Showing posts with label troops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label troops. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Pentagon Announces Deployment Of Troops To Iraq And Afghanistan
I was just reading this story at Yahoo News, concerning the upcoming troop deployments to Iraq, and Afghanistan:
The Pentagon on Monday announced upcoming deployments of more than 42,000 troops, including 25,000 active duty Army soldiers who would be sent to Iraq beginning in the fall to replace troops scheduled to come home by year's end.
The deployments would maintain a level of 15 brigades in Iraq, or roughly 140,000 troops, the number military leaders expect will remain on the warfront at the end of July, once the currently planned withdrawals are finished.
Under the new Pentagon policy effective in August, those active duty Army units will serve for 12 months, rather than the 15-month tours that units in Iraq now are serving. The bulk of the soldiers deploying later this year returned from Iraq late last year, and will have gotten about a year at home to rest and retrain.
LINK TO FULL STORY
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Turkey Chases Rebels In Iraq
There were reports yesterday that hundreds of Turkish troops had crossed into norther Iraq at the border across from the Turkish city of Cukurca on Wednesday morning.
The Turkish foreign minister denies that any incursion took place though one of the Turkish security officials said it was a "hot pursuit" raid after Kurdish rebels of the PKK Kurdistan Worker's Party, had opened fire from Iraqi soil on Turkish patrols.
The Turkish goverment has threatened a massive incursion if the rebels continue to attack Turkish troops and civilians and then flee back into Iraq for safe haven. The Turkish officials say they are fighting a war on terrorism just as the United States is and they must protect their citizens.
Reaction from our Miltary was that they did not see any indications that this incursion occurred, but they would not be more specific, because of the sensitivity of the information.
United States officials in the region have confirmed that if there was an incursion it would be as a continuation of Turkey's years-long campaign against the Kurdish PKK guerrillas of Kurdistan Workers' Party.
The Turkish invasion scenario is one of those worst case ones that the United States is trying to avoid. The Turkish government opposes any formation of a separate Kurdistan, as the Kurds that reside in southern Turkey would want to join and it is why the rebels fight to try and get their own homeland back.
This is a difficult question, but Turkey has long been a good ally and we need to stand with them for now. However, at some point , there should be a diplomatic settlement to the Kurdish question, but only after they lay down their arms and stop killing civilians.
Please read the story of the Turkish incursion and I also have a link to an excellent article about Turkey, the Kurds and their long struggle to have an independent Kurdistan.
Thanks!
Turkey
Kurds
The Turkish foreign minister denies that any incursion took place though one of the Turkish security officials said it was a "hot pursuit" raid after Kurdish rebels of the PKK Kurdistan Worker's Party, had opened fire from Iraqi soil on Turkish patrols.
The Turkish goverment has threatened a massive incursion if the rebels continue to attack Turkish troops and civilians and then flee back into Iraq for safe haven. The Turkish officials say they are fighting a war on terrorism just as the United States is and they must protect their citizens.
Reaction from our Miltary was that they did not see any indications that this incursion occurred, but they would not be more specific, because of the sensitivity of the information.
United States officials in the region have confirmed that if there was an incursion it would be as a continuation of Turkey's years-long campaign against the Kurdish PKK guerrillas of Kurdistan Workers' Party.
The Turkish invasion scenario is one of those worst case ones that the United States is trying to avoid. The Turkish government opposes any formation of a separate Kurdistan, as the Kurds that reside in southern Turkey would want to join and it is why the rebels fight to try and get their own homeland back.
This is a difficult question, but Turkey has long been a good ally and we need to stand with them for now. However, at some point , there should be a diplomatic settlement to the Kurdish question, but only after they lay down their arms and stop killing civilians.
Please read the story of the Turkish incursion and I also have a link to an excellent article about Turkey, the Kurds and their long struggle to have an independent Kurdistan.
Thanks!
Turkey
Kurds
Sunday, May 27, 2007
8 Americans Added To Memorial Day Remembrances
This Memorial Day weekend is seeing the addition of 8 more fallen soldiers to the many being remembered at ceremonies around the nation. The figures will continue to rise as the surge and new strategy of getting out of the protected compounds and taking the fight to the insurgents escalates.
I saw General Petraeus on a news program yesterday and he acknowledged that it could be a bloody summer.
The news report included the following information about troop casualties:
Nearly a 1000 United States troop have been killed since last Memorial Day and in the period from Memorial Day 2006 through Saturday, 980 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq, compared to 807 deaths in the previous year. And with the Baghdad security operation now three and a half months old, even President Bush has predicted a difficult summer for U.S. forces.
As more American soldiers are patrolling the streets and living in isolated outposts across Baghdad, leaving them more vulnerable to attack. The increase in raids on extremist Shiite militiamen had brought a wave of retaliatory attacks.
It was further stated that by the end of Saturday at least 100 American troops had died in the first 26 days of May, an average of 3.85 deaths a day. At that deadly pace, 119 troops will have died by the end of the month, the most since 137 soldiers were killed in November 2004, when U.S. troops were fighting insurgents in Fallujah.
As of Saturday, May 26, 2007, at least 3,451 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,817 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military.
On Monday, Bush will mark his sixth Memorial Day as a wartime president with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. He is to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns to honor those who have died in past and current conflicts.
In his weekly radio address he personalized the death of a young man from Ohio and his desire to not let his sister and brother grow up in fear. The link below will take you to the full story of Bush’s comments.
There are many moving ceremonies taking place to honor the sacrifices of those who paid the price of freedom with their lives. I hope that we demand of our politicians that these men and women did not die in vain.
Bush radio story
I saw General Petraeus on a news program yesterday and he acknowledged that it could be a bloody summer.
The news report included the following information about troop casualties:
Nearly a 1000 United States troop have been killed since last Memorial Day and in the period from Memorial Day 2006 through Saturday, 980 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq, compared to 807 deaths in the previous year. And with the Baghdad security operation now three and a half months old, even President Bush has predicted a difficult summer for U.S. forces.
As more American soldiers are patrolling the streets and living in isolated outposts across Baghdad, leaving them more vulnerable to attack. The increase in raids on extremist Shiite militiamen had brought a wave of retaliatory attacks.
