bring em home yesterday.

This is crazy...four different bills for withdrawal dates!  As a DEM, I want my leadership to pound a stake in the ground and fight to the bitter end for a specific date.  I support leaving some forces behind for presence, deterrence and pusuance of Al Quaida, but can't we do this from Kuwait or a southern region in Iraq.  Bottom line, get the combat force out my Spring 08.  Period.  Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi must not give in anymore to the WH.

Go Russ, Harry and Nancy!

Bush lied to the american people and made up a war. As a result, 329 americans have been killed in Iraq in the last three months. We will soon reach 4000.  how many more americans have to die before we do something?

Get our men and women out of there now! Enough caving in to crazy George and cowering to evil Dick. Our own country is in shambles and the US should be our focus now. Either Hillary or Obama would do just fine in cleaning up the giant disasterous mess this administration will be leaving.

Over 320 American's killed in 3 months and an average of 5 daily. When is the madness ending? IMPEACH THIS CRAZY FOOL AND HIS SIDEKICKS.

Our soldiers are dieing! This is fact that demands that every effort be made to stop the maddness, I mean full-court press. Articles of impeachment against both bush and chaney, full pressure movement to "stop" the funding, arresting of any potential felons in the government for trial. (rove & gonzales) The law (constitution) and the machinery are there. Pelosi & Reid are just afraid to start up the process. Our soldiers deserve nothing less.

So much for the right-wing argument that their has not been another 911 attack on us because we are fighting them over their....DUH! THEY ARE KILLING US DAILY LIKE SHOOTING DUCKS. Send the evil Cheney he might just shoot some of them in the face.  

W's last remaining defense of keeping the troops in Iraq, is to keep terrorists out of the US.  This loses cred, when you look at what almost happened in London yesterday.  Britain's pretty close to our back yard.  We need money spent on security here, not there.

Congress passed a law requiring the Pentagon to inform them on how much money was being spent on Iraq. President Bush issued a signing statement rescinding that measure.

5 GIs killed in latest attack, bringing U.S. toll to 329 for the past 3 months:
Not good enough Harry and Nancy. Get some goddamned backbone and get it done. 5 families, 5 sons or daughters, mothers or fathers. Several children, won't know their parents. Several wives or husbands are feeling the dull empty ache in their chests that will always be there. Multiply that times 720.
How do we tell them why! What do we tell them was gained! Are you going to do that? Certainly won't be the stupid SOB in the White House who sent them to their death FOR NOTHING!
I don't care about your political problems getting it done! I don't care what you loose or give up to get it done! I just don't want to see another 1000 sons never grow to be fathers because of political expediency.
So take a position. Take it now. Give no ground and offer no respect to these criminal a**holes.
Call them names, call them out. Walk out of the Senate! Shut it down! If you don't have the votes in the halls of power then go into the street and call us to join you. I'll bet you'd get a big response. It's been awhile since we have been inspired by our elected officials. Inspire us. LEAD!

Right on Gary Schear.  

Gary Schear, a song for you." reach out I'll Be There"-Four Tops

Confused message.Worse delivery.''Some forces left behind for security''.This is patent BS.What is ''some''?If ''security''canot be maintained with what we have there now,how will it be maintained with ''some''forces left behind?No dice.Iraq will become a Mookie/al Qaeda lake,with its tributaries spreading to other portions of the Middle East.This will be no ''strategic redeployment''.It will be Gallipoli.The price we as a nation and as a world we will yet pay is still to be determined,but it will be a high one,of this there is little to no doubt.

Ther is no sense in continuing this war in Iraq, if we can't target the REAL cause of the fighting: AlSadr, The maniac Iranian leader, and whoever the head of the Sunni and remnant Baathist leader(s) are.

Kill all of them, and see if the bloodshed stops.
If not, bring all our boys home ASAP: why put our soldiers' lives on the line when we are not willing to fight CORRECTLY and decisively?

Gary: you were right : this is 'Nam 1970.

All you guys seem to be able to comment on is casualties. IT IS A WAR ZONE, there going to be death and carnage. And what is all this WE are in a war, WE are fighting, the last time I checked it was the brave soldiers that have and are presently fighting in a war. Only about .1% of the entire population of the US is either in or associated with the military in some way. Most people in this country does not know or have any family members, friends etc. involved, so they go on with their daily lives except for throwing in a "because its in style" jab at he POTUS or the war. Most people that protest have no inclination of whats really going on in the world.

