Will new Iraq turmoil reverse public support?

"Will new Iraq turmoil reverse public support?"

What public support??? 58% of the public says get out now. Enough already. End the occupation now!

Sometimes I wonder if this new fighting isn't a ploy to keep our troops and money in Iraq. Iraq has had 5 years and 100's billion of dollars to turn themselves around and they still haven't. Month ago things were some what quiet in Iraq, then McCain and Chaney go there and fighting increases.

The US became guilty of a war of aggression or global war criminals when they invaded Iraq on the guise of looking for weapons of mass destruction that were not there.

I did not support the invasion. I am sick about the genocide of innocent Iraqi children, babies and torture of Iraqi citizens. The US should have owned up to their crime and pulled out long ago. People way upset about 4000 of our troops dead, but forget the 79,000 or so Iraqi civilians dead gratis our inability to lessen our dependency upon oil.

To answer your query; no. I still not support the war levied on Iraq and it's aftermath. It has put the US in grave danger of a united global attack to stop us. We are seen as "radical Christian terrorists" and "imperialistic bullies" that must be stopped. We create more terrorists every day, as the only means to fight our superior military power and tyranny.

The question is: Is the US reputation tarnished beyond reprair?

That's Freedom Smoke, right?

So now it comes out that Saddam Hussein was funding trips to Iraq for Democrats in Congress who opposed the war. Like the police superintendent in "Casablanca," I'm shocked, shocked! Now maybe the Justice Department should check their bank accounts to see if any of that Iraq oil money that was being spread around may have found it there.

Today, the Green Zone in Baghdad where the U.S. has its embassy and the Iraqi government is based, came under serious attack for yet another day this week.
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The surge is a failure. The original invasion was a failure. Bush is a failure. McCain is a failure in waiting.

WE MUST CONTINUE IN IRAQ until the United States WINS!

To withdraw with over half of the Iraqi army in place, would send the country into chaos, the region into a freefall of destabilization. On top of this it would make us more vulnerable once Iran enters the country.

We are not liberal PANSIES. We are NOT RETREATERS and wallowers in DEFEAT.

Pacifists can't enjoy the freedom to protest without the freedoms WE in the military give them.

The two democrats and their affilkiates in the Congress won't end this conflict. They both voted for FUNDING on several occasions, and like NAFTA, they say WITHDRAW NOW, but behind the scenes they plan for an extended stay.

Let the MEDIA fight for electoral advantage. WE WILL STAY!

"What public support??? 58% of the public says get out now. Enough already. End the occupation now!"

To quote the Vice President... "So"

I think that one word sums up the entire Bush administration. Don't expect them to listem to the public when they won't even listen to their own military and their own foreign policy advisors.

Watch "Bush's War" on Frontline... it is an eye opener.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/

as weinerdog says "What support".
The American public has come to the realization that lies took us into Iraq and we are still rarely getting the truth even today. We have over 4000 dead military, 30,000+ injured and only god knows how many Iraqis. There is blood on all our hands for the actions of the Cheney/Bush administration and we have finally come to realize it

More peek-a-boo reporting from the Democrats at the Swamp, who shove Iraq under the carpet when there's good news, but return to Iraq only to present news they can spin as bad news.

The question is: is the reputation of the Swamp tarnished beyond repair? Even if they attempted in the future to be balanced, would anyone believe it, given their body of work the last 2 years?

I'm so tired of hearing that we invaded Iraq for the oil... just exactly how has this war benefitted us as far as oil is concerned? We haven't taken over their oil fields, we don't have control of them, if we did wouldn't the price of gas have fallen? It's going to be $4.00 a gallon soon and next year it'll be around $5.00 or more.

Pay no attention to our burning embassy, my friends, the surge is working!

Will new Iraq turmoil reverse public support?

Chicago Tribune editors prove they are clearly out-of-touch with reality in posting such a headline. The majority of Americans do not support warmongering and empire building...in Iraq or anywhere else. The public resents the media propaganda that insinuates otherwise.

Did someone tell the Iraqi people that a President McNut administration would guarantee the occupation for another 100 years?

