Comments on: U.S. Commanders Talking With Militants

Military Says Troops Are Reaching Out To Militants To Try To Stop Violence In Iraq

[ramos937]

Some very hard truths: (1) We are the invaders and occupiers of Iraq. The militants feel we have no business being there. (2) Feeling the way they do about us, they feel no honor would be lost by their not living up to anything they commit themselves to.(3) they will do anything, say anything to get us out. (4) the militants are not all Al-Queda. Al-queda is only about 10% of the militants. For now, the militants find Al-Queda to be useful. Once we are out, the Iraiqs will throw out Al-Queda.

We need to understand the above or things will get much much worse.

[fredgrad2000]

To this article - GOOD; everyone knows we need a political solution in Iraq - we cannot win militarily over time as we cannot keep the troops we would need to do so there long enough with the size of our current army!! Pelosi and crew won't ever admit progress because it throws their whole 2008 strategy to the wind, but GOOD, glad we're trying to widdle down our enemies, and GOOD the Anbar Salvation Council is having progress in Anbar against Al Qaeda, and GOOD that the Sunni residents of Adhamiya (Sunni suburb of Baghdad) were calling US forces today to help THEM root out Al Qaeda in their neighborhood, and GOOD that Maliki isn't stopping our forces from raiding Sadr City!! Is that victory, NO, but its progress - progress that may make negotiations like those happening discussed in this article possible at all!! We need to push for more political actions like this, especially from Maliki - the only question I have is, even if this works out as any GOOD American should hope (i.e., the Surge works well enough to give gov't time to forge the required political solution; and therefore turns Iraqis against Al Qaeda and prevents Iran from installing its proxies) - will Pelosi and crew acknowledge it? or try to hide progress to not hurt "I change my view on Iraq for each audience or MoveOn straw poll" Hillary or flip-flop pretty boy Edwards?

[j-whitman]

Lars,, 1st you have to understand the dangers & not roll them up under 1 name,,, Bush failed
2nd all intell should be carefully weighed & not ignored,,, Bush failed
3rd, you have to understand all religions have eliments of dangerous extreamism, even Christianity.
4th, We cannot keep our forces in Iraq as Bush wants for the next 50 years.
5th, Our Troops need real support & winning policies,,,,, Bush Failed

[terrapin78]

Bashing Clinton has always been the MO of the right wing and Republicons.

But it doesn't stick with self-thinking Americans. It only works with those that have to listen to talk radio to know what Republicon position to spew since they can't figure out where to stand without being told.

[lars008-2009]

I am engaged in the "War on Terror." I share the risks, though perhaps not as closely as my friends who stand the ramparts.

As a man of action, who shares in this risk and struggle, I say, this is the worst planned and executed military campaign since Napolean invaded Russia.
Posted by Prolegomena at 03:29 PM : May 31, 2007

not even in the same ball park....

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realise that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. Winston Churchill

One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Winston Churchill

Edmund Burke: All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

[gkc99]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

So the Bushit administration finally admits it--a permanent US military occupation of Iraq is what he plans. No plan to remove US troops--ever.

Well someone has to protect that 100 billion barrels of oil from the Iraqis! Besides, it's so much easier to end freedom in your own country when youre in a permanent state of war. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Bush is President for Life.

[fredgrad2000]

Clinton may be better than Bush; I won't argue that one, especially from the standpoint of Clinton being a much better communicator of his views/points - but Clinton INHERITED the 90's he didn't cause them - better than Bush has been, I can see that view, but he inherited a world in which the Cold War had been won for him and where previous administrations' R&D tax credits and tax cuts created the tech boom of the 90's...Clinton's administration was forced into balanced budgets by the GOP House (which within 10 years forgot why they were elected and what people liked about them in the 90's), not because Clinton wanted to restrain spending. Clinton's administration was most notable for its scandals that came up every couple years - I'm not saying those were scandals that even should have been scandals - but his actions were not responsible for the prosperity of the 90's; he just didn't (or wasn't allowed to by an opposition congress) do anything to screw it up.

[infidel_us]

Anyone who thinks terrorists will honor a cease fire or any agreement to hault hostility is a fool. They will use the down time to regroup and rearm.

[j-whitman]

Lars,,, ENLIST.... You can get a signing bonus & a little training --- Don't forget to take body armor that's not obsolete & your own equipment Bush won't fix or replace.

[lars008-2009]

the war is legal

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement.....

blame saddam for iraq%u2026%u2026. Even clintoon and the dems wanted the resumption of hostilities back in 1998

Iraq Liberation Act of 1998
http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/iraq/libact103198.pdf
http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/ILA.htm
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec98/cr100598.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Liberation_Act

"As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/priraq1.htm

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
http://www.cnn.com/US/9802/04/us.un.iraq/

WASHINGTON (Feb. 18) -- In preparing the nation for a possible war with Iraq,
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/18/iraq.political.analysis/

[j-whitman]

mbcsmith,, No, I didn't change the subject. The subject is US Commanders Talking with the militants Bush refused for 4 years to talk to & his seemingly change in policy & 4 years of failures of policy.

