Comments on: Blair Makes Surprise Iraq Visit

British Prime Minister In Baghdad; 3 More American Soldiers Killed

[feelfree1]

powersmaker,

Re: "but i have an opinion. the situation stinks. and i am getting tired of it. ask me to deploy again? of course i will go. it's my job."

The ultimate and SWORN DUTY of all our military members is to "...preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States"

Even if we consider Bush to be a legitimate President, which is questionable in and of itself, the President of the U.S. has ZERO authority without our constitution.

The Bush regime has manipulated the U.S. public into abusing our military, by deploying them to wage an illegal and disgraceful war of aggression against Iraq.

Fortunately, more and more of our best and brightest service men and women are refusing to participate in the criminal invasion of Iraq.

www.thankyoult.org

These brave men and women are the only true U.S. military heroes of the Iraq debacle, in my opinion. These troops are definitely deserving of our support.

We need our troops home now, to assist 'we the people' in regaining control over our government, from the comic book villains who have taken control over it.

The Bush League must be held to account for their deeds, if we ever hope to regain some of our collective dignity.

[grazinggoat]

ncolsens
can you understand whatever they are accusing USA of doing those degrading practices on human beings. It's quite revolting to lobotomize those HUMANS. Honestly, better kill them. It reminds me of some animals where some cats play with the mice before they kill them. This is sadistic. It's a game in the hands of some sick people put in charge of prisons.

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006/12/12/1035/#more-1035

[feelfree1]

90210,

Re: "Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a RUNAWAY TRAIN with fools at the controls. Neither the democrats nor republicans will do anything to stop it. America needs an entirely new direction led by AMERICANS, not politicians. For Gods' sake let's elect some true AMERICAN PATRIOTS rather than the slop amd drivel we have now.
I for one am sick of having to choose between two spoiled, rich sons of political insiders for the office of President of the United States. Let us wake up and get serious about our national leadership. WE STILL RULE."

Excellent comment!!! Please keep it up!!!!

[samthetvcat]

Re: marcpcbs

I used to chalk up this difference in perspective to peoples' differing views...like many who support the war are focusing on the gains and many who don%u2019t support the war are focusing on the losses, and that the big picture is really chaotic mess that incorporates much more than this. However after seeing CBS' botched treatment of the botched execution out of Florida, I'm starting to wonder whether soldiers who have been in Iraq perhaps have a perspective that would shed a different light on the big picture. If this Colonel has special info that could impact the way people view this war, then it would be great if he and fellow vets would get online and start talking to us all so we can get a true reading on the situation.

The problem with what's been said so far is that one CAN easily dismiss this Colonel's point of view as being equally biased by the desire to see what he wants. I think what he needs to do to demonstrate that TRUE progress is being made is to tie his perspective in to the big picture and to address the alternative perspectives such as the one I listed above. One might also assert that the Iraqis are only saying they don't want the US out because they're telling people what they want to hear, etc. Also, I think the Colonel would have to address reports like the one on CNN which showed that when the military tried to arrest insurgents the locals protested which would seem to demonstrate that they don't always support the military's actions, etc.

[don7699]

I am a veteran of 22 years. I completed as a 1st Sgt. I have been there and done that.

Either conduct operations in an offensive manner with the full doctrine of Air Land Battle tactics; or bring the troops home.

This political rule of keeping one arm behind our backs is BS.

Go for total victory or get the troops out. Our Military deserves better leadership and clear goals.

[marcpcbs]

One of the most important ingredients in truth is proportion.

[marcpcbs]

I just spoke with a Army Colonel who just returned fro his third trip to Iraq. He said we are seriously loosing the information war. He said allot of damage is being done by "one day journalists" that pop in and out of the area just to collect photos for a story they wrote even before they arrived.

He also said that we have been embedding journalists in with the troops so they can see for themselves the hard, heartfull efforts being made. But then these reporters return home to publishers that only care about selling papers.

Any time you hear that most Iraqi's want us out, It's a lie.

All transition is difficult.

Our troops and medical people in Iraq are helping thousands of Iraqi civilians in uncountable ways, but the newspapers don't mention any of it because they believe that wouldn't sell papers.

Our troops are frequently shaking their heads in disbelief because of the mis-information that is flying around back here in the states.

By the way, I'm a Viet Nam Vet.

grazinggoat, the guy that wrote that article is a british quack, that likes to write fictional books, books he knows people will buy because its about killing, maiming and torture

[heetseeker]

powersmaker

I cannot refute a single point you have made.... especially the one about having a clear definition of victory... as an ex-serviceman, who deployed in Iraq your perspective is unique...