It was further stated that by the end of Saturday at least 100 American troops had died in the first 26 days of May, an average of 3.85 deaths a day. At that deadly pace, 119 troops will have died by the end of the month, the most since 137 soldiers were killed in November 2004, when U.S. troops were fighting insurgents in Fallujah.
As of Saturday, May 26, 2007, at least 3,451 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 2,817 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military.
On Monday, Bush will mark his sixth Memorial Day as a wartime president with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. He is to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns to honor those who have died in past and current conflicts.
In his weekly radio address he personalized the death of a young man from Ohio and his desire to not let his sister and brother grow up in fear. The link below will take you to the full story of Bush’s comments.
There are many moving ceremonies taking place to honor the sacrifices of those who paid the price of freedom with their lives. I hope that we demand of our politicians that these men and women did not die in vain.
Bush radio story
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Finally Money For The Troops
It has been 109 days since President Bush sent his emergency spending request to Congress and today, May 25th, he finally was able to sign a bill to fund our troops through September 30th of this year. This after repeated attempts by the Al-Qaeda Democratic Party to tie the emergency money to United States troop withdrawals.
The mullahs, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid had to disappoint their terrorist buddies by not being able to deliver the white flag of surrender, that they so desperately fought for these past three months. They tried everything they could think of to undermine the President and the troops, but as seen today it was all for nothing as the troops will get the much needed emergency funds. However, as expressed by Speaker Pelosi, it is not over, we will see the President’s policy begin to unravel now, she said with delight.
No doubt the debate will again flare up as summer ends and bills for next years funding begin to move through the halls of Congress.
There is some speculation that their may even be a change in the President’s direction in Iraq in the fall. Many of the members in his own party are talking this way as they wait to see how things will go through the summer and if Iraqi politicians can make the tough calls and get their government in order.
The president applauded the bipartisan effort to get an emergency supplemental bill to his desk by the Memorial Day recess. He expressed how much can get done in a short time if people are really trying and not playing politics with issues.
The war spending bill provides about $95 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30 and billions in domestic projects, including more than $6 billion for hurricane relief. The House voted 280-142 Thursday night to pass the bill, followed by a 80-14 vote in the Senate.
In an effort to please MoveOn, Al-Qaeda, and other ultra-liberal primary voters, Democratic Presidential rivals Senators Clnton and Obama voted against the funding bill, even as they professed to fully support the troops. Wow guys, way to show how much you support the troops!
By September there will be an assessment by General Petraeus and a report to Congress on whether or not the troop surge is having the desired results. There will also be an independent assessment of the progress being made by the Iraqi government, which I think will be of more importance than what the General tells Congress. Hopefully, the Iraqi’s will see how precarious their situation is here in America, with public opinion and many politicians against them. They really need to take this three month reprieve and use it to their full advantage.
The President and the troops won round one after much frustration and delay. They may not be so lucky in round two, which starts in September when the Congress returns. May much progress be made by then.
Our best to the troops this Memorial Day weekend!
The mullahs, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid had to disappoint their terrorist buddies by not being able to deliver the white flag of surrender, that they so desperately fought for these past three months. They tried everything they could think of to undermine the President and the troops, but as seen today it was all for nothing as the troops will get the much needed emergency funds. However, as expressed by Speaker Pelosi, it is not over, we will see the President’s policy begin to unravel now, she said with delight.
No doubt the debate will again flare up as summer ends and bills for next years funding begin to move through the halls of Congress.
There is some speculation that their may even be a change in the President’s direction in Iraq in the fall. Many of the members in his own party are talking this way as they wait to see how things will go through the summer and if Iraqi politicians can make the tough calls and get their government in order.
The president applauded the bipartisan effort to get an emergency supplemental bill to his desk by the Memorial Day recess. He expressed how much can get done in a short time if people are really trying and not playing politics with issues.
The war spending bill provides about $95 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30 and billions in domestic projects, including more than $6 billion for hurricane relief. The House voted 280-142 Thursday night to pass the bill, followed by a 80-14 vote in the Senate.
In an effort to please MoveOn, Al-Qaeda, and other ultra-liberal primary voters, Democratic Presidential rivals Senators Clnton and Obama voted against the funding bill, even as they professed to fully support the troops. Wow guys, way to show how much you support the troops!
By September there will be an assessment by General Petraeus and a report to Congress on whether or not the troop surge is having the desired results. There will also be an independent assessment of the progress being made by the Iraqi government, which I think will be of more importance than what the General tells Congress. Hopefully, the Iraqi’s will see how precarious their situation is here in America, with public opinion and many politicians against them. They really need to take this three month reprieve and use it to their full advantage.
The President and the troops won round one after much frustration and delay. They may not be so lucky in round two, which starts in September when the Congress returns. May much progress be made by then.
Our best to the troops this Memorial Day weekend!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
MySpace Protects Sex Offenders Privacy, Iraq Defunding Bill Fails
I have been reading a story on MSN in which MySpace is refusing to give the names of sex offenders to Attorney General’s from eight states.Citing federal privacy law, MySpace.com said Tuesday it won’t comply with a request by attorneys general from eight states to hand over the names of registered sex offenders who use the social networking Web site.
MySpace’s chief security officer said the company regularly discloses information to law enforcement officials but the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act says it can only do so when proper legal processes are followed. In a letter Monday, attorneys general from North Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania asked MySpace to provide information about registered sex offenders using the site and where they live.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday blasted MySpace for refusing to share the information and said no subpoena is needed for MySpace to tell the attorneys general how many registered sex offenders use the site or other information relating to possible parole violations.
Christian Genetski, an attorney who has represented MySpace, said the Electronic Communications Privacy Act requires subpoenas, court orders or search warrants, depending on the information sought.
There was a quote from North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said “it’s sad that MySpace is going to protect the privacy of sex offenders over the safety of children.”
Mr. Cooper is absolutely right and MySpace should be embarrassed to be siding with the sex offenders instead of the children who are being victimized be these scum bags.
Nigam said MySpace is serious about identifying and removing sex offenders from its Web site and wants to work with the attorneys general.
