General Grilled By Congress

Gen. John Abizaid Says Timetable For Exiting Iraq Would Increase Ethnic Violence

(CBS/AP)  The top U.S. commander in the Middle East on Wednesday pitted his resistance to troop strength changes in Iraq against some of the Senate's most powerful lawmakers.

During testimony before the Senate Armed Services committee, Republican John McCain charged Gen. John Abizaid with "advocating the status quo" because he isn't seeking more troops for Iraq.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that after arguing against either a substantial buildup or cutback in U.S. troops, Abizaid made a stunning admission: The U.S. military does not have enough troops for a big buildup even if he wanted one.

"We can put in 20,000 more Americans tomorrow and achieve a temporary effect," said Abizaid. "But when you look at the overall American force pool that's available out there, the ability to sustain that commitment is simply not something that we have right now with the size of the Army and the Marine Corps."

Abizaid also went head to head with Democrats who want a phased pullout, saying timetables would limit commanders' flexibility in passing responsibility to Iraqi forces. He also said putting U.S. withdrawals on a schedule would increase sectarian violence.

In Abizaid's words, the "prudent course ahead is to keep the troop levels about where they are," a sentiment that puts him at odds with resurgent Democrats pressing President Bush to start pulling out of the violence-torn country.

Abizaid spoke as the committee began re-examining U.S. policy in the wake of last week's elections, which gave Democrats control of Congress starting next year and was widely seen as a repudiation of the administration's war policies.

McCain challenged Abizaid on his analysis of the situation and complained that he was advocating no major changes in U.S. policy. McCain, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, has called for adding thousands more U.S. combat troops in Iraq to help fight the insurgency and halt sectarian violence in Baghdad.

"I'm of course disappointed that basically you're advocating the status quo here today, which I think the American people in the last election said that is not an acceptable condition," McCain said.

---

Watch RAW video McCain challenging Abizaid's stance.

---

In response, Abizaid said he was not arguing for the status quo. He said the key change that is needed now is to place more U.S. troops inside the Iraqi Army and police units to train and advise these forces in planning and executing missions.

Another possible 2008 presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said she saw no evidence that conditions inside Iraq were improving.

"Hope is not a strategy," she said.

Citing administration claims of progress, she said, "The brutal fact is, it is not happening."

But even some Republicans on the Senate panel voiced a measure of frustration at the long and costly war in Iraq.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the committee chairman, noted that the conflict has lasted as long as World War II, with the Iraqi government still unable to stand on its own and assert authority over security forces.

"How do you explain that in simple terms to the American people?" he asked in his opening statement.

Democrats have been coalescing around a call for beginning a U.S. withdrawal in coming months. In arguing against a timetable for troop withdrawals, Abizaid told the committee that he and other commanders need flexibility in managing U.S. forces and determining how and when to pass on responsibility to Iraqi forces.

"Specific timetables limit that flexibility," Abizaid said.

[Syndicate]

Attention Terrorist!! We will be leaving Iraq by July 4, 2007. Have a nice day and enjoy your new country.

[one_american]

Corrupt crooks like Carl Levin want to pull the strings again in Washington.

What a serious mistake the American Voters made.

[cbelster]

The President has stated his goal in Iraq. I would note however, that goals have the following characteristics:

1. Specific
2. Measurable
3. Aligned
4. Reachable
5. Time bound

Though I certainly disagree with a 4 to 6 month drawdown, there is of course a requirement that some time constraints be applied to our goals. The inherent relationship between our military and its desire to achieve works contrary to a relationship with time.

The military will always to whatever it can to achieve a goal. Therefore, we must plan to succeed, work toward victory, but also create the conditions whereby we mitigate our risks in the region in the event that we fail to achieve that goal.

[angryliberal-2009]

Congrats American People....this is what we voted for.

now Carl Levin knows more about the Iraq war than our top general? THis is insane....

