and how often is the "1st explanation" or rationalization of a problem totally wrong with these guys? feel free to take that position, time will tell.



he was also a reagan appointee. (twice)

reply #11...you quoted from my response....if you are gonna lie, at least pay attention so it's not so easily shown, lmfao!

On Feb. 1, 2007, AP reported that the destruction of houses and the construction in the Iraqi capital of concrete blast walls topped with razor wire for "neighborhood bases" constituted "the first outward signs" of a "coming Baghdad security crackdown."[1] -- Steven Hurst, quoting "a senior Iraqi general" who preferred to remain unnamed, suggested that Iraqi security forces that were supposed to arrive from the Kurdish north, the Shiite south, or Fallujah, have not appeared. -- Numbers regarding Iraqi troop strength tend to be notional: "'Battalions that should contain 800 men usually have no more than 200-300, if that,' said retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor

From another "poll".

And contrary to the beliefs of many analysts, most Iraqis do not feel their country is engulfed in civil war, the survey reveals.

Though opinion is divided along sectarian lines, only 27 percent think there is a civil war, compared with 61 percent who don't.

Still, 49 percent said they preferred life under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to living under Saddam. And only 27 percent said their country is in a civil war.

IsalandDog

Tell me what % of our dead and injured are from the fighting between the factions in Iraq compared with those caused by foreign fighters

While 63 percent said they felt very safe in their neighborhoods in late 2005, only 26 percent feel that way now. How is this securing Iraq?


-The number of Iraqis who say their own life is going well has dipped from 71 percent in November 2005 to 39 percent now. How has the war improved the Iraqi's life?


About three-fourths of Iraqis report feelings of anger, depression and difficulty concentrating. This is progress!!!


Only 18 percent of Iraqis have confidence in U.S. and coalition troops, and 86 percent are concerned that someone in their household will be a victim of violence


The major cause for this sharp reversal in Iraqi attitudes is the continuing violence - bombings, attacks by roving gunmen and kidnappings - that has overwhelmed the country since the U.S. invasion four years ago this week.

You gotta love these pollsters. That difficulty concentrating is what tipped the balance for me - I'm DONE supporting this war. As Gene would say, we're DESTROYING their ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE!!!!!!!

As if polling in Iraq is like polling in Palm Beach or something. Extrapolate answers by a little over 2000 Iraqis (or was it 1200?) to a set of loaded questions, as if that is representative of 25mil+, & cherry-pick the ones which advance the agenda. If the world had been ruled by polls in 1940, and people like Gene, we'd be speaking German now.

Like MasonM, I get a kick out of reading your stuff, Gene - keep it up.

Daiwa

Take a look at my Blog today about the cost to provide Medicare by Private companies.

As to Iraq, Anyone that believes that Iraq is a success needs their head examined. I love it when Bush and Cheney say that knowing what we do today they would still invade Iraq. That is like saying I purchased a Lottery ticket and did not win. If some how you had a chance to go back and replay that same lottery and you would choose the same numbers that DID NOT win the first time. Anyone that would say, knowing what has taken place in Iraq, would do the same thing again is just beyond help. Every thing Bush and Cheney said would result in Iraq was WRONG. Every warning about the dangers of invading Iraq has come TRUE!

as many know, i was against this war since before the invasion. but like most, i kept my mouth shut once "shock and awe" had begun.

and i can understand some early assessments needing "modifications" in a changing theater of battle.

but these guys have been wrong so many times, on so many levels, and so many "early reports" of good things and progress are all too often discredited that i can't understand how anyone can be "for this war" at this point.

al quaeda doesn't need a safe haven. it already has one, afghanastan. and now that haven has extended well into pakistan, where our "ally" has failed to do anything about it.

the domino theory of vietnam was bogus, just as the "theories" about iraquis suddenly swimming the ocean to get here are. iran and syria et al, have a much bigger problem with the 5,000,000 very real refugees that have crossed their borders.

i still think john mccain is a good man, but at this point, in the way he blindly has supported everything about this war and the way he is running his campaign, i am seriously starting to question his intelligence and his judgement. his loyalty for the military seems to have trumped his common sense.

Sean

I have no problem with McCain's loyalty to the military. My problem is his loyalty to the Invasion of Iraq which was a mistake both in concept and execution!

He also ignores the fact that Bush was warned by very knowledgeable people about the likely adverse consequences of the U.S. Invading Iraq. Almost EVERY one of those warning has proven correct.

i agree. that loyalty has caused him to be blind to the facts. i can respect his position more than some others because of his experience, but i still think he is digging a hole he should have stopped and climbed out of a long time ago.