Sorry seahawk but your cartoon was too big to post, it expanded the thread to much for decent readability. I changed it too a link so people can still view it without distorting future posts.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: bill king,
"Although America has problems, America is not the problem"
Posts: 986 | Location: Humboldt | Registered: 09 November 2005
3. The "What the hell we fighting for..." is a question Americans everywhere are asking the White House, including our soldiers.
4. Who the hell does the journalist think he is putting words in the mouths of the soldiers, that are contrary to the soldier's well being?
5. Someone should bitch-slap that scrawny right- wing puke with a pencil for portraying the troops in that fashion.
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
i think so brent. i also think the fact that the pentagon extending tours of duties also qualifies somewhat. because people still on a tour cannot leave in the middle of the mission, even if their contract has expired. they must wait for the tour of duty to end. just another way to prohibit someone from completing their contract and going home. sounds alot like slavery or an indentured servant to me.
Not true. By all means though... carry on with the hysterics.
Posts: 2167 | Location: CA | Registered: 14 November 2003
Joey is a Marine who enlisted during the war, while he was a member here. Rather than get in an argument you can't win about troop moral, you may want to ask him what he can tell you about the war from his perspective.
joe,
When are you due to ship back out over there and how long will you have to stay? Just curious, a few of us here kept up with your blog while you were over there and it wAS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE AFTER YOU SIGNED ON THE FIRST DAY, WE DIDN'T SEE A POST UNTIL MONTHS LATER WHEN jESSE SAID YOU WERE DOING FINE.
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
I'd like to ask you this, JoeSyznal, as you are an Iraq war vet:
If the idea was to create conditions in the ME where gov'ts which supported Islamic-terrorism (which has translated to Sunni, in recent years) would be replaced, why was Iraq attacked? Hussein's support of Palestinians was of the Arab-nationalist brand, rather than the fanatical-Sunni.
And, now, we support a majority (democratic) government there, which necessarily translates to Shia-control, but we don't want this gov't to work with Iran? That would be like saying Latvia can't work with Lithuania.
What are chances of the U.S, achieving its desired outcome (Iraq free of Iranian influence and willing to contract with the U.S. on oil production)? None (not even slim).
I think it pretty well sums up the effectiveness of these "resolutions" in Congress, whether or not they pass.
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
Mologne House is afloat on a river of painkillers and antipsychotic drugs. One night, a strapping young infantryman loses it with a woman who is high on her son's painkillers. "Quit taking all the soldier medicine!" he screams.
Pill bottles clutter the nightstands: pills for depression or insomnia, to stop nightmares and pain, to calm the nerves.
Here at Hotel Aftermath, a crash of dishes in the cafeteria can induce seizures in the combat-addled. If a taxi arrives and the driver looks Middle Eastern, soldiers refuse to get in. Even among the gazebos and tranquility of the Walter Reed campus in upper Northwest Washington, manhole covers are sidestepped for fear of bombs and rooftops are scanned for snipers.
Bomb blasts are the most common cause of injury in Iraq, and nearly 60 percent of the blast victims also suffer from traumatic brain injury, according to Walter Reed's studies, which explains why some at Mologne House wander the hallways trying to remember their room numbers.
Last week, Walter Reed launched a criminal investigation of Wagner after The Washington Post sought a response to his activities while he ran the Army's Medical Family Assistance Center, a position he left several weeks ago. Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, the commander at Walter Reed, said the probe by the Criminal Investigation Command (CID) "reflects the seriousness with which we take these allegations."
When are you due to ship back out over there and how long will you have to stay? Just curious, a few of us here kept up with your blog while you were over there and it wAS FRUSTRATING BECAUSE AFTER YOU SIGNED ON THE FIRST DAY, WE DIDN'T SEE A POST UNTIL MONTHS LATER WHEN jESSE SAID YOU WERE DOING FINE.
Hey Bill!! I go back to Iraq in September. Training has picked up significantly, we have received our new "boots" and are working to get them working efficiently with the platoon.
Yes there were not many updates while I was in country. Half that was due to logistics and the other half sheer laziness.
quote:
If the idea was to create conditions in the ME where gov'ts which supported Islamic-terrorism (which has translated to Sunni, in recent years) would be replaced, why was Iraq attacked?
Take a look at the text of 2002's Iraq War Resolution passed in congress for all reasons/justifications for going to war.
quote:
And, now, we support a majority (democratic) government there, which necessarily translates to Shia-control, but we don't want this gov't to work with Iran?
We don't want Iran to make any attempts at sabotage or subversion by means of unofficial communication and weapons supply.
It is no secret Ahmedianjad along with his mullahtocracy does not have the best interests of Iraq's entire population in mind.
quote:
What are chances of the U.S, achieving its desired outcome (Iraq free of Iranian influence and willing to contract with the U.S. on oil production)? None (not even slim).
I agree. If we pull out and refuse to try.. no chance in hell.
Posts: 2167 | Location: CA | Registered: 14 November 2003
Joe Syznal posted: "It is no secret Ahmedianjad along with his mullahtocracy does not have the best interests of Iraq's entire population in mind."
Well, of course, Joe: being as the radical Sunni, which have infiltrated Iraq since Saddam's ouster, do not even consider Shia to be Muslim, I'd say Iran has a preference on which side it backs.
So, the U.S. has the best interests of Iraq's entire population in mind? How about the interest of screwing the whole lot, regardless of creed? The new oil law, which the U.S. is pushing, and of which the first draft happened to be written in English, creates a national "oil & gas panel" which has as permanent members executives of 2 U.S. oil companies, along with one from BP. This board will have final say on doling out the oil concession (terms of which are, conveniently, pending).
If the U.S. had as the highest priority the rebuilding of Iraq, it would lobby to keep the entire oil industry nationalized, allowing for only short-term technical contracting to neighboring states which are well versed in the latest technology (which Iraq is not, due to the sanctions).
The U.S. wants to bleed as much oil money out of Iraq as it can get away with.
The U.S. wants to bleed as much oil money out of Iraq as it can get away with.
Horse hockey. We are dumping so much money in that dry well that it will be generations before we break even. What money they generate in oil sales goes into running the government and they aren't producing enough oil to pay their bills, train troops or provide for their defence. We make up the difference. There is no profit to be made in our relationship with Iraq.
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
Posts: 8264 | Location: Fl | Registered: 05 July 2001
Sawdust posted: "Horse hockey. We are dumping so much money in that dry well that it will be generations before we break even."
Har! Sawdust, what you fail to realize is that we are dumping PUBLIC money into the black hole of Iraq and what will be siphoned-off of the Iraqi economy is PRIVATE CORPORATE PROFIT.
Or, does the balance sheet of Exxon-Mobil be accounted as part of the U.S. federal budget?
Pretty shallow view Brent. Companies deserve what profit they earn. The real issue at this point is whether Iraq is able to defend itself from Iran. If Iran moves into Iraq like Iraq moved into Kuwaite, it would control too large a percentage of the worlds oil. They would also be able to set energy pricing and nearly have a monoply in Middle Eastern oil.
It's a lot more complicated that your dislike of Exxon.
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
Posts: 8264 | Location: Fl | Registered: 05 July 2001
Soldier overcomes cancer battle to serve in Iraq 18 February 2007
WO1 Mick Fraser, Regimental Sergeant Major of the Joint Helicopter Force Iraq. Photo by Cpl. Ian Forsyth, RLC.BASRAH — After finding out he had cancer four years ago, WO1 (RSM) Mick Fraser was unable to join his colleagues at 3 Regiment Army Air Corps when they deployed to Iraq. Now fully recovered, he is realising his lifelong ambition to undertake an operational tour.
Mick Fraser is an unassuming and reserved man. Talking to him you get no sense of the trauma and pain he has endured as he battled against non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. link
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Mainstream media only reports how many died today and make a conscience effort to not inform Americans of the progress in Iraq such as . .
quote:
Iraqi Army Support and Services Institute Thursday, 25 January 2007 In 2006, the Iraqi Army Support and Services Institute graduated 4,291 soldiers in various supply and logistics specialties. . . .
