U.S. Observers Note Progress In Iraq Surge

Casualties Down In July; Some Critics Of War Strategy Find Reason For Encouragement

(CBS/AP)  With one day left in the month, American casualties in July are the lowest since the troop surge began in February, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin, and civilian casualties are down by a third.

U.S. officials attribute that to the dismantling of networks which make roadside bombs and to American soldiers protecting the local population.

It would only take a few spectacular attacks to reverse those trends, but even critics of the war strategy are encouraged.

"The moment we got to Baghdad, everything felt very different from previous trips to Iraq," says former CIA analyst Ken Pollack.

Earlier this year, Pollack published an article about Iraq titled "Things Fall Apart." Now he sees "a sudden change in American fortunes."

"This is the first time I have gone to Iraq and actually felt that the United States knew what it was doing and was actually creating some degree of progress," Pollack says.

Retired Marine Gen. Jim Jones, who is conducting a congressionally ordered study of the Iraqi security forces, also came back from Iraq saying privately it was better than he expected.

By any measure, Iraq is still a deadly mess; no one is claiming to see light at the end of the tunnel.

"We have not won this war," Pollack says. "And we didn't see something that looked like victory over in Iraq. All we saw was progress."

It's just enough progress so that a critic like Michael O'Hanlon, who used to think the surge was too little too late, now believes it should be continued.

"For me, gut instinct, just piecing all of the information together subjectively, I thought we should give it a few more months into 2008," O'Hanlon says.

That is exactly what the American commander Gen. David Petraeus wants — continue the surge into next spring and then start a gradual withdrawal back to the pre-surge troop level of 130,000 by the end of 2008.

In other developments:

CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey reports on one U.S. commander who braves the life-threatening hazards in Baghdad to give Iraqis running water.

A Fort Campbell, Ky., soldier accused of acting as a lookout while his colleagues attacked and killed a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family pleaded guilty to some lesser offenses Monday as his court-martial began on rape and murder charges. Pfc. Jesse Spielman pleaded to conspiracy to obstruct justice, arson, wrongfully touching a corpse and drinking. He still faces trial on the more serious charges in the March 2006 attack on Abeer Qassim al-Janabi and her family.

The latest audit report to Congress on Iraq reconstruction says corruption in the country, including fraud, theft and skimming amounts to a "second insurgency" is hindering the rebuilding effort. Stuart Bowen, who wrote the quarterly report, tells The Associated Press that except for security, corruption is the biggest challenge for the Iraqi government to overcome. Failure to maintain projects, once transferred to the Baghdad government, also figures in the report.

Republicans increasingly are backing a new approach in the Iraq war that could become the party's mantra come September. It would mean narrowly limiting missions for U.S. troops but letting President Bush decide when troops should come home. So far, the idea has not attracted the attention of Democratic leaders.

Continued

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by usayesterday July 30, 2007 6:46 AM PDT

Anything to give the Iraqi people something to cheer about, if even for a few hours, is a good thing.

Absolutely nothing America has done, or the new Iraqi government has done, or the fundamentalists from either side, none of those have given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the near future.

Reply to this comment

by perception5 July 30, 2007 7:34 AM PDT

Absolutely nothing America has done, or the new Iraqi government has done, or the fundamentalists from either side, none of those have given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the near future.
Posted by USAyesterday at 06:46 AM : Jul 30, 2007


......Dude, you are such a "downer" even your name is a "downer". You're not a Republican that's for sure.


God willing Iraq will turn out ok and these people of Iraq and live like you USAyesterday...........Free...but it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try........

Reply to this comment

by cfin5 July 30, 2007 7:42 AM PDT

Good for them! I was hoping that their team would win. I love to see this kind of underdog story triumph. An earned victory like this can help a suffering people to remember what the dignity of national unity tastes like. I hope to see them put it to those AQ losers next!

Reply to this comment

by usayesterday July 30, 2007 7:55 AM PDT

......Dude, you are such a "downer" even your name is a "downer". You're not a Republican that's for sure.

Posted by perception5 at 07:34 AM : Jul 30, 2007
........................

LOL! LOL!

You are soooo pathetic!

First, being (or not being) a Republican has nothing to do with being a 'downer' (which I am also not). I guess by that statement you are suggesting that Republicans are blissfully ignorant. Well that's fine, which means I'm definitely not a Republican in that respect, and I thank you for not labeling me as such.

Second, my nickname "USAyesterday" is more of a satirical spoof of another very popular news organization. Of course, people can interpret that name for whatever they want, and you have certainly done so.

But mostly, the reality is not always a rosy picture. And by repeating the realities that many others have seen first hand, does not make me a "downer" in any way...

...it just makes me firmly planted in reality, with my eyes, ears, and mind open.

Reply to this comment

by themurph2000 July 30, 2007 8:00 AM PDT

But mostly, the reality is not always a rosy picture. And by repeating the realities that many others have seen first hand, does not make me a "downer" in any way...

