Boxing Condi

Great question; deserves an answer from all of our representatives – especially from the president!

Great question; deserves an answer from all of our representatives – especially from the president!

If Rice took offense at the Senators question then Rice needs to get anew job! Barbara Boxer is right it isn’t members of Congress or the Administration that is affected personally by the war in Iraq. How effective would a Secretary of State be if a question upset them?

Military parents need to remember that their son or daughter is now a SOLDIER! Please leave the sentiment behind. Becoming a soldier means accepting risk. If they come home in a body bag, know it was not in vain.

If the military community (servicepeople and their families) is the community that is most affected by this war, and they carry the brunt of the war’s effects on the nation, and that particular community supports it’s own efforts, believes that the fight must be fought and won, then what point does Senator Boxer have, really?
Ask most of the people in the military, and they’ll tell it like it is…”Let’s fight the fight, win the fight, accomplish the objective, and come home! To win, perhaps we need the troop force that we should have had from the 2003 invasion. Let’s get the team together and beat the sh*t out of the insurgents! No further discussion needed!” (simplified, of course)
I think most of the people who are “worried” about the troops and their families, such as the California senator, do not share the same views on this issue as the very troops they claim to be concerned about.
In the end, it seems that this story is about two females being females.

I agree with Boxer. I think it is a question that we as people ask the gov. ourselves. I don’t think she was being malicious or personal at all.

The senator is right. Who pays the price? Who pays for their mistakes? We need to do some thing about their mistake.

People tend to read into or take the spoken word far too seriously. A person should be judged on his or her actions, not words. Words can be important but actions much, much more so. The chances of being wrong judging or interpiting the spoken word are very high. Actions can be judged much more accuratly. So, take it easy, let those words just roll off, observe the actions of a person. It could have a lasting effect on your life.

I think it was meant to embrass Secretary of State Rice and it’s another dirty politics. You guys need to grow up. You wonder what’s wrong with our youth, look in the mirror. They learn from you guys. Sham on you!!

No, she wasn’t intentionally taking a stab at her. She was stating the obvious in that Ms. Rice does not have children. I don’t have children and people have made that comment to me. It’s a fact, not a swipe. This war is a waste of live, both American and Iraqi …

I DON’T THINK THAT MS. BOXER WAS SPEAKING OF MS. RICE PERSOANLLY, BUT TO EVERYONE WHO IS SUGGESTING THAT WE SEND MORE OF OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OVER THERE TO DIE. IT IS TIME TO STOP. IF THE IRAQIS DOWN WANT TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THEY DESEVRE WHATEVER HAPPENS. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, BUT I AM TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT OUR INLISTED MEN AND WOMEN BEING BLOWN UP OR SHOT TO DEATH. SEND THEM HOME…..

What is more sensitive? Not having a child or losing or the one you have? Sometimes you can’t always be politically correct when speaking the truth. We having the luxury of running around complaining that our feelings are hurt because we are not in Baghdad being shotat everyday. Wake up and smell the coffee! Those young men and women are not smelling the coffee they are smelling gun powder and sometimes their friends flesh burning if not theirs. Take a vitamin and hope it gets the fog out of your head. May be!

I spent 16 years living and working in Washington, DC. I came to quickly realize that Senator Boxer is out of her league in the United States Senate. She was, and remains, however, a perfect fit for the U.S. House where that line of questioning passes off as high-browed debate.

you don’t have to be a fan of this war to think this question from Boxer crossed the line. Last I checked it was an all-volunteer military who knows what the risks when they enlist. Whether or not a soldier believes in a particular war or even if their family doesn’t is a mute point. This line of questioning would never have happened in past wars – leave the politics out of wars, please! The time for that is before and/or after. A pity our soldiers have to listen to this debate when they are putting their lives on the line.

I think had this been a Republican saying this to a Democrat, the story would be the biggest thing in the news for weeks. We would hear talk of cruelty and insensitivity, and the Republican would be villified.

Rice has class. Boxer needs to conduct her self like a lady. It would have been differnt had Rice said that to Boxer.
Women would be marching in the streets!