Security Operations Thursday, 25 January 2007 The Iraqi Security Forces conducted 7,000 counterinsurgency, border control and infrastructure security operations without Coalition assistance during 2006.
.....
Military Police School Thursday, 25 January 2007 The Military Police School, which trains both Military Policemen and Corrections Specialists, graduated 2,541 officers in 2006.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
In 2006, the Iraqi Army Support and Services Institute graduated 4,291 soldiers in various supply and logistics specialties.
I understand the instructors at that school were the same guys in charge of those pallets with 30 tons of cash, totalling 9 billion dollars, that somehow got misplaced.
Here's a pic of one of them in his new job...
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
Sawdust posted: "Pretty shallow view Brent. Companies deserve what profit they earn."
Sawdust: what the "F" does that have to do with what we were talking about, which is the fact of the U.S. depleting the public treasury in order to facilitate sweet deals for private industry?
You had made the ridiculous point that the U.S. government spending money on the occupation was somehow to be offset by ExxonMobil reaping a huge profit through the oil PSA. That's what we were talking about.
As for your (unrelated) ridiculous point: "Companies deserve what they earn". Yeah, and so? If we really wanted Iraq rebuilt, as a priority, we'd make sure the money stayed in Iraq, rather than be repatriated.
As for your point about Iran: you really think the Iranians are going to militarily invade Iraq? Where'd you get THAT??? The Iraqi gov't is practically a sister to Iran already. No invasion is needed.
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
just as well, it's a good example of how right-wing jerks think it's ok to portray our troops in such a distorted manner that trying to bring them home is somehow bad for their moral.
I'll bet there are thousands of reservists and National Guard who love to give this guy a rifle butt to the nose.
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Winston Churchill
Posts: 623 | Location: lefortovo | Registered: 09 February 2006
That's not an idea that will catch on, for a number of reasons.
First off, if I was forced to serve 2 tours longer than I thought I was going to have to, the last thing in the world I would want to be confronted with is some old war vet pumping my hand while telling me how proud he is of me.
Secondly, I would want to be with family first and not be on display in a mock celebration.
Third, if I didn't agree with the war, but did my duty anyway, all those people would represent the sector of society that wouldn't be asked to fight, but cheered the war on.
I think the expressions and comments by the soldiers made it clear that all the hoopla wasn't necessary or even desired...
I'm just glad to be home!"
If that old guy really wants to cheer up the troops here is what he needs to bring...
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
I think the expressions and comments by the soldiers made it clear that all the hoopla wasn't necessary or even desired...
Check out the letter’s from the troops section.
Good enough bill?
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Winston Churchill
Posts: 623 | Location: lefortovo | Registered: 09 February 2006
Careful, Bill. The last time I posted pictures of Cheerleaders I was promptly asked to take down the pictures. We would not want to offend any sensitive people.
But the OSU cheerleaders were better looking.
Posts: 7939 | Location: Santa Barbara | Registered: 19 July 2005
Yeah, now this is more like what I'm talking about...
quote:
Local Beauties Help Welcome the Troops on June 3rd
"These things which man purports to admire-the noble, the brilliant, the splendid-these are the very things he cannot tolerate when he finds them."-----Mark Clifton
Posts: 5565 | Location: hoffman estates il | Registered: 01 April 2003
3. The "What the hell we fighting for..." is a question Americans everywhere are asking the White House, including our soldiers.
Yes, we want to forget - - - Hillary ONCE understood - - take a look
quote:
October 10, 2002
Floor Speech of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on S.J. Res. 45, A Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq As Delivered
...
This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make -- any vote that may lead to war should be hard -- but I cast it with conviction. ...
I want this President, or any future President, to be in the strongest possible position to lead our country in the United Nations or in war. Secondly, I want to insure that Saddam Hussein makes no mistake about our national unity and for our support for the President's efforts to wage America's war against terrorists and weapons of mass destruction. And thirdly, I want the men and women in our Armed Forces to know that if they should be called upon to act against Iraq, our country will stand resolutely behind them....
3. The "What the hell we fighting for..." is a question Americans everywhere are asking the White House, including our soldiers.
I'm not a fan of Hillary Clinton, but she really understood terrorism and how it was building and threatening the U.S. and the world. - SO why is she now back pedaling when POSSIBLY she could have been considered a "hero" to stay with her initial convictions.
quote:
. . . In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security.. . .
Hillary went on record (don't have the link) congratulating the Bush Administration when Suddam was captured and reminding Americans that she supported the President on the war.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Soldiers save Iraqi baby's life 04 March 2007 By Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie
U.S. Army Spc. Carrielynn Spillis holds Sajad, a sick Iraqi baby boy, while Maj. Casey Geaney, the battalion surgeon for 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, prepares a feeding tube at the Patrol Base Yusufiyah aid station in Yusufiyah, Iraq. Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie.YUSUFIYAH — Soldiers recently received something they least expected - a baby.
Soldiers from the 210th Brigade Support Battalion "Providers" and the 4th Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment "Polar Bears," both units of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), took care of a sick Iraqi baby boy at the Patrol Base Yusufiyah aid station here.
"The baby's mother brought him to us because he was very sick," said Maj. Casey Geaney, a native of Portland, Ore., who serves as a battalion surgeon currently attached to the 4-31st.
Knowing that the baby, Sajad, was very ill and that the Iraqi medical system did not have the capabilities to care for the infant, Geaney decided Sajad would become an in-patient.
"Usually this is not an in-patient facility," Geaney explained. "However, after discovering the child had an infection we did not want him to go home."
Sajad, who was seven months of age, was only the size of a two-month-old. He was believed to have suffered brain injury during his birth.
"Sajad was very dehydrated and sick when we first saw him," said Spc. Carrielynn Spillis, a 210th BSB medic and native of Toledo, Ohio, as she held him in her arms. "We have been feeding him through a tube because he was too weak to feed from a bottle.
"Keeping Sajad was a huge responsibility for the team. He required around-the-clock attention, just as any infant.
"We would take turns watching him," Spills explained. "One medic would stay with him at the aid station during the night and others would watch him during the day."
Another medic shared her thoughts of caring for Sajad.
"It's tiring to take care of him," said Spc. Erin Byers, a medic with the 210th BSB and native of Guysmills, Penn.
"But it is a nice change of pace. I am used to dealing with soldiers, but Sajad allowed me to be compassionate - it is a different mindset."
After caring for Sajad for four days, Geaney decided he was well enough to return home. But before releasing the infant, Geaney and the medics taught Sajad's father how to care for him.
"They (the doctor and medics) did a nice job," said Nasseir Alaobed, Sajad's father, as he was learning to feed his son through a tube. "The Iraqi hospitals do not have this kind of care and I am glad I brought him in."
Sajad was returned to his parents fully hydrated and with more strength. At one point, Spillis was mentioned that Sajad was actually feeding from a bottle.
Though the soldiers were able to care for Sajad, the need for Iraqi children to see doctors in Iraq is immense.
"There are a lot of children with chronic problems and it is frustrating that we are seeing so many patients that need help," Geaney said. "But we do what we can do to help."
"Sajad has a better chance of survival," Geaney added with a smile.
Sajad's parents were sent home with lessons on how to care for him and infant formula that contained extra calories in order to help the infant gain weight.
". . . women will participate in a workshop entitled, "Breast Cancer & Reproductive HEALTH" which also features Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, a New Jersey breast cancer surgeon, and Dr. Joel Brind, an endocrinologist from Baruch College in New York.
The pair are the co-founders of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute and they will discuss the leading research showing a link between abortion and breast cancer.
"Many studies prove that abortion damages women physically and emotionally yet is ignored by the government, media and our culture,"
Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force This site is maintained by the Iraq Investment and Reconstruction Task Force (IIRTF) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The IIRTF assists companies pursuing reconstruction and other business opportunities in Iraq. [MORE]
"Opportunities and Challenges for Economic Growth in Iraq" March 1, 2007
Rebuild Iraq 2007 May 07-10, 2007, Amman, Jordan
Business Opportunity: Harir Food Processing Plant in Northern Iraq Seeks J/V Partner and Operator January 2007
Man of honor A Marine's bravery earns him the Navy's second-highest medal.
