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Once again hiding behind the troops, Bush sent Patraeus to Capitol Hill yesterday to give his report and the lap-dog media fell right in line, as usual. Someone needs to tell the truth and it seems I’m the only one that’s gonna do it so here’s some news headlines and the “real story.”
"Surge campaign launched in January is meeting its goals.” – Of the 18 goals set at the outset of the surge, NONE have been met and only 3 have had any significant progress. Remember the goal of the surge was to allow a window for political reconciliation. NO political movement have occurred.
“Petraeus said that campaign has largely met its military goals, reducing sectarian killings by more than 50 percent nationwide and by more than 80 percent in Baghdad” - in 2006, an average of 1,380 Iraqis a month were killed, while in the first 8 months of 2007, that number has risen to 1,825 violent deaths a month. It is true that in Baghdad killing are down but that is because they are running out of Sunnis to kill. Baghdad used to be a majority Sunni city now Sunnis are a distinct minority isolated in pockets in poor sections of the city.
"The success of the surge could allow the 30,000 troops to come home next summer" - of course the 30,000 additional troops that were deployed this year will be back by next July. In fact, five months ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that they'll have to be back by April because that's as long as the current troop levels can be maintained
Other facts: US Deaths are up from before the surge. Deaths by month in March – Aug 2006: 33, 82, 79, 63, 46, 66 – Total = 369 Deaths by month in March – Aug 2007: 83, 117, 131, 108, 88, 88 – Total = 615 (up 67%)
Myth: 27,000 US wounded – Truth: 85,179 including hostile, non-hostile, medical and self-inflicted.
Number of internally displaced Iraqis more than doubled since the surge started – 400,00 to 1,100,000 – and 10% of Iraqis have fled the country entirely (2 - 4 million)
BBC Poll done yesterday show 79%+ of Iraqis want US out NOW. 70% of Baghdad residents say surge has not helped. 63% wish US had not invaded even if Saddam was still in charge.
And what REALLY sucks is the Dems were elected in 2006 to put an end to this war. At that time there were 130,000 troop in Iraq. Bush instituted the surge so now the Dems seem ready to agree to a 30,000 troop withdraw NEXT YEAR bringing troop levels down to 139,000. HOW IS A 9,000 NET INCREASE IN TROOPS HELPING END THE WAR?
And on this anniversary of 9/11 we still have no intention of pursuing Osama Bin Ladin.
Last Edit: Sept 11, 2007 13:16:36 GMT -5 by troo - Back to Top
Some good civil disobedience from the crowd. At least two ladies were dragged out kicking and screaming after Petraeus's report. Haven't watched any spin since. It's likely that the press either ignored it, or are making it out like they were looney. I saw it as a passionate last ditch attempt to feel like the people in this country actually still mean something to the government. I can fool myself really well for about five minutes....
Yeah-who wants to listen to a lady who gave the supreme sacrifice when we can have a bunch of chickenhawks who would never let their own offspring go to war tell us what to think and how much to pay !
Boy could we use MLK, Gandhi, and John Lennon now !
The thought occured to me while watching all the buildup to the report, that many of these soldiers have been 3 years or more "in theatre". And though we are so lucky to have most of them still alive, what an integration issue they are going to have when life turns back into selling cars and dealing with customer service reps. We need to take ALOT of what we are spending on death now, and put it aside to help enrich these soldiers' mental and physical well being upon their return. And then hope and pray that it helps....
Post by spookymonster on Sept 11, 2007 9:26:49 GMT -5
troo said:
“Petraeus said that campaign has largely met its military goals, reducing sectarian killings by more than 50 percent nationwide and by more than 80 percent in Baghdad” - in 2006, an average of 1,380 Iraqis a month were killed, while in the first 8 months of 2007, that number has risen to 1,825 violent deaths a month. It is true that in Baghdad killing are down but that is because they are running out of Sunnis to kill. Baghdad used to be a majority Sunni city now Sunnis are a distinct minority isolated in pockets in poor sections of the city.
DailyKos also mentioned that the numbers were fundamentally unreliable because of the somewhat subjective way they classified the killings... if you were shot from behind, you were a sectarian victim, but if you were shot from the front, you were classified as a 'routine' street killing.
Yeah-who wants to listen to a lady who gave the supreme sacrifice when we can have a bunch of chickenhawks who would never let their own offspring go to war tell us what to think and how much to pay ...
Joe Biden's son leaves for Iraq in just a couple weeks.
The one question that says it all came from a Republican, Warner (VA)
Question: Is this strategy making us safer?
Answer: I don't know. I've been too busy concentrating on the mission.
I thought making us safe was the mission.
This is it in a nutshell. This administration is blinded to everything but "stay the course." Iraq is nothing but a corporate sponsored meatgrinder Bush wants to keep going so he can pass it on to the next Prez and then blame everything on him/her. Great job, Bushie!
Post by areyoukind on Sept 12, 2007 11:33:11 GMT -5
impeach bush try him for war crimes along with the rest of the administration
get out and let them kill each other... they're doing it anyway with us over there, lets focus on our own country and maybe spend some money HELPING others, not killing them
*i like coconuts, you can break them open they smell like ladies lyin in the sun** *Hell I don't even know where I am** *for now I must sit here and ponder the yonder: The herbivores did well cause their food didn't never run** *We listen, if it feels good We shake** *You made a big impression for a girl of your size, Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.**
Post by bamabelle on Sept 12, 2007 19:17:37 GMT -5
snoochio said:
But what if my daddy works at Halliburton and needs the job ?
What if my daddy works in the oil industry and makes landmark profits off of political fear ?
What if my daddy is a private security contractor making oodles more than the soldiers who will soon be denied ample benefits upon their return ?
LOL! I'll give up my cushy contractory job if it means bringing all the troops home and ending this charade of a war that should have never been started
Actually, yes, I do personally know of some soldiers who are on their 4th - yes that is 4th - deployments to theater! And while the deployments used to be maximum of 1 year they are now up to 15-16 months! Almost a year and a half people! That is A LONG TIME to be deployed in a war theater. Re-acclimation is going to be a real issue.
