5 Years In Iraq
Rep. Robert Wexler on the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. From his email:
This evening will mark 5 years since President Bush officially launched his ill-conceived preemptive invasion of Iraq.
At the beginning of this war, whether we agreed with it or not, Congress and the American people saluted the brave service of the men and women of our military.
Today, five years later, it is well past time that we truly honor this service by bringing all American troops home from Iraq. This war has affected the lives of so many American families. The stories we hear from our friends, family members, and co-workers are truly heartbreaking – from the tragic losses of life and devastating injuries, to those who have returned but still suffer mental trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Many of us personally know one of the 4,000 soldiers who have died or one of nearly 40,000 Americans who have been wounded.
Many of us have a friend or family member who has had to suffer repeated 15-month tours – separated from family and often with little break in between assignments.
Beyond the personal losses that so many have endured, now all Americans are feeling the financial effects of the war, as the fruits of our economy (nearly $500 billion to date) are drained into this never-ending engagement. Just imagine the investments that could have been made if this money was spent here at home, rather than fueling this massive war machine half a world away.
This tragedy extends to innocent Iraqis as well. From children to their teachers, shopkeepers to waiters – even the low estimates of Iraqi civilian deaths are near 90,000. Some estimate the death toll to be in the hundreds of thousands.
Americans will sacrifice a great deal to protect our national security and to bring peace to troubled regions of the world. But what have we gained for all of our sacrifices in Iraq? Today, we are more vulnerable then ever with a rebuilding Al Qaeda, a resurgent Iran, and a totally destabilized Iraq.
Even worse, President Bush and Vice-President Cheney brought us into this calamity in Iraq based on deliberate lies and misdirection. The Bush Administration misled Congress and the American people with false claims of Iraqi nuclear weapons, Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, and Iraqi relations with Al Qaeda. These lies were fed with great enthusiasm by those who stood to benefit financially and politically from this war.
We must renew our call for a dramatic change of course. Last week in Congress, I introduced a resolution that condemns the Bush Administration for this unnecessary war and calls for an immediate redeployment of troops. Please contact your Member of Congress and urge them to co-sponsor this important resolution.
It is time to confront the stark reality of our situation.
MoveOn.org is hosting vigils all around the country to protest the war. Click here to find the location nearest you. Other marches and protests will be held commemorating this sad anniversary. If you can't make it to one of them, might I ask you to consider joining in the Fax-in on Congress?
Well said! You know Hannity will bash the shit out of it!
what's the point anymore?
bla bla bla another speech with NO action to back it up
same shit different day
FUBAR!
What's worse? 5 years in this hell hole, or the fact 30% of Americans think we can win this thing? Over 1 million dead Iraqis, almost 4000 soldiers dead, trillions gone, and a bruised nation. The fact even Betrayus said there isn't any real progress makes me depressed. Now McInsane is saying how successful the surge is, is mind boggleing! And the Right-wingers eat it up! How can sheeple be so stupid!
As long as bombs were killing the arab untermensch this war was very popular. An entertaining target rich environment. You destroyed a country and now after 4000 of your cockroach mercenaries have perished, the war turned not so fun anymore, eh? "It costs trillions" I hear those brave "open minded americans" say - which to me sound like saying "I oppose rape, because hospitals are not free."
You transition to democracy transitioned 1 million eyerackies to the grave and you worry your paid killers have "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" and "hearing loss"?
What a despicable sick nation.
I've been busy for the March 19 Iraq War Blogswarm too. There are two new LEGO recreations on Legofesto: Mission Accomplished and Body Count.
"Today Hundreds of protesters "froze" in place for 5 minutes in Union Station to mark 5 years of war as commuters and police looked on with curious or confused expressions. But when activists stepped out of their pose, chanting a reverberating "end the war" throughout the rotunda, the message and purpose of the action became clear: we cannot be silent."
http://www.5yearstoomany.org/img/original/sound_the_alarm1.jpg
http://www.5yearstoomany.org/
BAGHDAD BUREAU
The Hangings of a Girl and a Dictator, and What Happened in Between
By MARC SANTORA
Two deaths, the lynching of a 10-year-old girl and the hanging of Saddam Hussein, provide the grim bookends of my time in Iraq.
