With America Distracted by Sex, Iraq Explodes With Violence...

[bridgit]

Run time: 03:56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWYemIembGA   Posted on YouTube: April 17, 2015 By YouTube Member: YouTube Help Views on YouTube: 4674155   Posted on DU: December 01, 2006 By DU Member: bridgit Views on DU: 3787

 
'19 American soldiers have died this month in Iraq already and it's only October 4. Just today, the Iraqi government had to disband a brigade of 700 policemen who are accused of having ties to militia death squads. CNN Correspondent Michael Ware was on the Situation Room and paints a very bleak picture of the situation on the ground. As Ware says, we simply cannot afford to "stay the course."

WARE: Listen, Wolf, this is the way to put it in a nutshell. If the U.S. Continues its policy and operations as they are now, the situation will worsen and the enemies of the U.S., Principally al Qaeda and Iran will continue to strengthen. There's a number of options that are presented to Washington at the moment. They are the do this or they don't do this. They either need to get serious about the battle here on the ground. Physically against al Qaeda or in the insurgency. And commit the troops that the commanders need. Or they need to look for alternative solutions. At the end of the day, what they are fighting is potential by most of this country to be consumed bay shia led government with other parts of the government left as western al Qaeda desert training camps and facilities. To avoid that, something radical has to be done. Is the consensus. So Colin Powell is right. Staying the course will only further strengthen America's enemies, Wolf...'

[Chipper Chat]

1. bridgit: Why are you pestering us with insignificant war trivia.

These two all-amercan girls and their lives are Soo-o-oo much more important!

[NJCher]

2. Dems don't appear to be doing anything about leaving soon

And then we have this from the NY Times:

Headline: The Only Consensus on Iraq: Nobody’s Leaving Right Now

An excerpt, which is deeply disappointing: "Even the Democrats, with an eye toward 2008, have dropped talk of a race for the exits, in favor of a brisk stroll. But that may be the only solace for Mr. Bush as he returns from a messy encounter with Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/01/world/middleeast/01assess.html?hp&ex=1165035600&en=23288604c88e981a&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Matcom had a thread the other day: Get the hell out. Just get the hell out. That IS an option, especially in the face of information such as the above (and not especially new to anyone who reads this board).

Yes, the situation is complicated. But staying does not make it any less so. As the clip posted above shows, substantially more troops have to be committed (and it may in fact be impossible to meet those troop levels because we do not have them). Or, as the reporter above says, "...something radical has to be done."




Cher

[wtmusic]

3. Look for a replay of Vietnam

where the war drags on for years with mounting casualties. Then we start scrambling for the exit.

"Get the hell out" is an option, but will never happen--there is not one American policy maker who has the vision and fortitude to rally the country around it.

[Chipper Chat]

5. Dennis Kucinich tried.

"Get the UN in and the US out." That was his mantra all during 2004.
Only Howard Dean was listening.

[spillthebeans]

4. Al Qaeda?

Did they put something in his water?