U.S. Commanders Talking With Militants

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

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. military is working more aggressively to forge cease-fires with Iraqi militants and quell the violence around Baghdad, judging that 80 percent of enemy combatants are "reconcilable," a top U.S. commander said Thursday.

However, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno also warned that he may not be able to make a full assessment of the situation in Iraq by September, as demanded by lawmakers.

And as American troops move into new parts of the country, they're suffering higher casualties as they run into deeply-buried, impossible to see explosive devices — the infamous IEDs, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

Odierno, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, told Pentagon reporters by videoconference that he is pressing his military officers to reach out to the tribes, to some small insurgent groups and to religious and political leaders to push them to stop the violence.

"We are talking about cease-fires, and maybe signing some things that say they won't conduct operations against the government of Iraq or against coalition forces," Odierno said from Camp Victory in Baghdad. "We believe a large majority of groups within Iraq are reconcilable and are now interested in engaging with us. But more importantly, they want to engage and become a part of the government of Iraq."

Stemming the violence in and around the capital city is key to giving the Iraqi government time to stabilize and move toward reconciliation with the warring sectarian factions. That would then allow the United States to begin withdrawing troops.

U.S. military officers tell CBS News the troop surge, which has now reached full strength, stands no chance of succeeding by September.

That's the critical month Gen. David Petraeus, the American commander in Iraq, is scheduled to report to Congress, reports Martin. Petraeus wants to deliver the report before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins on Sept. 13.

That's because Ramadan usually brings a spike in violence that would make it harder for Plateaus to claim even modest progress, adds Martin.

Odierno said he believes that about 80 percent of the enemy fighters, including key Sunni insurgent groups and Shiite militia, could be brought into the political process. The remainder, he said, are largely al Qaeda operatives who will have to captured or killed.

He cautioned that the process will be slow. And he repeatedly warned that he may need more time to determine if the military buildup ordered by President Bush earlier this year has begun to work.

He said he will provide his report in September as required.

In other developments:

A suicide bomber hit a police recruiting center in Fallujah on Wednesday, killing at least 25 people and wounding 50, police said. Ten policemen were among the dead in the attack, according to a police official. Police said the bomber detonated his explosives vest at the third of four checkpoints as he stood among recruits who were lining up to apply for jobs on the force. The center had only been opened on Saturday in a primary school in eastern Fallujah.

The aggressive search for five kidnapped British citizens continued around Baghdad, but a Pentagon spokesman acknowledged that the hunt for two U.S. soldiers missing since an ambush on May 12 has slowed down. The troops were ambushed south of Baghdad nearly three weeks ago. Four soldiers were killed in the initial attack and the body of a third kidnapped soldier was found days later. Brigadier General Perry Wiggins says there has been a side benefit to the search: Patrols have uncovered weapons caches and bomb-making facilities.

The U.S. military late Wednesday reported the deaths of three more soldiers, two killed in a roadside bombing and one who died of a non-combat cause. The bombing victims died Wednesday, the third soldier on Tuesday. Their deaths raised to 119 the number of soldiers killed this month, the third-deadliest month of the war for U.S. troops.

Turkey's military massed more troops and tanks on the border with Iraq on Thursday as the country's military chief said he was ready to stage a cross-border offensive to fight Kurdish guerrillas. Gen. Yasar Buyukanite said he had already sought government approval to mount military action. He complained about what he said was a lack of help from allies in fighting the Kurds as Turkish leaders publicly asked the United States and Iraq to destroy and scatter rebel bases inside Iraq.

Police, Iraqi military, hospital and morgue officials reported a total of 72 people killed or found dead nationwide Wednesday.

Continued

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© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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See all 124 Comments

by mcvet May 31, 2007 7:46 AM PDT

Are all you IDIOTS who bought the Rove Fear and the Bush Lies satisfied yet? I mean how many lives and how much blood will it take for you to be happy? Win? Not a chance because the PEOPLE of this nation are in a civil war and there is NO win for outsiders in that situation. But hey, no problem because the fuhrer is always right...right? Sieg Heil

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by micma-2009 May 31, 2007 8:42 AM PDT

Wow, this looks just like last year and the year before, and the year before, and the year before......

All Bush and his incompetent, lying, corrupt kind know how to do is stay the course.

Regime change starts at home.

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by antoniof123 May 31, 2007 8:49 AM PDT

You know there was a time that I was so against this war. Now I have become numb to it all I see everyday is death and more death. The Republicans must and will be punished in the next election. This is something that America needs to remember it should be a requirement in all schools no one should ever be allowed to forget when America became a facist nation.

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by omega39-2009 May 31, 2007 8:59 AM PDT

Whatever happened to all those wild claims that 3 divisions(or something like that) of Iraqi military were fully trained with more on the way? You know, the ones that were going to stand up so we could stand down.

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by bluestardad May 31, 2007 9:14 AM PDT

AMERICAN PEOPLE CONTACT THE SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS OF THE MEDIA AND TELL THEM YOU WONT BUY THEIR PRODUCTS UNLESS THE MEIDA COMES CLEAN AGAINST THE BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS ABUSE OF POWER! Hit up every pop up ad and contributor! Time to take a stand!

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by mbcsmith May 31, 2007 9:22 AM PDT

The Iraqis continue to line up with a desire to serve their country. These brave people deserve the opportunity to do so. Unlike most LIBS in this country, they have the courage to stand up to murderers and deserve the support of the coalition forces.

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by acauble1 May 31, 2007 9:26 AM PDT

Whatever happened to all those wild claims that 3 divisions(or something like that) of Iraqi military were fully trained with more on the way? You know, the ones that were going to stand up so we could stand down.
Posted by omega39 at 08:59 AM : May 31, 2007
............

Yeah, but the problem is that you can only turn so many dead/maimed Iraqi's into 'RoboCops' at one time.

Sadly, with Haliburton overseeing the manufacturing process...

...the U.S. is ending up with a bunch of Iraqi RoboCops that are like cheap RadioShack R/C cars...

... they can only turn right while in reverse, then they go forward.





Okay, that was quite silly, but then again...