Why the Fifth Anniversary Celebration of the Iraq War has Been Cancelled
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=1629
Military Fatalities: By Time Period
Period US UK Other* Total Avg Days
6 904 45 9 958 2.33 412
5 933 32 20 985 2.39 412
4 715 13 18 746 2.35 318
3 580 25 27 632 2.93 216
2 718 27 59 804 1.9 424
1 140 33 173 4.02 43
Total 3990 175 133 4298 2.36 1825
Coalition Military Fatalities By Year
Year US Other Total
2008 12 19 31
2007 117 115 232
2006 98 93 191
2005 99 31 130
2004 52 6 58
2003 48 9 57
2002 49 20 69
2001 12 0 12
Total 487 293 780
10 CoIntelPro Says: IRAQ
11 CoIntelPro Says: AFGHANISTAN
Wexler talks about "The stories we hear from our friends, family members and co-workers..." but inexplicably leaves out the stories that were told this past weekend of what American soldiers witnessed and/or participated in while stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is bad enough that the mass media, for the most part, failed to focus on this most important event. It becomes more egregious that a Democratic congressman decides to leave out testimony given by American soldiers of atrocities that were committed against the Iraqi and Afghani people. The soldiers have done the right thing by admitting that transgressions have been committed by the United States in the Middle East. If only the members of congress would profess the same thing to the American people.
Well said, Mr. Wexler. But the media are too busy talking about Obama's former minister, and about Gov. Spitzer's downfall, to cover your remarks. If they ever bother to mention you, it will be as a "left-wing fringe activist," or some such casual slander.
Estimates of Iraq War Cost Were Not Close to Ballpark
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Five years into the conflict, experts estimate the cost of the war to be anywhere from $600 billion to $4 trillion - tens of times more than originally projected.
5 Samo Umer
um...interesting analysis that won't be very popular.
5 Samo Umer Says:
"As long as bombs were killing the arab untermensch this war was very popular. An entertaining target rich environment. You destroyed a country and now after 4000 of your cockroach mercenaries have perished, the war turned not so fun anymore, eh? “It costs trillions” I hear those brave “open minded americans” say - which to me sound like saying “I oppose rape, because hospitals are not free.”
You transition to democracy transitioned 1 million eyerackies to the grave and you worry your paid killers have “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” and “hearing loss”?
What a despicable sick nation."
=====================================
Millions of us were never entertained by this war, although you are indeed correct, this is a very sick nation. The soldiers of any country are, by definition, not mercineries. Nor are they cockroaches. You take on the tactics of those you despise when you utter such invectives of dehumanization and you should be ashamed to let them pass your lips.
A nation with a media as monopolized by empirialistic corporations (six in all) as ours is is more easily led astray. The trillions of dollars are lamented not because we could have used it to go to Disney World, but because we could have used it for health care and mass transit and FEMA instead of destroying a nation physically, culturally and its historic record and artifacts.
Step back and look at yourself before condemning an entire people lest you become another George Bush.
Commie@2 "what's the point anymore" To recognize this immoral occupation as a horrendously unforgivable military failure and to stop it immediately to not waste anymore lives.
17 xoites Hussein defends Constitution
You are right on the money XHDC, but most people do not see the actions of a supposed democratically elected government, as done by just politicians. When Canada does something questionable, people blame Canada and not Harper or whatever clown just happens to be PM. I'm sure many do it, myself included, but if a nation professes loudly that their people have spoken and given the government a mandate, the world sees this as supporting the politicians.
This tragedy extends to innocent Iraqis as well.
Umm, shouldn't the innocent Iraquis be a little bit higher on the list? He drops them in there as kind of a secondary argument. Our soldiers have gone thru hell, but at least they have the possibility of getting out and coming home to a place that hasn't been literally blown to bits.
