I looked at the Philadelphia Inquirer this morning at the following AP story, Iraq marks bloodiest day in months.

Why don't you ever look at the good news and progress being made? All you look at is the one sided liberal view.

It is time to leave and the Iraqi People must settle their internal disputes. It is NOT our job to try and stop what amounts top a civil war in Iraq. There is NO end to this situation and every day we remain we are PART OF THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!

Just be honest finally and say we should surrender. There is no civil war in Iraq. The only people who want a civil war are the terrorists and liberals like yourself.

This was one of the lead stories and clearly shows the failure of the Bush policy. If we knew that more then 3 years after we invaded Iraq we would be facing this situation, there would not have been an invasion. This has nothing to do with surrender. We never intended to become involved in a Civil War. We do not have the resources available to bring the factions into control. There are 26 Million people in that country and three major factions that do not get along. In the most populated areas there is NO security, massive unemployment and a report last week said 18 of the 20 Billion we spent to rebuild Iraq was wasted!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a failure on a scale that did not exist in the past and it is ALL BUSH! Bush now has an approval of 29% and Congress and Cheney about 18% each. You would have to add them all up to get a single good approval rating. What a FAILURE. Anyone that Voted for Bush and the GOP members of Congress are RESPONSIBLE for all these failures- Iraq, Deficit, trade, immigration, etc.

If we knew that more then 3 years after we invaded Iraq we would be facing this situation, there would not have been an invasion.

You finally proved your ignorance. This line alone proves your stupidity beyond a shadow of a doubt. If Hitler knew he would lose, he would not have gone to war or would have used a different strategy. If Napoleon knew he would lose he would have not fought. If we knew then what we know now, we would have been doing better. You are a fool Col. I don't know what the hell you learned in the military, but those sissy missions you claim to have done while avoiding the Vietnam war deprived you of any real military knowledge. That title of Col. was more an Honorary title than anything else. You don't even have a book about war, military action or stories, all you write about is politics, something you seem to be really bad at when trying to prove a point.

Why don't you go take your meds and take a nap so that later you can go play dominoes with your old buddies while listening to Sinatra.

Darn double post.

waves massive penis to turn whip on some more.

Gene you are an idiot, a disgrace to anyone that served or even WANTED to serve. I have said it before and will say it again, if you had a single round buzz by your ear you would crap in your pink panties.

For the most part, an individuals military service means NOTHING as far as being able to do any job in this country, or for that matter, any other country.

Actually I have found it is VERY helpful to have military background int eh law enforcement filed.

Hey Gene, Bloddiest in months?? OK here the blood on the other side and some good news stuff for you, hate to slap youwith facts again by you asked for it..:

Title: COALITION AIR STRIKE KILLS ENEMY COMBATANTS; DESTROYS CAVE COMPLEX IN PAKTIKA PROVINCE

Release Date: 5/15/2006

Release Number: 06-05-01PM

Description: BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – During a successful air strike May 8, Coalition aircraft killed four enemy extremists and destroyed a truck and cave complex in the Bermel District of Paktika Province. Coalition Forces suspect other insurgents may possibly be buried in the rubble.
Prior to the strike, a joint combat team of Afghan National Army and U.S. ground forces observed individuals loading a truck near the cave and determined the personnel were moving rockets from a cave complex.

The unit assessed the activity was linked to recent rocket attacks on a Coalition fire base nearby.

A request was made for air support to attack the complex. U.S. Air Force A-10 fighter aircraft and a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Afghanistan , were directed to engage the cave complex.

The A-10 and Predator expended precision-guided munitions against the target, effectively sealing the cave from future use.

“The immediate response by these aircraft demonstrates the effectiveness of our combined air support for joint operations in theater,” said Royal Air Force Air Commodore Mark Swan, director of the Combined Air Operations Center . “Our message is very clear to those who attack innocent civilians and coalition forces: you have a choice. If you continue your terrorist activities, we will find you, we can track you, and we will take all appropriate actions to stop you.”

A patrol sent to investigate the cave received small arms fire from one enemy combatant. Coalition forces returned fire and captured the enemy combatant.
The patrol discovered two trucks near the cave. Inside the trucks, buried under gravel, were two 107mm rockets. Both vehicles were destroyed.

“This was a very successful joint combat operation with Afghan and Coalition forces as we continue to search out enemies and eliminate their capability to attack our forces,” said Lt. Col Paul Fitzpatrick, Combined Joint Task Force - 76 spokesman.

“We believe these insurgents and this cache are linked to recent rocket attacks in Bermel,” said Fitzpatrick. “The crude use of rockets by insurgents often causes damage and injuries to innocent civilians like the April rocket attacks in Assadabad that killed seven children at a school and in Kabul that injured a guard at Radio Television Afghanistan . Destroying this cache protects the lives of Afghans as well as Coalition forces.”

