Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka, was cited by Washington Post columnist George Will as an example of “the war-is-irretrievable faction” of Congress. He reported how Boyda left a hearing of the Armed Services Committee “because retired Gen. Jack Keane was saying things Boyda thinks might ‘further divide this country,’ such as that Iraq’s ’schools are open. The markets are teeming with people.’” He quoted Boyda explaining: “There is only so much you can take until we in fact had to leave the room for a while . . . after so much of the frustration of having to listen to what we listened to.”
Will was equally critical of militant war supporters in Congress who desperately grasp at any evidence that the tide is turned in Iraq.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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20 Comments
Call me crazy but I think success would be when civilians aren’t getting their limbs blown off anymore. Markets will be open because people need food. Schools have always been open but students and teachers get slaughtered. It’s no surprise that some murders are down after entire cities have been ethnically cleansed but it’s not like American involvement is responsible.
Somehow I doubt we’ll be hearing any facts. Even since the occupation started we’ve been hearing the chant of progress. We’ve had four years of progress where nothing changes so why should we expect more progress to be any different than last year’s progress?
“He reported how Boyda left a hearing of the Armed Services Committee “because retired Gen. Jack Keane was saying things Boyda thinks might ‘further divide this country,’ such as that Iraq’s ’schools are open. The markets are teeming with people.’” ”
Gee, ya think Keane meant markets like THIS one?:
“Thursday’s attacks were preceded by another attack in Muqdadiya also in Diyala province on Wednesday evening, when a suicide bomber wearing an explosives-filled belt blew himself up among a crowd in a market, killing 16 and wounding 30, state-run al-Iraqiya TV reported.”
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=28c36b34-74ee-4509-add6-3870e4895135&&Headline=Twenty-five+Iraqis+killed+in+attack+near+Baquba
. . .or maybe this (ahem)”school”?
“US detains nearly 800 juveniles in Iraq
BAGHDAD: US troops are holding nearly 800 children and teenagers on a Baghdad base, boys who are largely illiterate and picked up for planting bombs and now the focus of a multi-million-dollar education project.”
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C08%5C24%5Cstory_24-8-2007_pg4_12
Five minutes on Google News.
Maybe THIS is what Boyda is really concerned about:
“After a news conference on a proposed teacher tax deduction, U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., said the surge of troops in Iraq cannot logistically be sustained.
“Militarily we have worked ourselves into a corner,” said Boyda, whose district includes western Lawrence. “We do not have the capacity to keep on going in this way.”
“The whole point of the surge was to create enough space so that this burgeoning democracy could take hold, and in fact that has not been the case,” she said.”
And it looks like she has company:
“And concerns about the situation in Iraq also came from U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, a Republican.
““We need to see evidence that the Iraqi government can function, and to date we have seen little to that effect,” Moran said after a news conference in Topeka about law enforcement funding.
Moran said that the U.S. military presence is at its limit.
“Our troops, whether they are active, reserve or guard, are overstayed and overworked,” he said.”
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/aug/23/kansas_representatives_see_need_change/
Thank you, George Will, for another enlightening commentary. What WOULD we do without you??
Some make light or damnation of the good news, but there should be good news! It needs to be put in prospective, as life endeavors to go on. I have always expected to hear that there is some good things happening. But also the good news need to looked at in a bigger picture, as I said of the surge. If you focus on one area and use over kill on security AND there is no good news than something would be totally wrong! But you can not hold to a scrape of good news while the rest of the country is failing.
Here’s some Good News, Everyday there are more markets in Iraq in which more shoppers don’t get blown to pieces, than shoppers in Iraq that do get blown to pieces!Or Everyday there are more citizens that aren’t found dumped at the local dump with signs of torture and decapitated, than are! Ain’t Iraq Great, George would be proud of me, I might even become the new Bush PollyAnna. Senator Roberts permitting, of course.
Perhaps George Will would like to go to Iraq and live there for a year.
You know, live with the common folk, and then report back how much progress has been made.
Maybe it was because the picture being spoon fed was inaccurate?
Besides, wasn’t it Boyda who said we must stand behind and support our President after she was elected on a change platform? I believe it was.
Question, why is a retired General being the one to put forth this ‘good news’ in the first place. Shouldn’t it come from the non-retired Generals who are supposed to be giving their reports to congress?
The good news about Iraq is this- as long as we are patrolling Bagdhad 24/7 with 160,000 troops, they will not fight. The second we leave they will fight. So we can never leave it appears. My guessing is that the Republicans can keep a lid on it until they can con Congress into yet another $100 billion for Halliburton.
“Perhaps George Will would like to go to Iraq and live there for a year.
You know, live with the common folk, and then report back how much progress has been made.”
Better yet send Jenna and her new soon to be husband there for their honeymoon. I hear Bagdhad is very romantic. They can stay outside the green zone and no soldiers with them. Just total privacy all by themselves!
This war in Iraq is so similar to Viet Nam, that I have often wondered why there has been such a force behind “Support the troops”. It has finally dawned on me, that the only difference between the two is the lack of the draft. Institue the Draft and once again the colleges will riot, the troops will become maligned, and “cut and run” will no longer be a bad slogan.
Boyda has flipped flopped so many times. Perhaps that is why she left the room. She had to find out what she should say this time.
This war would have been over if there had been a draft. The way it is now, if bush decided that the 160,000 troops over there were to have their tours extended for the duration, he’d have the support of our Senators, and the majority of the Republicans!
LJ
There are very few similarities to the VN war.
There are big differences. Our participation in VN did not incite an insurgency or civil war. Our goals were different. Troop strength in country at one time exceeded 500,000. Our presence in VN didn’t spawn attracting terrorists to the country. There is little / no oil in VN.
Kev
I hear the “Honeymoon” hot spot in Iraq is Kirkut.
Doug & Rage–
Great posts.
At some point, even the mainstream-media beliving sheeple will realize that George F. Will can’t think himself out of a paper bag.
Hopefully this war will not only bring down the leaders who backed it, but also the propaganda machine that enabled it: Fox “News” (hahaha), Robert Nofacts, Bill O’Slimey, Rush “Anal Cyst” Limbaugh, George F. Will-Never-Actually-Fight Himself.
Go tell Pat Tillman’s family how great things are going over there and see how long they stay in the room.
Boyda has only secured State employee pentions and refuses to assist or represent Kansas Citizens. She is a Pharmaceutical Company Politician. Phil Kline owns part of GlaxoSmithKline the Pharm company. Boydas Husband was in the Marine Corps with Keith Gary Sebelius, the Governors Husband. All Boyda is doing is securing Federal Funds for HCA and Pharm Companies. She is an idiot in how she lies and rejects our Democracy. Next in line for her job is State treasurer Jenkins. Racketeering or what??? Herb West III, Publisher/Journalist, west.herb@yahoo.com
Never let the facts confuse the issue, reality is relative, and what we refuse to hear or see is not reality.Oh yeah, I forgot, “it all depends on what the definition of the word “is” is.” -author so known.
This is really really old news….didn’t know the Eagle was so behind the times…or Will at that.
Actually go search for the youtube video…half the members of the committee are also missing from the room while the general was speaking….
I was happy that we finally seemed to be coming out of the dark ages repuklican strong hold, but Boyda has disappointed
Boyda might as well be waving a terrorist flag.