Looking over these three anti-war positions, I am immediately struck by the last one, which reads like it is hot off the press of the "I Hate America Club--Starbucks chapter."
Nonetheless, I admit to thinking that our involvement in Iraq must soon start to wrap up. While I agree with John McCain that we have a responsibility for Iraq--that responsibility does not mean holding their hands forever. They have to grow up and seize responsibility for their own governance. We've given them five years and they really show no signs of being ready. We must leave sooner or later--we can't stay forever. We have already given them billions upon billions, new schools and hospitals, and some 4000 of our finest heroes. If there were a visible light at the end of the tunnel, I would yell slog on, but without one, how much longer? How much longer? I do not want our forces engaged in a Shiite vs. Shiite Civil War for ultimate political power(in addition to the civil wars already going on). Al Sadr is NOT al Qaida. Kill the remaining al Qaida in Iraq, then withdraw all but a small force which could be used to quell mass genocide, hunt for any remaining al Qaida, and protect the oil pipelines. We are allowing irresponsible Iraqis to define victory for us and that is wrong. It's time for them to either stand together on their own or fall on their own. We have propped them up long enough.

We need to start thinking about the welfare of the American people, Not Iraq. It is time to help our own country now and bring back our troops to help build back Katrina not Iraq. Lets not even think about voting for McCain,it would be like electing Bush again to tear up this great country in a matter of 4 years.It is time to move forward to help this country. Look around and see what is happening to America.

We need to start thinking about the welfare of the American people, Not Iraq. It is time to help our own country now and bring back our troops to help build back Katrina not Iraq. Lets not even think about voting for McCain,it would be like electing Bush again to tear up this great country in a matter of 4 years.It is time to move forward to help this country. Look around and see what is happening to America.

This will probably have a small, temporary negative effect on public support for the war. Meanwhile the US Treasury continues to be raided by greedy, immoral people who don't care if this war destroys America. They will just take our money and move somewhere else. Bush already has a ranch staked out in South America.

also John McCain:

"My friends, the "surge is working"......uh.....wait a minute.....I've just been handed a note......uh mmmmmmmm.......well like I was saying......my friends we must stay the course in Iraq......no matter what, because my campaign depends on it.....no, I mean our lives depend on it......or something......I need to take a nap".

http://www.wrapped-in-the-flag.com/images/581_Bahgdad-Tours.jpg

Mike,

Define winning.

The majority of Iraqi people want us out and think it is OK to kill our soldiers. Does winning mean killing all of the Iraqi people?

J.P. Michigan,

I'm inclined to agree. Some Republicans certainly prefer to spend money on a war rather than on domestic programs, since the latter is anathema to their way of thinking. Battling an endless war is a great way to expend tax dollars without lifting Americans up, and lifting Americans up is something Republicans have always been ambivalent (at best) about.

Shocking

It starts with an innocent sentence fragment plucked like a ripe tomato from a broader statement:

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"For the first time, I have seen Osama bin Laden and General Petraeus in agreement."
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[Click] The Rube Goldberg machine activates.

Someone sends a tip to Drudge, who catapults it with one of his little flashing sissy lights. Red State, Instapundit and Powerline howl: How DARE those traitorous liberals besmirch the good name of General Petraeus by comparing him to Osama bin Laden! Never mind the context, there are some things in this country that are just flat-out unacceptable. This is so typical of the Blame-America-First crowd and an insult to the troops! Sign the petition!!!

Michelle Malkin finds the statement so odious that she pulls her cheerleader costume out of mothballs and tears up her lawn doing a spastic loony dance.

Fox News picks it up. The screen crawl slithers by every three minutes:

...DEMOCRAT EQUATES IRAQ WAR HERO GEN. PETRAEUS WITH AL QAEDA LEADER...TERROR ALERT ELEVATED TO ORANGE...ANNA NICOLE SMITH SPOTTED AT GRAND RAPIDS BURGER KING?...

The surrogates---O'Reilly, Morris, Hannity, Cavuto, Barnes, et al---swarm. "Shameless!" "Treason!" "They're helping the terrorists win!" they shout.

Rush Limbaugh, who doesn't really give a crap, goes on a multi-day tirade, knowing that the fracas will translate into more money for him.

Stories appear in Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times and Rupert Murdoch's New York Post: UNHINGED! Liberals Reignite "General Betray Us" Campaign In Attempt To Doom Surge!

