WASHINGTON, Mar. 23, 2008
Senator: U.S. Needs "A Path Out Of Iraq"
Democrat Jack Reed Says Iraqi Government Will Not Move Forward Without A Timetable For U.S. Withdrawal
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Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., says the U.S. needs to implement a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq or else the Iraqi government will never settle their internal differences because, with the U.S. there, "they don't have to make these tough political decisions." (CBS)
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Progress In Iraq?
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) speak with Chip Reid about their conflicting views of the current state of Iraq, in the wake of the fifth anniversary of the U.S. war there.
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Appearing on CBS' Face The Nation, the Senate Armed Services Committee member said that while the timetable of a U.S. pullout of troops would depend on conditions on the ground, it would have to be instituted as policy. "And it has to be something that doesn't start and stop, it has to go forward," he said.
Reed said that the Iraqi government has failed in implementing policies that move that country closer to reconciliation, a stated reason for President Bush to have increased the United States' military presence in Iraq in the first place. Not having a timetable for withdrawal, Reed said, means the Iraqis feel "they have as much time as they need because our forces are there."
Reed took a swipe at the presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain when he said, "Proponents who say they want to keep [our troops] there for 100 years just reinforce the notion in Baghdad that they don't have to make these tough political decisions.
"This is a situation ultimately that has to be won by the Iraqis - not by the United States, not by our troops, but by political decisions the Iraqi government has to make," Reed said. "The longer they feel we will take the lead, the longer they feel that we are going to be there indefinitely - and when you talk about 100 years, even if it's symbolic - that sends the message, 'You don't have to do anything that's tough, the tough things we'll do.'
"That's the wrong message."
Also on the program, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a fellow member of the Armed Service Committee, said that the troop "surge" has reduced violence in Iraq and therefore a withdrawal as suggested by both Democratic presidential candidates would be "a complete disaster.
"I've been on your show many times talking about the Rumsfeld strategy failing. We've finally got it right," Graham said. "By adding additional combat power, we've given the Iraqis a chance to turn their country around. And the biggest news of all from the surge is that Iraqi Muslims have turned on al Qaeda. The biggest loser of the surge is al Qaeda in Iraq. They've got their brains pounded out."
Also appearing on the program were columnist Ana Marie Cox of Time.com, Doyle McManus, the Washington bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, and Roger Simon, chief political columnist for Politico.
Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.
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See all 178 CommentsLet''s hear it.
Perhaps Hillary can pay more attention to it than Bill, who directed a cruise missile strike on the day his impeachment hearings started.
The next day there was no cruise missile strike. Bill''s attention had shifted again.
For 8 more years of that, Hillary has a lot of gall to ask.
Not to mention the gratuitous reference to Bill Richardson as "Judas" by her mouthpiece / surrogate Carville, one of the head architects of Clinton sleaze.
HOW ABOUT NOT GIVING BUSHIT AND CHENEY A BLANK CHECK LIKE YOU HAVE FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS!
IF YOU LIKE THE MIDDLE EAST SO MUCH GO LIVE IN ISRAEL!
AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!
Iraq is once again revealed as a political fiction, and now effectively partitioned into Sunni, Kurd and Shia areas. Originally, "Iraq" was created for the administrative convenience of European powers after WWI. Today, it is maintained as a front for imperialist American occupation of an oil-rich country.
But leaving American and other outsiders where they belong-- outside-- what of the "Iraqis" themselves? Surrounded by armed and hostile states, there could not be a more untenable proposition for peace than to continue the pretense of a viable, independent and integrated Iraq.
When Iran finally takes control of the Shia areas is not an issue, but rather, how long Washington will struggle to maintain the fiction that American presence is pledged for the next 100 years. The way out of Iraq is the same way America went in-- to drop the fraudulent notion America somehow could "liberate" Iraq from itself. The argument we must continue with a debacle to avoid making it into a defeat is a mockery of both semantics and truth, itself.
We MUST Get OUT of IRAQ !
Our Country`s Future is at stake!
BUSH has DESTROYED the USA!
How many more Americans have to die before we impeach the Liar-in-Chief!
935 LIES
4000 DEAD AMERICANS BECAUSE OF THOSE LIES!
IMPEACH THE LIAR!
