He's right. We need to pull all of our troops out of Iraq immediately. If the Iraqi people want to spend the next few decades killing each other in sectarian violence - let them. When they want peace, they'll put down their weapons. Till then why should our troops try to be referees between these factions?

"I am opposed to ... our troops dying."

Wow, he's against dying. Bill Richardson sure knows how to take the tough stands.

"We need a responsible, comprehensive strategy to end the war and the strength to execute it."

And that strategy is--retreat?

Gov. Richardson is smart enough to know that the war the terrorists are waging against western civilization will go on, regardless of whether America has troops in Iraq. After all, it was going on for years BEFORE we had troops in Iraq.

Richardson knows that. But he prefers to pretend otherwise, in order to pander to the Dem party base and to try and jumpstart his faltering campaign.

It's amazing to think that somehow you're going to bring peace and civility to a land that has no idea what the hell that is. This was a stupid, stupid idea.

I have to agree with Bill Richardson. Hillery, Barrack and the rest of the Congressmen running have it wrong which has taken us to this point. We don't need more of the same... we need a change and that doesn't mean selling out to the Chinese! Hillary was wrong on Iraq, wrong on Iran and is wrong fro America!

He's right but unless Hillary picks him as VP (a long shot, although some have suggested not so long) it doesn't mean a thing.

You're right BC! We could let the region fester like all the hot-spots in Africa and the rest of the world. But they have really good oil in Iraq.

Hiilary is not going to be the nominee.

Apologize. Get out. Authorize reparations. Mind own business from now on.

RNCBruce,

All you do, everyday, is bitch about dems, though you're a paid operative for the RNC. So what's your plan? Right now it appears to be keeping our troops in Iraq forever. All this does is foster resentment toward the US across the globe and serve as the best recruiting tool these islamofascists could have ever hoped for. All of the terrorist plots that have been foiled in Europe were the result of intesive POLICE work, not military engagement. Until you sheeple understand the difference, we're screwed as a nation. RNCBruce, do us all a favor and stop posting until you develop a semblemnce of a brain and stop parroting RNC talking posts with every darn post!

The fact is, the Democrats have no plans at all. Their entire strategy is Carp, Carp, Carp. Unless they get another Monica moment and lob some cruise missiles
into a desert tent city to divert attention, they won't have a plan even to order the lattes on time.

Gov. Richardson has high ideals with good intentions. Unfortunately, he is showing how little he truly understands of the volatile world around us and the true workings of Washington Politics. At this point he is grasping at straws in a last ditch effort to save face.

He's right but unless Hillary picks him as VP (a long shot, although some have suggested not so long) it doesn't mean a thing.

Posted by: Helena | October 4, 2007 12:04 PM

Well spoken, Helena...

I am not opposed to troops dying. And I don't care how many get their limbs blown off. I do care when they come home and want to get medical treatment because I want my taxes lower.

I don't care what reason we went to war for,I will follow the advice of Hate Radio.

We will never retreat as long as my ass is comfortably sitting on the recliner watching O'Really.

A true Republic Man.

ask the brave troops what they think but the media and the libs will not.its this is anouther attempt at a surrender.finish what we start. because if we dont we will go back.or it will follow us here thers not one of the dems talking about how they will make you safe from a road side bomb.once they get elected.and if we leave and iran does take iraq im sure you will not mind paying 7dollars a gallon for gas

The Richardson e-surge is working! Praise Be! Bring Saudis, Syrians, and Iranians into the process (like the Potsdam Conference) to establish that all Muslim peace keeping force you're talking about, Bill, to keep them all in check so we can re-deploy elsewhere and end this war. Brilliant idea!

I love "arm chair generals" - people with no concept of how to fight a war; injecting their opinions as if they are smarter than everyone else.

Here's an idea... Why don't we listen to our Generals about how to address Iraq? Didn't politican's sticking their two-cents in Vietnam cause us to lose that war?

Did no one hear the latest Iraq reports?

Pull out or troops now? Are you kidding me? Do you (who support that idea) have any idea of the size of the terrorist bed that will create, or how it will embolden al-Quada?

the liberal all want the surrender and say we are sorry attitude.in history it always worked at least in the libbrals history book .im glad we did not have very many around 200 years ago or half way thru world war 2 i say these colors dont run red white and blue

How did the Roman Empire decline? Its military was stretched thin, the politicians were corrupt, rebellion from within, moral values and leadership at an all time low. The result - the loss of power and the rise of Christianity (at least that was good). Take the hint.

From "Neil:"

"All this does is foster resentment toward the US across the globe and serve as the best recruiting tool these islamofascists could have ever hoped for. All of the terrorist plots that have been foiled in Europe were the result of intesive POLICE work, not military engagement."

