Iraq Panel Report Gets Varied Reaction

Lawmakers, White House And Troops React With Praise, Criticism And Skepticism

(CBS/AP)  Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid is hailing the Iraq Study Group's report as "a tremendous step forward" that will change course in Iraq. But New Mexico Republican Rep. Heather Wilson was disappointed by the report, saying recommendations "range from the blindingly obvious, to the naive and simplistic, to the interesting but underdeveloped."

Reaction to the report is mixed, with Democrats largely supporting the panel's recommendations and Republicans somewhat more skeptical. The White House sees the Iraq Study Group's report as an "acknowledgment of reality" — not an indictment of how it's handling the war.

The high-level commission said Wednesday, at the unveiling of its report, that President Bush's policy in Iraq "is not working." It prodded the administration to embrace diplomacy to stabilize the country and allow withdrawal of most combat troops by early 2008. However, "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq," said the Iraq Study Group's co-chairman, James A. Baker III.

"There is no guarantee ... of success, even if you implement all 79 of these recommendations. But there is an absolute guarantee of failure
if we pick up and leave," Baker told CBS News anchor Katie Couric Wednesday.

The United States faces a "grave and deteriorating" situation after nearly four years of war in Iraq, the high-level commission warned bluntly, prodding Mr. Bush to launch a diplomatic offensive to stabilize the country and allow withdrawal of most combat troops by early 2008.

After four years of war and the deaths of more than 2,900 U.S. troops and thousands of Iraqis, the United States' ability "to influence events within Iraq is diminishing," the commission warned.

Baker said staying the course is "no longer viable," but added that a quick U.S. withdrawal would invite a wider regional war. The military is already transitioning more U.S. troops to train Iraqi troops, but even if most combat brigades could be out of Iraq by early 2008, tens of thousands of American troops would still be in the fight there, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

After presenting the report to Mr. Bush, Baker and co-chair, former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., spoke at a news conference at which Hamilton said combat forces have to be moved out "responsibly." By early 2008, the panel thinks some U.S. combat brigades could be gone.

White House press secretary Tony Snow says the report deserves "close study and scrutiny" — and that's what he promises it will get, after which the president will describe what he sees as "the way forward." Snow acknowledges the current situation in Iraq is unacceptable, and says the president isn't disputing the bleak picture in the report.

But there's a difference between taking the report seriously and adopting its recommendations, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reports. From the outset, the administration has been clear that the president does not outsource his foreign policy.

Snow says things have deteriorated in recent months, and that's of "grave concern."

But Democratic Sen. Carl Levin says he hopes the report is a death nail in the administration's stay-the-course policy. Some Republicans are also voicing acceptance of the recommendations, with House GOP leader John Boehner saying the "assessments should be given the due respect and consideration they deserve." But he cautions against leaving a destabilized Iraq.

Senate Republican Whip Mitch McConnell called the report an opportunity.

Meanwhile, American troops in one of the most dangerous corners of Iraq are skeptical that they'll be leaving any time soon, despite a new U.S. defense chief and the bipartisan commission's recommendations of a new war strategy.

The soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment welcomed the plans for change, but questioned the panel's recommendation that most combat troops leave Iraq by early 2008.

"There's no way we're leaving in two years, no matter what any recommendation says," said Spc. Eisenhower Atuatasi, 26, of Westminster, Calif. He thought 2012 was more realistic.

Sgt. Christopher Wiacik, 28, of Lavonia, Mich., also was pessimistic.

"It's just a study group. It's not really going to affect the president. I don't see any major changes happening until presidential elections start," Wiacik said. "I think both sides will promise to get troops out and give timelines then, but not before."

The U.S. Army troops, based in the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Ramadi, are still reeling from learning two months ago that their tour was being extended until at least February.

"We've been here for 12 months now and there's been no progress," said Spc. Richard Johnson, 20, of Bridgeport, Conn., as he manned a machine gun on the rooftop of an outpost ringed by a shallow moat of sewage.

[marcelde]

"a war that has lost favor with the American public."

THIS WAR NEVER FOUND FAVOR WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC!

==========================================
"Iran and Syria, which the U.S. considers pariah states."

THE LABEL: *PARIAH* SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN EXCUSE TO AVID DIALOGUE. BUSH'S PRIDE HAS COST OUR TROOPS THEIR LIVES. HE HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE TO BRING THEM OUT OF HARM'S WAY; EVEN IF THAT MEANS SPEAKING TO OTHERS.
==========================================

""Very early on, the notion of achieving some sort of victory didn't take," Chas W. Freeman Jr., former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told the newspaper."

