Thanks for your optimism!

Island Dog

It has NOTHING to do with Optimism or Pessimism It has to do with REALITY. The idea that what is going on in Iraq is because of the foreign terrorists is just not true. The Kurds want control in the north. The Shea and Sunni's want control of all other areas. Our adding 30,000 troops does NOT alter the desire for the competing factions to want control of Iraq. That is why the Surge will only add to our casualties and increase the cost of this war. The end result will be the same and the real losers from the Bush Surge are our military and the tax payers of America.

It has NOTHING to do with Optimism or Pessimism It has to do with REALITY.

Only the reality you choose to see, conveniently not grounded in fact and heavily tinted with bias and hatred.

The end result will be the same and the real losers from the Bush Surge are our military and the tax payers of America.

'Nuff said.

Only the reality you choose to see, conveniently not grounded in fact and heavily tinted with bias and hatred. WHAT HATRED? Every person except Bush and Cheney have said the very same thing—the violence is between the factions in Iraq who want control of that country.

I'm just glad that you are no longer in a position to poison the minds of troops.  I wonder how the troops in my section would have reacted if our Colonel was as cowardly and showed as little enthusiasm as you do.  You spit on your rank everytime you vomit your filth. Let me guess, you applauded the folks in Portland as they burned that effigy... or did you just wish it was an actual US soldier burning there?

Based on your expert analysis there is a civil war in the United States of America. Democrats and Republicans have been fighting for control of the nation since the 1860’s and has not stopped yet. I can conclude from your expert analysis that the democrats should leave the U.S. because that is the only way to end the civil war.
Yes, this is silly, just as silly as you assertion that we are losing the war. You have written articles that we on the right should respect the majority yet you don’t think that the same rule should apply in Iraq. You have three major groups that want power. Two are in power one is not and you believe or seem to believe that the minority wanting power again constitutes a civil war. all because there is less than one third of the nation is in turmoil. An unsustainable fight without outside help from Iran. So if we leave then the majority will be pushed out of power because of the interference from an outside source.

A poll using a sample of 5000 people in Iraq, most polls here in the States use samples much smaller usually between 1500 and 2000. Say they want us there, they are optimistic, and they are better off than they were when Saddam was in power. This poll was taken before the surge. Take your own advice and respect the majority. The majority elected the current leaders, the majority feels they are safer with our troops there. The violence has dropped because the leaders of the “civil war” are hiding in Iran and they have no leadership and no outside resources because of the surge.
With all that information at your disposal you conclude that we are going to lose and the surge won’t work.
You sir are a political hack not an analyst.



So the military is losing because of the President. Speak to people like I have that have come back from there. They are very optimistic until they see the news reports when they get home. They tell me of hospitals and other help they were involved in and how the first time they went there it was rough and violent and now it is getting to be the exception to the rule rather than the norm. This was told to me by a young Marine I spoke with in between stops at an airport this weekend. He wants to be part of the surge but his unit was ordered home. This was a Lance Corporal (E-3) USMC coming home from his second tour.
My point is that the rank and file see they are doing something and making a difference, they feel they are doing good and want to stay and finish. I had spoken to a Spec-4 U.S. Army just in passing and he thinks he was doing good over there. I have not spoken to any squids I mean Navy people in recent weeks but when I get a chance I speak to people in uniform and ask what is really going on. I spoke to a Lt. Colonel in the Army and he is happy with what he sees going on there and he was on his way back there. His only complaint is that he can’t bring his wife. Think of that, it is so dangerous that we should bring our troops home but our troops want to bring their spouses to live there. I know he was in the army and my be denying the truth as you often do but he seemed lucid and intelligent even for an Army soldier. (smile)
Keep in mind that this is not Vietnam the troops are not conscripts but volunteers that knew what they were getting into before the bullets started flying. They are professional soldiers doing the best they can with the little support they get from home.

