July 08, 2007 05:20 PM
Harry Reid: No one is calling for a precipitous withdrawal in Iraq
Harry Reid was doing a presser with Sen. Jim Webb on his legislation that will limit how quickly the Bush administration can send troops back into combat after they have returned home from Iraq or Afghanistan. When asked about the possible negative consequences about pulling out of Iraq, he replied:
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Reid: Feingold/Reid called for American troops to remain in Iraq to do counter-terrorsim...to protect our assets in Iraq. To train the Iraqis. There are estimates that that would still leave tens of thousands of troops to stay in Iraq. No one is calling for precipitous withdrawal in Iraq. No one...
There you go...What kind of change in policy is he talking about?
Actually someone is calling for a precipitous withdrawl of American troops from Iraq: ME! The more precipitous, the better.
why not leave now?
Reich-wingers believe leaving troops in harms way is "supporting" the military. What twits.
Um.....hello. I sure as hell am. Get 'em out. Now!
All of them. We'll do less damage by completely leaving Iraq now than we did by going in there in the first place.
WR @ 2:
t-bone @ 1:
I third it
No one? Not even the people?
Harry Reid, you're part of the problem if you're not part of the solution.
Guess what?
You are part of the problem.
Impeach the Chimp.
I guess they're still afraid of FOX news...a precipitous withdrawal? No! God, no!
How I wish they would just turn of the news and get on with things.
Harry, lots of us are calling for a precipitate withdrawal.
Wow, what a powerful orator. Give 'Em Heck Harry! Gosh golly gee whiz, sorry, didn't mean to offend anybody out there...that was so rude of me...shucks, we should never second-guess our Republican masters. Bad Harry! Bad Harry!
If the Dems can't hear us and act by now, I really think it's never gonna happen. And, if they do suddenly come to and represent us, I'm not gonna be that impressed. What the hell are(n't) they doing?!
Everytime i hear this guy speak, I think to myself there is no way he can get any dumber.
And then he says something like this...AND TOTALLY REDEEMS HIMSELF!
I thought Tom Daschle had left the Senate. Now it appears that he is inhabiting the body of Harry Reid ...
Can't withdraw now! That'd be premature! We gotta surge! We gotta throb! We gotta thrust deeper and deeper into that area. For freedom!
You break it you bought it.
No one is calling for precipitous withdrawal in Iraq.
You know, it's getting very clear, Chimp and Co. have not released that word yet!
When he does, Harry can sign onto it too!
Bye Nancy, bye Harry! We're going to flip you all, know it cause, we're done with two for one when it comes to Party affiliations!
I want US troops out of Iraq ASAP.
Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) said during his campaign that he wants US troops out of Iraq ASAP.
Reid meant (to cover his behind) that no Senator was calling for a precipitous withdrawal..that may not be true either, but I think you've got to agree that there is a big confronatation coming and it is due to the Democrats..and us.
Why would this happen in real time as it would in a movie?..a digestable dramatic form with heroes and scoundrels. You can hiss at Reid, if that is your desire, when the documentary film is made.
Change is happening soon. Fight with all your might..but try not to disparage those who at heart are on your side but lack the courage. War IS hell. Be vigilant against any more "unexpected" strikes like 9-11.
Apparently Mr. Reid thinks we're a bunch nobodies.
Mr. reid,
I don't like you
What is this "protecting our assets" stuff he keeps mentioning? Is he building some exception/compromise for a 'small' force to protect the freshly stolen oil?
I didn't realise that Mr. Reid knew me as No One, but there it is.
Anyone watching CNN? Michael Moore is ripping Wolfe Blitzer a new one!
t-bone @ 1:
I agree - DO SOMETHING.
spit or get off the pot.
I echo the intelligent and perspicacious statements from above. Those troops do not belong in Iraq. They should never have been ordered to go to Iraq. Each day that those troops remain in Iraq, the more likely it is that many of them will return to this country maimed and crippled, in particular being blinded, severly burned, paralyzed, missing arms and legs, brain damaged, and suffering from PTSD from what they have witnessed and/or participated in while being in Iraq.
If the Democrats, the alleged antiwar party, had an ounce of brains they would frame the issue of Iraq around the above statement. But apparently the vast majority of Democrats seem to be utterly unconcerned by the fact that those troops are getting killed and blown up and traumatized, both physically and psychologically, for absolutely no justifiable reason at all. Support the troops-bring them home safely-now. Soldiers-resist the war machine by saying NO to the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq.