The democrats need to wake up and realize that this is a real war not polly pocket's political playhouse. Dont they have any...I mean any clue about the seriousness and reality of this situation? All these bone heads can come up with is pull out? That's smart...wow.

The only reason Carl Levin and these bone head dems are calling for a pull out is because they know it wont happen that way they can say the president wouldnt do what they wanted. They know it is a stupid ridiculoous, nonsensical idea to cut and run...this is all political, so they can blame the republicans for the problems in 2008.

They better be careful what they wish for, if we did pull out it would be political suicide for the dems because of the problems that it would cause.
This is a lose lose situation for the dems (why did they try to get involved in this?)

1. They dont do anything and people get ticked because they didnt fix the iraq problem

2. They do what they said and lose the war, cause more chaos in the middle east, and get bashed for that in 2008.

The more I see this unfold, the more it seems that the republicans lost on purpose so they can sit back and laugh at the dems while they try to figure out their "change" for Iraq....brillint strategy....if it works.

[angryliberal-2009]

continued....


The more I see this unfold, the more it seems that the republicans lost on purpose so they can sit back and laugh at the dems while they try to figure out their "change" for Iraq....brillint strategy....if it works.


Dont get me wrong if the dems have and legit plan that can truly fix the problem in Iraq without losing the war...im all for it, but they havent a clur what to do...heck they just won an election without giving one plan for Iraq, why should it change now. All they will do is have "study" groups with the republicans and see what they say and try it....if it works they will take the credit, if it doesnt they will blame it on the republicans, but that will only work for so long.

lol, they have got themselves into a pretty big hole.

[neitherone]

To cbscrash07

Attention American Citizen! You sons and daughters will continue serving in Iraq indefinitely while providing easy targets to Al-Qaida terrorists and further fueling the inter-religious conflict between Shiites and Sunnis. Have a nice day and enjoy thinking about it every day.

[august29of73-2009]

I am no editor, but shouldn't there be some quote marks somewhere in the second paragraph of this story?

[neitherone]

On a more serious note, while I don't think it's right for Levine to outright demand a troop withdrawal from Iraq, I like the fact that someone prods our generals to start actively considering that possibility.

[webdepot]

Angryliberal said -
now Carl Levin knows more about the Iraq war than our top general? THis is insane...."

Most recent RSS feed from Reuters:
McCain doubts General's assessment that there are enough troops in Iraq..

You remember McCain, don't you... the erstwhile thorn in the conservative's side who is now flip-flopping his stance on things because he wants the neo-con support for his presidencial bid...
Well, he suddenly knows more than the generals too..!!

[jeffk1623]

To all you right wing cry babies complaining about America's voting of the Democrats into power and Sen Levin demanding timetables for withdrawal. Do not forget that it was your fault for voting the corrupt and lying Bush administration into power for the past six years that got us stuck in Iraq in the first place.

America finally woke up and realized the MAJOR mistake made in following your judgement and corrected it, just as Sen Levin is attempting to do with Bush's MAJOR mistake.

[gshewbert]

Folks, as a veteran of war and someone intimately involved in current operations we need to consider this....if--if we leave early..without a truly empowered government in place..it will be a simple matter of time before a coup occurs and we find ourselves with billions invested...and gone in a puff of smoke, with a potentially dangerous and hostile government bent on the destruction of our way of life in favor of theirs...I agree...we need to have Iraq on its own feet and as soon as possible...but putting a set marker on the calendar come hell or highwater...could represent the most serious of consequences for our country and the world as we know it.

[wingman03]

1000 years from now those dimwits in the middle east will still be fighting, just as they were 1000 years ago. We tried to help them, we overthrew a brutal dictator and showed them the way to freedom. They are more interested in petty turf wars and Allah's fairy tales. We didn't fail, they failed themselves.

