Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Paw Paw, NC — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:49:28 GMT

I've said it before and I'll say it again he only reason the Iraqi government wants to keep U.S forces in Iraq is to act as their personal police force to remove unwanted citizens and definitely to keep the gravy train flowing as long as possible.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Ed, Pittsburgh — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:05:15 GMT

This Iraq war was a stupid blunder by Bush, Cheney and Rove and Bush with all his ideologue grand design to leave a legacy of world peace didn't have the wherewithall to nuance, i.e. think of the ramifications and consequences. Now we're trying to find a solution to this mess. The only solution is to leave and let them work it out themsleves. Fear of chaos when we leave? There's already chaos so what's worse. The stupidity of this President is legion. He's cost us American lives and drained our coffers that we need for our infrastructure and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Joe, Merritt Island, FL — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:34:51 GMT

I wonder how the Bush administration will spin this. Seems these days all the talk is about how the US military surge is making great strides (all while the iraqi government takes the month of August off).

And what does VP Cheney say about that? Well, our Congress takes the month off too...yea, maybe so Veep, but our Congress isn't getting that month off at the expense of the deaths of American soldiers. I like how the Bush people constantly show their TRUE colors and how no one seems to care...what has happened to this once great nation?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Tara Grady, Fort Lauderdale, FL — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:11:50 GMT

It seems our Congress' ability to distinguish between the Sunnis and the Shiites is needed now especially. Exactly who are we backing and in what ways are we contributing?
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/6/21/94118.shtml

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Kerri, Baytown, Tx — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:14:06 GMT

It seem obviouse that Iraq needs a different leader, Al-Maliki is quit inept. 4 years and nothing to show for it. What would it hurt to try someone else? The place is a disaster now with no end in sight. I don't see Iraq as a country at peace ever. The Iraqi people seem to want to fight and kill each other more than they want to compromise and get the country back on it's feet. Iraq is a waist of time, money, resouces and lives.They have been at war with each other for 2 thousand years, why does President Bush think he can change that?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Jeremy — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:20:34 GMT

This fellow is right. Al-Maliki is better suited to managing a Rite-Aid drugstore than the government of Iraq. However, the article says that Sunnis worry about their future in a Shi'ite dominated Iraq after US troops leave. They should have thought about that 2 years ago instead of supported the terror campaign against Shi'ites.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

WDanW Dallas Texas — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:51:49 GMT

This administration has made our once greatly admired country into a joke in the world. All you people that voted for these clowns, ask yourself, What the hell have I done? There is only one solution...vote every single incumbent out of office...every one of them. They are the reason we are in this situation,and you are to blame for putting them there. When its time to vote, use some common sense, if they are in office, vote for someone else. Anyone else. Vote the bastards OUT!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Tim, Chicago — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:44 GMT

Think it through folks. The Iraqi "government" has no interest or desire to create a national unification government. The shia are ALL about settling those old scores and are just waiting the US out.

The simple fact that no one in the Bush administration will or can see this basic truth is evidence of their complete and utter incompetency.

And if you've got a GOP rep or senator who is STILL too weak to stand up for America, I suggest voting them out next election. America needs leaders that are loyal to America FIRST not their party.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Peter K — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:10:04 GMT

It's a truly sad commentary that seems to suggest our governments priorities are not where they need to be...we send and spend billions abroad while America's infrastructure (Roads/Hwys/Bridges)crumble beneath our feet. As a voting citizen of the United States I feel completely defeated, demoralized and disillusioned by my goverment.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Scott, Atlanta, GA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:13:37 GMT

RE: Ed, Pittsburgh (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:05 AM)
Ed, you hit the nail right on head and it's good to see that other people feel the same way about the incredible stupidity that got us into this mess in the first place. I think we could be there ten years from now, with nothing resolved, and Americans still dying at the cost of billions of dollars we DON'T have. The fall out is going to be painful, and we'll be pilloried in many parts of the world. But I think that's going to be the end result, no matter what course we take and I'd rather save what American lives and treasure that we can.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Paw Paw, NC — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:15:58 GMT

President Bush is meeting now with Gates and Rice at Camp David and one thing you can bank on Petraeus is there on a video link. They must be getting all there ducks in a row about how great the surge is working. Only five U.S. soldiers killed yesterday and a report by the GAO that several billion in weapons is unaccounted for, so it's improving. Now when they address Congress in September, as soon as they say things are marvelous and progressing as planned in Iraq, Congress should pass a bill with "no discussion" to end all involvement by U.S. forces in Iraq and begin an immediate withdrawal based on intelligence and information provided by the Administration and the U.S. military commanders.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

DICK THACKER, ANDERSON, IND. — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:22:03 GMT

I THINK BUSH AND HIS CO-HORTS IN WASHINGTON ARE RIDING A DEAD HORSE!!!!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

ABdulsomebody Mohamadeeny — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:25:36 GMT

bush was re-elected OVERHELMINGLY and thus the american people have truly spoken. Now sit quietly and wait him out. Blame yourselves everytime you want to vent .... May there be more

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Chuck, Valdosta, Ga — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:38:29 GMT

Seems as if we learned a lesson in Viet Nam. That being you can't win a "war" when you do not know who your enemy is. Lick our wounds and bring our military home. There have been wars going on in the middle east for as long as I can remember and I am 64 yrs. old. And as for you, Mr. Bush, you are not the ruler of this great nation, just in office for a very short time,, thank God. We have stayed much too long after our objective was met
. Suck it up, admit you have failed, and make this nation's people proud. Get out of the middle east. I would think your rating would rise so that history would not list you as the worst president this nation has ever had.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Maria Bruner, NY, NY — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:50:20 GMT

You people are a disgrace -- I don't care how big a mistake you think this war was to begin with, if you're seriously advocating a pull-out now, you're pushing for nothing less than one of the single greatest crimes against humanity a Western nation has ever committed.

Going in in 2003 may have been wrong - only time will tell. Pulling out before the job is done will DEFINITELY be wrong, no question about it.

Grow a pair, deal with the decision that your democratically-elected leaders (so, ie, the decisions that YOU made) made and think, for a few measly seconds, what a pull-out will do to whatever hope still resides with the (peace-loving - there are a LOT) peoples of Iraq.