Like you I agree that there must be a definition of victory... but I donot see victory as whatever it is or has been defined by this administration... as far as I am concerned "success" in Iraq is preventing an all out blood-fest and humanitarian catastrophe...

I think that is the only metric of success we can aim for and I think having invaded Iraq and created the current situation... this we must commit to do...

[grazinggoat]

It's with deep sadness that I read and you guys(gals) should read this document. God have pity of us.

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2006
/12/12/1035/#more-1035

[powersmaker]

i am a professional marine. i do what i am told. i don't make policy. i execute it.

but i have an opinion. the situation stinks. and i am getting tired of it. ask me to deploy again? of course i will go. it's my job. but the situation sucks, and what is irritating is an administration that sugar coats, misleads, and a president who is stubborn for the sake of protecting some long ago destroyed family legacy.

and for all you side line advocates of the current policy ... look yourself in the mirror. what are YOU doing to make the situation better? If the answer is nothing and you still support STAY THE COURSE, keep mum and sleep well ...

powersmaker
I have posted a few time before regarding troops and the media, several say that the media should ask our troops how they feel about the entire situation, and as you know US troops are not allowed to speak to the press unless you have something nice to say otherwise you put your career on hold or end it altogether, do you get that type of speech as well?

[powersmaker]

long enough ....

waiting for someone who has actually DEPLOYED over there and made sacrafices to refute my points .....

all you STAY THE COURSE advocates, pick up a weapon (or flower, whatever your pleasure), and do the president's bidding. don't need any more side line coaches (we have our president / vice president for that).

[heetseeker]

patriotic9

I believe we have created a self fulfilling prophecy by invading Iraq.. clearly we were the target of an unprovoked proxy attack by the Taliban run Afghan government in 2001...

However instead of focusing on Afghanistan the administration invented a non-existent threat (Iraq) and a link between it and Al-Qaeda... it then fabricated evidence of WMD and then hoodwinked the American public & legislature into agreeing to wage war...

Now there is indeed a link between Iraq and terror... Iraq is now the testing & proving ground for every strand of the most virulent terrorism... we have also unwittingly strengthened the Iranians, Syrians & even North Koreans...

Bush has now created his rationale for war... but there will be dire consequences for this nation...

[marcpcbs]

I believe the situation in Iraq is worsening for the following reasons.

1. A US media that cares more about popularity and ratings than it does about truth, the health of our troops or the success of this campaign

2. All the whiney liberals that have no concept of the value and importance of freedom or its true cost.

3. We have in office a president that believed a bunch of stupid slogans could replace actual leadership.

This all got started because of greed, ignorance and fear. These ingredients make a lousy cake.

powersmaker how long have you been in now? I did 21 years in the AF

Bravo powersmaker glad to hear it....Thank You, finally someone who understands,

[powersmaker]

as a member of the military who has deployed twice to iraq, i say never deploy a marine / soldier to such a place without a clear definition of what "victory" is. my opinion here, but victory to me is not every iraqi has 3 squares a day and a tv set ... my family is much more important. sending americans to a dangerous place because america is "morally" obligated does not cut it. right or wrong, the iraqis now have to find their own solution. by the way, (my opinion) americans attract violence in iraq. in that sense, we are a large reason for the level of violence over there. al qaeda infiltrated iraq in numbers AFTER we got there; to fight us.

my advise to you: if you feel a moral obligation to help iraqis, deploy over there and help them.

heetseeker
we did not just arrive there in 2003, our troops have been in SouthWest Asia battling the Iraqis since 1990, we never left SWA. I was there 8 times between 1990 and 2001 while serving in the Air Force, we have been providing people, aircraft, ground troops equipment and money for 16 years now.If I had not retired I would still be making routine deployments to their desert. It really is time to put away our toys and go home

[patriotic9]

heetseeker
I highly appreciate your comments and your intelligent advises which are very practical.It's areality whther anybody wants to accept or not,we are in a position that we cannot suddenly withdraw our troops from Iraq.If we do that,the only purpose of Iraq invasion will be to help the ISLAMIC RADICALS by our tax money and our soldier's lives.Our govt needs to plan something to prevent next terrorist attack and also plan something in if we fail to prevent those attacks.If we have not been attacked after 9/11,it doesn't mean that our govt has prevented those attacks form happening.If we look at the past attacks by Alqaeda and Islamic Radicals,they are very patient people who seem to be waiting for carrying next attack till we loose financially and militarily in Iraq and Afghanistan.