Another "bullshit" I'd like someone to call Bush on: "If America were to pull out before Iraq could defend itself, the consequences would be absolutely predictable, and absolutely disastrous. We would be handing Iraq over to our worst enemies -- Saddam's former henchmen, armed groups with ties to Iran, and al-Qaida terrorists from all over the world who would suddenly have a base of operations far more valuable than Afghanistan under the Taliban." --Bush today in Salt Lake City, courtesy AP.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, Iraq needs to be able to defend itself? Where is the effort to create an efficient, sizable Air Force? The Mideast is a festering pool of nations often at each other's throats. From one month to the next you're subject to attack by most of your neighbors. Has Bush initiated the sale or loaning of heavy artillary, short range missiles, mechanized infantry, ground radar and all the other items needed to, as he puts it, "defend itself"? Where are the training programs for advanced fighter pilots? Where are their jets and munitions? Certainly the only threat to Iraq isn't one that can be deterred with small arms and ground soldiers. Exactly what kind of army is it we're standing up so that we may stand down? It doesn't appear to be one capable of fending off the organized, armed military of many of its neighbors. Why isn't someone prominent crying "bullshit" on this canard?
Amen we need to keep hammering these items not only on the political stage but also in your everyday coversations with people,spread the word.
Also Rocky Anderson for President!!!!!!!!!!
"It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century."
He's right about that, anyway. Except the ideological struggle is the one where the PNACers are proved to be the idiots they are.
Posted by donna at August 31, 2006 10:07 AMWe need to follow that disgusting sham of a man, Rumdrunk with Power, around with that picture of him and Hussein shaking hands, like they did the kiss of joe and bush.
If anything would put the lie to these repulsive speeches he's making, it would be that evidence of his own appeasement and moral confusion.
And why aren't the Democratic LEADERS gettin in his grill on that everyday? Why do bloggers like Bloglord Soto have to carry their water while they tremble at the thought of confrontation?
That's why you get to be a leader, by leading, WHEN THE TIME COMES. You can sit around on your asses doing nothing, but when the time comes to do what you, and only you, are in the unique position to do, then you better get busy.
Or get out of the way.
Posted by Duckman GR at August 31, 2006 10:16 AMA post this well thought out deserves the attention of all of us linking to it wherever we go today. It's not enough to just applaud anymore.
Posted by mainsailset at August 31, 2006 10:23 AMI don't know who authored this thread, but whoever you are, send a copy to the DNC, Reid, Le Hill, et al, and tell them to take notice.
Posted by Christopher at August 31, 2006 10:47 AMThat was inspiring. With all the crap from this administration, I sometimes forget how things might be with a decent leader and congress. You actually spelled out a plan, something the democrats seem so reluctant to do. And it sounds like a good one at that.
Posted by CG at August 31, 2006 10:55 AMAny motherfucking wingnazi repeats this shit in my presence, they swallow teeth.
Posted by God Of War at August 31, 2006 11:05 AMSteve Soto, and you are absolutely correct.
So when you're over at dkos or Atrios or Liberal Oasis or low and left, toss in the link.
It's strategy Democratic Leaders need to start taking. Like I said, we're carrying their water so much of the time, we might need to change from the Donkey to the Camel, which of course would really cement our status as islamowhatever lovers.
It's about time Democratic Leadership started pulling their own weight. Koresh, we fund them, push them, give them our best and brightest to work for them, the least they can do is their g-d jobs, don't you think?
Posted by at August 31, 2006 11:12 AMDOES ANYONE THINL DEMOCRATS WILL DEAL WITH THIS BS? DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.
Posted by GG at August 31, 2006 11:17 AMDemocratic Congress will require the White House to convene through the UN a regional security and economic development conference next year under existing UN resolutions
I'm not entirely sure this would fly, from a constitutional standpoint, but it's a good idea anyway.
Posted by dj moonbat at August 31, 2006 11:23 AMKeith Olberman = 1000 democrats.
So far the chimp's latest PR campaign is enjoying the same great results as the push for Harriet Meyers and private accounts.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 31, 2006 11:28 AMDemocrats should not shy away from *ANY* debates.
*ESPECIALLY* *THIS* *ONE*
Posted by Chris at August 31, 2006 11:44 AMSteve, brilliant post.
It should be sent to the DNC, DCCC and DSCC - in its entirety.
They would do well to pay attention to the blogosphere.
Posted by Anjha at August 31, 2006 11:48 AMSteve- Where are the funds for arming the Iraqi Army coming from? I know that US Tax payers are paying to train them but who is bearing the expense for building this army and what are the costs? What appropriation bill address this?
