And all that after Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have the majority in the congress...

"Over hill over dale we have hit the dusty trail
As our caissons go rolling along." -- Caisson song

Come September Paetreus will tell the Shrub that the surge is beginning to work and another increase of troops will be needed to sustain the so call progress. The ego maniac will with his typical smirk say that the general is doing a heck of job and is only following through on his recommendations.....while Iraq continues to bleed/burn our soildiers die, gutless congress on summer vacation along with the Iraq do nothings and our pathetic commander in thief clearing brush in Crawford.

Juan..your proficies will come true. You just painted the exact picture of what is going to happen. Cheney is already setting the stage too.

Yiannis-As long as the Rupugs continues on their obstructionist ways and put party/Shrub loyalty First than their pocket's second nothing will get accomplished.Furthmore, our majority in the Senate is minus 1 because Johnson has not returned yet and Liberman is a joke who might as well be a Republican.  

What's the point unless we have a political solution to work towards?

My family member is being sent to Iraq in November also my neighbors child.The surge will continue as planned----Bush is a liar and P is just taking orders from this thug in chief.Oh my God it will take too long and be too dangerous for our troops to leave Iraq so lets just keep sending more to be murdered by the missing weapons.To those that voted for this bleeding scab on america may you all go to Hell.

Yiannis - a majority is not the same as a veto safe majority.  That is the problem the De are having right now - there are too many republicans who blindly follow the shrub without question.  A majority only really works if you have veto over-ride majority.  I am hopeful some republicans will join the democrats on this issue, I think they will soon, 2008 is coming around fast and no one wants to be responsible for continuation of this disaster.

Is it Pelosi or Pelosey??

HMT: Your emotional extravaganza is as illogical as it is unwarranted. The two persons that you described volunteered. They were not forced at the point of a gun to sign on the dotted line. You thought perhaps that they would be stationed in the Hollywood military. Hawaii maybe. There is a war on, as has been said, and I suspect that these two[like my nephew now serving with the 82nd in Iraq], knew it. And yet volunteered. This says reams about their mettle.  

This administration needs to recognize the war in Iraq is a complete failure and mistake.  Not only are the lives of the American people not secured, more threats and terror are further fueled by this government.  There are also more critical issues that affecting the lives of millions of americans and people world wide, that our president is not taking actions against. Now the war has proven to be a failure and is causing more violence, terror and poverty in this world.  According to the Borgen Project, it only takes $19 billion dollars annually to eradicate world hunger and poverty.  However, our government has already spent more than $450 billion dollars over this fruitless war in Iraq.  It is time for the Bush Administration to take a real interest in the lives of the American people as well as people who are in desperate needs around the world.  Stop the lies and stop poverty now.  Put away the arrogance and put the needs of the people before political gains.

If the surge is a means to an end and not a goal itself, then it can only be deemed a success if the final goal is achieved.  The goal was not to temporarily suppress violence (which it hasn't) but it was to give the Iraqi government time to reconcile and establish a true unity government.

I find it reprehensible that the Republicans in the Congress, the President, the Vice President and the members of his military team are saying the surge is working because only 75 American troops and thousands of Iraqis are dying each month.  Apparently they keep changing the story as to who it is we are fighting, who is to blame for the political failures and what the measure of success is.

The president claims that most of the violence is due to Al-Qaeda in Iraq however the military commanders now say that 75 % of the attacks on Americans are from Shite militias.  We are arming Sunni insurgents, shite militias, and using special forces against the Kurds and then are saying it is Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the boogie man that is responsible for all the trouble.

We lost 200,000 weapons, oil is being stolen and sold to support militias and crimminal gangs, oil/electricity/nutritional services and medical services are at prewar levels.  Millions have fled the country and the military commander in Bagdad has said that most of the communities in Bagdad are already segregated along sectarian lines and that the Iraqi government agencies and police are in control of Al-Sadr and other Shite militias who have been used to chase Sunnis out of neighborhoods and have refused other Sunni communities electricity, water, medicine, garbage collection etc... Basara which Cheney held up as a success is in turmoil with 3 different Shite groups fighting for the spoils before the British have even left... the Kurds in the North won't fly the Iraqi flag or want to share their oil resources...  Hoe is this termed a success.  Again the American troops have done their job during the surge of trying to suppress violence but now the administration says that we must maintain it till 2009 to give them more time.  They have met no bench marks and there is no indication that they will meet any of them by 2009.  The new head of the Joint Chiefs of staff has said that the surge is not maintainable past 2007 and the British are withdrawing.  We proped up Al-Maliki and called him the head of a democracy even though their are no democratic institutions in place.  This is like the story of the little boy that gets a crate of manure and keeps digging in it because he is convinced that their is a pony in it.  There is no pony.  We must change course to a Biden or the Iraqi workgroup solutions.