Coalition officials emphasized the strike is an example of the effective coordination between the Afghan and Pakistan armies being conducted along the border region to disrupt their common enemy.

Title: IED MANUFACTURERS DETAINED DURING COMBINED OPERATIONS

Release Date: 5/15/2006

Release Number: 06-05-01PM

Description: KABUL , Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces conducted a successful operation Sunday that resulted in the apprehension of seven terrorist facilitators in the Khowst region near the village of Sawazak Kala .

The purpose of this operation was to detain individuals suspected of terrorist and anti-Afghanistan activities.

These individuals are associated with and actively support the Haqqani, or “HQ,” network by providing improvised explosive device (IED) training. Additionally they are suspected of IED construction and emplacement as well as being participants during attacks on Coalition and Afghan forces.

During the course of the operation, Afghan and Coalition forces encountered hostile elements. No casualties were reported.

Four compounds and a total of 13 structures were entered during the operation. Only men of military age were questioned. The only items removed from the locations were suspicious effects directly related to the seven detainees. These items will be used in further investigations.

The seven men have been detained and are being questioned regarding their participation in terrorist activities. The targets of the operation, two key IED manufacturers, were among the seven detained.

“Effective operations such as these further increase the security and stability of Afghanistan ,” said Col. Thomas Collins, Coalition spokesman. “The Afghan and Coalition forces will not tolerate attacks against the innocent people of Afghanistan and will continue to hunt terrorists and terrorist facilitators relentlessly until they are brought to justice.”


Title: COALITION FORCES RAID INSURGENT SAFE HAVEN

Release Date: 5/15/2006

Release Number: 06-05-01P

Description: BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition Forces conducted a coordinated ground and air attack against an enemy safe haven in Yusifiyah May 14, killing more than 25 terrorists, detaining four, destroying three safe houses and a vehicle loaded with weapons and ammunition.

Upon initiating the attack in the afternoon, Coalition troops immediately killed two terrorists in response to hostile activity emanating from a suspected safe house and an associated vehicle. Once the threat was suppressed by an air strike on both the car - resulting in secondary explosions - and the structure, ground troops searched the targeted areas, found two dead terrorists, detained four suspects and provided medical treatment to three injured civilians.

One adult female and one teenage female were treated for wounds and then medically evacuated with their uninjured maternal escort via helicopter to the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. Additionally, one girl was treated on-site for a superficial wound to the head. She required no further medical care and remained with her mother.

The terrorists fired at the departing helicopters including the transport carrying the injured civilian females. The ground forces called in close air support to suppress the threat, and several sorties of fixed and rotary wing aircraft attacked enemy positions and killed approximately 20 terrorists.

During the fighting, terrorists in a truck tried to penetrate the security perimeter and were engaged by the ground troops. The three enemy who occupied the vehicle were killed; one was wearing a suicide vest and detonated it after he was shot by the ground troops, injuring no one and killing himself.


Title: COALITION FORCES CONDUCT RAIDS; DETAIN 8, KILL KNOWN TERRORIST

Release Date: 5/15/2006

Release Number: 06-05-01PJ

Description: BAGHDAD – Coalition Forces conducted a series of raids in the vicinity of Latifiyah May 13-14, killing known terrorist Abu Mustafa and 15 other suspected al-Qaida associates and detaining eight suspects. Abu Mustafa was wanted for his involvement in the shooting down of an AH-64 helicopter earlier this year.

Coalition Forces also treated four civilians and two of the suspects for injuries sustained during the raids.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces were searching for Abu Mustafa, a member of al-Qaida, because of his leadership role in the April 1 downing of the AH-64 helicopter in Yusifiyah. Abu Mustafa was also a known weapons smuggler who allegedly facilitated the movement of missiles and rockets within the al-Qaida terrorist network.

In the evening on May 13, Coalition Forces initiated four associated raids. The initial raid resulted in the killing of Abu Mustafa and an unknown affiliate who were located near Latifiyah, a village approximately 25 km southeast of Baghdad.

Additionally, intelligence officials identified several other areas connected to Abu Mustafa’s cell members. Coalition troops assaulted three of those sites, located approximately six km north of where Abu Mustafa had been killed the day prior. Upon arrival at the first of these, Coalition Forces engaged more than 15 al-Qaida terrorists who were attempting to establish defensive positions or escape. Coalition Forces, supported by fire from helicopters, engaged the terrorists. Coalition Forces confirmed 14 suspected terrorists were killed and also discovered Abu Mustafa’s body which had been moved to this new site.

