The War In Iraq And The War At Home

The Skinny: WSJ Poll Finds Public Backs Congress In Showdown With President

(CBS)  The Skinny is Joel Roberts' take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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The morning after a bill calling for a U.S. pullout from Iraq cleared the House, there are a variety of stories in the morning newspapers on the status of the war and the political battle at home – none of which offer much solace for the Bush administration.

The Wall Street Journal reports on a new poll showing the public backs Congress in its showdown with the White House over Iraq.

The WSJ/NBC poll finds that by 56-37 percent Americans support setting a withdrawal date for U.S. troops. The poll also finds only 12 percent see improvement in Iraq since the start of President Bush's troop "surge."

That lack of progress is echoed in a new U.N. report cited by USA Today which finds that the humanitarian crisis In Iraq is "rapidly worsening," and violence rising. The report also accuses the Iraqi government of withholding figures on civilian deaths because the data could undermine public opinion – a charge the government dismissed.

And despite the Bush administration's arguments to the contrary, the Los Angeles Times reports Iraqis themselves are unconvinced that their lot has improved. Interviews throughout Iraq found "a minority of Iraqis said the security plan had made their lives better." Most cited "continued violence and additional headaches brought about by checkpoints and road closures."

Meanwhile, both the New York Times and Washington Post point out that Democrats plan to send their final troop withdrawal legislation to President Bush early next week, nearly four years since Mr. Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech. The Post calls that a "particularly pungent political anniversary" for the start of what’s expected to be a brutal veto fight.


White House Defends Political Briefings

In more Washington political drama, the Washington Post reports that the White House has disclosed some details about controversial meetings at which senior government officials were briefed on GOP electoral prospects.

The Post says White House officials held 20 such briefings for officials in at least 15 government agencies last year to apprise them of "which seats Republican candidates might win or lose, and how the election outcomes could affect the success of administration policies."

While government employees are barred under the Hatch Act from engaging in partisan political activity, the administration maintains that the meetings "were appropriate." Officials told the Post they were merely "informational briefings about the political landscape."

At least one of those meetings, though, is being investigated by the Office of Special Counsel. And the chairman of the House oversight committee, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., wants to know more. "Politicization of departments and agencies is a serious issue," Waxman said.


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[bigsk8fan]

We need to get our troops home from this illegal war of aggression in Iraq. Americans want our troops home. Iraqis want us to go home. GWB clings to the desperation that one more 'thing' might turn this civil war into a GWB victory. But Americans are less concerned with GWB's political legacy than saving American lives. The real war on terror is in Afghanistan, not Iraq. There, the Afghan Taliban govt protected Al Qaeda who was responsible for 9/11. No Iraqis had any involvement.

[long_rider]

Maybe consider suspending payments to the government contractors over there, based on non-performance, and pending investigation about misuse of funds.

We should just pull our troops out, this is a lose - lose situation, and everyone knows it. How many Viet- Nam's does this country have to go through before it learns anything.

We have to continue our suffering at the hands of the chimp, but why should we let the chimp kill more of our soldiers, and just because the chimp (and company) lied about getting into the war.

The chimp is a self inflicted wound, because Americans will not unite and demand the ouster of everyone in the White House.

But letting the chimp to continue the farce in Iraq is a crime, and our soldiers blood is on our hands as well, for permitting this to go on.

The chimp has lead this country down the path of dishonor and disgrace in front of the entire world. Again Americans are to blame for permitting it, and now we will have to live with it. There is no honor in this country. We should at least stand together and get our soldiers out of harms way.

[terrapin78]

Put a fork in this turkey (or should I say duck?). Bush's Presidency is done. It will be relegated to the "worst of" history heap.

The election is now upon us and he may as well go to Crawford or Camp David and play golf, mountain bike, masturbate.... because he just doesn't matter any more.

Only the GOP base support him and HIS war of choice at this point and he is losing them. I got an email from a conservative Bush supporter friend in the Bay area who announced that he is no longer supporting Bush. Bush's Gonzales support has finally pushed him over the edge.

Now the WSJ is saying the polls are against him. He is toast!