Scott in Chicago @ 23:
I refuse to get cable but hopefully it will get posted on this site...would love to see that one.
I am calling for a precipitous withdrawl from Iraq.
Gen Patraeus is quoted on the BBC website today as saying "fighting the insurgency could go on for decades!!!" WOW!
Everybody here email Reid:
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm
(you have to go thru his website)
Ask him if "protecting our assets" includes the oil.
C&L you need to get Wolf Blitzer's interview on The Situation Room w/ Micheal Moore up. BALLS ON! Moore TRASHES CNN!
Another nice, tepid cup of weak tea.
I am calling for a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq. Right now, today, this very second. It's only the people who are too ignorant and cowardly to admit they bet on the wrong horse that think we should stay the course and it's the most ignorant people who really believe Iraq would get worse if we left. c-mon people it's time to wake up and smell your country...it's smelling pretty bad and only us (the citizens) can fix it.
Anyone see Michael Moore on CNN just now BLASTING Wolf Blitzer for a good 10 mins straight? I have never seen anything like that on CNN, ever... Moore was relentless in calling out CNN, Blitzer, the MSM, on iraq and health care and the poor investigative reporting in both cases... The DEMS like Reid could use a bit of that to rub off on them, because that's the only way to drive the point to these people, hold a bright light and expose their lies, distortions, and distractions. CNN tried to pull a fast one by shrinking Moore's face from the screen and setting it next to a larger image of clips from his movie, in an obvious attempt to distract the viewers after it was clear several minutes into Moore's torching that he was touching on topics they really didn't want to cover.
PUSSY
When are the dems gonna get the nerve to keep their nerve?
In the legendary words of Harrison Ford: I ain't nobody, dork.
Reid's blog has been renamed "Give 'em a Swedish Massage, Harry!"
I think he's right about this.
We just can't leave the country in that condition. Im not sure what we can do w/ this mess, but we better do our best to fix it.
The email I just sent to Reid:
I, and the rest of the American People who voted the dems in at the last election, are:
CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
The only asset bush wants to protect is the oil that he would like to steal from the Iraqi people. We are not dumb!
As for what will happen if we leave... just exactly more of the same that is already happening! No more American deaths for oil. Tell bush he blew it, let Iraq keep its oil and bring our troops home.
I caught Mike on CNN and it was killer.
He tore Wolfie a new one.
I hope this helps all democrats wake up to the fact that there is no left right paradigm. I was a stupid Neo-con, but once I went to Iraq and back I have awoken my mind and broadened my horizons (even if just a little). The elite Republicans and Democrats (meaning the ones the T.V. always see on T.V. speaking as the sophists they are) Are all on the same team and until we the people wake up and pull together They will remain in charge. And our brothers and sisters will continue to kill and be killed. Lets work together to stop these scum bag's that are supposed to represent us. For all those who oppose my view I still love you as my American Free thinking, if not ornery family. For all those who agree with me lets get to work.
RasslinGod @ 36:
It won't be "fixed" by this gang. They can't fix their way out of a paper bag.
Is this the first time some of you have realized that the Democrats aren't bringing the troops home?
I saw Michael on CNN. He was great!
t-bone @ 1:
Amen.
Didn't we have an election? Aren't 70% of Americans calling for an end to this nightmare?
Is there anyone on this site that believes that there is a way to withdraw responsibly? I'm as anti-war as they come, but I don't believe in an immediate, 100% withdrawal. First of all, there is the delicate issue of how we're even going to get troops out of Iraq... literally! We need a protected corridor to get them out. How will that be accomplished? Through Northern Iraq? Will Turkey let them through? This leads to other issues, which leads to others.
I don't know, I think this is a tough situation and I love this website because the news clips fulfill a lot of my political needs (I live abroad), but it seems like the comments page is not very thoughtful or interesting anymore. I know there's a lot of pent-up anger about this war but I want to read people's theories about how we can improve the situation.
Ok, now I'm rambling. Any thoughts on how an immediate withdrawal can actually be done?
When they come home they can catch up on all of the REAL news...
-What Bush and Cheney has done to our Country while they have been gone
-All of the lies that Bush and Cheney told to soldiers and families
-All of the crimes perpetrated by Bush and Cheney against our Constitution since they have been gone.
