Joint Chiefs Chair Warns Obama & Clinton on Iraq

Who cares? It’s costing way to much to keep it “stable.”
Get out before we are completely …..ed

First order of business on 1/21/09 – replace Mullen

Hey can anyone tell me how can MCCain poll so high in the GE if the republicans are voting with us

lol
Jim’ you are funny”
I am employing the gov to listen to my g.o.d.’s plan if they did they could pay for ten”
Of those Iraq war’s rebuild them all and still leave us smelling like Saints as a nation under god;’

“Bishop”
It’s a Clinton conspiracy. Just ask any Obama supporter. It’s all her fault.

Whatever the generals believe I trust Hillary to do the right thing. Obama has no idea what he is doing in what has to do with Foreign Policy. He thinks the President of the United States, the leader of the Free World is at the same level as Dictators…Pathetic

Gains? Please explain. Exactly what have we gained, or hope to gain, in Iraq that would even come close to justifying the one million innocent lives lost (men, women, and children) including our brave warriors? There is no honor to be gained from a dishonorable invasion and all the patriotic smoke grenades in the world will not hide this truth.

Well, what is the alternative?? Stay until we go bankrupt?? There has been a virtual news blackout towards any information from Iraq. We don’t have a clue to when the Iraqi military can do the job. If we leave right away, yes things might go crazy but how much longer can we keep the military deployed??

I love it. I wonder how the media will ‘damage controll’ all this in the general election. Not only will the GOP do anything to continue winning in Iraq to help Mc Cain, certainly all the military commanders will as well.
Cmon Obama backed media -SPIN IT. Obama should goto Iraq and tell all the people about ‘hope and dreams’ ……then pull out all the troops …….LOL

blank – i think we can quote the great BILLY MADISON in saying “what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought.”
You say 9/11 could happen again if Barack was voted in? Well you know what, If Bush actually paid ANY attention to the NUMEROUS reports about Osama and the threat of planes being used to attack our country, it would have NEVER happend in the first place.
Bush has used 9/11 as an EXCUSE to go into war in Iraq, even though NOT ONE of the attackers was from Iraq. Barack will go after the REAL TARGET – OSAMA. Something that should have been priority number 1, seven years ago.

McCain/Rumsfeld in 08
Experience to Die For. Let’s keep fighting. Withdrawing from Iraq = surrender. Iraq will be stable and safe in no time. Hang in there another decade folks. 12 billion per month spent in Iraq is not needed in America.The Bush economy is doing fine. We need more tax cuts, but, this time, let’s make them for the even-richer.
Iraq = good. Question it and you are a traitor. McCain/Rumsfeld. What me worry?

i’m sure Clinton will get us out of Iraq in a timely fashion and help the Iraqi’s return to their country and build a great nation..

AJ
…and we thought that was Obama…lol

I would think that the Admirals tone will change once a new administration is in place. The current one is very vindictive and has no problems tossing out career officers who’s assessment of the situation runs counter to W’s view.

It would be preferable and more appropriate if the current president kept out of the election frivia, and gracefully leave office.

Hillary is the only one who said 60 days. Barack was a lot more realistic and said that with gradualy withdrawal over the course of a few years after careful CONSIDERATION of the stability. Hillary is the I WANT THEM OUT NOW crazy person. Barack is the let’s take it ONE STEP AT A TIME, and WE CANNOT JUST START PULLING OUT TROOPS WITHOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE AMERICAN CIVILIANS in Iraq are protected. Barack is careful and thorough. Hillary is crazy lady.

OF COURSE there will be chaos… but let me remind this silly right wing that THEY should have KNOWN THIS BEFORE they charged in WITHOUT A PLAN! This entire invasion was STUPID and ILL THOUGHT! It should have NEVER been necessary to topple an entire nation! The blood of hundreds of thousands are on the very hands that now scream that chaos will prevail if we pull out! HYPOCRITES!

The neocons have done their focus groups and have found that, above all else, people TRUST Obama. So, get ready for anything and everything including the kitchen sink to be thrown at his TRUST. “You can’t trust him.” Oh really? But we CAN trust Bush and McBush? Give me a break! Neocons, you are on your way OUT. Wait and c!

So what if Iraq is in Chaos. Neo-cons loved the specious argument that it is better to fight ‘them’ over there than here. By that logic it would be even better for ‘them’ to fight each other over there without America spending our children’s money and sacrificing American lives and destroying American families doing so.

HOW MUCH BENEFIT HAVE AMERICANS REAPED FROM THE IRAQ WAR? LOL
HOW MUCH HAS THE IRAQ WAR COSTS?
McCain does not know economics, does not know COST vs BENEFITS ANALYSIS!
And McCain does not care about cost of war vs benefit of Iraq war because McCain is a warmonger.
Warmongers CAN NEVER envision non-violent solutions to problems; because they are too addicted to violence!
Babylonians have been building societies while Europeans were still cave dwellers.
So the Iraqi people WILL manage!
All the Iraq war is doing for Americans IS TO COST US!
We can stay in Iraq until we are flat broke; or WE CAN CUT OUR LOST NOW!
There will never ever be any benefit for Americans from the Iraq war.
And the ‘honor’ of American troops is in doing what has been asked of them.

‘WIN THE BATTLE BUT LOSE THE WAR.’
WIN THE SURGE BUT LOSE THE IRAQ WAR.
IRAQ UNPROVOKED WAR WAS LOST FROM GET GO; because AMERICANS HAVE NEVER BENEFITED FROM IRAQ WAR!
Bad enough that some Americans allowed the bungling Bush to lead them into a hole. Bad for Americans to remain in the Iraqi hell hole, where BENEFIT IS NON-EXISTENT!