All politicians stink. The reality is, that very few elected officials in Washington are there to represent us. They are there for their parties, special interest , or themselves.
Our founding fathers never intended for our Government to end up as twisted as it is.
We need to fire them all at the polls, and start over from scratch. We need to elect honest, decent citizens that are willing to spend up to 6 years in Washington serving their fellow citizens.
Teachers, farmers, ranchers, construction workers, doctors, mechanics, business people, pastors, truck drivers, accountants, house wifes,
etc.etc etc.
We need to elect the people that are the people. The clowns we have in Washington now, are not out of the U.S. people pool, they are for the most part professional politicians, and every one of them has a primary agenda that does not include the “people”.
Most of them are not the kind of people you would want of your children to bring home to meet the parents.
The people of America need to wake up !
Don Scott

There is nothing wrong in Boxer’s feelings. Because US is fighting a war which will never see a light. Why should an Americal soldier die between the clashes Sunnis and Shiites? Now US role in Iraq is limited to containing sectarian clashes. Us citizens and soldiers are paying price for Iraq’s internal problems. How much development could have been achieved in America with billion dollars spent on Iraq? Sending additional 20,000 troops is not enough to get a hold Iraq’s situation.

I don’t think she was intentionally being nasty. She was just asking a question and stating a fact. When a person doesn’t have an immediate family member or a loved one serving in the US Military with the risk of dying in Iraq, they aren’t as affected by the decision to send more troops. I totally disagree with her being mean & nasty.

I think Sen. Barbara Boxer was pointing out the fact that the real people affected was not Condi or Bush or herself or anyone in Washington which is true. If Bush’s daughters were to be sent among those 21000 troops I am sure he will think twice about it. But since its not his kids he can careless about it. All the president has to do is either give citizenship after the guys dies or give the medal of honor when he/she gets kill and pretend to care.
thank you.

I don’t much care for Boxer, but I despise Rice and her enabling of Bush’s insane policies. Boxer’s point was right on target. Rice has nothing and no one to lose to Bush’s private war. May she and the rest of the so called neocons rot in hell.

Apparently Sen. Boxer is of the opinion that single people should not be involved in making policy decisions affecting married people. Fine. I don’t think that Californians should be involved in making policy decisions for South Carolinians. So Sen. Boxer, when can I expect to see your resignation?

Senator Boxer was stating the obvious. The people in power are not risking their own family members, merely sending others to die for a barrel of oil. The American people need to rise up and demand that our troops come home now.

So is Boxer saying that in order for someone in the administration or congress to make a decision they have to be personally affected by it? Sure would make it difficult to get anyting done.

In reference to comments above regarding the children and relatives of members of congress. I seem to recall reading that there were several members of congress and the senate with children or relatives in Iraq. Could someone provide some more precise information?
Thank you.

I would like to know the question to Boxer’s
question, posed to all the policy makers that
have been behind the Iraqi war from the very
beginning: What price do they pay? How many
of their family are/have been in the war? What have
they sacraficed or gained from this war?

The democrats are very nasty group of, have should I put it “people”.

Yes it was intended to hurt poor Miss Rice. We true patriots who love America know all too well the evil liberals are capable of. She chose not to marry and have children and devote her life to serving the republican agenda which she should be applauded for.

‘Tis a shame that an elected official has too stoop so low as to personally attack Ms. Rice OR anyone else! I never here anyone commenting on the fact that our brave troops enlisted and trained to protect our country in the event of a war. It is there bravery and honor that keeps America safe and for Ms. Boxer or anyone to belittle that fact is extremely dishonorable. She has the guts to verbally attack, but bet she would be the last in line to sign up and defend.

I agree with Mrs. Boxer completely . I’m not concerned about Rice . She’s a grown woman and can defend herself . My concern is to the soilders that are in harms ways for no good reason.

Boxer should have known her comment would be interpreted as a slight to people without a spouse or children. As a feminist she shouldn’t have made such a comment. There is no draft and those in the military know they may have to serve in that capacity. I have had every generation from my grandfathers, father, husband, son and brothers, serve in the U.S. armed forces. We all enjoy freedom because of their sacrifice.

Sen Webb, a Democrat, has a son in Iraq. No Republican (or any other Dem) has any immediate family in Iraq. Neither Bush nor any of his cronies ever served in the military. (Bush’s awol stint in the TANG doesn’t count.) Condi has lied so often, I consider her name to be CondiLIEza. Condi said this yesterday: “It’s bad policy to speculate on what you’ll do if a plan fails when you’re trying to make a plan work.” Considering none of her plans have ever succeeded, this shocks me in more ways than one.

