Comments on: By The Way, Candidates, There's A War On

The Silence About Iraq On The Presidential Campaign Trail Has Been Deafening

[bittentoo]

For 4+ years the War in Iraq has distracted this
administration from other issues...the economy being
one. News coverage (until recently) has been nonstop about the war without much regard for the state of our country. As much as I am still aware that we have a mission in Iraq, we have a country that needs attention as well, Bob. It''s good to finally domestic issues as a news story.

[bittentoo]

For 4+ years the War in Iraq has distracted this
administration from other issues...the economy being
one. News coverage (until recently) has been nonstop about the war without much regard for the state of our country. As much as I am still aware that we have a mission in Iraq, we have a country that needs attention as well, Bob. It''s good to finally domestic issues as a news story.

[xtrabiggg]

HellO? Ever hear of RON PAUL? You know, the legitimate candidate who is the ONLY one left that talks about the war at EVERY CAMPAIGN STOP? You know, the one you refuse to even acknowledge, to the point of not even including him in discussions, online and on-air profiles... Right, Katie Couric?

It is disingenuous and hypocritical to say on the one hand that there is not enough debate on the War in Iraq, while at the same time continuing to deliberately ignore the one candidate who is opposed to the war (and has been from the beginning)!

Oh yeah, ''Fringe'', Kooky''... How about sound fiscally, consistently conservative both rhetorically AND record-wise, and able to not only grasp the overall social, economic and political repurcussions of the Iraq war, but able to tie it together with an overall sensible foreign and domestic policy that will dig the country out of this mess.

But I forgot... CBS and other media outlets only want to hear Policy ideas from those candidates backed by their major advertisers and shareholders. Ron Paul can only be covered in disparaging and dismissive terms, as his policies might just negatively impact the bottom line of the wealthy owners and advertisers for CBS!

Hypocritical and sad how the only opinions and ideas allowed are those that make money for the network. Edward R. Murrow must be spinning in his grave!

xtrabiggg
+

[feelfree1]

Sorry, one more try.

Correction-

Should be: "This latest effort appears to be aimed instead at providing another excuse to maim, torture, and [kill] more Iraqis, and to string out this debacle [for as long] as possible."

Obviously, the people of Iraq have every right to try to defend themselves against the horrific, fraud-based, and illegal invasion of their country.

[feelfree1]

Correction

Should be: "This latest effort appears to be aimed instead at providing another excuse to maim, torture, and [kill] more Iraqis, and to string out this debacle as soon as possible."

Obviously, the people of Iraq have every right to try to defend themselves against the horrific, fraud-based, and illegal invasion of their country.

[mcvet]

I love how the Republican Canidates SAY they will protect this country and they don''t want to talk about 6 long years and a Trillion Dollars and the guy who attacked this nation is in a safe haven where the LOSER they want to replace has been bogging us down in Iraq. ANYONE who says that Saddam was a bigger threat than the guy who CARRIED out the attack AND those who protected him is completely out of their minds. Talk about a BLUNDER!! THAT was a biggie and I want to KNOW for sure that the NEXT person who sits in that chair will NOT spend that kind of time and money in a Country that DID NOT attack us and that WAS no threat to us. Talking about how and when to get out, to me, is NOT important!! AT ALL!! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[feelfree1]

Re: "We interrupt American politics to ask this question: Does anyone remember the war in Iraq?"

Check out Mr. Schieffer, trying to stand up on his hind legs. Atta'' boy, Bob.

I just heard an announcement on NPR, that the Pentagon is preparing a fresh assault on "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq", which will include tanks.

This brought a few things to mind. First off, if we are back to fighting the "enemy" with tanks, when the "enemy" has none, this looks like another desperate act from our military leaders.

Secondly, why do our military leaders announce an offensive against the "enemy", ahead of time, broadcasting when and where it will take place? Can you imagine if a robber called ahead, and announced their visit ahead of time?

Are our military commanders really this incompetent? I don''t think so. Sure, they were foolish enough to announce that "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" was "defeated", just a few months ago, and now we suddenly need tanks to fight them again, but I think that this has far more to do with deception than incompetence.

The fact is, there is no credible reason to believe that "al Qaeda" is, or ever was, "in-Iraq". In all likelihood, it is the people of Iraq that we have been fighting, and always has been.

[feelfree1]

This latest effort appears to be aimed instead at providing another excuse to maim, torture, and maim more Iraqis, and to string out this debacle as soon as possible.