The core dilemma is not that Bush failed in Iraq and everyone knows it-- the ultimate problem is Bush pursues his political destiny with a deep disdain for the beliefs and standards which make us American. This "self-made man" believes, instead, in power for the sake of power. Bush learned early that merit has
no necessary connection with political success. His choice of Karl Rove as political advisor embodies that attitude-- Rove is disciple to Donald Segretti, Nixon''s own "Dirty Tricks" chief.
We have only months left with Bush lurking about our political landscape. Our earnest wish should be that America confronts nothing worse than the perils of gridlock-- and hope that in moments of crisis, congress provides the voice and leadership
we have missed for so long.
Without direct knowledge of what personally concerns
Bush on a daily basis, our concern should approach what Kissinger later expressed about Nixon, during the days Nixon brooded on the prospect of his own resignation.
Watching Nixon under such pressure, Kissinger was
genuinely and deeply worried about Nixon''s mental stability.
Whatever chemistry drives Bush, his relative lack of patience with detailed analysis, his preference for dramatic, sweeping gestures, and a thorough unfamiliarity with (and contempt for) the international community makes him a very unstable,
dangerous politician.
As isolation compounds his volatility, and led by self-confessed guidance from a "higher power",
Bush is threat to the nation, if not also to himself.
(see Bush-- Phantom of the White House-- 3 )
The most worrisome aspect of Bush alone is the lack
of any restraints on the powers he retains, which are still considerable. A lame duck president still has the powers and prerogatives of his office, and need not use the ever-present nuclear "football" to wield a very heavy stick as commander-in-chief.
This has implications ranging from another "super-surge" of troops for Iraq, to cross-border forays into Syria and/or Iran, to actual attack on Iran. The announcement of a troop surge in the face of Democratic objections not only formally began gridlock, last year, but some serious infighting
between Bush and congress.
(see Bush-- Phantom of the White House-- 2)
The most worrisome aspect of Bush alone is the lack
of any restraints on the powers he retains, which are still considerable. A lame duck president still has the powers and prerogatives of his office, and need not use the ever-present nuclear "football" to wield a very heavy stick as commander-in-chief.
This has implications ranging from another "super-surge" of troops for Iraq, to cross-border forays into Syria and/or Iran, to actual attack on Iran. The announcement of a troop surge in the face of Democratic objections not only formally began gridlock, last year, but some serious infighting
between Bush and congress.
(see Bush-- Phantom of the White House-- 2)
you must be crazy!
We are going into Iran.
If the Russians complain we will go into Russia
China is after that.
Dont ***** with us world"
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Too late, "ainttaken"-- you are already repossessed.
It''s not the increased number of soldiers that resulted in any temporary down tick in violence, but the enemy waiting us out!
And that''s all it is, a temporary situation, it looks like some of them are getting tired of waiting it out and are coming back to fight!
Mr. Graham has put his own reputation at stake since totally committing to the Iraq war. He''s already made himself look like a fool by being part of that group who claimed you can ''walk down Baghdad streets'' unmolested---while he was surrounded by the Army!
Unbelievable!
Now, he claims it would be a mistake to leave?! Are you kidding, ME?! The MISTAKE is that we have stupidly stayed there THIS LONG, people! Starting into the SIXTH year?!
He doesn''t care about our troops, he''s more concerned about his reputation! He''s a 21st century scoundrel, that''s all!
By their standards, we lost the Korean War and WWII.
AND WWI.
AND the Spanish-American War.
Heck, they should capitulate and turn America over to Great Britain because we even lost the war for American independence by their standards. It took years and was a quagmire!
Dumb-arsed Democrap idiots.
How many American troops were killed in the four countries he cites in, oh, say the last two months?
And what about the trade we have going on in those countries?
And how many churches in those countries feature clerics who routinely state that killing Americans is not a sin?
For ignorant, un-American trash like demwatcher, things that are only vaguely related to one another become carbon copies in order to support his breath-takingly illogical statements.
If terrorists come, people like demwatcher swallow.
- Posted by DemWatcher at 06:22 PM : Mar 23, 2008
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In Italy alone, thousands of American troops have been killed in combat just in the last year.
The MSM won"t tell you about that, but it"s true.
They hate us over there and want us out.
DemWatcher, that was sarcasm. I happen to know you"re an imbecile, so I thought I"d point that out.