Wow, troops in Iraq at their highest level.  Well that's okay, Iraq attacked us, didn't they.  Wait, what's that --- 19 hijackers, 15 of them Saudi's, not one an Iraqi.  Hey, I trust my government, they know who attacked us.  It was probably the liberal media that planted the story that it was the Saudi's. Hey, what's the big deal Saddam was responsible for 911, isn't that what the Vice President said.  He's a good honest man and I believe him. Pooey to all you liberals that spread the lies that it was Saudi's that attacked us.  Gee, I'm glad there's that many troops in Iraq, that's payback for them attacking us.  All of you agree with me send me a line.  Hey, how come no one's sending me a line?  Believe me that's the truth, right Rush, isn't it Hannity.  Damn liberals  

Yiannis - You comment a lot here, so you should know better than to say something like that.  It's not enough to have a simple majority; that is not going to get your legislation passed, especially in the Senate where they have to deal with filibusters.  Not to mention the presidential veto - they need a supermajority to override that, and neither the House nor the Senate have those kinds of numbers.  It's better to be in the majority than the minority, but being in the majority in no way guarantees that you will get your legislation through.  

All - I spoke the same language about a veto proof maj some time back. Where Iraq is concerned, I've changed my mind.

The Ds may not have a veto proof majority but they do have the ability to send NO bill forward for signature. Hell, Clinton shut down the whole government until his bills were signed. Let's try that and see what happens.

Simply DO not send a bill forward. Let the money run out. Before you get excited about the soldiers on the ground going hungry or anything, keep in mind that funding bills look forward - they do not apply to current state.

There will always be the option of the Rs and the President signing bills to bring them home - so let's do that.

Once that is approved, separate bills to establish necessary ongoing presence for border security and training purposes can be negotiated. Only AFTER the occupation has officially been defunded.

Do it Congress.

I think the Democrats have failed personally. They seem to be unable to change the strategy or reign in Bush's war policy in the least bit. Not only that, they have failed to communicate to the American public why the current strategy won't work(no pressure on congressmen). Look at the reports of Basra after the Brits have pulled out. It's not terrorists that are the major problem, there is factional in-fighting.

"Ain't that the way
Whenever you think you're in control
Everything turns around
Ain't that the way
One day you're flying
Next day you're on the ground
Ain't that the way

So it goes
You never know what's gonna happen
You never know, but something always does
and sometimes in quiet desperation
You realize it's never gonna be the way it was"
"Ain't That The Way"-Carole King

Juan, good description of what will happen.  Left unsaid is that the MSM and the chattering class will all be surprised that things are going so well and immediately fall right in line with the propaganda campaign.  Goebbels would be proud.

The shrub must be impeached.

Pelosi,  Have a great day informed!

When are the Republicans going to wake up and start supporting the American people and stop supporting the Republican President????  They fought against him on immigration, I just wish they had as much guts to fight against him on the Iraq war, Gonzales, patriot bill, wireless phone tapping, etc. etc. For the life of me, I can't figure out why the Republicans continue to support George Bush!  What has he ever done for them?  

We sure don't have a problem getting troops into Iraq, just can't seem to figure out how to work in reverse - bring them home.

Thanks H P

Juan in Ft. Lauderdale wrote, "Come September Paetreus will tell the Shrub that the surge is beginning to work and another increase of troops will be needed to sustain the so call progress. The ego maniac will with his typical smirk say that the general is doing a heck of job and is only following through on his recommendations..."

I think it's ridiculous that the Republicans in this country put forth so much effort to pat Bush on the back for his "great resolve" regarding the War in Iraq.  Had Bill Clinton been in charge and created the exact same circumstances, they would say "The Surge" is just his feeble attempt to generate some short term, "Good News" to cover up the abject failure of his military policy.

For any President, Clinton or Bush, there is a line between having "resolve" and "being resolute in your principals" on the one side, and simply being "out of touch with reality" on the other.  It's clear that Bush has lost touch with reality a long, long, time ago.