OLD UNANSWERED QUESTION:

WHAT DOES *VICTORY* LOOK LIKE; A U.S. FLAG FLYING FROM THE IRAQI LEGISLATURE?

[luvny-2009]

Mr. Bush will acknowledge the report, but will not adopt all of its recommendations. Instead, the president will most likely wait a couple weeks and then outline his new strategy for Iraq on national television.

YEP THE OLD MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

the group's report is one of several other reviews being undertaken within the administration. "They're all basically saying the same thing: This is an utter disaster. This is the worst strategy mistake in the history of the United States,"

GOT THAT RIGHT

I believe the Dems and the Reps will work together because they know the mess we are in and Thank God THEY are smart enough to work together unlike that moron frat boy Dubya.

[jeffk1623]

And former Vice President Al Gore noted Wednesday that the group's report is one of several other reviews being undertaken within the administration. "They're all basically saying the same thing: This is an utter disaster. This is the worst strategy mistake in the history of the United States," Gore said on NBC's "Today" show.

Finally Washington is starting to wake up....but what a sad mess GWB and his cronies have left the American people....

[aeasus]

"They're all basically saying the same thing: This is an utter disaster. This is the worst strategy mistake in the history of the United States,"

Duh,like yeah! Glad to see some people finally waking up :P

[roach9703]

Unless, we get the participation of the European Nations, including those most critical of us, as well as, Yes, U.N. participation, any plan for Iraq will not succeed. The Europeans need to face that fact that it is in their vital interests, both from the aspects of security and trade, to participate in any settlement of Iraq. A very important nation that needs to participate, in any settlement with all its dangers is Turkey, our bridge between the Christian Nations of Europe and Islam.
The greatest crisis we face in the Congress and the presidency is the failure of imagination.
This process may provide new opportunities to solve the problem of nuclear proliferation in Iran. The proposed framework of Europe's involvement provides this process, also.

[roach9703]

Unless, we get the participation of the European Nations, including those most critical of us, as well as, Yes, U.N. participation, any plan for Iraq will not succeed. The Europeans need to face that fact that it is in their vital interests, both from the aspects of security and trade, to participate in any settlement of Iraq. A very important nation that needs to participate, in any settlement with all its dangers is Turkey, our bridge between the Christian Nations of Europe and Islam.
The greatest crisis we face in the Congress and the presidency is the failure of imagination.
This process may provide new opportunities to solve the problem of nuclear proliferation in Iran. The proposed framework of Europe's involvement provides this process, also.

[roach9703]

Unless, we get the participation of the European Nations, including those most critical of us, as well as, Yes, U.N. participation, any plan for Iraq will not succeed. The Europeans need to face that fact that it is in their vital interests, both from the aspects of security and trade, to participate in any settlement of Iraq. A very important nation that needs to participate, in any settlement with all its dangers is Turkey, our bridge between the Christian Nations of Europe and Islam.
The greatest crisis we face in the Congress and the presidency is the failure of imagination.
This process may provide new opportunities to solve the problem of nuclear proliferation in Iran. The proposed framework of Europe's involvement provides this process, also.

[roach9703]

Unless, we get the participation of the European Nations, including those most critical of us, as well as, Yes, U.N. participation, any plan for Iraq will not succeed. The Europeans need to face that fact that it is in their vital interests, both from the aspects of security and trade, to participate in any settlement of Iraq. A very important nation that needs to participate, in any settlement with all its dangers is Turkey, our bridge between the Christian Nations of Europe and Islam.
The greatest crisis we face in the Congress and the presidency is the failure of imagination.
This process may provide new opportunities to solve the problem of nuclear proliferation in Iran. The proposed framework of Europe's involvement provides this process, also.

[antoniof123]

If GWB does not respond fast enough for the American people then write congress and tell them to stop funding the war effort. It worked once and it will work again. NO MONEY = NO WAR = PULL OUT. You know his buddy's want to get paid for the contracts they never had to bid on.

[roach9703]

Unless, we get the participation of the European Nations, including those most critical of us, as well as, Yes, U.N. participation, any plan for Iraq will not succeed. The Europeans need to face that fact that it is in their vital interests, both from the aspects of security and trade, to participate in any settlement of Iraq. A very important nation that needs to participate, in any settlement with all its dangers is Turkey, our bridge between the Christian Nations of Europe and Islam.
The greatest crisis we face in the Congress and the presidency is the failure of imagination.
This process may provide new opportunities to solve the problem of nuclear proliferation in Iran. The proposed framework of Europe's involvement provides this process, also.

