try to run lock step over the majority of Americans. Call me leftist if you will. Everyone you disagree with is to your left. Last I looked that's pretty close to 75 % of the population.

Tell me, just where is your spouse currently serving? How much time has your spouse spent in either Iraq or Afghanistan?

"If closing off our senses and waving the flag is considered the highest display of patriotism, then the most patriotic Americans are used car salesmen!"

Closing off your senses? Is that what you think people are doing when they support the troops and their mission?

That's the problem with people of your ilk, if others don't believe the way you do, they must have lost their senses. How elitist and arrogant is that? You’ve already made up your mind on the war, you won’t let little things like facts (the decreased violence as a result of the surge) get in the way.

My husband served in Dessert Storm, Bosnia, nine months in Afghanistan and is now on his second tour in Iraq.

And save the history lesson professor. The service of other members of your family doesn't excuse YOUR stupid comments about the professionalism of my husband and the other troops he serves with.

Slamming the troops by implying they can’t or won’t admit the truth about an administration you dislike isn’t dissent, it’s slander.

There are people that disagree with the war that I respect. People like you, that trash the troops and those that fly the US flag proudly, aren't in that group.

"Is that in the papers MS?"

AJF

You complain that your 'story' isn't in any of the papers, then you quote the Washington Post.

Talk about how deeply ignorant someone is.

Nice move.

Military Spouse:

Again, thanks for the response. I had my mind made up about this Administration long before Colin Powell lied to the entire world via the UN. I don't need to defend my argument regarding an incompetent Administration. They do a pretty good job of that for me. As far as trashing the troops is concerned, my only comment towards them and you is a critique of blind loyalty. You get what you ask for! A major part of this Iraq/Islamic War is a geniune lack of sense of History. I won't waste the lesson on you. Nor will I waste any tears for your husband if or when he comes home maimed or in a box. Good Luck, lady. You are a real piece of work!

Hope your husband doesn't get sent into Iran. That little fracas will make his time in Desert Storm look like Wilmette!

Blind loyalty?

"My family has been involved and served in every war this country has fought, right or wrong."

What relatives of yours fought in a 'wrong war'?

How come they weren't as enlightened as you and they blindly 'protected an incompetent administration'?

I guess you got all the brains in your family.

"Nor will I waste any tears for your husband if or when he comes home maimed or in a box. Good Luck, lady."

Now the truth comes out. I guess that says it all.

Have a good life.

Viet Nam. By comparison, the Admins of Kennedy, Johnson AND Nixon look like rocket scientists up against the Shrub and his PNAC agenda.

Like I say, you get what you ask for! Later, twit!

"Where are the articles asking when President Bush is going to hold the Iraqi leadership accountable to meet the benchmarks as he promised he would when he annonced the surge in January."

That what I was asking if it was in the paper MS. No one is asking Bush about his specific pledge to hold Iraq to the benchmarks.

You have to read the whole paragraph if you want to understand things. Maybe that's why you don't see the full picture of what is and is not going on in Iraq.

The service of other members of your family doesn't excuse YOUR stupid comments about the professionalism of my husband and the other troops he serves with.

Slamming the troops by implying they can’t or won’t admit the truth about an administration you dislike isn’t dissent, it’s slander.
Posted by: military spouse | October 26, 2007 11:17 AM

Ask your husband if he's fighting for American freedom to believe in and say what they believe. I hope it is. I honor his sacrifice and yours, but I won't become a believer in the Bush regime ever.
Seriously, I hope your husband has everything he needs to remain safe in body and spirit.