...so was the idea of turning Iraq into one big happy democracy!

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by bluestardad May 31, 2007 9:29 AM PDT

HERE IS A LIST OF THE RUBBER STAMP REPUBLICAN SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION! MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEIR TREASON AGAINST THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! IT IS UP TO YOU!


Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)

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by emtak1 May 31, 2007 10:02 AM PDT

The Turkish thing sounds serious...the last thing Iraq needs is MORE instability

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by rafterman1 May 31, 2007 10:03 AM PDT

===Unlike most LIBS in this country, they have the courage to stand up to murderers and deserve the support of the coalition forces.===

And unlike most chickenhawk CONSERVS, they actually join up and do the dirty work themselves instead of volunteering others to do it for them.

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by notblue May 31, 2007 10:14 AM PDT

MCVET/nazi, Here we have a situation where Iraqi men a standing in line to defend there country and democracy from radicals and are killed by these barbarians and all you can do is blather about Bush. What an ignoramous! It's time to realize that the people who are fighting the radicals have ALL VOLUNTEERED to do so and all you can do is give the extremists the free ride and blame America. It's people like you who do as much damags to America and the world because not only do you aide the efforts of the enemy through indirect support of there cause via your constant America bashing but you denegrate the people who are fighting this evil for all free people. So Sig hiel it up your loser asss!

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by retiredinmex May 31, 2007 10:29 AM PDT

Is anyone as mad as me? What the hell is Bush doing still in power?

He has illegally, immorally and unilaterally invaded a country that originally had no ties to terrorism. Now, yes, there are many terrorism threats as Iraq is an international terrorist congregation point.

I served in Iraq and spoke with hundreds of US and "Coalition" military members. I guarantee you there was no one who agreed with our/their presence in Iraq.

When was the last time you heard the media refer to "the Coalition?"

Who are the terrorists in Iraq? What the hell has Bush gotten us into? Where's the plan to get out of this quagmire?

Is there a poll of parents of the dead, injured or missing as to their support for this war?

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by staplesauce May 31, 2007 10:33 AM PDT

Notblue, just in case you missed it, the reference to the fuhrer and sig hiel was sarcasm.

I should point out the those fighting against the radicals, our troops, volunteered to defend our country and protect our people, and incredibly selfless and honorable action. However, they did not volunteer to police a nation across the atlantic (who did not attack us) that is currently in one of the most unstable states in the world. They are being exploited by our government for unnecessary reasons. I have the highest respect for our troops. Our government should have the same respect. The greatest payment of respect they can give right now is to bring them out of harms way.

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by uncle_james-2009 May 31, 2007 10:40 AM PDT

We're spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq to preserve our nation, while moral corruptness DESTROYS US FROM WITHIN!!! I don't think we're spending very much money on THAT public enemy--that enemy named "moral corruptness"! Matter of fact, we pass laws to allow this enemy to THRIVE and PROSPER!

Stop the legalized prostitution in Las Vegas FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! It degrades women and it degrades men. It also ruins families. Who was the lowlife lawmakers that brought such a law into existence, a law that degrades women and men and says prostitution is OK?! A law that ruins families! Who are the lowlife lawmakers that allow this law to CONTINUE in Las Vegas?!

Close DOWN all of the gambling establishments--they ruin more families and injure more people in ONE YEAR than all the taxes that you can collect from them in 5 years would ever heal! You're making efforts to stop internet gambling and that's a very noble exertion of power from you. Thank you for that!

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by uncle_james-2009 May 31, 2007 10:58 AM PDT

We're spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq to preserve our nation, while moral corruptness DESTROYS US FROM WITHIN!!! I don't think we're spending very much money on THAT public enemy--that enemy named "moral corruptness"! Matter of fact, we pass laws to allow this enemy to THRIVE and PROSPER!

Stop the legalized prostitution in Las Vegas FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! It degrades women and it degrades men. It also ruins families. Who was the lowlife lawmakers that brought such a law into existence, a law that degrades women and men and says prostitution is OK?! A law that ruins families! Who are the lowlife lawmakers that allow this law to CONTINUE in Las Vegas?!

Close DOWN all of the gambling establishments--they ruin more families and injure more people in ONE YEAR than all the taxes that you can collect from them in 5 years would ever heal! You're making efforts to stop internet gambling and that's a very noble exertion of power from you. Thank you for that!

Tell Hollywood that they CAN NOT produce and sell movies that glorify violence and that corrupt the minds of our children--and adults! Tell Hollywood to stop making movies that corrupt the minds of our children and adults that say it's glamorous, exciting and attractive to have s.e.x with someone while not being married to them--or with people of the same gender!

When these types of conditions exist in a society, it's undeniably the mark of a decadent age for that nation!

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by notblue May 31, 2007 11:10 AM PDT

All you people who harp about the fact that Iraq nwever attacked the U.S. refuse to understand that that some of the radicals we are fighting in Iraq NOW do not have allegiance to any specific country. We are fighting a barbaristic ideology known as radical Islam. Most of the 911 attackers were from Saudi Arabia but they do not represent Saudi Arabia's policies or ideology. It's time to stop the crapp about who attacked us from where it's all immaterial. WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME IDEOLOGY in Iraq as in Afghanistan and throughout the world, wake up people!

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by ramos937 May 31, 2007 11:46 AM PDT

My prescription: (1) USA to withdraw everybody from Iraq. We cannot do worse than what we have done or do more damage than what we have done, (2) ask/beg/request Iran, Syria and Turkey to come in and take our place. They understand the people a lot better than we do or ever did. They will not mess around with due process, lawyers, etc. They will go in there, enforce a curfew, and generally do what it takes to establish and enforce law and order. When things settle down, they will then do whatever has to be done. We simply do not understand the people, culture, lanaguage or anything important to work with the Iraq people. they do not want us there and our guys do not want to be there. Enough is enough. Let's check our egos at the door and let the folks who do understand in to do what they can.

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by j-whitman May 31, 2007 11:50 AM PDT

notblue,,, Try enlisting, you'd learn something.. Or, start watching another news channel.