Amen, Gary.

in the middle thanks for admitting you dont know whats going on.

To paraphrase John Kerry, who will name the last American soldier to die in Iraq? The MSM has become,over the years, a mouthpiece for the bush admin.Parroting whatever they say as if it were the gospel.If the media will not ask questions to power then who? Could you see bush-cheney against the British press? Talk about wilting under pressure. By the way, I lost all respect for David Gregory when I saw him dancing with roveand co. at the press dinnber. That shows you the discoonect in this nation.

I knew, as did any reasonable thinking person, that the issue of funding for and withdrawal of our troops in Iraq would resurface as we got closer to the end of the fiscal year.
I'm glad they are taking this particular tact, I applaud their stick-to-itive-ness, and their resolve.
I hope they stand firm on the withdrawal dates this time, and I have a hunch that they will.

Jus sayin: First of all you dont know me. I have 2 Purple Hearts and 24 yrs active duty to show what I know about war. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

ayep, I have no doubt that our inability  to find bin Laden al Zwahiri and Mullah Omar and our inability to follow up on the arrest warrant we issued against al-Sadr has shown that the current administration has not followed through time and time again.Spew the fear, no diplomacy ,but by gosh by golly, you Americans should still be afraid because we did not follow through with our promises.As for inthemiddledogearedchrisdidwegfindbinladenyet

In the Middle-How can you patronize people who are against this war as having no inclinations about what's going on in the world? Shrub probably could not tell us the difference between Shia and Sunni; do you?. Did you know that Alexander the Great did not succeed in conquering what is presently Iraq? Do you know how the Baath party started? I suggest you stay in the middle of Texas because I AM SURE YOU HAVE NOT TRAVELED ABROAD and read a history book in years.

IntheMiddle, folks are not protesting because "it's in style".  It's simply because they care.  I don't have cancer, but I care about cancer research.  I don't live in poverty, but I care about those who do.  I would be concerned about this unjustified invasion and nightmare occupation, even if my son and nephew were not serving.  Thank you for your service.

IntheMiddle, Do you think we are in this war because Iraq attacted us first? I see your point. Death and carnage is okay because IT IS A WAR ZONE! A WAR ZONE created by bush/dick!

I should think that someone with two purple hearts and 24 years of active duty, would know that this war was not neccesary. All of these lives lost because of lies and the Bush and Cheney agenda. And that person has to know that we can't win this war anyway, so it will be all for not.

  Just remember everyone how is keeping this war going. The republicans in the White House and congress. They are the ones that have stopped Harry and Nancy from shutting this down. Without veto proof majorities , the republicans can turn down all offers to end the war. They only want to extend the war for their poilitical gain. They do not care about our soldiers in Iraq. They are more worried about their legacy and the republican party. Republicans only care about themselve and the party. So remember which party is blocking an end to this war and DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET THEM OUT OF OFFICE.

Well said Mel. I will move to Canada before I let my 16 year old die in a war that was based on LIES. I support 100% being in Afganistan which is slowly being lost again to the Taliban and the true TERRORIST.

Mel: that's what I like about you:
Thoughtful, loathe to personally insult another, and possessing the right blend of respectful and objective disagreement when discussing such a volatile and painful subject as Iraq, with a member/veteran of a foreign war, all the while with your family members in the fight.

InTheMiddle: thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Thanks, Juan and jtb,  there are days though when I have to spackle the walls from spitting all those nails.

 I agree with jtb, Mel that was an awesome response. After reading Mel's article and having people in Iraq: I honestly could say I would take it to personally. I really can not add to what jtb already said. It is making me reflective on how I will post in the future. I want to be more like mel in my responses.

Juan: This is what Im talking about. Apparently you cant read, if you could you would have seen that I served 24 yrs. I would think that a person in SF for 17 of those has been abroad many times. Anyone can google Iraq and come in here like they know history. Just like a liberal; trying to prove how smart he/she is. If you want to move to Canada, go ahead. Shows what kind of American you truly are.