[bm6005]

Impeach the IQ91 MORON now!!!!

[Razzl]

Interesting that 12% of the respondents were so rabidly partisan that they felt compelled to claim things have improved in Iraq since the "surge" began. There has been no letup in the bombings and carnage, no objective or even anecdotal reports from the Fox fascists about "improvements" other than McCain's comments after his armored stroll through Baghdad, and not even any solid evidence that troops are deployed and that a "surge" is taking place. Some people care more about looking right than being right.

And since when was it ever a legitimate aspect of operations in the executive branch to be holding meetings analyzing the politics of the upcoming election on company time? The Hatch Act forbids all that in every possible way. These neverending violations of the spirit and letter of laws is one reason why Dennis Kucinich is exactly right in submitting articles of impeachment against Cheney. Bush comes next...

[homespunlady]

How low will it go before the corruption stops. PLEASE if there HAS to be a Republican the next time around, Let it be Ron Paul. But then I'm only one voice in the wilderness looking for an HONEST man and he'd be the LAST PERSON the heinous NEOCONS would want to see in charge.
I'm SO TIRED of the self serving, corrupt political HACKS that think only of where that next lobbyist BONANZA is coming from to fund their personal gain and NOT thinking at all about who they might hurt in their greedy pursuit of power and money.

[dblbar]

Yeah buddy..."the troop buildup is working"....and there's WMD in Iraq....and Rumsfeld is the best in history...and Brownie did a hell of a job.....and so did Gonzo....

Wake the hell up....

[skyk-2009]

Has anyone ever looked at the list of Great American's who have been called Traitors by the same sick bunch that are calling their neighbors and Fellow Citizens that today. Don't be fooled here folks, they sling their mud at Democrats but since the Democrats are doing what the VAST majority of us want, the mud is really directed at us. You see these losers have NEVER been able to accept the concept of Government by the PEOPLE. They, even today, hold on to the idea that they, the Superior few, know what's best and we should just go along.

[skyk-2009]

With the winds blowing the other way has Hillary switched opinions yet?

These cowards and traitors on the Democratic side of the Isle will be judged Politically for this next year.

The political rein of Hanoi Nancy and Filthy Harry will be short lived.



Posted by didntinhale at 11:55 AM : Apr 26, 2007
+ report abuse

Are you trying to say the Democrats aren't representing the people. I mean I just don't get you people and your line of thought. It's clear the American People do not believe George Bush and they don't agree with the direction he has lead this nation. They CERTAINLY do not agree with the way he's handling the war, with his "go along or I'll blow you up mentality". So? They went to the polls and elected people who would change that approach, go after the real enemy and change directions of this nation. It's really not that hard to understand if you open you mind up just a crack... not much, just a crack!!

[ckcool192000]

I think everyone has failed to notice that the 'withdrawl timeline' is non binding. The bill doesn't state that the troops must be withdrew by the set date, its simply saying that there must be benchmarks, that the Iraq government must make. The problem with this bill is that Bush, which has turned the republicans against it, hasn't actually read the bill. Democrats are providing the funding, but simply telling Bush "If we give you this money, we want to make sure that what we get for the money is worth it". It's asking Bush to be accontable for what is happening in Iraq, and that my friends is what scares Bush.

[forthepeopl1]

He said that the increasing use of car bombs and suicide attacks, plus the greater concentration of U.S. troops among the population, has "led to greater U.S. losses" as well as increased Iraqi military casualties.

Petraeus sidestepped a direct question on how long U.S. troops would have to remain in Iraq.

"I wouldn't try to truly anticipate what level might be some years down the road," he said.

Still, Petraeus noted, it was "an endeavor that clearly is going to require an enormous commitment over time."

HE STATES YEARS THAT EQUATES TO 10 OR MORE....

[notblue]

CBS news and the Democrats love to claim the country is behind there push to abandon Iraq, nothing could be further from the truth! The truth is most Amercans want to see Iraq stabalized before America leaves and when it comes to congress and the American people there is an almost equal devision despite these so called CBS polls. Polls are the tools of agenda driven entities and can be used to furhter those agendas depending how the questions are worded and what demographic is polled.