CNN and MSNBC, not wanting to miss out on the drama, pick up the story. Pat Buchanan and Lou Dobbs sob openly. Joe Lieberman claims Democrats are responsible for the deaths of all 4,001 American troops in Iraq and then, just before he plugs the GOP Happy Caribbean Fun Cruise hosted by Tom DeLay, calls for an end to the bipartisan bickering "that the Democrats started."

The cascade continues as The Washington Post and The New York Times report on the "story." Michael O'Hanlon and Ken Pollack suggest the irresponsible statement has set back the training of the Iraqi forces by at least six months. The AP's Nedra Pickler provides balanced analysis by interviewing the founder of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and Dick Cheney. Then the networks weigh in---the anchors reflecting the seriousness of the situation with their solemn tones and furrowed brows. Their eyes say it all: "Awful...just awful." Newsweek's Conventional Wisdom Watch unleashes a 'down' arrow: "Surge savior savaged---again!---by ax-grinding libs. Al Qaeda to send flowers to DNC?"

President Bush calls the statement "cowardly" and says the only way to make up for such heinous rhetoric is another $100 billion emergency supplemental for Iraq and retroactive immunity for all registered Republicans and their supporters.

And then the cherry is placed lovingly on top of the shit sundae as the House and Senate condemn the statement with official resolutions.

Just one inconvenient hitch: a Democrat didn’t say it. John McCain did.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_iraq_4;_ylt=ArTwezmiwSpsKXaH15cgTIME1vAI

Nothing to see here. Please move along.

I am in Amman, having just come from Baghdad where I have spent the past year. I was in the Green Zone for the first four days of attacks beginning Easter. In two cases rockets impacted about 50 meters from where I was, so I know whereof I speak. The attacks do not really disrupt the mission and most people tolerate them quite well. The reality is that these attacks are in retaliation by elements of the Mahdi Army for the crackdown by the legitmately elected government. The crackdown is precisely what we should want as Americans. The government of Iraq is acting like a government by tyring to enforce the law and take out the worst elements. These guys fire rockets at the Green Zone because they know there will be media coverage that stimulates the sort of reaction I see in these comments. The surge is working and the Petraeus counterinsurgency is producing very good results.

The Iraqis are sending us a clear message, "Yankee, go home." When will we learn. Not every country can be squeezed into the mold of U.S. freedom. Democracy succeeded in this country because it was the will of the people. It was colonists who banded together to create the United States. If the desire for freedom and democracy doesn't come from the people, it can't flourish. Enough is enough. It is time for the Iraqi people to forge their own government and come to terms with their ethnic diversity, just as we do on a continual basis in this country. Let's bring our troops home and stop trying to force our way of life on the rest of the world's people.

WE MUST CONTINUE IN IRAQ until the United States WINS!

To withdraw with over half of the Iraqi army in place, would send the country into chaos, the region into a freefall of destabilization. On top of this it would make us more vulnerable once Iran enters the country.

We are not liberal PANSIES. We are NOT RETREATERS and wallowers in DEFEAT.

Pacifists can't enjoy the freedom to protest without the freedoms WE in the military give them.

The two democrats and their affilkiates in the Congress won't end this conflict. They both voted for FUNDING on several occasions, and like NAFTA, they say WITHDRAW NOW, but behind the scenes they plan for an extended stay.

Let the MEDIA fight for electoral advantage. WE WILL STAY!

Posted by: Mike | March 27, 2008 12:38 PM

Mike: You foam at the mouth like a rabid dog but unfortunately lack the mental capacity of such a mutt. You see, Mike, it's useful to have logical connections between your statements. For example, what freedoms are being protected by our being there? We, as a country, determine the extent of our freedoms. Republicans talk about freedoms and then advocate restrictions, e.g., warrantless wiretaps, restrictions on free speech, etc. Your rabid rant doesn't attempt to connect these things.

Also, no real person is impressed by your foolish talk about being "pansies." Being stupid is not the same thing as being brave. You're certainly accomplished at the former.

Our "war" is and will forever be a disaster. Slogans from half-wits like you can't change that.

Like the police superintendent in "Casablanca," I'm shocked, shocked!