Looking at Bush right now blathering about Operation Iraqi Freedom,( ??? ). Weren't we looking for weapons of mass destruction? I love how the Bush clan change the definition of this war to suit their needs. We are going to pay a heavy price for our arrogance. As our allies slowly withdrawl from us, we will truly be alone.
The people of the planet have to look a little deeper, certainly past the political powers.
"....that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the government; and, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it."
Why is this in your Constitution?
Top of the News Today. Iraq 5th Anniversary Celebration
Perfect timing to distract people from this weeks Wall Street Pump and Dump.
Hope you didn't fall for it.
Bring the troops home now. If the republicans want a US presence there send their family members to replace the troops currently serving.
Next point: Bear Stearns paid out BILLIONS of dollars in Bonuses in January. If they had filed for bankruptcy then those Bonuses would have to been paid back to Bear Stearns under Bankruptcy Law.
5 down, 95 to go says Uncle Johnnie.
Watching Bush's speech make me wonder who in the Hell is clapping? Our these people insane? Clapping for this man and his failed policies? What the Hell!
23 earl Says:
“….that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the government; and, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.”
Why is this in your Constitution?
===============================
Why do YOU think our government spends so much money developing crowd control systems and training for civil unrest?
What civil unrest?
Has American Idol been cancelled?
I hope lots of people go to the candlelight vigils. I'm signing up now.
Most Americans are just sheep. They just don't care enough to
to do anything about it. We've crossed the event horizon!
LAC @ 26:
I guess everything was just "fine" at BS back in January. *HA*
Bear Stearns = The Enron of Wall St.
CNN:
Bush: "U.S. is safer because of Iraq war"
Holy crap, seriously I give up.
I look at the Cowchip-in-Charge speaking at the Pentagon, and I have to say we're a bit late with the resolutions, Rep. Wexler. Not that I don't appreciate it, but impeachment should have been a priority after the midterm elections in 2006.
That's the entirety of the 'fifth year' of the Iraq war, with all it entails. A surge that provided temporary gains. Another 1,000 dead soldiers. More surveillance, more torture, more lies.
Protests are happening across the country, but the sad truth is that this booger on the face of American history will remain where he is.
30 earl Says:
What civil unrest?
Has American Idol been cancelled?
=====================
No, and people working two jobs to survive is not helping either. Mass hypnosis has always been a part of the problem.
Earl, I couldn't agree more. CNN=Faux News Lite.
$500 Billion?
Uhhhhh people I got news for ya lets think more like $3 Trillion here when the total bill for this quagmire eventually surfaces.
When are you going to accept the fact that Bushes FUDGE the numbers? Always have and always will?
Scams away!
Listening to C-Span and I can't beleive how many sheeple insist there were WMDs! I really would like to know what they are taking. I would like to numb my brain right now!
The so called POW have been used for practice so they can literally drive us crazy. How can we allow these spendthrifts to go on killing people just for the sake of destruction. And the Supreme court is deliberating taking away our guns.
P.D. @ 37:
It used to be illegal to distribute propaganda inside the US.
Now its called the 24 hour news cycle.
12,338.68 Down 53.98 (-0.44%)
Some rally yesterday huh?
L.A. Confidential @ 42:
Don't the Bushies short the market anyway? They count on the market going down.
Turned CNN on this morning to listen to Kyra Phillips prattle on about how great it was to be able to walk around the newly-renamed-for-the-occasion Green Zone safely.
I thought I was on Faux by mistake. Truly pathetic.
I believe the 24 hour news cycle destroyed our political process. Between endless coverage of Monica Gate, and the kotowing to big business by the Republican revolution of the nineties big business(ie. cable companies) knew it was in their best interest to promote the Rupug agenda. Just watching CNN proves just that.
Not being covered.
http://tinyurl.com/2lx39c
http://tinyurl.com/2lx39c
P.D. @ 45:
Media (Media Consolidation) has turned this country into a Pavlovian Laboratory-Workshop for the ruling elites.