...it just makes me firmly planted in reality, with my eyes, ears, and mind open.
Posted by USAyesterday at 07:55 AM : Jul 30, 2007

Well, I remember a hockey game from about 27 years ago that didn't get hostages out of Iran, get the (then) USSR out of Afghanistan, but it still made one tremedous difference in our country. Sometimes, all two sides need is something in common to get the ball rolling.

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 8:36 AM PDT

Light at the end of a very dark tunnel?

Reply to this comment

by bareemperor July 30, 2007 9:32 AM PDT

'Soccer Win Brings Joy To Iraq, For A Day'

Bu$h Failure Brings Death To Iraq, Forever'

Reply to this comment

by processor2 July 30, 2007 10:30 AM PDT

Through-out human history, sports has brought peoples together.

hence, the Olympics.

...

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman July 30, 2007 11:36 AM PDT

That was one hell of a tailgate party,, a real killer.

Reply to this comment

by speakinup July 30, 2007 12:00 PM PDT

"I guess " USAyesterday

You should have left your total comment at this.

"Absolutely nothing America has done, or the new Iraqi government has done, or the fundamentalists from either side, none of those have given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the near future." USAyesterday

Instant gratification - that's the Left's mantra.

Absolutely nothing the LEFT has done, has given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the future.

Hey, great job on the Soccor win, IRAQ !

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 12:11 PM PDT

j-whit- not funny. went for laugh- didn't get it. speak? You are just sick. The RIGHT got us into this shiit. moron.

Reply to this comment

by grazinggoat July 30, 2007 12:41 PM PDT

God willing Iraq will turn out ok and these people of Iraq and live like you USAyesterday...........Free...but it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try........
Posted by perception5 at 07:34 AM : Jul 30, 2007


p5, Read this

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/30/africa/30iraq.php

-One survey cited in the report, completed in May by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, found that 43 percent of Iraqis live in "absolute poverty," on less than $1 a day.

-You know what p5, shove this freedom up Walking-Liar's azz and his cronies', if this is the price, half of the Iraqis have to pay for.

-Freedom is and should be FREE. It's a free divine right to EVERYONE on Earth. Iraqis are paying to high a price for this.

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 2:02 PM PDT

I was just catchin' the end of this story, and I saw, WHAT? Court-martial. Some guy named Jesse. Rape? Murder? Thanks to the office of president. The man that skrewed it up? Geez, what have we become? Really, Geez, WHAT have we become? This is definitely not what was envisioned a long time ago--------------America goes, sigh.......

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman July 30, 2007 2:06 PM PDT

perception5,,,, " it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try" -- Young College Republicans refuse to serve thier country in time of urgent need.

Reply to this comment

by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 2:20 PM PDT

Re: "Court-martial proceedings were to begin Monday for U.S. Army Spc. Jesse Spielman, charged with knowledge of a plan by fellow soldiers to break into a home and rape and kill a 14-year-old Iraqi girl in March 2006. Prosecutors say he knew of the plan, did nothing to stop it and touched the girl's nude body before the soldiers left, according to military charging documents released at the time of his arrest."

Is that right CBS? They "touched" the girl's body, did they?

The U.S. corporate media coverage of this event is nearly as shameful as the event itself.

These U.S. soldiers reportedly executed this 14-year-old girl's parents, executed her 7-year-old sister, and gang-raped the 14-year-old before executing her as well and setting her corpse on fire, in an effort to cover-up their crimes.

When they were finished, these soldiers stuck around the home, and prepared themselves a chicken dinner.

Who will support these troops? How will you support them?

Can anyone explain to me why he or she would fault the surviving 9-year-old and 11-year-old brothers of this girl, who returned home to discover this grizzly scene, if they choose to hunt down and kill the brutal and illegal invaders of their country?

Can anyone explain to me why the Iraqis don't have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal invasion of their country?

Reply to this comment

by j-whitman July 30, 2007 2:29 PM PDT

Pretty scary future America has,,, Young College Republicans refuse to serve thier nation in time of urgent need --- One of them will eventually run for President ---- We'll end up with another Bush

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 2:41 PM PDT

Yeah, there is nothing wrong in your country. Go on vacation. I happen to live on a lake. Beautiful. C'mon, we'll talk. Bring the chimp witya. WOW!!!!!

Reply to this comment

by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 2:43 PM PDT

Re: "Millions of Iraqis have been forced to flee the violence, either to another part of Iraq or abroad. Many of those are living in dire poverty."

In fact, AFP is reporting that "Almost eight million Iraqis are in need of immediate emergency aid"

www.afp.com/english/news/stories/070730102915.rk0sq72o.html

###

CBS- is it appropriate to burry this information in an irrelevant report about a soccer game?

Reply to this comment

by ban_islam July 30, 2007 2:45 PM PDT

Can anyone explain to me why the Iraqis don't have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal invasion of their country?
Posted by FeelFree1
---

Because they're backwards savages who need to be invaded and destroyed. Happy now you stupid ****?