Fresno resident Jarrett Kraft, who will receive the military's second-highest award for valor in a ceremony next week, said Wednesday that he doesn't feel like a hero.
"I did what Marines have been doing for several hundred years," Kraft said. "I just tried to take care of my fellow Marines."
Kraft, 22, will be awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his service with the Marine Corps in Fallujah, Iraq.
The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor and is awarded to Marines or sailors who have distinguished themselves with extraordinary heroism in combat, usually by risking their lives to save others.
Kraft was originally nominated for the Medal of Honor but asked the Marine Corps to withdraw that nomination.
"I lost Marines that day," Kraft said. "I didn't feel I deserved that medal."
Those who have read the citation for Kraft's Navy Cross award disagree.
"It's an amazing story," said 1st Sgt. Kent Johnson, who is assigned to the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in Fresno. Johnson, who is helping organize Kraft's Navy Cross award ceremony, said Kraft showed amazing devotion to his fellow Marines while under attack.
"He put his life on the line many times that day," Johnson said. "They teach you to care for your fellow Marines, and he showed that he did."
Marine Corps records show that at 9:15 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2004, Sgt. Kraft was leading a group of Marines attempting to clear insurgents from densely packed homes on a residential street. Kraft was standing outside a house talking on a radio to Marine commanders when he heard gunfire coming from inside.
Kraft ran inside the house and up a staircase, where he found a nightmarish scene: Six of his Marines were pinned against a wall, firing their weapons through a doorway where more than 40 insurgents carrying grenades and AK-47 assault rifles had waited in ambush. More insurgents then appeared on rooftops of neighboring houses, spraying a deadly crossover of bullets at the small Marine force in the house and at other Marines outside.
"There was heavy machine-gun fire coming through that door, and grenades flying both ways," Kraft said. "Then a grenade went off. I don't know if it was thrown from inside, or one of ours that they threw back at us, but when it exploded it killed one of my Marines and threw me backwards down a staircase."
The grenade had also peppered Kraft's body with shrapnel, something he wouldn't realize until the firefight ended several hours later.
Briefly knocked out by the blast, Kraft regained consciousness when another Marine fell on him. Kraft and the other Marine then crawled down the stairs. Once outside, Kraft spotted two of his men who were seriously injured and unable to reach safety.
Moving through constant machine-gun fire, Kraft helped the two men reach a nearby truck, then returned to the house to resume efforts to retrieve the bodies of the Marines killed during the gunfight.
"The Marines have a code that we don't leave anyone behind, even if they are dead," Kraft said. "The insurgents are suicidal, many of them are on drugs, and they will do anything possible to not only kill a Marine, but to take his body and drag it around."
When a first attempt to enter the house failed, Kraft returned a second and then a third time, all while facing continuous gunfire, with Marines being injured or killed all around him.
When the gunfight ended, Kraft and his men had retrieved three fallen Marines, killed 28 insurgents and wounded many others. He had also personally saved the lives of several other Marines wounded during the firefight.
Kraft was discharged from the Marines in July 2005 and applied to the Fresno City College Police Academy, where he will begin training for his next career in June. He also was hired as a cadet by the Fresno Police Department but had not told anyone at the department that he was nominated for the Navy Cross.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said that once he learned what Kraft had done, he wasn't surprised Kraft had kept quiet about it.
"We have other officers who were decorated by the military and they usually don't talk about it," Dyer said. "They are just like Jarrett in that sense, they don't make a big deal out of it.
"He has seen, in 90 minutes, what other people will never see in a lifetime. I'm humbled to know he is employed with our department."
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
"The local press ( JOHANNESBURG, South Africa) is calling the death of 35-year-old Sister Anne Thole a martyrdom. She died in a fire, trying to rescue AIDS patients from a burning hospice.
Sister Thole was a novice director for her order.
According to The Mercury, a local newspaper, the Maria Ratschitz Mission, outside of Dundee, caught fire on Saturday night, apparently from a patient's cigarette.
The founder of the hospice, Sister Irmingard Thalmeier, said that five of the eight patients were evacuated from the fire, which started Saturday night. Three died with Sister Thole.
Retired Dundee Bishop Michael Rowland was awakened and called to the scene. "By the time I got there, the building was blazing and we tried to put it out with garden hoses, but the wooden staircase and thatch were a column of fire," he said.
"Sister Anne was so brave," the 78-year-old prelate said. "She gave her life for the patients. She exuded tremendous joy and had a great love of her vocation. She played the guitar well, and ran the choir and sang. All the novices loved her."
APRIL 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- ZE07040502
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
""A U.S. Army Soldier, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, from Fort Bliss, Texas, scales a wall during a raid on several homes of suspected Al Qaeda terrorists in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force Photo )
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
At your service BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Senior Airman .., a chaplain assistant, prepares for a service at the chapel here. The assistants prepare the chapel for services, are liaisons for the chaplains and provide force protection for them.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Progress in Iraq [QUOTE]Villages benefit from engineers' mission
Gulf Region North, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Children in Northern Iraq in the Erbil Province play with a water hose, thanks to local water well and pump station projects made possible through the Iraq Reconstruction Program, April 22, 2007. U.S. Army photo.ERBIL PROVINCE — More than 26,000 residents in 13 villages receive potable water now due to 13 water well projects recently completed as part of the Iraq Reconstruction Program.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began the well project initiative last year and completed it last month. These 13 villages in Northern Iraq did not have flowing water.
Now, another source of water has been found and tapped in this area. Each one of these 13 projects consisted of construction of deep water wells; supply of generators and submersible pumps; constructing a concrete and steel water tank; supplying and installing the water pipe line; construction of water taps; and expansion of the distribution system.
“Kurdistan is suffering from a shortage of clean water and lack of water sources and water pipe,” said Younis Talib, an Iraqi electrical engineer employed in the USACE Gulf Region North’s Erbil Resident Office. Talib was responsible for quality assurance and quality control on the project. “This project is one of many that are essential to solve water problems in the Erbil Province; designed to stabilize the water source in 13 villages.”
The people in some of these villages did not have enough water, and some were depending on spring sources for water. Others relied on water delivery by trucks, or personally carrying water containers in their cars for many miles, according to Talib.
Nawzad Hadi, the governor of Erbil, said, “The water that U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [made possible] to Bnberzi Gchka has allowed many village people to move back to their village. I am grateful for all other projects which are done and which are under construction by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that positively impacted the Kurdish people.”. . .
Years of a neglected infrastructure, violence, and sabotage created a shortage of potable water in Iraq - a country of some 30 million citizens. But, since the time of sovereignty in 2004, the Iraq Reconstruction Program has effected improvements that bring 120 million gallons of treated water daily to an estimated 2.4 million Iraqi citizens
Estimates show that, nationwide, some 8.4 million Iraqis will benefit from 300 million gallons of treated water daily when all of the original funded water projects are completed.
RAMADI — The troops arrive at a small town on the outskirts of Ramadi. They could rush out and engage the enemy at a moments notice, but their job today is different – to train Iraqis to save lives.
For the Soldiers from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, it’s all about helping the Iraqis to help themselves. The Soldiers latest effort was training local provincial security forces in basic medical care during a visit to one of their stations April 23 at Hamidia.
“We’ve been working with the PSF here for the last two and a half weeks to get them better prepared to handle situations in their area,” said Sgt. Charles Dinkins, a tanker with Company A. “Today, we’re showing them basic medical aid to help their buddies out on the battlefield.”
The Soldiers taught the Iraqis airway movement, the different types of bleeding, how to stop bleeding, and how to administer air tubes to restore oxygen flow in the body.
“They are catching on real quick with airway movement and knowing that oxygen is a valuable part of life,” said Spc. Michael Darby, a medic from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment attached to Co. A, 3-69 Armor.. .
“They were grasping the material real fast, but when we went into the different types of pharyngeal tubes and how to use them, it was a bit difficult until I demonstrated on one of their own,” said the 39-year-old Texas City, Texas, native.