Hopefully they can at least start Bringing the National Guard home to protect the United States of America.
oh... and just today..
---> National Hurricane Center director resigns.
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/09/national-hurricane-center-director-r...
CdM @ 41:
We were trying to avoid living "Lost Weekend".
Prime example of why the Dems are worthless. Not a single spine to be found on any of them. They are so afraid of being labeled as a (GASP!) liberal, that they simply rubber-stamp anything the GOP wants to do.
Pathetic. They stand for nothing.
Imagine if Clinton were still in office and had started this Iraq clusterfuck. The GOP would have buried him l-o-n-g ago.
Hate to side with the GOP on anything, but they're right on the Dems...just a weak, milque toast collection of losers.
I think the answer to Iraq is a trillion times more complicated than bringing the troops home. Democrats arent some elitists that are thirsty for power and oil or anythign you villify them to be. They're just human. It's jsut common sense that u simply cant take troops out now.
If you know what ur doing after withdrawal, then u can start doing the wirthdrawal. Then again, i dont think any of us can fathom what kind of solution we neeed in Iraq. I dont think anyone in the gov't and neither can us can devise any good plans now. They're human just like we are. They don't got the easy black and white answers that we want.
RLG @ 42:
Moore implicates Wolfie and CNN, along with the MSM for why we're in Iraq and ties it to the MSM's current distortions on healthcare. BRILLIANT! To give Wolfie credit, he didn't "cut the mike (no pun intended) as FOX certainly would have.
Lou Dobbs, the tool, had some choice comments about Moore, following the interview. You gotta see this!
God, the frustration grows. I don't know exactly how to withdraw military from an occupied country, but I know it has to begin some time, so why not begin it now?
Well, yeah...The Iraq Blunder.........Ahhhh, but there's More:
"White House counsel Fred Fielding, in a letter to two congressional chairmen, called their demands "unreasonable because it represents a substantial incursion into presidential prerogatives."
I also agree with #44, all the comments here are "screaming bring the troops home", and yet offer nothing else. You're all just acting in your emotions and arent thinking logically enough to see the complexity of Iraq's situation.
If there's any such thing as a political party impeaching its majority leader, now is the time with Reid. He belittles us with this condescending fatherly crap and I've had it.
►Shiva H Vishnu◄ @ 51:
Sorry, this was in regards to Reids request for Congressional oversight of the presidency.
RasslinGod @ 48
I'm missing the sarcasm.
Reid needs to be "fired" from his position as majority leader. He has proven to be the farce and deceiver that many predicted that he would be. At this point he looks much more like a mole than a responsible leader.
Go to hell, Harry.
Bring the troops home. Impeach the political criminals. And NEVER ever again have to re-learn the lessons of Vietnam. Especially from the very cowards (Reid included) who supported that atrocity while filing for draft deferments or getting daddy to get them out of it.
55--
I'm not using any sarcasm. I try to put myself in their shoes. I can only imagine how difficult the problem of Iraq really is.
Im not here to flame anyone. Im not a reich-winger. Im just being honest. Im not here to use sarcasm to mock anyone or anyone's ideas.
Doesn't seem you can win a war with terrorists based on brute force. Is it really possible to get anywhere with this unless you're developing Intelligence? This Administration gutted Intelligence. Think of where we might be if the money spent on this occupation had been given to real homeland security and intelligence.
remember the dems have been bought off by the same special interests that are profiteering from the war. not as much as the piece of shit repubs, but still bought off.
Eternal Vigilance @ 53:
If lying and deception, taking the country to war under false pretenses, and ineptitude were bricks, then I'd say we have enough to build the road to impeachment.
Our Democratic Senators have ALL lost their BALLS.
They have cowered at the Republicans' accusations thet they don't SUPPORT THE TROOPS.
They cowered at the president's ass-sertions that they are DEFEATISTS.
Somebody get Harry Reid a NEW GODDAMNED SPEACH WRITER!
Here, Harry, I'll write you a line or two:
"The Democratic Party has decided TODAY that we will allow NO NEW WAR FUNDING LEGISLATION out of the Finance Committee. In order to present obstructionists on the Republican side, we will not vote on this issue and we will not allow discussion of this issue on the floor of the Senate. I suggest the President and the Secretary of Defense formulate some plans immediately to bring our soldiers HOME with the money they have left from the last funding bill."
