Comments on: Iraq Progress Could Be Major '08 Factor

Politico: The Candidates Are Even More Polarized After Petraeus' Testimony

[myidoncbs]

Chris Dodd summed up the real situation nicely: "Independent report after report indicates that the whack-a-mole strategy has made this the bloodiest summer of the war. And by the general''s admission, the so-called surge has not achieved its goal of political progress."

That really amounts to "total failure".

At best, all Petraeus can crow about is "limited tactical successes" due to the surge. Due to that "success", he says soon we can bring some of our soldiers home. That''s good news for the few who might get to leave, but it is not a formula for success. If the surge is a "success", how can it be good to end it?

At the same time he says we can bring some of them home, he also says we must "stay the course". This plays well to the re-tarded republican base, but the real goal is to extend this war past the term of office of the sitting president and vice. Having created one of the biggest messes of all time, in the messiest part of the world, repugs are hoping that they can blame the NEXT president (likely a democrat) when he isn''t able to quickly fix the mess that they created. That''s dirty politics at its dirtiest-- playing with the lives of the men and women of the armed services of the united states of america (not to mention the millions of innocent Iraqis that have already been killed, and the uncounted number of dead Americans, who will be killed in the eventual blow-back!).

[Razzl]

The Iraq occupation has no meaning other than as the symbol of whether the American public has prevailed and overthrown the wicked and dishonorable Bush regime and returned the US government to the control of the people; the occupation serves no viable foreign policy strategy and must be ended in order to sweep away the neocon dictatorship from national politics and reestablish rule by the people. Congress should take all measures to begin dismantling the occupation, as Petraeus'' testimony is irrelevant to the real struggle going on..

[lars008-2009]

The fact that 80% of Iraqis would prefer Sadaam back instead of an Illegal U.S. Occupation says it all.
Posted by veteran71 at 12:23 PM : Sep 11, 2007

the war is legal, demonic-rat hero al bore says so...

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

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq''s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

Moreover, no international law can prevent the United States from taking actions to protect its vital interests, when it is manifestly clear that there is a choice to be made between law and survival. I believe, however, that such a choice is not presented in the case of Iraq. Indeed, should we decide to proceed, that action can be justified within the framework of international law rather than outside it. In fact, though a new UN resolution may be helpful in building international consensus, the existing resolutions from 1991 are sufficient from a legal standpoint. - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

[pepperp1]

So while most of the Republicans are claiming victory for the George Bush Surge, his political stunt called the SURGE as a campaign ploy of providing cover to the Republicans in the Senate and Congress to stay the course. And that they believe by so doing he has out foxed the Dems and delayed troop removal until the next President takes office. And they believing themselves safe are dancing in the streets patting themselves on the back. ONE Statesman speaks out and says not so fast%u2026..


A prominent Republican on Tuesday said he remains deeply skeptical of the U.S. war strategy in Iraq, comparing the long and bloody military campaign to a farmer risking his savings to plant on a flood plain.


%u2026%u2026..we should acknowledge that we are facing extraordinarily narrow margins for achieving our goals.


Unlike his peers in the Senate, Senator Lugar THANK GOD, ONE Statesman in the REPUBLICAN Congress, who refuses to dance in the blood of our soldiers for a political stunt gain %u2026%u2026..Good Man, Good Man







CHOOSE LIFE FOR OUR TROOPS call your Senator and tell him 5 years later, 4,000 dead, 34,000 wounded, tens of thousands of Iraqi dead, and 2 Trillion is too much and our troops need to come home.


[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[starleo146]

The House and the Senate even if every democrat vote to bring the troops home, do not have enough votes to pass. The same situation in the Senate and they cannot get 60 votes to pass lets quit kidding ourselves here the republicans will vote against it, therefore I suggest since Cheney keeps stalling on these papers to give to the judiciary, we should stall this vote just stall it and stall it on the surveillence vote as well it is obvious Bush wants this vote so until the republicans come out against this war because of the election we should stall.

[toldyouso21]

Questions that should have been asked of Patreaus:

1. What was Bush''s stated rationale for the surge and what it was to accomplish?

2. The first date to measure success was given as Spring 2007, then Summer 2007, then Fall 2007 and now Winter 2008 with true success slated for 2 to 4 years away or longer, why does the date for even gauging success not stable and keep getting further away?

3.. As violence went down in Iraq, Did it escalate elsewhere and how do those numbers differ or compare?

4. IN 2004, Patreaus was quoting as saying the signs of improvement in Iraq were very good and success was around the corner. Mr. Patreaus your assessment was not accurate then, why should we believe it now?