Reply to this comment

by roger_inkart July 30, 2007 3:07 PM PDT

***? 8 Million of their own citizens are in immediate need of aid and they take off for 5 weeks?

From what I've read, though, this is a government in name only. They hardly even bother show up. My guess is when they do show up it's only to pick up their paychecks - which are at least partially funded by US taxpayers I would guess.

Reply to this comment

by briannorwood July 30, 2007 3:07 PM PDT

I guess it's safe to say that the Iraqi government will be no closer in September to meeting the political benchmarks than they were in July.

And what will General Petraeus have to say then? The "surge" is working? He needs more time?

I say...GAME OVER!

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 3:10 PM PDT

GET US OUT NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO GETUSOUT NONONONONONONONO ...and ban_islam-? get a GRIP. And grab your ***, George, and punch his lights out. Then take a vacation. I'm thinkin' Vegas.

Reply to this comment

by rushlimpdrug July 30, 2007 3:18 PM PDT

"We were supposed to discuss important issues in the month of July, but we did not." said Mahmoud Othman

God willing Iraq will turn out ok and these people of Iraq and live like you USAyesterday...........Free...but it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try........
Posted by perception5

I say we all go on vacation including the iraq parliament, mccain, U.S. congress, everyone except the poor American soldiers -somebody's gotta fight for iraq's democracy.
Let's all go to Vegas!

Reply to this comment

by j4401 July 30, 2007 3:23 PM PDT

The Real Reason We're In Iraq

The short answer is "OIL." We went to war with Iraq because an influential group of conservatives convinced President George W. Bush that it was in America's best interests to conquer Iraq as a first step toward dominating the oil-producing nations in the Middle East.
Try as we may, we are not going to turn Iraq into a model democracy. There was no "exit plan" because we never intended to exit. The plan was, and is, to build military bases in Iraq and stay there forever. Our leaders see Iraq as a place to make money. So Bush & Co. have set up their friends to cash in on the rebuilding of Iraq, a job that should be done (for pay) by the people who built it in the first place: Iraqis.
The longer we stay there, the more Iraqi children end up maimed or dead, the more of our young men and women die.
Clearly, our government lied to us, and to the world, to get us into this war. That alone should tell us it's wrong.

Reply to this comment

by roger_inkart July 30, 2007 3:31 PM PDT

So, in the US Joe Six-Pack has to work overtime and/or two jobs to feed his family, gets NO vacation just to pay his bills and taxes...for what? So that these Iraqi government officials can take 5 weeks off on _his_ dime?

That doesn't make sense. But then again, nothing about this war does unless you're a rich, well-connected chickenhawk Republican - or a moron.

Reply to this comment

by mudrose-2009 July 30, 2007 3:34 PM PDT

Well at least the soccer team has made progress. Good job, boys. Show that Iraqi Congress that you can form a unity government.

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 3:37 PM PDT

mormonman1- see "Rafterman" UH, just an aside, uh, this is hard to bring up, but Mormon? Ya know, no power, chains on the kids bike, etc.....T.V, the 'puter? Do what makes ya happy, the repugliscum won't let ya,. THE 'PUTER?

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by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 3:38 PM PDT

How ironic that Americans would attempt to blame the illegitimate puppet-leaders of Iraq for taking time off, just as the very people that enebled and complied with this messy and disgraceful debacle, prepare for a vacation.

Who would Jesus blame?

Gee whiz! The Iraqi oil-stealing law, designed to hand the bulk of Iraq's oil wealth to multi-national petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobil and BP, did not get passed by the puppet leaders of Iraq.

And CBS describes this "oil (stealing) law", as "intended to ensure a fair distribution of Iraq's considerable oil wealth."

Intended to "distribute" the oil "fairly" to whom?

The very same petro-terrorists that are profiting so handsomely from the criminal debacle in Iraq?

What pathetic and misleading pseudo-journalism. CBS should have their corporate charter revoked. They are surely not serving the interstates of the U.S. public.

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 3:40 PM PDT

Hi ya rush. We're thinking May 2008. Never been to sin city. We'll work on this.

Reply to this comment

by rushlimpdrug July 30, 2007 3:50 PM PDT

unlike iraq,
what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

Reply to this comment

by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 3:50 PM PDT

Re: "designed to promote national unity and stem support for the Sunni-led insurgency."

Really? does the U.S. backing of Shiite death-sqauds and the more recent U.S. arming of Sunni militias also help in this effort? Will the additional $30 billion U.S. tax funded welfare payments to the rogue terror-Stae of Israel improve the situation somehow?

"Sunni-led insurgency"? Wasn't CBS and the other Western poopaganda parrots implying that ALL of the armed resistance in Iraq was coming from the imaginary "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" group, only a couple of weeks ago?

Could it be, instead, that the people of Iraq are not happy with the brutal and illegal invasion of their country? That the imprisonment, torture, rape, and murder of their friends and family at the hands of U.S. agents, is distracting them from their dancing and flower-throwing duties?

Reply to this comment

by randalds July 30, 2007 4:00 PM PDT

"Iraqi Parliament Takes Five (Weeks)"

Sure, why not. I mean their vacation is being paid for in American troops blood, but since Bush and Cheney never gave a sh*it about our troops lives or deaths, then why should their puppet Iraqi government? Looks like they learned the most important lesson Bush had to teach them already. When all else fails, go on vacation.