Get real people. Barbara Boxer is dead on with her questioning. How can it be a personal dig at Condi when Boxer refers to herself as having no personal stake in the matter either. The people in charge can put others in harm’s way at little or no consequence to themselves. That’s the point Sen. Boxer was trying to make… a very valid point at that.

You have got to be kidding. I am no fan of Boxer, and worked for Republicans in Congress. This is not a “female” Sen. Biden has been making this same point for years. When he has stated this, no one questions whether he is using a “female” psychological warfare tactic. I believe that this is a flimsy and transparent way to avoid the real issue, and discredit both women.

If Condi isn’t up to answering hard questions, she shouldn’t have taken the job. We all know the nastiness that perculates through Washington right now. And to respond about double-standards, how hypocritical Republican-wonks are. Where were you screaming ‘un-fair treatment’ during the 90′s? What goes around comes around. Is it fair? NOPE! Is it right? NOPE! But don’t pout for Condi; she is one of the most brilliant politicians we have, and no partisan should think otherwise. The hard question should be; if she is having such a hard time articulating her answer, then maybe her position is not sound. Look back ten years at the questioning people like Rep. DeLay asked, through willing media-types, of Pres. Clinton over Somalia and Bosnia. Personal attacks are never appropriate, but the GOP has no legs to stand on this argument.

What is the price? We ALL need to consider it. As a child of the Vietnamn “conflict” I know very clearly the toll of the loss of war. My father died while my mother was pregnant with me. What did we gain? We are still debating it all.
Having experienced the Gulf War first hand as the wife of an active duty deployed soldier who was the first to cross the border into the supposed war zone I again have first hand knowledge. Making it all look so “easy” was the manta of the 90′s.
In today’s conflict every soldier is a number in the media and in the government. Put a face with the name. Visit the families. SHOW the funerals and the caskets coming home. Does no one remember that the current administration will not allow the photographs of the soldiers coming home to be shown in the media? There is a toll… whether it is for oil or ego we still need to understand that a number has many faces and names attached to it. And broken families and generations will be following the numbers. Is it a price for freedom? Is it the right reason?
Barbara Boxer is asking a valid question, making a valid statement. Above board or with undertones, the subject is valid and needs to be addressed.

Well, the issue isn’t really what Ms. Boxwer said to Ms Rice. The issue is the fact that the US has now positioned itself to be stuck in a long range police mission.
President Bush has now set a ‘plan’ in motion to create nine sub-sections to the areas, and increase the number of small stations within neighborhoods in order to quell violence.
That sounds an awful lot like Police Stations here in the US. In the US that is a civil authority’s job. Not a Federal one. Yet, here we are sending federal troops (our military) to be another countries police force.
That is a recipe for disaster and definitely a way to increase the number of our brave young men and women fighting over there to be sent home in body bags fighting for people who seem to be less and less inclined to want us there.
Just my two cents worth.

I don’t believe Boxer was trying to throw a jab at Condi. So what that Condi doesn’t have kids. The point was about personal stakes in Iraq. I have a son but have no personal stakes in Iraq because he is too young to serve. I have a friend with no children but has personal stakes in Iraq because her brother is there.

And so it begins…
For God’s sake is this really “headline news?” Is every comment, every gesture, every nuance made by Democrats going to be analyzed ad-nauseum by the right? Did Senator Boxer say anything inaccurate? Did she not point out that her personal stake in this conflict was minimal, as well?
Quit wasting our time. There are serious problems to be addressed in this country. Whether or not Condi Rice’s feelings are hurt does not even rise to the level of a minor inconvenience.
Would we even be discussing this if the comments had been made by two men? This focus minimizes the powerful roles of both these women–surely they have shown they can function despite “hurt feelings.” It is offensive that because of their gender this is being portrayed as a girl fight and Condi’s “anonymous friend” should be ashamed of herself for playing the gender card.

Bush takes care of the rich, especially the super rich, and their children. He’s asking the poor guys in the military to sacrifice, but not increasing their pay. During Bush’s presidential campaign, his people circulated claims that one Bush daughter planned to teach poor children in DC, and the other planned to do work in Africa. Not surprising, I haven’t heard a word about ANY public service actually done by those two. I think they should join the army and go to Iraq.