The Democrats don’t care about either Iraq or the USA as long as they can grab power.
They’ll sacrifice any number of American soldiers and any number of innocent Iraqis for their hypocritical politics.

Is al-Queda in Iraq?…lol

Good evening,
I’m going to preface this by stating I am an independent. I’m so tired of listening to democrats cry about the war in Iraq. Do me a favor open a history book or peek your head out of the democratic party for a second. Lets see so far I have read that Iraqis want American’s out, the war is illegal, and America was the aggressor. First off in every single report or news cast that I have seen I have yet to hear an Iraqi say they want America out. In fact what I do see is many Iraqi’s thanking our troops for getting rid of a ruthless dictator. Second, the only thing illegal about Iraq is the former regime’s genocide. Thats right Saddam Hussein butchered people, you can probably turn on the history channel to see the two hour documentary they did on that “ruler.” Third, if I remember correctly the President offered an alternative to war, and I believe it was something like this, Saddam Hussein to avoid conflict allow the UN inspectors to observe your weapons and come clean about your chemical and biological weapons. But democrats seem to have a short memory of the six months leading up to war. People really have to start generating ideas for themselves based on facts instead of listening to your political party’s 30 second soundbyte on the news. I would be willing to bet that if Hilary said the sky was green you would see people checking the sky and more than likely they would argue that you can see green in the sky. Ridiculous.
By the way under the former Clinton the trade centers were bombed, a US warship was bombed, two embassies were bombed- but I guess that is good foreign policy. I love it the stick our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist.

No wonder the world doesn’t trust America. We take a country down and don’t give the people time to rebuild it. Cut and run seems to be the mantra. Americans never learn from history. Look what happened when we abandoned Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge set up shop in Cambodia and the people that lived had a horrible experience. We have made a commitment to the people of Iraq and I can’t see how walking out will benefit anyone except the liberals that have a vested interest in failure and the bad guys in the middle east.

I really don’t know why the JCC is waring Clinton about Iraq, Obama is the man he is the one that is going toe to toe with McCain.
Obama said he will be meeting with all of the his first day in office and he is going to stop the war, why because AQ is not in Iraq and we are wasting billions being there.
Clinton has been very silent on this issue so they should direct all questions to Obama, he is the big talker so lets see how good he is now, Hillary is doing the right thing stay out of it .

If we had had any leadership in 2003, we would have withdrawn then. We should have done what we did after the first Gulf War: Beat ‘em up; then, get out so they can heal their wounds. All we’ve been doing since 2003 is training terrorists. We should stop, and let any “chaos” that develops be handled by people with a genuine interest in the outcome. What do the Joint Chiefs know about fighting civilians, anyway?

Isn’t this jumping the gun a bit? Don’t briefings come AFTER we elect someone to the Oval Office? Has the good admiral (and others) forgotten that specifics in any campaign are more an indication of intention that should be expected to be subject to alteration once actual governing begins? Didn’t Obama’s campaign remind us of this too?
I remember plans offered with a caution about being realistic, about not making promises that can’t be kept and not making rash decision. He plans for a careful withdrawl that involves not just the Iraq government but others in the region who have a stake in the stability of Iraq too.

Well said SE croft. Thanks!

It’s sad how not even a general has answers for the public.
The truth is, unless a powerful ruthless dictator is in power, the sunni & shia will fight, unless there’s a US presence. And if we put a base there, our people will be attacked on a regular basis.
If we don’t cut & run, we will never get out of there.
If we set up a base, it will act as fuel to the terrorists. They don’t want us there.

I like that… Obama… A Christian with a Muslim name. Well, I’m a Christian with a Christian name (sorta), and I’m living in Texas, so I’ll take pride in for him. I’m sure he’ll do the right thing in Iraq–Obama isn’t all for ending the war on terror, he just wants to move troops out of Iraq and reassign some of them to Afghanistan. I think it’s a good plan. If we leave Iraq, we won’t be making the Iraqis kill each other. Besides, who’s to say how he’ll act once he’s privy to all of the information that a president gets.
I’m voting for Obama because of his stance against lobbyism and because he’s black (I’m white, and I think it’s time). McCain is too old and will likely represent the corporations over the people, and I can’t vote for Hillary, because I think she’s actually serious about trying this universal health care thing. Why do we never learn from Europe’s mistakes?! (Plus, I’m an insurer and I know damn well the government won’t do my job better than I do)
Did you know the word “hysteria” is derrived from the Latin word for “uterus?”

whatever who is gonna be the new president, but in this case between Obama and Hilary, both have good campains. just the illogical war in Irak that have claimed hundreds and hundreds of our american soldiers and this must stop. so these candidates have to realize about to take out all these people and if they don’t do it, the economy of this country would go down! nobody wants that.

America has only one friend over there in the Middle East, and it is Israel. You stay they hate you, you go they still hate you, so what’s new here? There’s no America in Lebanon and the blood letting is merely a blood sport over there. In Iraq it is Iraq killing fellow Iraq citizens. Saddam did his thing and now little Saddams are at it again. You will find peace over there when families love their children more than they want to blow them up. Case closed.

Right, we can’t have Iraq desend into chaos.. That would be terrible if that happend.. uggghhh.