Reply to this comment

by tbweb July 30, 2007 4:05 PM PDT

The U.S. should have imposed a Government solution on the Iraqi's after the Iraq victory and let them negotiate changes to it, allowing them to set up a Government from scratch has proven to be a joke, just like this 5 week vacation which amounts to MOONING the U.S. effort and dishonoring our war dead with their obvious lack of seriousness.

Reply to this comment

by j4401 July 30, 2007 4:14 PM PDT

I think that CBS and other media outlets are letting us all down by not properly investigating the facts about this "war." Its all about the oil money. Its about time our news sources perform appropriate investigative reporting. Can CBS pull Mr. Cronkite out of retirement?

Reply to this comment

by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 4:21 PM PDT

Following the Bush regime failure to complete the installation a compliant puppet-dictator like Chalabi or Allawi, the best that they could manage was a sham election of U.S. pseudo-puppets, calling them the "new" Iraqi government, empowered under the absurd, U.S. crafted Iraqi "constitution".

Now, with their oil-stealing law in jeopardy, and their "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" ruse being increasingly exposed as a contrived hoax, the Bush terror network has little choice but to blame the "Iraqi" puppet-leaders for their own crimes and incompetence.

What a sick, sad, joke.

Behold the decline of the *** Bush League terror empire!

Reply to this comment

by roach9703 July 30, 2007 4:27 PM PDT

Me think that Iraq congress says, " ... bleep thyself U.S.A. colonial masters..."
We better find to a way to cope with country that is about fall apart. FAST

Reply to this comment

by roach9703 July 30, 2007 4:35 PM PDT

Ainttakine at at 2:26PM at PAGE TWO BLOG
GREAT COMMENTARY!

Reply to this comment

by myidoncbs July 30, 2007 4:37 PM PDT

When the CIA warned Bush, "Bin Laden determined to attack US", Bush continued his vacation, tending to the oh-so-very-important task of clearing brush on his ranch-- so why should the Iraqi puppets cancel their vacation?

Reply to this comment

by randalds July 30, 2007 4:43 PM PDT

When the CIA warned Bush, "Bin Laden determined to attack US", Bush continued his vacation, tending to the oh-so-very-important task of clearing brush on his ranch-- so why should the Iraqi puppets cancel their vacation?
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 04:37 PM : Jul 30, 2007

Oh and I just LOVE his phony movie-set ranch. They even had old out buildings and tool sheds from other real ranches taken down and re-assembled on his "ranch" so there'd be a good backdrop for TV reporters to stand in front of when doing their feeds. The one they always stand in front of even has a broken wooden wagon wheel leaning against it and no one ever seems to ask what a wooden wagon wheel is doing on a "ranch" that was built in 1999! LOL!

Reply to this comment

by rushlimpdrug July 30, 2007 5:02 PM PDT

"Iraqi Parliament Takes Five (Weeks)"

Five weeks!
Where can these people go on a camel for five weeks?

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 5:06 PM PDT

Oh man, lmao rush. On a camel.....hohohohoho good one.

Reply to this comment

by cdfoxtrot July 30, 2007 5:06 PM PDT

I guess Bushie is taking all of August off, for yet another holiday, as he seems to do every year. So why not the Iraqi parliament? At least they are taking Bush's lead on SOMETHING.

Reply to this comment

by soldat44 July 30, 2007 5:12 PM PDT

Obviously the Iraqis do not take the 'parliament' stuff seriously.

Once again, there are NO Arab Democracies. This one is no different.

Time to re-focus on Afganistan and get the towel-headed sob.

Reply to this comment

by edintex July 30, 2007 5:12 PM PDT

Someone please logically explain how the US government is benefiting from the so-called "oil money". It seems to me that the big hype here has been about how much the war is COSTING the U.S.

Also please explain how US oil companies are benefiting from Iraqs oil when the $$'s from sale of their oil is going directly to Iraqs treasury?

Finally, isn't the price of oil directly determined by SPECULATION IN THE COMMODITY MARKETS ON THE WORLDS SUPPLY & DEMAND OF OIL? If so, then how is it Exxon-Mobils fault that the oil that they produced by spending and risking many, many billions of their sometimes borrowed dollars on a decade ago when prices were low, is worth so much today? Why shouldn't they profit from their risky investments made a decade ago?

Nobody here in the U.S. seemed to care back then about the oil companies (and hundreds of thousands of jobs) that went under in the 80's when the bottom dropped off the prices. We were all warned back then about the dangers of letting our oil campanies fail and losing much of our exploration and prod. capacity go with them. So why do so many people care now?

You know, maybe if ALL of us here in the U.S. including our government tear into our oil companies at the same time, we can run them out of our country for good just like Halliburton! THAT should bring down the cost of gasoline... right? I wonder how many "Carbon Offsets" they would take with them if they did move?

