GAO: Daily Iraq attacks have remained the same...War Hawks Cry...
By John Amato Wednesday Sep 05, 2007 2:20pm
I meant to post this video last week...Watching these warmongers attack the GAO report is a sight to be seen. You see---it can't be true---it just can't be! The Surge is "WORKING" proclaims John McCain on the FOX debate. Serious people like Michael O'Hanlon really must question the very un-serious GAO report that gives very unfair grades to the Iraq government. And I thought the SURGE was working.
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Contrary to claims made by Gen. David Petraeus that sectarian violence has decreased dramatically, the GAO report is unable to report any progress on this front. Moreover, it notes that “average daily attacks against civilians” has remained unchanged:
It is unclear whether sectarian violence in Iraq has decreased–a key security benchmark–since it is difficult to measure perpetrators’ intents, and various other measures of population security from different sources show differing trends. As displayed in figure 4 (see above), average daily attacks against civilians have remained unchanged from February to July 2007. Read the a summary of the report here.
Fred Kagan doesn't like the very unserious GAO either.
TBogg has a slight problem with William the Bloody Kristol: (sorry Spike)
The point of Kristol's column, if there is one, is that there will be a Die-in in Washington where participants will hold up a picture or the name of one of the nearly 4000 American soldiers who have been killed in Bill Kristol's pet war.... and Bill finds the use of these soldiers names without the permission of their families "grotesque".
Bill Kristol should be made to visit the families of each of these soldiers to explain why he thinks the loss of their son, daughter, brother, sister, husband or wife was a noble thing, while his kids attend Ivy league schools. Then each member of the family gets to kick him in the balls.
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Frist?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilCWJvRxVJ4
Surge leads to purge. Good-bye neocons. '08 is not for the repugs to win, but for the dems to loose. Let us not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Geeezzzz.
I'd like for William the Bloody to visit ten randomly selected families of fallen soldiers, and I'd like those visits filmed. It would make for great TV.
"This report doesn't conform with the anecdotal evidence I have or, more importantly, with what I'd like to believe and therefor must be wildly inaccurately."
Did anyone believe for one instant that Gen. David Petraeus would tell the truth when his turn came? His lying was inevitable. Many generals disaproved of the Vietnam war, but publicly they all supported the mission.
Oh, did I mention that Gen. David Petraeus is a liar?
Corruption in the police force!!!! LMAO. Bernard Kerik made millions training them.
Capabilty Jones @ 6:
His first job was training the police force. That worked out swell.
Perhaps someone on the democratic side could drum up some specious statistics to point out how ridiculous and manipulated the White House statistics are. Something like: "The killing of people named Joe has increased 300% in the last 2 months alone!"
o'hanlon has, once again, proven that he is not a "serious" person.
his duplicity is disgusting.
he is painted as someone who was against the war (when he was not) and he provides cover for bush to say, "looky, this o'hanlon fellow sees that the surge is working." when in reality o'hanlon went on a mccain-esque, DOD tour of the "good" areas.
and, not to mention the INSANITY of claiming that the surge is working. it is not. why? just b/c the US forces have secured certain areas does NOT mean that the surge is working. our military is the BEST IN THE WORLD, and it was never a question of whether or not our presence could help secure areas and provide safety. no, the REAL issue has to do with the POLITICS and a functional national govt. and, in this regard, the surge has failed. there is no political unity, and, if anything, things seem to be getting worse. this has nothing to do with the military, they can provide security all live long day, but until the iraqis come together the US military's actions will be in vain and used as propaganda by anti-US groups.
i really hate that bush and people like o'hanlon--once again--try to fool us, while the military and the iraqis continue to be pawns in this sick game.
Biggus Diggus @ 4:
Actually I would like to see him get kicked in the balls 4000 times. That would be a partial punishment for his glorification of war.
bmw 528 @ 11:
He probably pays good money to have that done.
True, Samson - bush touted the "surge" as a means to buy the Iraqi politicians some time to make some sort of politicial progress; now he's saying it is all about "security" because the political situation is so much worse.
My question is this: when the bush proposal for more money (yet again) hits the Senate, why doesn't a Senator put a "hold" on it? Or how about filibustering it? If the Dems really want our troops out, then they should support one or the other.
Matt in Texas @ 13:
And Baghdad does not matter anymore. Strange that.
I want to kick billy in the nuts too, I'll wait my turn....
I guess I am confused- 1800 dead Iraqis last month- HOW is that any better? and really is our Presence or the "surge" really provide anything- other than increased targets? Quite simply it is time to go...and has been for monthes- all the surge did was make them feel more "occupied" and also feed the Hate...