I think that it is beyond wrong that a United States Senator would launch an attack on a government official exposing that an official’s policy will not have an adverse effect on that official. I can say with confidence that a professional policy maker’s policies usually do not affect themselves. I am sure many of Senator Boxer’s controversial policies that she voted for did not affect her but had an adverse effect on various citizens. Also, to suggest that a human being and Secretary of State would be tossing around troops, other human beings, without any moral compass is truly inhumane. I am sure the safety of the troops weighs very heavily on the minds of all Americans, especially the ones charged with that safety. Finally, the ability to lead is one that sometimes comes with the understanding that you must do what you think is right regardless of the opposition. I believe in this to an extent but look at the reaction of the troops to more troops, not the Honorable Senator from California. Elder Bush had about 500,000 troops when he went into Iraq. Today we have around 150,000. This is not “the greatest military blunder since Vietnam.” P.S. Whoever said that really does not need to discuss military history again.

ABC News Asks

No. Just rude….

This article is missing the point. Why is the US even still involved in this “War”. Where is the hunt for Bin Laden? USA supported Saddam Hussein with money and weapons and then we do a flip flop because Bush cannot hunt down Bin Laden.
My vote is with the previous poster, let us make a rule that every President who “declares war” or “war on terror” must send their children and grandchildren to the front lines.
Gone are the time of WWII when our soldiers were really fighting for the freedom of the US.
Today our soldiers are fighting for the greed of money and domination for the oil companies that are greasing the palms of this president REGIME.

As a single, never been married, no children Military vets female. I take offense to the senator comments. I don’t have kids but have 3 sibiling who have been in the military. I have countless newphews and many friends who are still in the military. I have consider even going back to the reserve to serve my county again. I think of the freedom for all mankind and how great it would be for Iraq to share in that freedom. Even if it cost me my life.

Wish I would have understood the below 30+ years ago when I got married. Is there a book on this stuff?
“And you need to understand female psychological warfare. The most effective bullet is the one that sails in looking like a butterly– the ‘innocent’ remark. There’s no defense against it. To defend against it is to validate it as an attack, and allow it to hit.
I think Condi should have stood up, walked out and called Boxer the ass that she is. An apology is in order from the low class Senator, but then she would have to admit that it was an evil attack. Perhaps she has the same joke writer as Senator Kerry.

Yawn. Next I expect you’ll be talking about which woman dresses more feminine, and who bakes better chocolate chip cookies.
This isn’t news analysis. It’s a pathetically bad attempt by the old school media to compete with the blogs on news commentary. The problem is the old school media is constantly dumbing down everything.

To: Andrea C.
You stated that whoever said “the greatest military blunder since Vietnam.” really does not need to discuss military history again. Madam, that person would be Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican from Nebraska. For you to suggest that Sen. Hagel shouldnt discuss military history because he doesnt understand the reality of what is currently going on is ABSOLUTELY ABSURD and your ignorance is appalling. Sen. Hagel was a ground troop who served during the Vietnam War’s fiercest fighting, and fought across the Cambodian border when the U.S. gov’t lied to the public and stated that wasn’t the case. To suggest the Sen. Hagel doesnt understand military history and strategy is an enormous flaw and reflection of your ignorance of the situation in Iraq.

WHO PAYS THE PRICE? Those who sign on to serve and defend the constitution. We have an all-volunteer army.
I’m really tired of all the mothers that are whining. No mother wants to lose her son, but her son is a man and he made the honorable and laudable decision to serve his country. Where would we be today if no one ever stood up to defend our country? I am the son of a 30-year Army veteran of 3 wars; my ancestors fought in every U.S. war since we had a country. My grandfather was known to cry only once in his life – when he signed the papers to allow his only child, his 17 year old son, to go off to fight in WW2. No doubt it was by far the hardest thing he ever did – but there was a job that had to be done.
Has anyone ever heard the phrase “Freedom is not free?”

FAHRENHEIT 9/11: “Out of the 535 members of Congress, only one had an enlisted son in Iraq.”
“Only four of the 535 members of Congress have children in the military; only one, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has a child who fought in Iraq.” Kevin Horrigan, “Hired Guns,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 11, 2003.