In December, MySpace announced it was partnering with Sentinel Tech Holding Corp. to build a database with information on sex offenders in the United States. It is also supposedly working with Sentinel to share the sex offender database and technology with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which works directly with law enforcement officials, Nigam said.
MySpace, which is owned by News Corp., and other social networking sites allow users to create online profiles with photos, music and personal information, including hometowns and education. Users can send messages to one another and, in many cases, browse other profiles.
MySpace’s policy prevents children under 14 from setting up profiles, but it relies on users to specify their ages.
We should flood MySpace with calls, letters, emails informing them that we do like there attempt to help the sex offenders by keeping their information secret. In fact, they should publish their names and address and let all of us know who they are and where they live. They should forfeit all right to privacy once they are convicted of sex crimes and receive sex offender status.
It never ceases to amaze me how little anyone cares about the children. You have laws that are too lenient on sex offenders, judges who will not punish them enough, lawyers who defend them, and companies like MySpace that assist them in injuring more children by keeping their identities hidden from law enforcement. What the hell is wrong with this country, we need to pull our heads out of the clouds there in and start protecting the children from these parasites. There should not be three strikes and your out it should be one strike and your done. There should be no more chances to hurt more children for these people.
Even if it is breaking the law as MySpace says it is, they should break the law and do the right thing and then the law should be changed, because it is ridiculous to allow criminals to use the law against us this way. There is right and wrong and this is wrong!
This effects us all and in particular if you have children who are using MySpace when you are not home, so be careful when and how you allow them to be online. Make sure you check their history on the computer and see if they behave strange or have hidden contacts with anyone that you do not know. These predators know how to push the right buttons with the children and we are all responsible to protect the children as best as we can.
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Thankfully the Senate rejected a plan to end funding of the Iraq war by a 67-29 vote against the Democrats' measure left it far short of the 60 needed to advance. But more than half the Senate's Democrats supported the move, a marked change from last summer when only a dozen members of the rank and file backed a troop withdrawal deadline.
The Al-Qaida Democratic Party was still happy too embarrass our troops and our President by even allowing this bill to come to the floor of the Senate for their view that anything they do even if it does not pass will help them win more seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the Presidency in 2008.
For the first time, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois and Joe Biden of Delaware joined Sen. Chris Dodd in lending support to the notion of setting a date to end U.S. participation in the war.
Senator Clinton said it was a procedural vote, as usual more double talk to try and be on both sides of the issue. I had planned on voting for her, because I thought she would be a good first female President as she is pretty ruthless and she would have made it interesting, but her flip flop on the Iraq War has put her in my “I would not vote for her if she was the only candidate running column” with the rest of the Al-Qaida Democratic Party Presidential hopefuls who want us to lose in Iraq and let their terrorist brethren take over there and here.
These craven, cowardly politicians should be removed from office for aiding our enemies around the world. You can be sure they will receive congratulatory remarks from the terrorists for putting on this show of support for their cause of killing more troops and more Iraqi civilians. As a matter of fact, I just saw were another vehicle blew up and killed 32 Iraqis and wounding even more. How sad that we cannot get the politicians to understand how these kind of votes lends itself to the cause of keeping the terrorists from giving up, as they can see if the keep killing we will leave as we do not have the resolve to see this through to the end. Thank God that we did not have these politicians in power in World War II or they would have pulled our troops home after D-Day, hell they might just surrendered after Pearl Harbor so there would not be anymore bloodshed.
We owe these fine young men and women who are fighting the support of their country and our respect and gratitude.
Now pass the funding bill, without all of the domestic pork barrel projects and let the troops know that even if you disagree with the war, you are not going use them for your political games. Argue with the President all you want, but fund the troops and fund them now!
MySpace’s chief security officer said the company regularly discloses information to law enforcement officials but the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act says it can only do so when proper legal processes are followed. In a letter Monday, attorneys general from North Carolina, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Ohio and Pennsylvania asked MySpace to provide information about registered sex offenders using the site and where they live.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on Tuesday blasted MySpace for refusing to share the information and said no subpoena is needed for MySpace to tell the attorneys general how many registered sex offenders use the site or other information relating to possible parole violations.
Christian Genetski, an attorney who has represented MySpace, said the Electronic Communications Privacy Act requires subpoenas, court orders or search warrants, depending on the information sought.
There was a quote from North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper said “it’s sad that MySpace is going to protect the privacy of sex offenders over the safety of children.”
Mr. Cooper is absolutely right and MySpace should be embarrassed to be siding with the sex offenders instead of the children who are being victimized be these scum bags.
Nigam said MySpace is serious about identifying and removing sex offenders from its Web site and wants to work with the attorneys general.
In December, MySpace announced it was partnering with Sentinel Tech Holding Corp. to build a database with information on sex offenders in the United States. It is also supposedly working with Sentinel to share the sex offender database and technology with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which works directly with law enforcement officials, Nigam said.
MySpace, which is owned by News Corp., and other social networking sites allow users to create online profiles with photos, music and personal information, including hometowns and education. Users can send messages to one another and, in many cases, browse other profiles.
MySpace’s policy prevents children under 14 from setting up profiles, but it relies on users to specify their ages.
We should flood MySpace with calls, letters, emails informing them that we do like there attempt to help the sex offenders by keeping their information secret. In fact, they should publish their names and address and let all of us know who they are and where they live. They should forfeit all right to privacy once they are convicted of sex crimes and receive sex offender status.
It never ceases to amaze me how little anyone cares about the children. You have laws that are too lenient on sex offenders, judges who will not punish them enough, lawyers who defend them, and companies like MySpace that assist them in injuring more children by keeping their identities hidden from law enforcement. What the hell is wrong with this country, we need to pull our heads out of the clouds there in and start protecting the children from these parasites. There should not be three strikes and your out it should be one strike and your done. There should be no more chances to hurt more children for these people.
Even if it is breaking the law as MySpace says it is, they should break the law and do the right thing and then the law should be changed, because it is ridiculous to allow criminals to use the law against us this way. There is right and wrong and this is wrong!