Posted by: Goodfield | March 27, 2008 12:28 PM

RNC Bruce is pretending to be someone else again. Have you no shame? At least use quotes from different movies if you are gonna pretend you are not Bruce.

I am Iraqi national left Iraq in 1982 hoping to return one day to help my father, my father died in 1998, then I hoped to go back to help my mother, two brothers and four sisters. My two brothers got killed last June together in car bomb incident. Iraq is now broken up to a disorginaised jungle. My young sisters and my brothers childern (5 of them the eldest is 12 and the youngest is 10 months old) have no future. this war did not liberate Iraq. In matter fact it destroyed the nation. Who gained from this mess not the Iraqis surely nor the human loving American Nation!!!.
I WOULD RATHER LIVING AWAY FROM MY FAMILY BING RULED BY SADDAM THAN SEEING THEM LIBERATED (AS BUSH SAID).
GOD ALMIGHTY WILL JUDGE.

Thanks to our agents on the inside of the "Straight-Talk Express", we've captured a copy of John McCain's to-do list for Tuesday, March 26, 2008.

Tuesday, March 26, 2008:

6 a.m. -- Wake up. Tell Joe Lieberman it's time to go home. Got to rethink this relationship -- he snores.

6:30 a.m. -- Look outside to gage the weather. Damnnit! Those kids are on my lawn again. Don't they have anything else to do, don't they know the Surge Is Working?!?!

7 a.m. -- Get dressed for third time. My aides have some sort of sick obsession with getting all the buttons right and same colored socks.

7:30 a.m. -- DAMMNIT! GET OFF MY LAWN YOU DUMB KIDS,..the Surge Is Working on my lawn too.

8 a.m. -- Reject aide's explanation that what I think is kids is actually the shrubs I planted last fall. Can't be....don't the shrubs know that the Surge Is Working??!

8:30 a.m. -- Balance campaign checkbook...the Surge Is even Working on my checkbook!

9 a.m. -- Dry my tears. Consider whether lunch will be Fancy Feast or Whiskas...remind cats that the Surge Is Working!

9:30 a.m. -- Work on next stump speech. Consider a warning about "al Qaida in New Jersey."...tell them the Surge Is Working!

10 a.m. -- Aide wants me to study up on the difference between Shiites and Sunnis. Easy. Sunnis bad, Shiites good -- or was it the other way around? Let me see... the Sunnis are fighting us in Iraq. The Shiites are... wait... there's got to be a difference. Let's see... the chalice from the palace...oh yeah, the Surge Is Working!

10:30 a.m. -- Look out side. No... don't look. You know they're still out there...don't theses kids know that the Surge Is Working?!?!

11 a.m. -- insert line in next stump speech about "al Qaida On My Lawn." Second though, not a good idea. Don't want to have to bomb my own lawn at least the Surge Is Working!

12 p.m. -- I wonder if lemonade will get the cat food off my breath?
The Surge Is Working!

1 p.m. -- Nap

3:30 p.m. -- Tell Joe Lieberman to stop following me around.

4 p.m. -- Call W. Thanks, but no thanks to the offer to come campaign with me. Bad enough having Lieberman's lips on my butt all day.

5 p.m. -- Splurge for dinner! McDonald's!
The Splurge Is Working!

6 p.m. -- Send thank you note to the Rev. Hagee for calling down fire and brimstone on the Democrats (except for Joe).

7:30 p.m. -- Bed time. Whew... what a day....oh yeah, the Surge Is Working!...."my friends".

A little known fact for you all. Our country goes thru 28.5 million barrels of oil a day. No one here is volunteering to give up his or her FSP's (fuel sucking pigs)or lowering their speed and driving more energy efficiently.

So, that oil in Iraq is ours. President Bush is not really worried about a little genocide. Our tanks need to be filled and profits need to be made.

We don't really care what you need to do to get it, just GET IT.

Tet was a momentary military victory but, as in Iraq, it did not solve the underlying problems among the many divergent groups vying for power. The "surge" may have quieted the streets (just as a policeman on every corner will reduce violence in any other setting around the world) but the tensions among the Shiites/Sunnis/Kurds will not be resolved as long as it is perceived as a US favored solution. At some point we must simply advise all parties that it will be up to them to face world opinion or disapproval if they proceed to slaughter each other indiscriminately. When the original premise of a foreign policy is wrong, and in this case bogus, it can never truly be made right. There are no true democracies in the region (even in Israel; neither of the major parties has ever secured a majority government which leaves power in small radical slinter groups recruited to form a coalition government) so why should we believe we can perform that miracle. If so, we should start with our good buddy Saudi Arabia. GOOD LUCK!