Bravo to you for reciting the same tired, Leftist talking points.

It's this attitude (that America is to blame) that is completely misguided. NO, the reason why terrorists want to kill Americans is because they believe us to be godless heathens. They despise us for tolerance of gays, women's rights, pornography, etc. And furthermore, they're using the Left; they're pulling your strings. Way to go, but it's the Christians and Jews that are the REAL enemies to this country, right?

Richardson will be a great President. He is goal-oriented, assertive and confident. He has the ability to quickly evaluate a situation but is not rigid in his thinking and will modify policy when necessary. He takes a practical approach to governing, focusing on solutions to problems rather than ideology.

love "arm chair generals" - people with no concept of how to fight a war; injecting their opinions as if they are smarter than everyone else.

Here's an idea... Why don't we listen to our Generals about how to address Iraq? Didn't politican's sticking their two-cents in Vietnam cause us to lose that war?

Did no one hear the latest Iraq reports?

Pull out or troops now? Are you kidding me? Do you (who support that idea) have any idea of the size of the terrorist bed that will create, or how it will embolden al-Quada?

Posted by: Joe D | October 4, 2007 1:32 PM

Average Joe,

Does the name General Westmoreland ring a bell for you?

You GOoPer's are the perfect sheeple for our war criminals in the White House:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xmu/417844483/

The real enemies to the nation are bigoted, homophobic, anti-women bible thumpers like Todd Anthony. Just where in my post is written what you implied? Hey idiot, do you know why Bid Forgotten attacked us? It was because we had troops stationed in his holy land (Saudia Arabia). You know that place, don't you, where 11 of 15 hijackers came from. Terror recruitment right now has absolutely nothing to do with gays, womens rights or pornography. It has everything to do with the fact that our troops are on muslim soil...PERIOD. This fact is how they recruit suicide bombers today. STOP LISTENING TO WRONG WING RADIO, HOME OF THE BIGOT, LAND OF THE COWARDS!

It's this attitude (that America is to blame) that is completely misguided. NO, the reason why terrorists want to kill Americans is because they believe us to be godless heathens. They despise us for tolerance of gays, women's rights, pornography, etc. And furthermore, they're using the Left; they're pulling your strings. Way to go, but it's the Christians and Jews that are the REAL enemies to this country, right?
Posted by: Todd Anthony | October 4, 2007 2:20 PM

This is utterly classic. Do you neocons even listen to yourselves? So, to clarify, to debunk "left-wing talking points," Todd Anthony recites the dumbest Bush talking point of all: "they hate us for our freedom." Oh lordy lordy. (It should be noted that nowhere in the post Mr. Anthony refers to would an objective person come up with the inference that the writer hates America, but that has never stopped that slander from being perpetuated ad nauseum from hacks like Todd Anthony or John Dyslin).

Bin Laden's fatwa against the United States is titled: "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places." I don't see anything about "hating our freedom," but I do see that they hate us for occupying their lands and DEPRIVING THEM OF THEIR LIBERTY AND FREEDOM.

Now, undoubtedly, some Neanderthal is going to say that I love Al Qaeda because I took the time to actually understand why they hate us, instead of listening to the jingoistic nonsense of our President or Todd Anthony. I got news for you- I want Bin Laden dead more than ALL of the neocons who post here daily. Day in and day out they come here making excuses for Pakistan where Bin Laden is and banging the war drum against Iran where he isn't. Failing to understand our enemy does not make one more patriotic.

One excerpt from Bin Laden's fatwa: "It should not be hidden from you that the people of Islam had suffered from aggression, iniquity and injustice imposed on them by the Zionist/Crusaders alliance and their collaborators; to the extent that the Muslims' blood became cheap and their wealth became as loot in the hands of the enemies. Their blood was spilled in Palestine and Iraq. The horrifying pictures of the massacre of Qana, in Lebanon, are still fresh in our memory. Massacres in Tajikistan, Burma, Kashmir, Assam, Philippine, Fatani, Ogadin, Somalia, Eritria, Chechnya and in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place,massacres that send shivers through the body and shake the conscience. All of this the world watched and heard, yet not only didn't respond to these atrocities, but also, with a clear conspiracy between the USA and its' allies and under the cover of the iniquitous United Nations, the dispossessed people were even prevented from obtaining arms to defend themselves."

But you're right, Todd Anthony, "they hate us for our freedoms." Brilliant!

Governor,

Domenici's seat in the senate beckons...

But you're right, Todd Anthony, "they hate us for our freedoms." Brilliant!