[macusweil]

so what is news here?.. nothing !

since day-1 this war has been mismanaged
what's really sad is that the administration has been in denial so it has taken the American people much longer to see the truth.. as the real story comes out it will probably get much worse

[rsoxfan1123]

The sad part of all of this is it took how many lives lost and broken and how much wasted money before we began to reach the point of leaving. From the sound of things, we will be in no big hurry to leave, either, which means more dead and limbless Americans and more tax dollars flushed down the toilet for a country that doesn't want us there to begin with. The dems that have been supporting a "Stay the Course a Little Longer" strategy ought to be ashamed of themselves. They were appearing here on these blogs continuously after the recent elections and got upset when I called them neo-cons in drag.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to World War II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. To a hypothetical, I can answer, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed and maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front being a big one. Now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?...I'm waiting.

[hhusted]

If Bush does not take the recommendations seriously and act on them, then perhaps the Senate should ban together and request an impeachment of President Bush. That really is the only way out of the situation. The old saying that if you can't win the war until you remove the source of the trouble. By eliminating Bush, Congress has a better chance of ending the war and bringing the troops home.

[rsoxfan1123]

hhusted-Bush won't pull the troops out. He'll wait until the next president comes along and when we finally pull out he (and many of the republicans now reading this) will say that the reason Iraq was a disaster is because the dems pulled us out too soon. He knows that pulling them out now would be admitting what a failure he is and he would rather watch thousands more Americans lose their lives and limbs than admit he screwed up.

[jeffk1623]

OK Bushrocks--I am tired of your continual posting of the same question. So I will answer it and answer it from a combat veteren's point of view. I volunteered to serve my country and proudly did so for 14 years. I was sent to Somilia, not of my own free will, and endured a hell on earth.

There is nothing noble about attempting to establish democracy in a country that does not and will never want it. It is a waste of time, money, and lives.

Because I do not agree with you and the Bush administration your feel this gives the right label me a traitor. I now challenge you Bushrocks to answer a simple question...Have you ever served your country. If the answer is no then you and your beloved GOP have no foundation to call me anything...but you can say thanks to all veterans that have given so much, especially the Iraq veterens that the GOP continues to abuse....

[bluestardad]

This study group is another way to say stay the course or we will get bad things done to us! more of the same bologna. Lets march on Washington!

[grumpas]

Ahhh!!!! That much hated neocon word pops up again...diplomacy!!! These are the people who do not believe in deplomacy remember? Anyone who is diplomatic is a spineless wimp (Clinton was a spineless wimp)!!!! Kick in the door Gestapo style and tell them what you want done is their moto! The Arab's will be more than happy to do it (they will even shower us with flowers) because we are tough guys like Arnold! What's the matter fella's??? Didn't your tough guy tactic's work very well???? To bad better luck with the next invasion! Everyone really expects Bush to be diplomatic???? That is a good laugh if I ever heard it! He had better send someone else to do his dirty work!

[getcentered]

Bush doesn't know *** about what to do in Iraq and this "Iraq Study Group Report" is not going to teach us anything that we can't hear from the news. So for the last 6 years, many people have been asking for more diplomacy, but only get it when a stupid official "panel" says we need it.
PUPPETS!

THE PRESIDENT PROMISED US DIPLOMACY FROM THE START!! HE IS A LIAR!

Impeachment proceedings? Hey Dems?

[tcjcags]

Mr. roach123-- i agree with your thoughts from the political standpoint.

[jebediah76]

Here is the bald faced truth -

America CAN NOT do the things that was requires. War requires you to be brutal, unforgiving, and cruel. It is a rolling death machine that kills indiscriminantly. If one is to successfully pursue a war, they have to be more than willing to commit to attrocities, collateral damage, and the loss of innocent lives.

In WWII, what caused the end in both Germany and Japan? It was the prospect of either total annihiliation or the complete expurgation of their culture from the planet. In Germany we attacked Dresden - a cosmopolitan city of wealthy Germans who were largely unaffected by the war. We firebombed the hell out of Dresden and virtually wiped it off the map - Men, Women Children, Cats, Dogs, Elderly, and yes, even Fish.

In Japan, well, we dropped two big ones AND firebombed Tokyo. THAT, my friends is how you acheive victory.

I do not support this war, but if we are to stay, I say we take the gloves off and really send a message of what an all out war with the U.S. would bring. Start with Sadr City - no leaflets letting the enemy know its coming, no warning other than the drone of the bombers.