Posted by Lanny Rhoads at August 31, 2006 11:53 AMSo far the chimp's latest PR campaign is enjoying the same great results as the push for Harriet Meyers and private accounts.
And yet this lateset PR campaign is going to cost the taxpayers $20m:
WASHINGTON -- U.S. military leaders in Baghdad have put out for bid a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for extensive monitoring of U.S. and Middle Eastern media in an effort to promote more positive coverage of news from Iraq.
Fiscal conservatives, my ass.
Posted by ann at August 31, 2006 11:55 AMMy computer screen didn't load fully and now I see Steve is the author. Great post, Steve.
Posted by Christopher at August 31, 2006 11:56 AMSteve, I've been here for little over a year now, this is one of your strongest post to date! Excellent!
Everyone, please, pass this on!
Posted by Seven of Six at August 31, 2006 12:15 PMIdeological struggle...you mean against Islamofascism? Why do they think we are that stupid here. Hello Mr. Bush.... the Hussein ruled Iraq was a secular gov't that supressed the practice of Islamic religion (you know the one that Junior declares is part of the most important struggle in the 21st century)....remember those mass graves filled with Shia? And now, look who is in power in that country. So essentially Bush is saying we invaded Iraq to liberate the people we now need to fight.
And yes that Hussein Handshaking Rummy picture needs to be trotted out at every chance.
ann, there's a post at Huffpo (by Arianna)that mentions Rummy's speech the other day and within it a fact that he admits what keeps him up at night is these "media committees" these islamic groups use that he says lie with impunity and spread all sorts of propaganda and how we need media to counteract it. (must be why they are spending 20 million on new media). Yup that is what keeps him up all night, not any troop deaths). He's blaming the media for all of our problems. Rummy must have forgotten his old adage about war. You go to War with the media committees you have not the one's you wish you had Rummy.
Worst. Adminstration. Ever.
Well, that's it then: The Return of Fascism and the Outbreak of World War III is the long awaited Fall Offensive, just as the Neocons wanted.
The heavy artillery has opened up, the dive bombers have flown over the lines and the panzer divisions have concentrated in their jumping off points. The assault commmences:
Nero jr: "Terrorists are the successors to fascists, to Nazis, to communists and other totalitarians of the 20th century....[they form] a single movement, a worldwide network of radicals...the unifying feature of the movement is the rigid conviction that free societies are a threat to their twisted view of Islam."
"This war will be difficult. [especially with Deadeye Dick running the show] This war will be long. [at least as long as there is oil in the ME] And this war will end with the defeat of the terrorists." Rousing cheer from the aging Legionaires.
Whew! I was worried that we wouldn't have an ongoing perpetual ideological struggle to keep our military at its absurd levels for the next century---thank God Republicans are here to find our next unending military struggle!
An appallingly stupid message for an appallingly stupid people. Are all islamic opponents of American hegemony "terrorists"?
Please identify who is not a "terrorist":
--Al Qaeda
--Taliban
--Saddam
--Iraqi sunni Baathists
--Iraqi sunni nationalists, militias
--Iraqi shi'ite militias
--Kurdish sunni nationalists
--Syrian Baathists
--Hamas and other palestianian groups
--Hezbollah
--Iranian shi'ites
Are they all "terrorists"? Are we in an ideological struggle with all of them? (They are all muslims, after all)
These wildly disparate groups, most of whom oppose each other and have no communications with each other, are "a single movement, a worldwide network of radicals", all sharing the single political goal that "free societies are a threat to their twisted view of Islam?" That what our dear Nero is saying (or seems to be saying within his intentionally vague, cloudy "framework").
Well, so much for "realism" and nuance in foreign policy or hoping the grownups would somehow take charge. The professionals and experts are probably in a coma after this "speech", or are puking their guts up in the can.
America: Have we bitten off more than we can already chew, or should we be trying to cram some hot dogs into our mouth?
Posted by euzoius at August 31, 2006 12:57 PMThey are paying the trolls $20 million?
That whitehouse basement might not be so damp after all.
Posted by TIKI AL at August 31, 2006 01:02 PMThe Dems need a leader, or two, that can serve as point people then they just need to stop fencing with the Bush/Rove propaganda machine and start clearly setting out the Dem positions on the issues. None of it will be reported in the Media, of course, but it will make us blogsters happy. I see the entire Bush/Rove/Cheney Administration/Operation as one giant Troll, and we all continue to feed them. Lets just ignore their B.S.