This effects us all and in particular if you have children who are using MySpace when you are not home, so be careful when and how you allow them to be online. Make sure you check their history on the computer and see if they behave strange or have hidden contacts with anyone that you do not know. These predators know how to push the right buttons with the children and we are all responsible to protect the children as best as we can.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Thankfully the Senate rejected a plan to end funding of the Iraq war by a 67-29 vote against the Democrats' measure left it far short of the 60 needed to advance. But more than half the Senate's Democrats supported the move, a marked change from last summer when only a dozen members of the rank and file backed a troop withdrawal deadline.
The Al-Qaida Democratic Party was still happy too embarrass our troops and our President by even allowing this bill to come to the floor of the Senate for their view that anything they do even if it does not pass will help them win more seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the Presidency in 2008.
For the first time, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois and Joe Biden of Delaware joined Sen. Chris Dodd in lending support to the notion of setting a date to end U.S. participation in the war.
Senator Clinton said it was a procedural vote, as usual more double talk to try and be on both sides of the issue. I had planned on voting for her, because I thought she would be a good first female President as she is pretty ruthless and she would have made it interesting, but her flip flop on the Iraq War has put her in my “I would not vote for her if she was the only candidate running column” with the rest of the Al-Qaida Democratic Party Presidential hopefuls who want us to lose in Iraq and let their terrorist brethren take over there and here.
These craven, cowardly politicians should be removed from office for aiding our enemies around the world. You can be sure they will receive congratulatory remarks from the terrorists for putting on this show of support for their cause of killing more troops and more Iraqi civilians. As a matter of fact, I just saw were another vehicle blew up and killed 32 Iraqis and wounding even more. How sad that we cannot get the politicians to understand how these kind of votes lends itself to the cause of keeping the terrorists from giving up, as they can see if the keep killing we will leave as we do not have the resolve to see this through to the end. Thank God that we did not have these politicians in power in World War II or they would have pulled our troops home after D-Day, hell they might just surrendered after Pearl Harbor so there would not be anymore bloodshed.
We owe these fine young men and women who are fighting the support of their country and our respect and gratitude.
Now pass the funding bill, without all of the domestic pork barrel projects and let the troops know that even if you disagree with the war, you are not going use them for your political games. Argue with the President all you want, but fund the troops and fund them now!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Exotic Animals,PETA And Another Day In Iraq
I have just been reading the Iowa Press-Citizen story concerning an upcoming show at the Sycamore Mall which incorporates exotic animals in its’ show and the trouble that is being caused by People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who want the city council to intervene and stop the show.
According to the story a letter was sent to the council by Lisa Wathne, a captive exotic animal specialist who alleges that the show seriously mistreats the animals. She says in her letter that staffers with the show were untrained and intentionally cruel to several animals.
This from a group of well meaning whack jobs who believe that animals deserve not just equal treatment as humans, but better treatment than humans. They think that the major problem on this planet is the is the life form known as humans and that the planet would be better off without us. While that would indeed be a boon for the planet, but it would not be so hot for everyone of us. There is no logic in that form of thinking and that is why these people should be ignored.
I do not believe in being cruel to animals and believe everything should be done to make animals comfortable and respected, but the bottom line is that they are still animals. We use them for food sources, clothing, entertainment, companionship in some cases and that is the state of the world. PETA can do their boycotts, petitions, etc., but they are a crazy minority and should be treated accordingly.
There was a comment by Kevin Digmann, the Sycamore Mall Manager, that he had checked out this show which has performed at other malls across the country, and found no such abuses.
G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park, based in Wynnewood, Okla., is scheduled to produce its "Mystical Magic of the Endangered" show May 30 to June 3 at Sycamore Mall.
Jennifer Ross of Sycamore Mall's management said the show's feature act, Joe Exotic, will perform magic tricks to spread a message to school-age children about the dangers of drugs and drunken driving as well as the importance of saving the environment. The show features animals such as lions and tigers that people can pose with for photos for donations to benefit endangered animals.
The council will discuss the letter at its work session Monday and decide whether to discuss a new ordinance at later meetings, assistant city manager Dale Helling said.
I for one believe this is going to be a great show and plan to attend and support the people who care for such beautiful creatures, perhaps even get a photo with my astrological symbol; the Lion. How cool is that, I think way cool!! Let us all turn out and enjoy the show, and let PETA know that you can take care of animals and still enjoy them, without being a monster.
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In another story there have been more american deaths in Iraq. U.S. and Iraqi troops searched house-to-house and combed fields with their bare hands Saturday after American troops and their Iraqi interpreter came under attack in the notorious "triangle of death" south of Baghdad, leaving five dead and three missing.
The military said the patrol was struck in a pre-dawn explosion near Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad — an al-Qaeda area where two U.S. soldiers were found massacred after disappearing at a checkpoint nearly a year ago.
A nearby unit heard the blast and the search was launched after communication could not be established with the patrol, the military said. Shortly after the blast, a drone observed two burning vehicles.
An emergency response unit arrived at the scene and found five members of the team dead and three others missing.
Checkpoints were established throughout the area, while helicopters and jets buzzed overhead. AP Television News footage showed Iraqi soldiers picking through cattails and other weeds as they searched fields and canals for clues.
The military refused to specify whether the Iraqi interpreter was among those killed or missing and would not give more details about where the bodies were found.
One possible reason is that this interpreter could have been in collusion with the terrorists.
An Iraqi army officer who was familiar with the search said he saw five badly burned bodies inside a Humvee at the site, suggesting the remains may not have been recognizable. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information.
He also said joint U.S.-Iraqi forces had sealed off the area and were conducting house-to-house searches, rounding up dozens of suspects. The military declined to comment on detentions but said troops were looking for suspects.
The Iraqi officer said U.S. troops singled out seven suspects out of as many as 50, including a wounded man who was hiding in a house and confessed to participating in the attack. He said most of the houses searched near the attack contained only women and children because the men had fled, fearing arrest.
The attack occurred at 4:44 a.m. about 12 miles west of Mahmoudiya, a town of about 65,000 in a Sunni area dubbed the "triangle of death" for the frequent attacks against Shiite civilians and U.S. and Iraqi forces.
It has been quite awhile since american soldiers have been kidnapped rather than killed. On June 16, 2006, two American soldiers — Pfc. Kristian Menchaca of Houston and Pfc. Thomas Tucker of Madras, Ore. — went missing after their Humvee was ambushed at a checkpoint near Youssifiyah, north of Mahmoudiya.