Ollie: Which war is totally necessary in history? People were against WWII but Roosevelt pushed on. I ask was WWII waged because of the Roosevelt agenda? Did Hitler attack us? Was the Korean war because of Truman's agenda? China didnt attack us. And what about Vietnam, Grenada, Panama Invasion (Just cause), Desert Shield/Storm, Somalia, Haiti, Cuba, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Your question of winning is problematic. The American people are accustomed to sanitized and quick conflicts but dont understand an insurgency. Tidbit: Desert Storm never ended, we had a seize fire in place, and the agreement was if he violated anything agreed upon we would immediately escalate the war again. We in the military has trained to re-enter Iraq since 91' We were just waiting on a President that would let us loose. If you can remember the First Bush lost the presidency in part because of his reluctance to crush Iraq and it would have been easier because we had a lot more troops.

Gee whiz, you guys,  I feel like I'm the Prom Queen again. :-)

Hey, how about giving the Tigris and Euphrates back to the Ottomans/Turks?

anybody got a BETTER idea?

IntheMiddle, I do thank you for your service. I do believe that some wars are justified. To me however, I don't think we are better off by invading Iraq. We were lied to about the reason for going in. Weapons of mass destruction was what we were told, when the reports did not support this. I also think this is a civil war and we will never be able to stop Sunni from fighting Shia. This war will not be won or over, so why get men killed. God Bless you.

IN the muddle who the hell wants to KNOW about war.
WAR is death and destruction and lives ruined forever.
War is not the way to glory , it is plastic legs and wheelchairs, no legs and wheel chairs. war is no BODY.
It is little children asking where is daddy, when is daddy coming home?
War is the worst when I have to say ,"daddy is not ever coming home."
10000 purple hearts will not mend broken hearts. WASTE.

In the middle:  Regarding your first comment - Your math is a little off.  This is copied and pasted from wikipedia: "Approximately 1,426,713 personnel are currently on active duty in the military with an additional 1,259,000 personnel in the seven reserve components".  That means that almost %1 of the population is actually in the military.  That’s already ten times more than your .1%, and that’s not including parents, siblings, kids, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, etc.  I’m sure a lot more people are affected by this war then you think.

IntheMiddle, please do not lump all those apposed to this war in the same category. A friend of mine was shot down during WWII and was a prisoner of war at Stalag 17.  I would not question his patriotism.  He tears up when he thinks of the mess in Iraq.  He says, "bring them home yesterday."  The only one of my military friends that still supports the war served during Viet Nam, but he spent his entire tour in Germany and never saw combat.  Since you were in the SF, surely you are tough enough to present your viewpoint without insults.  You swore an oath to protect our constitution, and put your life on the line for it and I truly appreciate that.  We are not lesser Americans if we disagree with you or with the administration.  We love our country and want it to be an even better place for our children.  

jtb, Turkey probably doesn't want it because then they would have an even larger population of Kurds.

I, for one, am very tired of being told my many on the right that if I oppose this war, that I am not a patriot, that I can't support the troops and still oppose this war. We were lied to about the reasons for the war (which I didn't believe at the time). We invaded a country that had done nothing to us except that they "might" do so. After all, who has more MWDs that this country--except perhaps Russia. Don't tell me that I can't oppose this war because I don't have a close relative fighting. My family is large and I don't know all of them.  Perhaps I do have someone serving.

InTheMiddleofTexas. Should you rembember that like Pearl Harbor, the Germany war it was the Japs that sank our Navy ships in Pearl Harbor and the German u-boats sank our merchant marine fleet in the North Atlantic. Your two purple heart and your wounds gives you right the dispute those of us who are against this illegal war.

If you want to acesse blame on Desert Strorm, anyone it would be the UN as they only gave the resolution to force the Iraqi troops out of Kuwati and did not give permission to go after the Saddam Hussein regime. Then there is the matter that no one wants to remember is that Saudia Arabian told the Clinton Administration that our troops were not welcome in the "Holy Land" as the Momoarchy feared Osama Bin Laden more than they valued our money for oil.

With no established military presents and no Embassy in the Middle East the only logical place for a invasion was Iraq. The poorest, weakest defenceless and most contained country in the Middle East. Just like fish in a barrel, only they forgot one thing, it was the "Cinco de Mayo" effect of invading another country. It took nearly 7 years to finally have a purpose to invade the Middle East and that being Afghanistan, as a result of failed information about the imminate attack on US soil the PDBs of Jul. 10, 2001 and Aug. 6, 2001 were disregarded and much to the suprise of Americans, Bin Laden hit the USA just where it hurts most. In the middle of Texas, do you know where else he would have struct, surely not in Texas but in the heart of the world Financial capital of the world with eighty-eight nations doing business around the world. 82% of the world was with this nation going into Afghanistan and after Bin Laden.