This had nothing to do w/Rice being single and childless…If I had been Sen. Boxer, I would have added, “President Bush’s daughters are not serving in the military (which actually make me feel safer, but I digress)…VP Cheney’s children are not serving in the military (although one has an excuse, but that’s another issue)…where are Rummy’s and Wolfie’s kids?

Will two powerful women ever be able to have a disagreement without some middle-aged media man calling it a cat fight? So they exchanged “harsh” words, so what? Plenty of men rant at each other like this and no one cares. And the bullet/butterfly comment sounds like it came out of the 1800s…
Lil’ Tapper did start quite a flame war and he got dinosaur ABC some attention with this article; hence I suppose he’d consider this piece of rubbish to be a success.

Boxer has a VERY valid point. Why isn’t president Bush’s daughters at war like alot of americans are. This decision has very little affect on the politicians at all because it is not their family. This War is over controlling Oil PERIOD. I have had many of family members over there already and they will ALL tell you the same thing!!!

There are no innocent comments in D.C. – every word is carefully considered; not only for content, but also impact. There is no strenght in a personal attack; unfortunately that is the only thing coming out of Washington these days. Also keep in mind we are heading into the next election cycle with everyone on both sides of the fence trying to straddle the issues. We witnessed this yesterday after the Presidents speech. Everyone of the Representatives, and Senators who commented really don’t care about the issues their main concern is maintaining their power base, and unfortunately we are going to see much more of this infighting than we are real solutions to the mess we are in. At this point we have to support or troops ABOVE ALL the hell with politics. Fund them adequately to do their jobs – when I hear Members of the House and the Senate indicate they want to pull the plug on funding I feel this is a disgrace. Yes, disagree with the situation, try to change policy, in a constructive way, but to put any of our Armed Forces at any additional risk for the sake of a “sound bite” that you can use for your re-election – really. Our choice to be in Iraq is done; we now have to find a way to leave, but with some sort of stability in place when we do leave. What we loose sight of the fact we are faced with an enemy that does’nt follow the normal rules of conflict, and will strike where ever they want if they get the chance. To those in policy positions; they don’t risk as much as the rest of us common citizens, but we have elected them, and as a democracy; which those who choose to hate us will never understand; we can and must hold them accountable. What the American public should do is make our voices heard – contact your Representatives – Senators let them know that they need to do their jobs, and quit attacking each other and focus on what is really important.

This is news? This is the debate you want the American public to have? It would seem that you have missed the entire point of the hearing. Maybe you should be reporting for Teen People or Hollywood Extra instead of ABC News.

Who Cares? Those two can take care of themselves. How about bringing all of our children home……biological or not………they are ours. We’ve all lost too much already and it looks as though if King George gets his way we will lose thousands more.
Barb

When Michael Moore made the same point, he wasn’t accused of using “Female Psycholical Warfare”. I noticed that the columnist uses a quote from a woman to make his “cat fight” point.

“So who pays the price? The American military and their families.”
How is this controversial? People who fear be reminded that blogging, and speaking, and shouting down others, in favor of the war is all very fine, but like to forget that there are few paying a high price for a policy many (used to) favor. If you take offense at this, you need to a good long look at yourself.

Everyone needs to stop whining about who’s kids are serving in the military. This is an all volunteer military and our young men and women who elected to serve proudly need our help to support them. Because of them, we Americans have a choice to serve or not. When the draft is re-established then you bean counters can bitch about which kids are serving and which are not. Until then, stop whining and support our military!!!

Ha-ha. You go Senator Boxer. It obviously has nothing to do with Rice being single. This is something many talk about everyday. They have nothing to lose in this war that is based on deceiving the American people and using the American military to invade a nation without just cause. We have enough problems in America with race relations, poor healthcare, homelessness, etc., etc. Yet we are in someone else’s screwed up country trying to “help” them. Right. I guess they need one last shot at that oil.
Men and women are dying before they have a chance to live and they don’t care because their kids and loved ones are not the ones fighting blindly for their causes. It should be an honor to serve and defend ones country but their is no honor in the military’s leader right now and thus no honor in their lives being lost. Someone should tell the truth and shame those devils.

Since when was “female” psychological warfare any different than “male” psychological warfare. It’s ALL psychological warfare which is the way humans communicate sometimes. The real problem is that we as a nation at war need to fully support the effort and do everything that is neccessary to win it.