Either that or we get the hell out. its like sending a boxer into the ring with one hand tied behind his back wearing ski boots. Either send them to FIGHT or keep them at home!!!

[clestes-2009]

Anyone who thinks dubya is going to pay any attention to what this or any other report is fooling themselves. Look at what has happened in the last couple of week. He renominated Bolton, who had the good sense to resign, to be ambassidor to the UN. Bolton didn't make it through the first time. Trying is worse than stupid. It is dumb bullheadedness. When he finally realized the nomination was not going to pass, he declared he would find another way to force Bolton on the UN, by renaming him something besides ambassidor. Bolton said no and resigned.

Then there is the case of the 6 judges who didn't make it through the senate because they were so right-wing his own party could not stomach them. He renominated them again! What's that all about? Does he think they are going to be acceptable now?? Not likely. Another example of his subborness.

No Shrub hasn't chanced an iota. He will not accept their findings and will claim that another plan closer to his "victory by staying the course" is the road to choose. Iraq will continue to worsen because al-Maliki cannot control the miltias, and our troops will still be pinned down taking fire on all sides.

I predict a Democratic whitehouse and gw & company will go down in history as the father of the worse foreign disaster of all time in US history.

[rsoxfan1123]

jebediah76-you're exactly right. that is what I have been saying from the beginning. You can't declare war on one person (Hussein) and not a country. That would be like declaring war on Hitler but not Germany. It should've been obvious that it wouldn't work.

[Syndicate]

Wow! This group got there work done fast. I think there purpose is to create a distraction. For what I don't know. Perhaps if they recommend talking to Iran it will make it easier for Bush to do that. I think this groups primary mission is smoke and mirrors. Bush isn't very good with it. Remember when Bush said the air at ground zero was safe. Anybody with any sense knew that was BS, but they also knew why it had to be said.

[observantx]

%u201CThe president will most likely wait a couple weeks and then outline his new strategy for Iraq on national television.%u201D

Oh great. Clueless Leader gets a detailed unvarnished assessment of how badly he and the rest of the Rovettes screwed up and now he wants to drag his feet like a little kid that doesn%u2019t want to do his homework. Maybe he needs Uncle Jim and Uncle Lee to break it down into small pieces he can digest. In the meantime we lose more of our sons and daughters to IEDs, snipers and RPGs.

George, be a man. Suck it up; take responsibility and get this fixed now. There is no time to waste. Each tick of the clock means someone%u2019s brother, father, son or daughter is killed for you reckless adventure. Your little slam dunk of a war has pulled this nation into quicksand. It%u2019s now up to you to quit being petulant and act in the nation%u2019s interest, not your own or your buddies in the %u201Coil bidness%u201D.

Get moving.

[clestes-2009]

Sorry hhusted I don't think impeachment proceeding will help anything. Unless it also impeached Cheney. You think Cheney will do better or different? I doubt it. He has always been behind Bush, pushing him on and on.

[rsoxfan1123]

clestes-impeachment would be a start to acountability. It annoys me to no end to think of Bush riding off in the sunset to the Crawford ranch in two years while our country sits around trying to fix this huge mess he made without having to answer to anyone for the lies that brought so much sorrow to so many people.

[angryliberal-2009]

that's it? That is what they have taken 8 months to come up with? How will a gradual withdraw help us or the Iraqis win this war??

Did anyone suggest eliminating Syria and Iran....(mainly Iran)? If we want to truly give a blow to worldwide terrorism we need to deal with Iran and not just pretend it doesnt exsist.

We all know that asking the world leader in terrorism (Iran) to help us eliminate the terrorism they are funding is fundementaly absurd.

1. it makes us look weak and them look powerful
2. THEY ARE FREAKIN TERRORISTS!!!!
3. They call us their enemy and want to eliminate us and Israel.
4. They (Iran) think that they need to cause tons of chaos to bring the 12th imam or whatever its called to rule the world.
5. They are defying the world community on its commands regaurding their nuclear program

[ceres5]

Where is bushrocks1? I want to hear new ideas.

[mrthornman]

To bad he doesn't have the decency to resign. But there would be Cheney, not a pleasant thought at all...

[lestb35]

"The commission also recommended a renewed push to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, saying the United States cannot otherwise achieve its goals in the Middle East."

Sure, OK no problem.

[rsoxfan1123]

ANGRYliberal -what about osama bin forgotten? no one cares about 9/11 anymore? It's all about "winning" in Iraq.