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
For the Anti-war people, I understand your pain and share in it. But is it wise to pull out immediately without finishing the job, just to go back 5 years later. I think it makes since to have bases in Iraq. Hopefully the troops will be coming home soon. We need to get tough with IRAQ and tell those leaders to shape up. I think we should scale back a little but have strong presence there. I beleive Iraq will be just another base in the world thats there to keep america and its allies safe.
If anyone doubts the ferocity of radical Islam and the terror it presents let me give you a window into reality, this is only a week.
3/22/2008 Pakistan Hangu 4 25 Sectarian strife between rival mosques leaves four dead.
3/22/2008 Afghanistan Kunar 1 0 A civilian is brutally murdered by Sunni extremists.
3/22/2008 Afghanistan Jawzjan 1 0 A district chief is stabbed to death by religious extremists.
3/21/2008 India Kupwara 1 0 A 40-year-old man is dragged out of his home by Mujahideen, who then slash his throat.
3/21/2008 Afghanistan Kanduz 1 0 A local cop is gunned down by the Taliban.
3/21/2008 Iraq Mosul 1 0 Holy warriors kidnap and decapitate a civilian.
By their standards, we lost the Korean War and WWII.
AND WWI.
AND the Spanish-American War.
Heck, they should capitulate and turn America over to Great Britain because we even lost the war for American independence by their standards. It took years and was a quagmire!
Dumb-arsed Democrap idiots.
Posted by DemWatcher
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This has NOTHING to do with winning the war...the ''war'' itself is over. Even the President has stated "mission accomplished" and the like. What we''re looking at now is "occupation." Why do we need 250,000 troops and support personnel in Iraq if Iraq''s government doesn''t do diddley poo? We''re serving as the proxy government....and that is NOT good for our international relations in that region or for what we call "democracy in the Middle East."
- Posted by obama8years at 06:30 PM : Mar 23, 2008
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Empty talk.
Only a deadline for U.S. troop withdrawals would have that effect on them.
It"s the only thing that works in this life, to get difficult tasks done.
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Who the h*ell are we to be policing the Middle East ?
Some of our own cities are hellholes of violence.
I don"t know what agenda you"re trying to sell here, but it isn"t an American one.
3/16/2008 Philippines Jolo 1 0 A gay man is stabbed and clubbed to death by suspected fundamentalists
Yep, it''s all about Iraq and...
India and the Sudan and Algeria and Afghanistan and New York and Pakistan and Israel and Russia and Chechnya and the Philippines and Indonesia and Nigeria and England and Thailand and Spain and Egypt and Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and Ingushetia and Dagestan and Turkey and Kabardino-Balkaria and Morocco and Yemen and Lebanon and France and Uzbekistan and Gaza and Tunisia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Mauritania and Kenya and Eritrea and Syria and Somalia and California and Argentina and Kuwait and Virginia and Ethiopia and Iran and Jordan and United Arab Emirates and Louisiana and Texas and Tanzania and Germany and Australia and Pennsylvania and Belgium and Denmark and East Timor and Qatar and Maryland and Tajikistan and the Netherlands and Scotland and Chad and Canada and China and Nepal
and the Maldives and...
Posted by timdgrim at 04:39 PM : Mar 23, 2008,,,
U.S. Hawks like Donald Rumsfeld who still has a desk at the Pentagon by the way thinks its better for U.S. Forces to be deployed in Iraq getting valuable training than sitting in a barracks doing nothing! That kind of thinking is out there too! Get use to it! Ironically the Russians and Chinese don''t like the U.S. in Iraq for that reason too, thinking the U.S. is gaining an unfair training advantage that will serve the U.S. well in future conflicts. Maybe thats why China has a heavy handed approach in Tibet, training for Taiwan!
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Who the h*ell are we to be policing the Middle East ?
Some of our own cities are hellholes of violence.
I don"t know what agenda you"re trying to sell here, but it isn"t an American one.
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Its not an AMERICAN ONE! TWIN TOWERS, PENTAGON, AND PROMISES OF NUCLUER AND BIOLOGICAL ANILATION, Dont know what world your living in????
Yep, it''''s all about Iraq and...