Red Herring. It’s a voluntary military. There is no arm-twisting involved, and you seldom hear troop complaining…as well they could be do to repeated deployments.
Politicians who complain, see poll numbers and take the easy out of attacking the President, who in contrast can take the correct path (albeit also easy)since he will never run for reelection.
The correct path acknowledges that should we leave or cut-back too soon, it risks $100 oil barrels, Turkish attacks into Kurdish territories, Iranian attempted takeovers of Shiite territories, Saudi military backing of Sunnis and their equal oil rights, Iranian acceleration of plutonium enrichment, and the resulting nuclear arms race of other Arab nations, prompting preemptive nuclear action by Israel against those most likely to use such weapons against them.
The downside to doing the right thing: slightly increased casualties in what has been and will continue to be a low-casualty war for the US in contrast to Viet Nam and Korea, let alone the World Wars, or our own Civil War.
Our politicians cannot cite relatively low casualty figures and get reelected. They also cannot point to fighting for low oil prices and corresponding uninterrupted supplies. They cannot get Americans to figure out the consequences of a nuclear Iran. So politicians do what politicians do and shoot the messenger with poll backing.
Condi should have said something about baking cookies versus saving the world, but someone else already tried that rather unsuccessfully…and her child never fought anywhere either.

Of course Ms. Boxer meant this as an “attack”. She simply hedged her language like most talking heads. This is why the majority of Amercans approve of the Donald – we don’t have to wonder what he was saying.

It wasn’t a choice of cut & run or stand and fight. It wasn’t a choice of eliminate Iraq or lose the United States. In fact it was never a choice… to begin with.
Bush Hawks & company needed a cause for the administration given them by the Supremes. They ware already planning the Iraq war before 9/11 and those incidents gave them justification for their plans. Each cause of the invasion and war has been shown to be wrong. Intelligence officials told the admin. it was wrong. Plain and simple Bush needed and wanted a war.
Now, a volunteer army is shipped like cattle to a slaughter, and for what? We destroyed any infrastructure Iraq may have had left after the war by the means we used to govern and supervise it. We provided the means, if not the methods, of opening the door to Iran, and now complain because Iraq, limited, cannot close it.
In medieval times, the kings led their armys to war. This was expected. Perhaps it is time to return to those practices. Want to make war? Get in front of your army and lead, not safely at the back pushing my countrymen to their death.
Two closing thoughts of others, paraphrased:
1. War cannot determine who is right, only who is left.
2. War is the last refuge of the incompetent politician.

President Bush has the SOUL responsibility to protect our country and citizens. He is standing alone right now in the face of considerable oposition and standing up for the courage of his convictions. He told us after 9/11 that he would do everything in his power to prevent another attack on the United States. He has done so. His strategy for Baghdag is very logical and on a smaller scale already worked in NYC (with 2500 murders annually). Mayor Guiliani segregated the worst neighborhoods, took them over, the criminals left and the NYC police stayed and didn’t let them come back. Once Baghdag feels safe they can become the democracy they deserve. I believe that if the U.S. military left Iraq now; the entire world would become even more unsafe. Leaving will imbolden the terrorists and they would declare victory! Why can’t anyone offer up a solution for victory? Maybe because it’s easier to criticize then to decide on what’s in our country’s best interest. Well, Dems, “what would you do if you were in charge”. Ms. Rice is well equipped to take care of herself; I’m sure she simply considered the source of the comment and immediately dismissed it. Afterall, doesn’t Boxer know we have an all volunteer Military.

Someone worries about poor Condi Rice after all the blantant lies she has told we the people. You have GOT to be kidding!!!!

