Iraq Progress Could Be Major '08 Factor

Politico: The Candidates Are Even More Polarized After Petraeus' Testimony

(The Politico) 
It’s a distinction that does not seem to have gained traction within the Democratic Party’s debate, however. That’s in part because of the messenger: Richardson has been mocked as a “buffoon” on some blogs that are central to the anti-war left that could help carry his message.

The candidate with perhaps the most to gain from the Petraeus/Crocker report is Arizona Sen. John McCain, who issued a statement Monday calling the MoveOn.org ad a “McCarthyite attack.”

McCain has been a vocal backer of the surge policy and has pushed for a larger troop footprint in Iraq for years.

Now McCain is trying to “triangulate” the issue. After taking a beating for opposing his party’s base on immigration reform, he wants credit from true believers on Iraq. But he’s also creating space among independent-leaning voters dissatisfied with Bush by making clear that he - and only he - is among the Republican candidates who criticized the administration for its war policy in the early-going of the conflict.

In New Hampshire last week, McCain said he would lead the fight for the surge in the Senate while at the same time branding Donald Rumsfeld “one of the worst secretaries of Defense in the history of this country.”

Romney, meanwhile, has been taking an opposite strategic tack: subtly seeming to give himself an escape path should the surge turn into disaster.

At last week’s New Hampshire debate, he continued with his wait-and-see rhetoric on the surge only to have McCain slap him down (“Governor, the surge is working”). Of all the GOP hopefuls, Romney has been the most restrained in his support for the policy. He’s long said that it has just a “reasonable” chance for success, and he said at the debate - in the comment that McCain pounced on - that it was “apparently” working.

But not wanting to anger a party base that is hungering for success in Iraq (and anywhere, really), Romney has sought to shift the issue onto more comfortable turf and has done some triangulating of his own so as not to be labeled insufficiently hawkish by McCain or anybody else.

“Some of these guys are so anxious to declare defeat that they’re not willing to look at the data,” Romney said of Democrats to a group of Iowa Republicans on Saturday. Their language is “dispiriting, disgraceful [and] obviously discouraging to our troops.”

When asked specifically about the troop buildup, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has echoed Romney’s strategy of minimizing his identification with the specific policy before pivoting toward an attack of Democrats for not supporting the troops.

“The surge appears to be having - and this again comes from even people who are opponents of it - appears to be having success,” Giuliani said on the Laura Ingraham radio show late last month, before noting that the opposition party is pushing “pessimism and defeatism.”

In a statement released Monday, it was much the same.

“The Democrats and MoveOn.org are doing a disservice to Iraq’s long-term future by jumping to political conclusions,” Giuliani said. “These times call for statesmen, not political rhetoric.”

[donnie900]

The new democratic nominee should consider working with the UN to get a UN/US sponsored world court going on.. Some kind of a Geneva Convention like Constitutional affair, specifically targeting not so much individuals, but corporations and their international ventures.. their elephant hunts. And especially media conglomerates.. who hide in overly complicated conspiracy the simple fact that everything is ruled by greed. From your toothpaste, all the way to the President.

[donnie900]

The new democratic nominee should consider working with the UN to get a UN/US sponsored world court going on.. Some kind of a Geneva Convention like Constitutional affair, specifically targeting not so much individuals, but corporations and their international ventures.. their elephant hunts. And especially media conglomerates.. who hide in overly complicated conspiracy the simple fact that everything is ruled by greed. From your toothpaste, all the way to the President.

[donnie900]

The new democratic nominee should consider working with the UN to get a UN/US sponsored world court going on.. Some kind of a Geneva Convention like Constitutional affair, specifically targeting not so much individuals, but corporations and their international ventures.. their elephant hunts. And especially media conglomerates.. who hide in overly complicated conspiracy the simple fact that everything is ruled by greed. From your toothpaste, all the way to the President.