Their bodies were found days later, tied together with a bomb between one of the victim's legs. But the remains were not recovered until the next morning, after an Iraqi civilian warned that bombs had been planted in the area.
A third soldier, David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was found dead at the scene of the attack.
Also Saturday, the military announced the death of an American soldier from a bomb attack Friday near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south of Baghdad.
At least 30 Iraqis were reported killed or found dead elsewhere in Iraq, including a Sunni physician shot to death on his way home from work in the northern city of Mosul.
The last U.S. soldier known to have been captured was Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, whose name is also spelled Ahmed Kousay Altaie, an Iraqi-born reserve soldier from Ann Arbor, Mich., who was abducted while visiting his Iraqi wife on Oct. 23 in Baghdad.
Sgt. Keith M. Maupin of Batavia, Ohio, was taken on April 9, 2004, after insurgents ambushed a fuel convoy. Two months later, a tape on Al-Jazeera purported to show a captive U.S. soldier being shot, but the Army ruled it was inconclusive proof of Maupin's death.
Both are still listed as missing.
We have been told that as the “surge” takes place there will be an uptick in violence as we take the fight to the insurgent terrorists, so this attack should be no surprise. They are rooting the rats out of their hiding places and so do not listen to the nightly newscasters who will surely portray this attack as another sign that we are failing instead of showing that the plan is working. It is sad that our troops die, but if they can end this insurgency then their deaths will not have been in vain. They will be remembered as the heroes that they are for they defend our country by fighting in a distant land. May their families know how that we grieve with them and mourn the loss of these brave young men.
According to the story a letter was sent to the council by Lisa Wathne, a captive exotic animal specialist who alleges that the show seriously mistreats the animals. She says in her letter that staffers with the show were untrained and intentionally cruel to several animals.
This from a group of well meaning whack jobs who believe that animals deserve not just equal treatment as humans, but better treatment than humans. They think that the major problem on this planet is the is the life form known as humans and that the planet would be better off without us. While that would indeed be a boon for the planet, but it would not be so hot for everyone of us. There is no logic in that form of thinking and that is why these people should be ignored.
I do not believe in being cruel to animals and believe everything should be done to make animals comfortable and respected, but the bottom line is that they are still animals. We use them for food sources, clothing, entertainment, companionship in some cases and that is the state of the world. PETA can do their boycotts, petitions, etc., but they are a crazy minority and should be treated accordingly.
There was a comment by Kevin Digmann, the Sycamore Mall Manager, that he had checked out this show which has performed at other malls across the country, and found no such abuses.
G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park, based in Wynnewood, Okla., is scheduled to produce its "Mystical Magic of the Endangered" show May 30 to June 3 at Sycamore Mall.
Jennifer Ross of Sycamore Mall's management said the show's feature act, Joe Exotic, will perform magic tricks to spread a message to school-age children about the dangers of drugs and drunken driving as well as the importance of saving the environment. The show features animals such as lions and tigers that people can pose with for photos for donations to benefit endangered animals.
The council will discuss the letter at its work session Monday and decide whether to discuss a new ordinance at later meetings, assistant city manager Dale Helling said.
I for one believe this is going to be a great show and plan to attend and support the people who care for such beautiful creatures, perhaps even get a photo with my astrological symbol; the Lion. How cool is that, I think way cool!! Let us all turn out and enjoy the show, and let PETA know that you can take care of animals and still enjoy them, without being a monster.
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In another story there have been more american deaths in Iraq. U.S. and Iraqi troops searched house-to-house and combed fields with their bare hands Saturday after American troops and their Iraqi interpreter came under attack in the notorious "triangle of death" south of Baghdad, leaving five dead and three missing.
The military said the patrol was struck in a pre-dawn explosion near Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad — an al-Qaeda area where two U.S. soldiers were found massacred after disappearing at a checkpoint nearly a year ago.
A nearby unit heard the blast and the search was launched after communication could not be established with the patrol, the military said. Shortly after the blast, a drone observed two burning vehicles.
An emergency response unit arrived at the scene and found five members of the team dead and three others missing.
Checkpoints were established throughout the area, while helicopters and jets buzzed overhead. AP Television News footage showed Iraqi soldiers picking through cattails and other weeds as they searched fields and canals for clues.
The military refused to specify whether the Iraqi interpreter was among those killed or missing and would not give more details about where the bodies were found.
One possible reason is that this interpreter could have been in collusion with the terrorists.
An Iraqi army officer who was familiar with the search said he saw five badly burned bodies inside a Humvee at the site, suggesting the remains may not have been recognizable. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to disclose the information.
He also said joint U.S.-Iraqi forces had sealed off the area and were conducting house-to-house searches, rounding up dozens of suspects. The military declined to comment on detentions but said troops were looking for suspects.
The Iraqi officer said U.S. troops singled out seven suspects out of as many as 50, including a wounded man who was hiding in a house and confessed to participating in the attack. He said most of the houses searched near the attack contained only women and children because the men had fled, fearing arrest.
The attack occurred at 4:44 a.m. about 12 miles west of Mahmoudiya, a town of about 65,000 in a Sunni area dubbed the "triangle of death" for the frequent attacks against Shiite civilians and U.S. and Iraqi forces.
It has been quite awhile since american soldiers have been kidnapped rather than killed. On June 16, 2006, two American soldiers — Pfc. Kristian Menchaca of Houston and Pfc. Thomas Tucker of Madras, Ore. — went missing after their Humvee was ambushed at a checkpoint near Youssifiyah, north of Mahmoudiya.
Their bodies were found days later, tied together with a bomb between one of the victim's legs. But the remains were not recovered until the next morning, after an Iraqi civilian warned that bombs had been planted in the area.
A third soldier, David J. Babineau, 25, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was found dead at the scene of the attack.
Also Saturday, the military announced the death of an American soldier from a bomb attack Friday near Iskandariyah, 30 miles south of Baghdad.
At least 30 Iraqis were reported killed or found dead elsewhere in Iraq, including a Sunni physician shot to death on his way home from work in the northern city of Mosul.