[delta5243]

this is both good and bad for myself.....we are scheduled to re-deploy in April....however, what have we now created once we leave, whatever it is I can assure you it's going to be much, much worse then when we first went in there (for the second time)

-Delta

[liberal4]

neither Rep or Dems have a plan so if you don't have a plan get OUT and let the Iragis sort it out.

[greed1sin]

Iraq can be disintegrated into 3 countries, Sunni Arab, Shiite Arab, and Kurdish. United Nation can help to maintain the peace talk. The oil development right can be owned by a company formed from these 3 countries. The right can be divided into lots of stock shares.

Sunni and Shiite Arab needs to be separated. The Shiite in Baghdad region needs to be moved to south Shiite area. Saddam Hussein needs to be tried and sentenced by International Court in Netherland.

The power of Shias and Sunnis in Middle East needs to be balanced to prevent war. Both Syria and Iran belong to Shiite and should be out of power balance in Iraq.

Greed for Iraq's oil will hinder any peace action in Iraq. Cheney and Texas oil businessmen will not give up their profits. USA still needs to spend money and lives for their greed.

[manner6]

There are still imbeciles out there talking about WINNING THE WAR!
Those old *** neocons pictured World War II France with grateful citizens lining the streets to thank our troops. This is the Middle East where factions have been fighting each other for 500 years. Wake up.
Why do you think Bush I didn't go after Saddam? Could it have been his years at the CIA taught him something?

[liberal4]

neither Rep or Dems have a plan so if you don't have a plan get OUT and let the Iragis sort it out.

[bluestardad]

This General is one of Rummys YES men. Get the Stooge out of there. Iraq will take care of its self. If he had any credibility he would have done something years ago.

[agnim]

"if you don't have a plan get OUT and let the Iragis sort it out."

liberal4

Well said.
I'll add; plan or no plan, get our people OUT!
Let them come home and enjoy the rest of the football season.

If this general and his family want to continue in the thick of battles between maniac muslims, then let them and the administration 'stay their course'.

The rest of Americans should come the hell home!

[one_american]

bluestardad:

Everything is easy from that cushy arm-chair of yours, isn't it?

Why don't you fly over and show the troops how it's done, Einstein.

[houser123]

Is this a mess we are in or what? We can debate this until we are blue in the face and it comes back to the (2) major issues. Set a timetable and redeploy or leave it open ended and hope for the best. Either choice is not good. We should have never been in Iraq in the first place , but to say since we are there now, we need to stay, only validates us going in the first place. We do need a phased approach, wheither that is 6 month or a year with a gradual pull down along the a way, a timeline is the better approach. What matters now is that we show the Iraqi people and their elected officials that they need to get their act together. We cannot solve their political differences and to think otherwise is foolhearty. Also, to say that if we leave before a stable government takes overt, who is to say that even if we do stabilze and leave in place a stable regime, a coup will not follow once we leave. Coups are formed irregardless of a stable government.

[gayathiest]

Iraq needs to split into factions. The Brittish "invented" Iraq. These people have hated each other for 400 years longer than the US has existed.
Bush II only wanted to go there because his VP, the former CEO of Haliburton, told him to do it. This is a failed play for control of depleting oil fields. The blood of our sons and daughters is the price we pay for reelecting these power mongers.

[jalexson]

Pardon my shouting: BEAM THEM OUT SCOTTY!!

That may sound unrealistic, but then so is the attitude many ignorant Americans, such as journalists and Democrats, have about the situation in Iraq. They live in a Hollywood induced fantasy world in which crimes are solved in an hour and everyone starts living happily ever after when the tyrant is overthrown.

What is happening in Iraq is normal after the fall of a tyrant.

Many of the groups in the Middle East don't like each other. We cannot expect to get members of different groups in Iraq to immediately start liking each other.

Withdrawing troops from a combat zone while fighting is going on isn't easy to do safely. In the case of Iraq, the groups that want to take over in Iraq will go all out to attack our retreating troops so they can claim credit for forcing us out.