[jkatkinson]

During the last two elections, Bush and his administration had the support of the "Religious Right". Many of these persons live in the South and Midwest. I am a Midwesterner and from my point of view, Bush did not count on several things regarding us:
1. First rule in business or politics, "Know your Customer Base or Audience"
2. Midwesterners and Southerners do not relish being lied to.
3. Your "Word" is everything.
4. There is a certain respect for those that let their accomplishments shine on their own without patting themselves on the back.
5. The Golden Rule.
You see, that "Religious Right" base he used to get where he is has finally figured out that by their standards, this man has not honored their value system, and not by a longshot. There is nothing conservative about spending our great-grandchildren's inheritance to fund a war that is clearly not working or nothing responsible about ignoring global warming and nothing honorable about lying to the American people....

[doc18d]

By what source do these polled americans come up with their opinion. What evidence do they have to base any opinion of the status of the build up. What source do they use to decide what the situation is like on the ground half way around the world. Oh thats right. NONE

[karlimhof]

CBS news and the Democrats love to claim the country is behind there push to abandon Iraq, nothing could be further from the truth!
Posted by notblue

Do you do it purpose or are you just thick?

We want a deadline for combat troops out - we want to guarantee Iraq's independence - we want Iraqs' factions, together with regional neighbors, to hammer out domestic agreements and peace -

but all that can't be accomplished when we are there in their cities and streets - "killing insurgents" - got it?

It's no longer our war, it was never our war. It 's the BUSH WAR and it's over.

[antoniof123]

I can remember when the GOP was so happy that the polls were in there favor in fact it was glee in their eyes. You would think that after the lesson the taugh the Dems in 1994 they would change direction. Then in 2006 they should have learned yet they still keep going down the same path. I know people in institution of the mentaly ill that do that. What is wrong with this picture?

[frankly6]

notblue



Bu$hco absolutely manipulated and cherry picked the inteligence to make his case for war. He was told months before he cited the forged Niger documents in his state of the union speach that they were bogus. When Condi Rice was asked how this ended up in the speach after they were informed the documents were forged, she said "we forgot".


Bu$hco was also informed by nuclear experts at the department of energy that the aluminum tubes could not be used to enrich uranium. Again, they falsely represented the tubes as evidence of Sadam's nuclear ambitions.

Bu$hco also was told by the CIA that there was no real evidence of Sadam's connection to Al Qaeda. They asserted this anyway.

Bu$hco also set up the "Office of Special Plans" to cook the books and fabricate intelligence when the evidence that they were getting from the real
intelligence community was so thin. This was a group of Republican political hacks who had no experience in intelligence whatsoever and yet they were responsible for producing intelligence for Bu$hco.



No blather, no conspiracy theories, just historical fact.

[bizzzz-2009]

IF WE WITHDRAWL, MARK MY WORDS, JUST AS CERTAIN AS I AM POSTING THIS COMMENT, WE WILL BE GOING BACK. Just as we did this time, after not removing Saddam after the first Gulf War, when the hoards of terrorists set up base in Bagdad, WE WILL BE FORCED TO GO BACK.
The Democrats, just as they make American government complicated with programs and services to accommodate every individual that ever complained about a problem, they now are accommodating the anti war crowd by declaring defeat and withdrawing early.
I am a veteran of the first Gulf War. When I talk to Marines that were in the first Gulf War and now are fight this one, you don't know how frustrating it is to them that we didn't "take care of business the first time"
Why should we withdraw when we'll be definitely be going back? IF WE WITHDRAW EARLY, I BET MY LIFE SAVINGS IN FIVE YEARS WE'LL GO BACK. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL PROBABLY BE UNDER CONDITIONS 10 TIMES MORE BRUTAL THAN NOW.

[ckcool192000]

My opinion of the whole mess, is this. Bush went into Iraq without a plan. Once Saddam was removed from power, he could not give the military a direction. There is no plan. Anyone with half a brain would not start something without knowing how to end it.