He forgot to wear his whore make up. She dressed appropriately, standard issue CNN Media Whore Uniform.
I'm guessing if right now you asked the man on the street if the surge is working in Iraq, he would say that he heard it is. People don't have time or they just don't have the interest to check out things for themselves. If they hear on tv that the surge is working, that's what they remember.
Biggus Diggus @ 4:
I would like nothing better than a visit from Bill Kristol at my Thanksgiving table to explain to me exactly why my only child was killed in Iraq...to explain to me what exactly his death accomplished other than to destroy my life.
Harley @ 14:
i guess it depends on what you envision for our military's role was supposed to be in "the surge".
the surge was sold to us a means to an end, not an end in itself. the end: political reconciliation. and that is going in reverse, at full speed, seemingly. so, just b/c the means are going well does not support the initial purpose of the surge, a functioning govt where we can finally get the hell outta there--the ends.
Michael needs a comb.
Harley @ 12:
Probably so---my bad. I keep forgetting that wer'e not dealing with normal people.
The GAO report is basically saying what the latest NIE and every other strategic web sources I can find have stated. This "surge" only covers maybe, and that is a big maybe, 2-3 provinces which are largely Sunni dominated. It does not cover the rest of the Iraqi provinces at all. You still have sectarian violence in and around Baghdad, Kirkuk, Basra and many other locations. Add to that, the Iraqi military is still divided along sectarian lines and are carrying out their own objectives. The neocons argue that training will solve that problem with the military. How training a bunch of men to march or move in a staggered column will some how make them more loyal to the Iraqi Government is beyond me. I've never been able to figure out the logic behind that idea and I probably never will.
What people like O’Hanlon and Kagen need to realize is that all ground forces are committed to Iraq and Afghanistan now. There are very few available to use anywhere else. Air and sea power have little to no effect on guerrilla fighters and neighboring nations are now taking action on their own. In other words, the Bush Administration's efforts are becoming more irrelevent by the day while our troops continue to pay the price.
O'Hanlon: "I'm hoping its a draft error in the GAO report"
Yeah, Michael, it was a typo, you idiot.
"If you don't count car-bombings, and you don't count Shia killed by Shia, or Sunnis killed by Sunnis, or any non-Shia or Sunni people killed - then civillian deaths are down dramatically."
Really, that's the best these morons could do? Heck of a job, Handsy.
Or is it, "O'Handsy"??
Gayle, I'm so sorry for your loss. Parents are supposed to die before their children.
[Deleted. Do not advocate violence on this site]
I would like to know who the Sunni "volunteers" are that he mentioned.
i can't understand how Michael O’Hanlon can say what if any progress has been made in iraq since he has never actually served in the armed services as a soldier. the only service he ever gives here in America and while he was in iraq was either on his knees or bent over holding his own ankles.
Another Dishonorable Chicken-hawk
by Cindy Sheehan
I know just a little bit about Mr. William Kristol:
He is the son of one of the founders of the "neo-conservative" movement, Irving Kristol.
He is a commentator on Fox News.
[Deleted. Way too long, provide a link]
Is it just me or is that O’Hanlon guy the one that played Josh, the young boy that became Tom Hanks in the movie Big?
This is why the primary season is just TOO long in this presidential race. The excitement is wearing off and what the candidates, on both sides, are saying before reports come out, etc., is just annoying. *yawn* *yawn* *yawn*
Great article in the Nation on counter-insurgency:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070924/hayden
One sub-point with political implications:
Will Bush (Cheney) organize a shuffling of the Iraqi political leadership (Al-Maliki out in favor of someone else) and use this as an excuse to keep the surge going for just one more Friedman?
Gayle, All of these asswipes should be made to come to your house and explain why your child was killed. It just makes me want to weep when I hear from REAL people who lost REAL children. God bless you.
Ruthless People @ 30:
link didn't work which is why I posted the body. Maybe C&L can get it a post it. It's worth the read.
enigma4ever @ 16:
Did I dream it or not??? I vividly recall on another C&L thread yesterday talking about
casualities in Iraq, it was reported that an "accurate count" canNOT be determined due
to the Pentagon/Military "new" method of counting...i.e., are NOT counting deaths due
to car bombings, are NOT counting Sunni killing Sunni, are NOT counting Shites killing
Shites and perhaps even another category NOT being counted. So...in reality anyone
who reports that the Surge is working based upon a decline in number of casualities,
is a BOLD FACE liar....
Any arguement advanced about the "success" of the Iraq war is worthless.