OBAMA GOING AFTER OSAMA! I love it! We bloggers have all become armchair generals. Wow! Seriously, I do believe that I know as much about the situation as Obama. Ha! You won’t catch me missing any Europe/Nato meetings. In fact, I will go over to Pakistan tomorrow and tell their leader that we are coming tomorrow to get Bin Laden, whether he likes it or not! What is their leader’s name now? Is it still Musharof, or Mooshawruf? Anyway, I will have the strateegery all figured out and the noocalar weapons loaded, and we will get the job done! I will appoint thepian oman as the head investigator of the attack team, because his name will fit in well with the region. I must leave for awhile now, but I’ll be back for some more armchair genralities. I need to find out when John Stewart comes on tonight, because I am in deep need of comic relief. I think I still have a uterus, so that must be the problem!

War cost money, lives and great sacrifice from our troops and there families. You people do not care about our troops or the safety of our country. Our troops did not die in vain. Our troops are winning and you would have them cut n run. Shame on you all. Shame on dems and libs with the coward mentality. We have been safe every since our troops got involved. Show some appreciation for the greatest military in the world. Allow them the victory that you stopped in Vietnam. While we were planning on moving a half million troops to desemate the enemy, you instead cut the troops and then made them leave too soon. Victory was at hand. This war, right or wrong is a work in progress. We made a few mistakes. Overall, we lost far fewer lives and killed the enemy over 10 to 1. The enemy still wants to attack the US on our soil. Our great military has them running scared and hiding like mice. Lets finish the job at hand. Support your troops though I know that you wont. Pulling out is NOT supporting our troops. Ask them! God bless our troops in harms way and across the globe.

Have you noticed any planes flying into US skyscrapers lately? Thank you, Mr. Pres, for keeping the chaotic mess “over there” and not in the US. I sleep well at night thanks to our Troops.

It is not just money. It is costing lives. I say bring the troops home and save both money and lives. And the idea that the invasion of Iraq has anything to do with 911 is just wrong. The fact is that the invasion of Iraq led to Al Q. coming into Iraq.
I don’t know why people think that wanting an end to the war is somehow anti-military. This war was ill-conceived and has shown no benefit for the US. It has cost us lives and money and made us less safe.
But the choice is simple. If you like the Bush plan vote for McCain. If you don’t vote for someone else. This is clear. Bush has been such a success that we really could use 4 more years of the same ideas.

We should leave Iraq but only when our Generals say it is necessary to do so- regardless of who is President. It would be great if we are able to leave a stable situation there but this is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to determine. I am also saddened by the divisiveness of recent Presidential campaigns and hope that the American people and their Candidates will set a positive example for how an efficient Democracy should operate. The Iraqi government as well as our own should stop taking so many vacations and get to work on meaningful solutions (A.K.A. legislation) to fix these problems!

If there was no oil in Iraq, Bush would not have invaded them. Bush and Congress spend $12 billion a month on this folly. This money could have been invested in making us free of oil dependency. It was not and now we are in debt and broke. Why should the next administration validate the mistakes made by Bush and Congress? Wasting more borrowed money and America blood in the Middle East is stupid to the power of ten.

New Yorker: Finally, I have some company as regards Shia and Sunni! I was one of the UnAmerican and UnPatriotic 20% who protested the war in Iraq. I am not a military expert but we already had one front in fighting an enemy that does not believe in the Geneva Conventions! I remember a Wanted, Dead or Alive poster for Osama bin Laden. He may be dead in some cave or still happily camping out in Afghanistan. Did Bush once say that bin Laden is now irrelevant? His ideology and numerous hydra-headed offshoot monstrous terrorist groups certainly are not. For me, it is Mission UnAccomplished. I once said I have a teeny bit of experience in that part of the world many years ago when my Dad was sent there for four years and spent our time primarily in Pakistan. I got blasted because things have changed since then. Yes, they have and not for the better! The King of Iraq was assassinated and his body drug through the streets while we there. The Shah was still around but inconveniently got himself deposed. Pakistan was starting its string of coups-then got into its war and splintered into Bangladesh. Shias and Sunnis hated each other then and still. Downright inconvenient of their prophet not have named a successor! Changed? Yes. Some of them now have nuclear capabilities and have learned some dirty tricks. Basically, the mid-east does not want westerners in their counries after coloniasm/ imperialism. The Iraqis did not fall into our arms. We had no business going in there until Afghanistan was secured. al Quaeda was not in Iraq – common sense dictates that reasoning since Saddam shared power with nobody. Now, the Taliban have taken back 10% of Afghanistan, only 30% is controlled by Karzai and the rest in the hands of the war loads. Answers? I wish. But, I do not think terrorist attacks will come out of Iraq but from that frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the meantime, we have to support the troops who obeyed orders, but do not count on us being welcome for overly long. If the current government is toppled, we will be forced out. al Sadr and his Shia Mehdi are just biding their time. Mid-easterners have a trait many westerners do not – patience until just the right moment. War is not a glorious victory but a foul and filthy death for many young men – and women these days and the innocents.

The generals work for the president. The president is commander and chief. So they do what he says. It is inappropriate however for the generals to engage in politics. They should not be using the media as a public forum.
If Kennedy had listened to the generals we would have had nuclear war with Russia. This is one of the reasons that the constitution puts the president in charge. Generals fight wars and presidents lead countries. There is a difference in perspective and ultimately the president decides. Unfortunately Bush made bad decisions. McCain seems to agree with these bad decisions.