The last U.S. soldier known to have been captured was Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie, whose name is also spelled Ahmed Kousay Altaie, an Iraqi-born reserve soldier from Ann Arbor, Mich., who was abducted while visiting his Iraqi wife on Oct. 23 in Baghdad.
Sgt. Keith M. Maupin of Batavia, Ohio, was taken on April 9, 2004, after insurgents ambushed a fuel convoy. Two months later, a tape on Al-Jazeera purported to show a captive U.S. soldier being shot, but the Army ruled it was inconclusive proof of Maupin's death.
Both are still listed as missing.
We have been told that as the “surge” takes place there will be an uptick in violence as we take the fight to the insurgent terrorists, so this attack should be no surprise. They are rooting the rats out of their hiding places and so do not listen to the nightly newscasters who will surely portray this attack as another sign that we are failing instead of showing that the plan is working. It is sad that our troops die, but if they can end this insurgency then their deaths will not have been in vain. They will be remembered as the heroes that they are for they defend our country by fighting in a distant land. May their families know how that we grieve with them and mourn the loss of these brave young men.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Veto Part Deux
We are going to revisit the Bush veto as we heard from the President and the nonsense that the Democrats are going to pull by only funding the troops until July is not going to go anywhere.
The warnings came as Gates also told reporters that his evaluation of force levels in Iraq in September will not lead to a rapid troop withdrawal, and that at least some U.S. forces are likely to be in Iraq for a protracted period of time.
He said he didn't know if it will take 25,000 troops or another number, but it would probably include intelligence officers, logistical support and air power, and they would be needed to maintain stability in the war-wracked country.
"The evaluation in September will not lead to a precipitous decision or actions, but would point us in a new direction ... either because the surge is working, or because the evaluation is that it's not," said Gates. Earlier Wednesday he told senators he would consider reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq in the fall if the Iraqi government begins to make progress.
The developments occurred as officials disclosed that 11 moderate House Republicans had met unannounced with the president and top aides at the White House on Tuesday. Several participants described a remarkably blunt discussion in which lawmakers told the president the war was unsustainable without public support and was having a corrosive effect on GOP political fortunes.
Rep. Charles Dent of Pennsylvania said he told the president that many of his constituents are "impatient, and in some cases have a sense of futility" about the war.
Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia said he presented recent polling data from his suburban Washington district showing Bush's unfavorability ratings exceeded his approval ratings.
"We asked them what's Plan B. We let them know that the status quo is not acceptable," he said. Davis said the president responded that if he began discussing a new strategy, the current one would never have a chance to succeed.
Defiant Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, wrestled with how to support the troops but still challenge Bush on the war. Bush has requested more than $90 billion to sustain the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September.
"With this latest veto threat, the president has once again chosen confrontation over cooperation," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
House Democratic leaders are pushing legislation that would provide the military $42.8 billion to keep operations going through July, buy new equipment and train Iraqi and Afghan security forces. Congress would decide shortly before its August recess whether to release an additional $52.8 billion to fund the war through September.
"In essence, the bill asks me to run the Department of Defense like a skiff, and I'm trying to drive the biggest supertanker in the world," Gates told senators Wednesday. "And we just don't have the agility to be able to manage a two-month appropriation very well."
The veto threat came from White House spokesman Tony Snow, traveling aboard Air Force One with Bush to tour tornado damage in Kansas.
"There are restrictions on funding and there are also some of the spending items that were mentioned in the first veto message that are still in the bill," Snow said.
House members planned a vote Thursday, just two days after David Obey , D-Wis., chairman of the Appropriations Committee, briefed White House chief of staff Josh Bolten on the plan.
The stern White House response reflected the high stakes involved for Bush, who is struggling to beat back congressional skepticism about his Iraq strategy. In recent days, Bush has tried to shore up support by personally reaching out to moderate Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats face their own uphill battle. Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., say they want to provide troops the resources they need. But other Democrats are pushing to cut off funds for the unpopular and costly war.
Democratic leaders acknowledge the new Iraq bill might pass in the House only to sink in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slimmer majority and are more reluctant than their House counterparts to restrict war funds.
In testimony before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Gates left open the possibility of bringing troops home soon, even as the Pentagon orders deployments that could maintain a buildup of U.S. forces in Iraq through the end of the year.
"If (we) see some very positive progress and it looks like things are heading in the right direction, then that's the point at which I think we can begin to consider reducing some of those forces," Gates said.
Senators pressed Gates on when a decision will be made.
"What are the prospects for having some light at the end of the tunnel, to see some encouragement which would enable the Congress to have the fortitude to support the president and go beyond September and the full funding of the $500 billion?" asked Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa.
Gates replied: "I think that the honest answer is, senator, that I don't know."
Gates told the panel that proposals for a short-term funding bill would be very disruptive and "have a huge impact" on contracts to repair and replace equipment. And if Congress votes in July to pull the plug on war funding, "I would have to shut down significant elements of the Department of Defense in August and September because I wouldn't have the money to pay salaries."
So we can see by this turn of events that they should not even waste our time to play more political games. The troops have already been treated with such contempt and disrespect by the Democrats over this issue that there should be no more showboating.
I sent an email to Hillary Clinton over her recent remarks to undo the war and told her in no uncertain terms that a once strong supporter is no longer a supporter. She is humiliating herself by kowtowing to the hollywood elite cowards and the far left nut bags who think you can reason with the terrorists. They want to kill us! Do not let yourselves believe that if we surrender and leave Iraq that these people will stop killing americans. Just the opposite will be the effect. There will be open season on all of us and this time they’ll be coming to our homes to kill us, not on the other side of the world.
There are brave men and women trying to keep that from happening and they deserve our support and the funding that they will need to see this through to a successful, stable Iraq.
Write your representatives and Senators and tell them to stop disrespecting the troops and fund them. If they want to fight with Bush that is fine, but not on the backs of our troops in harm’s way.
The warnings came as Gates also told reporters that his evaluation of force levels in Iraq in September will not lead to a rapid troop withdrawal, and that at least some U.S. forces are likely to be in Iraq for a protracted period of time.
He said he didn't know if it will take 25,000 troops or another number, but it would probably include intelligence officers, logistical support and air power, and they would be needed to maintain stability in the war-wracked country.