28 P.D.
Watching Bush’s speech make me wonder who in the Hell is clapping? Our these people insane? Clapping for this man and his failed policies? What the Hell!
The speech was given at the pentagon.
The Iraq invasion was the wrong thing to do.
La is right! Ring the bell watch the sheeple drool!
gregster @ 49:
I'm not ready make nice I'm not ready to back down.
Cheney is just downright evil:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/19/cheney-poll-iraq/
Ron, I should have known. War mongers and profiteers can always count on Bush!
God, it's hard to take the anti-war movement seriously when they don't spell check their banners.
So?
Happy Anniversary Bushy
Got you on my mind
I'm so happy for you Bushy
Now that you found somebody new
I can see it in your eyes oh it's no surprise
What sheep will do for you
Samo Umer @ 5:
You make for an accurate mirror of the American Psyche. The same portrait, but from a different perspective.
I think you're point is that we should hate the victims that you choose, rather than the victims that our government chooses.
L.A. Confidential @ 47:
They idea of paying to have FOX/CNN piped into my house made me ill. I cut the cable. If I need news I go to democracynow.org
38 L.A. Confidential Says:
"$500 Billion?"
Agreed. That number is only what they officially asked for. The actual costs, including VA care, equipment replacement, retraining, etc. will be much, much more expensive.
This is our fifth year Bushy
And I feel like I'm in jail, Lord
I'm holding on to this card
Can't seem to get it in the mail
And the card reads ...
Happy Anniversary Bushie
Got you on my mind
Don't ya want to spy on us now
While you steal our money
P.D. @ 28:
I wondered the same thing as I watched. There were times when bush paused and I think expected clapping but none came. Maybe whoever these people were they just clapped to be polite or respectful or maybe they were required to do it.
Did you notice he mentioned something about countries in the area of Iraq perhaps wanting to acquire WMD. Funny he would even bring that up, all things considered.
Watching C-Span some economists believe this Iraq fiasco will cost 3 trillion dollars. What a legacy for our children.
40% of Americans feel the Iraq war is winnable. I want to know why these god damn chickenhawks won't enlist. These bastards will run their mouth to no end and still will not enlist.
Its your war assholes, go fight it.
Patricia, I'm so disallusioned, I don't know what to think. I wonder why I even watch the news anymore.
It's so romantic (dubya's words) getting to spend $ 4-5 trillion dollars and kill countless thousands during playtime... Ooops, gotta go slop some pigs on my farm and gen up some more cash for my buds at KBR....no time to talk about this stuff...let pravda handle it...oops, that fox noise...
The whole bush family will go down in history and one of the top five most damaging groups in the history of the world. The cheeennnys won't be far behind...
Sad day for our country...
George W (war-criminal) Bush and associates are celebrating all the way to the bank, while the stupid voters are paying and paying and paying. While 4000 deaths and 40000 wounded does not impress the 30% who support the war, when gasoline hits the price of $5 a gallon, due to the low value of the dollar caused by financing of the war and the large consumption of gasoline and oil by the industrial military establishment in carrying on the war, then at least half of the 30% who support the war will get the message - its crumping their life style.
To: Wexler
Any Troops deaths that occur outside of Iraq are not counted in the 3990 deaths( more like 10,000) and the $500 billion is just black trick majic--it's actually $3 trillion. And who's about to pay for it? I suggest the Bush/Chenny family all assets!
You Wexler forgot to tell us that the Demos are planning to introduce a war tax to cover it---Yaaah !
I hope America puts McCain in the White House. That way they can have their soft, comfy lilly white security blanket...soaked in blood.
63 McCain the Liar Says: 40% of Americans feel the Iraq war is winnable. I want to know why these god damn chickenhawks won’t enlist. These bastards will run their mouth to no end and still will not enlist.
Its your war assholes, go fight it.
They keep calling it a war but, it's an occupation. The oil stealing contracts haven't been signed and unemployment is over 60%. The police and Iraqi troops aren't getting their paychecks so some of them are turning against their government. If we stay, it will take 100 years or longer.