I'm so tired of hearing that we invaded Iraq for the oil... just exactly how has this war benefitted us as far as oil is concerned?
Posted by: David | March 27, 2008 12:45 PM

Iraq was just one piece of the puzzle in the grand neocom dream of gaining US control over the Middle East oil regions.

Here's a link to an article about Wesley Clark's book
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2007/10/12/wesley_clark/

WE MUST CONTINUE IN IRAQ until the United States WINS!
Posted by: Mike | March 27, 2008 12:38 PM

Step away from your GI Joe dolls, Mike. The recruiting office door is wide open and waiting for your arrival. Reality awaits you.

Here's a question for "we will stay in Iraq until we win" Mike: What is "winning?" Who is it that we accept surrender from? Surely not bin Laden, who we stopped looking for years ago. Have we "won" then when there's not a single Iraqi left alive?

And for the mope who's ragging on the Democratic congressmen who went to Iraq before the invasion, please pay attention: THE US STATE DEPARTMENT APPROVED THEIR TRIP! That would be the US State Department under GW Bush. Nobody knew that the charity who set up the trip was being financed by Saddam.

Sheesh.

USA is a superpower that shall behave like one to be respecetd. The fear of bodybags and unwanted cravenness of american elites emboldens radicalist & allows them to traet america as mudpie. Once u have started it be man enuf 2 finish it. That's like a superpower.

USA is a superpower that shall behave like one to be respecetd. The fear of bodybags and unwanted cravenness of american elites emboldens radicalist & allows them to traet america as mudpie. Once u have started it be man enuf 2 finish it. That's like a superpower.

What public support are you referring to, James? That's a lie, and you're a liar, not a journalist.

I'm so tired of hearing that we invaded Iraq for the oil... just exactly how has this war benefitted us as far as oil is concerned?
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It hasn't. You are completely missing the point. This war has benefitted only the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about. Go see how Halliburton's stock is doing. And I can't believe you have missed the stories about record profits in the oil industry.
The GOP is getting rich. WE are getting screwed.

Frank,

Maybe you're just writing too quickly, and you meant to spell out 'will even the small minority that supports the war ...'

But this is too important to keep getting wrong.

Strong majorities of Americans oppose the war, and have done so for a long time.

It is unpatriotic to keep a nation in a war it's people reject. I question the patriotism of the President and his allies like John McCain. These men clearly are not loyal to our democracy, in flouting public will on a paramount issue. They are traitors to American democracy. Please stop repeating falsehoods on their behalf.

No one here is volunteering to give up his or her FSP's (fuel sucking pigs)or lowering their speed and driving more energy efficiently.
Posted by: Bob
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That is a lie. Many people, myself included, are behaving responsibly. Thanks for admitting that you aren't

WE MUST CONTINUE IN IRAQ until the United States WINS!

To withdraw with over half of the Iraqi army in place, would send the country into chaos, the region into a freefall of destabilization. On top of this it would make us more vulnerable once Iran enters the country.

We are not liberal PANSIES. We are NOT RETREATERS and wallowers in DEFEAT.

Pacifists can't enjoy the freedom to protest without the freedoms WE in the military give them.

The two democrats and their affilkiates in the Congress won't end this conflict. They both voted for FUNDING on several occasions, and like NAFTA, they say WITHDRAW NOW, but behind the scenes they plan for an extended stay.

Let the MEDIA fight for electoral advantage. WE WILL STAY!

Posted by: Mike | March 27, 2008 12:38 PM

Hey, Mike, does "winning" this war make you feel more manly? How do you define "win"? When we "win", will the 4,000 troops that have perished be brought back to their families?? Don't kid yourself, this war has nothing to do with our freedoms. Being against this war doesn't necessarily make you pansy! I whole-heartedly supported the invasion of Afghanistan, as they were the ones that were responsible for 9/11, not Iraq. This war has simply drained resources from that battle, which is the important one. But weak-minded people like you just believe the crap that the war-mongers like Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld spoon-feed you!