As a republican conservative voter for the past twenty three (23)years, it is my belief that my party has lost the support of the people, probably for the next 20 years. Accordingly, I am pleased to announce that I am now supporting Barrack Obama for President. Mr. Obama has vision and is correctly promoting hope throughout our land. The General’s at the Pentagon, including Gen. Mullen, must prepare to take orders from a new President. We must leave Iraq or else our economy will plunge further into chaos. As President Kennedy has previously stated, “the torch is being passed on to a new generations of Americans”; these new Americans are correctly thinking outside the political box. Because of the expected new leadership and new thinking, our nation will prosper. The Cold War is over and we can no longer financially support the entire “WORLD”. Even my old thinking must give way to new progressive thinking. Let us rebuild our economy and our great Nation for the benefit of generations unborn. THANK YOU

Who cares what the JCC thinks? They just want to keep the gravy train coming from the taxpayers. The military has no interest in ending the war – they want to keep the money coming to buy shiny new toys. We are being bled to death to pay for this disaster and it has to stop!

I have just been reading all of the comments again. McCain was in Vietnam which was more like a jungle war in Asia. I do not think that either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama have spent time with the ordinary people of the mid-east – the halls of power do not count. And, I wonder how many of you people have ever been to any of those countries outside of a guided tour where you get to see the pretty bits? The mid-east is a seething turmoil within. We had no business going into that area except Afghanistan where those terrorists were trained. And, they happen to have been Saudis. Are we at war with them? I think it was Leon Uris who wrote in Exodus that the Kingdom of Heaven may run on righteousness but the kingdom of earth runs on oil – or words to that effect. None of the candidates has the necessary expertise on the mid-east – so which one could and would bring in real experts and be really willing to listen to them? And, I do not mean those PhD types or chair polishers. Secy Rice has a PhD in Russian affairs or the like but definitely did not visit that country while writing her dissertation. And, much good that has done us in our relationships with Russia. No more armchair generals! Wonder what happened to General Tommy Franks who did protest at being told to prepare plans for a war in Iraq while he was still in Afghanistan? Sounds like the kind of military brass that I could trust! Make sure that our troops have what they need and start getting them out of Iraq. Keep our mid-east relations on strictly business terms. Money talks in that part of the world – but alas, we do not have much of it right now and our dollar is sinking! No, I do not mean to sound angry at any of you – just feeling very depressed at the situation we are in over there. And, I would like to know who the despicable low-life was that revealed that Prince Harry is in Afghanistan just trying to do his duty as a soldier instead of being another royal gadfly? Now that sorry specimen of humanity has put Harry’s life in danger and those of his men.

McCain is a useless old man who’s still got something to prove about Vietnam. He wants to compound Bush’ original mistake in Iraq and bankrupt the country just to prove to his Daddy that he’s not a loser. America doesn’t need to be locked into a costly, losing war just for John McCain’s senile psychodrama.

Do the stupid Republicans think they can try to pin the blame on the Dems for THIER failure in Iraq? Nobody is buying this nonsense, and the surge is already breaking down – violence is back up and troop levels won’t get any higher. Sorry, Republicans, everybody in America knows that this mess is all yours!

Calling all Neocons: Line up,ship out,and fight Bushes glorious war in Iraq. I don’t care if your eighty years old or a Bush twin. Go fight your war! You want it,go for it.

McBush – how about sending your kids in there…or your grandkids?
Robert, McCains son Is over there.

You people who think we need to pull out of IRAQ have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You talk about Iraqis dying like its the U.S. fault, stop listening to the media and start listening to the people who actually have been there. Insurgents are killing Iraqis not US troops, how anyone could think otherwise has no idea and is showing how mis informed they really are. I suppose you all think 9/11 was Bush’s fault, he didn’t ask not want that to happen when it did it changed the entire complexion of his presidency. Pulling out like the dems want is the worst move we could make, you think oil is high priced now, and I suppose that is Bush’s fault as well, oil would become so expensive we wouldn’t be able to afford it why, because IRAN would take control. You bunch of bleeding hearts are excatly what we don’t need in this counry, we need strong leadership say what you want about Bush he has laid out a plan on IRAQ and stuck to it, and it has been the right move. I’ve been to IRAQ I’ve seen the cheerful Iraqis so thankful we’re there but instead you all take for gospel what the media is saying and it is very one sided.

Al – if you love this stupid war so much, how about you go and fight it? Also, are you willing to pay a special tax to pay for it? I think people who support this war should have to pay reparations for it – why should my taxes go to a disaster that I never supported? Al, I hope that when the Dems take back the government that they confiscate your house and everything you own to pay for your failed war. And then I hope they deport you to Baghdad to live with the consequences of your stupidity. You suck!

Everyone who hasn’t already done so needs to see “No End in Sight.” If you can’t find it near you, go to Amazon.com and get a used DVD for 8 bucks. Then read what the Joint Chiefs are saying.

Mr. McCain, with all due respect to you, I ask how many immediate members of your family are serving in a danger zone in Iraq? I would ask President Bush why his daughters haven’t shown an example to the American people and put themselves in harm’s way to end this “insurgency.” Calling it an “insurgency” is like screaming that sharks are attacking humans. Well, no wonder they are attacking humans. We are swimming in their home. We are on their turf. How would you feel like with a shark coming into YOUR house? Think on it. Get someone to explain it to you. The only plan is the one Obama proposes that gives the Iraqi government well over a year and a half before they would even begin to be implemented. And why don’t you be the one to tell the 56 innocent Iraqi’s who were blown to pieces this past Sunday that “the surge is working?”