Parated2k

I have more concern and support for OUR TROOPS then you or anyone that believes continuing this WAR is the correct policy. I have a lot more support for our troops then to send them into combat when there was NO DANGER to our country. I have a lot more regard for troops then to disregard the military doctrine which sent them into a war with insufficient manpower and improper equipment. I have more regard then to send the same troops back 3 or 4 times over a 4 year period. Anyone that supports this war or the way this war was fought is not loyal to our troops. You loyalty is to a president that DOES NOT know what he is doing and has cost this country 3,000 dead, 25,000 injured that did not have to be! He lied about the danger Saddam presented this country and sent our brave military into an unneeded and unjust war from which there is no good way out!
Your support needlessly killed 3,200 Americans, injured 25,000 and spent 3/4 of a trillion dollars. That is GREAT SUPPORT! I will have NONE of that! I am thankful I served under Commander-in Chiefs that were not like GWB!

Paladin77

So the military is losing because of the President. YES. Even people who still support going into Iraq admit the way the war was fought was a SERIES of mistakes. Not sending the required manpower. Not sending the proper equipment. Disbanding the Iraqi Army and Police. Now not having the medical faculties to treat those that have been injured! ALL is because of GWB The Commander-in-Chief!

The unbiased words of a foolish political hack. Grow up Gene you are ignoring facts in favor of political opinion.

ColGene. NEWSFLASH, our troops are THERE! This is not a video game, a test or a political football. IT'S A WAR!! It's a war over ideologies. There are terrorists in Iraq who make it a point to kill civilians. They have only 1 purpose in mind... cause lilly livered cowards like yourself to pressure the government to surrender in Iraq. Surrendering in Iraq IS surrending in the war on terror. To back the terrorists is to betray our troops and our own freedom.

You terrorist loving piece of trash. You would have spit on the Jews of Poland, telling them they had nothing to worry about because only Jews in Germany were being targeted. I bet you would even tell a woman that if she was getting raped she should just lay back and enjoy it. Why do I say that about you? Because every word of your blog tells America to lay back and enjoy the attacks. We tried your way through the 80s and 90s... it didn't work.

Parated2k

You are right it is not a game. Thousands are being killed and injured! It is a WAR for the Control of Iraq. That is a CIVIL WAR that our troops should not be in the middle of and are in the middle of this Civil War because of GWB!

We went to war because of Bush.

We did not follow the military doctrine and sent 1/3 the troops the generals said were needed because of Bush.

The Iraqi Army and police were disbanded with the knowledge and agreement of GWB.

I guess we should pin this war on George Washington!

Para Ted 2K

Hey you flaming ASS!! I served my country unlike the idiot you support!

I know you served your country, but now you are willing to welcome terrorist attacks simply because you hate the president. Quit lying about who you support! You lie about supporting the troops, yet you crave their deaths just to back your pitiful little political stance. The time to talk about whether or not we should have gone back to Iraq is long since past. The ONLY talk that has any value now is how to win. You say it's merely a civil war as if that is supposed to mean something. Those you consider "Freedom Fighters" do nothing for the people of Iraq, they merely target them to get slime like you to help the terrorists win.

Yes, you served your country, and I thank you for your service. Isn't it great that you never had to face slime like yourself telling you that surrender is somehow "winning".

Question, when you were a commander, what would you have faced if you ordered your unit to surrender the way you want them to now?

Wow, Tokyo Rose, is that you?

Para Ted 2K

I hate what Bush has done to this country how he has misused our Military. He has cause the death of 0ver 3,200 members of our military and is responsible for over 25,000 injured. How he has failed to enforce our laws. How he has mortgaged the future of our country. How he has done nothing to help us with the energy problems. How he has made the financial problem of Medicare worse. How he has failed to protect our borders and ports. That what I hate!

The issue has nothing to do with SURRENDER. Bush has placed our troop’s in the middle of a Civil war with not good options. If we stay more will die and be injured. If we leave the violence will most likely increase. ALL because Bush did not listen to those that had far greater knowledge and experience. He made the choices and look at where that has taken our country!