It would be like one of us getting into our car and driving somewhere that we have never been before, completely without directions, maps or GPS, and instead of stopping and asking for direction, we just keep driving hoping that one day we would see something we recognize.

That is what is happening in Iraq, our soldires are out there fighing every day, but the problem is that there is no clear plan, there are no clear missions. There is nothing that tells them when there mission will be accomplished and they will be able to come home.

This bill is the first attempt to give a direction a map if you will to the conflict in Iraq. It gives the military a direction. It gives the Bush administration a direction to go in Iraq. It is an attempt to organize this war.

I ask you what is wrong with trying to organize our troops and efforts in Iraq which is costing tax payers millions every day that we are over there?

[karlimhof]

Borack "HUSSEIN" Obama and the rest of the Surrendercrats are putting Politics in front of supporting the troops.

Posted by didntinhale (but swallows)


get your medication and RNC koolaid today?

[bigal321321]

The right wing posters here really amaze me. We must win. It seems more important than dying soldiers. Seems to me they have no morals. Winning is not everything. We have a Vietnam Memorial to prove that. I would rather loose than kill more of our brave young men and women. Somewhere, the right's sense of right and wrong seem all screwed up. Control the populace with fear. It's all they seem to have....just ask Rudy.

[shingles1]

What does "winning" even mean anyways?

[bluestardad]

Contact your elected officials http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
The middle East is not in American Interest, we have invested 50 years of blood, money enough is enough! We cannot want peace for the Middle East more than those who live there!

Israeli Neocons are causing our Elected officials to fight their wars in Proxy! They are bragging in their advertisements read below. Follow the money do not take my word for it see how many Congressmen are influenced by AIPAC money and how they are voting on Iraq!

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

Bush Funds Al Qaeda here is the stream read it yourself!

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh


50 YEARS OF SACRIFICE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS ENOUGH! These little Neocons should be taken out and hung along with all their entire families for all the loss of American Life they have caused over the years! They are causing a back lash against Israel one of our allies in the Middle East. But then this NEOCON MEDDLING is the very thing that caused Jews to be persecuted in Europe. They got in politics without regards to the feelings of those they trampled over until the countries have had enough then they rose up and killed six million of them. Israeli Neocons are causing our Elected officials to fight their wars in Proxy! They are bragging in their advertisements read. Follow the money do not take my word for it see how many Congressmen are influenced by AIPAC money and how they are voting on Iraq!

[r9119111]

JKAtkinson:

Thank you, JK. You have come to your senses. I am encouraged by your honesty. Unfortunately, there are still numerous hard working Americans who need to wake up to what has happened in our country these past years. We've all been had!

[randalds]

"The White House insists the Iraq troop buildup is working, but the U.N. and Iraqis themselves say it isn't. A Wall Street Journal poll shows Americans are skeptical, too."

This leaves only one real question. Is Bush lying about what he sees as progress in Iraq or is he genuinely delusional? Is he genuinely mentally ill? Any dispassionate observer could only conclude that the president of the United States is mad. As in crazy. All of his life he has gotten his way as a spoiled child of a very elite and wealthy family. Every time there has been someone there to clean up after his messes and buy off the injured. Now he is finally being told NO for perhaps the very first time in his life and he can not handle it.

He is insane. He is mentally ill. He is sick and he needs to be removed from office for our sake and for his own.

[realpatriot1]

ckcool,

What's especially crazy about going into Iraq without a plan for the occupation is not just that they ignored the military leadership telling them the risks and the requirements and that they spent over a year planning and talking about the war before going in, but that they were in such a rush
they couldn't wait another month for the weapons inspectors to complete their work.

Now they want to stay indefinitely and they dfon't want to try anything but what has already failed.

At least when LBJ realized he was an impediment to peace he had the decency to resign. When Nixon realized he was busted he resigned and in exchange for Ford becoming President. These folks have NO DECENCY! They don't care about the country or what they're doing to it.

[xzavierbrown]

and I am sure the United Nations is as credible as Bush..but then again, anti-war activists LIKES what the United Nation is saying..nothing more nothing less.
The troops needs to eventually go home but for crying out loud, please dont tell the enemy WHEN its going to happen. I understand that the DNC wants those seats and that white house job but dont sacrifice everything just to have it.