I'm assuming that the people who are voting for McCain are for the war since he's not going to get the troops out of Iraq for a long time.

However, my opinion will never change. I want us out of there. We can't change how these people act and govern. There's no reason for us to be there. Maybe the few people that want to get out of this mess that live there can be aided to leave but on a whole we can not change this country.

Look how now our own country is looking at a recession because of all this debt.

This is one of the least rational discussions about the war i have ever experienced. Seriously, the words WE MUST WIN! do not belong in a logical argument, and shouting TROOPS OUT NOW! can only convey so little. I would hope that folks of all persuasions could remember that there are people dying over there, on our tax dollar, and we owe it to them to think a little deeper about the topic, and be a little more mature when it comes to differing opinions.

That said, i saw absolutely no reason to enter Iraq with military force, and i see no reason not to begin organizing our departure. We have nothing to gain by killing people, nothing at all. If America is truly as great and powerful as some people profess it to be, then it ought to be wise enough to know that violence repeats itself.

RE: WE MUST CONTINUE IN IRAQ until the United States WINS! Posted by: Mike | March 27, 2008 12:38 PM

The US wins WHAT?

A 2000 year old sectarian conflict that by the way we have NOTHING to do with?

Or a half-a$$ed legacy for the Bush administration who has really accomplished nothing other than the complete dismantling of our previously good economy?

Or a war that seems to have been waged 100% for the benefit of Republican-owned military contractors?

Meanwhile the 12 BILLION a MONTH that we could use for the housing/mortgage crisis, Infrastructure and other programs that would benefit the AMERICANS whose money is actually IS, is wasted on a war that will never end as long as we're paying for it.

Mike, without getting personal, what kind of WIN are we talking about?

If helping spread Democracy means we have to pay off our backs, and all the other countries see is the winner gets to steal more than the loser and by the way, no-one likes us anyway, why?

Mike,

You stated, "WE MUST CONTINUE IN IRAQ until the United States WINS!"

Please define "WIN" for me. I still have yet to hear someone who supports this debacle explain to me what "winning" means.

REPORTING THE GOOD NEWS

this is for Bruce...

those rocket attacks in the Green Zone saved us Millions.

We were going to redocorate when McCain won the election (need more room if we are staying 100 years). The shelling and mortar attacks saved us millions in demolition. We don't even need to dig the pool anymore.

Thanks President Cheney... I mean Bush

Send troops to the green zone, impose a curfew and then shoot anyone within 100 yards. Disguise soldiers as news journalists and promise to film these cowards then when they pose for the camera, shoot them in the head. I'm going to you tube to watch video of some of these cowards getting "offed" it makes me feel better.

Goodfield,

Yeah!

And don't don't forget that O. Bin Laden contributed to GWB's 04 campaign.

Public support will continue. The Iraq Government should have every right to challnge those who would choose violence to advance their cause. al-Sadr's leadership will only prevail through PEACEFUl protests and VOTING for it's own leaders to responsibly engage the government in meaningful talks. ..

McCain voted against Reagan keeping troops in Lebanon.

McCain said he will remove u.s troops from iraq and leave it for the iraqis to deal with the insurgency.

Obama's top advisor mcpeak said we could be in Iraq for 100 years like south korea.

McCain was talking about training iraqis. He even said this could happen out of the country.

Obama and Clinton want to keep troops there for the embassy and to go after al queda. Yet they lie by going after McCain.

McCain is qualified to be CIC. Obama and Clinton are not qualified.

Will the truth reverse the Trib headline writer's career?

Will the truth affect Frank James' rise through the Tower?

Or will they continue to write about "public support" for a war that is deeply unpopular?

Could these be the headlines in tomorrow's Beachwood? Or next week's Hot Type? Does credibility matter in journalism anymore?

Hey, buddy. Let me help you out. Here's a link to pollingreport.com, where you can read and discover that no poll has shown the public supporting Iraq in a long time.

http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

Whatever happened to "if your mother says she loves you, check it out?" Does that not apply to what the Bush administration tells you.

This should be changed. It's factually wrong. It needs a correction.

Jerry, winning means placing a stable, safe democratic government and society in Iraq which will be only the second true democracy in the Middle East.