Now after 6 years he is still running loose and the efforts by this lunkhead has shut down the agency to find him.  Iraq was in the sights along before this invasion, as the Judy Miller NYTimes reporter embedded with the Pentagon for over 12 years had classified information that was fradulant to only parroted the Petnagon, Cheney and Ahmad Chalibi. Then to make matters worse this adfminisration vented Valeria Plame name as a covert agent just to cover up the pre Sept. 11, 2001 attack of the WTC. nearly three years wasted by Patrick Fitzgerald on this bogus story about this to discredit Joe Wilson. The lies and misinformation that was from the very beginning about "Not a Nation Builder" was just to keept the public off guard as to the real intentions. So if your content as to people dieing in Iraq you should blame these people for the lost of 3,577 lives.  Imagine John McCain saying that planes are being fired upon in the "NO FLY ZONE". Imagine a AK47 chances to hitting a 600/mph F-16 jet.  Why is this administration so upset about that "ULTRA SECRET COLOSSAL EMBASSY" that the plans were revealed just weeks ago. Charles J. Henley wrote articles for the Associated Press about "a longer stay in Iraq for our troops" and another about the "SUPER SECRET ULTRA MOST MODERN TIGHTER SECURITY THAN THE VATICAN OF A LARGE PORTION OF THE GREEN ZONE"  This was March 26, 2006 and May 15, 2006 in the Boston Globe and Providence Journal.  inthemiddleoftexas your are moderately confussed by the FOX NOISE CHANNEL as to the real world "Rudbert Murdock will sell anything and everyone just to control the world.  You and Jerry/Corpus/Christi should be the ones to get ther heads out of the sand.  This administration had never any intentions of ever leaving the Middle East. My way of thinking is it is for "OIL" and break that down as to the letters of that stand for "O" is for the oil reserves in Iraq, "I" is for the support, defence and protection of Israel and last but not lease is "L" is for the land grab which was lost when the Monarchy asked our government to leave the "Holy Land".  Senator Ernest Hollis D-SC said in '04 while retiring from the Senate "This nation is in a "Holy War" between the Christians,Jews against the Islamic, Muslum nation and it will be a long and bloody struggle" and no one knows just how it will turn out.

To those who appauded the decision to scrape the Comprehensive Immigration Bill by letting you Senator or Comgressman know your opposition, the work has now just begun.  On the nations 231st Birthday of the Declararion of Independence July 4th, 2007 everyone who thinks this administration has trampled on our Constitution and Bill of Rights should take to the streets and observe a "NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST AGAINST THE UNJUST TREATMENT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS USED AGAINST THE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT LAND.  inthemiddleofTexas, what would you have done if along with those four aircraft, there would have been thousands of invaders bound and determined to take away our Freedom.  Tell me this wasn't planned and I'll sell you swamp land that rain is producing in Texas. Keep your feet dry and get a life boat as for the next 5 day you are going to get more. Are you near Marble Falls, good luck, keep your power dry for the next invasion. Tell me just what the "Hell" are you talking about when you mention SF?

IntheMiddle, I just noticed your comment about HW Bush not letting the military loose during Desert Storm. That's a Republican talking point that has developed since 1991, not during. As someone who ended up within direct fire range of the 'highway of death' I never heard anyone there talking about going to Baghdad. The most ambitious plan we heard was moving II MEF to Basra (just across the border) to cut-off additional routes out of the theater. Maybe the Army was misinformed, but the Marines went there knowing the job was to push Iraqi forces out of Kuwait, period. As a sub-objective, we also wanted to diminish the Iraqi ability to launch subsequent invasions, so we were dismayed at how quickly some of their corps left the theater. As a point of Service pride, our top guy there told your top guy there the plan would do just that - that the Marines would act like a piston rather than a fixing attack. The CINC didn't believe we could, so he dismissed the advice. Anyway, my point is that we finished the job. Its just not the job that neocons later decided they wanted us to do. HW Bush never had any thoughts of launching an actual invasion of Iraq, explaining afterwards that it would... well... lead to all the problems we're seeing now. But Dubya had to one-up the old man.

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