Folks I feel your anger. Yes, we have to somehow get ourselves out of Iraq – but would like to at least keep face along the lines of we can now trust you to take care of your own security, here are the keys, very publicly, and speed back as fast as we can to Kuwait to ship out! This time though I would like to think we have the decency to give sanctuary to those Iraqis who have really helped us instead leaving them to a probably hideous fate. However, I hope you are all keeping track of other news. We now have the USS Cole and two other war ships on the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon. Six more are sailing in. Howl!!!!!!!! There are the anti-Syrian and the pro-Syrian factions there. No sure where Iran fits in but probably does somewhere – bound to since they are one of the axis of evil. Wonder how much a President can actually do in ten more months?

So, basically, the joint chiefs want to keep their war on so they can keep the tax dollar gravy train flowing? Sorry, losers, we can’t fund your failed war forever. Hold a bake sale or something. LOL

Hillary voted for the war and has never apologized for her vote. Obama was not a member of Congress when the vote took place but since he became a member, he has always voted for every spending bill for Iraq.
Neither Hillary nor Obama have any intention of pulling the troops out of Iraq. Both of them said so in a debate a few months ago. When they say they do, they’re thinking only of winning elections.

We spend millions of dollars training soldiers to become generals. They spend their lives gaining training, experience and knowledge in their profession. No one on Capital Hill or in the White House has the training and experience of our Joint Chiefs of Staff. Every time we get into a war or involved in a conflict our civilian government takes command away from the very people who should be commanding war efforts. Our civilian government, Democrats and Republicans alike, gave our military leaders a job to do. Right or wrong we are in a war. The time for argument is over. Give the generals what they need to do the job then leave them alone until they get it done. If you don’t want them to finish the job you shouldn’t have told them to start.

New Yorker on 02/28/08 @ 7:01 is Absolutely Correct. Vote Hillary ’08′

Yea, if we withdrew from Iraq Al Queada would just move out and leave everyone alone. They would move out just like they moved out of Pakistan. They would move out just like Hamas moved out of Gaza. They would move out just like Hezbella moved out of Lebanon. Yea, I’m willing to put my trust in a genius like you. Oh, yes, hotshot, what if you are wrong and they start a bloodbath in Iraq? What if Al Queada doesn’t move out and we have to send combat troops back in? Have any idea what our casualty rates will be under that scenario? Yea, I know. You are just an armchair general.

Our Joint Chiefs of Staff are all career military with their pension and a good job secure when they get out. They Follow orders, and are possibly the most apolitical bunch in Washington. I take the admiral at his word. I am sure he does not want to see his men and women die, but he is a realist. I am not a war monger. I have been to war and it sucked. Many of these opinions amount to not much more than monday morning quarterbacking. If so many of you know about miltary tactics, then join the military and get us out of Iraq yourselves.

Miami, Florida – same goes for self-serving generals trying to shake the taxpayers down for more money for their failed war.

Veteran – that sounds pretty naieve to me. The JCS is EXTREMELY political – don’t be fooled. This is pure politics and they should know better than to butt in to an election campaign. I agree with the people who think the next President should fire the lot of them – they’re all Bush stooges anyway.

Obama stated there was no Al Quada in Iraq prior to George W. Bush decision to invade Iraq. Borak H. Obama forgets Al Quada was in the United States killing Americans. Id rather fight terrorist were they breed and waste oxygen breathing.

Andyboy, you speak like a very experienced politician, or perhaps you are an expert military tactician. Who is the next president going to nominate to JCS? more generals and admirals, all of whom are career military and who served alongside the ones in place now. I am repulsed to see how many people blame the failure on iraq on the military. If the military ran wars (and not politicians), Vietnam and Iraq would be both speaking English by now, and voting in November’s election.

Veteran – um, last time I checked, the Military was running Iraq. Heckuva job. LOL Meanwhile, all I’m saying is that the current JCS is a bunch of Bush/Rumsfeld appointed hacks and yesmen. Time for some new blood who can get the job done. Promote the next generation that’s free of the taint of Bush’s failure.

Roe – um, in case you missed it, the guys who attacked us on 9/11 weren’t from Iraq. The real war on Al Queda is in Afghanistan, not Iraq. Get a clue.

Andyboy, they are not from afghanistan either, most were saudis. Should we attack Saudi Arabia? And no, The military does not run Iraq. The Military has no mandate, it follows orders from civilians.

strangelove, I do understand and Thank you. Many may not share your views, and have issues adapting to forums that intend to put a finger on the pulse of our country, instead of denegrating opposing opinions, and using name calling as a weapon. Besides that is the only weapon they will ever have the guts to bear, hiding behind a computer in these forums.

nice try? they weren’t saudis?

Veteran – first of all, they weren’t all Saudis – they were a multinational, non-state-sponsored crew that was trained in Afghanistan. Which is why we invaded Afghanistan, not Saudi Arabia. Remember? For someone who purports to know so much about national security matters you sure seem fuzzy on basic details.

Good for you – but why do you disparage others and imply that we’re cowards just because we chose not to serve? This is the problem with so many military people – you’re so very arrogant and think that the rest of us are some kind of second class citizens. Well guess what – you’re not special and you’re not better than anybody else. You did a job just like anybody else – and the rest of us taxpayers paid your salary. Get over yourselves. stop putting on airs and shut up about it already.

AndyBoy-Al Quada has no borders we are killing them in Iraq in addition to Afghanistan. How many terrorist attacks have occurred in the US since 9/11, NONE !!