The Soldiers said they view their new mission as a big step forward from how they operated with the Iraqi security forces in previous deployments.
“I’ve worked with Iraqi police and Iraqi army … but I’ve never dealt this close before with the Iraqi security forces,” Dinkle said. “We’re working on a more personnel basis with these guys over here. We work with them almost every other day and see them just like us minus the training, but they are getting it down very quickly.”
Darby said that with this new training he sees lots of hope these days for Iraq in the future.
“If we give them the tools to protect themselves, their family, friends and neighborhood, maybe we won’t have to come back in the future,” said the 24-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native.
While the training was being conducted each PSF battalion in Hamidia, sent over their most qualified medical personnel.
“We trained 17 personnel today with prospects for another 17 in two to three weeks,” Darby said. “The idea is to have as many security personnel trained in the most basic combat medicine as possible.”
“This is really a two-fold mission,” he said. “One, is ridding the Anbar province of insurgents, and two, is better training and equipping the Iraqi security forces we work with, so they can maintain what we’ve done here together.”
As the day came to a close, and the last Iraqi left the training, the Soldiers see their work as part of the growing effort to improve security for Ramadi, one little piece at a time.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Only 27.6 million people to go to provide Iraqi's with water. Not a bad accomplishment in 4 years. That is .6 million a year we've provided water for. Assuming most of Iraqi water and sewage structure doesn't work on a daily basis (particularly in Baghdad), at this rate it will only take a little over 45 more years for Iraqis to have water again. Good show!!!
Retired Monk
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
what GG's Ramadi article didnt state was that that area DID have running water BEFORE the invasion. during the invasion, WE destroyed the water treatment plants, pumps, and electrical grids that powered those pumps.
------------------------------------------ debating conservatives is easy. so easy, even a caveman can do it!
"if this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck lot easier, just so long as im the dictator" -GWB Dec 18,2002
Posts: 1614 | Location: ft myers florida area | Registered: 23 September 2006
Originally posted by ftmyersfisherman: what GG's Ramadi article didnt state was that that area DID have running water BEFORE the invasion. during the invasion, WE destroyed the water treatment plants, pumps, and electrical grids that powered those pumps.
GG's articles and posts usually are a little short on facts that don't fit her views...so I tossed a similar one right back to her.
Retired Monk
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
Operation ‘Rat Trap’ snags al-Qaeda Saturday, 05 May 2007 By Spc. Carl N. Hudson Combined Press Information Center BAGHDAD — The Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman held a press conference at the Combined Press Information Center Thursday.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman, discussed the results of Operation Rat Trap, an operation which focused on al-Qaeda-in-Iraq targets.
“As a result of these operations, 29 targets specifically were focused in about 72 hours,” said Caldwell. “Ninety-five enemy personnel were detained and 15 were killed.”
Along with enemy personnel, other enemy equipment utilized to make bombs and weapons were seized.
“We picked up chemicals associated with what we assume would have been car bombs,” he said.
According to Caldwell, anti-aircraft weapon systems, which al-Qaeda used to target Coalition helicopters, were also seized.
While results of the operation have disrupted the terrorist network, Iraqi and Coalition forces will continue to target al-Qaeda.
“Al-Qaeda continues to use indiscriminate targeting against civilians,” said Caldwell. “During the month of April, 1,500 to 2,000 innocent Iraqi civilians were either killed or wounded through the use of car bombs and suicide vests.”
“This was an important operation to take on,” he added.
Among those killed during Operation Rat Trap was Muharib Abdul Latif, the Senior Minister of Information of al-Qaeda-in-Iraq.
“Muharib Abdul Latif was killed on a target set on the 1st of May at 2:00 A.M.,” said Caldwell.
As security measures improve, international traffic between Iraq and Syria has been reduced.
“There has been a reduction in the amount of foreign fighter flow making their way into Iraq, as we have observed over the last month-plus at this point,” he said.
As Iraqi and Coalition forces continued to gain momentum, al-Qaeda has lost its hold in some areas of Iraq.
“The fight against al-Qaeda in Al-Anbar continues with the tribal elements coming together in a group called ‘the Awakening,’” said Caldwell. “We’ve seen a very distinct reduction in the number of attacks against Coalition forces [in Al-Anbar].”
“[‘The Awakening’ is] not allowing al-Qaeda to operate as freely as they once did,” he said.
However, al-Qaeda remains a threat in Iraq, said Caldwell.
Coalition forces will apply pressure, take advantage and target al-Qaeda weaknesses to take down the multi-cell network simultaneously, Caldwell said.
dinosaur media does not want you to know the following:
quote:
An Appeal for Courage by Lt. Jason Nichols 04/30/2007
. . . The primary reason we support the war is because we believe it is just and right, and we were given a mission to win it. The mission was clearly stated: overthrow Saddam and install an independent, stable, democratic government in Iraq.
The military necessity was obvious after 9/11, the President said it was required and the Congress voted overwhelmingly in favor of it. We were given a mission and the means to carry it out. The military is highly mission-oriented. It is ingrained in us during our training that excuses and rationalizing failure are not ‘the military way’. We must face reality and accomplish the mission within that framework.
Iraqi democracy is a mission we know we can accomplish, . . . . .al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) is terrified of a democratic country in their midst, and is still brutally attacking Iraqi civilians. But we are implementing a steady buildup of Iraqi military and police and seeing the rewards of having worked with the Iraqis in a cooperative way,...
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Originally posted by GG: polycarp - And the al Quaeda groups, you give them a pass to impose shar'ia?? to wipe Israel of the face of the earth and kill all the infidels?
We are to have hang out the wipe flag give al Quaeda victory? Please explain.
If we wouldn't have been such idiots, there would be no al Quaeda groups in Iraq. Saddam had them hung.
We have stirred up a hornets next, and hatred against Israel, a known ally of the u.S. has gotten worse, not better.
There will be no shari'ia law in the U.S. unless Christian fools keep driving people away from christianity and into Islam with their wars, hatreds, bigotry and lack of concern for anyone on this planet except themselves and their own immediate families..
Retired Monk.
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
"Help US troops improve relations and bring hope to children
This project, previously titled "Gifts for Iraqi Children" and instigated by the 1st Marine Division in 2005 has been a long-time favorite, at the request of troops and with Spirit of America staff. Children are often the hardest hit by war and limited resources. Providing tokens of friendship to children not only helps to alleviate their suffering but also builds bonds of trust that can have a lasting impact. We've retooled this project to support a broader range of requests from Army and Marine personnel serving in any of the countries that SoA (Spirit of America) currently supports."
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
There will be no shari'ia law in the U.S. unless Christian fools keep driving people away from christianity and into Islam with their wars, hatreds, bigotry and lack of concern for anyone on this planet except themselves and their own immediate families..
It's growing - In America
May 8, 2007 Mapping Shari’a in America
"Dave Gaubatz explains the purpose of Mapping Shari’a.com, which aims to catalog each and every mosque and Islamic day school in the US to determine what brand of Islamic law each one follows and how committed the organization, its leaders and followers are to Shari’a and Jihad.. . .
Demographic Facts Mosques in the United States: 1,209 American Muslims associated with a mosque: 2 million > Increase in number of mosques since 1994: 25% > Proportion of mosques founded since 1980: 62% > Average number of Muslims associated with each mosque in the United States: 1,625 > U.S. mosque participants who are converts: 30% > American Muslims who "strongly agree" that they should participate in American institutions and the political process: 70% > U.S. mosques attended by a single ethnic group: 7% > U.S. mosques that have some Asian, African-American, and Arab members: nearly 90% > Ethnic origins of regular participants in U.S. mosques: South Asian (Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Afghani) = 33% African-America = 30% Arab = 25% Sub-Saharan African = 3.4% European (Bosnian, Tartar, Kosovar, etc.) = 2.1% White American = 1.6% Southeast Asian (Malaysian, Indonesian, Filipino) = 1.3% Caribbean = 1.2% Turkish = 1.1% Iranian = 0.7% Hispanic/Latino = 0.6% > U.S. mosques that feel they strictly follow the Koran and Sunnah: > 90% > U.S. mosques that feel the Koran should be interpreted with consideration of its purposes and modern circumstances: 71% > U.S. mosques that provide some assistance to the needy: nearly 70 % >U.S. mosques with a full-time school: > 20%
Given the almost universal respect Muslims give to Shari’a (even if they fail to live up to its standards), it should be apparent we have a real problem in this country.