[mcfergy]

The few recommendations from the committee mentioned in this article appear to be well founded conclusions. Given that the rest of the recommendations are of similar merit, the President, Senate and Congress must think out of the box and unify to substantially reduce the loss of our Soldiers lives and the lives of Iraqi citizens. Diplomacy with Syria and Iran must follow a carefully plotted path.

Mark Ferguson
West Valley City, Utah

[tomar0317]

Jebediah!! You're right on target.

[frankly6]

ANGRYliberal

Iran has been trying to normalize relations with Washington and has signaled it's willingness to negotiate on all issues since before we invaded Iraq. They helped us in Afghanistan and offered to help track down Al Qaeda as well as reign in other terrorist groups. They were willing to put everything on the table. They just wanted us to sit down and talk to them. Instead we took their help, snubbed them and even talked about bombing them. Since then they have been decidedly "unhelpfull".

Once again, you know nothing about the subject you comment on. If you care enough to have an opinion, you should care that it's an informed one. Instead you come here to blow hot air.

[angryliberal-2009]

rsoxfan1123,

Thankfully your extreme hatred for our president is wishful thinking on your part. President clinton taught the world how to get impeached and how to screw up America. You have to admit at least Bush cares about our country unlike the Obamma's, clinton's, Pelosi's, and Murtha's of this country. I do agree that Bush should be doing more to win this war by

1. Mandating that the Iraqis fence their border and patrol it 24hrs a day
2. Take out Mahmmod AKmedenhaJAD...via snipers
3. Destroy, eliminate IRAN's NUCLEAR FACILITIES
4. Topple the regime in Syria
5. Launching a massive bunker buster raid on all of the suspected hideouts of Binladen
6. Mandating the Death sentence for anyone that has any association with terrorism and is convicted...i mean any! And that death sentence should be carried out within the month that the person is convicted.

[bluestardad]

I told you James Baker was no Statesman with American Interest at heart. Providing cover for our Texas Dicktater to stay the course for another few years. Baker defended the Saudis against the 9/11 survivors.

[grazinggoat]

THIS IS THE WORST HUMILIATION THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A PRESIDENT. WALKING-LIAR BUSH YOU DESRVE IT AND EVERYBODY HERE IS HAPPY YOU ARE INFLICTED SUCH DISHONOR. TAKE IT WITH YOU HOME AND STICK TO YOUR WALL. AND SHOW IT TO YOUR FATHER WHO WEAPT YESTERDAY LIKE A ***.

YOU HAVE ACTED AS A COWBOY. YOU DISREGARDED THE WHOLE WORLD BY GOING IT ALONE.

SHAME ON YOU AND ON YOUR LIES-LEGACY. YOU DISHONORED AMERCIA.

YOU JUST NEED TO BE IMPEACHED AND HOPEFULLY THE DEMS WILL HAVE ENOUGH BALLS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOUR VICE-PRESIDENT THE UNEMOTIONED WAX-FACE CHENEY.

[angryliberal-2009]

frankly6

Dude you cannot, I MEAN CAN NOT be that stupid!!!

lol, you really think Iran gives a *** about us? They want to destroy us and have said that over and over..they are a terrorist regime!!! You are falling for their Bullsh** wow. Liberalism is absolutley senseless. The Iranian regime is a bunch of Islamonazi lunatics that want to destroy Israel first then the Great Satan America. AKMEWDENHAJAD has repeatedly said he feels it is his mission from God to cause chaos on earth to bring back the 12th Immam. You are extremely Gullible if you believe anything those wakjobs say!!! You have got to be kidding, lol.

[jhindson1]

Even if the Reports recommendations were accepted in their entirety, there is NO WAY the thousands of people that Bush appointed in the administration that would be responsible for implementing them would vigorously implement.

The foot dragging, watering down, and second quessing and Executive Directives to ignore most of the recommendations will delay any troop pull out until Bush is finally out of office.

IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY NOW and reappoint all the political appointees, and get on with fixing this mess.

[jeffk1623]

ANGRYliberal

You have to admit at least Bush cares about our country unlike the Obamma's, clinton's, Pelosi's, and Murtha's of this country.

The above statement has to be by far the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen anyone post on this site. Bush cares for nothing but himself and his rich buddies. His track record plainly proves that. You insinuate our hatred of Bush skews our thoughts and opinions...look at yourself..your hatred of anything liberal has completely closed your eyes and mind to the obvious....

[angryliberal-2009]

frankly6

If you know anything about Islam, the only reason he wrote us that letter last week was because you are supposed to "be nice" and ask the infedels to convert to islam willingly before you wipe them out.