It's you people who want the subject changed to Clinton, who didn't destroy our National Security, contrive intel to take us to war or harm our military services.

[rushman71]

mbcsmith: Which one are you regarding? Bill or Hillary? :P lol

[mbcsmith]

mbcsmith,,, Many things are open for debate, like exposing a Covert CIA Agent in war time, missuse of intelligence to take us to war, many violations of our Constitution & the Hatch Act, War Profiteering..... The failure of this so called "Surge" & lack of any progress in Iraq & the "War on Terror".... All of this & more occured in the last 6 years.
Posted by j-whitman at 03:49 PM : May 31, 2007


You seem to have changed the subject. I wouldn't want to have to defend that hillbilly Clinton either. He was a disgrace!

[j-whitman]

mbcsmith,,, Many things are open for debate, like exposing a Covert CIA Agent in war time, missuse of intelligence to take us to war, many violations of our Constitution & the Hatch Act, War Profiteering..... The failure of this so called "Surge" & lack of any progress in Iraq & the "War on Terror".... All of this & more occured in the last 6 years.

[crater7]

COWBOY DONE GOT ALL PRESIDENTIAL?

Talking with Iran, concerned with Africa's problems,Immigration repair plan, admitting global warming, and making deals with militants(TERRORIST)in Iraq.

After six plus years of nothing but tough talk, and scare tactics, Cowboy (Bush) has decided to change courses. Hmmmmmmmm

I hope that we are not dumb as dumbo thinks we are? Its just another political ploy to improve the GOP's lower than dirt ratings and improve his own ratings before the next elections. You can bet, that K. Rove is lurking in the shadows.

[mbcsmith]

And stop blaming Clinton, he's not the one who's destroyed the entire Middle East region, launched an agressive war with presumed threats or destroyed our National Security & our military in a war that Bush created & has no intention of ending.
Posted by j-whitman at 03:23 PM : May 31, 2007


That is open to debate. Didn't Clinton make it U.S. policy for regime change in Iraq? Didn't Clinton IGNORE the embassy and Cole bombings? Wasn't Clinton in charge when the U,S. troops were killed in Somalia? Actually, a lot of the blame goes to Pres (444 days in Iran) Carter who emboldened U.S. enemies by IGNORING an act of war commited upon us.
The LIBS just don't get it when it comes to EMBOLDENING THE ENEMY!

[blondmadison]

You're a blonde, right?
Posted by chicnlittle at 02:45 PM : May 31, 2007

Did you figure that out by yourself chicnlittle?

You are pretty sharp!!!! LOL
Posted by Terrapin78 at 02:47 PM : May 31, 2007

Well, it took me two posts to be sure.
Posted by chicnlittle at 02:52 PM : May 31, 2007

Well well well...what's in a name???
None of your are correct. No I am not a blonde--Blond Madison is a name, not a hair color, razor sharp morons.

The question is about violence and how the U.S. began it and now they want to stop it...they want to stop what they began but they cannot figure out how...
Are there directions that come with the grenades and bombs and guns or what?
Common sense would dictate to ME to...slowly take my hand off the trigger or slowly put the grenade back in the pretty box it came in---
But the Military Top Dogs, with all their brilliance, need help with this...
Do they need a picture drawn with the written instructions or will instructions do the job solo?

[prolegomena]

lars008,

I am engaged in the "War on Terror." I share the risks, though perhaps not as closely as my friends who stand the ramparts.

As a man of action, who shares in this risk and struggle, I say, this is the worst planned and executed military campaign since Napolean invaded Russia.

[dan9111]

There is no doubt, when you look at the numbers and a persons risk of being killed in Iraq, that Iraqis are experiencing a 9/11 every day.

These pretend-Americans who are behind this are war criminals. Mind you, I have no problem with the start of the war and getting Saddam ousted. That was the game plan to begin with. But so what? That's game over. Instead, they go on to needlessly murder Saddam, rile up some local terror-factions, and ensure our tax dollars will be siphoned for years to come. Sorry, that is their fault (Bush's, etc. and Democrats too) and they should be left in the gutter without a penny just like all the laid-off American workers who employers can't keep on. So now we are all too busy paying the Iraqi-murder-tax, and so will many generations.

[j-whitman]

Lars,,, Get off the ******* ignorant rhetoric -- The CO of the Cole was found guilty of derilection of duty in the Cole incident -- He was never authorized to be in that port & failed to take proper security precautions.

And stop blaming Clinton, he's not the one who's destroyed the entire Middle East region, launched an agressive war with presumed threats or destroyed our National Security & our military in a war that Bush created & has no intention of ending.