India and the Sudan and Algeria and Afghanistan and New York and Pakistan and Israel and Russia and Chechnya and the Philippines and Indonesia and Nigeria and England and Thailand and Spain and Egypt and Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and Ingushetia and Dagestan and Turkey and Kabardino-Balkaria and Morocco and Yemen and Lebanon and France and Uzbekistan and Gaza and Tunisia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Mauritania and Kenya and Eritrea and Syria and Somalia and California and Argentina and Kuwait and Virginia and Ethiopia and Iran and Jordan and United Arab Emirates and Louisiana and Texas and Tanzania and Germany and Australia and Pennsylvania and Belgium and Denmark and East Timor and Qatar and Maryland and Tajikistan and the Netherlands and Scotland and Chad and Canada and China and Nepal
and the Maldives and...
Posted by obama8years
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Quit copying and pasting right-wing, anti-Islam *** from online....saw this 5 days ago.....If you actually have intelligent thoughts, share some of your own please!
59% Want Troops Home from Iraq Within a Year
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 59% of Americans would like to see U.S. troops brought home from Iraq within a year. That number is down four points from two weeks ago and two points from four weeks ago. Over the last twenty-three weeks, the number wanting troops home within a year has ranged from a low of 57% to a high of 64%.
Twenty-three percent (23%) now want the troops brought home immediately. That number is down six points from the last survey.
Looking at the other end of the spectrum, 35% want troops to remain in Iraq until the mission is complete. That is up three points from two weeks ago. The number of Americans who want the troops to remain and finish the mission has ranged from 32% to 39% since tracking began."
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/the_war_in_iraq/iraq_troop_withdrawal
Prove you"re a good friend of America. Go fight those Muslims for us.
We"ll hold your coats and cheer you on.
Prove you"re a good friend of America. Go fight those Muslims for us.
We"ll hold your coats and cheer you on.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
I dont have to go very far, upstate NY has a Islamic Militant Camp, that the FBI knows about , but cannot do anything because of our Freedoms here.
- Posted by obama8years at 06:48 PM : Mar 23, 2008
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I"m not sure about NUCLUER ANILATION, but I think you"d best go back to copy-pasting until your English improves.
By the way, how"s the weather over there ?
We could get hit with ANILATION any day now.)
George Idiot Bush has had 5 long years to sell that idea, and he has failed.
He isn"t going to turn that around in the months he has left.
Clinton also kept us safe from Islamic terrorist attacks on American soil after the World Trade Center was attacked weeks after he took office.
It isn"t even logical to suppose that wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could prevent a small team of terrorists from Saudi Arabia and Egypt from slipping across the Mexican border and hitting us again.
nukes missing
"Official: Enough Material Missing From Russia to Build a Nuke
Nation"s Top Intelligence Officials Offer Grim Threat Assessment
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2005"
--------------------------------
Missing nuclear material, not missing nukes.
Old story.
Interesting, but America has neither the troops nor the resources to occupy the entire Third World and make it 100% safe and risk-free.
To sit around obsessing about every imaginable risk, and to demand that the Federal Government in Washington DC solve everybody"s problems, just isn"t realistic.
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Nope, not yet. Your Bushbot partners just left.
That quote from McCain in 1993 is amazing......What a hypocrit!! You should get that baby back on here so obama8years sees it and goes away quietly into the night! Keep it up!
and than let''s just walk the fuuck out of that
*** country and leave those poor people be
CBS reports Sen. Lindsey Graham, said, "(withdrawal) would be "a complete disaster..."I''ve been on your show many times talking about the Rumsfeld strategy failing. We''ve finally got it right," Graham said.
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Before Iraq, Gen. Erik Shinseki warned congress that several hundred thousand US troops would be required for Iraq occupation. Where was Graham''s voice, then? Rumsfeld forced Shinseki into retirement for his candor to congress, and perhaps Rumsfeld''s ego accounts for his own steadfast refusal to raise troop levels for the next four years..
Even so, to garrison Baghdad has not ended attacks, but reduced them. And how long will stacking garrisons around Baghdad work, when the rest of the country is the Wild West? For Graham to say, "We''ve finally got it right" is to argue we are not hemorrhaging, merely bleeding profusely, both in casualties and fiscally.
For the most critical question of all, look at the enormous damage to the national economy Bush did with Iraq. The Iraq war is not a stimulus, but a net drain that Joseph Stiglitz, Columbia University economist, testified to congress might reach $3 trillion. And the economic "downturn"-- once the total damages from the housing bubble is added-- could be the greatest since the Great Depression.
"We''ve finally got it right," is laughably disingenuous, even from Sen. Graham.
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