U.S. Soldier In Iraq: Iraq Now "Just In A State Of Quagmire"
Via McClatchy:
Standing in a small room in the Iraqi home they'd raided an hour earlier, a dozen soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division were trading jokes when 1st Sgt. Troy Moore, Company A's senior enlisted man, shouted out.
"We're bringing democracy to Iraq," he called, with obvious sarcasm, as a reporter entered the room. Then Moore began loudly humming the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Within seconds the rest of the troops had joined in, filling the small, barren home in the middle of Iraq with the patriotic chorus of a Civil War-era ballad.
Although the soldiers who since spring have walked and ridden through this volatile area mixed with Sunni and Shiite Muslims have seen some signs of progress, they still face the daily threat of roadside bombs, an unreliable Iraqi police force, the limitations of depending on Iraqis for tips and the ever-elusive enemy.
"Even though we've out-stayed our welcome, in the big picture of whether we've helped or not, I know we have," said Sgt. Christofer Kitto, a 23-year-old sniper from Altamont, N.Y. "But now it's just in a state of quagmire. The U.S. time here has come and gone." Read more...
It seems the Sunnis have out-stayed their welcome in Baghdad as well. Shiites have killed or driven a majority of Sunni from the Baghdad area -- read more in this Newsweek/MSNBC article, "Baghdad's New Owners." On a related note, Nir Rosen of the New America Foundation/American Strategy Program takes on Pollack, O'Hanlon, Petraeus and Bush on the matter of what's really happening on the ground in Iraq. There is no central government and never has been. The militias have been ruling the roost since 2003.
Damn you you Dirty Fucking HIppies! You've been warned, you've been told....
The only thing we want from you and yer 'Democrat' Party 'LeadersSheep' is...
For you to fucking clap louder!
Do so or Crazy Joey the LiarMan will order DHS to....
Disappear yer DFH ass!
A.Citizen @ 1:
Oh...yeah...almost forgot. The fact is: The 'Surge' is Toast!
HOw many more must die for Bush's ego tripping?
Marc @ 3:
As many as America is willing to let him forfeit for lies and profit.
September 1, 2007
Welcome to the new US embassy
It’s bigger than Saddam’s palace and, with a cinema, gym and pool, is the safest and smartest place to live in Iraq.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article2364255.ece
L.A. Confidential @ 5:
Yeah, but they're still jealous of the buildings in Dubai.
BaScOmBe @ 26:
Um...the oil is still there and we haven't got the rights to it yet.
So we're staying.
Right, Hillary?
Any questions?
BaScOmBe @ 6:
Yep, the royalty of the UAE ain't stupid. They know that when their oil dries up, they'll have nothing left. That's why they're turning Dubai into a Disney World, the Mall of America, and the Edmonton Mall, combined and on crack. It's should be no mystery why Haliburton moved their HQ there, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Cheney has on a one way ticket there scheduled to leave sometime in the beginning of 2009.
yogi-one @ 8:
Yeah... what's our oil doing under their soil?!?!
yogi-one @ 8:
Bush Didn’t Bungle Iraq, You Fools
Published March 20th, 2006 in Articles
The Mission Was Indeed Accomplished
By Greg Palast
The Guardian– — Get off it. All the carping, belly-aching and complaining about George Bush’s incompetence in Iraq, from both the Left and now the Right, is just dead wrong.
I just read the Newsweek article.
Militant segregation, huh? Strom Thurmond would be proud.
Wowee wow wow.
Iraqis agree on secret peace plan
Could it be this simple?
You know, it really irritates the heck out of me when those traitorous troops undermine... the troops with all their carping. Geez louise.
Wow, looks like Beauchamp changed his name, huh?
Bush enabled ethnic cleansing.
-GSD
My brother-in-law is in the Sand Box. he was one of the guys who were sent from Afghanistan to Iraq for the surge. He was a right-winger (more of a independent nowadays) and his favorite word is fuck. The army is in his blood. Every week he tells me how we are so fucked. He thinks we should leave but on other hand he doesn't because he truly feels that we are going to fuck these people. He says the more we stay in Iraq , the worse it gets. His words from two weeks ago:
He says he wonders why some of his right-wing redneck acquaintances back in Kyle, TX all of a sudden care so much about the Iraqi people. They used to call them sand n*ggers before 2003.
This guy should hit the market with Katie Couric or go out on the town with Laura Ingrahm or do some rug shopping with McCain and company. He obviously has not seen the real Baghdad. We gave them a choice and they chose civil war.
What do you think would happen if an occupier destroyed our army, our police force, and most of our infrastructure, stood by while gangs looted the armories, and oh yeah killed about half a million of us? The "coalition" forces systematically destroyed any attempt by Iraqi society to reorganize. We play off one side against the other -- one day supporting the Sunnis against the Sadarists, the next day going after the Sunnis (eventually destroying the very large city of Falljuah), then back to the Sadarists, and now back to supporting the Sunnis. (That is a vast oversimplification, but the number of times that our "enemy" has been our "friend" and back again boggles the mind.)