Roe – boy are you stupid. First of all, Al Queda in Mesopotamia is a copycat organization that has no real ties to BIn Laden’s AL Queda, aside from the name. Also, it didn’t exist before we invaded and won’t exist long after we leave. Also, you’re wrong about the terrorist attacks in the US post-9/11, too. You’re forgetting the still unsolved Anthrax attacks that happened in late 2001. Damn, son, you’re 0 for 3 – why don’t you quit while you’re ahead? Stop drinking the Con Kool Aid and go educate yourself. LOL

How can we trust the guys in their overly decorated uniforms? Of course the Administration has “politicized” the Joint Chiefs… all the generals that critizied the Bush Administration are gone. What does that tell ya?

The meeting point of fundamentalist and socialist is the time when people vote to
Obama – Farrakhan!
against smart, experience and hard working women-Hillary Clinton.
and society is ready to go down hill, women with Hijab, polygamies all over the world.
Please don’t give freedom that has cost millions lives. Vote for Hillary Clinton for peace, prosperity and democracy.

As in Anthony Zinni?

All these words!
There is no such thing as a moral war.
By definition once you start killing people for whatever reason, you are in the immorality business and civility is out the window and barbarism takes over – the human interaction then moves to a very basic stage the end result of which is described by two words.
One is “win” and the other is “lose”
No matter how lofty your ideals history teaches us that dramatic changes take place for both those who “win” and those who “lose”, and Iraq will not be any exception because wars have their own simple dynamics and results.
If you are going to use an excess of words at least address them to the future result, continually rabbitting on about how and why you are there is an exercise in futility, the fact is you are there, now you have to decide how to turn this into a win.
I understand the desire to run away from conflict, but assuming that when you run away that the enemy will not chase you is a very big assumption indeed – certainly not one I would like to have on my conscience if I was a leader and that assumption was proved to be incorrect.

For all you folks out there who keep screaming about the costs and the lives and the “immorality” of this war. Consider this please. I am not saying this is a definate, but it is a definate possibility — We pull our troops from Iraq and put an end to this 5 year multitrillion dollar war. We move our troops to Afganistan. Within 1 year, The Iraqi government falls to Alqaida operativces funded by Iran. Iran is now ready to deploy short range Nuclear weapons. Within three months they Attack Israel who retaliates and destroys Iran.. In the process, the US (who is still heavily in Afganistan) sustains sever casulities. AlQuaida then turns their attention on massive terrorist attacks on the US because we are now to weak to even defend ourselves. The result – Within three years of withdrawal – Israel is gone, Iraq is gone, Iran is gone, and the persian gulf is now un inhabitable for the next 300 years. The US economy is destroyed and teh entire world is now operating without 70% of its energy source. Worst case senario? Definately… Are you willing to take the chance???

@ givemeabreak
“Alqaida operativces funded by Iran”
This is the most ridiculous claim, and for the rest of your delirium this is the most pathetic piece of crap that i have read lately…
Al-Qaeda is a radical Sunni group while Iran is made of their arch rivals Shiites, Sunnis foreign fighters come from Saudi Arabia and not from Iran or Syria like the Israeli propaganda machine may have conditioned you to think so.
Do you dare to think that Al qaeda, that fringe group made of few hundreds people, can overtake a country? Lol, yeah keep dreaming.
Al Qaeda are an handful in Iraq, most of the mess being created by religious communities’ militias and fighters struggling for power, the Sunnis that have been stupidly ousted from power after the fall of decades old CIA asset Saddam Hussein were lately bribed by the US gov to keep things from degenerating even worse and to fight against foreign fighters creating undiscriminated havoc, they were given control of huge part of the country and of cities like Fallouja with tens of thousands large armed militias headed by Thugs of war who were earlier killing US troops and who nowadays say they will soon resume that if they don’t reach the part of power that they wish. “Al Qaeda in Iraq” is a detail in this mess, being of course inflated by this administration who will as usual deceptively label every groups opposing their troops under the “Al Qaeda in Iraq” generic all-in-one banner for their propagandist stunt, US troops are just in the middle of a centuries old confessional war that this administration just regenerated all by itself, while removing troops from Afghanistan in the middle of a war.
Now for the Iran part i can see how a propagandist machine is still working in full throttle for some of you, Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons, Israel have at least a good hundred (ty to the french) without the AEIA having access to their stock pile, Iran is not governed by wackos contrary to what you may think, the rhetorically provocative Ahmadinejad is a puppet without real power and will be ousted at their next elections. The only people wanting war in this region is the US and his war pusher Israel (who make your country go to Iraq FYI), these long time warmongers threatening everybody, others just struggle for regional influence which won’t make it to a war.
Now please get out of your cave before writing down again your nonsense.

Egregious interference in the political process by the military. The man and everyone like him needs to be fired as soon as there’s a change of regime n Washington and replaced with people loyal to the US Constitution.

Admiral Mullen should be sacked immediately. Our military leaders do not insert themselves into political campaigns. Harry Truman had the good judgement to relieve MacArthur of his command. George Bush does not.

Lets see…AFTER WITHDRAWAL CHAOS vs a bankrupt America, broken down education system and delapidated schools, falling infrastructures, economic & foreclosure crisis, environmental crisis, a city devastated by Katrina still looking like a war zone with little recovery, a mounting debt, a dropping dollar, borrowing from other countries, lost credibility around the world…hhmnnn, SOUNDS LIKE REAL CHAOS…and not on the other side of the world, but right here on our own doorsteps!!!

