AMERICAblog: Iraqi troops abandon positions, again
OlderAndWiser
· 1 year ago
The truth of the matter is--most Iraqis are joining the "army" because of the high unemployment rate in Iraq, and are probably deserting when required to fire on their own people, some of whom might even be relatives or neighbors.
It was delightful to see Dems attack Jim Nussle about the "emergency funding" for this tragic abortion, as well. Let's hope they have the nerve to carry through and put the quietus on what has largely become a way to fund Bush contractor friends and other thieves.
Indigo
· 1 year ago
Now that the pattern is clear, was Iraq ever about anything other than funding Cheney & Company's investments?
TheMouthpieceOfRummy
· 1 year ago
There are "known knowns" and these are the things we know we know. There are "known unknowns" and these are the things we know we don't know. There are "unknown knowns" and these are the things we don't know we know. There are "unknown unknowns" and these are the things we don't know we don't know.
Hey look over there! There's peace around Baghdad. Somewhere to the north, east, south and west. Somewhere...
OlderAndWiser
· 1 year ago
Indigo, bingo! You put it well.
SarainKC
· 1 year ago
While we're at it, let the oil companies and Iraqi ministers pay for Blackwater services as well. It galls me that these thugs are being financed by tax payers and our servicemen can't even get a 3% raise.
prochoicelib
· 1 year ago
This is an OCCUPATION, not a war. Why should the Iraqi's do anything to aid the occupiers?
How do you "win" and occupation? Continue to occupy.
OlderAndWiser
· 1 year ago
Some thoughts I've been having about this election cycle, and why I think Iraq doesn't matter as much to most Americans...
It's all part of the anti-intellectualism that damns this country, IMHO. If voters aren't educated, and don't think about real issues, they've far more manipulated, of course. Too bad Americans are satisfied to be consumers of all the latest toys and gossip and don't think for themselves, but are persuaded, as is indicated today, only by the size of their wallet. Not that a lot of people aren't suffering from Bush policies, but it almost always takes the form of the economy for people to actually vote for change. Even the Iraq fiasco is only considered by 18% of voters in this election to be the most important problem facing the country, and why Clinton is beating the "elite" bullshit about Obama to death. Most people think with their wallets.
Part of the reason people voted for Bush the first time was because of the very mild recession that occurred right before the 2000 election. And people elected Reagan because of inflation and high interest rates. It's always about the economy (which Carville, in spite of his shameful sell out since Clinton's been out of office, put it so succinctly). It's also what won for Clinton in 1992 when Bush41 mangled economic policies and continued the Reagan legacy. Which begs the question, are more people guided by their wallets than by their conscience? That would put the whole religious conviction question in a new light, one which Obama framed rather clumsily, but was correct about. I mean, lots of people wouldn't see inside of a church if there wasn't something material there for them, such as food banks, clothing, etc., which I'm not against at all, since I believe that you are indeed your brother's (and sister's) keeper. For others (and they know who they are, being "churched" is just another dot on their resume, something people expect. I believe religious "conviction" is one of the oldest ways of conning there is--look at the pedophilic FLDS cults around, for instance. All those 13 year old virgins--as well as the pedophilia of the catholic church which exploited the trust of children in church authority.
lilybart
· 1 year ago
Most Christians don't really believe their own religion. The things Jesus commanded; love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemy, take care of the least of these.....are very inconvenient for the free-market capitalist Christians. So, they ignore all that soft, commie Jesus stuff. Therefore, I say they don't really believe it all, not really. Or it is just too too hard to live a life of love and compassion when there are all these THINGS to BUY!!!
SarainKC
· 1 year ago
What I hate about the "bitter" narrative is everyone, including Barack, takes his "cling to guns, religion...." to somehow mean they seek those things out of refuge from their frustrations. When I heard his comments, I shook my head in agreement, not because people "cling" to anything, but because politicians USE those issues to rally votes in lieu of economic solutions. Every 2 and 4 years we get the same diet of wedge issues, meant to stir up fear and or anger. People are so used to voting AGAINST something they are now suspicious when they have the opportunity to vote FOR something that actually benefits their lives. It's the calculated manipulation of these wedge issues that cause people to vote against their own economic interests. That's what I believe Barack meant.
DaveTheAngryRhodeIslander
· 1 year ago
I guarantee you that to the average Iraqi, the enemy is us, not any religious faction. Before we occupied Iraq, there was no civil war - granted there was a dictator, but there's no one who can honestly say that things are better for Iraqis now. I'm not saying that dictatorship is good, only that our occupation of Iraq is terrible, and needs to end NOW!
