The purpose of the military surge in Iraq was to give the Iraqi government some breathing room to reach political solutions. But the new National Intelligence Estimate released Thursdayconcludes not only that there hasn’t been political progress thus far, but that there’s unlikely to be much progress in the near future.
The estimate did determine there has been some measurable improvement in Iraq’s security situation, but that it has been uneven and that violence will remain high during the next six to 12 months. Overall, the estimate confirmed the quandary America is facing: If we continue the surge, there won’t be significant improvement. But if we withdraw, we’re likely to lose what limited progress we have made. Which bad option is better?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Jed on Let immigrants run
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- Regular on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- BlueJay on Open thread 11/23
- Freebird1971 on Open thread 11/23
46 Comments
The one resulting in less American deaths and casualties.
“The purpose of the military surge in Iraq was to give the Iraqi government some breathing room to reach political solutions.”
It worked. They went on vacation.
I suppose that this will be considered Bush bashing, but why did the decider decide to have a surge when the Iraqi politicians were on vacation?
Is he really that out of touch?
I guess we just have to sit there and babysit those folks for the next 20 years. Hopefully the USA will realize that there are limits on what military force can accomplish. The Arabs have been fighting and hating each other for thousands of years. There are times when you just let people fight it out. Eventually either one side or the other wins or- as in the case with Pakistan and India- they just get tired of fighting and find a way to live with one another. Our intervention is only putting off the inevitable. It is like when you have 2 children in grade school that hate each other, are sworn enemies and want to fight. The Principal can stand between them all day but eventually they will find a time and a place to fight.
“The chairman of the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to urge President Bush to cut U.S. troop levels in Iraq next year, the Los Angeles Times said Friday, citing military and administration officials.
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, whose term as chairman expires at the end of September, is expected to contend that keeping significantly more than 100,000 troops in Iraq through next year would severely strain the military and compromise its ability to respond to other threats, the newspaper said.”
It’s time to bring our troops home. Past time. Just DO IT.
Imagine if a foreign army invaded America, overthrew the government, and said they would stay until liberals and conservatives came to a consensus on the abortion issue. What do you think would happen?
After you answer that question, tell me if Bush’s Iraq plan is a smart national security strategy.
Top Republicans agree with Gen. Pace.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/23/AR2007082302291.html?nav=rss_email/components
“…why did the decider decide to have a surge when the Iraqi politicians were on vacation?”
Maybe because this ensured a longer delay. bushco is interested in delaying at least until January 2009 when the mess they made isn’t their problem. Any of the other reasons given (allow time for political solutions…) require you to believe some part of what bushco says. Their past actions and words haven’t given me any reason to trust anything they say or do.
Now they are writing a report to ensure further delay. They can’t fix what they broke but they’re trying hard to deflect the blame they deserve. From what I read here there are some who are as capable of ignoring reality as bushco; luckily their numbers are few.
There will be a bloodbath in Iraq when American troops leave. It’s a given.
If we leave tomorrow, next week, next month, ten years from now, the Iraqis are going to settle old score. America’s continued presens in Iraq will simply chalk up new scores.
And bury more brave American soldiers.
How proud you Bushies must be.
Bush angers Vietnamese over war comments
“Doesn’t he realise that if the US had stayed in Vietnam longer, they would have killed more people?” Vu Huy Trieu of Hanoi, a veteran of the communist forces that fought American troops in Vietnam, said.
“Nobody regrets that the Vietnam War wasn’t prolonged except Bush.”
US troops could never have prevailed in Vietnam, he said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070824/2/149ic.html
The UNdiplomat shows AGAIN his lack of skills and his lack of sense. Oh, the damage bushco is responsible for, the fences that must be mended when an adult takes office. This American is ashamed of everything bushco. Most of us learned some lessons from our past, not bushco.
Remember those bumper stickers posted a couple days ago.
* Bush. Like a Rock, Only Dumber
* George Bush: Creating the Terrorists Our Kids Will Have to Fight
* Bad president! No Banana
* We’re Making Enemies Faster Than We Can Kill Them
* Is It Vietnam Yet?
Bush. Like a Rock, Only Dumber
Where can I get this one?
“If we continue the surge, there won’t be significant improvement. But if we withdraw, we’re likely to lose what limited progress we have made. Which bad option is better?”
FALSE DILEMMA
There are many other alternatives, such as regional peacekeeping forces taking over for the US.
But then BushCo. wouldn’t have full and complete control of the OIL, so that’s not going to happen.
Phillip Brownlee wrote:
“The purpose of the military surge in Iraq was to give the Iraqi government some breathing room to reach political solutions.”
Although that is the stated mission of the “surge” by the Bush administration, it, as with almost all of its statements is false.
Bush gave Ariel Sharon, the then Prime Minster of Israel, an antique map of “greater Israel which stretched all the way from the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates River in Iraq. Bringing that to fruition is the underlining goal of the Neocon/Zionists operating Bush.
Bush believes himself to be on a messianic mission to clear the “holy lands” of Arabs and fulfill some religious fantasy or personal delusion which dominates his thoughts.
PNAC conveniently offers the steps, which need be taken.
I find it hilariously funny that Americans would comment on Iraqi politics as not progressing.
Just look at any foreign newspaper and their opinion of U.S. politics.
Just in 2002, there were over 14,000 murders and homicides by 2005 the number went up to 16,912. Where is the Democratic Party outrage on this statistic?
And in a country where almost 17,000 people a year are murdered we won’t to use that “squeaky clean” to pass judgment on Iraq?
*http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_02.html
Yeah, MSM and the Democratic Spin Machine are the judges of what’s good and what’s not in the World.
