Will anyone actually stand up to Bush if he continues his

[Target_For_Exterm]

"stay the course" lunacy in Iraq? Or worse, adds Iran to the mix?

I know Biden has spoken out about this, but my greatest fear is that Bush will continue his stupidity and Congress will just go along with it.

I feel for our soldiers. While some would say they caused their own grief because they joined the military, I disagree. For many of these guys, local economics made the military about the only job available. Or they joined to get medical care for family members, or something similar. What they end up with is the Bush meat grinder.

I wouldn't feel so bad about all this if what Bush and his pals are doing actually made sense for our national security. It doesn't. They're just making everything worse.

But you can't budge them from their determined "stay the course." Bush is also crazy enough to think it's no big deal to add Iran to our plate of military activities. I keep thinking that things can't get worse, then Bush proves to me that he CAN make things worse...

At this point, no matter what we do in Iraq - stay or pull out - we're seriously screwed.

Do you think Congress will put the kabosh on Bush's war games, or will they cave and go along with the dictator-in-chief?

[MrModerate]

1. I don't think they can order him to withdraw . . .

They can cut off funding or impeach the bastard, but I think he gets to pick where the troops go otherwise.

Defunding is not so likely -- fear of getting burned as someone who left "our kids" naked in Baghdad. Impeachment? Would take too long and prevent anything else from getting done over the next two years. Also hand dynamite to the 'Licans.

Don't think either course is likely.

[Monkeyman]

2. Things most change our military is breaking

[lvasconcellos]

3. 3500 additional troops are already on their way to Kuwait...

and the Pentagon is spinning trying to figure out how to get more meat for the grinder. It's pretty clear to me after Gates backed away from his previous statements about how the war was going, and how Bush totally ignored the ISG that Bush is relying on the only thing he knows: stubborn, go-it-alone mule headedness. Nice to know we live under a form of dictatorship where one man (and a stupid one at that) determines our future.

[pinto]

4. I remain optimistic that a Democratic Congress will move to rein in

Bushco's failed Administration come January and the 110th Congress. It remains to be seen how successful we are.

(aside) I don't buy the Iran war buzz. The recent show of force in the Persian Gulf is just that, imo. Parading the flag in the Gulf. This kind of maneuver has been done numerous times and I don't think it portends an imminent strike on Iran. They know it, we know it, Europe knows it, Russia and China know it. Just my 2 cents.

[calimary]

5. They'll be more effective if they're hounded within an inch of their lives

by us voters, who remind them relentlessly that "stay the course" is NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR.

See helpful TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers in my sig line.

If they think we don't care, THEY WON'T, EITHER!!!!!!

[pinto]

6. Yep, I support keeping our reps' feet to the political fire.

And supporting them in the process. :thumbsup:

[calimary]

8. That is absolutely correct. If we have their back (and they're reminded

of it, unavoidably), they will provide a stronger front.

[TahitiNut]

9. Keep shoveling. There's gotta be a pony in there somewhere.

:rofl:

[MrCoffee]

19. standing ovation.

couldn't have said it better myself! :rofl:

[roody]

7. In Vietnam the troops started not taking orders,

then started harming their officers.

[TahitiNut]

10. (Nonsense.) Got a cite for that?

:eyes:

[roody]

11. I was listening to tUC radio yesterday.

The story of Martin Luther King. http://www.tucradio.org/new.html

[roody]

12. Google fragging Vietnam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frag_(military)

[TahitiNut]

13. As I thought, nonsense hyperbole without reputable support.

Fraggings have occurred in every war, on all sides. As a Viet Nam vet, I long ago lost patience with this delusional crap about a 'broken' Army and mutinous behavior. Pure, unadulterated bullshit.

[roody]

14. A little research is good.

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1981/jan-feb/gabriel.htm

[TahitiNut]

15. It is? Then why are you citing a report that doesn't support your claim?

That report merely examines "unit cohesion" and compares the Marine Corps to the Army in Viet Nam. If you bothered to examine the era, you'd discover that the unique feature of Army manpower management in Viet Nam was the deployment and replacement of troops as individuals, not as units who trained together and were deployed together. Try paying attention to the predominant manpower management in Iraq - where units are pulled out of Iraq, either to the states or to a rear area like Kuwait, and the personnel are replenished and exercised before redeployment. When we hear about the deployment of troops to Iraq, we hear about it in terms of units ... typically brigade size. Yes, "unit cohesion" in Viet Nam was a recognized problem ... but NOT due to conscripts or the political nature of the war or other claimed causes. It was due to the fact that, subsequent to the major ramp up of the war, the units were never trained and deployed as units - they were collections of individuals, each of whom had to find a "fit" in their squad/platoon/company within the combat zone itself.

This "go alone and come back alone" was also an exacerbating factor in psychological adjustment - the absence of a support group.

So, please try peddling that bullshit where fertilizer is appreciated.

[Imagevision]

16. We need the investigations to expose Bush, then even GOPers will fall like dominoes

Who was backing Nixon when he started to fall????

[madokie]

17. somebody needs to jerk a knot in his ass

[blues90]

18. I think bush will "stay the course"

The "new way forward" is just another one of the endless buzz phrases .

I wish I had the confidence many share reguarding congress and the senate however I do not .

Just hearing Fords speachs today I hear the same promise of hope and fairness and there stands rummy and cheney and kissinger .

I know there was a large democratic turnout but this required just some to register and many to go out and vote , also many republicans that refused to vote and still add in the voting machines and we just managed to flip the numbers enough . This was an act that did not require much effort voter wise .

What people bring up constanty about maiking calls and holding the dems feet to the fire is not such a simple effort that I expect that many voters to pursue .

Impeachment even though there is effort will take alot of time even though I agree it needs to be done it is not an instant effect that will stop bush and his club in their tracks . I think this is wishfull hoping but worthy .

As far as the middle east , they did'nt build this up to give it up quite so easy . Words alone will not stop them and I doubt if massive protests will do much either even though this would be my hope .

I still feel the mass of the population is still asleep and not involved enough whether through time or opportunity or ignorence . As I said voting takes little time , actual change takes the effort .

We are worse off now than when Ford left , we have a resession and wars in two countries . An insane hanging which may result in a bad outcome and destroyed broken cities such as New Orleans and Miss and many other states broken to poverty . A unlivable wage and no manufacturing jobs and massive outsourcing without a slow down in sight . Not to leave out high medical costs and housing and fuel .

We have yet to even begin to sacrifice out of the need to survive , what we do sacrifice is forced not willing .

Iran seems to be the distraction as Iraq became for Afghanistan .

This is the way I see it . Many or all may dissagree but we have moved backward and have not progressed in so many ways that I don;t see a way out of this hole any time soon . Many more will suffer and fall on all fronts before we see the worst of this . This is my fear .

[butterfly77]

20. Why are there so many so called leaders who are afraid,.,

to stand up,mainly repukes, the repukes don't have their own mind like most dems, they play follow the leader...