There, see how easy that would be! Here's another one:
"I think it's time for Congress to put an end to the usurption of executive powers by the Vice President. I would encourage Speaker Pelosi to charge her Judicial Committee with the immediate initiation of Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney. We in the Senate will, of course, conduct a full hearing of such articles, and we will encourage and support a NON-PARTISAN TRIAL of Mr. Cheney's alleged high crimes and mis-demeanors."
I could go on and on.
Of course, it is as easy as brining the troops home, but it won't happen. The US is there to stay, and there's no candidate who's a player who will withdraw from Iraq. Not-Going-To-Happen. The trick for any politician is to take the heat off of the situation (i.e., "withdrawl" of troops ) so that the average voter doesn't care. They'll be happy with their circuses and gasoline while the occupation goes on.
precipitous
adjective
1. done with very great haste and without due deliberation;
Gee, I wonder who fucking coined the term PRECIPITOUS WITHDRAWAL in this debate?
Someone with lexis-nexis access do a search on the terms "responsible withdrawal" "planned withdrawal" "phased withdrawal" and then "precipitous withdrawal," oh, and "cut and run" while you're at it. Share your findings.
The reasons for claiming, as Deniz-#44 does, that the U.S. must leave "responsibly", are invalid. As independent journalist Nir Rosen, who has spent much time in the region, has pointed out in The Atlantic about a year and a half ago, if and when the U.S. were to finally leave Iraq, then the resistance fighters would have nothing to resist against. They would be more inclined to roll out the red carpet for the U.S. military when they leave than to attempt to shoot them when they are leaving the country which they have illegally occupied these four plus years. Rosen also noted in the article that the Sunnis and the Shia have turned against al Qaeda, oftentimes placing burning tires around the necks of suspected al Qaeda members.
As I mentioned in post # 25, each day that goes by increases the chances that more U.S. troops will return to this country in flag draped coffins and even more of them returning to VA hospitals maimed and crippled, all for not justifiable whatsoever. Is this what alleged progressives like Deniz wish to see happen? Support the troops by bringing them home safely-now.
The answer ISNT as easy as Brining the troops home.
If you can't see that, then you're an ideologue concerning this war. You have no room for adjustments in ur beliefs. Your thinking is way too NARROW.
You have entered the world of black and white thinking that many of you claim the reich-wingers to be, who don't live in the fact based, reality based community. You are no different than them. Once you're in this world, then it's hard to get out.
You need to look at this problem from a multitude of angles.
But complexities aren't addressed here by the users. People only love to blame a politician for not being smart, or for being bought out because they have to face the collection of facts. Facts which complicate their decision making.
RasslinGod @ 36:
Iraq is 'in that condition' BECAUSE WE ARE THERE. It isn't going to get better by staying there 'protecting our assets' [read: stealing oil] and further arming/training both sides in a civil war, as Reid seems to want here. You can't unshit the bed but you can sure as hell stop shitting in it.
Scott in Chicago @ 23:
No I'm not, but Wolf needs a new one.
deniz @ 44:
Yes, with lots of boats and planes.
I think Bush and General Betray-Us will "claim victory" for the SURGE as it applies to "certain critical areas of Baghdad" in September.
THEN the White House will announce a VERY SLOW troop reduction plan (which will, incidently, reflect the rotation schedules of the units which were extended in order to create the SURGE in the first place. The Republicans will claim VICTORY with the President's New Way Forward, and the PATHETIC SITUATION in which our military finds itself will continue, as they will have to STAY in the middle of Iraq's civil war to continue BUSH'S WAR until W and his rats are removed from office and replaced by a Democrat in 2009.
And at that time (if the NEO-cons allow us to proceed with a national election) The Democrats will STILL have to solve the problem of our OCCUPATION OF IRAQ, and will become RESPONSIBLE for the MID-EAST REGIONAL CONFLAGRATION which will follow.
Rasslingod:
Interesting perspective. However, unless you are volunteering to go over to Iraq and replace one of the soldiers there, my nephew would be a good choice, then you are just talking out your ass. Give Harry a call, you have much in common.
How easy it is for those not staring down the barrel of a gun to say that the situation is "complex" and requires "patience".
Cowards always demand patience, it's how they attempt to cover their "courage-challenged" shortcomings.
Sometimes, there isn't a Magical Pony. Sometimes, there isn't a 'silver bullet' solution that will fix everything if we just wait and think about it for a few more FUs. Sometimes, the best you can do is to stop making the situation worse.