5. Is the political process in Iraq better or worse since 2006?

6. Various factions want Al Maliki to resign and there are talks of new elections or coups, how has our surged helped that process?

7. What is the state of the infrastructure? Has it improved since 2006? Anywhere?

We already know the answer to these questions and NONE show progress. Anbar is won. calmed and lost on a quarterly basis, as is Fallujah and elsewhere.

[lars008-2009]

CHINESE OWN DEMONIC-RATS AND BUY THEM THE ELECTIONS!!!

The tale of shady Chinese Clinton donors avoiding U.S. justice is a familiar one that dates back to the 1996 Clinton-Gore fundraising scandal known as Chinagate. The Clintons took millions in laundered foreign campaign donations from Chinese Communists in exchange for liberalizing trade policy with China, dropping pending indictments against influential Chinese figures, spots on a U.S. trade mission and overnight stays at the White House.
Many of the Chinagate donors were successfully prosecuted even though Clinton Attorney General Janet Reno blocked investigators%u2019 efforts at the Justice Department. More than 100 people connected to the fundraising scandal fled the country, however. Norman Hsu seems to be following their lead.
http://www.corruptionchronicles.com/2007/09/hillary_donor_flees_like_china.html

and you thought gonzales was bad...

[westrajc-2009]

"Congress must not only insist that the troops come home NOW..." "...needs to get their head examined!"

I find two things interesting about "ezillyamused''s" comments. First, they suggest people who believe US victory is important have their "heads examined." Second, that we impeach our Pres. and VP "immediately."

What would our enemies think if we followed the first suggestion? Do you believe that Iran and Syria would suddenly respect the sovereign borders of Iraq and stop their proxy war of influence in the region? Do you believe that our losses, both military and civilian would be less over the next five years by pursuing this course of action?

How would impeaching our President and VP strengthen our nation? I''m trying to imagine "President Pelosi" and all the positive International and National initiatives that we would enjoy under her "command."

Another Interesting Phenomenon...

Double-click on "ezillyamused''s" ID in their post. On my system I get a pop up that offers the following:

Spell Check
Did You Mean:
Islamism (Islamic revivalist movement)

Copyright ) 2007 Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.

[toldyouso21]

CBS: OH DO SHUT THE FVCK UP. We have heard and KNOWN this stupid, illegal war would be a factor in the elections. Either get better writers or better titles or just realize that particular headline is like beating a dead horse. "Iraq will be important in the elections..." DUH!!!!! That is about as likely as the "surge" will be continuing for years and the "success date" will keep getting pushed further and further back. Some things are a given--seeing as who is on the right and who is on the left and Iraq is just a money drain for some and a PAYDAY for others.

[lochlan-2009]

"Iraq Progress Could Be Major ''08 Factor"
That''s an understatment. If they don''t continue the lieing and manipulating of the information on Iraq and the continual forcing of the media to spit their propaganda, we are at risk of seeing the entire GOP party removed from D.C.!! The ignorant southern base is all there is preventing this parties demise.

[pepperp1]

As an Independent I will vote for NO zero Republican for any office in 08, there is something evil and corrupt and sick in the GOP and they should be not be in power.



So the Republicans are claiming victory for the George Bush Surge his political campaign ploy of providing cover to the Republicans in the Senate and Congress to stay the course and that by doing this he out foxed the Dems and delayed troop removal until the next President takes office.



They also agree that soldiers and Iraqis are dying needlessly, that the expense was not worth the escalation, that the war has been commanded poorly, that Iraq should never have been invaded, that our national safety is at risk our military diverted from security concerns.



WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE%u2026..how is that even remotely a victory, how can an event about Governance for this country that allows soldiers to die for no gain be deemed Politically Successful for any Political Party for any Politician, the Cult that is the GOP is a danger to America.


We need to do our job as the People who are this Government 17 Republican Senators are required to vote with the Democrats to change the mission in Iraq.




CHOOSE LIFE FOR OUR TROOPS call your Senator and tell him 5 years later, 4,000 dead, 34,000 wounded, tens of thousands of Iraqi dead, and 2 Trillion is too much and our troops need to come home.