[starleo146]

o.k. Bush you are determined to have YOUR war and it is YOUR WAR not the AMERICAN peoples WAR so VETO and go for it play war with the great military then go to all the funerals and explain to each son, daughter, wife, husband, mother, and father ,why you wanted this war so bad in the first place make a speech like you did at virginia tech I got it just save it and use that your whole war has been a LIE anyway go for it George it is your war Oh what if the Congress doesn't have time to bring up another bill dip into Cheney's account Haliburton can Pay.

[starleo146]

Guilini says make no bones about it they(dem) want us to go on defense. No rudy we want to see some offense we've been on defense long enough boy you are going to be another bright one aren't you.

[j4401]

Is it possible that the only reason we are in Iraq
is so a few individuals have access to the oil fields? Why can't the media investigate this?

[starleo146]

The media INVESTIGATE? They forgot how all these mogels that own the stations will fire them so they are scared, Bush helped corporate America and freedom of the press is fine as long as we talk about ANNA nicole or Rosie o Donnel things like that stay away from investigative journalism that might expose some of this *** going on in Wash. D.C.

[pakaal]

I understand that the DNC wants those seats and that white house job but dont sacrifice everything just to have it.
Posted by xzavierbrown at 04:14 PM : Apr 26, 2007

I understand that Neocons want to believe this is all about Democrats desires, but you leave out the majority views of the American people, as well as the Iraqi people, as well as a number of Republican representatives and Senators. Not to mention that Petreus has even admitted that this timetable has put a lot of pressure on the Iraqi government to actually start doing some coalition building for a change.

[skyk-2009]

Can any of you, just for a minute, imagine where this nation would be under the Incompetent leadership of George Bush had something like that which happened to the Great FDR? People we have a Mentally Impaired Man in charge and he hasn't any idea how to get us out of this mess. When it gets beyond blowing people up or bullying people, Bush is just lost. This is truly a very bad situation because he is actually refusing to even compromise with the PEOPLE he's supposed to be leading. What he's saying is he simply doesn't have the ability to bring the people of this nation together and create a situation where they can govern themselves. But that's not the half of it. IF We the People had not stepped in with the Election in November we'd still be hearing the "Stay the Course" line along with "We're winning and it's just a matter of time until the resistence is gone". To look at the reality of this situation and that which Bush would have us believe? Only a mentally impaired person would be that off.

[skyk-2009]

He is insane. He is mentally ill. He is sick and he needs to be removed from office for our sake and for his own.
Posted by RandalDS at 03:37 PM : Apr 26, 2007

I had orginally thought that he was just another Southern Fascist drunk on power but I think he actually BELIEVES that GOD put him where he is and that somehow he can WILL a victory. That would lead one to believe he's Mentally Ill. Regardless for the good of the Nation we HAVE to seriously concider removing him and the REALLY CRAZY ONE, Cheney. Cheney I believe is Criminally insane... that man is REALLY sick and would not have any problem with using the Army to prevent any views he conciders to be wrong. I'm talking true Nazi, third reich sick.

[skyk-2009]

The troops needs to eventually go home but for crying out loud, please dont tell the enemy WHEN its going to happen. I understand that the DNC wants those seats and that white house job but dont sacrifice everything just to have it.
Posted by xzavierbrown at 04:14 PM : Apr 26, 2007
+ report abuse

WHO is the Enemy? They are ALL citizens of that Nation people. Bin Laden isn't going to move in and take over in Iraq, why should he? He's perfectly happy where he is, completely safe and rebuilt to better than when he attacked us. So who is the Enemy? Iran? Syria? IF either of them were to invade Iraq we, as well as Allies we ONCE had could do the SAME thing to them that we did to Saddam. PLEASE would someone tell me exactly who this "Enemy" that the Mental Patient some call a president is??