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by tuckerndfw May 31, 2007 12:09 PM PDT

WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME IDEOLOGY in Iraq as in Afghanistan and throughout the world, wake up people!

Posted by notblue at 11:10 AM : May 31, 2007

Attempting to defeat an ideology with bullets, bombs and missiles seems rather pointless, don't you agree?

Iraq is in a civil war and the only ideology being fought over is who is going to control the nation and its resources.

One thing we can be sure of and that is that the US and UK will not be in control.

Your diatribe against Muslims is nothing more than Zionist propaganda. Zionists are as much of a problem as radical Muslims. Zionism is a radical ideology on the face of it. God did not give land to anyone.

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by notblue May 31, 2007 12:39 PM PDT

Tucker, these bradicals don't care about diplomacy. Freedom loving nations do not fot into there plans. They understand destruction and barbaraism on a grand scale. They would kill tens of thousands of Americans with anything they can get there hands on. Why on earth do you believe that not fighting the radicals is the answer???? Your method for defeating radical Islam is music to the enemy's ears and in the long run will surely result in even greater loss of American lives.

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by j-whitman May 31, 2007 12:46 PM PDT

notblue,,, Get off the ignorant rhetoric -- It's not the freedom's dummy & never has been.

And, since when does this administration prefer diplomacy over blind acquisitions, threats & war ??? --- Bush's concept of diplomacy is, "My way or the highway"

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by one_american May 31, 2007 1:09 PM PDT

It has been nine days since the material from the al-Queda torture manual was released, and neither ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times nor The Washington Post has run a story with the photos of this shocking evidence of al-Qaeda%u2019s barbarism.

Media Research Center's President Brent Bozell issued the following statement regarding the matter of the Mainstream Media's avoidance of the al-Qaeda torture issue:

%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims. The tools, the drawings, and the photos are gruesome and clearly show what type of enemy the U.S. is facing."

%u201CYet most of the liberal media are deliberately silent. This is the same self-righteous liberal media that ran more than 6,000 stories and countless photos of Abu Ghraib and the abuse of prisoners there by several U.S. soldiers. Where are they now? Why will they not show the American people what al-Qaeda is actually doing in Iraq right now? Whose side are they on?"

%u201CAl-Qaeda%u2019s crimes are a thousand-fold more brutal than anything done by any derelict U.S. soldier. Yet it%u2019s obvious now that the liberal media want to focus on U.S. misdeeds, and alleged misdeeds, and theoretical misdeeds instead of giving the truth to the American people.%u201D



SHAME ON CBS.

SHAME ON KATIE COURIC.

Reply to this comment

by tuckerndfw May 31, 2007 1:10 PM PDT

Posted by notblue at 12:39 PM : May 31, 2007

Your hysterical shrieking is long on Zionist propaganda and nearly devoid of facts.

The vast majority of Muslims are not extremists. Nor are the vast majority of Iraqis or Afghanis.

Law enforcement agencies have been dealing effectively with extremists for years and I see no reason to change that method of dealing with extremists, of any kind.

Invading Afghanistan and Iraq was counterproductive and produced far more extremists than it neutralized or eliminated.

Which was a direct result of Zionist influence over the US & UK governments. Which makes Zionism far more of a threat to the US & UK (and the world at large) than Islam.

You are the problem, you are not the solution.

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by micma-2009 May 31, 2007 1:12 PM PDT

You know that conservatism is dead when they have to pay worthless hacks like notblue to come here and spin.

Where do they find these people, Hacks-Are-Us?

Reply to this comment

by one_american May 31, 2007 1:13 PM PDT

It has been nine days since the material from the al-Queda torture manual was released, and neither ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times nor The Washington Post has run a story with the photos of this shocking evidence of al-Qaeda%u2019s barbarism.

Media Research Center's President Brent Bozell issued the following statement regarding the matter of the Mainstream Media's avoidance of the al-Qaeda torture issue:

%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims. The tools, the drawings, and the photos are gruesome and clearly show what type of enemy the U.S. is facing."

%u201CYet most of the liberal media are deliberately silent. This is the same self-righteous liberal media that ran more than 6,000 stories and countless photos of Abu Ghraib and the abuse of prisoners there by several U.S. soldiers. Where are they now? Why will they not show the American people what al-Qaeda is actually doing in Iraq right now? Whose side are they on?"

%u201CAl-Qaeda%u2019s crimes are a thousand-fold more brutal than anything done by any derelict U.S. soldier. Yet it%u2019s obvious now that the liberal media want to focus on U.S. misdeeds, and alleged misdeeds, and theoretical misdeeds instead of giving the truth to the American people.%u201D



SHAME ON CBS.

SHAME ON KATIE COURIC.

Reply to this comment

by terrapin78 May 31, 2007 1:17 PM PDT

If we want to be better than al qaeda then we have to honor people differently than does al qaeda.

Just because they are more brutal doesn't mean we need to go down to their level.

Reply to this comment

by tuckerndfw May 31, 2007 1:24 PM PDT

Posted by One_American at 01:09 PM : May 31, 2007

In other words, the "liberal media" is refusing to promote CIA propaganda (lies) like they did in the run up to the unnecessary invasion of Iraq.

It's about time the "liberal media" began questioning the *** the Bush administration tosses out as "evidence."

Way to go, CBS, keep up the good work. Despite the fact you are a war profiteer and warmongerer as an organization, you made the right call for once.


BTW, your fascist organization, Media Regurgitate Central, and its propaganda lack credibility. Which is not suprising since it supports the Bush administration.

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 31, 2007 1:32 PM PDT

One_American -- A "democracy" cannot exist in countries without a liberal society.... Without liberalism you have nothing but a dictatorship,,, plane & simple.

Reply to this comment

by one_american May 31, 2007 1:37 PM PDT

"Without liberalism you have nothing but a dictatorship,,, plane & simple."

Posted by j-whitman at 01:32 PM : May 31, 2007


So how do you explain Fidel Castro? Hugo Chavez?

LIBERAL DICTATORS, BOTH.

Nice try, liberal.