Buncha me-me cowards.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Old Style Republican — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:06:00 GMT

It may seem terrible, but I am beginning to see why Saddam Hussein was the leader of Iraq. Without a brutal leader and left to their own devices, the Iraqis seem hellbent on killing each other. I was a diehard Republican until this group got in office. Now I just can't wait for them to leave. I hope they haven't done anymore damage by then.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Lee Surratt — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:13:51 GMT

"This country can't be run by a one man show; this counry needs collective leadership- thats what we need," Hashimi said.
That sounds like the same thing this country needs, maybe they took lessons from Bush. ours reps and senstors seems satisfied to let bush be the one man show. they don't have the guts to stand up to him.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Jerry, Glendora, CA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:16:07 GMT

To all you naysayers who hate Bush, you should do a little research or maybe check on what the incompetent Clinton did as Commander In Chief. Watch Blackhack Down and see you will only scratch the surface of his stupidity of trying to run the military. Clinton is resonsible for the deaths of the military personel in Somalia. Yes, the refusal of the Clinton administration to provide the troops with C130 gunships and APC's armored personnel carriers cost many lives. Clinton's Secretary of Defense I think it was Aspen was so traumatized over the event he died shortly thereafter. The Secreatry of Defense stood in front of Congress and testified about the military blunders by the Administration. So soon everybody forgets about Somalia and the other events that happened on Clinton's watch. Also, you can find this out that under Clinton's watch the quality of military life was at it's lowest in many years. I have been in the military for 30 years and Clinton was one of the worst Commander In-Chiefs in my 30 years. Iraq is a mess I agree and Bush is responsible.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Dave, Pittsburgh — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:18:32 GMT

Dear Mohamadeeny:

I think the glass is half-full. Others I respect might think it's half-empty. You think it's 'overwhelmingly' full. Which of us is wrong?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Ron, OKC, USA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:21:37 GMT

It would appear obvious to anyone with a brain that the al-Maliki-lead government is crumbling day-by-day while our brave troops spill their blood in a valiant effort to preserve some semblance of order in the streets. Where is the outrage from the American people over this monumental debacle created by Bush and company in their so called "War on Terror?" Or was it to free the Iraqi people from an evil tyrant? Whatever the excuse du jour, it was handle with that patented Bush administration incompetence we've all learned to expect from this Axis of A$$holes. Although we must, I dread pulling our troops out and watching these people kill each other in a full blown civil war. But NO amount of American blood or good intentions is going fix this mess until the Iraqis and their leaders learn to get along. Unfortunately, that isn’t likely anytime soon. In a culture where religion and law are two sizes of the same coin, and their prophets teach that it is righteous to kill all those who disagree with their believe system, who but Bush and friends could not have seen this coming? Saddly, I predict that, once the bloodletting is done, Iraq will either become several warring states with no hope for peace, or they will find themselves an oppressive dictator that will make the common Iraqi peasant wax nostalgic for the good old days of Saddam. Nice job Dubbya! You got anymore personal legacies worth killing thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of civilians for?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

KC, MD — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:25:33 GMT

The world outside our borders must be laughing hysterically knowing that 'the most powerful nation on the planet' has a President that didn't even receive the majority of popular votes in 2000. The US's legacy over the last 7 years is based on a technicallity of our Consitution which allows someone who receives the majority of 'electoral votes' to become our fearless leader, even though the majority of our country didn't want him in the first place.

Regardless of who our President was on 9/11, we were still going to be attacked, but just imagine how the world would view us if we stuck to the first agenda of going after Osama and not resting until we got him.

If the administration can't even answer the simplest question there is....Why Iraq?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Joe, Clevelan, OH — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:29:18 GMT

Wake up Maria Brunner!!! We owe the Iraqi people nothing. For the last 5 years they have taken and taken and then taken some more. They have been given a chance and have squandered it. They are the cowards not us. We stood up for them and when asked to do the same- they have not. Instead they have stolen from us and fought their old squabbles out. The billions we are spending on them should be spend on Americans. Not those cowards.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Tony, Portland OR — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:31:22 GMT

Hey, Jerry... The guys over at fark.com call what you're doing the "B... b... b... but CLINTON..." defense, i.e. "Maybe da Dubya is an incompetent dictator with delusions of grandeur who has dragged this country into a quagmire that neither he nor any of his neocon cronies have the slightest notion how to get out of, trashed our civil rights and run the most secretive executive in American history, b... b... b... but CLINTON... Uhhh... Clinton did... Uhhh... 'Go see 'Blackhawk Down'!!! Clinton was personally responsible for what happened in that movie even though it was Dubya's father who got us into Somalia in the first place!! So there, liberals!!"

Your logic is impeccable. I am truly impressed.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

sabestu — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:33:30 GMT

King george and his court of jesters will be out soon... then maybe, one way or another, things may get better than the mess we are in now.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Paul Foster, Amherst, New Hampshire — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:40:15 GMT

Imagine if we spent 18 billion dollars a month on our own country for our own people, we would have national health care for ALL, and we would have no national debt, and we could protect our borders and the list goes on. Instead we get deeper in debt and have zero health coverage and no middle class.

WAY TO GO BUSH ADMINSTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are the most hated nation on this planet right now.

Remember "we are in our last throes" and all the other stupid statemants bush and cheney make!!!!!! The latest being that the "SURGE" is working!!! If you believe that, you'll belive anything that this adminstration says. Funny thing, is that Bush and Cheney adminstration doesn't care what americans want, he has said this when the republicans "took a thumping" in November, but Bush said he knows whats best for this country regardless of what the american people want.

THEY SHOULD ALL BE IMPEACHED!!!! I just don't know how they get away with it.

I also think Bush should go back to snorting cocaine and being a drunk....

VOTE all of them out in 2008. Don't forget the republicans screwed over the religious right as well!!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Gary Spigarelli, Brownstown Mi — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:44:08 GMT

We have opened pandoras box regarding terroism. Thank you Bush. Why don't we use Saadams old army to control Iraq, they did once. You cannot defeat a people who have resolve, I feel for all the dead and wounded military families, there is no just cause being in Iraq. Only a president who has passion for war like Bush would keep us in a mess. Vietnam is doing fine after we pulled out. We are now trading with them. Wake up America get congress off their butts.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Sean, Torrington CT — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:57:13 GMT

If innocent Iraqis weren't suffering and dying, I'd love reading this kind of news.

Who here doesn't love it when some blow-hard liar gets schooled over and over and over and over again?

Bush&Company continue to fail in Iraq, if only they had the brain to listen to their competant military men instead of replacing them with yes-men.

Oh well...it's a Republican/Conservative screw up, let those Conservative Republicans fix it.

Hey Georgie, the electrical system is about to collapse...you missed a spot!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

North Mankato, MN — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:58:34 GMT

To those who condemn Clinton for his actions in Somalia, undoubtly Bush apologists, always seem to forget the more shameful behavior of their patron saint "Cut and Run Ronnie". Lebanon and the deaths of 250+ Marines who were blown up seems to escape their radar. 5 times the carnage in Somalia, Regean's reaction? Declare victory and run home to mama.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Steven, Highlands Ranch, CO — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:05:51 GMT

You know, bringing Clinton into this conversation is just another Red Herring. Focus on the issue at hand, we are talking about a man that is responsible for every death in Iraq since he committed the crime of invading a sovereign nation without provocation. The tens of thousands of Iraqis the thousands of Americans; all of them lay at his feet. And to what end? What have we accomplished? What will we accomplish at the end of the day? I say, this is what we have done: We have given terrorists and extremists a venue to wage war upon us...right in their own back yard. We have given them double the bang for the buck from Sept 11th. Instead of close to 3000 lives lost, we're now approaching 7000. We gave Al Quaida so much free publicity with this fiasco that their recruitment levels top even our own.