P.D. @ 62:
Oh no, they figured out the perfect spin for that one:
(Again from Corporate News Network):
Bush said critics of the war -- such as Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- "can no longer credibly argue that we are losing in Iraq, so now they argue the war costs too much."
The people who brought us Iraq don't care how many inconsistencies or lies we point out. They have a long-term goal and they will force it on America no matter what. They shrug off the daily exposure of their lies with a shrug and move on to the next step in the gameplan.
That's why we have been there for five years and will be there for another five and beyond.
Complaint is accomplishing nothing. They could care less about low poll numbers.
Until Congress decides to pursue the same "take no prisoners" approach to the war, we won't see any change.
The only way to deal with hard asses is with a hard ass response.
Oh yeah what a guy!
http://tinyurl.com/2wpdsb
And of course Johnny McJesus is in town!
http://tinyurl.com/3b45rt
L.A. Confidential @ 73:
NO SURRENDER! SEIG HEIL! WERE THE GOOD GUYS!!!!!
It's more than obvious, who the MSM wants to run against McCain. They just switched from Obana giving a speech to Hillary.
Elisabeth on the View is dense.
What amazes me is that nobody ever really talks about the impact of this war on the Iraqis. What ever cost there has been to America pales in comparison to the cost the Iraqis have had to suffer. The U.S. has largely destroyed that country. A recent British study says the number of Iraqi dead since the war started could be as high as 1 million, that would be 4% of the population or would be the same as if about 12 million Americans died. There are also likely another 3 or 4 million Iraqis who have left the country. That is almost 20% of the entire population has now gone. This says nothing of the likely millions who have been injured and mentally screwed up or the devastation to the Iraqi economy which has caused untold hardship (hunger, disease, etc.). Was this war worth it? Try asking the Iraqis?
Just watching coverage on CNN.
Obama in a live speech, talking about how he'd approach the problems Iraq represents now, and in the future.
CNN cuts away to a Clinton speech to give her equal face time. Clinton is talking about...
...seating the Michigan and Florida delegates.
Quite the contrast on the fifth anniversary of our invasion of Iraq.
RH Potfry @ 54:
Do you apply this same standard to Bush's lack of ability to speak the English language coherently?
God I can't wait until this small man-child is back on his Crawford ranch playing cowboy.
Future historians will ask "Why didn't the people stop it?"
What amazes me is that nobody ever really talks about the impact of this war on the Iraqis. What ever cost there has been to America pales in comparison to the cost the Iraqis have had to suffer. The U.S. has largely destroyed that country. A recent British study says the number of Iraqi dead since the war started could be as high as 1 million, that would be 4% of the population or would be the same as if about 12 million Americans died. There are also likely another 3 or 4 million Iraqis who have left the country. That is almost 20% of the entire population has now gone. This says nothing of the likely millions who have been injured and mentally screwed up or the devastation to the Iraqi economy which has caused untold hardship (hunger, disease, etc.). Was this war worth it? Try asking the Iraqis?
That's because our government, the Bush regime, and the American media do not care about the Iraqis. They are collateral damage that is to be swept aside from the path of the American War Machine.
Elect the old white guy!!
We need continuity in government!!
The terrorists are coming...and they plan on taking away your American Idol!!
We could be faced with mushroom clouds over Butte, Montana!!
The Iraq War must be successful, even if it costs the lives of every man, woman and child in the United States making less than $200K per year!!
Be a patriot! Enlist now!! Support the troops!!
Act now and you will receive free...a magnetic yellow ribbon with your name on it!!
I wonder who will be the brave soul in DC to admit the obvious to the American people.....
IRAQ WAS BETTER OFF UNDER SADDAM THAN THEY ARE UNDER A AMERICAN OCCUPATION.
There is a such thing as making a bad situation worse. Saddam was a bad situation, America was worse. Could we afford to not do anything?
I believe so until a better alternative or opportunity presented itself.