What makes matters worse, is that one of the most radical and virulently violent sects of Islam, the Salafists (more derogatorily referred to as Wahhabi’ists), principally situated in Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States, are financing and providing the leadership for the vast majority of the mosques and Islamic day schools in the US.
As a result, we have a well-developed and highly reticulated network of quite militant religious Muslim leaders directing a reservoir of “moderate” Muslims who can be energized almost at will. This is especially true among the young, restless, Muslim men who scorn their parents’ effort to be accepted by the American establishment and their Christianized ways (i.e., tolerance of pluralism; Sunday off work rather than Friday; socializing with non-Muslims, as just a small sampling of their list of grievances).
Once these young rebellious Muslim youth learn of a vibrant, virulent, and masculine Muslim approach to the modern, self-indulging Western world, which most certainly favors a Judeo-Christian world view, this ready-reservoir of young combatants is any military recruiter’s dream..."
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Like i said. Christian fools are driving people into Islam or away from religion totally.
What can you expect when "christians" support hatred, bigotry, intolerance and go against everything Christ ever taught? They quote a teaching...and then go against it in action.
Fundamentalist christians have done more to create a rising Islam than anybody.
Like Ghandi said, "If I ever saw christianity practiced, I might convert".
Retired Monk
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
shari'a is metastasizing because of convoluted inversions of our founding father's intentions of our U.S. Documents thanks to CAIR and ACLU. They've created the problem and you blame Christians??!!
I think you need to return to your monastery.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Originally posted by GG: shari'a is metastasizing because of convoluted inversions of our founding father's intentions of our U.S. Documents thanks to CAIR and ACLU. They've created the problem and you blame Christians??!!
I think you need to return to your monastery.
People don't become Muslim because of the U.S. Constitution. They are increasing rapidly in every industrialized nation including this one. Including Asia. Including Africa. It has nothing to do with the U.S. Constitution. Keep driving people to Islam GG, and you'll reap the reward for that too. Some will become Fundamentalists, most, fortunately will not.
Islam is a religion of peace, & compassion just as Christianity is. Muslims accept Christ as a prophet.
The idiots in both groups are the ones causing the problem. If you want to make more Islamic Fundamentalists, keep doing what you are doing...and you will.
This war is "immoral, unjust and illegal" - Pope John Paul.
He had some common sense about it...where is yours?
I think you should talk to your priest about your views. They are heretical.
Retired monk
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
"St Gianna is the first canonised woman physician and professional who was also a “working mom”.
Gianna Beretta Molla was born in Magenta (Milan), Italy, on 4 October 1922, the 10th of 13 children.
After earning degrees in medicine and surgery, from the University of Pavia in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized in pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and thereafter gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and the poor.
She became engaged to Pietro Molla and they were married on 24 September 1955 in St Martin's Basilica in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of Pierluigi; in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura.
She combined the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life.
In September 1961, towards the end of the second month of pregnancy,she developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, She refused both an abortion and a hysterectomy despite warnings that continuing with the pregnancy could result in her death.
She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in her tasks as mother and doctor.
A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: "if you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child - I insist on it. Save the baby". link
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
There were Christians in Rome within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus, though they were not the converts of the “Apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 15:20). Paul had not yet visited them at the time he wrote his great letter in a.d. 57-58.
There was a large Jewish population in Rome. Probably as a result of controversy between Jews and Jewish Christians, the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome in 49-50 A.D. Suetonius the historian says that the expulsion was due to disturbances in the city “caused by the certain Chrestus” [Christ]. Perhaps many came back after Claudius’s death in 54 A.D. Paul’s letter was addressed to a Church with members from Jewish and Gentile backgrounds.
In July of 64 A.D., more than half of Rome was destroyed by fire. Rumor blamed the tragedy on Nero, who wanted to enlarge his palace. He shifted the blame by accusing the Christians. According to the historian Tacitus, a “great multitude” of Christians was put to death because of their “hatred of the human race.” Peter and Paul were probably among the victims.
Threatened by an army revolt and condemned to death by the senate, Nero committed suicide in 68 A.D. at the age of 31.
Comment: Wherever the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same opposition as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow him shared his suffering and death. But no human force could stop the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world. The blood of martyrs has always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.
Quote: From Pope Clement I, successor of St. Peter: “It was through envy and jealousy that the greatest and most upright pillars of the Church were persecuted and struggled unto death.... First of all, Peter, who because of unreasonable jealousy suffered not merely once or twice but many times, and, having thus given his witness, went to the place of glory that he deserved. It was through jealousy and conflict that Paul showed the way to the prize for perseverance. He was put in chains seven times, sent into exile, and stoned; a herald both in the east and the west, he achieved a noble fame by his faith....”
“Around these men with their holy lives there are gathered a great throng of the elect, who, though victims of jealousy, gave us the finest example of endurance in the midst of many indignities and tortures. Through jealousy women were tormented, like Dirce or the daughters of Danaus, suffering terrible and unholy acts of violence. But they courageously finished the course of faith and despite their bodily weakness won a noble prize.”
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Actually, the first seat of the catholic church was Antioch, not Rome. Peter was first Bishop of Antioch.The eastern churches trace their roots to Antioch as the seat, not Rome.
Retired Monk "Ideology is a disease"
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
I have read about 2/3rds of this thread and have yet to hear any of the "we must win in Iraq crowd" offer any tactical or strategic ideas of how to actually win versus an insurgency.
"I have no one to talk to since Mahatma Gandhi died.” Vladimir Putin.
Posts: 268 | Location: usa | Registered: 09 July 2001
Originally posted by Chaos-Theory: I have read about 2/3rds of this thread and have yet to hear any of the "we must win in Iraq crowd" offer any tactical or strategic ideas of how to actually win versus an insurgency.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?
quote:
Lieberman: The Bush surge might deliver security, Harry Reid's retreat will only bring defeat
Yesterday the Democrat-controlled Senate voted to put a timetable on withdrawal from Iraq. Senator Joe Lieberman opposed the Democrat 'strategy' and every word of his floor speech - republished below - is worth reading.
(Meanwhile the Washington-based Thatcher Center has published a paper contrasting the British Government's willingness to commit several thousand troops to Iraq for another five years with the Democrats' 'troops out' message. Read Dr Nile Gardiner's short paper here).
"Mr. President, the supplemental appropriations bill we are debating today contains language that would have Congress take control of the direction of our military strategy in Iraq.
Earlier this week the Senate Majority Leader spoke at the Woodrow Wilson Center and laid out the case for why he believes we must do this—why the bill now before this chamber, in his view, offers a viable alternative strategy for Iraq.
I have great respect for my friend from Nevada. I believe he has offered this proposal in good faith, and therefore want to take it up in good faith, and examine its arguments and ideas carefully and in depth, for this is a very serious discussion for our country.
In his speech Monday, the Majority Leader described the several steps that this new strategy for Iraq would entail. Its first step, he said, is to "transition the U.S. mission away from policing a civil war—to training and equipping Iraqi security forces, protecting U.S. forces, and conducting targeted counter-terror operations."
I ask my colleagues to take a step back for a moment and consider this plan.
When we say that U.S. troops shouldn't be "policing a civil war," that their operations should be restricted to this narrow list of missions, what does this actually mean?
To begin with, it means that our troops will not be allowed to protect the Iraqi people from the insurgents and militias who are trying to terrorize and kill them. Instead of restoring basic security, which General Petraeus has argued should be the central focus of any counterinsurgency campaign, it means our soldiers would instead be ordered, by force of this proposed law, not to stop the sectarian violence happening all around them—no matter how vicious or horrific it becomes.