Coalition troops also found several women and children inside the house. Two women and two children were inadvertently wounded by shrapnel. The forces immediately treated the injured on site. One of the women and one child required no further treatment. After initial treatment for a wound to her abdomen, the second woman, who is pregnant, was medically evacuated to the 10th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad for additional medical care. The other child, 20 months old, was also evacuated to the 10th CSH with her uninjured mother. All evacuated to the hospital are in stable condition.


Title: ANA OPENS BASE, BRINGS STABILITY TO KUNAR PROVINCE

Release Date: 5/15/2006

Release Number: 06-05-01P

Description: KUNAR PROVINCE , Afghanistan – The Afghan Flag was raised over a remote outpost in the Korangal Valley May 7, bringing the promise of stability and national unity east into this turbulent region.

Representatives from the Afghan National Army, Border Police and local leaders met to establish the ANA Forward Operating Base Lumberyard and discuss an end to the lingering enemy resistance in the area.

FOB Lumberyard is the first permanent base in the Kunar Province . It is centrally located on high ground so ANA troops can observe all avenues of approach into the valley, and the Afghan Flag is visible to all who enter the Valley.

Chief of the Afghan National Army’s General Staff Gen. Bismullah Khan listened to local leaders during a Shura (tribal meeting) and extended an offer of peace. “The path to reconciliation is open,” he said. “The people still fighting in the hills against a stable Afghanistan are fighting for the wrong reasons.”

Khan explained that it is the leaders’ responsibility to protect their villages, and their responsibility to bring in their cousins who are still fighting.

“Bring them or their weapons to us,” Khan said. “If they stop fighting, they can join the rest of Afghanistan . We won’t arrest them and they can live in their houses with their families.”

Kunar Province , located in the northeastern part of the country on the border with Pakistan , has historically been one of the most dangerous provinces in Afghanistan . Freedom fighters fought and hid in the rugged, mountainous region during the Soviet occupation.

Last month, ANA soldiers went on the offensive with Operation Mountain Lion and stormed into the valley in the largest military effort since the Taliban was overthrown four years ago.

Khan urged the local leaders to ask their lingering fighters to join with the rest of Afghanistan . “We should cooperate and continue the proud Afghan tradition of fighting
for Afghanistan .”

In a show of solidarity, the Korangal Valley leaders told Khan he merely has to tell them when the ANA wants to pick up the weapons or rogues, and they will have them ready.
The ANA has conducted operations in Kunar Province before, but Operation Mountain Lion stabilized the area and set the conditions for the Afghan Government to establish FOB Lumberyard.

Immediately following Operation Mountain Lion, ANA soldiers hosted a six-day medical civic assistance program at FOB Lumberyard where they provided more than 6,000 Afghans with medical care. In addition to immediate medical care, the Afghans received hygiene classes and left the FOB with tarps, blankets, metal stoves, grain, beans, rice, cooking oil, tea, sugar and backpacks for children.

Darn sounds like a lot of terrible stuff there. I would hate to be a terrorist in these events and glad to be a civilian. Wonder how many of those given things like food, stoves, blankets ect.. never had much before this? I would venture to think they like the stuff.

Good news is so hard to find, I had to open my eyes and press a button.!! Ouch that hurt!!

ShadowWar

I think this is a great idea. It seems that have him coming short on responses with this constant barrage of good news.

None of that changes what is going on in Iraq day after day. My point in saying if we knew how this war in Iraq was to develop we would NOT have invaded Iraq is because Congress and American people would not have allowed Bush to start this war. Bush was warned by Powell, by his father and many others NOT to invade Iraq. He was told that if he did invaded Iraq what it would take to be successful. Bush did not listen to ANY of that advice and the results are what we see day after day. None of your other news can overcome the insecurity, destruction and unrest that continue in Iraq. We are in the middle of a civil war that BUSH enabled to develop!!!

None of that changes what is going on in Iraq day after day. My point in saying if we knew how this war in Iraq was to develop we would NOT have invaded Iraq is because Congress and American people would not have allowed Bush to start this war. Bush was warned by Powell, by his father and many others NOT to invade Iraq. He was told that if he did invaded Iraq what it would take to be successful. Bush did not listen to ANY of that advice and the results are what we see day after day. None of your other news can overcome the insecurity, destruction and unrest that continue in Iraq. We are in the middle of a civil war that BUSH enabled to develop!!!

Again, your ignorance takes over and speaks for you. You keep talking about a civil war, you claim that what ShadowWar says makes no difference. Funny, I thought that creating an Iraqi army, an Iraqi police force, letting them do their work, finding hundreds of weapons caches that could have been used against our boys, catching and killing insurgents, no civil war yet are actually changes and differences. Iraq has a new Gov't, that's a positive change, Iraqis help find insurgents and weapons caches, that's a deference. You just refuse to see it cause you only search for all the bad things that happens and if you look in a 2 baskets full of tomatoes and find all the tomatoes in one basket to be bad, you automatically assume that the ones in the second basket are bad as well. But you know what they say about people who assume.