When Petreus gives his assessment in September, he will be playing beautifully into the larger script which the Bush Administration has crafted.  The purpose of the surge, from the very beginning, was to create, for the news media, some semblance of good news, even if it's a ruse.  They simply need a modicum of success, that they can put on a pedestal and then pat themselves on the back.  Once they complete their self adulation and congratulation on  a job well done, they do what they should have done 3 years ago.  They cut and run.

Starve the Military out of Iraq!  It's the only way the D's can restore my faith in them.  Don't make me vote only I this election!

Last weekend I was asked by a friend of my son's---he's 24, going back to Iraq for his third deployment and describes himself as "drinking my way through this waiting time so I won't have to think about what might happen"---to share a shot or twoof his whiskey.  I don't often drink, but I did then, comenting that "I'm doing more for you as a soldier than the chickenhawk nitwits at the White House ever did!"  He agreed, and told me that his PARENTS were springing for the kind of serious armor for him the Army won't provide them. Think about this a minute, folks; the middle class is being taxed for lost guns, lost money and an about-to-be-lost, wasteful war---and THEN, they have to buy their kid the armor the Army ("the one you have, not the Army you would like to have")won't.  There's your General Betrayus Sept 15th report; "Things're going great, Congress---as long as the soldiers' parents buy their kids the right armor!"  And the gutless Dems will once again cave in and say, "Gung-Ho!!"

Do not fall for the We can not get them home stuff.  We get them out the same way we got them in,
PLANES.  BIG PLANES.
Fill em ,bring em, empty em.
 Send them back,
fill em again...I asked a seven year old how to do it and HE knew.
It is time to cut funding, stop the bills.
THE POWER OF THE PURSE BELONGS TO THE HOUSE! CUT THE FUNDS OFF.
We will support all of you in the House, just do it.
DO it as soon as the August recess is over, it way past time.

lee holmes, have you asked an Iraqi or any of the countries that are receiving an influx of Iraqi refugees if the "surge" "dunce in chief's plan" is working?  I suspect not.

Lee Holmes it's true they volunteered. But even those who partake a military career deserves leadership who will use them wisely, have their well being in mind first(which I personaly think has not happened), and not squander resources. Failure to do so breeds contempt, fatigue, and distrust..eventually eroding our armed forces. My sister is in the Navy and they are training her to be another boot on the ground for either Iraq or Afghanistan. I have had several national gaurd co-workers deployed to Baghdad. A friend who suffered a blast injury. I must say their attitude does not waver b/c they know what they signed up for, but their sentiments are they hope their leadership is doing/will do the right thing after awhile.

You Democrats just will not have a leg to stand on when it comes out that the surge worked.  

Glad to see Pelosi and Reid are both on board with this.

"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" BRING OUR TROOPS HOME THIS INSTANT !

Carrie, Eastern Iowa and

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana and

nuanced

(and any others interested in Universal Health Care)

Need some legal expertise on a discussion re UHC. Care to join in?

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/05/304722.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage

Thanks

Let's see...Al-Qaeda in Iraq is responsible for most of the attacks, right? No? The Shiite militias then? Maybe? Al-Qaeda is Sunni, right? Iran is sending fighters too, and those are Shiite, correct? And Syria is helping Iran? But wait, isn't Syria mostly Sunni? And one reason we are there is to save the poor, oppressed Kurds, is that right? As long as we're allowed to kill the bad ones. And those are the Shiites, or is it the Sunnis? Who's on first?

Juan, I have family in South Dakota and they told me a couple of weeks ago that Tim Johnson is planning on coming back in September.  He'll still be using a scooter to get around and he speaks slowly, but to paraphrase what his son said, he has to think before he speaks which should be a refreshing change in Washington.

Carrie/Eastern Iowa

What is it you wanted to sign up for?

So lets say the surge is working ,why didnt we add troops earlier ? Why dont more troops make sense if putting in the surge is working add more to the surge and then when thier time is up draft the rest of these young republican chicken hawks and send em over there to rotate the troops out otherwise your leavin g iraq because you dont have any troops left to fight with either way you can thank the bush administration for identifying the problem and making it worse.

Juan is absolutely right in his prediction.  Betrayus will say "We're doing great!" (even though there may be no Iraqi govt by then), the gutless Dems'll once again cave in, and the media, the lapdog of the Propaganda Machine,  will report Betrayus's lies as if they were gospel truth. Remember, Johnson inched his way into the troop committments of the Vietnam war like this too (see Pentagon Papers). But, hey, we're more interested in what happens on Desparate Housewives, right?