The fact remains, it is an illegal war, based on lies, thus it is impossible to "win".
Bush & Cheney should be imprisoned for war crimes. This is transparently naked aggression against a sovereign nation for the sole purpose of stealing their natural resources.
If the Haugue and the U.N. cannot stop the U.S. from it's illegal military "adventures", then they make a mockery of everything, including democracy itself.
If Hitler were alive today, he'd be smiling.
Doggiebobo @ 36:
*pinches Doggiebobo*
nope, you are quite awake, and your memory is accurate
Doggiebobo @ 36:
this administration has taken over the entire govt thru criminal acts by the president thru his signing statements. it's 1984 and the only truth that will ever come from this administration is NONE !!!!!!!!!
You mean every planned and calculated Bush sychophant and dupe that you met on your closely choreographed guided tour of military safe-houses in Iraq was wrong, O'Hanlon?
You are really nothing but a right wing tool and a weasel aren't you, you little prick.
The GAO has obviously made some big mistakes. How do I know? Because Michael O’Hanlon says so, and we know he's a journalist of the highest integrity...UURRPP
Pardon me, I had a little re-re-re-reflux problem...
Apparently Mr. O'Hanlon didn't have a plan for what would happen to his hair AFTER he got out of bed.
Sorry, but this is simply out of hand. "William the Bloody," Spike (who has held the title held for well over a century), may have been a demonic serial killer who killed not only for food but for the joy of the kill itself; may have been a two-faced liar who often feigned friendship only to later turn on his "friends;" and may have been goaded into redemption solely by a behavior modification chip; but he eventually acquired a soul. This comparison to Bill Kristol is an insult to blood-sucking demonic fiends everywhere.
P.S. Spike was also genuinely funny, a snappy dresser, and had plenty of luck with the ladies. Mr. Kristol?
O'Hanlon is still being treated as someone who went to Iraq to do primary source reporting on the Iraq War, but it has been clearly demonstrated that this is not the case. He went to Iraq, but only talked to gov't sources, and he went on a tour that was organized by the gov't. This is not a matter of debate - O'Hanlon has admitted this. How can CNN treat him otherwise w/ all of the evidence to the contrary?
We have no media in some very important respects.
fiver @ 43:
I think Mr. Kristol is more of a hit in the Minneapolis Airport men's room...
Bill Kristol's kids are attending Ivy League Schools?
Is that true ?
What's up with O'Hanlon's messy hair? Can't the guy afford a barber with all the money the right wing "think tanks" are funneling to him for spewing this crap?
I want that putz to walk the streets of any city in Iraq for 10 minutes without a marine platoon. Please.
Why didn't anyone mention Glenn Greenwald's ripping O'Hanlon a new one by calling him out on everything?
Greenwald's already discredited this douchebag.
I'd give my right nut to see a "75% reduction" in bullshit coming from this guy. These people are all insane!
bilhelm-X @ 50:
Your right nut is very safe, I'm sure.
William Kristol may be a chickenhawk, but his son, who attends Harvard, is also a member of the ROTC.
Who knows what kind of hoops the White House will jump through to alter the statistics to make the "surge" look like it's "working". Why does anyone listen to them anymore? They have a new pimp, that's all.
I'm still not quite sure what makes O'Hanlon (by himself ) a more superior expert. More than the GAO ? O'Hanlon talks to people and so do I.
Does the people O'Hanlon speak to tell him what they want and what he wants to hear? Or tells him what he is paid to hear and paid to produce a report on. We know FOX Opinion news went to court and won over telling their reporters to lie. Lie to the public purposely. FOX won the right to lie in its media to the public. Why is O'Hanlon any different?
We can surge and quell the Iraq violence while our presence is there. If this is so easy then why haven't we controled the peace between Isreal and Palistine? This is their land and home. They will wait us out and then purge their differences. All we are doing is giving them weapons and traing to kill each other when we leave......
You notice the GAO does not and probably can not respond. Isn't that a coincidence in O'Hanlon's favor?
listen to this apologist on npr's On Point - look in the archives about 3 weeks ago -- what a peach
To Michael O' Hanlon
Face it chum, your career and pretense to intellectualism is over.
Michael O’ Hanlon states that even if the Patreus figures are wrong that his claimed drop of 75% is still impressive.
How!!! What an idiot!!
If the figures are wrong, and there is no reason to think that the GAO has any bias while there is plenty of reason for Petreus to, then the 75% drop is completely fictional!!!
Can't the news readers get someone to help them ask these fools the proper questions?
They make analysis based on reports from people with established biases, the question the work of truly independent researchers!!
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