The only reason Iraqis are fighting each other is to determine which faction will be the victor over the hated Americans. They will win - they have time and history on their side. All the resources we can pour into this occupation are meaningless against an enemy willing to commit suicide and kill their brethren in order to kill a few of us. We can't win, which isn't the goal anyway - the goal of our government is to have a prolonged if not endless military situation. There will be many Dick Cheneys getting rich on the blood of Iraqis and American soldiers.
lilybart
· 1 year ago
Seems WE are the ones who want a civil war in Iraq. It is no surprise that these Iraqi soldiers don't want to kill their own people.
Rab
· 1 year ago
Religion is the opiate for the masses.....I think Lenin said that.... All these so-called wedge issues dumb America down to emotion, not intelligence. Repugs play this time and again, good luck America....
jr
· 1 year ago
"this is a great sign of progress! John McCain is a genius"-Joe Liberman
mike31c
· 1 year ago
Busboy spouts off with --> It's time to partition the country, leave enough troops to secure the oilfields and pipelines and leave.
Um, why? This war was not about the oil remember? Secondly, it's not YOUR FREAKING oil. It belongs to the people of Iraq. Not selfish Busboys. And as long as we are talking about leaving troops, why don't YOU join the military and YOU stay and guard something.
Busboy
· 1 year ago
It's time to partition the country, leave enough troops to secure the oilfields and pipelines and leave.
DaveTheAngryRhodeIslander
· 1 year ago
Who is this...Cheney?
Busboy
· 1 year ago
The Iraqi's are supposedly producing about 2 mil BOPD. If those pipelines shut down; we're in for some high gas prices.
All Comments
It was delightful to see Dems attack Jim Nussle about the "emergency funding" for this tragic abortion, as well. Let's hope they have the nerve to carry through and put the quietus on what has largely become a way to fund Bush contractor friends and other thieves.
There are "known unknowns" and these are the things we know we don't know.
There are "unknown knowns" and these are the things we don't know we know.
There are "unknown unknowns" and these are the things we don't know we don't know.
Hey look over there!
There's peace around Baghdad. Somewhere to the north, east, south and west.
Somewhere...
How do you "win" and occupation? Continue to occupy.
It's all part of the anti-intellectualism that damns this country, IMHO. If voters aren't educated, and don't think about real issues, they've far more manipulated, of course. Too bad Americans are satisfied to be consumers of all the latest toys and gossip and don't think for themselves, but are persuaded, as is indicated today, only by the size of their wallet. Not that a lot of people aren't suffering from Bush policies, but it almost always takes the form of the economy for people to actually vote for change. Even the Iraq fiasco is only considered by 18% of voters in this election to be the most important problem facing the country, and why Clinton is beating the "elite" bullshit about Obama to death. Most people think with their wallets.
Part of the reason people voted for Bush the first time was because of the very mild recession that occurred right before the 2000 election. And people elected Reagan because of inflation and high interest rates. It's always about the economy (which Carville, in spite of his shameful sell out since Clinton's been out of office, put it so succinctly). It's also what won for Clinton in 1992 when Bush41 mangled economic policies and continued the Reagan legacy. Which begs the question, are more people guided by their wallets than by their conscience? That would put the whole religious conviction question in a new light, one which Obama framed rather clumsily, but was correct about. I mean, lots of people wouldn't see inside of a church if there wasn't something material there for them, such as food banks, clothing, etc., which I'm not against at all, since I believe that you are indeed your brother's (and sister's) keeper. For others (and they know who they are, being "churched" is just another dot on their resume, something people expect. I believe religious "conviction" is one of the oldest ways of conning there is--look at the pedophilic FLDS cults around, for instance. All those 13 year old virgins--as well as the pedophilia of the catholic church which exploited the trust of children in church authority.
The only reason Iraqis are fighting each other is to determine which faction will be the victor over the hated Americans. They will win - they have time and history on their side. All the resources we can pour into this occupation are meaningless against an enemy willing to commit suicide and kill their brethren in order to kill a few of us. We can't win, which isn't the goal anyway - the goal of our government is to have a prolonged if not endless military situation. There will be many Dick Cheneys getting rich on the blood of Iraqis and American soldiers.
It's time to partition the country, leave enough troops to secure the oilfields and pipelines and leave.
Um, why? This war was not about the oil remember? Secondly, it's not YOUR FREAKING oil. It belongs to the people of Iraq. Not selfish Busboys. And as long as we are talking about leaving troops, why don't YOU join the military and YOU stay and guard something.