There is no easy way out of Iraq. Americans need to be patient and accept the fact that social problems cannot always be solved as rapidly as we would like. The only American general I can think of who could retreat successfully was George Washington. So unless we can get Scotty to beam the troops out, we should accept the facts of the situation and stop looking for magical solutions.

[bellal-2009]

Well put, jalexson. The only decent thing I've read on this site in days. These people live in La la land.

[mdc76082]

Here's strike one for the Democrats = cut & run.

Strike two will be the border issue.

Strike three will be________. You know what, it won't matter by this time.

In 2008 we'll have a Conservatives in both houses and a Conservative President. Thank God it's only 2 years away!

Conservative and Proud I Served my Country!

[gunnerv1]

I have a plan to get us out. 1. Remove ALL Media reporters, and I mean ALL of them. 2. Pull a General Sherman. (Ashes do make a good fertilzer)This plan is also know as the "Kill'em all and let (Their) God sort'em out" Plan.

[tank611]

QUOTE:

'it comes back to the (2) major issues. Set a timetable and redeploy or leave it open ended and hope for the best'

Hope for the best? I guess you didn't know we have a plan for winning the war. The plan involves training Iraqi forces to take over. The plan involves winning the 'hearts and minds' of the Iraqis by building schools and medical clinics. The plan involves winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqis by giving Iraqi children free shoes.

11 million Iraqis voted in the most recent election. That's 85% of eligible voters. The United States has won the hearts and minds of 85% of Iraqis.

And the freely elected government of Iraq has asked us to stay:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6166255,00.html

[houser123]

So unless we can get Scotty to beam the troops out, we should accept the facts of the situation and stop looking for magical solutions.

The above post cannot go without comment. To set back while people are dying is absolutely not the right thing to do. I dont think anyone is looking for a magical pill or solution to this mess, its a matter of making hard choices and done of those are good but they must be made. Judging from the elections ( sorry for your losses ) the American people want a solution and want it now. This war is now a civil war between waring factions in a soverign country between two ethnic and realigous groups. Correct me if I am wrong here, but how can our military on the ground help solve a civil war without taking sides and doing so would be even more of a disaster. TheIraqis must solve their own problems. For those of you who say we will lose, I say we have already won. We toppled Sadaam, the Iraqis developed a constitution and held free and open elections to select their leaders. Its time for those leaders to lead, (disarm the militias)and do the work the people elected them to do.

[ceekuei]

Who got us into this mess in the first place? Bush and gang! We had no business there then, we have no business there NOW! The guys who did us harm are the Talibans and they are in Afghanistan. It is like you going to a doctor with a headache and he operated on your ***. Not only that, he created a mess of it! What do you do? Sue the %$#*&. Then he tells you he has to go in further and takes out anything and everything he finds. He will only stop when you are stabilized. What do you do? You sue the ^%$#@. Then he tells you he is doing you a favor because he wants to get rid of your headache. What do you do? You sue the son of a %$#@*. That's exactly where we are in Iraq. Bush and gang are the doctors and surgeons, and we are the patients. What do we do? Get rid of the *&^%#

[agnim]

How about sending Gen. John Abizaid to the front line? LOL

I miss the good old days when the warmongers would have to lead their battles if they ever wanted other idiots to fight their wars for and with them.

This disgraceful state where warmongers dodge drafts and then sit at home and send people like puerile pawns to fight THEIR wars, and 'stay the course' to hell is most disgusting to me.

I know why Cindy Sheehan protest; the life of her beloved son was wasted; and she knew it...... but late!

[usawatchman]

One_American

I think bluestardad may have a more VALUED opinion

When you have a kid in the fight, your opinion is more VALUED

a person who has a kid in the fight, does more THINKING before
they start a war....

...just In My Humble Opinion.. IMHO


THE PROBLEM WITH IRAQ
is they didn't CLOSE THE BORDERS

SOUND FAMILIAR...?
DO WE SEE A PATTERN..?
What do we think our GREAT LEADER are going to do if this STUFF
comes home..?