On March 19, 2004, Shia and Sunni came together to protest the occupation. Shia tried to lift the siege of their bretheren in Falljuah. We created the civil war -- it is a time-honored "divide and conquer" trick used by occupiers from day one.
Yep. And we knew, back in the summer of 2003, that the insurgents were blowing the turrets CLEAN OFF (that was the phrase we used because that's what was happening) off of our M-1 tanks. That was common knowledge in the newsroom at Army Times. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta...
the media ignore troops who say the occupation isn't going well only Matt "Rod Majors" Sanchez is allowed to talk about it
If you get a chance to view a video of this weeks "Week at War" I think you find it interesting. Frederick Kagan was one guest defending his "Surge" plan. It is his plan, but I think you'll see why Bush wants us to believe that it's Petraeus' plan.
Col. Douglas MacGregor took the opposing view and here's his take on Petraeus:
COL. DOUGLAS MACGREGOR, U.S. ARMY (RET): Politicians usually pick what they want to hear and that's what they latch on to. And I suspect that's what the White House will do and General Petraeus knows that. He was promoted for this purpose. He's not going to come back and say this has been a failure. He's going to try very hard to create the illusion that we have made substantial progress on the ground in Iraq when we have not.
Would you want to die, or have someone you love die, so George Bush could prance around in a codpiece?
yogi-one @ 8:
I've heard that we're stealing 300K barrels a day out the back door. This whole operation like all wars is just "organized theft".
Like in the movie "Reds" when the protagonist is participating in a forum. When asked, "Why do men fight wars", he stood and said, "For profit" and then sat down.
In Iraq for Sale, you see how the Peterbuilt Trucks are run down the highways in Iraq with no loads. When they get blown up, the contractor gets paid for the truck and for the run. . . nevermind the poor driver from east texas there to try and pay off his mounting medical bills for his sick wife.
Vietnam was fought to lose helicopters . . . Bell Helicopter was owned by one of LBJ's friends . . . I believe the company now is called Textron and they make those really cool cluster bombs that kids pick up and lose their limbs all over the world.
Of course LBJ's partner in crime was Herman Brown of Brown and Root who was given the multi-billion dollar contract to build the naval base at Kham Rhan Bay. It was the largest American naval facility until later it became the largest Soviet naval faility . . not sure what its being used for now.
State of Quagmire? That must be next to Indiana--you know, where they have those markets that are just like the ones in Baghdad.
I can barely type anymore about how I feel regarding this administration. I finally can say for the first time in my life I hate someone, truly hate. Bush and Cheney you have earned that hate.
Was Iraq in "a state of quagmire" before we'd invaded it? No? Then how have we helped? By getting Iraqi women jobs as prositutes in neighboring countries to which they have fled in order to "put food on" their familes?
the battle hym of the republic? what are we, on a crusade??
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
Chorus
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on."
Chorus
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Chorus
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
"... with obvious sarcasm ..."
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the wisdom of George Bush
He is sitting back in Crawford on his presidential tush
He thinks that we can win the war with just a little push
The surge is marching on
Glory, glory, Halliburton
Glory, glory, Haliburton
Glory, glory, Halliburton
Dick Cheney's marching on!
... or something like that.
My Kool Aid drinking father-in-law told me that Bush will soon tell us that the "Surge" needs 6 more months to work and things will get better soon. I responded that we have been hearing about this 6 month nonsense for the last 4 years and it just gets worse every day.
You have to wonder why people believe this crap when the fortune tellers have been disasterously wrong for so long.
If I was in there in and out for 4 years I would have become a war zombie high on PTSD singing like there's no tomorrow, because there might be no tomorrow.
Capabilty Jones @ 30:
It's because part of the problem on both sides is that the decision is being sold at an emotional level. Even when each side is armed with its respective facts, conservatives cling to the 'undermining-liberal-sissy-traitor' line and liberals often respond in kind. This is the legacy of FOX Noise and the conservative radio shout-down generation.
Where there is emotional commitment, it's simply that much harder for logic to win out. The rosy glow of 'success' wins out over caution, fear, objectivity.
Additionally, there is the problem of 'mission creep' or 'moving goalposts.' The 'mission' changes to suit Bush's talking points; one day, it's security. The next, it's defeating al-Qaeda. On Thursday, it will be keeping Iran from pursuing their nuclear program.
It should be noticed that Mr. Bush talked about troop draw-downs, but stammered through the words and did not meet the eyes of the people he was speaking to. Once he got back on his standard talking points, he looked up again.
Why does anyone listen to some of these soldiers? They're only little people who see the little trees but can't see the whole forest.