Posted by T2 at August 31, 2006 01:11 PMI've got this linked to my Wash State Dem site, Cantwell & Murray, come on folks let's give this post wings! Everybody pitch in!
Posted by mainsailset at August 31, 2006 01:23 PMThe Dems in congress are as inept as this administration.They sqandered away the opprtunities like Abu-Ghareb in the past. Do not expect them to show some guts at this time. Let us vote Independant candidates in office. Both the Reps and Dems are useless.
Posted by suresh at August 31, 2006 01:25 PMann, there's a post at Huffpo (by Arianna)that mentions Rummy's speech the other day and within it a fact that he admits what keeps him up at night is these "media committees" these islamic groups use that he says lie with impunity and spread all sorts of propaganda and how we need media to counteract it.
Oy, $20m so Rummy can sleep better? And let me get this straight: $20m for propaganda in Iraq - it's not even for U.S. citizens. Jesus flippin' Christ - are these people for real? $20m to try to convince the Iraqis that we aren't the bad guys even though we're occupying their country and killing/raping/maiming Iraqi civilians? This is so desperately pathetic.
Posted by ann at August 31, 2006 01:38 PMThe $20m PR offensive is a perfect representation of this administration's mindset: All politics, no government. It essentially says, 'We have s#*t to sell, so please help us make a tasty looking s#*t sandwich.'
Thus, their attempt to make their own reality ignores the age old common sense dictum 'you can't polish a turd.'
does anyone remember the actual soldiers fighting this thing. ask a typical joe, e2-e5 what he thinks of this and you'd be surprised. "they fcuking voted, they want us out, why the fcuk are we still there." i guess, i have the opportunity to hear what they really think. on the way home, i saw "fcuk bush," written on a wall. to quote dean, we went from the most respected country to the most feared country under this administration. wtf? a war on islamofascisim? how many times are we going to let them reframe this. our boys are dying over there, and all we get are more soundbites, shellgames, and name calling from our friends on the right. i posted a couple days back, give me a new idea. there isn't one. if your house smells like shit, giving it a fresh coat of paint won't make the smell of shit go away.
Posted by anthony at August 31, 2006 02:00 PMstv, chck ths lnk:
http://www.brsschcktv.cm/ndx.html
scrll dwn t 'mrdr f JFK: Bsh fmly cnnctns,' rght sd, twrd th bttm. Y mst wtch ths vd f bt 1.5 hrs. Th rsrch s xcllnt, nd wll gv y sm bckgrnd t yr bv pstd bsrvtns. Th nvstgtn s nt xhstv, n trms f th sclgy, bt fcsd.
vryn, pls wrk thrgh th svrl hstrcl vds n th bv lnk f y hvn't lrdy. Th mr w knw, th bttr.
[Editor: ignore=off]Debate? I could have sworn it was an address to a friendly audience of hawks, (parade day Hollywood Marine types who never cracked an egg). "They also serve that only stand and wait" including ANG draft dodgers but nothing like the ones who face the enemie's guns, IEDs and suicide attackers.
If it's a debate he wants then he need look no farther than the "boots" on the ground in Iraq where combat fatigue is epedimic. They voulinteered alright but hell wasn't listed as a duty station when they did it.
Posted by Bill at August 31, 2006 04:30 PMSimple fact since 9/11 we have not suffeed an attack on US soil. Prior to we suffered 3 atttacks on US soil.
1. WTC 93 (Democratic president)NO action taken
2. Bombings in Nairobi, Kenya
and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania --
August 7, 1998 ( Again No action )
3. USS Cole attacked (No Actin taken)
Result embolden terrorists
Conclusion Clinton sucked on Defense like she did in the oval office.
Now if FDR was still alive or even Truman I would be voting for them but since it appears to me that the democrats today have no spine and only sem to critize the current efforts and their only plan seems to say that their is a better way I guess I will vote to to keeep a Republican majority in place unless the democrats articulate a viable option. Something that has a chance of suceeding not some liberal feel good shit about talking to them and taking their feelings into account.
Posted by Avenger D-22 at August 31, 2006 04:33 PMYes! The war on terror is like the war against the Nazi. No! The Nazi were not parasites that used other people's terrotory. Yes! Lots of Americans saw the Nazi as just another political party. No! They were the first to change their minds.
Al-qaida, Hezbollah, Hamas, the lot of them are not poilitcal organizations. They are religious organizations, Islamic extremeists that hide among moderate Islamics. Nazi were extremeists that hid among moderate Germans. They have that in common and to defeat Islamic extremeism one must defeat moderate Islamics as well as had to be done to defeat the Nazi.