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 5:13 PM PDT

5 week vacation. Loony-toon got us into this shiit for 5 years. Party at George's house?

Reply to this comment

by drummer94 July 30, 2007 5:17 PM PDT

Hey "Ed in Tex" 7%. Yep 7% of oil we have ever gotten from Iraq. But, when you are stealing it, as Buschco has, it's worth what, ? 400 BILLION??? And there it is.

Reply to this comment

by tylenol6 July 30, 2007 5:22 PM PDT

"Iraqi parliament takes a 5 week vacation"

Hey people, they do not really care about our
troops in Iraq. Actually, our own CONGRESS is taking
the month of August off too. Congress dosen't care
either about our men and women dying in Iraq. I wish
we could send all of Congress over to Iraq and fight
this war themselves since they are the ones who want
to keep this war going.

Reply to this comment

by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 5:31 PM PDT

EdinTex,

Re: "Someone please logically explain how the US government is benefiting from the so-called "oil money".

Who said any thing about the US government benefiting from the oil piracy? The winners of the illegal war of aggression against Iraq are the war-profiteers, like Bechtel, Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil, Blackwater, Carlyle Group, etc., and the super-rich investors in these economic-terrorist organizations; many of which make up the corporate elite crooks that infest the Democrat and Republican Parties.

Re: "Also please explain how US oil companies are benefiting from Iraqs oil when the $$'s from sale of their oil is going directly to Iraqs treasury?"

First, the petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobile benefit from the instability created from the illegal war of aggression against Iraq, because it caused a sharp rise in oil prices, thus resulting in record profits, quarter after quarter.

Secondly, with only a puppet government in place, it makes little difference whether or not the oil revenues go into the Iraqi "treasury", since the puppet officials could not care less about the people whom they claim to represent.

Third, the proposed Iraq oil-stealing law places the majority of Iraq's oil wealth under the control of petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobil and BP. Obviously, this runs counter to the interests of the people of Iraq.

Reply to this comment

by feelfree1 July 30, 2007 5:36 PM PDT

Re: "Why shouldn't they profit from their risky investments made a decade ago?"

Why shouldn't they pay the costs of blood and treasure associated with securing these resources, along with the environmental costs, rather than spreading these costs among the general public?

Why can petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobil, afford to compensate for their 18-year-old Valdez disaster, even though they are enjoying record profits?

Oil resources invite a natural monopoly. Why shouldn't these resources be publicly owned?

Reply to this comment

by j4401 July 30, 2007 5:38 PM PDT

To: EdinRex
The answer to your questions in a word would be: Oligarchy

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[usayesterday]

Anything to give the Iraqi people something to cheer about, if even for a few hours, is a good thing.

Absolutely nothing America has done, or the new Iraqi government has done, or the fundamentalists from either side, none of those have given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the near future.

[perception5]

Absolutely nothing America has done, or the new Iraqi government has done, or the fundamentalists from either side, none of those have given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the near future.
Posted by USAyesterday at 06:46 AM : Jul 30, 2007


......Dude, you are such a "downer" even your name is a "downer". You're not a Republican that's for sure.


God willing Iraq will turn out ok and these people of Iraq and live like you USAyesterday...........Free...but it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try........

[cfin5]

Good for them! I was hoping that their team would win. I love to see this kind of underdog story triumph. An earned victory like this can help a suffering people to remember what the dignity of national unity tastes like. I hope to see them put it to those AQ losers next!

[usayesterday]

......Dude, you are such a "downer" even your name is a "downer". You're not a Republican that's for sure.

Posted by perception5 at 07:34 AM : Jul 30, 2007
........................

LOL! LOL!

You are soooo pathetic!

First, being (or not being) a Republican has nothing to do with being a 'downer' (which I am also not). I guess by that statement you are suggesting that Republicans are blissfully ignorant. Well that's fine, which means I'm definitely not a Republican in that respect, and I thank you for not labeling me as such.

Second, my nickname "USAyesterday" is more of a satirical spoof of another very popular news organization. Of course, people can interpret that name for whatever they want, and you have certainly done so.

But mostly, the reality is not always a rosy picture. And by repeating the realities that many others have seen first hand, does not make me a "downer" in any way...

...it just makes me firmly planted in reality, with my eyes, ears, and mind open.

[themurph2000]

But mostly, the reality is not always a rosy picture. And by repeating the realities that many others have seen first hand, does not make me a "downer" in any way...

...it just makes me firmly planted in reality, with my eyes, ears, and mind open.
Posted by USAyesterday at 07:55 AM : Jul 30, 2007

Well, I remember a hockey game from about 27 years ago that didn't get hostages out of Iran, get the (then) USSR out of Afghanistan, but it still made one tremedous difference in our country. Sometimes, all two sides need is something in common to get the ball rolling.

[drummer94]

Light at the end of a very dark tunnel?

[bareemperor]

'Soccer Win Brings Joy To Iraq, For A Day'

Bu$h Failure Brings Death To Iraq, Forever'

[processor2]

Through-out human history, sports has brought peoples together.

hence, the Olympics.