The Bush regime has already managed to martyr more U.S. soldiers than they did the entire month of December, and they still have a few days to go.

I hope that this commentary means that Mr. Schieffer will begin to challenge the heinous and illegitimate Bush regime on this issue, and to help the rest of us to get those responsible in front of a war crimes tribunal.

[ubrew12]

Democrats as well as Republicans actually want the war to go well, and end with the pacification of any anti-Iraq-government elements in that country. News to the contrary actually depresses BOTH Democrats AND Republicans, because both share a weight of guilt for ''letting it happen'': Republicans for cheering our out-of-control President while he involved us in a Vietnam-sized debacle, Democrats for holding their tongues for fear of appearing ''soft-on-terrorism'' over an event they KNEW was a Vietnam-sized-debacle in the making.

I spoke out over Iraq and, to this day, I believe I lost my job at a major defense contractor over my speaking out. Republicans were playing no-holds-barred wrestling after 9-11 and they weren''t taking any prisoners. I became marginalized, and later left cuz I wasn''t being given any actual work to do.

It doesn''t matter. We''re in Iraq, and the right thing is for us to stay until it can be made whole again. We owe them, and our own soldiers, that much at least. And THAT is why the subject of Iraq is such a tender one for most Americans today... Dem or Republican.

While I HATE GW BUSH: the surge is working, Iraq looks to finally be getting its act together. Lets give this some time and leave a peaceful nation. YES, it''ll give neocons something to crow about for decades to come, but in case you haven''t noticed, the WAR the last 6 years has been on the American middle-class. THAT WAR WILL NOT BE WON BY THE NEOCONS.

No way, No how!!

[yelwar]

On this issue Bob seems caught up in the same %u2018horserace handicapping%u2019 as all the other media outlets (CBS News included). All questions to BOTH Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton in this mornings interviews were about what other people and media were saying and positioning.

I agree that the War in Iraq is a high level issue. Why did he not ask a single question about the War in Iraq (or any other ISSUE) of either candidate, before his final %u2018comment%u2019 on the lack of discussion about the War?

PLEASE JUST STOP THE HANDICAPPING AND GO BACK TO ASKING ABOUT ISSUES!!! This election isn%u2019t an American Idol popularity contest%u2026nor is it a horse or any other kind of RACE.

Bob Schieffer usually reflects a conscientious approach to the news and questions he asks. That is why I watch and rely on him SO regularly%u2026

[tbweb]

Posted by photogeezer at 01:03 PM : Jan 27, 2008,,,

I watched Bob Schieffer''s Sunday program today and in all fairness to Bob he only has 30 minutes for his show and when you add Commercials its actually less time than that. I thought the interview with Hillary Clinton was well done and like HardBall with Chris Matthews Bob asks the tough questions, surprisingly tough. Bob wants real answers and he seeks them out for his viewers. I also thought Bob was very clear about mentioning how the Iraq War may be off the front pages but still relevant since the War was still going on and should be a part of the political debate among Presidential Candidates. Rudy Giuliani talked about not rehiring retiring Federal Employees coming up for retirement to save money which is stupid! Many Federal Employees are walking out the door with 25 to 30 years of corporate knowledge thats almost impossible to replace and are a bargain if you can keep them, Rudy is dead wrong on that issue!

[photogeezer]

Bob, as a senior member of the press, I want to see two things from you.

First, cover the damned war AND its cost. Will we see a story on 60 Minutes about an Iraq vet committing suicide when he cannot get treatment for PTSD? Mention also that the Republicans in Congress have repeatly failed to ask for the funding for the very government agency that has the facilities, experience and expertise to treat these young men and women. They shot down a Senate bill, proposed by Jim Webb, whose son is in Iraq, that would have allowed 15 months of stateside duty for every 15 months of overseas service.

Secondly, Bob, examine the role of the press in the windup of this war. You (collectively) did not do the questioning and examination you should have done. You can''t go back and undo that, but you can and should expose the lies, corruption and incompetence that is costing the lives and health of our kids in this unnecessary war. Expose also the history of this administration''s failure to address the cost of this war to those on whose shoulders we have placed this burden.

[ioweign]

Bob, you fail to point out that Iraq is Bush''s Choice Conflict and that he and his Regime fabricated facts to make this quagmire more marketable for the American public. As for the surge, How are those goals doing - you remember those don''t you. Benchmarks for this new and improved Iraqi government.