I love how the admisistration says if we pull out of Iraq they'll follow us here. What does that say for our esteemed Homeland Security office? And frankly I'll use your words Mr. Bush. If they want to try and come here I say 'bring it on.' I doubt they would have much success with the quality of people I know are MY fellow Americans.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

JB, Henderson NV — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:12:20 GMT

The ONLY candidate for President who has BOTH the Domestic experience and the International experience (and respect from many many nations)is Bill Richardson.
Bill is also the ONLY candidate to voice his absolute committment to pull troops out of Iraq...immediately... and focus our attention of rebuilding very important International relationships that the current administration has so successfully ruined.
We need a change...NOW..in a very BIG way!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

JB, Henderson NV — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:15:03 GMT

Oh....by the way....I forgot to mention that I really messed up ...2 times....and voted for Bush. I am a registered Republican.
Vote for Bill Richardson! He is not getting the credit and the press he deserves!!!!!!!!!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

mikeeg,abdn,wa — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:18:35 GMT

The iraqs were killing each other under saddam before we went there and they are killing each other NOW under BUSH and when we leave under a democratic president they will still be killing each other, so why stay any longer?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Henry James — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:20:49 GMT

It's just way too obvious that either we need 500,000 troops there and finish it or get out and let the whole region "self balance". I guess that would stop the money flow to Halliburton though so it's not considered?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

SoldierMOM — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:30:00 GMT

I am a mother of a U.S. Soldier. My son has not yet had to go over to Iraq and I pray each day and each night that he won't. My quetion to President Bush and his wife; Do you pray each day and night that your daughters won't have to go to Iraq? Of course not, because they aren't in the military and never, never will be. Mrs. Bush, consider the thoughts and feelings of other mothers as you speak with your husband at the dinner table or just before falling asleep. Ask him if all this is really going to make any difference in the world, ask him if he thinks the history books will look kindly at him and his cabinet when this is over. Ask him to talk to mothers and fathers about their sleepless nights. We are not able to watch the news because we are afraid, yet we do watch it because, yes, we are afraid not to. My son called home and told me about his chain breaking on his dog tags and one of the tags fell, the one they put around the soldiers toe when they are found deceased. I prayed to God that this was not a bad omen, and didn't let my son know my thoughts, just that he needs a new chain. Tell me Mrs Bush have you ever had that feeling? I refuse to bash the leader of our country, it makes us look bad. But, yes we do deserve straight answers and the truth, which has become so fuzzy and blurred that I really wonder if we would recognize it if we heard it, not just from our President, but from all of those in politics both here and overseas.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Don, Jacksonville, FL — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:34:20 GMT

That geographic part of the world that seems to occupy the news has been embroiled in conflict for the past 2 - 3 MILLENNIUM. The ONLY mistake the Bush administration made (as well as the Clinton, other-Bush, Carter,Reagan, etc. etc. etc.) was that they did not read enough history prior to actions. It is not a political solution that is needed...it is a cultural one and that takes generations to bring about.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Carol, Pinellas Park, Fla — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:34:44 GMT

Just how many of the Bush family has children in the
military? How many deferments does Cheney have? Their
choices to go to war would have much depended on these
answers. They sacrifice nothing,just the many families of the dead and wounded do. King George must
not sleep at night with all the wrongdecisions he made. He is so incompetent along with his sidekick Cheney, his ratings show it. Republicans, wake up!!!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

jorge — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:35:02 GMT

Already there's headlines about Basra deteriorating and the British have just started leaving there. The administration will, of course, point to that and say that is why we cannot leave rather than admitting that is what will happen no matter when we leave.

I fully accept that Congress will, as usual, back down. Bush is about as scary as a 3-year-old waving a plastic spoon but Congress sees that and they pee all over themselves in fright. They gave in and continue to fund the war they whine is so wrong and illegal. They just recently gave into him on warrantless wiretapping--or maybe they were so hellbent on going on vacation that they passed whatever Bush wanted so they could fly off to their summer mansions built on prime real estate.

As far as Bush replacing al-Maliki with someone a bit more qualified, that's not going to happen. That would be a PR disaster for Bush to have waited this long to admit he made a bad choice--something he would never do anyway. He has to succeed with this govt or he will go down with it.

It's also funny to me how many rabid anti-Bushies we have on these threads. Come on, folks, you know damned well you voted for this guy. Some of us didn't but I suspect most people on this thread did. So take your medicine and learn that today's GOP is no more conservative than they are liberal. There's no cloth-coat republicans anymore--just intolerant religious fanatics too stupid to know the difference between religion and politics. I think some so-called conservatives today would vote for Hitler just so long as he ran as a republican. Start using your brains, please. When you don't we end up in the situation we now find ourselves.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

C. Jeyabalan, Seattle, WA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:57:27 GMT

Iraq war is a personal vengeance of Bush over Saddam. The moment he became our country's president, Bush vented out, "He (Saddam) tried to kill my dad". The president of the US is the most powerful position on this planet. More the power one has, he must be more responsible. Unfortunately, Bush had become so arrogant, and he and his 'gang members' have determined to continue with their personal agenda. Iraq war started as a personal war; Bush defeated Saddam. After Saddam's murder, Bush does not know what to do. We have already lost 3675 brave Americans; about 25,000 brave men have been injured. More than 3 million innocent Iraqis have been displaced, and living as refugees. More than 100 thousand Iraqis have lost their family; Saddam took 25 years to achieve this feat; but Bush finished in the first 3 years!

Bush created Iraq problem; unfortunately we (the Americans) have to bear the pain. The best option is: "Leave Iraq immediately; it can never become more chaotic than what it is today. A brave man will pop up from the desert and will restore the order. We have no right to dictate them how to rule, and how to elect their representative. We have no business there. Quit. Period".

Bush must be punished by our criminal laws. He has taken 350 Million people for a ride. Let's wake up. There are three branches in our Government (by constitution), but only one branching dominating, and the other two branches are hibernating.

Let's wake up the Judiciary and Legislative branches. Let them exercise their respective authorities.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Eric Summers, Portland, Ore — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:05:31 GMT

Neocons need to become neoconvicts for what has happened to our great country. We will return to our greatness again, but rebuilding the trust we once enjoyed will take a long time.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Joe — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:17:36 GMT

Ok lets see, number one: Our military is completely voluntary, so unless I'm wrong these men and women are not victims. They were brave and chose to do this and we should not treat them as poor victims (and yes I have family in the military) I don't think that the war is going well, so lets try something different, which is what the surge is. The democratic leadership has done nothing, their hatred of the bush administration has led them to oppose anything bush puts forward, rather than actually propose an intelligent plan that doesn't involve retreat. Third, what kind of war do you think this is that we can pick our battlefield? If we leave Iraq they will come here, we can't just pick where we want to fight them. What do you think would have happend in WWII if Macarthur would have said" I don't want to engage in the Pacific, I'm going to pull back to the Indian Ocean and fight them there" Lastly, the democrats currently running in the front are all of a anti-war platform which is not what the mainstream american is. Most americans agree that the war was mismanaged, but that does not make them anti-war. One of those three (HRC, Obama or Edwards) will be nominated and be defeated on their extreme left of center views regarding this and other important issues. I hate the way the war is being managed, and bush is to blame, but it will be a long time before I elect a democrat during a time of war.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Glen Jamaica — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:30:48 GMT