A man who says, "go to your churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and pray" - GW Bush, 9-11-2001, is not qualified to lead in a war that can only be won by the destruction of a religion. Interesting how Americans had no quams about killing German women and children but are horrified at the thought of killing Muslim women and children. The Nazi were supported by the German women and children. Islamic extremists are supported by Muslim women and children.
You figure it out. Either we do nothing and keep on the same road that leads to a Muslim only world or do something about it.
The first step is to recognize that the Muslim people are victims of a hoax. Hitler hoaxed the people of Germany. Muhammad did not get divine guidance and neither did Moses. Joseph Smith anyone? http://www.hoax-buster.org Perhaps the Mislims can come to their senses before another 100 plane raid to destroy their homes becomes necessary.
Posted by Bill at August 31, 2006 04:52 PMAvenger, thinking is hard, and you're extremely factually challenged spending all your time at right wing internet shit troughs, but what Democrat is arguing that Al Qaeda (the organization that carried out those attacks) should be combatted by "talking to them and taking their feelings into account"?
Please name some names for us.
And BTW a died-in-the-wool authoritarian rightist like you would have done exactly as you were told by the "conservatives" of the day and voted against the pinko lib'rul FDR and commie-coddling Truman, so don't flatter (fool) yourself that you could ever think clearly or independently.
Posted by euzoius at August 31, 2006 05:03 PMBill---oy, what a pile of baseless, bellicose, incoherent nonsense.
Posted by euzoius at August 31, 2006 05:07 PMeuzoius, Bill is the anti-scout. Yin and yang, baby!
Posted by iamcoyote at August 31, 2006 05:24 PMAvenger writes: "1. WTC 93 (Democratic president)NO action taken"
Hey there..where's Ramzi Yousef, the planner behind the WTC bombing? oh, he was prosecuted and found guilty and is now in jail in Colorado. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramzi_Yousef
No countries bombed and no dead american soldiers.
Posted by akrnyc@yahoo.com at August 31, 2006 05:30 PMGood post and so true.
Salt Lake City, Utah mayor slams 'dishonest, war-mongering' Bush
The Raw story has it all with the transcript from the Utah Tribune.
Mayor tells it like it this.
It's funny Avenger D-22 (erroneously) says nothing happened to the bombers of the Cole. The Cole bombers were sentenced to death in '04.
What's more, the Cole bombing happened in mid-October 2000. If Bush was so hellbent on fighting Al Qaeda, unlike that slacker Clinton, why not immediately attack Yemen in January when he took office? What a pussy.
Posted by dj moonbat at August 31, 2006 08:44 PMakrnyc:
Hey there..where's Ramzi Yousef, the planner behind the WTC bombing? oh, he was prosecuted and found guilty and is now in jail in Colorado.
And there is the perfect example of why liberal retards are not to be trusted with our national security: because they mistake warmaking for mere criminality.
You know who started all of our troubles in the Muslim Middle East? Jimmy Carter. Because he was a worthless snatch on the job who wouldn't put the fear of God and the USAF into the hearts of those Persian rug merchants when he had the chance ---and the duty. Put another limp fish like that into the White House again and we're likely to elect Dr. Doom the next time out, you dumb symps.
Posted by Toby Petzold at August 31, 2006 10:37 PMJimmy Carter. You ignoramus. That's an O'Reilly, Rush, Coulter etc meme based on the infantile/racist omnipotence fantasy that no matter how many governments are overthrown, ruthless dictators propped up, and myopic, short-term "interests" served, that there will never be an organized counter-reaction.
If you're so good at putting "the fear of God" into people, maybe you should get your ass over there, you little Likudnik pussy.
You know who started all of our troubles in the Muslim Middle East? Jimmy Carter.
No, it was Harry Truman. Once we signed on to the Zionist program, the rest of this shit was largely preordained.
Posted by dj moonbat at September 1, 2006 10:22 AMjondee:
Jimmy Carter. You ignoramus. That's an O'Reilly, Rush, Coulter etc meme based on the infantile/racist omnipotence fantasy that no matter how many governments are overthrown, ruthless dictators propped up, and myopic, short-term "interests" served, that there will never be an organized counter-reaction.
The name ---or idea?--- of Jimmy Carter as a right-wing meme? I like that. A lot. Thanks.
Posted by Toby Petzold at September 1, 2006 12:08 PMCindy Sheehan
Posted by Avenger D-22 at September 1, 2006 03:34 PM