Powell, in Baghdad, Suggests That Critics 'Hold Their Fire'

[cthrumatrix]

Powell, in Baghdad, Suggests That Critics 'Hold Their Fire'

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, September 15, 2003; Page A01


BAGHDAD, Sept. 14 -- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said today that he was "deeply impressed" by the progress of the U.S.-led effort to reconstruct Iraq and guide the country toward self-rule despite continuing attacks on American forces and critical infrastructure.

Powell, the highest-ranking American to visit Iraq since Saddam Hussein's government was toppled in April, arrived here aboard a C-130 military transport and spent the day meeting with U.S. military commanders, reconstruction officials and members of Iraq's Governing Council. He also attended a session of the Baghdad City Council and had lunch with Iraq's newly appointed foreign minister.

Although Powell spent the day in a high-security bubble and met only with Iraqis who had been vetted by the U.S. occupation authority, he expressed satisfaction with the pace of the American reconstruction effort, which has been criticized as too slow by many ordinary Iraqis.

snip

At his news conference, which was televised live on a U.S.-operated channel here, Powell played down the U.S. role as an occupying power. "We are not occupiers. . . . We are liberators," he said. "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10677-2003Sep14.html

I better change the definition of 'liberation' in my dictionary.

[w4rma]

1. They're stepping up the propaganda and disinformation (n/t)

[sventvkg]

2. I hope he never comes back as long as he lives!

:)

[dbt]

3. 'Hold their fire.' How RICH is that!

Pick a day from 1992 onward in which the Pugs were not 'criticizing' one WJ Clinton (see Lawfully Elected) with both barrels. Now, disagreeing with the Regime is treason. Go figure.

:grr:
dbt

(And I seem to remember the whole planet trying to get bu$h to hold his fire over Iraq!)

[saigon68]

4. COLON BOWEL IN IRAQ--- PLANS NEW ENEMA

Although Powell spent the day in a high-security bubble.

He's living in some kind of Mid-East fairy tale world.

I wonder how many (retired?/active duty) guards with machine guns he had protecting his sorry ass.

[The Zanti Regent]

5. What are you gonna do Colin?

Emulate Bojangles and tap dance on Dan Rather if he opens his mouth???

[Sushi_lover]

6. And I say to open discussion of our plan: Bring it on!

Something you'll never hear this administration say.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Don't occupiers always call themselves liberators? n/t

[teryang]

8. HOLD YOUR WALLETS is more like it!

87 BILLION DOLLAR PHOTO OP.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Two painful ironies here

First, the phrase "hold their fire", a few days after the US troops killed the Iraqi police in a 3 hour gun battle (how could it have gone on for 3 hours?)

Second, "deeply impressed by the progress of the US-led effort ... despite continuing attacks on American forces and critical infrastructure". As opposed to the American attack on the Iraqi police force, which is surely a critical part of the infrastructure.

His language really is becoming Orwellian. Does he know what crap (and hurtful crap, to the families of the policemen who thought they were on the American side, trying to build a new Iraq) he's talking? Or is it doublethink - does he really believe that the progress is good, despite the evidence?

[argonne]

10. Powell has lied

so many times his credibility is nil. Any WMD today, Colin? Why doesn't he just stay there?

[hatrack]

11. And if we don't "hold our fire", what then, Colin?

Does that make us "unpatriotic"?

Does that make us "unamerican"?

Does that mean that "the terrorists have won"?

[htuttle]

12. I think he was talking to the troops in Baghdad

Literally.

"Men, Hold your fire! Please don't shoot at me!"

[bvar22]

13. Can you say: "Potemkin village"?

<snip from referenced article>

"Although Powell spent the day in a high-security bubble and met only with Iraqis who had been vetted by the U.S. occupation authority..."

[pfitz59]

21. Beat me to the punch!

Fucking Powell is the "dog and pony" expert! Goes back to My Lai! ("Me? Lie?") Casblanca said it best "round up the usual suspects"! Whole exercise is a sham.....

[rocktivity]

14. Ain't Liberation Great?

Powell and other administration officials have said the United States would not be willing to relinquish control over the country's civil administration.

"Everybody would like to accelerate this," Powell said. "...We don't want to stay here a day longer than we have to..."

At the same time, he said, "We can't just say, 'You are a government, fine, go, you have full authority.' "

Well, why not--especially since self-governance was the point of liberating them?

[Sick of Bullshit]

18. Why not?

Because that would defeat the purpose of the invasion.

Iraq has second-largest known reserves of oil (and high grade at that) in a world that is seeing supplies dwindle

War led by two "former" oil men, who are "advised" on security matters by a former oil company director

First thing "secured" in the war were the all-important oil fields

Ministry of Oil was protected while other Iraqi government ministries were ransacked

Big oil contracts signed as soon as previous regime ousted-- including a contract to the "former" company of national security advisor

[wellst0nev0ter]

24. Oil? What Oil?

That's about $200 million higher than projected just last month, mostly because the U.S. has been forced to import oil and fuels into Iraq, which has the world's second-largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia. Importing oil, gasoline, diesel and propane is costing the United States about $6 million per day.

http://www.forbes.com/markets/commodities/newswire/2003/09/12/rtr1080160.html

[hang a left]

15. PULL!!!!!!!!!

[newyorican]

16. Until after the election...

When will these fools realize you cannot talk up either the economy or a clusterfuck in Iraq.

[leesa]

17. Why is he so afraid to walk among those 'liberated' Iraqis

This man has committed treason against his country and is guilty of war crimes for lying to the UN and the US about Saddam's alleged weapons. I hope he receives the ultimate punishment for his crimes.

[beanball]

19. What this country is

an elected democratic congress so they can impeach Shrub and jail him and his cabinet,off to Gitmo you lying thugs.

[nomaco-10]

23. Maybe he's afraid he'll get pelted with...flowers.

[jamesinca]

20. If those Iraqis would just listen to Bush they would know better

" he expressed satisfaction with the pace of the American reconstruction effort, which has been criticized as too slow by many ordinary Iraqis."


What would the Iraqis know about the condition of their own life?

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

22. Fuck you, Powell.

You are a traitor to America.