[randalds]

Posted by skyk at 08:08 PM : Apr 26, 2007

I couldn't agree more about Cheney's evil insanity. The Nazi comparison fits him the most of the two of them. Bush on the other hand has sort of a twisted religious sort of insanity. I agree that he honestly thinks that he is on a mission from god and that makes him very dangerous and mentally ill too. He himself has said that god made sure that he was elected president at this point in history to spread "gods gift of democracy" around the world. Of course that "mission" doesn't take into consideration the religion or opinions of the rest of the world who might not want this "gift". He is one sick individual and I doubt he'll go peacefully when it's his time to leave office. I envision him strapped to a gurney and headed to a hospital screaming in full blown delusions and hallucinations.

[liberalvet]

Posted by JKAtkinson at 12:41 PM : Apr 26, 2007

It is refreshing to hear that people from the far right are waking up and realizing you have been taken advantage of.

Please learn from this lesson and realize that this country has a diverse culture and not everyone in the country supports your religious beliefs as closly as you do. The foundation of this country was based on religious freedom. This translates to having freedom to be religious or not, to as religious as one is comfortalbe and not to be persecuted for it.

If you and your kind had not been so aggressive in pushing your flavor of religion down all Americans throats we would not be in this mess.

Again please learn from this fatal error and take a close look at the environment around you and remember; we can all live in harmony and believe in different things. That is what makes this country great.

[toldyouso21]

These cowards and traitors on the Democratic side of the Isle will be judged Politically for this next year. osted by didntinhale at 11:55 AM : Apr 26, 2007

I am an Independent that was against Bush, Enron, this war, the outing of agents etc. since day 1. A lot of my colleagues and friends were in the Republican camp but changed in 2004 and 2005. Now, It is hard put to find any Republican I know or Independent that wishes Bush had never , eve been elected and hold the Republican Congress responsible.

When you slur the Democrats--you are slurring everyone that is not a neo con--if you think you can win and hold on to this country without the Independents, some Democrat defectors and/or the military--think again. The pundits are predicting it and even the RNC is stating that there is a good chance Republicans will also be routed in 2008. Why? Because George Bush is ******** on the US, the Constitution, International law and the soldiers and we loathe him--since Republicans cannot stop supporting him--then they are also on the outs. With the exception of the base (and many of them are waking up), I doubt you will be able to commit enough voter fraud to give the election to Republicans--Republicans and neo cons are not only destroying their prospects for 2008--they are imploding as a party. Republican--is becoming a pariah and the word neo con is an epithet.

[toldyouso21]

Correction:

These cowards and traitors on the Democratic side of the Isle will be judged Politically for this next year. osted by didntinhale at 11:55 AM : Apr 26, 2007

I am an Independent that was against Bush, Enron, this war, the outing of agents etc. since day 1. A lot of my colleagues and friends were in the Republican camp but changed in 2004 and 2005. Now, It is hard put to find any Republican I know or Independent that wishes Bush WELL--most wish that Bush and his cabal had never , ever been elected and hold the Republican Congress responsible.

[toldyouso21]

CBS news and the Democrats love to claim the country is behind there push to abandon Iraq, nothing could be further from the truth! The truth is most Amercans want to see Iraq stabalized before America leaves and when it comes to congress and the American people there is an almost equal devision despite these so called CBS polls. Polls are the tools of agenda driven entities and can be used to furhter those agendas depending how the questions are worded and what demographic is polled.
Posted by notblue at 12:40 PM : Apr 26, 2007


Nope. I'm an independent. the war is illegal and is now a civil war--we really DO want to abandon Iraq. Please note the polls ask do we want to leave or stay --and we are voting LEAVE. The country is not you and your base--give it a rest. Only 35% want us to stay and they are mostly Republicans--WE are NOT YOU--which is why Republicans were also voted out in November and if they do not get their *** together will be voted out in 2008. We want out--we started souring the minute we realized our rationale for going in was based on LIES--it has been downhill from there.

[toldyouso21]

Why should we withdraw when we'll be definitely be going back? IF WE WITHDRAW EARLY, I BET MY LIFE SAVINGS IN FIVE YEARS WE'LL GO BACK. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL PROBABLY BE UNDER CONDITIONS 10 TIMES MORE BRUTAL THAN NOW.