[donnie900]

Its a business perfectly suited to the cowboy and the new frontier.. this.. international raping of the land of its resources for foreign interests. And everybody''s in on it! The defense industry? The insurance industry? The banks? Big governments? And stuck under the bullie''s straddle, is the little tiny country like Iraq, and Afghanistan.. who find themselves nationally robbed of national rights afforded only those in charge of the media.

There''s only one thing that can tame international corporations.. and thats a world court.

[donnie900]

Its a business perfectly suited to the cowboy and the new frontier.. this.. international raping of the land of its resources for foreign interests. And everybody''s in on it! The defense industry? The insurance industry? The banks? Big governments? And stuck under the bullie''s straddle, is the little tiny country like Iraq, and Afghanistan.. who find themselves nationally robbed of national rights afforded only those in charge of the media.

There''s only one thing that can tame international corporations.. and thats a world court.

[donnie900]

Well, no doubt about it: The banks find terrorism profitable. I used to work in security (just a guard though), and what was once just a profession for x-cops is now a big lucrative international insurance scheme. Protection for the big international corporations that want to invade foreign territories for their natural resources, and their women. I wouldn''t be surprised if this rich high-ups had a lucrative sexxxx-trade operation going on, on the side. Rich people get weird perversions.. Probably something paralleling the slave trade.. knowing these weirdo toga wearers.

[skyk-2009]

Since the end of the year is fast approaching, how about we send a message: We (as free Americans) have decided NOT to file our taxes until our troops come home. Republicans and Democrats alike would be chartering private planes to bring them home! After all, WE ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR THE WAR, AND FUNDING THE POLITICIANS PAYCHECKS! Talk about a "Boston Tea Party"!
Posted by CitizenUSA at 03:12 PM : Sep 11, 2007

Man I like this!! I''m with you!! EVERY American should be with this Idea. We wouldn''t have to go long...maybe pay a penality but it would be well worth it. Talk about bringing a Fascist Government to it''s knees! YOU are on to something so lets spread the message.

[skyk-2009]

It is absolutely amazing sometimes how little some know about the American People. I know of NO ONE who thinks Iraq is going well, even some think the "surge" is helping with security in some area''s. This is a very sad War in that it violates EVERYTHING American''s have stood for in it''s history. Up until the Fascist took over our Government, America always believed that we should not meddle in other nation''s affairs UNLESS or UNTIL they became a threat to us. It''s sad to see us become an aggressor nation and occupying an innocent nation who''s people want to kill us. Some, a very few, think something good can come out of this. History tells us different.

[pepperp1]

17 Republican Senators must vote with the American People and Dems to change the mission without them the same failed course will continue and our soldiers will continued to be killed needlessly, recklessly.


Call your Senator and Representative demand a change in mission for our troops that all but Petraeus and Bush have called for.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House




And now we learn of the betrayal that is the Bush dog and pony political stunt


A separate internal report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will %u201Cdiffer substantially%u201D from Petraeus recommendations.


The Pentagon will %u201Crecommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.%u201D The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts.


28 Soldiers dead in 6 days since Bush declared we are kicking arse in IRAQ.

But would their deaths be counted in the new Escalation math proabably not......

[ioweign]

%u201CThe governor has been clear that he supports the surge and that he thinks that it%u2019s working,%u201D said Kevin Madden, a spokesman for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who just last week called the war %u201Ca mess.%u201D

Hmmm, then donate a son !!

[lars008-2009]

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. John Stuart Mill

It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it. Robert E. Lee

A self-respecting nation is ready for anything, including war, except for a renunciation of its option to make war. Simone Weil

If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. Thomas Paine

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realise that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. Winston Churchill

One ought never to turn one''s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Winston Churchill

[lars008-2009]

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. Ben Franklin

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Ben Franklin

We make war that we may live in peace. Aristotle

It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war. John F. Kennedy

There''s a graveyard in northern France where all the dead boys from D-Day are buried. The white crosses reach from one horizon to the other. I remember looking it over and thinking it was a forest of graves. But the rows were like this, dizzying, diagonal, perfectly straight, so after all it wasn''t a forest but an orchard of graves. Nothing to do with nature, unless you count human nature. Barbara Kingsolver

They have not wanted Peace at all; they have wanted to be spared war -- as though the absence of war was the same as peace. Dorothy Thompson

There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy. George Washington

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. John Adams

[lars008-2009]

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry

USA''s PLEDGE 2 THE WORLD GIVEN BY JFK!!