"The evaluation in September will not lead to a precipitous decision or actions, but would point us in a new direction ... either because the surge is working, or because the evaluation is that it's not," said Gates. Earlier Wednesday he told senators he would consider reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq in the fall if the Iraqi government begins to make progress.
The developments occurred as officials disclosed that 11 moderate House Republicans had met unannounced with the president and top aides at the White House on Tuesday. Several participants described a remarkably blunt discussion in which lawmakers told the president the war was unsustainable without public support and was having a corrosive effect on GOP political fortunes.
Rep. Charles Dent of Pennsylvania said he told the president that many of his constituents are "impatient, and in some cases have a sense of futility" about the war.
Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia said he presented recent polling data from his suburban Washington district showing Bush's unfavorability ratings exceeded his approval ratings.
"We asked them what's Plan B. We let them know that the status quo is not acceptable," he said. Davis said the president responded that if he began discussing a new strategy, the current one would never have a chance to succeed.
Defiant Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, wrestled with how to support the troops but still challenge Bush on the war. Bush has requested more than $90 billion to sustain the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through September.
"With this latest veto threat, the president has once again chosen confrontation over cooperation," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
House Democratic leaders are pushing legislation that would provide the military $42.8 billion to keep operations going through July, buy new equipment and train Iraqi and Afghan security forces. Congress would decide shortly before its August recess whether to release an additional $52.8 billion to fund the war through September.
"In essence, the bill asks me to run the Department of Defense like a skiff, and I'm trying to drive the biggest supertanker in the world," Gates told senators Wednesday. "And we just don't have the agility to be able to manage a two-month appropriation very well."
The veto threat came from White House spokesman Tony Snow, traveling aboard Air Force One with Bush to tour tornado damage in Kansas.
"There are restrictions on funding and there are also some of the spending items that were mentioned in the first veto message that are still in the bill," Snow said.
House members planned a vote Thursday, just two days after David Obey , D-Wis., chairman of the Appropriations Committee, briefed White House chief of staff Josh Bolten on the plan.
The stern White House response reflected the high stakes involved for Bush, who is struggling to beat back congressional skepticism about his Iraq strategy. In recent days, Bush has tried to shore up support by personally reaching out to moderate Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats face their own uphill battle. Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., say they want to provide troops the resources they need. But other Democrats are pushing to cut off funds for the unpopular and costly war.
Democratic leaders acknowledge the new Iraq bill might pass in the House only to sink in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slimmer majority and are more reluctant than their House counterparts to restrict war funds.
In testimony before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Gates left open the possibility of bringing troops home soon, even as the Pentagon orders deployments that could maintain a buildup of U.S. forces in Iraq through the end of the year.
"If (we) see some very positive progress and it looks like things are heading in the right direction, then that's the point at which I think we can begin to consider reducing some of those forces," Gates said.
Senators pressed Gates on when a decision will be made.
"What are the prospects for having some light at the end of the tunnel, to see some encouragement which would enable the Congress to have the fortitude to support the president and go beyond September and the full funding of the $500 billion?" asked Sen. Arlen Specter , R-Pa.
Gates replied: "I think that the honest answer is, senator, that I don't know."
Gates told the panel that proposals for a short-term funding bill would be very disruptive and "have a huge impact" on contracts to repair and replace equipment. And if Congress votes in July to pull the plug on war funding, "I would have to shut down significant elements of the Department of Defense in August and September because I wouldn't have the money to pay salaries."
So we can see by this turn of events that they should not even waste our time to play more political games. The troops have already been treated with such contempt and disrespect by the Democrats over this issue that there should be no more showboating.
I sent an email to Hillary Clinton over her recent remarks to undo the war and told her in no uncertain terms that a once strong supporter is no longer a supporter. She is humiliating herself by kowtowing to the hollywood elite cowards and the far left nut bags who think you can reason with the terrorists. They want to kill us! Do not let yourselves believe that if we surrender and leave Iraq that these people will stop killing americans. Just the opposite will be the effect. There will be open season on all of us and this time they’ll be coming to our homes to kill us, not on the other side of the world.
There are brave men and women trying to keep that from happening and they deserve our support and the funding that they will need to see this through to a successful, stable Iraq.
Write your representatives and Senators and tell them to stop disrespecting the troops and fund them. If they want to fight with Bush that is fine, but not on the backs of our troops in harm’s way.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Illegals Get Violent And No Veto Override
As promised illegals were out protesting our laws and demanding citizenship now! That is correct, they were not asking for citizenship, they were demanding it and in some places like Los Angeles things got violent as they threw bottles and rocks at police and were dealt with accordingly, by police breaking up the rallies and arresting many of the violent illegals.
The rallies were smaller then last year, perhaps because someone noticed that many of the illegals did not have jobs when they went back the day after the rallies last year. They may have also noticed that then citizens of this country were angry that these illegals would flaunt our laws and demand rights they were not deserving of. The only ones who want the illegals here are the politicians who view them as a future voting block, the companies that can exploit the cheap labor and the farmers who could not harvest their crops without the illegals.
The President is trying to show some leadership on this issue now, but it is far too late and far too little. His view is the same as the democrats on this issue, they both want amnesty by any other name and get these new citizens registered as quickly as possible. The only way to get anything accomplished is to do nothing for now. We must get our leaders to enforce current laws before giving away citizenship to everyone like it does not mean anything. As I mentioned before every employer should face jail terms for employing illegals and it should not matter whether they knowingly hired them or not. If their was jail time even for a first time offense these employers would make extra certain that they were not employing illegals. In addition, there should be large rewards offered for anyone who turns in an illegal to authorities. Also all law enforcement from local, state and federal should have as their mandate to arrest all illegals and they should be held until they are deported, no more catch and release policies should be allowed. Any cities that choose to be sanctuary cities should have all state and federal funds cut off, and any state that does not follow suit and cut funds should have all of their federal grants and funds stopped. This is a war and we need to start fighting it on all fronts before they get any stronger a hold on our politicians and our economy.