This has always been the goal. That so many people on this message board have never known this is really mindboggling to me. Glad to be of service, though.

The United States produces the highest quality soldier in the World. If anyone can do this it's our honorable Armed Forces. No, I'm not saying the military will rule Iraq, I'm saying our soldiers and sailors will give the Iraqi government the best chance it will ever have at security and the ability to govern itself. I recognize that the Iraqis have to keep up their end of the bargain.

Listen up, until AlSadr is out of the picture permanately there will be no victory in Irag.

"Jerry, winning means placing a stable, safe democratic government and society in Iraq which will be only the second true democracy in the Middle East. This has always been the goal. That so many people on this message board have never known this is really mindboggling to me. Glad to be of service, though."

Always been the goal? I thought it had something to do with Weapond of Mass Destruction... what was I thinking.

McCain said he will remove u.s troops from Iraq and leave it for the Iraqis to deal with the insurgency.
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McCain must have changed his mind.

I think most knew that the goal in invading this country was to creating a democratic environment...well, that's what we were told.
This is not going to happen. By now if they are still resisting then they don't want this and we have fighting against a brick wall. Will we even have a military at the end of this if we stay 50 or more years. It's obvious that people don't want to join the forces and are not joining. What will they do after they've use up human beings to fight this war. They will have to draft so I say draft all the people who have kids who parents are supporting McCain.

What support???

Bring em home!!!

I think as long as we stay there is as long as people will take pot shots at our men... Bush you have spent our system into failure of our economy and our young men and Women...

Did you gowhen you were DRAFTED?

Sometimes I wonder about you guys. The current turmoil in Iraq is caused by the fact that the Iraqi government is beginning to act like a government and assert control. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki decided he had gotten as far as he could with words, and so now has chosen to uproot the Shiite militias by force. Maybe that’s what it’s going to take for the Iraqi government to impose some semblance of order without our help. Isn’t an Iraqi solution to the situation what you all have been hoping for?

Sometimes I think you guys would complain if you were to be hung with a new rope.

To paraphrase Rummy;

'You know, free people will have religious civil wars, you know'.

'I love the smell of burning flesh in the morning. It smells like,,,like,,,, victoy'.

John W, what's the wait? Get your pasty chicken hawk rump over to Iraq post haste! You think the Iraqi occupation is some sort of intellectual exercise. There are THOUSANDS that have died thanks to you Republic bedwetters. What is the matter with you?

It's beginning to look like we have picked sides in the Iraqi civil war. More echos from VN.

Look, we need to make sure the Iraqi Security Forces (this also includes the Navy and Air Force) is combat ready before we leave Iraq. If it is not, Iraq could either, a)fall to civil war and become a nation like Afghanistan was before we invaded (probably controlled by a Shiite militia),b)conquered, either militarily or politically (kind of like a satellite state/puppet), or, c)a combination of both. In any of those circumstances, not only is the United States at risk, but so are are allies in the region, such as Israel. Also, I think we should have some permanent bases in the country too, like we have in South Korea, one in or by Baghdad, one on the Iranian border, one in the Anbar province, and one on the Persian Gulf coast. This will greatly enhance the chances of installing a democratic and permanent Iraqi state.

John W. posted "The current turmoil in Iraq is caused by the fact that the Iraqi government is beginning to act like a government and assert control. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki decided he had gotten as far as he could with words, and so now has chosen to uproot the Shiite militias by force."

Only partly true, my friend.

Taking a page from the neo-con, war profiteer handbook the cipher Shiia puppet prime minister al-Maliki is using his U.S. support to try to make a power play against a much more powerful, intelligent and popular Shiia foe. It's all about power and money not the mythical "rule of law"!

Jerry, winning means placing a stable, safe democratic government and society in Iraq which will be only the second true democracy in the Middle East.

This has always been the goal. That so many people on this message board have never known this is really mindboggling to me. Glad to be of service, though.

The United States produces the highest quality soldier in the World. If anyone can do this it's our honorable Armed Forces. No, I'm not saying the military will rule Iraq, I'm saying our soldiers and sailors will give the Iraqi government the best chance it will ever have at security and the ability to govern itself. I recognize that the Iraqis have to keep up their end of the bargain.