Cry me a river all you want Col. You still use stupid excuses for your war against Bush. did you ever take that nap I recommended earlier?

70 % of the American People do not agree with Bush and this war. You are the idiots that still hold on to a War that has cost us so much and provided NOTHING to the people of this country. What benefit has America Received from Invading Iraq?

70 % of the American People do not agree with Bush and this war. You are the idiots that still hold on to a War that has cost us so much and provided NOTHING to the people of this country. What benefit has America Received from Invading Iraq?

70% of the American people have no balls!!! Sorry but I am tired of it. In WW2 we lost thousands in 1 day (my Dad fought in WW2), in Vietnam we lost 10s of thousands, we are tied up for 3 years and lose less men than in those three years than any one year of PEACE TIME COLD WAR from 1981-1985. If the American people have lost the will to fight for what is right and good, then its because they listen to crap like Gene and the TV and Newspapers (the MSM I so love to talk about) then they can kiss my rosy red white and blue butt! I know for a FACT that 99% of the guys I talk to that are ACTUALLY over there and doing the job, think its a GOOD THING. SO I guess its all on where you have been and what you have seen.

Here from the horses mouth!
I get e-mails and photos from several freinds and former students of mine who are over in Afghanistan and Iraq and have asked for permission to post one or two fo them here. I thought you might enjoy hearing it directly from the guys that are out there on the front line and what they have to say. If any editing was doen I have noted it (for OPSEC reasons only).

Sir,
So, on 24May I was on a bodyguard mission, so to speak, down in Jalalabad. J-Bad, our cool nickname for the city, is fairly close to the border of Pakistan and not a nice place for Americans or coalition partners. Anyways, the ride out was actually quite pleasant as the scenery was a nice change. For example, I actually got to see trees and grass, and even water. Seeing the vivid color of green again was a strong reminder of wanting to be back home. A color that I will never take for granted again.
On the route through to J-Bad we have to travel through a small town called Syroebbi. This town is in no way friendly, and have no police elements to keep things in line. It is, for lack of a better word, untamed. The main route coming in has even earned itself the nick name IED alley. We came in contact on the far end of town with a rocket being launched, and overshooting us by at least 300 meters. At that point we broke contact and hauled ass to friendly parts. However, usually ISAF will investigate attacks at a later date, but they generally don't go into Syroebbi for fear of attacks themselves. Smart people
There have been several IED's as of late as well. Two were detonated here in Kabul just two days ago in a well traveled traffic circle. This route is used by coalition forces regularly. No injuries were reported aside from structural damage.
Also,one of our guys from A co. suffered shrapnel wounds from an IED yesterday down in the Herat province. He is going to be okay and is expected to return back to duty in one week.
So, that's about all I have for now. Funny how much madness can happen in a couple of weeks, hugh? Anyways, work as usual over here my friend, but everyone is still eager to go out everyday and do his job. That's the real courage you don't hear about on MSM, sir. When people go through things like that, and still continue to go out again and again, and never complain. It's not about the big fire-fight or what makes it on CNN, but more about the consistency of a man's character to still go out the next day no matter what happened the day before. Maybe not every soldier is like that, but the men I serve with are, and I am proud to be with them everyday. In summary, that, sir, is what a lot of people back home don't understand. Sounds a little like being a cop too hugh, sir?
Anyways, enough of my dramatics and rantings about liberals being ungrateful and not understanding anything important. Woops, that was another under-toned ranting. ha-ha Seriously, I hope you are well there in Florida. My prayers are with you and your family, and I will see you soon.

-Steve

p.s. I haven't forgotten about your t-shirt either




Enough is enough, no more troll food from me.

70 % of the American People do not agree with Bush and this war. You are the idiots that still hold on to a War that has cost us so much and provided NOTHING to the people of this country. What benefit has America Received from Invading Iraq?

YOU'RE FULL OF IT!!!

Sending our Troops into danger and spending hundreds of Billions of dollars does not prove you have BALLS it proves you are stupid. What intelligent person would sacrifice so much to get NOTHING in return?

Sending our Troops into danger and spending hundreds of Billions of dollars does not prove you have BALLS it proves you are stupid. What intelligent person would sacrifice so much to get NOTHING in return?

You say nothing in return because you and many others want the instant gratification or return on an investment. You rant like a spoiled brat who isn't getting his cookie. You whined about how Bush isn't doing anything for alternative and/or more efficient vehicles but won't give up your pick up for something more economical. How about a solar powered car Gene?