Posted by: Distrust and Verify | October 4, 2007 4:11 PM

there you go again-

You could oversimplify OBL's statement to say that he only wants us out of Saudia Arabia- and that this does not mean he hates us for our freedom. Not sure how you can support that logically- other than saying that we had no right to defend the region from Saddams invasions and threats in the '90s

The whole reason we are in SA is because of the Iraq invasion and subsequent 10-12 years of trying to contain Husseins attack on the FREEDOM of Kuwait, Saudia A. and other gulf states-

He hates us for our freedom all right-because he hates us for standing up to threats to freedom..

Heartburn...wrong AGAIN! Our troops left Saudia Arabia in 2003. Facts suck, don't they!

It's refreshing to find an individual (Distrust and Verify) who has bothered to delve into the iniquities and reasons behind this whole chaotic situation in the Middle East. Terrorism doesn't rise in societies where self-determination or nationalism exists, even if that self-determination isn't our brand of democracy. Terrorism is the result of repression, occupation and imperialism - all these fit the description of what the U.S. and Israel are doing in the Middle East.

The insurgency in Iraq arose because we are there on their soil. Hezbollah arose as a response to the state sponsored terrorism of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the evergrowing armed settlers and settlements on Palestinian land. The problems with the Sunnis and the Shiites were kept under control under Sadddam Hussein because he ruled with an iron fist. In a tribal society as was Iraq, that was the only way to governor. I don't see Maliki's U.S. puppet democracy working. What is working are the oil contractors stealing Iraqi oil, Blackwater mercenaries terrorizing innocent civilians, and the neocons hiding in their little holes denying they had anything to do with this fiasco, working on another quagmire (Iran) to line their pockets while our honorable soldiers die and kill for them.

"You could oversimplify OBL's statement to say that he only wants us out of Saudia Arabia- and that this does not mean he hates us for our freedom."

I could, but didn't. Who said that? Scroll up for examples of Bin Laden's grievances. I am not saying that I agree with his grievances, in particular in the former Yugoslavia where American and NATO forces intervened ON BEHALF of Muslims, why don't you do your own research and see what he said instead of what what you wish he said about why he hates us. Isn't it so much easier to think they hate us BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE rather than WHAT WE DO TO THEM??

"Not sure how you can support that logically- other than saying that we had no right to defend the region from Saddams invasions and threats in the '90s"

Before you criticize anyone's logic, you really need to go back and read what I wrote, and then read the straw man arguments that you "address," which bare no resemblance to the original statement. Your "logic" is at least as flawed as mine.

My statement was that Bin Laden doesn't "hate us for our freedom." You move on to connect our troops in Saudi Arabia to "freedom." AND YOU ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE PROTECTING "THE FREEDOM" OF SAUDI ARABIANS???!!?!?!?

Saudi Arabia, home of Bin Laden and 15 of the 19 hijackers, known for its militant fundamentalism and sponsorship of terror, where Islam is the only religion one can practice, where women cannot drive without a male escort? That's the "freedom" we are protecting?

No, we are protecting Saudi Arabia's SECURITY. Which really is protecting our energy security. Are you capable of telling it how it is? Do you really want to be on record using the terms "Saudi Arabia" and "freedom" in the same sentence?

Gimme a break. Bin Laden objects to Americans occupying Muslim lands. It takes rhetorical gymnastics and turning the concept of liberty on its head to suggest that because Bin Laden objects to the occupation of Muslim lands, he "hates our freedom."

I know it would be ever-so-distasteful to actually read Bin Laden's grievances, but maybe instead of the mental gymnastics you're practicing you could actually show me where Bin Laden has said he hates the Americans because of our freedoms. His grievances are rather explicit and focused. That doesn't mean we need to listen to him, but we really should be at least passingly honest about what we're up against.

heartburn,

I should note, as well, that we removed our forces from Saudi Arabia at the dawn of the Iraq invasion, acquiescing to his wish though its never really been stated that way, because that would be givin' in to terr'rists.

Anyone who believes the politicians, Dem or Republican, has another thing coming.

If you really want to end the war, elect someone who will win it. Bush isn't the one to do that either.

Left-loony "Neal" tells people who disagree with him: "do us all a favor and stop posting until you develop a semblemnce of a brain.."

"Neal", you embarrass yourself when you accuse others of not having "a semblemnce of a brain" without first learning how to spell "semblance".

Support Governor Richardson - go to his website and get educated about his detailed policy proposals. He has executive experience, has been nominated for four Nobel Peace Prizes and he has actually negotiated succcessfully with dictators, unlike any other single candidate from either party! Hillary's signed on to the next coming invasion into Iran to appease yet another special interest group - don't fall for name recognition and more of the same! We, as a people, MUST break the clubbie, corporate stranglehold in Washington. Have we not yet learned our lesson????