[observantx]

AngryLiberal:

Boy, you sound like THE man for the job! That%u2019s quite a list you have and I hope you accomplish each and every task. Make sure you have enough camo sticks for the face and hands, keep the Rambo bow and arrows and the big combat knife clean and dry. Oh, and don%u2019t forget to tie the cloth around your forehead, it makes you look soooo rugged and dangerous.

[jebediah76]

AngryLiberal sounds like he's just angry, and not very liberal at all. We've been hearing this "Blame Clinton for 9/11" mantra for so long I'm achingly tired of it. Fact is that Clinton understood the enemy better than Bush. Bush was the first president in fifteen years who would listen to engage the middle east from a religious position - and so they waited until he was in to sucker punch the U.S. and draw it into a quagmire. Bush Responded beautifully and as predicted - He never did understand how Rope-A-Dope foreign policy works. Texans, sheesh.

[diamtool]

Daddy got him out of one war in Vietnam, but it looks like Junior is really stuck this time. No wonder Poppy's crying. Guess it's harder to get your kid out of a war if he started it.
Meanwhile the country and the Army are practically broke and anyone who suggests we should go after Iran better have solar power and an ethanol still.
That would really make Bin Laden's day, as he enjoys his retirement in Pakistan.
Russia and China are laughing at us, N Korea, Iran and Syria are just ignoring us.
heckuva job junior! mission acomplished!
God Bless our Troops
God forgive George Bush

[tejasdemo]

How many millions of dollars did we pay these clowns to come up with a report that any 90 year old in a nursing home could have told this jerk 3 years ago ?!

I dont care about Iraq at all. Let whatever happens in Iraq happen. That blood lies squarely on the shoulders of the Republican party. Sleep tight Dubya, Cheney, Ralph Reed, Bill Bennett, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Delay and Newt Gingrich.

Bring the troops home now! Let the Saudis figure out how to rein in their crazy cousins.

[rsoxfan1123]

ANGRYliberal

1. Mandating that the Iraqis fence their border and patrol it 24hrs a day-who%u2019ll pay for this? They can%u2019t even handle Baghdad.
2. Take out Mahmmod AKmedenhaJAD...via snipers. Good luck with that.
3. Destroy, eliminate IRAN's NUCLEAR FACILITIES. Start ANOTHER war? We haven%u2019t paid for this one yet. Our troops are overstretched already-even Bush%u2019s cronies are admitting this.
4. Topple the regime in Syria. See #3 above.
5. Launching a massive bunker buster raid on all of the suspected hideouts of Binladen see #3 above.
6. Mandating the Death sentence for anyone that has any association with terrorism and is convicted...i mean any! And that death sentence should be carried out within the month that the person is convicted. And who gives the label %u201CTerrorist%u201D? Isn%u2019t there a guy suing this administration for labeling him a %u201Cterrorist%u201D and torturing him wrongfully?

This list is the kind of thinking that has wasted $500 billion taxpayer dollars and thousands of lives and limbs

[one_american]

jerryomara:

Clinton was already impeached.

Get right, or get out.

[sharncedar]

"they waited until he was in to sucker punch the U.S"

Murder, like politics, is local. People profess many beliefs, but their actions correspond very closely to personal goals and desires.

Murder is a good example of that - rarely is anyone killed for "religious" reasons, though religious reasons are very often given as an excuse. The kind of hate that leads to action is usually a very personal and intimate hate.

Many Islamic believers, as well as others wrldwide, may profess to dislike the United States. But they don't act on it. Many dumb bigots on these websites profess to dislike Jews, for example, but they don't act on it.

Bin Laden had a very personal and intimate relationship with both the CIA and George Bush. There is no grand Islamic conspiracy because most people in those countries don't really care much about the US. Bin Laden was intimately connected to the US through our funding of him in the Soviet affair and the relationship of his family with the Bush family. That is what bred the hate that can kill, rahter than ordinary dislike which is theoretical and doesn't motivate actions.

What part of this are you people still not getting. The "grand Islamic conspiracy" was created as a fiction by some cynical people, again for very personal and selfish reasons.

Human actions are small and petty, human excuses are grand and eloquent.

[one_american]

You frickin' liberals don't know squat about anything, much less about foreign policy or fighting wars, or doing what's needed to get the job done.

The Baker commission is a bi-partisan way for Americans to come together and succeed in Iraq, not appease a bunch of pacifists.

Get on America's side, or get the hell out of this country!