The administration claims the surge is working. Well
if working means less than 100 American lives lost per month, then it has worked for one month. And how
many Iraqies must not die to claim the surge a total success? By the one is now needed in Basra, so what's
going to happen? Clean up the capital which will take
forever, then go to Basra and other areas where by that
time there will be no lives to defend. The US military will be going around in circles in Iraq for
years to come losing thousands of lives and billions of dollars. The US went in, so now get out, nobody
is going to follow you anywhere, they will be too busy
killing each other.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Stan, Grand Forks, ND — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:38:05 GMT

"The WAR, the war, the war. Here is a news flash, the military won 'the war' four years ago. The counter-insurgency raging since that time is a product of political decisions made by the Bush Administration, the CPA and now the Mahliki 'Unification' government. The U.S. military can keep killing insurgents from now until kingdom come, but that will not 'win the war'. A just Iraqi government respecting each of the ethnic groups rights and empowering them politically will end the fighting. As for our need to win 'this war' - Iraq has always been a side show. We (the U.S.) will never (let me repeat that, NEVER) 'surrender' to Islamic fundamentalists who are bent on destroying our way of life - that war will continue on every continent and every country until we prevail. The obfuscation of this administration regarding the facts will not change the facts.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

M, Montgomery, TX — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:52:28 GMT

This blog was a real chance for all of you arm-chair diplomats to give your assessments of the world situation. It seems that one person bears the brunt of the venting here and that is President Bush. Acting on the best intelligence our country and Europe had to offer, he chose to open a front against our enemy to protect us from any more terrorist attacks. The only thing is that it had to be on foreign soil and not our own. He has drawn fire from all over the world for his actions and has withstood it all. Not too bad considering all the non-supporters of a free government that I have been reading from. The liberal left and secular progressive movement are alive and well and they all are speaking out. Bush may have sent us to Iraq and we have lost some lives there but he is not responsible for all of the deaths that you blame him for. Iraqis killing Iraqis is not Bush's fault for it would have happened even if we had not gone there. Sure, mistakes were made but, no one who was ever president made all the right decisions. Do you think he should have asked all of you people first before he made a move? That's a laugh!! Oh, and the guy who thinks he can hold his own with his neighbors if we had to fight here, does he mean he can save our country from our enemies waitng for them to come marching down his street? That guy must be from France much like the ones who witnessed the Nazis marching in their country. Despite all of the continued non-support from Bush's countrymen and members of the Democratic controlled congress, he has kept us from being sucker-punched again like 9/11 and has kept them from our soil. War is sometimes necessary and it always comes with a price tag. That being said, how many of you could really budget for a conflict that does not have a cut and dried outcome? Thank God Bush can rely on our troops to help keep us safe. He sure can't depend on all of the "Americans" who think they can run things better than him and make those perfect decisions like they seem to be able to do. How many times has Congress really agreed to put aside Party differences and work with the president on this so-called infrastructure you you are all concerned about? Two wrongs don't make it right if only one side should change and the other should not budge one iota. Healthcare took a backseat along with immigration because the elected leaders are more concerned with making the president mind them like some parent does a child. When are they going to start earning all that pay that they have received and quit flogging that dead horse? When one effort fails, another is waitng on the heels of that one. Sure, vote them out of office. Just be sure to get the ones who get elected time after time on both sides of the aisle. I know, let's elect one of the Bush haters and see how free we will stay.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

robert, huntsville AL — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:56:53 GMT

You know! I don't even feel like arguing anymore (and that's bad enough) but I finally realized that America (as a great nation) is going down fast. We have abused freedom itself to allow lawlessness and our money, money, money approach to everything is our undoing. Feel most sorry for young generations. We will exceed Rome in history as being great and dying from within.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Honza P — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:14:18 GMT

OK guys, some perspective, if the Shia were collectively intent on killing the Sunni, they would all, ALL, be dead by now.
Cracking down on the Shia militas only after they have created a serious problem sounds just like cracking down on AQI only after they've taken an area as their own. Governments have limited resources and deal with then worst crises, not the little ones.
Has the Sunni Arabs been mroe forthright in opposing their own toxic manifestations early on, the Shiites would not ahve flocked to theiur own militas as much as they did. As it is, despite terrible Shiite bloodshed, the Mahdi army has been steadily losing support and territorry to more responsible groups like Dawa and SCIRI for several years now.
Neither Sunni Arabs nor Shiite ones are a monolith.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Not2OldDancer, Colorado Springs, CO — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:19:02 GMT

Thank you Joe Clevelan! Maria Brunner - get your head out of Bush's ass! I voted for Bush and all I want to do is CHOKE him. The United States has been in Iraq for over 4 years. The Iraqi people had their chance to gain their independence. Instead they hid and complained. I think all Iraqi government officials should be hung for going on vacation during August while American lives are being lost and mangled. If that is not a sign they do not take their new government seriously - what is? America needs to leave NOW! We need to spend the billions of dollars on our needs...remember, it is OUR money - NOT Bush's or Iraq's. If that makes America sound selfish...so be it! Our country has always been generous to the point of stupidity. From this day forward all money given to other countries needs to to have stipulations. These countries only get 1/10th of it and then they have to show that they did what they promised to do with that money. If they fail, NO MORE MONEY! America is NOT obligated to throw our money away. The Iraq war is throwing money away, throwing lives away, and is just plain WRONG. America cannot turn other countries into us. It took hundreds of years to get where we are now. America has its own problems to solve.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

L. HUTTO LYONS GA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:34:51 GMT

LAWLESSNESS !!! We have presidents of the united states that lie under oath,sign free trade agreements to put our fellow country men and women out of work,others who take bribes from FBI and the money found in their homes,running this country. Clean up our political system first before you try to tell the world how great democracy is. If Iraq can see this corrupt govt of usa getting by with it hey why not try it. Remember right is always right and wrong is always wrong. WE SHOULD LEAD BY EXAMPLE!!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Russell Berg Chicago, IL — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:41:51 GMT

It doesnt matter which party did what and when...when will you sheep realize this? Voting along party lines is as outdated as leaded gasoline. We need a leader to do just that....LEAD. Lead us out of this mess, restore our faith in our government, restore our international relations, and represent the working class. The people shouldnt fear the government, its the government that should fear its people.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Chris S. Koumparakis Ridgeway, VA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:43:08 GMT

There is no doubt that Shia and Sunni are settleing old scores. Civil wars are just that. We are in Iraq on a just cause. We can not allow people who hate America to get hold of the oil. We can not allow our enemies to control the flow and price of that oil. Like it or not that is reality. We can not leave now knowing they would all kill themselves as soon as we got out. Is that what America is all about? We allow a civil war to exterminate innocent people when we can stay the course and make a difference? We have to stay and we have to win. Good over evil, that is the American way. And for good measure we control the oil, like it or not.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Patrick, Philadelphia — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:50:49 GMT

Do you people only want to have Democrats win seats in Congress, or do you really want to solve the ethnic fighting in Iraq. Stop putting ur "lesser of the two evils" party on a pedistal, they suck just as much as republicans. and paul foster, you'll meet ur maker one day, u should be ashamed on your comments.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Patrick — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:53:42 GMT

and also, if you think that iraq war made us unpopular, answer me this, why in the world would the rest of the world like a lone superpower controlling it? maybe if you had traveled outside the US before Bush, you would know that this sentiment has been long held. don't be so gullible.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Mike, Cincinnati, Ohio — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:13:35 GMT

Iraq needs to realize that the only people who can get them out of the mess they are in is themselves. I don't understand why they leave the government when they should try to push things through, it's all about compromises. One must make sacrifices in order to get what one needs. Right now, the Government needs to put Differences aside and focus on getting the nation back to a point where it can function better than it has.

you know, The Better Good, Greed is what appears to be driving many of these peoples motives.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Charles, Little Elm, TX — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:17:26 GMT

Let's consider the consequences of leaving Iraq.