If you have watched the HBO mini-series, John Adams, you can clearly tell that even among people who value democracy over religion, there was NO WAY that a foreign power could have come into the United States and liberated us from England unless all 13 colonies were in complete agreement that liberation is what we wanted for ourselves and a Consitututional democracy is where we wanted to go.
The U.S. forces should cease all combat operations in Iraq (including bribes) and pull back to the borders and let the Iraqi people settle this amongst themselves. Will thousands die? Yes. Will millions die? Probably. But I'd rather millions died over the next five years with a light at the end of the tunnel than for millions to die over the next 50 years and we still have no resolution in sight and they take thousands of American soldiers and trillions of our dollars with them.
But I fear this 3am call will keep going to voicemail.
CoIntelPro @ 12
.........and how many civilians in Iraq and ditto Afghanistan.......................?
83 Liberal AND Proud Says: Elect the old white guy!!
We need continuity in government!!
The terrorists are coming…and they plan on taking away your American Idol!!
We could be faced with mushroom clouds over Butte, Montana!!
They're that flatulent?
CoIntelPro@ 10, 11 and 12
My point is that statistics like that become irrelevant as ling as you don't include ALL the casualties.
THE HIGH PRICE OF INCOMPETENCE
I don't believe that the Bush adminstration's Iraq invasion and occupation fiasco was initially planned and executed by "evil" men and women. But I do believe it was the most incompetently and disastrously planned and executed military and foreign policy blunder in the history of the United States of America. The "evil" was in the arrogance, stupidity and failures of judgment that resulted from what happened in Iraq that the Bush administration was far too incompetent to foresee and then far too dishonest to admit for fear of political consequences. The "evil" was in the outright lying, purposeful distortions and deliberate denials for the purpose of covering up the unconsiconable amount of Iraqi death and destruction that resulted from the Bush administration's multiple serial failures of judgment and planning. The "evil" was perpetuating death and destruction to save political face. The "evil" was in deceiving and now forcing the American taxpayers to waste trilions of their hard earned dollars, that could have been invested in America, for a failed war that has absolutely no military, political, moral, social or economic benefit to the United States of America. The lies and cover-ups are continuing five years later, and there is no doubt whatsoever that the men and women who are still planning and executing them are representations of "evil" incarnate. Their "incompetence" grew into "evil" because they valued their political lives over the mortal lives of 4000 patriotic American solidiers, hundreds of thousands of helpless and innocent Iraqi civilians and hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of taxpayer dollars that could have been used to improve the quality of the lives of American men, women and children. At this point, there are no explanations or excuses that can hide the "evil" that the men and women of the Bush administration are forcing down the throats of decent and conscientious American citizens. They are past the point of redemption. They have become "evil" itself.
76 Jared Wolfhope Says: Elisabeth on the View is dense.
They're all dim-wits.
This is what passes for discourse now.
I haven't been able to take Babwa Wawa seriously since she asked Katherine Hepburn what kind of tree she'd like to be.
That right to abolish a harmful government is mentioned in the Decaration of Independence not the Constitution. It's time for a rebellion, all the same . Do something today. It's "Sick Of It Day." Google that and be the change, as they say. Your silence will not protect you.
Ron @ 48:
The Pentagon is the one safe place for Bush to give a speech. Clap or get a pink slip.
Mister Anderson @ 84
Thousands upon thousands are dying anyway. The question is: Why should they die at the hands of Americans. Or rather: Why should Americans take the blame for what they're doing to each other anyway?
osage @ 88:
I do.
To osage @ 88
Follow this link
http://www.wanttoknow.info/brzezinskigrandchessboard
and read it, before you say sometthing as naive as:
"I don’t believe that the Bush adminstration’s Iraq invasion and occupation fiasco was initially planned and executed by “evil” men and women."
Then Google: PNAC Committee
If that doesn't change your mind, nothing will.
osage @ 88
Google PNAC Committee,
then follow this link:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/brzezinskigrandchessboard
I'm just backing up what Allice Hussein believes with facts.