Posted by bizzzz at 01:50 PM : Apr 26, 2007


I doubt if it will be more brutal for the Iraqi people--they are being killed in droves anyway. And lest you forget, after we failed to find the WMD--we "claimed" we were there for the Iraqi people--so their welfare should be our first concern. Oh yes, since 2003, 80% of the Iraqi citizens said they wanted us to leave--those numbers have not really changed. Funny we do things for people that they do not even ask for and we get a lot of them killed for a war we volunteered on them. What is wrong with this picture? If we go back to Iraq in 5 years--at least our soldiers will have been rested for over 8 months.

[toldyouso21]

They are causing a back lash against Israel one of our allies in the Middle East. But then this NEOCON MEDDLING is the very thing that caused Jews to be persecuted in Europe. Posted by bluestardad at 03:18 PM : Apr 26, 2007

Bluestardad: I am against this war as you may well know and I have no love of neo cons--but...after creating a Warsaw ghetto for the Palestinians, bombing, detaining and killing them indiscriminately, lying, stealing land and encroaching on territory continually, bombing and killing over a thousand Lebanese men, women and children over the kidnapping of a few men and the killing of 8*, bombing humanitarian outposts and consistently disregarding ceasefires...Israel has and is creating its own backlash. Israel is riding the coattails of the PNAC strategy and is very happy to do so. IN fact our incursions and invasions serve as inspirations to their own actions in the ME-- We all have blood on our hands--caused by our own actions--including the Jews in Israel, the Arabs in Palestine and Lebanon, etc.

* Granted we did tell the world to stay out of it and mind their own business--leaving it to Israel and Lebanon to sort out--then we fed exed bombs with millions of shrapnel bomblets to Israel for them to use against civilians--so maybe we are in THAT up to our necks after all. But it was the choice of Israel to conduct operations--and to use those ugly bombs.

[toldyouso21]

This leaves only one real question. Is Bush lying about what he sees as progress in Iraq or is he genuinely delusional? Is he genuinely mentally ill? Any dispassionate observer could only conclude that the president of the United States is mad. As in crazy. All of his life he has gotten his way as a spoiled child of a very elite and wealthy family. Every time there has been someone there to clean up after his messes and buy off the injured. Now he is finally being told NO for perhaps the very first time in his life and he can not handle it.Posted by RandalDS at 03:37 PM : Apr 26, 2007


Bush has a history of lying about this war--first to wage it, then to justify it and now, to keep it going. For years he said it was going well even though any moron could see it was tanking--so why should he change? Bush is a congenital and pathological liar which is why he refuses to ever testify under oath--he is honest enough with himself (or Rove told him) that he is incapable of telling the truth for any length of time--and so will lie out of habit and innate ability. Note that he has surrounded himself with like people and is adored and supported by other liars. They lie to themselves about the war, they then lie to themselves about Bush, Gonzales and other neo con lies....Lying lies and the lying liars who tell them--pretty much sums up the state of the Republican party.

[toldyouso21]

Brownback said both parties have addressed the war wrongly, with the Republicans focused on mostly military planning and the Democrats on bashing the president.

"We cannot fight a war with one party for it and one party against it," he said.



How interesting considering the war was started and has been fought for almost 4 years with one party for it and another against it. Look what having a majority in Congress has wrought--the minority party is now willing to listen, work together and compromise--here is a clue Brownback: if we cannot fight a war with one party for it and another against it--then we cannot fight this war.

[selenite1]

George Bush reminds me of his dear friend Kenneth Lay (Enron).

Lies, denials and criminal misuse of his authority.

By the time Bush and his cronies are finally done, the fallout is going to make the Enron debacle look like a walk in the park.

I sincerely pray Bush and his "friends" meet a similar fate.

[sjc_1]

If the War Powers Act requires Congress to authorize this, then the Congress can remove that authorization as well, without resorting to funding restrictions.

This war was about WMD, that turned out to be wrong. When we found no WMD, then that is the end of the invasion. We help Iraq put itself back together and move out, we do not let this drag on for more than 4 years.