Notice that the rotten man could not define a “rapid withdrawal” in a timeframe. So he refused to indicate what rapid means to him.
No Republican can.
Right now, we are about as good as it going to get in IRaq for the near future. Part of the gains were from our troops on the attack. Part is from the SUnnis working with us and not attacking us or working with Al Quaida, But …thats coming to an end as they become more and more dissatisfied with the US. Part of the quell in violence is also because of the Sadr army’s ceasefire thats been going on for 7 months now. What happens when that stops?
The idea that This surge is solely responsible for stemming the violence in a country of 25 million people is absurd. They only added 30,000 troops.

Excuse me, but I really, really, really, don’t care what happens to Iraq.

There is a lot of preaching and exterpolating of numbers going on in this blog, if I want that I will go to church or take another advanced math class. The real point is will the next president pay attention to the Military Leaders that are susposed to know their job or fire them and hire a “Yes” man in their place just to appease their election promises. I believe Obama would do the latter.

I’m from Iraq and live in Canada, I feel really sick when I listen to Obama talks. If USA leaves Iraq that means a Victory for Osama Bin Laden and terrorism beacsue they will control the Iraq and will attack the west from there, remember what they did when they were in power in Afghanstan. I hope Barak Hussien Obama thinks twice about Iraq if he bcome a presidint, but I hope he won’t. Please American people don’t elect him because electing him is victorian for terrorism.

Let me see if I understand Obama- he said there was no “Al Quada” in Iraq until “Bush and McCain” invaded. Well, if our Army was sitting here at home, would there be an “Al Quada in America?”
Probably not- Barak Hussein Obama (BHODS) delusional syndrome.

What has changed since the democrats took control of congress in 2006?
1) US Troop level in Iraq? Yep, up more than before.
2)Sales of existing homes? Yep, down to 10-year low.
3)Wholesale inflation? Yep, up to a 16-year high.
4)Approval rating of congress? All-time low, low 20′s.
5)Bush’s approval rating? Nope, still ~33%.
6)Minimum wage? Yep, up to $6.55/hour.
7)Airline industry? All time mess.
8)Guantanamo Bay? Nope, still open for business.
9)North Korea’s Nuclear facility? Yep, closed.
10)Water boarding? Nope, still not torture.
11) Global warming? Nope, last time I checked, there were record lows and snowfall all over the world.
12) Price of gas? Record levels/
Keep up the good work ya’ll.

Wow. Listening to all of these arguments FOR this “war” in Iraq reminds me of the SAME rhetoric about Vietnam!! Yes, I am one of those who is old enough to remember it! The poet and philosopher George Santayana: “Those
who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We finally “got out” of Vietnam,and yes it was in a “hurry”, but we saved thousands of more lives, and look at Vietnam now! Hotels are being built, people are going over for tourism and enjoyment, we have a growing trade relationship with them. According to the Vietnam Trade association website ” In 2005, Vietnam became the 44th biggest exporter to the US and while the US market has become the biggest importer for Vietnam, accounting for 20.2% of its total exports.” So there you go. Let the people “figure it out for themselves.” They–Iraq and Vietnam, have the right to choose. We are not invading North Korea, and they have a dictator we don’t like. Can we go into ALL the world and “replace” it’s leaders? I don’t think so! Of course, if oil is not involved, we probably won’t go there anyway. AND, the U.S. is NOT safer since we started this “war” in Iraq! We are not even safer from ourselves–look at all our home grown terrorists and college killings! The world is an unsafe place, and we are contributing to that instead of putting an end to it! We need an orderly pullout, beginning NOW! Then we need to build our country back up, repair our aging infrastructure, and figure out how in the world to pay off our trillions of dollars of debt–before it is too late! BTW–I think that “JIMBO” is a republican “plant”!!!It sure would be GREAT to see a republican candidate take a different track than Bush has! A vote for McCain is a vote for “more of the same!” And for all of you, like “bill” who take GREAT pleasure in using someone’s middle name, that just happens to be an honored family name in his family–shame on you! That won’t stop the truth from coming out! It is just stupid and no one believes it or agrees with it. To me, it sounds like the KKK trying to raise it’s ugly head…Also btw–Al Qaida is ALL OVER THE WORLD–just look at things that happened in England and Germany! To fight this kind of thing worldwide should be our objective, and NOT just focusing on one country!

If beleave Clinton is going to pullout of Iraq your mistaken. Obama will because we killing his people However Clinton will but not reght away. But when she does it will be to soon and she like her husband will allow genocide to take place remember Bosnia

You Democrats just don’t get it. You are all a bunch of cowards. You all want us to tuck our tail between our legs and run away. We all know there have been major mistakes in this war but what’s done is done. We are there now and must finish the job. If you wimps who weren’t so worried about the ‘innocent’ people in Iraq would shut up and let the military do their job the way it should be done we could destroy the enemy and let the good people of Iraq take over their country. we should be blowing the hell out of enemy but we have to worry about casualties. Since when do these people worry about our innocent? Leaving now would not only be giving in to the terrorists, but then all the men and women who gave up and sacrificed so much would have done so in vain. I am also sick of hearing that there were not terrorists in Iraq until we got there…who are you kidding? They have always been there. And more of them could be here, on our own soil, if the fight was not over there. You should be asking the media why they never show the good that goes on there on a daily basis…you just follow what they say and belive that we are an evil country lead by an evil president. You cowards all make me sick.