Okay everyone. My dad enlisted in the Navy in 1938. On December 7, 1941, he was on the battleship USS Maryland in the middle of Pearl Harbor when Japan attacked. After the Pearl attack, he was involved in all of the major South Pacific battles at Tarawa, Saipan, Leyte Gulf, just to name a few. Did he enjoy war, hell no, but he reinlisted after his first tour of duty was over. My dad realized that something bigger than himself was at stake.
On September 11, 2001, hyjacking terrorists took over US commercial planes and using the planes as bombs, flew them into the World Trade Center.
The attack on Pearl Harbor and the attack on the World Trade Center are called “acts of war.”
Whenever a United States’ Embassy is attacked, it’s an “act of war.”
Since 9/11, our government has successfully stopped many attempts by terrorists inside the United States.
Right around the corner from my home there was a Pakistani family. One morning in June, 2004, while taking my daughter to school, out of nowhere appeared four helicopters, FBI and CIA agents in flak jackets, the ATF, and local police, all with exposed rifles, guns, etc. This family had ties to terrorists. This, my dear people, was a little too close for comfort for me.
So, go ahead and bash the President and whomever else in the government. But just the fact that we, as US citizens, can freely go on the internet, sleep peacefully at night, go to the movies, shop whenever we like, without the fear of wondering where or when bombs would strike in the United States (maybe our neighbor’s house, or maybe our very own home) is enough for me to support President Bush and our military.
Please don’t continue the Democrat against Republican thing anymore. We are all US citizens and we are damned lucky!
Believe me, I cry every time I see a wounded or dead US or ally soldier. But I give them my utmost respect for taking on a job that most of us will not or cannot do.
I truly believe it is in the best interest of our nation to stand firmly behind President Bush and our troops. They truly realize what is going on and are serving us unselfishly.
We cannot leave Iraq until we have given them the opportunity to get on their feet. If we leave now, we risk not only our own security, we risk global security. The terrorists are embedded as it is now all over the world, even in our own country. Now is not the time to retreat.
As the saying goes; “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association motto is:
“Remember Pearl Harbor – Keep America Alert.”
The men and women enlisted in our armed forces are very special people. I thank God everyday for them.
God Bless America!

Cordelia: As always, you’ve said it better than I did.

Unbelievable – we still have people confusing 9/11 with Iraq. Still unable to recognize how Bush’s Iraq war has dangerously weakened our nation, in military and international standing. That not only has he stoked the fever of our enemies this way, but that the price tag for this war has impinged our ability to protect ourselves. That he has snubbed the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission while actually increasing the threats to our security.
Unbelievable that there are those who still think that supporting the troops means marching them into mayhem, a civil war, without a clear battle plan or an exit strategy. Update for those in the dark: The troops themselves are the targets of the insurgency, that’s what Murtha was flipping out about a YEAR ago. The situation has only worsened. You want to support your troops? Get them the hell outta there. You wanna support Iraq, which is the least we can do now that we’ve turned them all on their heads? Me too, but their new government needs to step up to the freakin plate and show some interest in their new democracy, instead of funding their tribal friends and using American soldiers as pounds of flesh for barter. Support Dubya, the illegitimate faux president? Ha!
Sure, God bless America, as long as she’s doing the right thing – and everyone else in the world, too.

I was a Bush Supporter, “but now I am not!!”
Why does that sound familiar?
First I was for it and now I am against it.
You people crack me up!
A little late now don’t ya think!
Senator Boxer did the right thing….period!
“President Bush has the SOUL responsibility to protect our country and citizens. He is standing alone right now in the face of considerable oposition and standing up for the courage of his convictions. He told us after 9/11 that he would do everything in his power to prevent another attack on the United States. He has done so. ”
Yeah! well I have some sad news for you Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11!
Thats why there was an attack on the US Embassy in Athens this morning.
He said he would get Bin Ladin.
Well there is no hide or hair of him is there.
Condie Rices excuse for him not listening to the memos in 2001 before 9/11.
He was tired of swatting flie! I like to know what flies he was swatting, unless of course that was her way of saying there was going to a lot of horse……. coming out of the whitehouse!