[FYI, that link is throwing your comments into the spam filter. The monitors can only retrieve your comments once they're in the filter- we can't stop them from going into the filter- and we're not always here to do that. Thanks. Site Monitor]
Mister Anderson @ 84:
Be very wary of getting your history from Television.
I don't have a television, I go to the Library.
BTW this was the John Adams of the Alien and Sedition Act which put American publishers in jail for criticizing the same Mr. Adams.
Allice Hussein @ 91
There are students that turned their back on Chimpy when he held a speech at their college 5-6 years ago.
They didn't pass. They didn't graduate. I've got it in a documentary made post 9/11.
The tragedy is that no amount of protest will pierce the bubble surrounding Bush. He still thinks he's right about 4,000 flag-draped coffins and a war that will break our military (if it hasn't effectively done so already.) Neither he or Dick listen to polls, which essentially says, "Fuck the American people. We do what we want, how we want."
"No matter the cost" is nice rhetoric, but it doesn't work when there's no strategy and no mission. Bush still sounds as if he thinks al-Qaeda is a finite quantity, instead of representatives of an ideology that flourishes under the boot-heel of a foreign occupation.
On January 21, 2009, Bush will likely duck out of town faster than the bin Laden family did after 9/11.
After 5 years of this so-called "war", Busholini still spouts the same empty rhetoric.
It's incredible. It's incredible that 30% of this assinine country still believes him. It's incredible that there IS NO STRATEGY; that there's no definition of what "victory" means.
IT IS INCREDIBLE that impeachment is STILL off the table!
WASHINGTON — Police arrested more than a dozen people who crossed a barricade and blocked entrances at the Internal Revenue Service building Wednesday, the start of a day of protests marking the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
A crowd of more than 100 gathered outside the IRS headquarters......................,
Wow. That's some protest. Seems Americans are STILL enraged about the Iraq Occupation. So much so, that they almost rally. Amazing. Simply amazing.
96 Alice Hussein Says: Mister Anderson @ 84:
[edited by me click or scroll for original]
If you have watched the HBO mini-series, John Adams, you can clearly tell that even among people who value democracy over religion…
Be very wary of getting your history from Television.
I don’t have a television, I go to the Library.
BTW this was the John Adams of the Alien and Sedition Act which put American publishers in jail for criticizing the same Mr. Adams.
I know the argument you're trying to make and I don't take offense, but please don't jump to conclusions about me about how I get my history. I used the television program as a demonstration to make a larger point about Iraq, and not to debate or discuss the historical inaccuracies about the founding fathers. Jefferson was publicly against slavery, but owned slaves his entire life to pay off debts. We all know, or should know, that the men and women we pay respect to throughout world history had a lot of flaws and scars upon closer examination. But I wasn't endorsing John Adams for President, I was discussing our future involvement in Iraq.
92 CheneyIsADick Says: Mister Anderson @ 84
Thousands upon thousands are dying anyway. The question is: Why should they die at the hands of Americans. Or rather: Why should Americans take the blame for what they’re doing to each other anyway?
I agree with you. But it seems like the political debate, and the narrative that the media will spin is a double standard. On one hand they want a politician with the smarts and guts to withdraw the U.S. from Iraq. On the other hand, they want to curse the person and call them pure evil if they knowingly withdraw troops from Iraq when we all know they're going to massacre each other when we leave.
And Bush will NEVER be held accountable for his actions for getting us in there in the first place. The next President will take the full hit of what comes afterwards. It's unfair, but withdrawing and letting the Iraqis sort it out is the right thing to do. So I wonder which person has the guts to do what needs being done even if it's at the expense of their own career?
Anne Johnson @ 90:
You need to literally stop the police state. America is not the shining gem in the world, It's a feather in the caps of bankers who are richer than god and when everyone loses everything. It's back to the Robber Barons.
The joke is the continuing idea that American presence and troops are responsible for "Keeping the peace" and preventing some type of massive killing.