Reply to this comment

by one_american May 31, 2007 1:41 PM PDT

It has been nine days since the material from the al-Queda torture manual was released, and neither ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times nor The Washington Post has run a story with the photos of this shocking evidence of al-Qaeda%u2019s barbarism.

Media Research Center's President Brent Bozell issued the following statement regarding the matter of the Mainstream Media's avoidance of the al-Qaeda torture issue:

%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims. The tools, the drawings, and the photos are gruesome and clearly show what type of enemy the U.S. is facing."

%u201CYet most of the liberal media are deliberately silent. This is the same self-righteous liberal media that ran more than 6,000 stories and countless photos of Abu Ghraib and the abuse of prisoners there by several U.S. soldiers. Where are they now? Why will they not show the American people what al-Qaeda is actually doing in Iraq right now? Whose side are they on?"

%u201CAl-Qaeda%u2019s crimes are a thousand-fold more brutal than anything done by any derelict U.S. soldier. Yet it%u2019s obvious now that the liberal media want to focus on U.S. misdeeds, and alleged misdeeds, and theoretical misdeeds instead of giving the truth to the American people.%u201D

SHAME ON CBS.

SHAME ON KATIE COURIC.

SHAME ON LIBERALS THAT DENY THE TRUTH!

Reply to this comment

by rafterman1 May 31, 2007 1:42 PM PDT

===LIBERAL DICTATORS, BOTH. Nice try, liberal.===

They aren't liberals. No dictator is a liberal as liberals believe in doing whatever you want, as long as you don't hurt everybody. Nice try, conservative.

Reply to this comment

by tuckerndfw May 31, 2007 1:45 PM PDT

The Bush administration must be desperate.

They are finally resorting to effective tactics.

Too bad they didn't make the attempt before they created tens of thousands of violent extremists. Murdering families and raping wives, daughters and sisters does not usually provide a good foundation for successful negotiations.

Unless, of course, the perpetrators are willing to surrender themselves to justice.

Since it is unlikely George Bush and D. Cheney will surrender to an Islamic court so they can be tried in accordance with law, it's unlikely these talks will succeed.

Until the US accepts responsibility for murdering, raping and pillaging, there is no effective solution. And, "accepting responsibility" means Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, and others must lose their heads.

I seriously doubt they will accept responsibility.

Reply to this comment

by rafterman1 May 31, 2007 1:45 PM PDT

===%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims.===

As long as it's the policy of the Bush administration to torture as well, then we can't say *** if others do it to us.

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 31, 2007 1:45 PM PDT

One_American,,
, Castro, Chavez ??? Socialism & communism is not liberalism -- Mussillini & Hitler are prime examples of how socialism can be dictatorships,, with Bush & this GOP being a close 3rd.

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 31, 2007 1:49 PM PDT

One_American,,, Mussilini, Hitler, Castro & Bush surpressed liberalism.

Reply to this comment

by infidel_us May 31, 2007 1:56 PM PDT

This is a mistake. Now that we have them on the ropes, that want to "negotiate". I can't believe these morons are being led down this path - again!

Reply to this comment

by rafterman1 May 31, 2007 1:57 PM PDT

===One_American,,, Mussilini, Hitler, Castro & Bush surpressed liberalism.===

Correct. In fact, you do you think were the first people locked up by Hitler and all the other dictators? College professors and journalists. The exact same "enemies" of neocons in this country.

The problem is, One_American and his boys don't really know the differences between communists and socialists. Particularly the social issues that differ vs the political structures. They eq

Reply to this comment

by tuckerndfw May 31, 2007 1:58 PM PDT

This is a mistake. Now that we have them on the ropes, that want to "negotiate". I can't believe these morons are being led down this path - again!

Posted by Infidel_US at 01:56 PM : May 31, 2007

*ROFL*

That was the funniest thing I've read all day. All week, in fact.

Thanks for the laugh.

"We have them on the ropes... "

*ROFL*

***, that's funny...

Reply to this comment

by one_american May 31, 2007 2:00 PM PDT

They aren't liberals. No dictator is a liberal as liberals believe in doing whatever you want, as long as you don't hurt everybody. Nice try, conservative.


Posted by Rafterman1 at 01:42 PM : May 31, 2007


No, I think you mean "anarchist"...and Socialism, Communism, and Anarchism are all wrapped up in today's American Liberalism.

You Liberals are not fooling anyone.

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman May 31, 2007 2:03 PM PDT

Infidel_US,,, A mistake you say ?? -- In the last 4 years of non-negotiations have led to one failure after another in a Iraq "War of Roses" --- Bush was wrong & nobody's on the ropes execpt our troops.. Bush says now, South Korea is how Iraq should be --- 50 years of isolation & occupation.

Reply to this comment

by blondmadison May 31, 2007 2:05 PM PDT

Scratching my head here but hold on...the U.S. now wants to negotiate??? What for?

We blew their country to sh-t even tho they had no nukes...raped their daughters too...knocked off their leader...bombs going off everywhere---"Shock and Awe!"

Now they think there is too much violence?
Why? I'm confused. Is a bomb violent? How about a round of bombs named "Shock and Awe"? Violent? I am getting confused as to what the U.S. wants at any given moment...I think I am getting scared...what will the U.S. want next??? And with whom?

Reply to this comment

by infidel_us May 31, 2007 2:09 PM PDT

Reaching out!?!?!?! There's no "reaching out" in war.....except reaching out with a bayonet affixed to the end of your weapon.

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

Reply to this comment

by rafterman1 May 31, 2007 2:09 PM PDT

===No, I think you mean "anarchist"...and Socialism, Communism, and Anarchism are all wrapped up in today's American Liberalism===

You are too ignorant of global politics to bother discussing this any further.

Reply to this comment

by king77shaw May 31, 2007 2:15 PM PDT

does this mean we're winning or losing ?

Reply to this comment

by missmyhubby May 31, 2007 2:19 PM PDT

Why are we negotiating? We need to pull back and let the Iraqi government do the negotiating...it is their country after all! NO MORE U.S. TROOP DEATHS !!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough is enough....