Do we ask gas station pumpers or gas station managers about oil policy? No. They're there to work the gas station. Same with soldiers. They are there to do their soldiering. They have signed a contract to do their soldiering and obey their superiors. Living off our tax dollar they better well damn well produce. With that kind of attitude, I can see why they are losing the war. Any solider publicly bitching in time of war should be at the receiving end of a court-martial and given ten years of hard labor.
Our senior military and our senior state department officials see the whole picture. Their knowledge is continually passed to our Secretaries of State and Defense and our President. Instead of listening to the soldiers pay attention to our leaders. The troublemakers only got media coverage coverage due to the liberal media bias. Stick with Fox and you will be freed by the truth.
I'm so proud that I am free. I have the freedom to sit here and with my keyboard actually protect our democracy from defeatist liberals. I know I've done more than a whole company of soldiers.
If you want to be freed and become politically aware visit this great web site
http://www.crnc.org/.
Chris @ 33:
I'm sure the highly-trained men and women of our armed forces appreciate the high esteem in which you hold them.
By the same reason that you condemn soldiers as lack-wit time-wasters and whiners, our taxes help pay the salaries of Messrs. Bush and Cheney, fund the contractors that defrauded both our soldiers and the Iraqi people ... where, then, Sir, is your outrage at their incompetence? Their fundamental dishonesty?
Big picture? By that measure, you, yourself should help yourself to a nice big cup of shut-the-frick-up; you acclaim the understanding of the generals and the president, but admit you take your reality along with the mashed peas and carrots spoon-fed to you by FOX News.
Perhaps the most astounding claim is that you, in your arrogant mincing about on the keyboard, have done more than a whole company of soldiers. (I'll stake a company of Marines against your typing skills on the battlefield any day.) Perhaps you feel you're the reincarnation of Thomas Jefferson, or John Adams - men who really thought about what they wrote and wrestled with decisions that formed the basis of the very freedom you enjoy.
Freedom must be more than blind obedience to rank and title in times of conflict. Else we would still be British subjects, meekly accepting the crown and the authority vested within. (In fact, Jefferson, Adams and many of our founding fathers were considered treasonous, dangerous men - while the conservatives were busy saying, 'why do we need to be free of the crown?')
And I'm so terribly sorry the perfection of your world is being marred by liberal this and liberal that. We can see this paralleled in Iraq, as we hear it's 'one more thing' and 'six more months' to victory. Yet these vaunted trustees of the big picture are still stymied, and it ain't because some liberal in Idaho is whining about Bush's IQ, but the poor judgment of our leaders throughout.
Finally, if you honestly think FOX News is the pure and unbiased light of truth in a media mosh-pit, you're on drugs. Trusting any media exclusively is inherently unwise, and anyone who tells you they have the straight line (including me) is selling you something, even a point of view. Cameras are only as objective as the person guiding the lens; typewriters/computers are only as objective as the people at their keyboards.
Oh, yes ... and surely, you've heard of 'editing'? As in what happens between the facts and your television screen?
Editing is not just picking the most exciting shots, but the impact that comes when you match words with images. If I show you only pictures of a frowning, unhappy George W. Bush, that conveys one impression; if I show you images of a smiling George W. Bush, it says something else.
You can probably find it on the web, but there's a perfect example of this in an appearance where Bush is shown from behind. He is holding a baby amid smiling adults. There's also a photo from the reverse side, which shows the baby crying and throwing a fit as the president holds him aloft. Both are true; both give different impressions.
Chris @ 33:
Listen up you little keyboard tapping pussy. When the fucking draft comes it will get your yellow ass too.
What do keyboard tapping pussy say about the draft? Bring it on, I will make sure to follow Dick Cheney and little Bush and find my way out of it...Only color people should be drafted, I'm a real American!
Actually, if we can draft the members of the 101st Chairborne - Fighting Keyboardists, we can win with even less boots on the ground. After all, one of them is equal to a whole company of whining sissy-pants troublemaking soldiers, right?
Chris @ 33:
My guess is that you've never been in the military and have no intention of joining any time soon.
Carmikl @ 39:
Any common person can join the military and carry a rifle. But not too have done what I have done. The work I did serving my party and my country is invaluable compared to simple military service. Where would we be if we all joined the military? Some of us have to lead and decide policy.
If they really needed me I would join. But I haven't been asked and I'm told my work is too important to be spent in common pursuits.
Mike Mid City @ 36:
You should not be so nasty. Its immature. I'm respectful and then you talk like this. Wash your mouth out with soap. For shame.
If drafted, of course I'll go.
Shadowgm @ 29:
This land is mine, God gave this land to me
This brave and ancient land to me
So take my hand and walk this land with me
Then I see a land where children can run free
And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plain
And walk this lovely land with me
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
Though I am just a man, when you are by my side
With the help of God, I know I can be strong
To make this land our home
If I must fight, I'll fight to make this land our own
Until I die, this land is mine
Chris @ 41:
to Canada I hope
Chris @ 33:
A.Citizen @ 1:
"Bring 'em on!"
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