Nothing could be further from the truth- the one's who try to make Iraq safer and continue to do so ARE IRAQi's. People can ignore them all they want and continue to think that all they wish to do is spill each other's blood but that's not the case. US presence does nothing but make the situation worse. If the US left right after Saddam was toppled then Iraq would still be better off than today.
xoites Hussein defends Constitution @ 17:
I'm sorry. I condemn the soldiers as they did in Nuremberg.
"I was only following orders" is not a defence.
600,000 people massacred, bodies hanging from streetlamps, half torsos, small children's parts... This is a "pacified" area.
The soldiers who pulled the triggers, who dropped the bombs. are criminals. Who participated in a warcrime.
Every DU bullet is a violation of the geneva conventions. (You may not invade a country and poison it's land.) (for 50,000 years)
The US will be brought to justice, as the world begins to fight against them. World War.
Krackonis @ 105:
I think the tin foil cap is a bit tight today.
I don't understand. The U.S. was founded on the very ideas that are know being marred. Why do any of you put up with it?
Am I being too idealistic? Were the boats of people that made the months-long journey across the Atlantic Ocean too idealistic?
Perhaps I'm too simplistic. But all I can say is that I don't understand.
RH Potfry @ 106:
Not a very good rebuttal to what he said, especially about Nuremberg. As the Nuremberg trials should have demonstrated, claiming that one was only following orders did not prevent German officials and soldiers from being hanged for their offenses. Unless you are taking the position that international law applies to everyone except the United States. But as prosecutor and future Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson pointed out about the lessons of the Nuremberg Trials, international law should apply to every country, victor and vanquished alike.
Today marks the 5th year of a war we were lied into and an occupation that many decry as Illegal. Four years ago, we were told that America was in grave danger from Iraq. We were told that Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction and were close to achieving nuclear technology.
The Bush administration linked "9/11" to "Iraq" so many times that 70% of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was responsible for the 2001 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center.
We were told lies then, and we're being told lies now.
I've devoted my weekly political cartoon to this illegal occupation, it's up on my website now.
www.whatnowtoons.com
The fact that we have been there five years is staggering. The fact that there are 31% of people in the US supporting the war is idiotic. The fact that less and less people are even paying any attention to this war due to the distraction of anticipation of there 600 to $1200 Walmart card due in the mail in May is sickening. But "mission accomplished" took the eyes of america off the war. My suggestion is take your stimulus package and give it to the soldiers coming home to a lack of healthcare coverage for their sacrifices in Iraq.
What a tool! I'm tired of hearing guys like this blather on and do nothing. Democrats are Rebubs in sheep's clothing.
So many un/misinformed people posting here. Hard to know what the truth is when so many lies are constantly repeated so as to make them "the truth."
If all of you folks would just read the original texts of the UN resolutions and do a little research into the source material instead of using what is filtered by others maybe you could join the rest of us in the real world.
For those of you too lazy to do so here's a quick recap:
Lie #1: We (the U.S.) supported Saddam/brought him to power.
The Truth: Saddam brought himself to power in an election that many believe was rigged, then he proceeded to remove the opposition party members by declaring them traitors and had them removed from the Parlaiment Gallery to be taken outside and executed. The USSR was Iraqs primary trading partner until its collapse, and France and Germany stepped in to fill in some of the gaps.
Lie #2: We invaded Iraq because of WMD/Oil/Al Queda.
The Truth: We invaded Iraq because Saddam did not abide by any of the Terms of Surrender after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait (demonstrate that the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological weapons that everyone in the world knew existed have been destroyed was one of the tenets). Then Saddam decides to get some satifaction by killing Kurds in the North of his own country so we (the U.S.) have to get another UN Resolution to protect Iraqis from Iraq. Then Saddam goes after his own countrymen in the South and we do the same for them. Ten years goes by and we're still flying Northern/Southern Watch missions to protect Iraqi civilians, none of the inspectors can verify that the WMD have been destroyed, and The President says enough is enough.
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