Waiting for a 'pretty' solution is no good...there is no pretty solution, it is too late for that.
Does that mean the US is off the hook? Hell no! But, leaving troops and 'surging' impotently is only making things worse there. The US has a big responsibility in Iraq, but not as the occupier/civil war instigator it is now.
This is the EXACT same debate that happened at the end of the Vietnam war. How about we just read up on that and then come to the same conclusions as we came to then. This will save much time and lives.
Or, we can listen to the idiots and fools who in the interests of deception try to claim that Iraq and Vietnam are different scenarios.
Dr. Matt @68
Very well said. Otherwise, what will continue to happen is, to paraphrase Tennyson, "into tne valley of death" rode the 160,000.
I wish I could say "with all due respect', but I can't.
It's time for REID and Pelosi to remove themselves from their "leadership" positions. They do not represent the will of the people. And they sure don't seem to hear, listen or pay attention to WE THE PEOPLE.
Please Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi ... please step aside or be recalled.
You are not representing the Democratic Party.
Steps aside and let real Democrats with real leadership skills and SPINE take over.
I'm sick of this type of WHINY lame chicken responses. :-/
Maybe it's time to start looking for a replacement for Harry.
Leaving troops in Iraq on a permanent basis on permanent bases is not an option.
It is funny how Sen. Reid has missed that loud call of immediate withdrawal from Iraq all over the country in November?
it will never happen, as they are going to steal all the oil that remains.
iran is rationing gas folks, what does that tell you?
Democrats: not lacking in courage, not overly patient.
COMPLICIT!
The sooner we all realize this, the better off we will be.
"to protect OUR assets"?????
OUR ASSETS??????
How much money are Dick Cheney's oil buddies giving Harry????
They aren't OUR ASSETS. The oil belongs to the Iraqi's. The crap that we have built over there, the largest foreign FORT and all the little colonial places aren't OURS. That is like someone putting up a swimming pool in your back yard and telling you they have to stay at your house now to protect THEIR ASSETS!!!!
Harry's busted!!!! He's taking the money from the Oil barron's too.
Btw, the powers that be always had contempt for the citizens--and the troops. I'm reading "the Great Influenza" in what I thought was an escape from politics. TPTB lied about the extent of the pandemic, told people to chew their food!, and sent sick troops onto death ships to Europe.
50-100 millions people died around the world.
Now that the situation is COMPLEX, all the NEO-cons and wing-nuts want to STAY in Iraq. At the beginning it was all so SIMPLE (BUSH'S BRAVADO, AND CHENEY'S TWISTED LOGIC) that the NEOcons and wingnuts couldn't wait to get started!
We all need a fresh assessment, and new logic applied:
1. It's our presence there that has made it complicated.
2. If we leave, they will not follow us home. That is a rediculous notion.
3. If we stay, there's a Civil War... if we leave, there's a Civil War. (Which of those two options is better for us?)
4. Bush and Cheny started it... THEY should end it. If they don't, the BAD is on them, NOT THE DEMOCRATS.
5. The more we FIGHT for OIL, the more we NEED the oil. The more we NEED the oil, the greater the inclination to FIGHT FOR OIL. BREAK THE CYCLE... and go GREEN with conservation, wind power, corn mash, Toyota Prius and Smart Cars... and a new way of thinking about national and world-wide energy strategies.
When Harry says that "nobody is calling for precipitous withdrawal from Iraq" -- who is the nobody that he is referring to? And what assets of "ours" are we there to protect? Is he talking about "our" oil under "their"
sand?
Peace!
Dr. Matt @ 68:
Ha ha. Ok, I hadn't thought of that. I was thinking along the lines of zeppelins and steam trains. I stand corrected. :)
YTF isn't he calling for a preciptious withdrawal? Its what I want.
My great grandfather and my grandmothers twin baby sister were killed in that epidemic.
Give Reid the Golden Weenie.
Why can't we get some people in congress with balls???
He's starting to sound like a Republican. "No precipitus withdrawal", "our interests". He's being safe while our men and women are dying. You want to protect American treasure, interests, then look in the faces of our men and women fighting over there. You should realize that those men and women are our treasure and our interest and you're squandering on a place we shouldn't be in, should have never been in. Every Republican who now says we should stay should lose his or her job. There isn't a fit candidate on the Republican side to lead our country because all they want is more of the same.