I don’t think so.
won’t to use = want to use
“If we continue the surge, there won’t be significant improvement. But if we withdraw, we’re likely to lose what limited progress we have made. Which bad option is better?”
Progress towards what? The only progress we’ve made is spiraling Iraq down a hole of grisly death.
Remember, after we left Vietnam they rebuilt their country and they’re doing just fine now thank you very much.
Looks like someone is back to their old “Three-Step” tricks.
1. Change the subject. “It’s not about Iraq, and the President’s so-called report, it’s about what foreign newspapers think of the US!”
2. Stuff the strawman: “Democrats don’t abhor gun violence!!!” (this strawman is patently ridiculous)
3. Smear based on the lie/strawman: “You’re a bunch of criminals trying to spin!!! It’s the mainstream media!! BILL CLINTON BILL CLINTON!”
Okay, I made up the BILL CLINTON! part, but I’m sure it’s coming. I’m just getting a head start.
Kansas, how many murders did Iraq have in the past year? Keep in mind, Iraq has fewer than one tenth the population of the U.S., and many of them have fled their homes. How many Americans have fled their homes fearing for their lives in the past year?
You’re a friggin foreign policy genius there, war-tard.
Rats!!! The troll didn’t die.
blank poster,
That was uncalled for. Be ashamed.
Time to do the two step, Walk on by.
Some thing never change. I didn’t state the name of one poster here at the Blog.
Yet, look at all the responses to just my second post and very personal attacks on me.
Hypocrites here on the WE Blog?
You bet there are just take a look at the preceding posts and the ones after mine.
I can’t even make a comment of my own opinion without being attacked by the rabid leftists on this blog.
The Truth?
They can’t handle the truth!
You’re right , Tom. I am ashamed…sotto voce: rats, the troll didn’t die.
“war-tard”
ROTFLMAO
OMG that was too funny. Mind if I steal it?
Quick! Lets find some cheese to go with the whine!Waiter! Check please!
I didn’t state anyone’s name, either.
Paranoid much?
Are you refering to me as a leftist?Screw Clinton.There’s my Conservative credentials!
Rats!!! The troll didn’t die.
Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 11:36 AM===================
For shame, for shame… NOT nice, Mr. Blank…
Thinking about the NIE and the “surge” — I am still waiting to see some kind of definitive statement from the Bush Administration as to what “Winning” the war actually means…
The other day, my wife asked me an interesting question… She asked: “How do they know who Al Quaeda is, and who the Suni’s are and who the Shi’a are?? Do they wear something that identifies them??”
I told her I didnt have a clue… but I assumed it was sort of like trying to figure out who was or wasnt VC in Nam…
So, does anybody know how we DO tell which ones are Al Quaeda, and Suni, and Shi’a?? And how do we know which side we are fighting for?? Suni or Shi’a???
Or are we maybe just in the way of the civil war bullets, from them fighting each other??
Lots of questions….
Tom –
Three Step Tricks are all you can hear all day long, on all the Talk Radio shows, all over the country…
In fact, I am wondering if somebody could make a case for the Talk Radio guru’s offering FREE air time for Republican/Right wing candidates, as a Campaign Contribution, and make them register it as a contribution $$$ amount, in cost per minute of Radio time donated???
Kansas, if you use the term “hilariously funny” to describe anything remotely related to the situation in Iraq, you forfeit your right to complain about anyone else’s insensitivity to your feelings.
Just IMHO.
Kansas, if you use the term “hilariously funny” to describe “anything remotely related to the situation in Iraq, you forfeit your right to complain about anyone else’s insensitivity to your feelings.
Just IMHO.”
Posted by: leftcoaster | August 24, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Actually I was commenting on the comments of American people as being hypocritical.
Besides, did they do away with the first amendment while I was gone that I “forfeit my right to complain?”
Wow, gone a week and free speech has disappeared.
Oh wait, that would be “you disagree with me speech” has disappeared. :)
Chas,
I avoid listening to talk radio. If I want to hear lies from a loser, I’ll call a certain one of my daughter’s ex boyfriends. It’s more entertaining, more honest, and I get to call him a “stupid loser” at the end.
Ok Tom… I hear that too… But you get to use that “stupid loser” line… And thats worth a lot… LOL
If my daughters’ Ex’s were like your daughter’s Ex… I could have fun too… But unfortunately, their Ex’s are all Liberals!! ROFL
Tom — Do you know for sure if candidates could be forced to declare Free Air Time, as a campaign contribution, and that the Free Air Time could be included in how much a Talk Show Host(or their syndicate) is allowed to contribute to a campaign??? I guess that was actually where I was going with that…
I wouldnt suggest you listen to them… but, maybe you might know about the “contribution” issue???
Kansas — good to see you survived your week!!
Thanks Chas.
I’m done for the day. My physical therapist has given me stuff to do which involves being away from the computer.
In fact, just sitting here for about an hour has made me stiff and sore where I can barely move.
It will take about a month to six weeks to get back to normal where I won’t be experiencing some signs and symptoms – hopefully.
Tom,It’s supposed to be that way. All your daughter’s boyfriends will look to you like they should be stamping out license plates. I’m not sure why nature does that to fathers, but it seems to be pretty much universal.
Let’s hope for 6-8 weeks.
Why the Shiites hate us:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/19208.html
You can tell the Eagle is bearly able to hold back their joy in announcing the NIE report giving all the bad news in Iraq!
Yes, We Told You So!
Get out of Iraq Now!
Who’s side is the Eagle on?
Who’s side is the Eagle on?
Posted by: Max | August 24, 2007 at 09:01 PM
The Troops side, America’s sideThe ? is who side are you on?
Support our troops… Bring them HOME…
I think it was orchestrated that Saddam would never live to see this trial.