Reply to this comment

by chicnlittle May 31, 2007 2:20 PM PDT

Now they think there is too much violence?
Why? I'm confused. Is a bomb violent? How about a round of bombs named "Shock and Awe"? Violent? I am getting confused as to what the U.S. wants at any given moment...I think I am getting scared...what will the U.S. want next??? And with whom?
Posted by BlondMadison at 02:05 PM : May 31, 2007

Uhhhhh, I think you're just confused.

Reply to this comment

by tuckerndfw May 31, 2007 2:21 PM PDT

does this mean we're winning or losing ?

Posted by king77shaw at 02:15 PM : May 31, 2007

It means the Bush administration is creating another smokescreen excuse for failing to obtain his stated goals in Iraq. In other words, for losing.

He can now claim Iraq is in the hands of tribal leaders when he orders US forces removed from Iraq in September.

Which is pretty much where we started out since Saddam Hussein was a tribal leader who became leader of all the tribes.

And, I think it means "we" lost.

Which means George Bush has condemned all Americans of this generation to be branded "losers."

George Bush is the worst president in US history, without exception.

Reply to this comment

by terrapin78 May 31, 2007 2:22 PM PDT

Sounds like that the Bu$hies are now emboldening the enemy.

GET US OUT NOW BEFORE ANY MORE OF OUR TROOPS ARE KILLED/MAIMED! We should not be fighting the Iraqi Civil War.

Reply to this comment

by samthetvcat May 31, 2007 2:23 PM PDT

"officials argue, no amount of military force can bring peace to the country without political peace."

No duh - and it only took 4 years and billions of $$$ for them to figure this out. Sigh . . . how much longer before 'officials' figure out that Iraqi's don't WANT peace that requires them to cooperate with one another - they want war first so they don't have to all get along and THEN they want peace. Well, at this point they might as well try - they would have had more leverage to broker cease-fires before the surge was implemented and failed, but even then it ultimately wouldn't have worked so whatever.

PS The military keeps citing Anbar province as a 'success' story of turning insurgents around - I think they're only seeing what they want to see if they don't consider the possibility that Sunnis felt targeted and chose to temporarily align in a way that would get them US weapons, war strategy knowledge, and legitimate fighting access to Shiite militants. I don't think there's ANY evidence that these 'success' story people are on board with the unified government plan just because they've found it more beneficial in terms of their own goals to cooperate at this point.

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by rafterman1 May 31, 2007 2:26 PM PDT

===Turkey's military massed more troops and tanks on the border with Iraq on Thursday as the country's military chief said he was ready to stage a cross-border offensive to fight Kurdish guerrillas...as Turkish leaders publicly asked the United States and Iraq to destroy and scatter rebel bases inside Iraq.===

This is a huge problem that is brewing. The Kurds are friendly towards the US and Turkey is an ally too. If we side one way, we hurt the other. Especially if we side with Turkey. It's bad enough fighting Sunnis and rebel Shiites. If the Kurds start giving the US trouble in the previously quiet North of Iraq, we are in for a *********. Add this to the list of things Bush did not consider when invading Iraq.

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[mcvet]

Are all you IDIOTS who bought the Rove Fear and the Bush Lies satisfied yet? I mean how many lives and how much blood will it take for you to be happy? Win? Not a chance because the PEOPLE of this nation are in a civil war and there is NO win for outsiders in that situation. But hey, no problem because the fuhrer is always right...right? Sieg Heil

[micma-2009]

Wow, this looks just like last year and the year before, and the year before, and the year before......

All Bush and his incompetent, lying, corrupt kind know how to do is stay the course.

Regime change starts at home.

[antoniof123]

You know there was a time that I was so against this war. Now I have become numb to it all I see everyday is death and more death. The Republicans must and will be punished in the next election. This is something that America needs to remember it should be a requirement in all schools no one should ever be allowed to forget when America became a facist nation.

[omega39-2009]

Whatever happened to all those wild claims that 3 divisions(or something like that) of Iraqi military were fully trained with more on the way? You know, the ones that were going to stand up so we could stand down.

[bluestardad]

AMERICAN PEOPLE CONTACT THE SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS OF THE MEDIA AND TELL THEM YOU WONT BUY THEIR PRODUCTS UNLESS THE MEIDA COMES CLEAN AGAINST THE BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS ABUSE OF POWER! Hit up every pop up ad and contributor! Time to take a stand!

[mbcsmith]

The Iraqis continue to line up with a desire to serve their country. These brave people deserve the opportunity to do so. Unlike most LIBS in this country, they have the courage to stand up to murderers and deserve the support of the coalition forces.

[acauble1]

Whatever happened to all those wild claims that 3 divisions(or something like that) of Iraqi military were fully trained with more on the way? You know, the ones that were going to stand up so we could stand down.
Posted by omega39 at 08:59 AM : May 31, 2007
............

Yeah, but the problem is that you can only turn so many dead/maimed Iraqi's into 'RoboCops' at one time.

Sadly, with Haliburton overseeing the manufacturing process...

...the U.S. is ending up with a bunch of Iraqi RoboCops that are like cheap RadioShack R/C cars...

... they can only turn right while in reverse, then they go forward.





Okay, that was quite silly, but then again...


...so was the idea of turning Iraq into one big happy democracy!

[bluestardad]

HERE IS A LIST OF THE RUBBER STAMP REPUBLICAN SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION! MAKE THEM PAY FOR THEIR TREASON AGAINST THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! IT IS UP TO YOU!


Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)

[emtak1]

The Turkish thing sounds serious...the last thing Iraq needs is MORE instability

[rafterman1]

===Unlike most LIBS in this country, they have the courage to stand up to murderers and deserve the support of the coalition forces.===

And unlike most chickenhawk CONSERVS, they actually join up and do the dirty work themselves instead of volunteering others to do it for them.

[notblue]

MCVET/nazi, Here we have a situation where Iraqi men a standing in line to defend there country and democracy from radicals and are killed by these barbarians and all you can do is blather about Bush. What an ignoramous! It's time to realize that the people who are fighting the radicals have ALL VOLUNTEERED to do so and all you can do is give the extremists the free ride and blame America. It's people like you who do as much damags to America and the world because not only do you aide the efforts of the enemy through indirect support of there cause via your constant America bashing but you denegrate the people who are fighting this evil for all free people. So Sig hiel it up your loser asss!

[retiredinmex]

Is anyone as mad as me? What the hell is Bush doing still in power?

He has illegally, immorally and unilaterally invaded a country that originally had no ties to terrorism. Now, yes, there are many terrorism threats as Iraq is an international terrorist congregation point.

I served in Iraq and spoke with hundreds of US and "Coalition" military members. I guarantee you there was no one who agreed with our/their presence in Iraq.

When was the last time you heard the media refer to "the Coalition?"

Who are the terrorists in Iraq? What the hell has Bush gotten us into? Where's the plan to get out of this quagmire?

Is there a poll of parents of the dead, injured or missing as to their support for this war?

[staplesauce]

Notblue, just in case you missed it, the reference to the fuhrer and sig hiel was sarcasm.

I should point out the those fighting against the radicals, our troops, volunteered to defend our country and protect our people, and incredibly selfless and honorable action. However, they did not volunteer to police a nation across the atlantic (who did not attack us) that is currently in one of the most unstable states in the world. They are being exploited by our government for unnecessary reasons. I have the highest respect for our troops. Our government should have the same respect. The greatest payment of respect they can give right now is to bring them out of harms way.

[uncle_james-2009]

We're spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq to preserve our nation, while moral corruptness DESTROYS US FROM WITHIN!!! I don't think we're spending very much money on THAT public enemy--that enemy named "moral corruptness"! Matter of fact, we pass laws to allow this enemy to THRIVE and PROSPER!

Stop the legalized prostitution in Las Vegas FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! It degrades women and it degrades men. It also ruins families. Who was the lowlife lawmakers that brought such a law into existence, a law that degrades women and men and says prostitution is OK?! A law that ruins families! Who are the lowlife lawmakers that allow this law to CONTINUE in Las Vegas?!

Close DOWN all of the gambling establishments--they ruin more families and injure more people in ONE YEAR than all the taxes that you can collect from them in 5 years would ever heal! You're making efforts to stop internet gambling and that's a very noble exertion of power from you. Thank you for that!

[uncle_james-2009]

We're spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq to preserve our nation, while moral corruptness DESTROYS US FROM WITHIN!!! I don't think we're spending very much money on THAT public enemy--that enemy named "moral corruptness"! Matter of fact, we pass laws to allow this enemy to THRIVE and PROSPER!

Stop the legalized prostitution in Las Vegas FOR OBVIOUS REASONS! It degrades women and it degrades men. It also ruins families. Who was the lowlife lawmakers that brought such a law into existence, a law that degrades women and men and says prostitution is OK?! A law that ruins families! Who are the lowlife lawmakers that allow this law to CONTINUE in Las Vegas?!

Close DOWN all of the gambling establishments--they ruin more families and injure more people in ONE YEAR than all the taxes that you can collect from them in 5 years would ever heal! You're making efforts to stop internet gambling and that's a very noble exertion of power from you. Thank you for that!

Tell Hollywood that they CAN NOT produce and sell movies that glorify violence and that corrupt the minds of our children--and adults! Tell Hollywood to stop making movies that corrupt the minds of our children and adults that say it's glamorous, exciting and attractive to have s.e.x with someone while not being married to them--or with people of the same gender!

When these types of conditions exist in a society, it's undeniably the mark of a decadent age for that nation!

[notblue]

All you people who harp about the fact that Iraq nwever attacked the U.S. refuse to understand that that some of the radicals we are fighting in Iraq NOW do not have allegiance to any specific country. We are fighting a barbaristic ideology known as radical Islam. Most of the 911 attackers were from Saudi Arabia but they do not represent Saudi Arabia's policies or ideology. It's time to stop the crapp about who attacked us from where it's all immaterial. WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME IDEOLOGY in Iraq as in Afghanistan and throughout the world, wake up people!

[ramos937]

My prescription: (1) USA to withdraw everybody from Iraq. We cannot do worse than what we have done or do more damage than what we have done, (2) ask/beg/request Iran, Syria and Turkey to come in and take our place. They understand the people a lot better than we do or ever did. They will not mess around with due process, lawyers, etc. They will go in there, enforce a curfew, and generally do what it takes to establish and enforce law and order. When things settle down, they will then do whatever has to be done. We simply do not understand the people, culture, lanaguage or anything important to work with the Iraq people. they do not want us there and our guys do not want to be there. Enough is enough. Let's check our egos at the door and let the folks who do understand in to do what they can.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,, Try enlisting, you'd learn something.. Or, start watching another news channel.

[tuckerndfw]

WE ARE FIGHTING THE SAME IDEOLOGY in Iraq as in Afghanistan and throughout the world, wake up people!

Posted by notblue at 11:10 AM : May 31, 2007

Attempting to defeat an ideology with bullets, bombs and missiles seems rather pointless, don't you agree?

Iraq is in a civil war and the only ideology being fought over is who is going to control the nation and its resources.

One thing we can be sure of and that is that the US and UK will not be in control.

Your diatribe against Muslims is nothing more than Zionist propaganda. Zionists are as much of a problem as radical Muslims. Zionism is a radical ideology on the face of it. God did not give land to anyone.

[notblue]

Tucker, these bradicals don't care about diplomacy. Freedom loving nations do not fot into there plans. They understand destruction and barbaraism on a grand scale. They would kill tens of thousands of Americans with anything they can get there hands on. Why on earth do you believe that not fighting the radicals is the answer???? Your method for defeating radical Islam is music to the enemy's ears and in the long run will surely result in even greater loss of American lives.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,, Get off the ignorant rhetoric -- It's not the freedom's dummy & never has been.

And, since when does this administration prefer diplomacy over blind acquisitions, threats & war ??? --- Bush's concept of diplomacy is, "My way or the highway"

[one_american]

It has been nine days since the material from the al-Queda torture manual was released, and neither ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times nor The Washington Post has run a story with the photos of this shocking evidence of al-Qaeda%u2019s barbarism.

Media Research Center's President Brent Bozell issued the following statement regarding the matter of the Mainstream Media's avoidance of the al-Qaeda torture issue:

%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims. The tools, the drawings, and the photos are gruesome and clearly show what type of enemy the U.S. is facing."

%u201CYet most of the liberal media are deliberately silent. This is the same self-righteous liberal media that ran more than 6,000 stories and countless photos of Abu Ghraib and the abuse of prisoners there by several U.S. soldiers. Where are they now? Why will they not show the American people what al-Qaeda is actually doing in Iraq right now? Whose side are they on?"

%u201CAl-Qaeda%u2019s crimes are a thousand-fold more brutal than anything done by any derelict U.S. soldier. Yet it%u2019s obvious now that the liberal media want to focus on U.S. misdeeds, and alleged misdeeds, and theoretical misdeeds instead of giving the truth to the American people.%u201D



SHAME ON CBS.

SHAME ON KATIE COURIC.

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by notblue at 12:39 PM : May 31, 2007

Your hysterical shrieking is long on Zionist propaganda and nearly devoid of facts.

The vast majority of Muslims are not extremists. Nor are the vast majority of Iraqis or Afghanis.

Law enforcement agencies have been dealing effectively with extremists for years and I see no reason to change that method of dealing with extremists, of any kind.

Invading Afghanistan and Iraq was counterproductive and produced far more extremists than it neutralized or eliminated.

Which was a direct result of Zionist influence over the US & UK governments. Which makes Zionism far more of a threat to the US & UK (and the world at large) than Islam.

You are the problem, you are not the solution.

[micma-2009]

You know that conservatism is dead when they have to pay worthless hacks like notblue to come here and spin.

Where do they find these people, Hacks-Are-Us?

[one_american]

It has been nine days since the material from the al-Queda torture manual was released, and neither ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times nor The Washington Post has run a story with the photos of this shocking evidence of al-Qaeda%u2019s barbarism.

Media Research Center's President Brent Bozell issued the following statement regarding the matter of the Mainstream Media's avoidance of the al-Qaeda torture issue:

%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims. The tools, the drawings, and the photos are gruesome and clearly show what type of enemy the U.S. is facing."

%u201CYet most of the liberal media are deliberately silent. This is the same self-righteous liberal media that ran more than 6,000 stories and countless photos of Abu Ghraib and the abuse of prisoners there by several U.S. soldiers. Where are they now? Why will they not show the American people what al-Qaeda is actually doing in Iraq right now? Whose side are they on?"

%u201CAl-Qaeda%u2019s crimes are a thousand-fold more brutal than anything done by any derelict U.S. soldier. Yet it%u2019s obvious now that the liberal media want to focus on U.S. misdeeds, and alleged misdeeds, and theoretical misdeeds instead of giving the truth to the American people.%u201D



SHAME ON CBS.

SHAME ON KATIE COURIC.

[terrapin78]

If we want to be better than al qaeda then we have to honor people differently than does al qaeda.

Just because they are more brutal doesn't mean we need to go down to their level.

[tuckerndfw]

Posted by One_American at 01:09 PM : May 31, 2007

In other words, the "liberal media" is refusing to promote CIA propaganda (lies) like they did in the run up to the unnecessary invasion of Iraq.

It's about time the "liberal media" began questioning the *** the Bush administration tosses out as "evidence."

Way to go, CBS, keep up the good work. Despite the fact you are a war profiteer and warmongerer as an organization, you made the right call for once.


BTW, your fascist organization, Media Regurgitate Central, and its propaganda lack credibility. Which is not suprising since it supports the Bush administration.

[j-whitman]

One_American -- A "democracy" cannot exist in countries without a liberal society.... Without liberalism you have nothing but a dictatorship,,, plane & simple.

[one_american]

"Without liberalism you have nothing but a dictatorship,,, plane & simple."

Posted by j-whitman at 01:32 PM : May 31, 2007


So how do you explain Fidel Castro? Hugo Chavez?

LIBERAL DICTATORS, BOTH.

Nice try, liberal.

[one_american]

It has been nine days since the material from the al-Queda torture manual was released, and neither ABC, CBS, NBC, The New York Times nor The Washington Post has run a story with the photos of this shocking evidence of al-Qaeda%u2019s barbarism.

Media Research Center's President Brent Bozell issued the following statement regarding the matter of the Mainstream Media's avoidance of the al-Qaeda torture issue:

%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims. The tools, the drawings, and the photos are gruesome and clearly show what type of enemy the U.S. is facing."

%u201CYet most of the liberal media are deliberately silent. This is the same self-righteous liberal media that ran more than 6,000 stories and countless photos of Abu Ghraib and the abuse of prisoners there by several U.S. soldiers. Where are they now? Why will they not show the American people what al-Qaeda is actually doing in Iraq right now? Whose side are they on?"

%u201CAl-Qaeda%u2019s crimes are a thousand-fold more brutal than anything done by any derelict U.S. soldier. Yet it%u2019s obvious now that the liberal media want to focus on U.S. misdeeds, and alleged misdeeds, and theoretical misdeeds instead of giving the truth to the American people.%u201D

SHAME ON CBS.

SHAME ON KATIE COURIC.

SHAME ON LIBERALS THAT DENY THE TRUTH!

[rafterman1]

===LIBERAL DICTATORS, BOTH. Nice try, liberal.===

They aren't liberals. No dictator is a liberal as liberals believe in doing whatever you want, as long as you don't hurt everybody. Nice try, conservative.

[tuckerndfw]

The Bush administration must be desperate.

They are finally resorting to effective tactics.

Too bad they didn't make the attempt before they created tens of thousands of violent extremists. Murdering families and raping wives, daughters and sisters does not usually provide a good foundation for successful negotiations.

Unless, of course, the perpetrators are willing to surrender themselves to justice.

Since it is unlikely George Bush and D. Cheney will surrender to an Islamic court so they can be tried in accordance with law, it's unlikely these talks will succeed.

Until the US accepts responsibility for murdering, raping and pillaging, there is no effective solution. And, "accepting responsibility" means Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, and others must lose their heads.

I seriously doubt they will accept responsibility.

[rafterman1]

===%u201CThe elite media%u2019s liberal bias is abundantly clear in this case. U.S. soldiers raided several al-Qaeda safe houses in Iraq and discovered stacks of evidence about how al-Qaeda tortures its victims.===

As long as it's the policy of the Bush administration to torture as well, then we can't say *** if others do it to us.

[j-whitman]

One_American,,
, Castro, Chavez ??? Socialism & communism is not liberalism -- Mussillini & Hitler are prime examples of how socialism can be dictatorships,, with Bush & this GOP being a close 3rd.

[j-whitman]

One_American,,, Mussilini, Hitler, Castro & Bush surpressed liberalism.

[infidel_us]

This is a mistake. Now that we have them on the ropes, that want to "negotiate". I can't believe these morons are being led down this path - again!

[rafterman1]

===One_American,,, Mussilini, Hitler, Castro & Bush surpressed liberalism.===

Correct. In fact, you do you think were the first people locked up by Hitler and all the other dictators? College professors and journalists. The exact same "enemies" of neocons in this country.

The problem is, One_American and his boys don't really know the differences between communists and socialists. Particularly the social issues that differ vs the political structures. They eq

[tuckerndfw]

This is a mistake. Now that we have them on the ropes, that want to "negotiate". I can't believe these morons are being led down this path - again!

Posted by Infidel_US at 01:56 PM : May 31, 2007

*ROFL*

That was the funniest thing I've read all day. All week, in fact.

Thanks for the laugh.

"We have them on the ropes... "

*ROFL*

***, that's funny...

[one_american]

They aren't liberals. No dictator is a liberal as liberals believe in doing whatever you want, as long as you don't hurt everybody. Nice try, conservative.


Posted by Rafterman1 at 01:42 PM : May 31, 2007


No, I think you mean "anarchist"...and Socialism, Communism, and Anarchism are all wrapped up in today's American Liberalism.

You Liberals are not fooling anyone.

[j-whitman]

Infidel_US,,, A mistake you say ?? -- In the last 4 years of non-negotiations have led to one failure after another in a Iraq "War of Roses" --- Bush was wrong & nobody's on the ropes execpt our troops.. Bush says now, South Korea is how Iraq should be --- 50 years of isolation & occupation.

[blondmadison]

Scratching my head here but hold on...the U.S. now wants to negotiate??? What for?

We blew their country to sh-t even tho they had no nukes...raped their daughters too...knocked off their leader...bombs going off everywhere---"Shock and Awe!"

Now they think there is too much violence?
Why? I'm confused. Is a bomb violent? How about a round of bombs named "Shock and Awe"? Violent? I am getting confused as to what the U.S. wants at any given moment...I think I am getting scared...what will the U.S. want next??? And with whom?

[infidel_us]

Reaching out!?!?!?! There's no "reaching out" in war.....except reaching out with a bayonet affixed to the end of your weapon.

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

[rafterman1]

===No, I think you mean "anarchist"...and Socialism, Communism, and Anarchism are all wrapped up in today's American Liberalism===

You are too ignorant of global politics to bother discussing this any further.

[king77shaw]

does this mean we're winning or losing ?

[missmyhubby]

Why are we negotiating? We need to pull back and let the Iraqi government do the negotiating...it is their country after all! NO MORE U.S. TROOP DEATHS !!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough is enough....

[chicnlittle]

Now they think there is too much violence?
Why? I'm confused. Is a bomb violent? How about a round of bombs named "Shock and Awe"? Violent? I am getting confused as to what the U.S. wants at any given moment...I think I am getting scared...what will the U.S. want next??? And with whom?
Posted by BlondMadison at 02:05 PM : May 31, 2007

Uhhhhh, I think you're just confused.

[tuckerndfw]

does this mean we're winning or losing ?

Posted by king77shaw at 02:15 PM : May 31, 2007

It means the Bush administration is creating another smokescreen excuse for failing to obtain his stated goals in Iraq. In other words, for losing.

He can now claim Iraq is in the hands of tribal leaders when he orders US forces removed from Iraq in September.

Which is pretty much where we started out since Saddam Hussein was a tribal leader who became leader of all the tribes.

And, I think it means "we" lost.

Which means George Bush has condemned all Americans of this generation to be branded "losers."

George Bush is the worst president in US history, without exception.

[terrapin78]

Sounds like that the Bu$hies are now emboldening the enemy.

GET US OUT NOW BEFORE ANY MORE OF OUR TROOPS ARE KILLED/MAIMED! We should not be fighting the Iraqi Civil War.

[samthetvcat]

"officials argue, no amount of military force can bring peace to the country without political peace."

No duh - and it only took 4 years and billions of $$$ for them to figure this out. Sigh . . . how much longer before 'officials' figure out that Iraqi's don't WANT peace that requires them to cooperate with one another - they want war first so they don't have to all get along and THEN they want peace. Well, at this point they might as well try - they would have had more leverage to broker cease-fires before the surge was implemented and failed, but even then it ultimately wouldn't have worked so whatever.

PS The military keeps citing Anbar province as a 'success' story of turning insurgents around - I think they're only seeing what they want to see if they don't consider the possibility that Sunnis felt targeted and chose to temporarily align in a way that would get them US weapons, war strategy knowledge, and legitimate fighting access to Shiite militants. I don't think there's ANY evidence that these 'success' story people are on board with the unified government plan just because they've found it more beneficial in terms of their own goals to cooperate at this point.

[rafterman1]

===Turkey's military massed more troops and tanks on the border with Iraq on Thursday as the country's military chief said he was ready to stage a cross-border offensive to fight Kurdish guerrillas...as Turkish leaders publicly asked the United States and Iraq to destroy and scatter rebel bases inside Iraq.===

This is a huge problem that is brewing. The Kurds are friendly towards the US and Turkey is an ally too. If we side one way, we hurt the other. Especially if we side with Turkey. It's bad enough fighting Sunnis and rebel Shiites. If the Kurds start giving the US trouble in the previously quiet North of Iraq, we are in for a *********. Add this to the list of things Bush did not consider when invading Iraq.