Call at National Guard conference for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq greeted with standing ovation

[bigtree]

Associated Press
August 25, 2007 6:08 PM

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A call by Puerto Rico's governor for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq earned a standing ovation Saturday from a conference of more than 4,000 National Guardsmen.

Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila said the U.S. administration has ''no new strategy and no signs of success'' and that prolonging the war would needlessly put guardsmen in harm's way.

''The war in Iraq has fractured the political will of the United States and the world,'' he said at the opening of the 129th National Guard Association general conference. ''Clearly, a new war strategy is required and urgently.''

Acevedo said sending more troops to Iraq would be a costly blunder.

''By increasing the number of National Guard and reserve troops, we put our soldiers in danger for the umpteenth time since the beginning of the global war on terrorism,'' said the governor, adding U.S. territories and states need Guard reserves in the event of natural disasters and domestic disturbances.

Col. David Carrion Baralt, the Guard's top official in the U.S. Caribbean territory, said Acevedo received a standing ovation.

''Maybe the (officers) were not expecting those kinds of comments, but having a dialogue is the point of conferences like these,'' Carrion said by phone.


http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565075331141468233

[rodeodance]

1. WHOW-------

[dickbearton]

13. K&R.

[rodeodance]

2. needs a big REC.

[rodeodance]

3. All the state govs need to do this!

[Benhurst]

4. Recommended #4

:kick:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. from a mother of national guard soldier...

:applause:
Bravo!!
BRAVO!

[tabasco]

6. As someone asked in another thread...

why do the troops hate the troops? :shrug:

[alfredo]

7. the military might be the only people willing to take down the junta.

That could have other negatives like a military government that promises to relinquish control to a civilian government and never does.

[Hardrada]

11. We need a a united front of soldiers and working class people.

General mutiny and general strike. It's worked before!!

[alfredo]

12. We will need to reach a tipping point. An air strike against Iran

could do it. Any move to cancel the elections could do it too, but I think bush Inc want to get out while the getting is good.

[Raster]

16. Get out while the getting is good? I don't think bushco* is that cognizant of reality.

Clearly bush* is still trying to prove something to his daddy and darth cheney* still wants to take over the world. Neither one will allow the specter of failure to jeopardize their visions of grandeur. No matter the cost in lives, no matter the cost in money, no matter the cost to the security of the United States of America. They will never admit defeat nor allow any course of action that would even suggest their failure.

[alfredo]

18. I think the cooler heads in the junta know the jig is up, that

the generals, the media, and leading Reps are turning. Warner turning could make it safer for other Reps to turn on bush. If there is a bloody or messy struggle for power between Allawi and Maliki, it will be harder for bush to justify his Iraq stand.

If this is a bad Christmas, maybe the business community will turn.

[Raster]

22. I spoke with my sister this morning. She lives deep in the heart of ultra-redneck Arizona.

And I don't mean that in a derogative way. I come from a family of farmers and ranchers, salt-of-the-earth folks, and the thing on their mind, the thing THEY ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT is what a disaster bush* and cheney* are how they NEED TO GO NOW! Don't tell me this country isn't ready for impeachment. This country is veritably screaming for it. Not that Congress appears to listen.

[alfredo]

23. If we can short circuit their efforts to delay any impeachment

I'd say go for it. But impeachment and removal should be the beginning of their nightmare.

[Az_lefty]

8. I love these guys...

:kick:

[datadiva]

9. A voice of sanity in an insane world n/t

[cheddar99]

21. You got that

right. (Kucinich vid.)

[democrank]

10. Bravo!

~PEACE~

[lovuian]

14. woohoo

:woohoo:

[MissWaverly]

15. yes, welcome news

let's hear it from sea to shining sea, Get out of Iraq, the country we invaded by mistake, do a u-turn, a 180
but get out. If we have to pay to fix up Iraq then we pay to fix it up. it's better than throwing
money at fraudulent contractors who produce no positive results. It's time for the catered war
to end, no more $100 loads of laundry, $100 cases of coke or moldy tents or tractor trailers
driving with 1 mail bag aboard.

[Telly Savalas]

17. Why do the troops hate the troops?

The troops need to support the troops.

[1776Forever]

19. My son has many Puerto Rican members in his unit - they & my son are being deployed

Thank God someone has the kahunas to stand up for our troops and say what needs to be said! We should start the draft and let every wife, husband, mother, father, son, daughter and friend know what it feels like to send their loved one off to combat. As one mother stated, she is getting ready for a funeral while Georgie and Laura are getting ready for a wedding!!!!!:argh:

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. WOW! 4000 NG is nothing to sneeze at! If all of them in that room feel this way, you KNOW

there's many, many more who feel the same way!They just need to feel comforable enough to VOICE IT!

WTG, Governor Vila!:thumbsup:

[yurbud]

24. kick for those who missed it