...

[j-whitman]

That was one hell of a tailgate party,, a real killer.

[speakinup]

"I guess " USAyesterday

You should have left your total comment at this.

"Absolutely nothing America has done, or the new Iraqi government has done, or the fundamentalists from either side, none of those have given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the near future." USAyesterday

Instant gratification - that's the Left's mantra.

Absolutely nothing the LEFT has done, has given a glimpse of hope for the Iraqi people in the future.

Hey, great job on the Soccor win, IRAQ !

[drummer94]

j-whit- not funny. went for laugh- didn't get it. speak? You are just sick. The RIGHT got us into this shiit. moron.

[grazinggoat]

God willing Iraq will turn out ok and these people of Iraq and live like you USAyesterday...........Free...but it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try........
Posted by perception5 at 07:34 AM : Jul 30, 2007


p5, Read this

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/30/africa/30iraq.php

-One survey cited in the report, completed in May by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, found that 43 percent of Iraqis live in "absolute poverty," on less than $1 a day.

-You know what p5, shove this freedom up Walking-Liar's azz and his cronies', if this is the price, half of the Iraqis have to pay for.

-Freedom is and should be FREE. It's a free divine right to EVERYONE on Earth. Iraqis are paying to high a price for this.

[drummer94]

I was just catchin' the end of this story, and I saw, WHAT? Court-martial. Some guy named Jesse. Rape? Murder? Thanks to the office of president. The man that skrewed it up? Geez, what have we become? Really, Geez, WHAT have we become? This is definitely not what was envisioned a long time ago--------------America goes, sigh.......

[j-whitman]

perception5,,,, " it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try" -- Young College Republicans refuse to serve thier country in time of urgent need.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Court-martial proceedings were to begin Monday for U.S. Army Spc. Jesse Spielman, charged with knowledge of a plan by fellow soldiers to break into a home and rape and kill a 14-year-old Iraqi girl in March 2006. Prosecutors say he knew of the plan, did nothing to stop it and touched the girl's nude body before the soldiers left, according to military charging documents released at the time of his arrest."

Is that right CBS? They "touched" the girl's body, did they?

The U.S. corporate media coverage of this event is nearly as shameful as the event itself.

These U.S. soldiers reportedly executed this 14-year-old girl's parents, executed her 7-year-old sister, and gang-raped the 14-year-old before executing her as well and setting her corpse on fire, in an effort to cover-up their crimes.

When they were finished, these soldiers stuck around the home, and prepared themselves a chicken dinner.

Who will support these troops? How will you support them?

Can anyone explain to me why he or she would fault the surviving 9-year-old and 11-year-old brothers of this girl, who returned home to discover this grizzly scene, if they choose to hunt down and kill the brutal and illegal invaders of their country?

Can anyone explain to me why the Iraqis don't have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal invasion of their country?

[j-whitman]

Pretty scary future America has,,, Young College Republicans refuse to serve thier nation in time of urgent need --- One of them will eventually run for President ---- We'll end up with another Bush

[drummer94]

Yeah, there is nothing wrong in your country. Go on vacation. I happen to live on a lake. Beautiful. C'mon, we'll talk. Bring the chimp witya. WOW!!!!!

[feelfree1]

Re: "Millions of Iraqis have been forced to flee the violence, either to another part of Iraq or abroad. Many of those are living in dire poverty."

In fact, AFP is reporting that "Almost eight million Iraqis are in need of immediate emergency aid"

www.afp.com/english/news/stories/070730102915.rk0sq72o.html

###

CBS- is it appropriate to burry this information in an irrelevant report about a soccer game?

[ban_islam]

Can anyone explain to me why the Iraqis don't have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal invasion of their country?
Posted by FeelFree1
---

Because they're backwards savages who need to be invaded and destroyed. Happy now you stupid ****?

[roger_inkart]

***? 8 Million of their own citizens are in immediate need of aid and they take off for 5 weeks?

From what I've read, though, this is a government in name only. They hardly even bother show up. My guess is when they do show up it's only to pick up their paychecks - which are at least partially funded by US taxpayers I would guess.

[briannorwood]

I guess it's safe to say that the Iraqi government will be no closer in September to meeting the political benchmarks than they were in July.

And what will General Petraeus have to say then? The "surge" is working? He needs more time?

I say...GAME OVER!

[drummer94]

GET US OUT NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO GETUSOUT NONONONONONONONO ...and ban_islam-? get a GRIP. And grab your ***, George, and punch his lights out. Then take a vacation. I'm thinkin' Vegas.

[rushlimpdrug]

"We were supposed to discuss important issues in the month of July, but we did not." said Mahmoud Othman

God willing Iraq will turn out ok and these people of Iraq and live like you USAyesterday...........Free...but it won't come from people like you who don't even care enough to try........
Posted by perception5

I say we all go on vacation including the iraq parliament, mccain, U.S. congress, everyone except the poor American soldiers -somebody's gotta fight for iraq's democracy.
Let's all go to Vegas!