1. The British are pulling out of Basra and now the city is a total disaster. The remaining 5,500 British troops are hunkered down in their base which received over 600 mortar rounds last month. The city is totally run by clan-like militias and death squads. The population is terrified to leave their homes and they have no protection. According to the Geneva Conventions, we are legally obligated to protect the civilian population of the country we're occupying. We broke, we've got to fix it!
2. There will be a humanitarian crisis similar to the Cambodian killing fields after our departure from Vietnam. Millions of Iraqis will be killed in sectarian violence which will last for decades. America will be blamed.
3. We were once regarded as the greatest power on earth, now we'll be regarded as a paper tiger. America suffered 4,000 dead and now wants to run home. Weakness is provocative. If our enemies see us as weak, they will attack us harder and more frequently. Unfortunately, war comes with a blood tax. To show our strength, we also have to show we're not afraid to loose tens of thousands on the battlefield. I hate it, but it's true. China and India are emerging super-powers and neither would blink twice at suffering 4,000 dead in a single battle. Unfortunately, America doesn't have the will to fight this war. We'd rather watch American Idol than protect our vital interests. America has become weak and we will suffer for it if we don't WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE NEED A DRAFT PEOPLE!!!!!!!
4. As we withdraw, our remaining Arab allies will loose all respect for us. We loose our influence over their decisions. The region will slip into sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shiite. The world's primary source of oil exports will become unstable. The global economy will suffer from this instability. Money is a coward. Economies will faulter and this will cause a ripple effect until there's a global recession. Americans who demand their gas gussling SUVs and high salaries are in for a huge and rude awakening.
5. Iran will make huge gains in increasing their influence over the Persian Gulf region. They won't be able to officially take over in Iraq because they too will be seen as outsiders...but they won't try to take over, they're smarter than Bush and his crew. They'll settle for having massive influence over the emerging Shiite forces in Iraq to turn them distinctly in an Anti-US direction.
6. Al-Qaida will claim a huge victory. Islamic fundamentalism will enjoy yet another major victory. First they overthrew the Shaw during Iran's Islamic Revolution. Then they repelled the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Then they repelled the Iraqi invasion of Iran and help them off for 8 bloody years. Then they struck at western targets all over the world repeatedly with hardly any consequences. Then they pulled off 9/11 and survived. Then they pushed the US out of Iraq and possibly even out of Afghanistan in the near future. What's next...Saudi, Israel...the rest of the Middle East? What kind of world war would we be fighting then?

The fact is we can't leave Iraq. It the worst kind of stupidity to invade in the first place...but now we're there and we have to deal with it. Saddam Hussein was the cork keeping the evil geenie in the bottle, now we're that cork...like it or not. If the Geenie gets out, we'll be fighting a world war sooner rather than later...like it or not.
Our all volunteer military cannot fight this war alone. WE NEED A DRAFT!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Chad — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:22:17 GMT

I hear all of this discontent yet when we had a chance to vote Bush out of office in the last election- and the country did not. The Republicans still have too much control in congress and yet a big portion of the public still support them. My anger is with all those who put Bush back in office and those that do not insist that their R congressmen take action against him. Too many in America are disconnected and only care about their daily activites and couldnt give a rats ass about Iraq. THIS IS THE PROBLEM!!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Christopher, Saint Louis, Missouri — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:22:52 GMT

I do believe that many of our leaders had good intent with this mission but just could not think outside of their own cultural mindset to understand what it was that we were dealing with and that such would not think or act as we expected. Certainly no president since Jimmy Carter has had an inkling of understanding of the Middle Eastern cultural mindset. It is insulting to our society and our soldiers that we would exempt this culture from those standards of equality between religious preferences, race, gender, and respect for the different choices of others that is expected of us all at home and for which our brave soldiers fight to preserve. The manner in which women and children are treated and suffer under Islam globally is a high abomination to my own personal ethos and the highest shame that my government supports such regimes who spit on our standards and regard us as infidel polluters of their "holy soil."

That region will only know peace when two things transpire, the complete relocation of energy source production to other places and comprehensive renunciation of Islam, especially the Sharia form, as a lifestyle lawfully forced upon all people on pain of death. Until then we should try to take in the most we can in female and child refugees and leave the hardliners to the tender mercies of one another.

The long term best thing we can do as a people on the home front is to eschew our oil appetites as much as possible, <we so lack discipline as a people in this regard as our money is the defacto blood of Jihad> We desperately need to relearn as did our Yeoman and pioneer ancestors, to survive as much as possible on domestic resources of one's own making and "vote" with our dollars so that these violent groups and their governnment sponsors (like Saudi Arabia and Iran) become cash starved and are forced to wage their social and religious wars on the backs of camels with spears as they have for the last several thousand years and leave the civilized world out of it. As for Al Quada in Afghanistan and Pakistan, what is left of our military capability should be applied with prejudice to their extermination for their crimes against our people done on our soil, no prisoners taken, then come home and stay there. Nation building begins at home and we are sorely in need of it.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Lee Faris Gaithersburg, Md — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:36:12 GMT

Twenty twenty hind sight is all well and good. I would not have handled the Iraq problem this way but I did not have every security agency on the planet telling me that WMD was ready and to be used. You make the call on X day and X time. The Sunni malcontents are grousing over demands made a year and a half ago. These tribes have not been able to get along in peace for 4000 years why is the last 18 months so different. NO matter what their education level the same blood fued mentality remains. Maybe in another 1000 years they will get the message. Next time we deciede to free a people lets make certain they want to be freed. Support our troops!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

DVoice,San Antonio — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:49:28 GMT

A Phased draw-out and redeployment of our troops will inspire compromise amoung the Iraqi people. A peaceful compromise will reflect the good nature and compassion of their leaders. Unrest, will be attributed to their leadership's greed. I believe the good people in Iraq will come togeather and learn to live in peace. Unfortunately; I also believe that their country has growing pains to experience, just like so many other country's have in the past. A nations fate must be decided by that nations people, this will create strength and unity amoung it's citizens. The United States has liberated them from an evil dictator, and helped them elect their own leaders. The United States of America has faced simular obsticles; awaiting the Iraqi's, more than once on our own soil. Against oppression and for human rights. These same rights; that we are trying to hand to the Iraqi people, on a silver platter. It is hard to believe that the main obsticle we face in helping the Iraqi people, is that the Iraqi people can not get along with each other. And that is not a reason to place our troops, or our allies troops in danger!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:31:00 GMT

Dear Jane, This country's situation is so very complex and involves many different groups. This report in September is going to be extremely crucial and it will have a strong effect on this Iraqi government. Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi is venting frustration at the ineffectiveness of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the decisions that have been made or not made. This fractured country is in desperate need of a strong leadership of capable people. One only hopes that this will come soon for its people. They are fighting for peace and I hope they receive it soon. Peace to all!