Another wrinkled up old traitor sucking on the teat of the public trough while standing in the blood of honest Americans.
RasslinGod @ 36:
WE can't "fix it"!! Only the Iraqis can! Think about it for a second damn it! Colonialism is dead!! Face it!
Uh, Harry, 70% of Americans want the troops out NOW! The only ones who can't seem to get that through their thick heads are you, Pelosi, Obama, Clinton, and any number of DLC anointed Beltway Democrats. Let's not forget the members of the Party that started this mess - the GOP which seems to have some members making cool sounding noises about the war but have no interest in actually going on record doing anything which might bring an end to the entire wretched, fucking mess. In other words, only in the Never-Neverland of "official" Washington, is there confusion about what to do about Iraq. The rest of America wants to get the fuck out - NOW!
RasslinGod @ 52:
On the contrary!! It's exactly thinking logically about the realities of the complexity of the situation that lead to the conclusion that the only intellegent thing to do is to bring all the troops out of Iraq immediately.
U.S troops have been in iraq FIVE YEARS TOO LONG, we have been waiting for FIVE YEARS, and it's been FIVE YEARS and STILL there hasn't been a serious troop withdrawl, LET ALONE a TOTAL WITHDRAWAL. Precipitous, waiting five years is not precipitous , harrry.
Be a man harryyyyy, demand a FULL & TOTAL withdrawal and the end of the occupation.
Why can't they utter the words OCCUPATION , and what are scared of, FOX, the media.
Are you for Iraqis living under the BOOT of dick Cheney's MERCENARIES ? HARRY ?
Wow how very confusing! I was under the impression that the Democratic position was that the Iraq OCCUPATION creates more terror!
protecting our assests????
does he mean the no-bid oil contracts???
they are all as slippery as each other.
RasslinGod (#52):
".....all these comments don't offer an alternative..." blah blah blah bullshit bullshit bullshit.
The Dem team can't, the GOP won't. They're too obsessed with 2008.
You think we ENJOY this endless Cassandra Syndrome? We've been posting withdrawal solutions to the Iraq War here for FOUR YEARS. Thanks for chiming in, RG, but you're LATE. Take a seat.
Since Congress can't do it sooner correctly, can't do it later correctly, Bush won't do it at all, Petraeus is talking decades, and Rove's swamping the MSM with phony leaks in every direction, what are you left with? This team isn't up to the task.
In Iraq, every faction has their own death squads, Parliament's stacked with militants eyeing for theological supremacy, Maliki's facing no confidence, and the only segment of Iraq's population NOT out murdering other Iraqis is buzy trying to trigger a border war with Turkey. Oh yes: Iran. Swell! Again, what are you left with? That team isn't up to the task.
If you have such faith in letting conventional political methodology run its course, then how's that been going? The "complexity of Iraq's situation" is no excuse to slam your head against a wall every day for four years, is it? TRY IT.
Earth to Einstein: We're. Not. Helping.
This isn't politico-philosophical esoterica, this is a clusterfuck! We shouldn't be there, we suck at it, and our troops are getting blown to shreds for NOTHING! Phony altruism!
We should START to leave immediately, responsibly, and respectfully, starting TODAY. NO benchmarks, NO timetables, NO qualifiers; "Forward my mail, keep the cat, I'm outta here."
When one person in the relationship starts packing their suitcase, well then there's your effing signal to face reality. There's your Bushistic "clarifying effect."
Pull out, (troops AND contractors) contribute only peripheral humanitarian and diplomatic support, pull in Iraq's neighbors to negotiate a cease fire, pull in the UN, and can the constant warmongering chorus by the chickenhawk cowards. In short, be a LOT less German and a LOT more Swiss.
Iraq becoming self-determinant means facing its own demons on its own terms. Yes, the road will be bloody, as was ours. But it has to happen, and won't even START to happen until we as a foreign invasion presence HONOR our word and LEAVE.
"Sqwawk! Not realistic! Sqwawk!"
Sure RG, whatever.
i am so sick and tired of this sh*t.
how about protecting our future assets, reid!
you know, the money that is projected through 2013?
the trillion dollar cost????
why not stop now while we are only half way to losing our financial shirts instead of chasing bad money with more bad money.
man this is disappointing.
Has anyone seen Michelle Malkin running around with her head bobbling back and forth, going "precipitous withdrawal! precipitous withdrawal!" Tiny shrieking batgirl ... about yeah high ... cuckoo for coco puffs ...