In short, it means telling our troops to deliberately and consciously turn their backs on ethnic cleansing, to turn their backs on the slaughter of innocent civilians—men, women, and children singled out and killed on the basis of their religion alone. It means turning our backs on the policies that led us to intervene in the civil war in Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the principles that today lead many of us to call for intervention in Darfur.
This makes no moral sense at all.
It also makes no strategic or military sense either.
Al Qaeda's own leaders have repeatedly said that one of the ways they intend to achieve victory in Iraq is to provoke civil war. They are trying to kill as many people as possible today, precisely in the hope of igniting sectarian violence, because they know that this is their best way to collapse Iraq's political center, overthrow Iraq's elected government, radicalize its population, and create a failed state in the heart of the Middle East that they can use as a base.
That is why Al Qaeda blew up the Golden Mosque in Samarra last year. And that is why we are seeing mass casualty suicide bombings by Al Qaeda in Baghdad now.
The sectarian violence that the Majority Leader says he wants to order American troops to stop policing, in other words, is the very same sectarian violence that Al Qaeda hopes to ride to victory. The suggestion that we can draw a bright legislative line between stopping terrorists in Iraq and stopping civil war in Iraq flies in the face of this reality.
I do not know how to say it more plainly: it is Al Qaeda that is trying to cause a full-fledged civil war in Iraq.
The Majority Leader said on Monday that he believes U.S. troops will still be able to conduct "targeted counter-terror operations" under his plan. Even if we stop trying to protect civilians in Iraq, in other words, we can still go after the bad guys.
But again, I ask my colleagues, how would this translate into military reality on the ground? How would we find these terrorists, who do not gather on conventional military bases or fight in conventional formations?
By definition, targeted counterterrorism requires our forces to know where, when, and against whom to strike—and that in turn requires accurate, actionable, real-time intelligence.
This is the kind of intelligence that can only come from ordinary Iraqis, the sea of people among whom the terrorists hide. And that, in turn, requires interacting with the Iraqi people on a close, personal, daily basis. It requires winning individual Iraqis to our side, gaining their trust, convincing them that they can count on us to keep them safe from the terrorists if they share valuable information about them. This is no great secret. This is at the heart of the new strategy that General Petraeus and his troops are carrying out.
And yet, if we pass this legislation, according to the Majority Leader, U.S. forces will no longer be permitted to patrol Iraq's neighborhoods or protect Iraqi civilians. They won't, in his words, be "interjecting themselves between warring factions" or "trying to sort friend from foe."
Therefore, I ask the supporters of this legislation: How, exactly, are U.S. forces to gather intelligence about where, when, and against whom to strike, after you have ordered them walled off from the Iraqi population? How, exactly, are U.S. forces to carry out targeted counter-terror operations, after you have ordered them cut off from the very source of intelligence that drives these operations?
This is precisely why the congressional micromanagement of life-and-death decisions about how, where, and when our troops can fight is such a bad idea, especially on a complex and changing battlefield.
In sum, you can't have it both ways. You can't withdraw combat troops from Iraq and still fight Al Qaeda there. If you believe there is no hope of winning in Iraq, or that the costs of victory there are not worth it, then you should be for complete withdrawal as soon as possible.
There is another irony here as well.
For most of the past four years, under Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, the United States did not try to establish basic security in Iraq. Rather than deploying enough troops necessary to protect the Iraqi people, the focus of our military has been on training and equipping Iraqi forces, protecting our own forces, and conducting targeted sweeps and raids—in other words, the very same missions proposed by the proponents of the legislation before us.
That strategy failed—and we know why it failed. It failed because we didn't have enough troops to ensure security, which in turn created an opening for Al Qaeda and its allies to exploit. They stepped into this security vacuum and, through horrific violence, created a climate of fear and insecurity in which political and economic progress became impossible.
For years, many members of Congress recognized this. We talked about this. We called for more troops, and a new strategy, and—for that matter—a new secretary of defense.
And yet, now, just as President Bush has come around—just as he has recognized the mistakes his administration has made, and the need to focus on basic security in Iraq, and to install a new secretary of defense and a new commander in Iraq—now his critics in Congress have changed their minds and decided that the old, failed strategy wasn't so bad after all.
What is going on here? What has changed so that the strategy that we criticized and rejected in 2006 suddenly makes sense in 2007?
The second element in the plan outlined by the Majority Leader on Monday is "the phased redeployment of our troops no later than October 1, 2007."
Let us be absolutely clear what this means. This legislation would impose a binding deadline for U.S. troops to begin retreating from Iraq. This withdrawal would happen regardless of conditions on the ground, regardless of the recommendations of General Petraeus, in short regardless of reality on October 1, 2007.
As far as I can tell, none of the supporters of withdrawal have attempted to explain why October 1 is the magic date—what strategic or military significance this holds. Why not September 1? Or January 1? This is a date as arbitrary as it is inflexible—a deadline for defeat.
How do proponents of this deadline defend it? On Monday, Senator Reid gave several reasons. First, he said, a date for withdrawal puts "pressure on the Iraqis to make the desperately needed political compromises."
But will it? According to the legislation now before us, the withdrawal will happen regardless of what the Iraqi government does.
How, then, if you are an Iraqi government official, does this give you any incentive to make the right choices?
On the contrary, there is compelling reason to think a legislatively directed withdrawal of American troops will have exactly the opposite effect than its Senate sponsors intend.
This, in fact, is exactly what the most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq predicted. A withdrawal of U.S. troops in the months ahead, it said, would "almost certainly lead to a significant increase in the scale and scope of sectarian conflict, intensify Sunni resistance, and have adverse effects on national reconciliation."
Second, the Majority Leader said that withdrawing our troops, and again I quote, will "reduce the specter of the U.S. occupation which gives fuel to the insurgency."
My colleague from Nevada, in other words, is suggesting that the insurgency is being provoked by the very presence of American troops. By diminishing that presence, then, he believes the insurgency will diminish.
But I ask my colleagues—where is the evidence to support this theory? Since 2003, and before General Petraeus took command, U.S. forces were ordered on several occasions to pull back from Iraqi cities and regions, including Mosul and Fallujah and Tel'Afar and Baghdad. And what happened in these places? Did they stabilize when American troops left? Did the insurgency go away?
On the contrary—in each of these places where U.S. forces pulled back, Al Qaeda rushed in. Rather than becoming islands of peace, they became safe havens for terrorists, islands of fear and violence.
So I ask advocates of withdrawal: on what evidence, on what data, have you concluded that pulling U.S. troops out will weaken the insurgency, when every single experience we have had since 2003 suggests that this legislation will strengthen it?
Consider the words of Sheikh Abdul Sattar, one of the leading Sunni tribal leaders in Anbar province who is now fighting on our side against Al Qaeda. This is what he told the New York Times when asked last month what would happen if U.S. troops withdraw. "In my personal opinion, and in the opinion of most of the wise men of Anbar," he said, "if the American forces leave right now, there will be civil war and the area will fall into total chaos."
This is a man whose father was killed by Al Qaeda, who is risking his life every day to work with us—a man who was described by one Army officer as "the most effective local leader in Ramadi I believe the coalition has worked with... in Anbar [since] 2003."
In his remarks earlier this week, the Majority Leader observed that there is "a large and growing population of millions—who sit precariously on the fence. They will either condemn or contribute to terrorism in the years ahead. We must convince them of the goodness of America and Americans. We must win them over."
On this, I completely agree with my friend from Nevada. My question to him, however, and to the supporters of this legislation, is this: how does the strategy you propose in this bill possibly help win over this population of millions in Iraq, who sit precariously on the fence?
What message, I ask, does this legislation announce to those people in Iraq? How will they respond when we tell them that we will no longer make any effort to protect them against insurgents and death squads? How will they respond when we declare that we will be withdrawing our forces—regardless of whether they make progress in the next six months towards political reconciliation? Where will their hopes for a better life be when we withdraw the troops that are the necessary precondition for the security and stability they yearn for?
Do my friends really believe that this is the way to convince Iraqis, and the world, of the goodness of America and Americans? Does anyone in this chamber really believe that, by announcing a date certain for withdrawal, we will empower Iraqi moderates, or enable Iraq's reconstruction, or open more schools for their children, or more hospitals for their families, or freedom for everyone?