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Valerie, Arlington, Va — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:34:56 GMT

What's truly the saddest thing about this whole mess is the plain fact that the powers that be - despite their many combined years of dealing with Middle East leadership in all its contorted and corrupt forms, never had the notion dawn on them that the Iraqi people and their government would have no idea how to do that whole "governing" thing. We set ourselves up for failure from the get-go.

What's equally sad is that despite the fact that there are a number of Iraqi people who truly do wish to have a good, solid, well-run country, those people are either too few in number to be effective, or the legacy of corruption and violence that is just the way of life there makes that vision virtually impossible, whether or not we try to intercede.

As Americans, it would take, at minimum, decades to be a welcome force in that country no matter what we do or how hard we try. This is a fact, regardless of all of our best efforts. We will forever be the outsiders. The people of that country currently do not view their own country as being theirs and so are not taking care of it and are using us as the excuse not to because it is entirely too convenient not to. Unfortunately, a lot of what's simultaneously happening is not a feeling of coming together as a country, but dividing up along sectarian lines. These rifts have been simmering for centuries and the fault lines are now bursting to the surface. There is positively nothing we can do to resolve that situation uless those involved are made to think it was their idea. Unfortunately, the culture is receptive to violence and so I do not see that happening any time soon.

And Maria in NY and Tony in Portland, I understand you think this is a Democrats calling the Republicans out on something, but at this point, it's no longer a them versus us issue. At this point, we need to look at it from a cost analysis standpoint and see what we're getting for all of our billions of tax dollars spent and lives lost. Yeah, we build beautiful things for the Iraqi people who I'm sure are glad to have those things. But because of the exceptionally poor security that the Iraqis are attempting to provide, many of those nice things get blown up because they are permanently viewed as originating from us.

The terrible reality is that if we had really wanted to make sure a change of government actually took, we should have done every last thing possible to enable a revolution by the people. Yes, it would have meant likely decades of behind-the-scenes, cloak-and-dagger work, but in the end, the people would have felt a responsibility to take charge of their own country. I like to go back to the old adage: "Nobody ever washed a rented car." It's true. If they don't feel they own it, they're never going to take care of it. Simple as that.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Valerie, Arlington, VA — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:43:57 GMT

Tony in Portland, my bad. You were referring to the comments posted by Jerry from CA. Didn't mean to catch you up in my comments.

But regardless, I think we've gone well beyond party politics here. At this stage in the game, there's no use in finger-pointing. We can do nothing about what has happened before this minute. The only power we still have is what decision we're going to make for the future.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

John B, CA.(L.A.) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:28:46 GMT

Mr. President Bush I think you do realize the mistake that you did by invading Iraq.
Who will pay for the chaos that we did create in Iraq and the hundred of tousands of inocent people killed,
not to say that we spend 10bilions each mo. and 8 million that left they homes.
I tell you how will pay our children.
One day GOD will ask you why you did it
Personally I did voted for you, I was wrong.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Delmar Fairchild, Barron, Wisconsin — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:58:58 GMT

When Hillary gets in the oval office, she will only train the Iraqi police and army, secure the border and only fight the insurgency when called upon... Oh, jeepers, aren't we doing that now?
We need to move the whole army up to the north and pacify the Turks and Kurds. Let the rest of the country go to the the shites and sunnis. The last group standing can have what is left. The kurds will have a modern country in less than 5 years because they are sensible.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Tom Howard, Dallas — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:49:30 GMT

What a bunch of spineless whiners. As wars go this is tiny. We had single weeks in Viet Nam that were worse than this whole year. A lot of mistakes have been made, starting with assuming the Iraqi exiles had better control than they actually did, and appointing that twit Bremer. But there is a larger picture. Why did we only use a limited force? Two reasons: we wanted to appear as an army of liberation, not of occupation, and because thanks to Bill C, we didn't HAVE half a million troops to put out there like Desert Storm had. When your predecessor cut the Army in half, you go with what you have.

Let's also remember why this all happened: The UN kept passing resolutions for Saddam to prove he disarmed. He kept ignoring them. We gave Saddam a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Technically, invading Iraq was just a continuation of the Gulf War due to Saddam's repeated violations of the cease-fire agreement. And for all you bashers, just remember that Senator Clinton said she had not relied on the White House for her info, but had independently confirmed that going to war was a good idea. That little sound bite should make a great political commercial next year.

For all you that brag they helped end the Viet Nam War, let's look at what happened afterward. South Viet Nam, a legally chartered nation under a treaty sponsored by the UN, was invaded and conquered by another UN member. Hundreds of thousands died from the "reeducation" efforts and the refugees it generated. That's something to be really proud of. And how about Cambodia? What's a few million men, women and children dead, if the benevolent Marxist/Maoist state triumphs?

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

kim mesa arizona — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:05:05 GMT

I agree it is about waiting for US to pull out and settling old scores. Once we leave and we should leave I imagine they will kill all the Sunni's. We have taken a country and turned into a great shamble. Congrads George Bush. You should tell us another 1000 lies everyone else has bought it thus far. and will continue to buy it. I agree we need to have a change of power and vote everyone out of power and bring in new. maybe new faces and new say in congress will get the point across that we are tired of the lies

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Larry, San Diego, CA — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:46:45 GMT

Yes, Vietnam is doing fine now but they did not ram airplanes into the towers of NY. Okay, it was a mistake also for going into Vietnam but going after terrorists is not a mistake. Clinton had a bigger chance then and we would not have been in this mess in the first place if Clinton did what he was suppose to do back then but, he did not! Now, we are faced with a bigger problem, the President waged war and now with the war,politics etc. What we should do now is take the power from all the political people in congress and get the right ones there that will stand up for America and its people. I know it is easy to say lets us get out now but also think what happened in Vietnam when troops pulled out. Millions were killed, and that will also happen in Iraq. The solution is political pressure on the present government of Iraq and inform them that they must take the lead or face the horror of it all and the American troops will step aside and let the religious factions fight it out. And when they are all out of ammunition and people and the country is but in ruins. Then the Americans can take over again and establish a new government for Iraq. Anyway, it will take a year for the pull out, pressure them or else, also secure the border between Iraq,Syria,and Iran. To keep these countries from arming either factions in Iraq. I know the American people are angry but that is not the way to resolve the problem, its like chess, think before you move and all the angles must be set to win without prejudice. Apparently this did not happen such as so.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Don Knudson, Rosemount, MN — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:53:27 GMT

It looks like the political solution in Iraq has all but disappeared. The Republicans need to own this mess they created. But will they? NO. The way our own country has been run, I think it is we who are headed for "total chaos" as we are sinking much of our borrowed money into Iraq. Meanwhile our own infrastructure is collapsing, health care afordability is in crisis, our freedoms are being ripped up by congress and the president, and jobs are shipped overseas through mega corporations while the American middle class collpases into mortgage hell.