[j4401]

The Real Reason We're In Iraq

The short answer is "OIL." We went to war with Iraq because an influential group of conservatives convinced President George W. Bush that it was in America's best interests to conquer Iraq as a first step toward dominating the oil-producing nations in the Middle East.
Try as we may, we are not going to turn Iraq into a model democracy. There was no "exit plan" because we never intended to exit. The plan was, and is, to build military bases in Iraq and stay there forever. Our leaders see Iraq as a place to make money. So Bush & Co. have set up their friends to cash in on the rebuilding of Iraq, a job that should be done (for pay) by the people who built it in the first place: Iraqis.
The longer we stay there, the more Iraqi children end up maimed or dead, the more of our young men and women die.
Clearly, our government lied to us, and to the world, to get us into this war. That alone should tell us it's wrong.

[roger_inkart]

So, in the US Joe Six-Pack has to work overtime and/or two jobs to feed his family, gets NO vacation just to pay his bills and taxes...for what? So that these Iraqi government officials can take 5 weeks off on _his_ dime?

That doesn't make sense. But then again, nothing about this war does unless you're a rich, well-connected chickenhawk Republican - or a moron.

[mudrose-2009]

Well at least the soccer team has made progress. Good job, boys. Show that Iraqi Congress that you can form a unity government.

[drummer94]

mormonman1- see "Rafterman" UH, just an aside, uh, this is hard to bring up, but Mormon? Ya know, no power, chains on the kids bike, etc.....T.V, the 'puter? Do what makes ya happy, the repugliscum won't let ya,. THE 'PUTER?

[feelfree1]

How ironic that Americans would attempt to blame the illegitimate puppet-leaders of Iraq for taking time off, just as the very people that enebled and complied with this messy and disgraceful debacle, prepare for a vacation.

Who would Jesus blame?

Gee whiz! The Iraqi oil-stealing law, designed to hand the bulk of Iraq's oil wealth to multi-national petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobil and BP, did not get passed by the puppet leaders of Iraq.

And CBS describes this "oil (stealing) law", as "intended to ensure a fair distribution of Iraq's considerable oil wealth."

Intended to "distribute" the oil "fairly" to whom?

The very same petro-terrorists that are profiting so handsomely from the criminal debacle in Iraq?

What pathetic and misleading pseudo-journalism. CBS should have their corporate charter revoked. They are surely not serving the interstates of the U.S. public.

[drummer94]

Hi ya rush. We're thinking May 2008. Never been to sin city. We'll work on this.

[rushlimpdrug]

unlike iraq,
what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

[feelfree1]

Re: "designed to promote national unity and stem support for the Sunni-led insurgency."

Really? does the U.S. backing of Shiite death-sqauds and the more recent U.S. arming of Sunni militias also help in this effort? Will the additional $30 billion U.S. tax funded welfare payments to the rogue terror-Stae of Israel improve the situation somehow?

"Sunni-led insurgency"? Wasn't CBS and the other Western poopaganda parrots implying that ALL of the armed resistance in Iraq was coming from the imaginary "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" group, only a couple of weeks ago?

Could it be, instead, that the people of Iraq are not happy with the brutal and illegal invasion of their country? That the imprisonment, torture, rape, and murder of their friends and family at the hands of U.S. agents, is distracting them from their dancing and flower-throwing duties?

[randalds]

"Iraqi Parliament Takes Five (Weeks)"

Sure, why not. I mean their vacation is being paid for in American troops blood, but since Bush and Cheney never gave a sh*it about our troops lives or deaths, then why should their puppet Iraqi government? Looks like they learned the most important lesson Bush had to teach them already. When all else fails, go on vacation.

[tbweb]

The U.S. should have imposed a Government solution on the Iraqi's after the Iraq victory and let them negotiate changes to it, allowing them to set up a Government from scratch has proven to be a joke, just like this 5 week vacation which amounts to MOONING the U.S. effort and dishonoring our war dead with their obvious lack of seriousness.

[j4401]

I think that CBS and other media outlets are letting us all down by not properly investigating the facts about this "war." Its all about the oil money. Its about time our news sources perform appropriate investigative reporting. Can CBS pull Mr. Cronkite out of retirement?

[feelfree1]

Following the Bush regime failure to complete the installation a compliant puppet-dictator like Chalabi or Allawi, the best that they could manage was a sham election of U.S. pseudo-puppets, calling them the "new" Iraqi government, empowered under the absurd, U.S. crafted Iraqi "constitution".

Now, with their oil-stealing law in jeopardy, and their "al-Qaeda-in-Iraq" ruse being increasingly exposed as a contrived hoax, the Bush terror network has little choice but to blame the "Iraqi" puppet-leaders for their own crimes and incompetence.

What a sick, sad, joke.

Behold the decline of the *** Bush League terror empire!

[roach9703]

Me think that Iraq congress says, " ... bleep thyself U.S.A. colonial masters..."
We better find to a way to cope with country that is about fall apart. FAST

[roach9703]

Ainttakine at at 2:26PM at PAGE TWO BLOG
GREAT COMMENTARY!