Cowards! Despicable cowards! Corporate whores!
I'm about ready to bail on the Demos. We need a third party in this country ASAP.
The theory of Reid & the Chimps' enablers is the more broken it is, the less we need to fix it.
Aye, right matey... turn about hard and smash the Iranians Aye thats why we have the swashbuckling pirate army seeking plunder under the sand Aye. Protect those assets of ooze arrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Congress no longer hears us along with those other bodies of doom and destruction. We are now to the point of national strikes and not that much longer will be a revolution. This is what all of these years of procrastination have cost us. The moment we found out about the Patriot Act millions of us should have been in the streets. The moment Shrub was re illegitimated in in 04' should have been a call to the streets. Now it is going to be bad!
DINO (Democrat in Name Only)
DINO
DINO
DINO
get rid of the DINO's!!!!!!!!!!!
Aye, right matey
It's ridiculous that this administration maintains its arrogance towards the war in Iraq. It is more than obvious that this war has been a failure on several levels. Most important of all, it is causing more violence, insurgency, poverty and choas in Iraq and within the US. This war has costs the American people $450 billion dollars to date. However, according to the Borgen Project, it only costs $19 billion dollars annually to eradicate global poverty. The Bush Administration needs start addressing critical and fundamental issue such as poverty that effects 1.2 billion people daily and stop the spread of poverty by ending the war now and sending our troops home
Mstessyrue Says:
Don't you realize that there is and has been no real war in Iraq? Only a few thousand dead in many years is nothing. The war from the perspective of the plutocrat is great! The wealthy have redistributed all of the value and wealth of the entire nation to the wealthy. Essentially many people have huge mortgages in the USA. As the depression hits those properties will become the properties of Monsanto Foods, Chase, Commerce, etc. The rest of the people will find it difficult to pay their taxes and will go title 18 and have their property ceased. This property will also revert to the Monsanto's, Chase's, etc of the world. The wealthy will be the lords and we will be the surfs or starve to death.
"Reid: Feingold/Reid called for American troops to remain in Iraq to do counter-terrorsim…to protect our assets in Iraq...."
What ASSETS Reid??? Huh??? What assets??? That oil is IRAQI not American you sack of crap....I am so sick and tired if this BS....now you know why there are posters on here that say the Dems are a bunch of clueless b*stards just LIKE the reTHUGS....Proof is in his OWN words.....time for a change all right...get rid of every damn one of these morons completely, Dems and ReTHUGs alike!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's more than obvious that it is time for a third party. Twits like Harry Worthless Reid and that complete waste of space Pelosi have got to go. With Democrats like these who needs Republicans.
NChomsky Says
Well they are not clueless. The reality is that they are all Plutocrats!
HEh Says
Congress no longer hears us along with those other bodies of doom and destruction. We are now to the point of national strikes and not that much longer will be a revolution. This is what all of these years of procrastination have cost us. The moment we found out about the Patriot Act millions of us should have been in the streets. The moment Shrub was re illegitimated in in 04′ should have been a call to the streets. Now it is going to be bad!!!
Time for a national strike. Boycott buying stuff. I work for the government. The general public has no idea how CLUELESS the policy makers are. They sit around all day and make policy decisions, then go to more committee meetings to make more policy decisions. No actual work ever gets done. It's talk talk talk all the time on your dime. It's a quagmire, and a damn shame because people are dying and no one cares. Wake up people. Reid, Pelosi, are not going to solve your problems. They are the problem.
I know Crooks and Liars is very pro-Dem, but come on contributors. Have we had enough yet? John? Had enough yet? It is quite obvious to EVERYONE that a vote for the Dems is EXACTLY the same as a vote for the ReTHUGS. America needs a change before BOTH of these parties completely destroys us. I know, "anything but a ReTHUG" but come on. How can any card carrying Democrat support these idiots?
National strikes NOW!
Dems = Communism
Rethugs = Fascists
YEP & YEP
The people must abolish this government and the last non violent tool would be national strikes!
Mr. Reid is out to lunch ! Many, many of us Americans are specifically and deliberately calling for an immediate withdrawal of all our troops. Leave no man behind. Bring them all home.
faith they are not out to lunch at all. They simply don't care what we want and it is clear that we are there for the resources and a total distribution of resources in the US
It is the ongoing occupation of Iraq that is "precipitous"
And WE THE PEOPLE are calling for an end to that. But the President and the Congress aren't listening. They'll have to be replaced, because THE PEOPLE are sovereign, and the "hired help" aren't doing their jobs.