DO YOU THINK
they CLOSE THE BORDERS...?
or will they take away more of our rights..?

[alphaa10-2009]

AngryAtLiberals-- 5
Iraq is only the first of many Bush policy disasters the Democrats face, but the American people certainly can be at least as patient and tolerant with Democrats, as they were with Bush and the GOP while they created them! Why deride the Dems in advance for your own failures?

As a glimpse of the future, at least with foreign policy, consider the Bush approach of preemptive strikes and unilateralism to be a thing of the past-- childish and ignorant, in the extreme. As Bush himself admits, he is now "committed to diplomacy", if only after only six years of the disastrous opposite.

UK diplomatic envoy Jeremy Greenstock has commented the future of the MidEast will be driven by regional solutions, not the point of a American bayonet. After all, unseating Saddam is what any of the other powers, in concert, might have done years before, had it posed practical value. But they left Saddam alone because removing him created more problems than it solved. The current Iraq fiasco probes his point dramatically for shamefaced neocon strategists and their GOP camp followers.

In his book, The Cost of War, Greenstock says the Bush Iraq war was clueless and clumsy beyond description-- not only "'politically illegitimate" but Bush attention to UN negotiations "never rose over the level of awkward diversion for (Bush)".

[alphaa10-2009]

AngryAtLiberals-- 4
3. With the election victory, those GOP boosters who liked to protest "liberal whiners" are doing the whining, themselves, and with embarrassing gusto. (We tend to forget the decades of documented GOP whining while that party was on the outside.) With the Dems not even in full stride, the chorus of mendacious whining from GOP circles has begun, with Rush Limbaugh and his ilk frantically grasping to explain their failure to gain traction with America. We should not underestimate them-- their Karl Rove-led campaign has been a model for every wannabe tyrant around the world eager to twist truth and hide the facts.

AngryAtLiberals said-- "The more I see this unfold, the more it seems that the republicans lost on purpose so they can sit back and laugh at the dems while they try to figure out their "change" for Iraq....brillint strategy....if it works."
-----
Well, your disguise is really askew at this point, "AngryLiberal". You note a low cunning to the GOP I am surprised you articulate publicly. But how much in character for the GOP to leave from the back windows to escape the angry crowd in front! Yet, despite your attempted defense of a "GOP strategy" in all this (to avoid the appearance of a graceless defeat), for the GOP simply to surrender and leave the mess they created in the White House is their only option. When did this become "strategy"? What can they do except, "stay the course... stay the course... stay the course"?

[alphaa10-2009]

AngryAtLiberals-- 3
Not only Iraq, but a presidential pretender who breaks the law (and violates Constitutional prohibitions and guarantees) with covert NSA spying on Americans not once, but continuously over the years-- this despite protests from members of his own party! Not only Iraq, but a wannabe president who, in November, 2005, angrily dismissed his own party faithful who protested his criminal acts, "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It's nothing but a GD##! piece of paper!" No, this is only a small part of the long, long list of Bush and GOP INcompetencies fully demonstrated to the American people, who have been more than tolerant.

Now, Sen. Levin speaks for the majority of Americans who have had enough of half-truths, lies and deceit from Bush and the GOP. Americans have decided the GOP is clueless about how to salvage the war they created, a war which had nothing whatever to do with 911-- as even Bush finally admitted only months ago. In all fairness, if Democrats manage ONLY to stop the GOP hemorrhage, foolishness and losses in the MidEast and elsewhere, that puts this country back on track with a solid hope it has not seen in years. Yes, the years past have been a sheer policy nightmare hatched by Bush neocons and buttressed by GOP deadheads falling asleep at the words, "Stay the course... stay the course... stay the course."