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1961

One ought never to turn one''s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Winston Churchill

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein

[pepperp1]

You are being lied to again by Bush and his lackeys, Bush is not listening to the Generals, that is false, he is listening to one who agrees and parrots his words his political agenda.

A separate internal report is being prepared by a Pentagon working group will %u201Cdiffer substantially%u201D from Petraeus%u2019s recommendations,


The Pentagon will %u201Crecommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.%u201D The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts.




Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops to change the mission.



CHOOSE LIFE FOR OUR TROOPS call your Senator and tell him 5 years later, 4,000 dead, 34,000 wounded, tens of thousands of Iraqi dead, and 2 Trillion is too much CHANGE THE MISSION.



28 Soldiers dead in 6 days since Bush declared we are kicking arse in IRAQ. Are soldiers are not to be sacrificed for there political stunts.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[lars008-2009]

Franklin D. Roosevelt''s Infamy Speech
December 8, 1941/September 12, 2001
The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

[pepperp1]

A separate internal report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will %u201Cdiffer substantially%u201D from Petraeus%u2019s recommendations,


The Pentagon will %u201Crecommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there.%u201D The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts.



Do not be distracted the facts are simple the math just as simple, the guilty sacrificing our soldiers and their lives unnecessary are the Republicans in the Senate Bush and Petraeus can not keep our troops in Iraq if 17 Republican Senators switch their vote for America and our Troops so they may come home and live long lives with their families.





Call your Senator tell them you will not accept their hiding behind this stunt and to execute the will of the people not a perverted Political Party agenda. WE the People GOVERN this country not the Republicans who are holding our soldiers hostage in Iraq.

[phone] for the Senate, and [phone] for the House

[lars008-2009]

Posted by CitizenUSA at 03:12 PM : Sep 11, 2007

hahahaha

the war is legal demonic-rat hero al bore says so...

the resumption of hostilities was only a matter of time since iraq broke the ceasefire agreement.....

blame saddam for iraq%u2026%u2026. Even clintoon and the dems wanted the resumption of hostilities back in 1998

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq''s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

Moreover, no international law can prevent the United States from taking actions to protect its vital interests, when it is manifestly clear that there is a choice to be made between law and survival. I believe, however, that such a choice is not presented in the case of Iraq. Indeed, should we decide to proceed, that action can be justified within the framework of international law rather than outside it. In fact, though a new UN resolution may be helpful in building international consensus, the existing resolutions from 1991 are sufficient from a legal standpoint. - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

[citizenusa-2009]

Since the end of the year is fast approaching, how about we send a message: We (as free Americans) have decided NOT to file our taxes until our troops come home. Republicans and Democrats alike would be chartering private planes to bring them home! After all, WE ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR THE WAR, AND FUNDING THE POLITICIANS PAYCHECKS! Talk about a "Boston Tea Party"!

[lars008-2009]

VOTE FOR JEFFERSON%u2026 VOTE GOP%u2026

dnc are like john adams and want to give the jihadist their lunch money hoping they will leave us alone....

gop are like thomas jefferson and want to spend their lunch money on weapons and go kick the jihadists in their arses.....

What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli''s envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
muslim justifies slavery and piracy%u2026
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6bdec278-6a71-4436-bc4d-29d1c54b0ad7
MUSLIM PIRATES STRIKE AGAIN
http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/2005/06/muslim-pirates-strike-again.html

[rushlimpdrug]

lars008 - get the dilldoo out of your ear and you may hear this is 2007 and bush is president.