Now on to another immediate issue and that is the funding for the troops bill, which the President vetoed and I just saw the House of Representatives did not have enough votes to override the veto. So now perhaps the Mullahs Reid and Pelosi can stop catering to their Al-Queda supporters and try and take care of the young men and women who are fighting and dying for these ungrateful assholes. Pass a bill funding the troops without any of your defeatist come running home timetables or pork that is for your supporters back home. Just pass the damn bill that they need and fight with the President over bringing the troops home in another forum. It should not be on the backs of our brave troops.
Anyone with any sensibility or compassion for our young men and women fighting in Iraq needs to put pen to paper or email or call their representatives in both houses of Congress and send a very serious message that we want this taken care of and done so without anymore showboating or sending veto bound bills, when these troops are already feeling the pain of war . It is not right and should be allowed to continue any longer than it already has taken.
It still gets me that these supposed leaders can give aid and comfort to the enemy and not suffer any consequences whatsoever. How can this happen in our country which has fought so hard for the rights of people around the world to have such gutless leaders in these positions of power. I find offense every time they utter a word about how they are trying to help the troops in their own way. They say it so often I think they believe it, but we know that it is just so much bullshit. They even said the other day that this would lead to them gaining more seats in the next election. If this is only about seats and elections it is a very sad day for our country. There was a time when leaders did what was right not just expedient to play to the worst in our people, but to the best. Those days are long gone and it will be the death of this once great nation. Destroyed internally by the very leaders who are supposed to protect her. I am ashamed of these fellow americans and wish they would hang with their fellow travelers in the caves of Afghanistan, or the secret hiding places of their Al-Queda cohorts in Iraq and Iran. Please stop portraying what you are doing as being patriotic, it is anything but patriotic and is more accurately sedition and treason and you shall someday be judged for your words and actions to assist our enemies.
I hope that the President can find someway to get enough of the house of representatives and the Senators in the Senate to bring forth a pure funding bill which can be passed and signed quickly and after that have a real dialogue with them about how and when our troops can leave with at least some chance for the Iraqi people to have a legitimate government and something close to peace with their fellow citizens. It will be rough, but we should give them every opportunity to have some semblance of a normal life. We could then leave with dignity and respect and perhaps with a friend in that region of the world. They deserve this one last chance at stabilization and we should be proud of what we have done to foster democracy, even if it is not our type of democracy. In a part of the world that does not know that word it will be nice if they can get together for the betterment of their whole country and can be an example for others.
May God Bless our troops in harms way everywhere in the world today and always!!
The rallies were smaller then last year, perhaps because someone noticed that many of the illegals did not have jobs when they went back the day after the rallies last year. They may have also noticed that then citizens of this country were angry that these illegals would flaunt our laws and demand rights they were not deserving of. The only ones who want the illegals here are the politicians who view them as a future voting block, the companies that can exploit the cheap labor and the farmers who could not harvest their crops without the illegals.
The President is trying to show some leadership on this issue now, but it is far too late and far too little. His view is the same as the democrats on this issue, they both want amnesty by any other name and get these new citizens registered as quickly as possible. The only way to get anything accomplished is to do nothing for now. We must get our leaders to enforce current laws before giving away citizenship to everyone like it does not mean anything. As I mentioned before every employer should face jail terms for employing illegals and it should not matter whether they knowingly hired them or not. If their was jail time even for a first time offense these employers would make extra certain that they were not employing illegals. In addition, there should be large rewards offered for anyone who turns in an illegal to authorities. Also all law enforcement from local, state and federal should have as their mandate to arrest all illegals and they should be held until they are deported, no more catch and release policies should be allowed. Any cities that choose to be sanctuary cities should have all state and federal funds cut off, and any state that does not follow suit and cut funds should have all of their federal grants and funds stopped. This is a war and we need to start fighting it on all fronts before they get any stronger a hold on our politicians and our economy.
Now on to another immediate issue and that is the funding for the troops bill, which the President vetoed and I just saw the House of Representatives did not have enough votes to override the veto. So now perhaps the Mullahs Reid and Pelosi can stop catering to their Al-Queda supporters and try and take care of the young men and women who are fighting and dying for these ungrateful assholes. Pass a bill funding the troops without any of your defeatist come running home timetables or pork that is for your supporters back home. Just pass the damn bill that they need and fight with the President over bringing the troops home in another forum. It should not be on the backs of our brave troops.
Anyone with any sensibility or compassion for our young men and women fighting in Iraq needs to put pen to paper or email or call their representatives in both houses of Congress and send a very serious message that we want this taken care of and done so without anymore showboating or sending veto bound bills, when these troops are already feeling the pain of war . It is not right and should be allowed to continue any longer than it already has taken.
It still gets me that these supposed leaders can give aid and comfort to the enemy and not suffer any consequences whatsoever. How can this happen in our country which has fought so hard for the rights of people around the world to have such gutless leaders in these positions of power. I find offense every time they utter a word about how they are trying to help the troops in their own way. They say it so often I think they believe it, but we know that it is just so much bullshit. They even said the other day that this would lead to them gaining more seats in the next election. If this is only about seats and elections it is a very sad day for our country. There was a time when leaders did what was right not just expedient to play to the worst in our people, but to the best. Those days are long gone and it will be the death of this once great nation. Destroyed internally by the very leaders who are supposed to protect her. I am ashamed of these fellow americans and wish they would hang with their fellow travelers in the caves of Afghanistan, or the secret hiding places of their Al-Queda cohorts in Iraq and Iran. Please stop portraying what you are doing as being patriotic, it is anything but patriotic and is more accurately sedition and treason and you shall someday be judged for your words and actions to assist our enemies.
I hope that the President can find someway to get enough of the house of representatives and the Senators in the Senate to bring forth a pure funding bill which can be passed and signed quickly and after that have a real dialogue with them about how and when our troops can leave with at least some chance for the Iraqi people to have a legitimate government and something close to peace with their fellow citizens. It will be rough, but we should give them every opportunity to have some semblance of a normal life. We could then leave with dignity and respect and perhaps with a friend in that region of the world. They deserve this one last chance at stabilization and we should be proud of what we have done to foster democracy, even if it is not our type of democracy. In a part of the world that does not know that word it will be nice if they can get together for the betterment of their whole country and can be an example for others.
May God Bless our troops in harms way everywhere in the world today and always!!
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