This is silly. Barack Obama has said that we need to redeploy troops from Iraq to Afghanistan…essentially what Admiral Mullen is saying.
Some of you right-wing tools commenting here are downright scary. You should learn how to read and write before going on the internet. I understand it’s easy to get tough without actually having to do anything, which is apparently all some of you can do.

As a Hilary supporter I believe she is wrong, and Obama for that matter, on the war in Iraq. Nevertheless, I do understand no democrat can run saying they will sit down and conduct a full review with new eyes on the Iraq question. Now there is gonna be one heck of a mess left behind. Furthermore, there are going to be a lot of unhappy gulf states dealing with the mess none of them started. If anyone thinks gas prices are high now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. If you think the economy is bad now, wait for the energy prices to hit pocketbooks in a future coming to you all next year. Lastly, Iran will get nukes, plus Iraq, and then get set for nuke exchange with Israel which Israel will win but at what cost?

Let’s keep the U.S. in Iraq for another 1,000 years. By that time, maybe the brain-dead U.S. electorate will have had a relapse and decide to gut the Pentagon’s criminally insane budget.
PatRIOTically As Always,K.

FACT…. WE COULD STAY IN IRAQ for a hundred years, and when we pull out on the 101st year there will be choas. WE HAVE LOST ENOUGH… TIME to pull out and focus on issues that have solutions that are within our control and there are many!

All of you who have not served in the US Military I think have no right to vote in the first place. All you do I ride in your nice BMW’s and go to your good paying jobs and think you are better then everyone else. You talk all this stuff but have given up anthing for this country!!! I have! I’ve been there and if you want to know why McCain is getting a lot of votes. It’s the military members that are voting for him. Cause I dont want to see what I faught for and lost friends for being taken away like Vietnam! Only cowards and dis the President cause when he stood on top of the crumbled Twin Towers and said that the people who knocked these biulding down will hear from us soon. You stood up and supported. I know your gonna say we didnt need to go to Iraq. Well let me tell you something! THIS IS A WAR AGAINST RADICAL ISLAM. To them its a war againts our religon. So we have to think the same. You get me drift.

Most Bush supporters and some other GOP war lovers would be devistated if we stopped being a warmongering nation. Watching Faux news and Rambo movies 24/7 and making remarks like: Bush is the “War President”,are typical traits of these blood thirsty Rambo wanabees. Everyone who doesn’t embrace war is a liberal traitor in their sick minds. These people are the true traitors to the American way! Especially the Chickenhawks,worst Americans ever!

I do not get it. Why do not you realize that it is costing the U.S. $338Billion dollars annually to pay for the illegal aliens. At the rate they are invading us on all borders is too great and nothing is being done.At last count 12 million. We are broke, stealing from Social Security, Robbing Peter to pay Paul. How long can it last. All of our resources, manpower, and time is overseas in a civil battle that we cannot win. While our borders are left vulnerable. We have no equipment it is all overseas, no money, it is all overseas. Our U.S.is being mismanaged and we need an overhaul of the corruption starting at the top. Get all the illegals deported and let them petition to become citizens. We have to have a passport/they need the same credentials. Otherwise it is discrination. We could not do that in their countries. How much we could accomplish for our citizens with $338 million dollars. A hell of a lot. What are you thinking why the people that hire them are just getting richer off the exploitation of illegals similar as the exploitation of slaves.

War sucks, there is no doubt about it. Particularly if you’d like to see the U.S.A. become collectivist, socialist or communist. All we have to do to achieve THAT is elect a Democrat.

Its simple. Take your best guess as to who bin Laden would vote for, and vote against that candidate. I thank God that this simpering generation of X-Boxers weren’t around in the forties, when Americans endured gas and food reationing to fund the war effort. And BTW, my son is patrolling the streets of an Iraqi town today, as a 3rd generation combat Marine.

Pull out on day one. Oh yea I can hear the vacuum now. Don’t worry it will be a great victory for those who have fallen. Thier loss of life means nothing they were just disposable anyways. Their families should be thankful for the $100k in life insurance they got right, so what are they whining about. They got paid, and a brand new flag to put on their mantle. So those that do come back get to spend months in a rat infested VA hospital. They wait for a couple of years for appointments to get help. They can’t get the needed rehab. All under the watchful eyes of a great congress. Who put these great American icons in office anyways. Yep that is right the left side of the aisle sees this as their greatest victory.

Too many ungrateful citizens here- how sad! We have to be grateful that we have not had a repeat of 9/11. Do you read foreign journals or just listen to the biased media here? Do you know that China spends 10% of their GDP on their military? US only spends 1%. Have you ever wondered why China and other nations spend so much of their money and energy to rebuild their military? China’s not an immediate threat. There’s Iran and Russia we have to worry about soon. As long as America remains the super power, we have to accept our responsibility. I honestly think we should step down and just be a normal country like Australia and not worry so much about policing the world. The only question is, who would step up to the plate and be the new superpower? Russia? China?

The sole chaos that Acting President Chaney and his flappers want to avoid is any hinderence to their exploitation of the oil fileds. They care nothing for our Constitution and even less, if possible for the creation of a civilized nation in Iraq. The shape of the future Iraq can bew measured by the gangs of thugs we have armed, paid off and declared to be Awakening groups. Sort of like appointinging the Hells Angels a State govenerment. Read Iraq’s future in the murdered women that were killed in Basra for wearing make up or exposing their hair. Is that what our troops are dieing for? Seems so.

Psst, Kevin. The investigation was done and Obama was declared of having no wrong doings. Don’t tell anyone else, it’s a secret.