[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[skyk-2009]

You may convince yorself that Amrica is the problem with your tired rhetoric but clear thinking Americans know the problem lies with the radical militants and there leftwing supporters in this country.
Posted by notblue at 11:28 AM : Sep 11, 2007


You think you can change REALITY by spouting this Propaganda and thats what it is. Iraq had NO Weapons and posed NO threat to us. The REAL Enemy, the guy who did attack us and who WILL do so again isn''t in Iraq but has used it to completely rebuild his organization. Iraq is and will forever be the biggest Policy Blunder in this nations history. You think you can stop the radical take over of Iraq? LOL Better look close because they ALREADY control the 2nd largest city in the Country AND the Government we are backing has little to no support. You can dream all you want but, as was the case before, this dog won''t hunt. The goal of the enemy was to suck us into this quagmire, as they did the USSR in Afganistan, keep at us with a million cuts of the razor and bankrupt us. They will NEVER allow YOUR idea of a government to take hold....

[clestes-2009]

MudNut,

try to be less dense than a 2 by 4. I know it is hard. But try reading some and stop listening to Rush and making stupid generalizations based on your limited learning.

[pepperp1]

As an Independent I will vote for NO zero Republican for any office in 08, there is something evil and corrupt and sick in the GOP and they should be not be in power.



So the Republicans are claiming victory for the George Bush Surge his political campaign ploy of providing cover to the Republicans in the Senate and Congress to stay the course and that by doing this he out foxed the Dems and delay troop removal until the next President takes office. And they are dancing in the streets patting themselves on the back.

They also agree that soldiers and Iraqi are dying needlessly that the expense was not worth the escalation, that the war has been commanded poorly, that Iraq should never have been invaded that our national safety is at risk our military diverted from security concerns.



WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE%u2026..how is that even remotely a victory, how can an event about Governance for this country that allows soldiers to die for no gain be deemed Politically Successful for any Political Party. I can assure you no Dem or 3 rd Party Presidential political ploy like this would ever be deemed ok by there base, let alone a victory.

CHOOSE LIFE FOR OUR TROOPS call your Senator and tell him 5 years later, 4,000 dead, 34,000 wounded, tens of thousands of Iraqi dead, and 2 Trillion is too much and our troops need to come home.


[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[clestes-2009]

So Crash,

What is the definition of working? How is it working? Because of the lessen violence in Badhdad? Surge does not have anything to do with it.

Is there political progess? The surge was suppose to provide that. Last time I check, there was no political progress, so exactly HOW is it working?

[skyk-2009]

Every Veteran of Vietnam knows what the REAL numbers mean... The citizens of Iraq want us out in big numbers but what is worse is that 57% of them think it''s okay to Kill our troops. Take that into account with the FACT that the resistance to the occupation is now in control of the Second Largest City in the country and you have a major problem. Some seem to think that putting a stop to the slide is turning the corner. How many corners do we turn before we realize this is a quagmire with no end in sight. We should allow the citizens of that nation to vote on IF we stay or go. I could live with it IF the citizens of Iraq said they wanted the US to stay.

[clestes-2009]

nerfff

Where are you getting your facts from? Do you read articles that are written by people who have not only been in Iraq recently, but are completely independent.

Did you know, for example, that there now exists a civil war now raging between the Shiites sects inside the already existing civil war between Sunnis and Shiites?

Did you know that 80% of the Iraqi population thinks the US is making matters worse? Or that the current emphasis on Anbar is fuether fractioning Iraq, which is a European idea anyway?

Did you know that the less violence in Bahgdad comes not from US troops, but because the Sunni population has been purged from Bahgdad?

What is your definition of winning? Is it standing on top of a building waving a US flag?

If you didn''t know any of the above, you are clueless about what is really happening in Iraq and the situation is still going down, down down and so are the reps next year.

[endfascism]

The Republicans have failed. Period. And, yet, they still insist on bucking popular opinion. Go figure. By the people for the people? Hmmm, now where have I heard that phrase?

[antoniof123]

Another 6 months and then another and another. Sounds like Viet Nam and in almost all cases it is except for one. Durning the 60''s and 70''s we were the economic power house of the world today the world is smaller and we are just another fish in the sea. In fact we here in America get everthing from China now. Wait did I say that right the neocons are making friends with a communist country they wanted to destroy communism. Wow, what a change in tide, of course the same outcome except now we have lost so much in American spending and economic power thanks to the GOP. In time as the value of the US dollars decreases against other countries we will have the same clout as those that we send relief too. The sad part is thanks to the neocons we will not get any help from the very ones that we help today because of the way the GOP has treated the rest of the world. But don''t worry they have a plan.

[Syndicate]

Big Win for McCain. He owns this issue. No one can touch McCain on this. How does someone like Clinton or Obama who has never served, debate a POW over war? Hell the surge was his Idea and its working. All the Democrats can do is lie and try to spin it. Sorry but the Last times the Democrats lied to me I helped reelect Bush.