Senator Boxer, although fundamentally valid in her pointed frustration, was more of a grand stander, in her address to Secretary Rice. Who pays the price; was her banter, but what exactly was her point? Why was she acting like she was engaged in caring for the concerns of our countries patriots. Where was Senator Boxer when terrorism was known throughout the Clinton years? This is not a simple matter of winning freedom for Iraq. If we can not launch operations from a friendly ally in the Middle East we are going to be in deep trouble when Iran and Syria escalate the threat; and ‘yes’ they will escalate the threat. We need an ally in that geographical location or we are going to be continually threatened by extremist.
My heart breaks for my comrades in arms and their children and loved ones who suffer with them; however, we do not honor or help them by tearing our country a part in political debate. If Boxer really wanted to help she would find a way to unite this country in a campaign that spurs this nation towards a collective stand; one that supports the necessary sacrifice to defeat this threat. Terrorism is not going to go away… even the President stated, during the early days of 911, that this fight will be ours, our children’s, and our children’s children, to fight. Wake up! ‘Career politicians;’ who ‘this American’ feels is the real problem.
It is time for senators and congressmen to quite running for office, using the Presidency as a scapegoat, and start doing their job to support their country. We are at war and politicians need to also be soldiers in combat; servants that do not have the option of saying ‘no’ to their commander and chief’s call to duty. Our governing officials should be helping the enlistment efforts; after all, they are a paid servants just like those in boots. They need to get off their aristocratic pedestals and start earning that fat pay check, benefit package, and ‘pork feed’ job security.
Why do we keep pointing out the fact that other nations are holding back their support? When has any nation given more towards the pursuit of world freedom than the American people? Wake up! It is time to quit filling the media with pessimistic commentaries that only weaken our countries posture; if the world has no respect for us, the congress, senate, and every condescending American is responsible.
It is my prayer that a shift of spirit and resolve will sweep upon this great nation so that every American will realize the need to get involved and support our efforts towards global stabilization. If there were a past mistake worthy of mentioning it would have to be the moment, after 911, when the country was told to go about their business as usual. In stead, Americans should have been instructed in ways to become involved; much like the efforts to conserve resources during the Second World War. We needed a readiness plan. Failing to involve every American was the biggest mistake; and one that the enemy does not hesitate to employ in their media exploits.
Do not waste our time, Senator Boxer, with your unprofessional outbursts, aimed at the heart strings of Americans. These are the times when the tough need to get tougher and we need to get behind the efforts to stop the insane ‘world’ violence that will, if not dealt with, bring this great nation to its knees. Make no mistake, all you on the hilltops of society, it is not the warriors, or their families, that do a disservice to this nation; instead, as Senator Boxer alluded, it is those that do not have any vested interest or are not choosing to “Pay the Price.” In the Second World War the home front united and paid the sacrifice to win the battle; where is that commitment now?
God Bless America
Robert R. White
Former Gunnery Sergeant
United States Marine Corps
Portland, Oregon

Politicians who have a heart that says ‘when you hurt, I hurt. Your loss is mine as much as it is your’ are fast becoming an ‘endangered species’. I don’t think the Senator’s remark to Dr. Rice was as much a snide at the well accomplished Secretary as it is an unwitting admission of her own shameful selfishness. Of course, her children are either too old or too young so she has nothing to lose personally. Well, this is about America and not about the Boxer clan. Now, we know whether or not the Senator is for “God and Country” or for “me and my own”. Go Boxer, you have nothing to lose, not even your reputation because it is already in the mud!

Good Lord, what a joke! If any woman in Condi’s position is offended by this, then she doesn’t have the preverbal “balls” to be in the job. I read the transcript and this is so over blown it’s ridiculous. All she meant was the neither had no family members that were being affected. Which is a fact.
Talk about spin…. To use this as a springboard for any discussion is a joke.
Female psychological warfare??? I think I must be reading a comic book here.
What do you label it as when men speak frankly?

A Nov. 15 2007 AP story indicates Chevron was fined $30M by the SEC for bribing Saddams’s thugs in the “oil for food” deal and that Chevron may face tax evasion charges later. The bribes were in the millions so someone pretty high up at Chevron had to sign off on the payments. Unfortunately the AP story did not mention Dr. Condoleezza Rice the Chevron board member and the chairman of the “Public Policy Committee” which is responsible for making sure this kind of activity does not happen.
The Chevron website says the committee’s purposes include “identifying, evaluating and monitoring social, political and environmental trends, issues and concerns”, “analyzing how public policy trends could impact business activities and performance”. Dr. Rice never discussed the Iraqi bribes on the record (not in the minutes) at company meetings. That should not surprise anyone who is familiar with her lack of response to 911 warnings.
President Clinton put sanctions on Iraq. Actions by Chevron and Rice clearly violated those sanctions and amount to treason. I urge our new Attorney General Michael Mukasey and California Attorney General Jerry Brown determine who at Chevron authorized the millions in bribes.
Ellis