[alphaa10-2009]

AngryAtLiberals-- 2
2. Of course, that is why the elections surprised you. America elected the Democrats precisely because they found the GOP asleep at the switch, awash in corruption and incompetence dating back literally for years--

Not only Iraq, but the sheer neglect of Afghanistan. Not only Iraq, but even the complete state of denial about al Qaeda *before* 911 (Bush and planners wanted to talk about only Iraq. Not only Iraq, but the deceitful public relations campaign waged by Bush, when he knew he had no excuse to justify invading Iraq, in the first place.

Not only Iraq, but head-over-heels Iraq spending which has sent America into fiscal oblivion. Not only Iraq, but GOP plundering of the public treasury, voting in tax writeoffs for only the richest, but with no forward gains on the economy.
Not only Iraq, but the declining status of America on technology and education, the ignorance of clues about environmental disaster. Not only Iraq, but federal incompetence contributing massively to Katrina, and wholesale corruption in its "rebuilding". Not only Iraq, but leaving America's airports and seaports and borders unprotected for years after 911 demonstrated they should have been first priority-- not last, long last after Iraq.

[alphaa10-2009]

AngryAtLiberals lamented--

1. "Congrats American People....this is what we voted for... now Carl Levin knows more about the Iraq war than our top general? The democrats need to wake up..."
--- Reply

1. No sleepers among the Democrats, certainly, as Levin at once begins to address the GOP-led folly of Iraq. As for "waking up", who has gone to sleep for the past three years after hearing, "Stay the course... stay the course... stay the course..."? Who but Bush ignored Gen. Shinseki and other Pentagon generals who counseled Iraq was a half-cocked plan? You call Iraq a policy? Or is it called "State of Denial" (the book)? With disaster cascading about them, how could anyone suspect the GOP of having any idea how to remedy Iraq? While Iraq self-destructs into civil war after the Bush-led invasion, you GOP bozos sound like unwelcome guests who still protest you have more stories to tell, more excuses to offer. Talk about sleepers, you GOP bozos are the last to admit the Iraq you created is dragging America and its security down to disaster.

[pakaal]

Tank611, you said "The plan involves winning the 'hearts and minds' of the Iraqis."

After three years of war, here's how our winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis is working out:

Almost four in five Iraqis say the U.S. military force in Iraq provokes more violence than it prevents.

About six in 10 Iraqis say they approve of attacks on U.S.-led forces

About 61 percent approved of the attacks - up from 47 percent in January.

A solid majority of Shiite and Sunni Arabs approved of the attacks, according to the poll. The increase came mostly among Shiite Iraqis.

The State Department poll found that two-thirds of Iraqis in Baghdad favor an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces, according to The Washington Post.

Much as I support the sentiment, I don't think your 'new shoes for the kids' idea is going to work....

[edward j. sullivan]

i hope that the dems are not going to push us into actions that are not in out best interest yes at dome point we have to get out, on our terms. to leave too early will spell disaster for years to come ed sullivan

[pakaal]

Dang Alphaa10, how do you REALLY feel about Bush's foreign policy? Don't be shy now! ;-)

[Syndicate]

Sounds like time for plan B. The scorched Earth policy. Bring the troops home then nuke Iraq. We win problem solved. No more Civil war to worry about no more country for terrorist to take over. No more worries. Problem solved. We tried but some places and some people are not worth saving. Just nuke it.

[cbgb31]

A Quote

"I'm of course disappointed that basically you're advocating the status quo here today, which I think the American people in the last election said that is not an acceptable condition."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sen John McCain, R-Ariz

And of course the American people know more about his anyone. So there you go.

[elgraz]

It's time for our troops in that Iraqi hell to pack up and come home. Let the Iraqi's sort it out. They and the rest of the Middle East have been waging war and tension for quite awhile throughout the centuries without any permanent resolutions.....It's Islam versus Judaism versus Christianity......Humans will never change until the end of the world finally comes. Hopefully it will be soon.
Have a nice day humans !!!!!!