Mr. President, with all due respect, this is fantasy.
The third step the Majority Leader proposes is to impose "tangible, measurable, and achievable benchmarks on the Iraqi government."
I am all for such benchmarks. In fact, Senator McCain and I were among the first to propose legislation to apply such benchmarks on the Iraqi government.
But I don't see how this plan will encourage Iraqis to meet these or any other benchmarks, given its ironclad commitment to abandon them—regardless of how they behave.
We should of course be making every effort to encourage reconciliation in Iraq and the development of a decent political order that Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds can agree on.
But even if today that political solution was found, we cannot rationally think that our terrorist enemies like Al Qaeda in Iraq will simply vanish.
Al Qaeda is not mass murdering civilians on the streets of Baghdad because it wants a more equitable distribution of oil revenues. Its aim in Iraq is not to get a seat at the political table.
It wants to blow up the table—along with everyone seated at it. Al Qaeda wants to destroy any prospect for democracy in Iraq, and it will not be negotiated or reasoned out of existence. It must be fought and defeated through force of arms. And there can be no withdrawal, no redeployment from this reality.
The fourth step that the Majority Leader proposed on Monday is a "diplomatic, economic, and political offensive... starting with a regional conference working toward a long-term framework for stability in the region."
I understand why we are tempted by these ideas. All of us are aware of the justified frustration, fatigue, and disappointment of the American people. And all of us would like to believe that there is a quick and easy solution to the challenges we face in Iraq.
But none of this gives us an excuse to paper over hard truths. We delude ourselves if we think we can wave a legislative wand and suddenly our troops in the field will be able to distinguish between Al Qaeda terrorism and sectarian violence, or that Iraqis will suddenly settle their political differences because our troops are leaving, or that sweet reason alone will suddenly convince Iran and Syria to stop destabilizing Iraq.
Mr. President, what we need now is a sober assessment of the progress we have made and a recognition of the challenges we face. There are still many uncertainties before us, many complexities. Barely half of the new troops that General Petraeus has requested have even arrived in Iraq, and, as we heard from him yesterday, it will still be months before we will know just how effective his new strategy is.
In following General Petraeus' path, there is no guarantee of success—but there is hope, and a new plan, for success.
The plan embedded in this legislation, on the other hand, contains no such hope. It is a strategy of catchphrases and bromides, rather than military realities in Iraq. It does not learn from the many mistakes we have made in Iraq. Rather, it promises to repeat them.
Let me be absolutely clear: In my opinion, Iraq is not yet lost—but if we follow this plan, it will be. And so, I fear, much of our hope for stability in the Middle East and security from terrorism here at home.
I yield the floor."
link Is this the reason the Democrats want Joe Lieberman to withdraw from the party?
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth,with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee (here insert intention), and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
You may have heard of these Marines associated with an incident in Haditha, Iraq -- an incident that has put them under threat of a court martial, perhaps leading to life imprisonment on unjustified charges of murder.
We at NewsMax have reported the truth about this case for over the past year with comprehensive coverage from our correspondent Phil Brennan. We believe a grave injustice has been committed against these hero Marines.
In fact, just this week an investigating officer conducting an Article 32 hearing -- the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing -- in the case of one of the three Marines, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, issued a report indicating that Sharratt should be exonerated and not subjected to a court martial.
Here is some background on these courageous young men, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, and Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich.
In a first tour of duty in Iraq, two of these Marines, Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, 26, and Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 22, fought fearlessly in the second battle of Fallujah, a small city in al Anbar province north of Baghdad known as the Sunni Triangle.
This battle, in November 2004, was one of the fiercest and bloodiest engagements in the long and proud history of the Marine Corps, and earned both Sharratt and Tatum the admiration and respect of their fellow Marines in the 3rd battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, the storied "Thundering Third."
Both Tatum and Sharratt were at the infamous "Hell House" fight at Fallujah immortalized in Nat Helms book "My Men are My Heroes." In this vicious battle wounded Marines fended off a fierce guerilla attack for almost 24 hours.
In all, Sharratt and Tatum's "Thundering Third" claimed more than 1,000 enemy combatant kills during its second deployment to Iraq during 2004.
In the days before and after that bloody incident, Sharratt and Tatum fought side-by-side in the terrifying street-by-street, house-by-house fight to cleanse that city of the al-Qaida thugs terrorizing Fallujah.
In their second tour of duty, this time in insurgent-controlled Haditha, they faced an enemy lurking in the shadows among the civilian population, on the lookout for a chance to ambush Marines or kill them with hidden explosive IEDs or sniper fire.
On Nov. 19, 2005 an IED exploded under a Humvee killing the driver Miguel Terrazas and wounding two other members of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 1st Marines, James Crossan and Salvador Guzman.
The surviving Marines then came under fire from two houses near the site of the explosion.
Almost immediately, a white sedan came on the scene and 3rd Battalion Marine Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 27, aware from an intelligence briefing that had warned of an impending ambush involving a white car, killed the occupants as they came out of the vehicle and they refused to stop when ordered to do so.
A rapid response team arrived on the scene 15 minutes after the IED explosion and the officer in command ordered Wuterich and his men to clear the two houses.
In the course of what became a fierce, door-to-door, full-day battle, 24 Iraqis were killed -- at least eight insurgent terrorists were believed to be among them. But some civilians were clearly killed in the crossfire.
Despite the loss of civilian life, the military was satisfied the Marines had acted properly because an intelligence officer, Capt. Jeff Dinsmore, had carefully monitored the engagement.
Dinsmore kept a narrative complete with photos from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), transcripts of radio transmissions from the scene of action, and reports from some of the participants all the way up the command ladder.
Dinsmore's reports proved conclusively that the actions of the Marines were proper and justified.
Months later, in March of the next year, wild allegations began to surface that these Marines knowingly massacred innocent Iraqi civilians.
The hysteria against these Marines was set off by a Time magazine reporter whose only sources were known insurgent propagandists, civilian supporters of al-Qaida, or civilians intimidated by al-Qaida thugs.
On the basis of the Time story alone, and in the face of the fact that Time was forced to retract parts of the initial story four times, the media across the world reported that the Kilo Company Marines had gone on a rampage.
The Time report claimed Marines had massacred 24 innocent civilians on Nov. 19, 2005, in retaliation for the death by IED of one of their fellow Marines.
In response to the media charges and those echoed by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and the result of a badly bungled investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS), the three heroes were falsely charged with a number of counts of murder.
Since then, these Marine heroes and their parents have been living a life of total hell.
As it now stands, the three Marines have yet to be cleared and their future remains uncertain.
Of course, the legal defense costs for these Marines have placed an enormous burden on them and their families.
One defense lawyer estimated that by the time the prosecution is over, the Marines -- defenders of freedom, with limited incomes and resources -- will have incurred legal expenses amounting to $250,000 each.
That's why we are asking our readers to help these young brave Marines with their legal defense costs --.
Already Stephen Tatum's parents say they have had to take out a second mortgage on their home to help pay just a fraction of the cost of their hero son's defense.
We will be forever indebted to these heroic young men and women who serve to protect us in Iraq -- they do not deserve to be tortured with criminal allegations and overwhelming financial burdens.
Heroic Americans Let me tell you about these young men whose extraordinary heroism and exceptional service to their country has been rewarded by totally unjustified charges of murder.
Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum hails from Oklahoma City, Okla.
He graduated from the Putnam City public schools. He enjoyed playing sports in grade school followed by football in high school.
His parents say Stephen has always had a positive attitude, and was well liked by his teachers and friends.
Stephen, they told NewsMax.com, is a religious person who enjoys going to church with family and friends. He always wanted to be a Marine and has served his country with great pride, honor, and dedication.
Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich was an honor student from Meriden, Conn., an active sportsman who played the trumpet in the school band and performed with the drama club.
While still in his senior year of high school, Frank enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
For the past eight years he has been an outstanding leader with many decorations and commendations.
