F St Louis, hi old blogger. In The Middle used to be Dog Eared Soldier but first posted under the name Chris.He likes his camouflage.

Barbara Anderson, there are wives and parents of soldiers in our Family Readiness Group (an organization for the families in my son's unit) that are unable to deal with the possibility Bush could ever be wrong.  That's the only way they can handle their soldier going off to war.  It's sad to see them at the meetings wandering around asking for people to agree with them. If their soldier doesn't return they can console themselves with the thought his life wasn't lost in vain.  I will have no such consolation if my son is killed.  

Desmond: To clarify. I never posted under the name Chris, even though I happen to be named Christopher. I post under "Dog Faced Soldier" because I was in that particular unit once. IntheMiddle is my sn because Im in the middle of Texas at Hood.

Well, whoever he is, anyone who states that an Admiral has no "time on the ground" isn't Napoleon. And the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs does a lot more than oversee Bush's little desert romp/war crime/corporate kowtow. And Bush needs to "debunk" his own nominee while Congress is out of town? Pure genius - thanks for sharing.

Desmond, our inthemiddle is also NOT a soldier. He sounds and smells like a fraud. The same feeling I get when our president speaks. Thanks for the info. Kinda like what our pathetic Jerry is doing with all his personalities. And Barbara Anderson, I like what you wrote. Bushs war is not winnable. Too many lives wasted and too much of US money going down a black hole, or to friends of Bush.

And In The Middle is stalking Desmond. It's all about Desmond. I've also heard he bought gas at an Exxon Station once.

Jerry/ I agree with you on this one. Something has to be done to shake up the iraqi's into to getting off of their duffs and doing some serious work to become more independent.

Barbara Anderson-too bad Jerry and In the middle in your state can not figure that out themselves.

Well, I'm glad we cleared that up.Guess htere was another Chris who wrote like you.

FStLouis: Who the hell are you to question whether Im a soldier or not. I retired azzhole. end of story

Houston and Barbara: Your cry of ''Bingo''was premature. Houston ignores the fact that along with O'Hanlon,neither Keith Ellison,Minnesotas Muslim Democrat,or John Burns of the New York Times are ''Bush apologists''. Yet they see the Surge working in the same way as does O'Hanlon. Nor are troops holding a region ''only to leave it later''. This is nonsense. US Army and Marine elements are codifying Petraeus'''clear and hold'' to the letter. Ramadi and Baqubah,two of the worst places in Iraq for their positions as al Qaeda Dodge Citys, have seen the usage of a near perfect liason beteen Iraqi forces and those of the US. In Ramadi,now quiet after well over a month,this is how it works.
             Combat soldiers both US and Iraqi in origin ''clear''the city of al Qaeda presence[in Ramadis case,the 4th of the 1st Cav].These leave.[the 1st now in Taji].Yet support units backed by STRYKERS and Iraqi police and Army units including BRADLEYS remain to coordinate the moving of food,water,medicine and restore services. These also enter into political and religious discussion with local tribal leaders and Imams that have effected enduring alliances against al Qaeda. These remain on a constantly rotating system while the Iraqi support troops and police services also stay to allow Iraqi combat units to move on[these are now in Sadr City]. Thus Ramadi[to use but one example],continues to be both cleared as well as held. This recipe is being used in no fewer than four major Iraqi provinces,all successful,all formerly a portion of the most dangerous areas in Iraq. Only the Democrats,seeking to withdraw most or all troops from Iraq will allow chaos,murder and even genocide to rear its head in these areas based upon the venal,pitiful expedient of politics. [see:Todays Washington Post,Interview with Rep.Clyburn[D-NC]. The Surge is working. It is its critics with their heads in the sand. Kudos to O'Hanlon,Pollack,Ellison,Burns,and others for their forthright,accurate viewpoints of the Surge.

Well, if someone beleives that anyone who does not agree with  President Bush should be rounded by the Secret Service, then I guess he is stalking more than just me.

Mike Mullen is a great guy with alot of Smarts.  I served with him on the USS Goldsborough. Give the guy a chance and he will clean up IRAQ. He tells it like it is and has more common sense than anyone I have ever met.  He will may a fine chairman.

How many Americans can afford $ 200,000.00 a "minute" to take a 5 week vacation ? Well that is what it is costing the American taxpayers right now, with the Iraqi Parlement on their 5 week vacation.

If this Admiral isn't just d\saying what he thinks the people want to hear, and then he'll turn around and be a suck-up  to Bush, he'll be fired soon, as all the other generals who talked sense were.
Jerry---that is a BRILLIANT suggestion!  We liberals should all aplogize to you; your plan is a great one.  It's so smart, of course Bush wold never do it.

Now Desmond, you know he was Dog Faced Soldier.

He said "You cannot have a non team player" -- not much disagreement is his family I'll bet. Toe the line or out you go.

Man, you guys are a bunch of fools.  You are taking the admiral's statement out of context.  He said no amount of troops in no amount of time will help without political progress.  He is not contradicting the Bush Admin with that statement, he is simply stating a fact.  

halon, I watched his testimony on C-Span today. He was talking about a "stretched" Army and Navy if we are in Iraq longer than the spring of 2008. Lots of retired Generals to back up that claim.

halon, I watched his testimony on C-Span today. He was talking about a "stretched" Army and Navy if we are in Iraq longer than the spring of 2008. Lots of retired Generals to back up that claim.

ADM Mullen is by far the right man for the job RIGHT NOW. He is NOT A YES man, will tell you exactly what's on his mind and sticks to the facts. I think it's great that Bush doesn't have someone completely in his pocket, but a PROVEN leader. Hopefully Bush will see the value having him a man like this leading the military.

you are so wrong when we sent more troops the death rate did go down. The media makes it sound like crap.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):