I wonder if the next successful presidential candidate can scare us into continuing this mess by claiming to be pro-God and anti-abortion? Will we Americans awaken to reality? Or will we be manipulated again into believing some paraniod fantasy that says giving afordable health care to all people, having good jobs for Americans, paying for our government spending with taxes, investing in education so it is afordable again are all agendas promoted by evil doers? Our current government is leaving us with neither freedom nor security. Some people I know are destined to rot in historical hell along with the Fascists of Italy and Germany. I hope the majority of Americans won't follow along and rot in the same hell because we lost our common sense.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Karl Bratcher — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:48:18 GMT

I think voting with hopes of electing a relative to the retiring/retired president of the United States is a major mistake. Personally I don't think George Bush is call the shots. I understand the state national guard is still trying to find out where Bush served his full duty.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Karl Bratcher — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:05:42 GMT

We went into Iraq without a plan. A nation that George Bush Senior knew very well would result as it has for the kid therefore cut his advance short of taking him out, now we know what Saddam ment when he said, Bush is starting "THE MOTHER OF ALL WARS." We currently still remain in Iraq without a plan. Bush will go down as the worst president ever to hold the office, and I would venture that tag may hold him with that label for the next 500 years. Behold, there is no elected republican anywhere that will escape the same legacy. Bush already declared victory in Iraq, you know, about three thousand dead troop ago and now we will receive some earth shaking new come September. I wonder what that's going to cost us.

There's an old saying, "Once a lier always a lier," so get ready.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

concerned citizen, los banos, ca — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:18:26 GMT

Hindsight is always 20/20, a great majority of americans believed going to war was the right thing to do at the time, no one had any idea the incompetence with which it would be carried out. Nontheless here we are. Let's give the generals what they need to win, a real troop surge (double current troop strength) stop trying to fight a politically correct war, win this thing, and bring our brave soldiers home. The alternative(possible collapse of the entire middle east, the beginning of the third world war)is to horrible to imagine

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Travis,Winston-Salem,NC — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:24:48 GMT

I voted for Bush, I'm very sorry to say, aside from the small lopsided tax cuts we got, I've not seen anything else positive come out of his administration at all..When i see him do a interview, or a speech, I feel like slapping him up side the head because of his idiotic grins, and jokes he constantly tries to make..I'd much rather have a President that takes whats going on in todays world much more serious than he portrays himself to be doing, whats going on Today, and Tomorrow is no laughing matter,and he should not try to promote a joke of the day during every television appearance he has...It just pisses me off to no end every time i see it, After hundreds of billions of dollars,Iraq is still like a run down hotel with no plumbing or electricity where gangs hangout to kill each other,and use our hard earned tax dollars to promote even more violence,death and corruption, We have very brave soldiers dying everyday for a country that doesn't seem to care one bit for the sacrifices our armed forces and their families have made,and are making for their right for freedoms they never had,Iraqis' need to realize Freedom Is not Free,they need to make more sacrifices if they want to be free, they dont stand up to the death and corruption that their own government and people put onto each other,and cant even agree on splitting oil wealth,when theres only three groups to split it between,Shi'ite,Sunnis,Kurds "divide by three" Should be easy enough to figure out you corruptive pigs... We need to pull our troops back to the Iraqi borders, and guard against the infiltration and exit of these radical murderers,and the Instigating Iranians,of which are causing most of the turmoil now in Iraq, and let the Iraqi police,military,security forces enforce their own laws in their own cities and provinces..I also think the US,should get more balls when dealing with Iran,and retaliate militarily if they continue to help kill our soldiers..We're looking like a country of cowards letting Iran walk all over us,and gaining influence all over the middle east spreading their "DEATH TO AMERICA" hate to any militant that will buy into their garbage,we sit back on our hands as they supply weapons to kill our soldiers,and just telling them we know your doing it and you need to stop doing that, isn't enough,and we dont do nothing about it and the killing of our soldiers goes on..The Military, and the US Govt. is going to have a very long hard road, if they continue to let radical goverments, organizations and groups get away with the crap they pull on us without any recourse, they will have no fear of retribution, which has always been our greatest asset,to invoke the fear of our retaliation for their actions..Whatever came of Bushes great words after 911, there will be no safe haven for terrorists, or any country that gives them safe haven..Iran has been on our list of terrorist states for many years,and blatantly kills our soldiers by proxy..what are we doing but giving them safe haven by not reacting to their agression against our soldiers.."our fellow Americans" The US Gov't better start getting some balls to deal with the regimes that are making a embarrassment of our Nation on the world stage,due to poor political planning,poor leadership,loss of participation of allies,and plain outright pissing away Americas riches for nothing...want to know who the next superpower will be, CHINA, with all of the products we buy from China,They are rushing to buy up all the oil in the world market from our advesaries,and also allies,we have built their military into a formitable foe,and it's still growing very fast,all mostly financed by the US.and their astronomical trade imbalance nobody seems to be serious about curtailing as China drags it's feet in properly valueing it's currency,dragging it out as long as possible to put as many American companies out of business as they can before they are forced to comply. Why do we invest so heavily in a communist run country,when their is so much good we could do investing in the African,South American nations with no weapons pointed at us?? where does sensible logic and greed seperate themselves in a responsible government that was founded by our fore fathers for the people of the United States, not for the peoples republic of China.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Guy, Manama, Bahrain — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 05:35:58 GMT

Most of these postings are funny. Listening to your misguided anger is hillarious and I'm sure I'll be attacked for stating all of this. I've been in the Middle East as a sailor of your country for 18 years now, as of 5 Aug, when the USS Independence pulled into the Gulf of Oman to begin hedging against Saddam the first time. I went to Somalia, I did several deployments to the Persian Gulf since, in support of Operation Southern Watch, and I'm back here in Bahrain watching the carnage from afar. Here's clue #1: Your Presidents are not responsible for the carnage here. #2: Forget what you hear and see on the news, most of it is put there to sell you a roll of toilet paper anyway. #3: Congress and candidates don't have a clue how to fix the world and terrorism. #4: Your hatred and bickering don't solve it either.

I'm not a fan of GW, I quite dislike the guy personally. I didn't like Clinton either, nor his politics and tendency toward socialism. I don't like the way GW sold the war to the American people, but your news outlets sold a lot of toilet paper to get you all to approve it. That said, the decision to go into Iraq was legal. From my 18 years of watching it up close and personal, Iraq was failing to meet the obligations it agreed to in the terms of surrender. They continually launched rockets at our pilots and we continually took out radar sites and rocket launchers and we were spending billions of dollars doing it. You all didn't give a rat's behind about the danger your military was in then, so don't tell me you care about us now...all of a sudden. Our job, boiled right down to it, is to die for our country, hopefully in less numbers than our adversary; we are doing that job today, in a huge way, but NOT the hundreds of thousands professed by the left. Tens of thousands, sure. That's our job, deal with it. They want to fight for their God (which, by the way, is your God, if you're Christian), our job is to arrange the meeting. The lesson any Vietnam vet will tell you we learned there, is politicians don't and can't be allowed to fight wars. Why are you allowing that to happen today? That's the big disgrace to me.