Posted by: Jeff | March 27, 2008 4:44 PM

They are not keeping up their end of the bargain!!!

"This has always been the goal. That so many people on this message board have never known this is really mindboggling to me. Glad to be of service, though.

Posted by: Jeff | March 27, 2008 4:44 PM"

Bush announced that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction initially, and that if we didn't strike them first, they'd strike us. Our goal was to find and destroy the weapons of mass destruction.

After we invaded Iraq and could find no weapons of mass destruction, we were told that Saddam Hussein was evil and tyrannical, and that the world would not be safe until he was caught. Our goal then became to find and capture him, his sons and his co-leaders. So, "Forget about the WMD. Our goal is and has always been to rid the world of Saddam Hussein."

Once we found and/or killed the Iraqi leaders, the focus turned to the terrorists and insurrectionists (that we pretty much bred through mismanagement once the Baathist leaders were gone) that were causing violence and unrest. So, "Forget about the WMD and ridding the world of Saddam Hussein. Our goal is and has always been to make the Middle East safe for Democracy."

The point is that this goal has only been consistent for people drinking Bush's Kool-aid and buying all the spin.

Jeff,

No, the goal was not always installing democracy at the point of a gun. Originally it was WMD..

Iraq military is not even close to 'standing' up to the insurgents. One of the many reasons? They are the insurgents.

Every day this current dustup continues it becomes more apparent that Maliki is making a power play, hoping to eliminate his biggest Shiite rivals.

*****
Posted by: weinerdog43 | March 27, 2008 10:31 PM

And you think Republicans are stupid?

What you just said is incredibly dumb.

Many have been arguing that our participation in Iraq’s future is pointless because the Iraqis haven’t been standing up for themselves. Well, now they are. But, instead of recognizing it for what it is, the same naysayers are now complaining about the fact that the Iraqis are standing up for themselves by re-labeling it an increase in turmoil in Iraq. It is this contradiction to which my post was addressed.

I didn’t say I liked the war, or that it was a good idea for the U.S. to invade Iraq. I have always believed that the invasion of Iraq was a foolish maneuver, at best. I have expressed that idea on the Swamp many times. But you, with all of your Democratic intellectual prowess, immediately assume that I somehow support the war because I chose to highlight a contradiction. You immediately assume that anyone who does anything other than screech like you against the war has to support the war. That’s pretty dumb position to take, if you ask me.

And – BTW – I joined the military as a volunteer 32 years ago. At age 50 (and some change) I am now too old to enlist (the cutoff is 45). Thus, the military wouldn’t take me even if I wanted to go. So you can just can your disrespectful “pasty chicken hawk rump” BS and stuff it, pal.

*****

“Taking a page from the neo-con, war profiteer handbook the cipher Shiia puppet prime minister al-Maliki is using his U.S. support to try to make a power play against a much more powerful, intelligent and popular Shiia foe. It's all about power and money not the mythical "rule of law"!”

Posted by: Chetdude | March 28, 2008 12:27 AM

You make it sound like the militias in Basra have a right to control the city. They don’t. The government of Prime Minister al-Maliki is the legitimate, elected government in Iraq, and even the U.N. says so. As such, al-Maliki and the government, and not the Shiite militia leaders in Basra, have the right to the control of the city. The fact the Shiite militia leaders aren’t giving up without a fight gives al-Maliki every right to use force against them to make them give up.

Look, we need to make sure the Iraqi Security Forces (this also includes the Navy and Air Force) is combat ready before we leave Iraq. If it is not, Iraq could either, a)fall to civil war and become a nation like Afghanistan was before we invaded (probably controlled by a Shiite militia),b)conquered, either militarily or politically (kind of like a satellite state/puppet), or, c)a combination of both. In any of those circumstances, not only is the United States at risk, but so are are allies in the region, such as Israel. Also, I think we should have some permanent bases in the country too, like we have in South Korea, one in or by Baghdad, one on the Iranian border, one in the Anbar province, and one on the Persian Gulf coast. This will greatly enhance the chances of installing a democratic and permanent Iraqi state.

Posted by: Don Corleone | March 28, 2008 12:25 AM

Somebody's been hitting the crack pipe. Wow.

Haven't we learnt anything from history? We must withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan.