Lugar: Change In Iraq Policy Can't Wait

Republican Senator Says Bush's Surge Can't Achieve Its Goals

(CBS)  The President's "surge" strategy can not achieve it's goals of securing Iraq and giving the Iraqi government time to reach a consensus, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said on Face The Nation.

"The point of the surge was to give time for the Iraqi politicians to work out the constitutional elements, not only the oil law, but the local elections, a whole raft of things," Lugar said. "They're not going to be able to do that in that period of time of about December or next March or what have you."

As the U.S. troops who make up the surge have arrived in Iraq, American casualties have increased. Lugar said he wants to pull troops back from the front lines and focus on training Iraqis.

The White House said no judgment should be made until commander of forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus, issues his report in September. But Lugar said even if Petraeus comes back with a positive report, the point of the surge was to give Iraqi politicians more time to work out problems — something he said could take many years.

"This is sad, but that is the case," he said. "We're not going to be able to provide security for all of Iraq, all 18 provinces, in the matter of next September or December or beyond that."

Lugar publicly broke with President George W. Bush last week, but he told Bob Schieffer that it is still up to the president to the country's armed forces.

"The president probably has the authority, if he wishes, to pursue right out to the end of his term a full-blown surge or whatever he wants to do – although, my guess is the constraints of the presidential campaign, the congressional campaign, are likely to bring pause even to the president if he were to have that idea," Lugar said.

But, Lugar said he wanted to change the president's plan before it came to that.

Lugar said he would like Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the president to come up with bi-partisan way to reduce troop levels.

Rather than withdraw all U.S. troops, Lugar suggested a three part plan:

Create a diplomatic forum for Iraq, the United States and Iraq's neighbors to continuously discuss the region's problems. Buttress the diplomacy with some American troops.

Calmly withdraw the majority of American troops over the next few months so that we can deal with problems where in the world without being stretched too thin.

Refurbish the equipment for troops' serving in other areas and work on the declining recruitment numbers.

Lugar said he's not alone in his party. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., was very encouraging, Lugar said, and other Republicans have already indicated the feel similarly by their votes on various amendments. He said he asked Democrats to be prepared to work with the president if he decides to lead and change course sooner rather than later.

"I hope something will come of this now," Lugar said, "not punting the ball down to September when these reports all come in and we have some good news, some bad news."

© MMVII, CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Add a Comment See all 41 Comments

by bluestardad July 1, 2007 6:17 PM PDT

I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE HAS POSTED ON THIS YET?

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad July 1, 2007 6:40 PM PDT

THESE SENATORS ARE UP FOR REELECTION IN 08! CONTACT THEM YOU MUST CONFRONT THEM ABOUT THEIR ISRAELI LOBBY HANDLERS AIPAC, PNAC, AND AEI TO BE SUCCESSFUL!

Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
[phone]

Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
[phone]

Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
[phone]

Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)

Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
[phone]


Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
[phone]


Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
[phone]

Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
[phone]


Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
[phone]


Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
[phone]

Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
[phone]

Domenici, Pete V.- (R - NM)
[phone]

Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)

Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
[phone]

Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
[phone]

Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)


Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)


Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)

Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)


Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)

Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)

Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)

Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
[phone]

McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)

Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)

Reed, Jack- (D - RI)

Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)


Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)


Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)


Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)


Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)


Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)

Warner, John- (R - VA)

Reply to this comment

by sharncedar July 1, 2007 7:17 PM PDT

We can begin bringing the troops home. That's because the "war on terror" has reached a new phase, the one George Bush has been warning/threatening us about. The "terrorists" and their enemies (which is which its hard to tell) are now going to fight it out right here in the US and the UK. I guess we weren' obedient enough, they are bringing the war here to teach us a lesson. George Bush will get his revenge at last. See, we were protecting you he will say, as his secretly funded terrorist cells punish America for resisting globalization. They are going to release all hell on us, troops battling other troops in the street, the media claimimg everyone is a terrorist who gets killed, like they do for Israel every time some 6-year-old kid is shot by Israeli troops the headline is "another terrorist killed in Palestine" with no mention of the kid's age.

I guess its our turn now, I wonder where the AIPAC is going to get the fake terrorists from, maybe they must import some over the open southern border.

Reply to this comment

by smirk5 July 1, 2007 7:56 PM PDT

Sounds like the Republicans are ready to cut and run.

Reply to this comment

by sjc_1 July 1, 2007 8:10 PM PDT

I am glad not all the Repugs are bending over and licking the boots of this Dufus maniac idiot. It is WAY overdue time for them to start thinking for themselves.

Reply to this comment

by micma-2009 July 1, 2007 9:31 PM PDT

Those crazy cut-n-run Republicans.

Reply to this comment

by amazedd July 1, 2007 10:22 PM PDT

And the jester sang: 'Create a diplomatic forum for Iraq, the United States and Iraq's neighbors to continuously discuss the region's problems. Buttress the diplomacy with some American troops'.

Reply to this comment

by macusweil July 1, 2007 10:29 PM PDT

"Lugar said he wants to pull troops back from the front lines and focus on training Iraqis. "

Surely this kind of talk will embolden our enemies. Talk of withdrawal will allow the terrorist to wait us out, test our resolve.. LOL

Enough of the BS already!! Dems and honest Reps alike (if there are any) know Bush lost the war with his incompetent leadership several years ago.

Reply to this comment

by drudge2 July 1, 2007 10:40 PM PDT

Surge = stall

Reply to this comment

by hsinco-2009 July 1, 2007 11:27 PM PDT

Sounds like the Republicans are ready to cut and run.
Posted by Smirk5 at 07:56 PM : Jul 01, 2007

From Bu$h!! And his mis-guided policies and war of choice.

Reply to this comment

by imnho July 2, 2007 12:14 AM PDT

I see that the surge is starting to come apart at the seems. I think its time to start to think of withdrawing our forces and focus on sealing the boders with Iran and Syria to the greatest extent possible.

One of the big problems is that while Bush is playing cowboy over in Iraq, Al-Qudia is preparing to strike us at home. Iraq is not a war aginist terror. It is a distraction from the war on terror.

Reply to this comment

by brianbwb-2009 July 2, 2007 12:14 AM PDT

The "war" was a sham to begin with, the reasons have all proven to be lies. Knowing this, my question is what did Bush and his supporters mean by "victory" in the first place?

If it was the acceptance by Iraq of a puppet US-friendly government after bombing, kidnapping, torturing, and killing more and more Iraqis, The idea of "victory" was already impossible.

Mr. Luger is at least in the correct direction, but still falls short of reality, Bush lied, congress fell for it, so the US made the biggest mistake since Vietnam, war under false pretense.

Mr. Luger, its time to correct the mistake at the root, not continuing to disguise it. There is no point in waiting for some imaginary deadline, stop the madness now!...

Reply to this comment

by downtowner97 July 2, 2007 1:40 AM PDT

He's speaking out now, but a month ago he voted against a withdrawal timeline and voted for funding the war for the rest of the year. Way to stay on message!

Reply to this comment

by firststate July 2, 2007 2:01 AM PDT

Our wanna-be king, george isn't likely to listen. There's no round table in his castle, there's no discussion. He's the decider and he's decided that he won't allow reality to interfere. He loved the king of the world line from Titanic so much that he didn't notice that the ship went down. To him, the war is going well even with more casualties. It's a small price to pay for a chance for him to resolve all his issues. There his "daddy" issue, he's already won his deadly pissing contest with Saddam and so now, if he can work out his ***-envy with Ahmadinejad, there may be hope. It's tragic that 3,580 of our brave men and women have had to die because he had to start a war instead of just getting a red convertible for his mid-life crisis. His 20 percenters must be starting to feel lonely, unless they are as delusional as he.

There is good news, though. All the previous men mentioned as "worse presidents" have moved a notch away from worst. He took the office to new lows. Unless another combination of a tricky-dicky the second, Rasputin-like vice president teams up with another slack-jawed, half-witted, trust fund, ex-cheerleader president, the title of the worst ever president should be safe. The supreme court won't have to hand him that title.

Reply to this comment

by tdap2 July 2, 2007 5:15 AM PDT

The Bush/Cheney Mission To Plunder The American Family & Enrich Big Oil Companies & Giant Defense Contractors is Accomplished!
Christian Coalition Troops Occupying Sacred Muslim Land is Destabilizing The Middle East & Causing Big Oil & ExxonMobil & Big Defense Contractors & Halliburton To Earn Massive Profit!

%u2022 American People in the last election spoke loud and clear & demand OUT OF IRAQ! The American People WERE BETRAYED BY PELOSI & REED! DO NOT BETRAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAIN!
%u2022 Bush/Cheney policies have created a holocaust event in the middle east, wasted hundreds of billions of dollars on military spending, destabilized the Middle East which has raised the price of a barrel of oil to $70 and a gallon of gasoline to $3-$4 ! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
%u2022 Democracy anywhere must include an independent media. CORPORATE CONTROL HAS REPLACED INDEPENDENT MEDIA! THERE ARE NO independent voices appearing on CNN, MSNBC and FOX NEWS! Only Neutered Republican & Democratic Strategists!
%u2022 There are 463 Million Muslims in the Middle East. Most want Christian Coalition Troops off their land and many are willing to support Al-Qaeda with money or manpower to make it happen.

Reply to this comment

by micma-2009 July 2, 2007 9:01 AM PDT

Crazy cut-n-run Republicans.

Reply to this comment

by getit1776 July 2, 2007 9:08 AM PDT

Here he goes again: demoralizing our troops, giving comfort to the enemy, aiding the terrorists, cutting and running...oh, he's a republican...never mind.

Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on old Lugar; he never was the sharpest tool in the shed and he's at long last come around to have a snort of reality. It would be a little easier to take if he could at least admit his past mistakes. Naah, who am I kidding?

Reply to this comment

by sjc_1 July 2, 2007 10:10 AM PDT

Ironically, a time table and redeployment is not what Al Qaeda wants. They want us to stay there and get mired down so they can keep killing us and bleed us dry.

If we leave, Al Qaeda has no reason to be there. Remember, Al Qaeda was created after we kept troops in Saudi Arabia LONG after the end of Gulf war. like Bin Laden predicted to the Saudis.

Al Qaeda was created out of foreign Arab fighters that fought the invading and occupying armies of the Soviets in Afghanistan. They want us to stay there, if we leave the war is over for them.

Reply to this comment

by huskerarmy July 2, 2007 10:12 AM PDT

"...a month ago he voted against a withdrawal timeline and voted for funding the war for the rest of the year."
Posted by downtowner97

Now that many of the GOPers are starting to talk the talk, it's time for them to put thier votes where their mouth is... How many more kids must die while the right continues on its slow grind to reality?

Reply to this comment

by huskerarmy July 2, 2007 10:15 AM PDT

They want us to stay there, if we leave the war is over for them.
Posted by sjc_1 at

And just imagine the hit their recruiting effort would take...

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad July 2, 2007 10:17 AM PDT

is this forum up?

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad July 2, 2007 10:57 AM PDT

WATCH WHAT HE IS SAYING GUYS!

HE IS CALLING FOR PERMINATE BASES IN IRAQ!

READ BETWEEN THE LINES!

Reply to this comment

by macusweil July 2, 2007 11:04 AM PDT

If the conflict in Iraq was the NFL and going this badly we'd say the reason we're losing is either the players on the field or the coaching staff. It glaringly obvious the players have given 110%!!

The military leaders who warned Bushie and his neo.con band of chicken-hawks were pushed aside. The "yes men" he promoted failed the mission and our nation.

It's the 2 minute warning and we're down 42 to 3. Think the coaches can find a way out?

Enormous 'coaching' blunders were made to this point and there is little hope to win without a surge of at least another 200,000 troops.

Why did George Bush approve the full disbanding of the Iraqi military, allow wide spread looting, promote torture and mistreatment of prisoners, leave huge stockpiles of weapons unguarded and unexploded? With all these bad decisions one would wonder if they even wanted to win?

Any good student of military history could tell you these are all negative moves that will work against you if you want to win the peace.

Reply to this comment

by neoconrcrazy July 2, 2007 11:12 AM PDT

This is one of the guys who never read the NIE report back in 2003, like the rest who voted for the Bush War.

those who read it and saw how flimsy the evidence and accusations were, voted no.

Reply to this comment

by neoconrcrazy July 2, 2007 11:17 AM PDT

Al-Qaeda wants our troops to stay! We're their preferred targets -

the iraqi fighters want us out of their country and will keep shooting at us until we go.

mamma mia, don't we know when we're not wanted?

Reply to this comment

by getit1776 July 2, 2007 11:54 AM PDT

Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on old Lugar; he never was the sharpest tool in the shed and he's at long last come around to have a snort of reality. It would be a little easier to take if he could at least admit his past mistakes. Naah, who am I kidding?
Posted by getit1776 at 09:08 AM : Jul 02, 2007

Anyone remember what Pelosi and Reid were called for same the exact same thing a month ago ? - there was a loud outcry when Edwards, kerry, Billary admitted they made a mistake with the votes then based on info later known and at the same time these foolz continued drinking the KoolAid - now he's got a change of heart and you are left with the impression that a lot of people are actually buying his BS - a lot of dems already saw this coming, on the heels of an election year ...... Go Figure ! Parrot2

Amen, Parrot2, amen. We can only hope the rest of the repubs see the light soon and get on the Lugar bandwagon...or at least see that more of the same and the surge aren't cutting it. The hypocrisy of attacking those who called earlier for an end to this madness and now the acceptence of Lugar et al is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, however.

Reply to this comment

by donnie900 July 2, 2007 12:05 PM PDT

You listen to me you liberals. This is America. We don't give up.

Reply to this comment

by tejasdemo July 2, 2007 12:09 PM PDT

Time to give up and go home.

Reply to this comment

by huskerarmy July 2, 2007 12:10 PM PDT

You listen to me you liberals. This is America. We don't give up.
Posted by donnie900
Donnie, Do you have a clue as to what it is that you're not "giving up" on? A recent poll showed that 40% of Americans still believe that Iraq had something to do with 9/11. Another poll of Guilliani supporters indicated that 40% of his supporters did not know that he was pro-choice (on abortion). Do you belong to either or both of these camps?

Reply to this comment

by bluestardad July 2, 2007 12:28 PM PDT

macusweil; GREAT POST!

Reply to this comment

by donnie900 July 2, 2007 12:30 PM PDT

Are you running a democracy or a teevee show, mr. neilson poll?

Democracies only have elections once every 2 or 4 years. After that they're on their own.

Reply to this comment

by donnie900 July 2, 2007 12:33 PM PDT

You just wait till yer liberal gets in office. I am going to be.. the snot mouthed king! I am going to criticize him? Or her? Like you wouldn't believe.. I am going to make it an obsession! Ya hear? AN OBSESSSION!

"Oh, look at de way he's walk'n. What a doofus."

"Oh, look at de way he's talk'n. What a doofus."

"Oh, look at de way his butt jiggles. What a doofus!!"

You just wait. I can't wait fer yer guy to win..

Reply to this comment

by donnie900 July 2, 2007 12:39 PM PDT

***Liberals*** ***are*** ***the*** ***ultimate*** ***double*** ***edged*** ***sword***.. ***dull*** ***and*** ***gaaay***. ***They*** ***treat*** ***people*** ***like*** ***they*** ***think*** ***they***'***ve*** ***been*** ***treated***, ***and*** ***its*** ***the*** ***way*** ***they*** ***weren***'***t*** ***treated***. ***It*** ***was*** ***their*** ***imaginations***.

***And*** ***they*** ***cry***. ***Like*** ***a*** ***buncha*** ************** ***wimps***..

Reply to this comment

by donnie900 July 2, 2007 12:42 PM PDT

***Oh***.. ***now*** ***what*** ***is*** ***this***? ***Mr***. ***Homocomputer*** ***guy***? ***What***'***d*** ***ya*** ***do*** ***now***? ***Something*** ***else*** ***stupid***.

Reply to this comment

by lars008-2009 July 2, 2007 1:41 PM PDT

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the terrorslam imperialism empire of the darkside...

FASCIST NAZI ISLAM TO ENSLAVE NON MUSLIM WORLD

HAMAS MICKEY MOUSE SAYS
Islamic rule will benefit Christians and Jews
by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook - May 14, 2007
The force behind Hamas TV%u2019s controversial Mickey Mouse clone said today that his children%u2019s television program will continue to promote worldwide Islamic supremacy, for everyone's benefit, including Christians and Jews.

In a long interview on Hamas TV, Hazim Al-Sha%u2019arawi, Deputy Director of Al-Aqsa TV and one of the creators of the Hamas children%u2019s TV show Tomorrow%u2019s Pioneers, said that using the program to promote Islamic rule over other religions is actually promoting %u201Cjustice, goodness and world love.%u201D

Al-Aqsa TV and the Palestinian Authority have been under fire since PMW reported last week that Tomorrow%u2019s Pioneers was using a character named Farfur, a knockoff of Disney%u2019s Mickey Mouse character, to convey messages about Islamic supremacy as well as hatred of Jews, Israel and the U.S. Despite public statements by PA Minister of Information Mustafa Barghouti that the show would be taken off the air until it could be reviewed and revised, a new episode of the program %u2013 featuring Al-Sha%u2019arawi as one of the hosts %u2013 ran Friday.
http://pmw.org.il/bulletins_may2007.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S995NCeaUg

Reply to this comment

by lars008-2009 July 2, 2007 4:00 PM PDT

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the terrorslam imperialism empire of the darkside...

it is fascist nazi imperialist terrorslam stupid%u2026.

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770
Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

Reply to this comment

by mudrose-2009 July 2, 2007 4:27 PM PDT

***Tell*** ***your*** ***Buddy***, ***Rands***, ***when*** ***you*** ***see*** ***him*** ***this*** ***is*** ***my*** ***response***. ***10***% ***net*** ***gain*** ***on*** ***businesses***.

***I*** ***thought*** ***companies*** ***were*** ***supposed*** ***to*** ***make*** ***money***. (***is*** ***that*** ***not*** ***the*** ***point***)
***Its*** ***not*** ***the*** ***Net*** ***its*** ***the*** ***profit*** ***margin***.
***Starbucks*** &***amp***; ***Microsoft*** ***have*** ***a*** ***bigger*** ***profit*** ***margin*** ***then*** ***Exxon***.

***If*** ***you*** ***guys*** ***are*** ***so*** ***upset*** ***that*** ***they*** ***made*** ***a*** ***profit***, ***why*** ***not*** ***just*** ***buy*** ***their*** ***stock***?
(***then*** ***you*** ***can*** ***give*** ***the*** ***profit*** ***you*** ***make*** ***dirrectly*** ***to*** ***Nacy*** ***Pelosi***)

Reply to this comment

by mudrose-2009 July 2, 2007 4:31 PM PDT

Tell your Buddy, Rands, when you see him this is my response. 10% net gain on businesses.

I thought companies were supposed to make money. (is that not the point)
Its not the Net its the profit margin.
Starbucks & Microsoft have a bigger profit margin then Exxon.

If you guys are so upset that they made a profit, why not just buy their stock?
(then you can give the profit you make dirrectly to Nacy Pelosi)

Reply to this comment

by mudrose-2009 July 2, 2007 4:38 PM PDT

Tell your Buddy, Rands, when you see him this is my response. 10% net gain on businesses.

I thought companies were supposed to make money. (is that not the point)
Its not the Net its the profit margin.
Starbucks & Microsoft have a bigger profit margin then Exxon.

If you guys are so upset that they made a profit, why not just buy their stock?
(then you can give the profit you make dirrectly to Nacy Pelosi)

Reply to this comment

by g-becker10 July 3, 2007 12:49 AM PDT

In the fifth year of the Republican war in Iraq, Senator Lugar has discovered that Bush and Cheney are sacrificing our soldiers and Marines for their delusion that the fate of civilization and the United States of America depends on who wins the Iraq civil wars.
How many more will die before Republicans fearing the 2008 election flee the Bush/Cheney pirate ship? Lugar has no such personal concern--he's just a slow learner.

Reply to this comment

by g-becker10 July 3, 2007 5:26 PM PDT

In the fifth year of the Republican war in Iraq, Senator Lugar has discovered that Bush and Cheney are sacrificing our soldiers and Marines for their delusion that the fate of civilization and the United States of America depends on who wins the Iraq civil wars.
How many more will die before Republicans fearing the 2008 election flee the Bush/Cheney pirate ship? Lugar has no such personal concern--he's just a slow learner.

Reply to this comment

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[bluestardad]

I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE HAS POSTED ON THIS YET?

[bluestardad]

THESE SENATORS ARE UP FOR REELECTION IN 08! CONTACT THEM YOU MUST CONFRONT THEM ABOUT THEIR ISRAELI LOBBY HANDLERS AIPAC, PNAC, AND AEI TO BE SUCCESSFUL!

Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
[phone]

Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
[phone]

Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
[phone]

Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)

Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
[phone]


Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
[phone]


Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
[phone]

Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
[phone]


Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
[phone]


Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
[phone]

Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
[phone]

Domenici, Pete V.- (R - NM)
[phone]

Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)

Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
[phone]

Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
[phone]

Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)


Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)


Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)

Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)


Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)

Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)

Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)

Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
[phone]

McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)

Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)

Reed, Jack- (D - RI)

Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)


Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)


Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)


Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)


Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)


Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)

Warner, John- (R - VA)

[sharncedar]

We can begin bringing the troops home. That's because the "war on terror" has reached a new phase, the one George Bush has been warning/threatening us about. The "terrorists" and their enemies (which is which its hard to tell) are now going to fight it out right here in the US and the UK. I guess we weren' obedient enough, they are bringing the war here to teach us a lesson. George Bush will get his revenge at last. See, we were protecting you he will say, as his secretly funded terrorist cells punish America for resisting globalization. They are going to release all hell on us, troops battling other troops in the street, the media claimimg everyone is a terrorist who gets killed, like they do for Israel every time some 6-year-old kid is shot by Israeli troops the headline is "another terrorist killed in Palestine" with no mention of the kid's age.

I guess its our turn now, I wonder where the AIPAC is going to get the fake terrorists from, maybe they must import some over the open southern border.

[smirk5]

Sounds like the Republicans are ready to cut and run.

[sjc_1]

I am glad not all the Repugs are bending over and licking the boots of this Dufus maniac idiot. It is WAY overdue time for them to start thinking for themselves.

[micma-2009]

Those crazy cut-n-run Republicans.

[amazedd]

And the jester sang: 'Create a diplomatic forum for Iraq, the United States and Iraq's neighbors to continuously discuss the region's problems. Buttress the diplomacy with some American troops'.

[macusweil]

"Lugar said he wants to pull troops back from the front lines and focus on training Iraqis. "

Surely this kind of talk will embolden our enemies. Talk of withdrawal will allow the terrorist to wait us out, test our resolve.. LOL

Enough of the BS already!! Dems and honest Reps alike (if there are any) know Bush lost the war with his incompetent leadership several years ago.

[drudge2]

Surge = stall

[hsinco-2009]

Sounds like the Republicans are ready to cut and run.
Posted by Smirk5 at 07:56 PM : Jul 01, 2007

From Bu$h!! And his mis-guided policies and war of choice.

[imnho]

I see that the surge is starting to come apart at the seems. I think its time to start to think of withdrawing our forces and focus on sealing the boders with Iran and Syria to the greatest extent possible.

One of the big problems is that while Bush is playing cowboy over in Iraq, Al-Qudia is preparing to strike us at home. Iraq is not a war aginist terror. It is a distraction from the war on terror.

[brianbwb-2009]

The "war" was a sham to begin with, the reasons have all proven to be lies. Knowing this, my question is what did Bush and his supporters mean by "victory" in the first place?

If it was the acceptance by Iraq of a puppet US-friendly government after bombing, kidnapping, torturing, and killing more and more Iraqis, The idea of "victory" was already impossible.

Mr. Luger is at least in the correct direction, but still falls short of reality, Bush lied, congress fell for it, so the US made the biggest mistake since Vietnam, war under false pretense.

Mr. Luger, its time to correct the mistake at the root, not continuing to disguise it. There is no point in waiting for some imaginary deadline, stop the madness now!...

[downtowner97]

He's speaking out now, but a month ago he voted against a withdrawal timeline and voted for funding the war for the rest of the year. Way to stay on message!

[firststate]

Our wanna-be king, george isn't likely to listen. There's no round table in his castle, there's no discussion. He's the decider and he's decided that he won't allow reality to interfere. He loved the king of the world line from Titanic so much that he didn't notice that the ship went down. To him, the war is going well even with more casualties. It's a small price to pay for a chance for him to resolve all his issues. There his "daddy" issue, he's already won his deadly pissing contest with Saddam and so now, if he can work out his ***-envy with Ahmadinejad, there may be hope. It's tragic that 3,580 of our brave men and women have had to die because he had to start a war instead of just getting a red convertible for his mid-life crisis. His 20 percenters must be starting to feel lonely, unless they are as delusional as he.

There is good news, though. All the previous men mentioned as "worse presidents" have moved a notch away from worst. He took the office to new lows. Unless another combination of a tricky-dicky the second, Rasputin-like vice president teams up with another slack-jawed, half-witted, trust fund, ex-cheerleader president, the title of the worst ever president should be safe. The supreme court won't have to hand him that title.

[tdap2]

The Bush/Cheney Mission To Plunder The American Family & Enrich Big Oil Companies & Giant Defense Contractors is Accomplished!
Christian Coalition Troops Occupying Sacred Muslim Land is Destabilizing The Middle East & Causing Big Oil & ExxonMobil & Big Defense Contractors & Halliburton To Earn Massive Profit!

%u2022 American People in the last election spoke loud and clear & demand OUT OF IRAQ! The American People WERE BETRAYED BY PELOSI & REED! DO NOT BETRAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAIN!
%u2022 Bush/Cheney policies have created a holocaust event in the middle east, wasted hundreds of billions of dollars on military spending, destabilized the Middle East which has raised the price of a barrel of oil to $70 and a gallon of gasoline to $3-$4 ! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
%u2022 Democracy anywhere must include an independent media. CORPORATE CONTROL HAS REPLACED INDEPENDENT MEDIA! THERE ARE NO independent voices appearing on CNN, MSNBC and FOX NEWS! Only Neutered Republican & Democratic Strategists!
%u2022 There are 463 Million Muslims in the Middle East. Most want Christian Coalition Troops off their land and many are willing to support Al-Qaeda with money or manpower to make it happen.

[micma-2009]

Crazy cut-n-run Republicans.

[getit1776]

Here he goes again: demoralizing our troops, giving comfort to the enemy, aiding the terrorists, cutting and running...oh, he's a republican...never mind.

Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on old Lugar; he never was the sharpest tool in the shed and he's at long last come around to have a snort of reality. It would be a little easier to take if he could at least admit his past mistakes. Naah, who am I kidding?

[sjc_1]

Ironically, a time table and redeployment is not what Al Qaeda wants. They want us to stay there and get mired down so they can keep killing us and bleed us dry.

If we leave, Al Qaeda has no reason to be there. Remember, Al Qaeda was created after we kept troops in Saudi Arabia LONG after the end of Gulf war. like Bin Laden predicted to the Saudis.

Al Qaeda was created out of foreign Arab fighters that fought the invading and occupying armies of the Soviets in Afghanistan. They want us to stay there, if we leave the war is over for them.

[huskerarmy]

"...a month ago he voted against a withdrawal timeline and voted for funding the war for the rest of the year."
Posted by downtowner97

Now that many of the GOPers are starting to talk the talk, it's time for them to put thier votes where their mouth is... How many more kids must die while the right continues on its slow grind to reality?

[huskerarmy]

They want us to stay there, if we leave the war is over for them.
Posted by sjc_1 at

And just imagine the hit their recruiting effort would take...

[bluestardad]

is this forum up?

[bluestardad]

WATCH WHAT HE IS SAYING GUYS!

HE IS CALLING FOR PERMINATE BASES IN IRAQ!

READ BETWEEN THE LINES!

[macusweil]

If the conflict in Iraq was the NFL and going this badly we'd say the reason we're losing is either the players on the field or the coaching staff. It glaringly obvious the players have given 110%!!

The military leaders who warned Bushie and his neo.con band of chicken-hawks were pushed aside. The "yes men" he promoted failed the mission and our nation.

It's the 2 minute warning and we're down 42 to 3. Think the coaches can find a way out?

Enormous 'coaching' blunders were made to this point and there is little hope to win without a surge of at least another 200,000 troops.

Why did George Bush approve the full disbanding of the Iraqi military, allow wide spread looting, promote torture and mistreatment of prisoners, leave huge stockpiles of weapons unguarded and unexploded? With all these bad decisions one would wonder if they even wanted to win?

Any good student of military history could tell you these are all negative moves that will work against you if you want to win the peace.

[neoconrcrazy]

This is one of the guys who never read the NIE report back in 2003, like the rest who voted for the Bush War.

those who read it and saw how flimsy the evidence and accusations were, voted no.

[neoconrcrazy]

Al-Qaeda wants our troops to stay! We're their preferred targets -

the iraqi fighters want us out of their country and will keep shooting at us until we go.

mamma mia, don't we know when we're not wanted?

[getit1776]

Maybe we shouldn't be too hard on old Lugar; he never was the sharpest tool in the shed and he's at long last come around to have a snort of reality. It would be a little easier to take if he could at least admit his past mistakes. Naah, who am I kidding?
Posted by getit1776 at 09:08 AM : Jul 02, 2007

Anyone remember what Pelosi and Reid were called for same the exact same thing a month ago ? - there was a loud outcry when Edwards, kerry, Billary admitted they made a mistake with the votes then based on info later known and at the same time these foolz continued drinking the KoolAid - now he's got a change of heart and you are left with the impression that a lot of people are actually buying his BS - a lot of dems already saw this coming, on the heels of an election year ...... Go Figure ! Parrot2

Amen, Parrot2, amen. We can only hope the rest of the repubs see the light soon and get on the Lugar bandwagon...or at least see that more of the same and the surge aren't cutting it. The hypocrisy of attacking those who called earlier for an end to this madness and now the acceptence of Lugar et al is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow, however.

[donnie900]

You listen to me you liberals. This is America. We don't give up.

[tejasdemo]

Time to give up and go home.

[huskerarmy]

You listen to me you liberals. This is America. We don't give up.
Posted by donnie900
Donnie, Do you have a clue as to what it is that you're not "giving up" on? A recent poll showed that 40% of Americans still believe that Iraq had something to do with 9/11. Another poll of Guilliani supporters indicated that 40% of his supporters did not know that he was pro-choice (on abortion). Do you belong to either or both of these camps?

[bluestardad]

macusweil; GREAT POST!

[donnie900]

Are you running a democracy or a teevee show, mr. neilson poll?

Democracies only have elections once every 2 or 4 years. After that they're on their own.

[donnie900]

You just wait till yer liberal gets in office. I am going to be.. the snot mouthed king! I am going to criticize him? Or her? Like you wouldn't believe.. I am going to make it an obsession! Ya hear? AN OBSESSSION!

"Oh, look at de way he's walk'n. What a doofus."

"Oh, look at de way he's talk'n. What a doofus."

"Oh, look at de way his butt jiggles. What a doofus!!"

You just wait. I can't wait fer yer guy to win..

[donnie900]

***Liberals*** ***are*** ***the*** ***ultimate*** ***double*** ***edged*** ***sword***.. ***dull*** ***and*** ***gaaay***. ***They*** ***treat*** ***people*** ***like*** ***they*** ***think*** ***they***'***ve*** ***been*** ***treated***, ***and*** ***its*** ***the*** ***way*** ***they*** ***weren***'***t*** ***treated***. ***It*** ***was*** ***their*** ***imaginations***.

***And*** ***they*** ***cry***. ***Like*** ***a*** ***buncha*** ************** ***wimps***..

[donnie900]

***Oh***.. ***now*** ***what*** ***is*** ***this***? ***Mr***. ***Homocomputer*** ***guy***? ***What***'***d*** ***ya*** ***do*** ***now***? ***Something*** ***else*** ***stupid***.