Oh no Harry? Nobody?
JUST TWO THIRDS OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!
REPUBLICRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These scoundrels scratch eachother's backs constantly. What a joke!
Congress no longer hears us along with those other bodies of doom and destruction. We are now to the point of national strikes and not that much longer will be a revolution. This is what all of these years of procrastination have cost us. The moment we found out about the Patriot Act millions of us should have been in the streets. The moment Shrub was re illegitimated in in 04′ should have been a call to the streets. Now it is going to be bad!!!
"protect U.S. assets in Iraq..."
Say what? What government assets should they be protecting? Any damn private oil assets should be returned to the Iraqi people as an apology for all the deaths, maimings, injuries and insults that our private contractors inflicted upon the Iraqi people. The U.S. should then seek compensation from Blackwater and Haliburton in U.S. courts to retrieve the value of those assets.
there they are, all a bunch of fucking lobbyist puppets. what part of haliburton does reid belong to? to protect our interests? fuck you reid, you and the rest of the bastards that are in iraq just for the oil.
corporatist cowards!!!!
all of them!
[...] Item: On the contrary - Harry Reid says we’re staying! In a press conference this morning Reid said: “Feingold/Reid called for American troops to remain in Iraq to do counter-terrorsim…to protect our assets in Iraq. To train the Iraqis. There are estimates that that would still leave tens of thousands of troops to stay in Iraq. No one is calling for precipitous withdrawal in Iraq. No one…” (Video here.) [...]
"to protect our assets in Iraq"
You know I'm getting damn sick and tired of Reid and I wish someone would challenge him for his position. What in the hell does he mean "to protect our assets in Iraq". What assets does he mean, our permanent bases (which we were told would never happen), the Disneyland Embassy which is a disgrace to this country and indefensible, or is he talking about the oil that we are there to steal. Does Harry Reid think the oil belongs to the USA?
Bush started this all as CIC. He's responsible. What an idiot.
How could we just leave? The place will blow up. We owe those people a lot. We invaded their country under false pretenses. 5 million refugees have fled from that country, families, women, kids, peaceful people. How many have died? They were not terrorists, and the Al-Qaeda was never there. There presence there is recent & very low percentage wise. This is a secular war now.Bush keeps using the troops and their dilema as a shield which makes me puke. If those people didn't have oil would we be there like this? Why aren't we in Darfur like this? I hate how people attack Reid & others who are trying to be sensible FINALLY.
impeaching the chimp is easy. Impeaching the dark lord Dick that eats black holes to sustain himself...that's a challenge.
Bullshit! Bring every last one home, now. "Our" assets?!? those are the Iraqi People's assets, not ours.
Reid, you have gotta go, Dude.
He is completely correct. Noone is calling for a precipitous withdrawal.
Noone @ 128:
Peter Noone? The last time I saw him was with Paul Revere, Ritchie Valens, and Al (Axl) Bundy.
Why is it that we should support Democrats again ?
Dam it Harry, when are you going to be a leader for your own party?
Fight with all your might..but try not to disparage those who at heart are on your side but lack the courage.
I'm sorry but, we elect people with Courage and IF they don't have it, they get turned over!
Think soldiers are saying oh well, he has a good heart, ho hum.
Forget it, they put their lives on the line, what's a politician to do? Put theirs on the line too!
What happens if we just withdraw all of our troops suddenly. Any of you have any idea? Does the situation in Iraq somehow improve? Granted we would no longer suffer US casualties in Iraq but the civil war would likely spin even further out of control causing many more Iraqi deaths. Is that okay so long as our casualties end?
Without US troops there, does Iran invade south Iraq? Does Syria invade central Iraq? Does Turkey invade northern Iraq? Does the entire Middle East become a war zone? Does Israel get involved? Does Russia? Do you have any idea how complex the issues are? For most of you, I doubt it.
Too many posts just sound like the old, jingoistic isolationist creed: "We want what we want now and to hell with the rest of the world".
Is it really too much to consider whether a phased withdrawal is better or whether permanent security forces need to be in place in certain areas of Iraq? While the Democrats did not cause the current disaster, they are willing to try to fix it (which is a lot more complex than most of you seem to think).
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