[myidoncbs]

When the CIA warned Bush, "Bin Laden determined to attack US", Bush continued his vacation, tending to the oh-so-very-important task of clearing brush on his ranch-- so why should the Iraqi puppets cancel their vacation?

[randalds]

When the CIA warned Bush, "Bin Laden determined to attack US", Bush continued his vacation, tending to the oh-so-very-important task of clearing brush on his ranch-- so why should the Iraqi puppets cancel their vacation?
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 04:37 PM : Jul 30, 2007

Oh and I just LOVE his phony movie-set ranch. They even had old out buildings and tool sheds from other real ranches taken down and re-assembled on his "ranch" so there'd be a good backdrop for TV reporters to stand in front of when doing their feeds. The one they always stand in front of even has a broken wooden wagon wheel leaning against it and no one ever seems to ask what a wooden wagon wheel is doing on a "ranch" that was built in 1999! LOL!

[rushlimpdrug]

"Iraqi Parliament Takes Five (Weeks)"

Five weeks!
Where can these people go on a camel for five weeks?

[drummer94]

Oh man, lmao rush. On a camel.....hohohohoho good one.

[cdfoxtrot]

I guess Bushie is taking all of August off, for yet another holiday, as he seems to do every year. So why not the Iraqi parliament? At least they are taking Bush's lead on SOMETHING.

[soldat44]

Obviously the Iraqis do not take the 'parliament' stuff seriously.

Once again, there are NO Arab Democracies. This one is no different.

Time to re-focus on Afganistan and get the towel-headed sob.

[edintex]

Someone please logically explain how the US government is benefiting from the so-called "oil money". It seems to me that the big hype here has been about how much the war is COSTING the U.S.

Also please explain how US oil companies are benefiting from Iraqs oil when the $$'s from sale of their oil is going directly to Iraqs treasury?

Finally, isn't the price of oil directly determined by SPECULATION IN THE COMMODITY MARKETS ON THE WORLDS SUPPLY & DEMAND OF OIL? If so, then how is it Exxon-Mobils fault that the oil that they produced by spending and risking many, many billions of their sometimes borrowed dollars on a decade ago when prices were low, is worth so much today? Why shouldn't they profit from their risky investments made a decade ago?

Nobody here in the U.S. seemed to care back then about the oil companies (and hundreds of thousands of jobs) that went under in the 80's when the bottom dropped off the prices. We were all warned back then about the dangers of letting our oil campanies fail and losing much of our exploration and prod. capacity go with them. So why do so many people care now?

You know, maybe if ALL of us here in the U.S. including our government tear into our oil companies at the same time, we can run them out of our country for good just like Halliburton! THAT should bring down the cost of gasoline... right? I wonder how many "Carbon Offsets" they would take with them if they did move?

[drummer94]

5 week vacation. Loony-toon got us into this shiit for 5 years. Party at George's house?

[drummer94]

Hey "Ed in Tex" 7%. Yep 7% of oil we have ever gotten from Iraq. But, when you are stealing it, as Buschco has, it's worth what, ? 400 BILLION??? And there it is.

[tylenol6]

"Iraqi parliament takes a 5 week vacation"

Hey people, they do not really care about our
troops in Iraq. Actually, our own CONGRESS is taking
the month of August off too. Congress dosen't care
either about our men and women dying in Iraq. I wish
we could send all of Congress over to Iraq and fight
this war themselves since they are the ones who want
to keep this war going.

[feelfree1]

EdinTex,

Re: "Someone please logically explain how the US government is benefiting from the so-called "oil money".

Who said any thing about the US government benefiting from the oil piracy? The winners of the illegal war of aggression against Iraq are the war-profiteers, like Bechtel, Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil, Blackwater, Carlyle Group, etc., and the super-rich investors in these economic-terrorist organizations; many of which make up the corporate elite crooks that infest the Democrat and Republican Parties.

Re: "Also please explain how US oil companies are benefiting from Iraqs oil when the $$'s from sale of their oil is going directly to Iraqs treasury?"

First, the petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobile benefit from the instability created from the illegal war of aggression against Iraq, because it caused a sharp rise in oil prices, thus resulting in record profits, quarter after quarter.

Secondly, with only a puppet government in place, it makes little difference whether or not the oil revenues go into the Iraqi "treasury", since the puppet officials could not care less about the people whom they claim to represent.

Third, the proposed Iraq oil-stealing law places the majority of Iraq's oil wealth under the control of petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobil and BP. Obviously, this runs counter to the interests of the people of Iraq.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Why shouldn't they profit from their risky investments made a decade ago?"

Why shouldn't they pay the costs of blood and treasure associated with securing these resources, along with the environmental costs, rather than spreading these costs among the general public?

Why can petro-terrorist organizations like Exxon-Mobil, afford to compensate for their 18-year-old Valdez disaster, even though they are enjoying record profits?

Oil resources invite a natural monopoly. Why shouldn't these resources be publicly owned?

[j4401]

To: EdinRex
The answer to your questions in a word would be: Oligarchy