[lars008-2009]

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the terrorslam imperialism empire of the darkside...

FASCIST NAZI ISLAM TO ENSLAVE NON MUSLIM WORLD

HAMAS MICKEY MOUSE SAYS
Islamic rule will benefit Christians and Jews
by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook - May 14, 2007
The force behind Hamas TV%u2019s controversial Mickey Mouse clone said today that his children%u2019s television program will continue to promote worldwide Islamic supremacy, for everyone's benefit, including Christians and Jews.

In a long interview on Hamas TV, Hazim Al-Sha%u2019arawi, Deputy Director of Al-Aqsa TV and one of the creators of the Hamas children%u2019s TV show Tomorrow%u2019s Pioneers, said that using the program to promote Islamic rule over other religions is actually promoting %u201Cjustice, goodness and world love.%u201D

Al-Aqsa TV and the Palestinian Authority have been under fire since PMW reported last week that Tomorrow%u2019s Pioneers was using a character named Farfur, a knockoff of Disney%u2019s Mickey Mouse character, to convey messages about Islamic supremacy as well as hatred of Jews, Israel and the U.S. Despite public statements by PA Minister of Information Mustafa Barghouti that the show would be taken off the air until it could be reviewed and revised, a new episode of the program %u2013 featuring Al-Sha%u2019arawi as one of the hosts %u2013 ran Friday.
http://pmw.org.il/bulletins_may2007.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S995NCeaUg

[lars008-2009]

non muslims of the world unite... fight against the tyranny of the terrorslam imperialism empire of the darkside...

it is fascist nazi imperialist terrorslam stupid%u2026.

I was a fanatic...I know their thinking, says former radical Islamist
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us.
More important, they also helped to draw away any critical examination from the real engine of our violence: Islamic theology.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=465570&in_page_id=1770
Bless the Beasts and Children
Fascist nazi terrorslam kills every man woman and child in the village again%u2026 typical mo for terrorslam%u2026
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/bless-the-beasts-and-children.htm

[mudrose-2009]

***Tell*** ***your*** ***Buddy***, ***Rands***, ***when*** ***you*** ***see*** ***him*** ***this*** ***is*** ***my*** ***response***. ***10***% ***net*** ***gain*** ***on*** ***businesses***.

***I*** ***thought*** ***companies*** ***were*** ***supposed*** ***to*** ***make*** ***money***. (***is*** ***that*** ***not*** ***the*** ***point***)
***Its*** ***not*** ***the*** ***Net*** ***its*** ***the*** ***profit*** ***margin***.
***Starbucks*** &***amp***; ***Microsoft*** ***have*** ***a*** ***bigger*** ***profit*** ***margin*** ***then*** ***Exxon***.

***If*** ***you*** ***guys*** ***are*** ***so*** ***upset*** ***that*** ***they*** ***made*** ***a*** ***profit***, ***why*** ***not*** ***just*** ***buy*** ***their*** ***stock***?
(***then*** ***you*** ***can*** ***give*** ***the*** ***profit*** ***you*** ***make*** ***dirrectly*** ***to*** ***Nacy*** ***Pelosi***)

[mudrose-2009]

Tell your Buddy, Rands, when you see him this is my response. 10% net gain on businesses.

I thought companies were supposed to make money. (is that not the point)
Its not the Net its the profit margin.
Starbucks & Microsoft have a bigger profit margin then Exxon.

If you guys are so upset that they made a profit, why not just buy their stock?
(then you can give the profit you make dirrectly to Nacy Pelosi)

[mudrose-2009]

Tell your Buddy, Rands, when you see him this is my response. 10% net gain on businesses.

I thought companies were supposed to make money. (is that not the point)
Its not the Net its the profit margin.
Starbucks & Microsoft have a bigger profit margin then Exxon.

If you guys are so upset that they made a profit, why not just buy their stock?
(then you can give the profit you make dirrectly to Nacy Pelosi)

[g-becker10]

In the fifth year of the Republican war in Iraq, Senator Lugar has discovered that Bush and Cheney are sacrificing our soldiers and Marines for their delusion that the fate of civilization and the United States of America depends on who wins the Iraq civil wars.
How many more will die before Republicans fearing the 2008 election flee the Bush/Cheney pirate ship? Lugar has no such personal concern--he's just a slow learner.

[g-becker10]

In the fifth year of the Republican war in Iraq, Senator Lugar has discovered that Bush and Cheney are sacrificing our soldiers and Marines for their delusion that the fate of civilization and the United States of America depends on who wins the Iraq civil wars.
How many more will die before Republicans fearing the 2008 election flee the Bush/Cheney pirate ship? Lugar has no such personal concern--he's just a slow learner.