This is shamefull, this DECIDER is a Dictator and he has done nothing but harm ALL over the world.

Lee, what war do you speak of ? The war of lies, get a grip old man and join the service if you support the chimp, HMT continue to speak out, this war is a sham we are not any safer, at 12 billion dollars a month, and countless lives lost. Just cause someone volunteered they have no says,as to what the idiot-in-charge doing ?  By not speaking up your killing and damaging the future of our youth.    

Class Warrior, there is a company here in Oregon that makes a much superior helmet liner than the regular issue liner.  Field grade officers, VIP's and special ops troops get that liner while everyone else gets the lessor quality liner.  Troops and their families use their Visa cards to buy the good one.  Oh, and by the way, the good liner costs just $17 more than the standard issue. I wonder how much it costs to treat a soldier with brain damage?

Lee Holmes-- Who in the hell do you think you are?!
Who died and left you a judge of what emotional response is appropriate for what occasion?! HMT has family in harms way and is entitled to his opinion on the matter regardless of the opinion of his family members and especially regardless of YOUR over inflated, self righteous pronouncements of everything correct that we lesser beings should be feeling or thinking. God it must be frustrating to have to come down to our level and explain the simplest of truths that our genetic flaws keep us from understanding. Thank you oh wise one for at least attempting to enlighten the thick skulled ones! We are truly not worthy! Umm, Teacher? My spell checker is broke. Do you spell Pompous, H- O- L- M- E- S ?

Troops killed in Iraq in July '06=43.  Troops killed in Iraq in July '07=80.  Tell me again how calm things have gotten.  July has been nearly the lowest number of casualties nearly every year of this fiasco because it's dangerously hot out.  Especially when you're handling unstable, exlposive IEDs.  If you'll recall part of the rationale for rushing to war was so we could be done before our troops had to fight in the oven of summer.  War apologists want to know what opponents will do if the surge works.  I'd like to know what makes you think it's working?

Those Democrats that voted to give the President enhanced means to spy upon American citizens do not deserve to be re-elected.
Those that voted for this bill - without many reading it - are just as egocentric as the President.
They all need to be involuntarily retired.

PLEASE DON'T SEND ANYMORE TROOPS...THANKS

Gary I second your post to THE H O L M E S.

I don't know who I read less, Lee or jerry. A tie I think.

HP: I don't know who I read less, Lee or jerry. A tie I think.


BTW H P, what color is the sky in your tiny little world?

I heard yesterday on the Ed Schultz show (I think he was quoting CNN) that the average Baghdadi is down to one hour of electricity per day.  Isn't it just great how well the Surge (euphamism for "escalation") has worked?  

Yet the Dems in Congress (both houses) continue to roll over and play dead every time Bush's boys and girls propose new funding for the war and/or abridgment of our freedoms in order to keep us "safe."  Everyone's afraid of the Swift Boat 30-second commercial: "[so-and-so] voted to cut off funds for the troops..." or "...voted to keep the President from apprehending terrorists..."

It's time for those we voted for in 2006 to step to the plate and say enough is enough. Otherwise I think we should all vote against all incumbents in 2008, regardless of party affiliation.

The troop level does not tell the whole story of numbers, cost or casualties.  We have a huge number of contractors such as Blackhawk which is the largest with a contract of $800 million and several others. This only serves to worsen the situation.  Has anyone ever stopped to think why all this is being done while it is so obvious it is only worsening the problems in the middle East?

Hello everyone, I just got done reading all your comments and found them interesting.
I am a senior in college in Minnesota.  I have a boyfriend who is finishing up his AIT trainging right now.  I can't wait for him to come home after being gone for 6 months, but am scared out of my mind that he will be deployed soon after he comes home.  I friek out sometimes and go on line trying to figure out the chances of him being deployed soon after he gets home, and well there isn't anything.  I guess that is to be expected, but I just wish there was some why I could find out.  
By the way, I do not approve of the war and what is going on in Iraq. Maybe this doesn't not fit the topic, but I would like anyones thoughts on the chances of him being send when he gets home in October.  
Having him gone these pasted 6th months have been the heardest months ever, I can't imagine having him gone in Iraq where I really have to worry about him.  Let me know what you think....

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