Now, those of you who want a pullout, so do many of us who have been overworked for the last 20 years. But not out of Iraq, NOT right now. Yes, the Arabs and Persians are still fighting among their selves; notice I didn't call them by their sects. This fight is not about Islam, it is about peoples who have been conquered since circa 700 BC, for those of you who are saying 2000 years, you need to brush up on history. The atrocities I have seen in the last 25 years from the government of Saddam, warranted the invasion, and I'm glad he's dead (not very Christian, but it is human). Now, what have we accomplished in Iraq? #1 We have proven to the warlords here that our great nation can and will come to fight. I cannot stress how important that is to the mindset of the radicals here. It is also something we didn't do in Somalia because we were wearing your peace loving blue berets under the United Nations, where we gave rifles to our troops, but no bullets. Now they know we have the resolve to fight and protect ourselves. #2 Yes there is a lot of violence, but run the statistics. The bombs kill a lot of people and your news organizations sell more toilet paper. Do they report about the numbers of people killed in violence (dramatically smaller) in our country? Percentage-wise, there is actually less violence in Iraq. #3 Iraq is rejoining the world population and has more open borders than it had before, the people are doing what it took our country 11 years to complete, putting a country together. Are there issues? Absolutely, does it warrant your anger and "expertise" in the issue? Probably not. Let those of us who work for you, do our jobs and see them through to completion.

This Vice President in Iraq and the party behind him are only doing what our own government did when the democrats were whining about not having enough power in the government, why do you see this as failure? This is politics, nothing more. Fear not, it will work out, just like our government does. One thing is for sure, we are spending a lot of money. That's the price of war. But, as opposed to the cold war, we're actually doing more than training and your services are battle hardened now. The coalitions I work with every day, and yes there are 3 coalitions here representing over half the world's nations, have a sense of cooperation that is unparalleled during any point in this world's history. So you sit back there, with your sharp criticisms, largely uneducated about the real story, spout your political garbage back and forth about which party is correct or more moral than the other. Please, do it, me and my brothers-in-arms paid for it with a lot of blood. But do us all a favor.

Quit caring about us; if you're going to keep playing politics with the great job we are doing here for you, protecting your national and economic interests. I can't tell you how upset we get hearing how bad of a job we're doing so your candidate can move in the polls. Put a little thought into the political process and don't let your candidates blind you with these issues that do nothing, but inflame your emotions. Vote, please, but do it with a mind of your candidate’s philosophy and don't let them blind you with issues to keep you fighting over things you can't control.

Your military will fight wars always. That's what we do and that's what you pay us to do, so you don't have to. We're doing our job and we're doing it well, thank you very much. Get back into what your candidate thinks about how to make our government and populous work. Think about statements that don't make sense, like...If we used the money we're spending on the war for...maybe we could put people to work in our country. That doesn't make much sense to somebody who listens to the business cycles and realizes that if we put too many more people to work in our country, we'd have a shortage of workers, increasing wages to such a point, inflation and interest rates would skyrocket and kill our economy. Think about what your politicians say, don't just eat it as the truth. If it were the truth; they wouldn't be politicians. Have a nice election cycle. We're here for you. Let us stay here for you.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

C Kruse, London/New York — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:51:14 GMT

If the idea was to distract the core of extremism, rerouting them to activities in their immediate theater, then the war has been a great success. Creating sectarian strife has created divisions among extremists, and highlighting tensions among middle east nations. The middle easts presents the only vialbe source for cheaper oil, which, if freely accessed would allow China and other LDCs to grow even faster. While this cannot be stopped, we effectively barred from entering the market, thus securing a further foothold on our economic prowess. In generall... brilliant success. Too bad no one sees it in terms of game theory.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Realist, Naples, Florida — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:11:11 GMT

It will never ever get through to some, that THIS country (the US) was not formed in a day or without a terrible death toll...nor was any other. Why do most treat this as a basketball game, with a define time frame and an 'microwave mentality'. It won't be 'Done' for awhile. Our own evolved for years and years.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

GW, Dallas, Texas — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:25:15 GMT

Al-Maliki's time is up. Him and his Saddam-lite thieves and cronies have sucked enough while U.S. soldiers and mostly Sunni civilians have paid the price. The Sunni punishment has gone far enough.We must insist the Iraqi's policies balance the interests and resources to the Sunni, Shite, and Kurdish peoples now. BTW, the U.S. soldiers in Iraq would like to have September sorta OFF duty so they could lie under air conditioners like Al-Maliki's government. Creeping down a road at 120 F waiting for a sniper or bomb while the people you are keeping in power coool it and count their gold SUCKS! The USA needs to get real and insist the Iraqi govenement manage and fund their own rebuilding contracts so we can do the same here at home.

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

john florida — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:51:33 GMT

Patric, Philadelphia:
The only thing i don't agree with you is "the lessrer of two evils" they (dems) are the greater of the two.The only thing on their minds is 08 they don't care about anything else. We the people have taken a back seat to the election.As for this national health care nonsense i have family in Canada and they have had to leave and go to to N.Y. state or DIE waiting for test that would save their lives.Things we take for granted here are begged for in Canada.And they pay up to 48%of their income in taxes to have it,and it sucks.Once the government gets their hands on our money they do what suits them. Also someone made a comment about how much the war costs and that our bridges are falling. Well why doesn't Washington stop the PORK AND USE THE MONEY NOT TO BUY VOTES BUT TO REPAIR OUR BRIDGES INSTEAD.The war and Pres. Bush have been blamed for everything else so why not the bridge too and while were at it let's blame him for the mine collapse too.If the Dem's now in power really thought that the war was wrong they would have stopped the money a long time ago. But instead the put on this show that only stops everyone of the politicians from doing anything of importance.They wont or can't stop the war so all they do is waste our time and money on the things that will accomplish nothing.We still have a border that needs to be shut down yet they want to give the children of ILLEGAL ALIENS in state tuition. The reason is that it is not the fault of the children well how is it the fault of the taxpayers ??We who have spent our lives paying taxes have to pay out of state tuition for out kids and support the kind of nonsense they propose. Let's raise taxes, should be the battle cry for the 08 election and let's kill off any of the people that have worked all their lives to support our way of life and give it to those that broke our laws. Yup i'm voting for that in a pigs A---

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:09:16 GMT

Here are the latest, followed by other Global War on Terror (a/k/a GWOT) news of interest.
From August 7:
Greetings:
I know many of you are busy enjoying summer vacations, so this will be a brief email.
The conclusion to Bread and a Circus is

Al-Maliki’s political pressure grows

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:00:10 GMT

Last night I heard NPR say as much while headed home, something to the effect that Petraeus and Crocker&#8217;s &#8220;relentlessly measured optimism&#8221; had won the day on Capitol Hill and then, even later, as PBS boradcast the BBC&#8217;s