Ironically before being charged with murder he had been recommended for the Bronze Star for the very actions at Haditha that resulted in the charges.
Frank is married to Marisol, a nursing student. They have three children. He has a passion for music.
Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt is a native of Washington, Pa.
His dad, Daryl Sharratt recalls that as a child, his son was captivated by the military. He built forts and military barriers with building blocks and had small armies of play soldiers. That interest continued into his teens.
An avid outdoorsman, he joined the Boy Scouts and spent numerous weekends camping on the shores of the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers. He has a passion for fishing.
At the age of 12, Justin joined the Navy Sea Cadets in South Bend, Ind., and attended his first boot camp at an Air Force Reserve installation in Wisconsin.
While attending Penn High School in Indiana, Justin played soccer, football, and roller hockey. While in 10th grade, Justin told his parents he was joining the Marines. He told his parents he wanted to be the best of the best.
When Justin was 17 years old, he enrolled in the Delayed Entry Program with the Marines. On July 28, 2003, just one month after his graduation from high school, he left for boot camp.
His parents say, "We are so proud of him. He is, and will always be, our hero."
They Need Your Help These courageous Marines need your help and they need it now.
They've earned it and deserve it.
You can show your support for these great Americans by Going Here Now.
We are so strongly behind these Marines, NewsMax is making a $10,000 donation to help the three legal defense funds.
To make a donation send your gift to the Haditha Heroes Fund at NewsMax ..
NewsMax will send all donations -- every penny -- to the aid of the Marines. NewsMax will even pay for all of the credit card processing costs that will incur.
Help us show America's appreciation for these fine young Marines and their selfless service to our country --"
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Hi All This is mike from Africa . The thing that astounds me about hero concept is that a so called " world magazine " like Time can ellect Bob Geldolf a hero .Geldlof has done nothing for Africa and everything for himself . Bishop Pius Ncube , who puts his life at risk fighting the mad dog dictator of Zimbabwe gets completely ignored by Time . It is no wonder Americans are so disliked in Africa . Mike
Posts: 1 | Location: pretoria south africa | Registered: 21 July 2007
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
Posts: 8264 | Location: Fl | Registered: 05 July 2001
Originally posted by michael harkin: Hi All This is mike from Africa . The thing that astounds me about hero concept is that a so called " world magazine " like Time can ellect Bob Geldolf a hero .Geldlof has done nothing for Africa and everything for himself . Bishop Pius Ncube , who puts his life at risk fighting the mad dog dictator of Zimbabwe gets completely ignored by Time . It is no wonder Americans are so disliked in Africa . Mike
Hi Mike, Time magazine like so many publications is all about political correctness and nothing to do with what is but actually fears "wholesome character" and "dignity of personhood".
Please continue!
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
Originally posted by Sawdust: Isn't Geldolf British?
Unfortunately, our British brothers and sisters are making many many compromises on good human behavior and are actually turning on themselves. If you want links and more information I've got it.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
.. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he was imprisoned and released for a time. But in 1941 he was arrested again and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz.
On July 31, 1941, in reprisal for one prisoner's escape, ten men were chosen to die. Father Kolbe offered himself in place of a young husband and father. And he was the last to die, enduring two weeks of starvation, thirst, and neglect. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1981. His feast day is August 14th.
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
...the first concentration camp was established in 1933 at Dachau, outside of Munich; this camp was not .so much an "extermination camp" as one for the political prisoners, including priests. At Dachau alone, 2,700 priests were imprisoned (of which 1,000 died), and were subject to the most awful tortures, including the medical experiments of Dr. Rascher.
Such persecution was not confined to Germany. The Church in Poland also suffered severely. During the first four months of occupation following the September 1939 invasion, 700 priests were shot and 3,000 were sent to concentration camps (of which 2,600 died). By the end of the war, 3 million Polish Catholics had been killed in concentration camps. How many other Catholics--priests, religious, and laity—in other countries died for the faith during the Nazi era?
Pope Pius XI, who had condemned Nazism in his 1937 encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge, died in February 1939, and Pope Pius XII followed him as the successor of St. Peter on March 12. Think of the world—and the Church—Pope Pius XII had inherited.
To make matters worse, by 1940 Hitler controlled Europe and Northern Africa, and was planning the invasion of Britain. The Vatican, officially a neutral country, was isolated. Hitler had plans to depose Pius XII, appoint his own "puppet" pope, and move the Vatican administration to Germany, plans which would have been executed if the war would have gone in the Nazi's favor. Who then was to come to the aid of the Vatican? Pius XII, who had to insure the survival of the Church, was very much alone.
Nevertheless, Pius XII spoke out. After the invasion of Poland in September l939, he denounced the aggression of the Nazis and proposed a peace plan. In 1940, he called for the triumph over hatred, mistrust, and the spirit of "cold egoism." The following year, he pleaded for the rights of small nations and national minorities, and condemned total warfare and religious persecution.... link
* * * * * * * * Without traditional regular moral principles that may be consulted confidently, justice cannot long endure anywhere.
Posts: 6275 | Location: Maine | Registered: 31 December 2005
1. The war was NOT based on bad intel. Intel was fabricated to fit the scenario the Bush Admin was looking for. Those are simple facts. The Europeans had their own intel and had intelligence personnel on the ground in Iraq wich we did not. THEY informed us that our intel was bogus. The British knew it was bogus. Downing street papers very clearly provide evidence that they knew the intel was bogus but their mind was made up. 2. Saddam Hussein created the ONLY western Arab country in the Middle East. 3. It was a secular country with freedom of religion, where education was one of the priorities. There were, per capita, more PhDs in Iraq then in any western country, including the U.S. Tariq Aziz, his Foreign Minister, currently in jail is a Christian. 4. Women had freedom, did not wear the burqa, and were involved in education/medicine/politics/media, etc. 5. Saddam Hussein routinely liquidated anyone associated with any jihad causing Osama bin Laden to issue a fatwah on the head of SH since he was killing the faithful. OBL also issued a fatwah on the Saudi Royals since they were sleeping with the infidels (U.S.) 6. Iraq had one of the finest infrastructures. 7. Saddam Hussein, while no sweetheart, was far less brutal than any other M.E. leader. 8. To turn American military into heroes is yet another nauseating tool that legitimizes illegal invasions and needless killing. That they become a tool of a murderous gang does not make them any better. Propaganda is filling our heads with myths, while all they do is murder the innocent in our name. There is no honor in it. 9. Iraq has, besides Oil, also lots of water. It is called the breadbasket of the Middle East. Israel has had a shortage of water for a long time. The dead sea is losing water at the rate of abt 2 ft per year. The salt is effecting the water table and Israel is in dire need of water. They have been eying Iraq for a long time with the aim of getting a water pipeline from Iraq to Israel.
So, there were no WMD. There was NO faulty intel, only bogus intel as a pretext ro invade. We wanted to stop Europe which had stopped the sanctions against Iraq and was going to be doing business with there leaving corporate America out of the loop. SH had started trading his oil in the Euro thereby threatening the U.S.$ as the reserve currency. We needed CONTROL of the oil in order to control Europe. And we needed more military bases since we were losing some in Saudi Arabia.
All the vilification of Saddam Hussein was a concerted effort to psychologically prepare Americans for an illegal invasion into a souvereign nation that had never been a threat to us and had never done us any harm. You need to learn your facts, NOT from Government sources but from your own. We are and have been lied to. Dumbing down of America is in the interest of the ruling elite. There was NEVER any connection between SH and 9/11. The 9/11 commision was a joke.
Posts: 863 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 21 June 2007
Gerry, there is so much information out about the bogus claims for justified war in Iraq, I'm suprised anyone still believes it. I suppose I shouldn't be.
I wonder how many really believe it, and how many just "mouth" they believe it because they truely agree with the policy of military conquest for resources and a propping up of a dollar that has back-fired.
The deficits from the war are causing the dollar to drop...in contradiction to the justification for propping it up.
Just a matter of time until the Euro replaces it as the international medium of exchange.
Retired Monk "Ideology is a disease"
Posts: 3412 | Location: denver co | Registered: 17 April 2007
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