[pakaal]

Unfortunately, cbscrash07, your idea of "nuking" Iraq has a few flaws. the resultant radiation would make the vast majority of oil unusable (creating massive trade problems worldwide), the deaths of Iraqis would make America the world's greatest perpetrator of genocide in history, and it would create vast worldwide swatches of radioactivity that would affect the US population as well as the rest of the planet.

All that, of course, is secondary to the fact that you're a murderous lunatic for even suggesting it.

[tomar0317]

It's time we set a time table, advise the Iragis that at that time they're on their own and if they can't come together by that time, whose fault is it really? Certainly not America's. The impression I get from a questionable media is that the majority of the Iraqis want us out. No problem. If they want us out sooner than the timetable, simply have their leadership tell us to leave. We'll be happy to. We voted in part to end the war. For those new folks we put in Washington, you have a directive. For those that weren't up for re-election, your time is coming.

[gdmoore2]

It is not surprising that our political and military leadership would disagree on the grand strategy, when they do not seem to know what works for individual neighborhoods. The U.S. cannot put together a comprehensive plan until we understand what works. Among other trials, the U.S. Army should test the notion that our presence is a major cause of the violence in Baghdad. Talk to sectarian militias and see if they can maintain acceptable order in a couple of neighborhoods as U.S. troops gradually pull back. The Iraqis keep saying that our presence is causing the violence. Test it.

[radiob-2009]

Abizaid has made this statement before that we needed about another 4-6 mths. to stabilize Iraq before it collapses into total civil war.He made the statement prior to our redployment in Bagdad.He thinks the situation on the ground is better than August when the mth. of October was one of the most deadliest mths. for our troops.November has stared out with a big bang,the last 4 days there have been over 300 Iraqis killed,unknowned number kidnapped in broad daylight.I do not know where he is getting his intel from but from all press reports liberal,consevative or unbiased the situation is deterioating with Al Malki doing nothing but lip service.It is time for a change in strategy not cut and run or stay the course which Abizaid seems to be advocating.Partioning Iraq is not the answer either as it would lead to a terrorist state inside of a state.I do not know the answers and as so many generals have stepped forth and said neither does Abizaid.

[bobgee_1999]

There is nothing quite as nauseating---or blatantly brainless--as someone calling to "nuke" anyone else (ignoring for the moment that we created the problem in the first place). Since 1945, every one of us has lived under the threat of nuclear annihilation. Hiroshima & Nagasaki changed all the rules and the lives of everyone who has lived since anywhere on Earth. But, to mankind's credit, another one was never dropped, however crazy, stupid, aggressive, fascistic, imperialistic or "evil" any world leader has been. Fortunately, the significance of the atomic bomb was realized, and a new, sadly cautious paradigm came into existence. However, the minute anyone next uses a nuclear weapon in war, ALL the rules change again, and you can forget about global warming, getting laid Saturday night and putting your kids through college. And next time you hear how "evil" another country is, remember who the ONLY country ever to drop a nuclear weapon on anyone was.

P.S. LOVED your summation, pakaal

[laurieleemoo]

it is absolutely amazing to me that all the democrats and the media have brought in all these war heros from the past to state their opinions about the Iraq war and what we should do about it for the past few years----yes, all these people who fought in Vietnam and like to compare Iraq to vietnam----------yet, none of them are willing to listen to the present head of our military and the people who are actually on the ground in Iraq---the people who actually do know what is going on there. What is up with that---I mean you will use these heros of the past for their expert opinion and totally disregard the opinion of the ones that matter---the ones that are actually there and in control now of the military? The ones who do actually know what is going on----the ones with the first hand facts? I do not understand these democrats.

[old300d]

So if we don't keep spending 2 billion a week and keep sending our troops over there then they won't do what we want ? Sounds like blackmail to me.

[old300d]

Are we spending 2 billion a week and 1000's of lives trying to prove Genesis 16:12 is wrong ? They claim to be Ishmael. I am starting to believe it.