WAR IN IRAQ

At Last

Finally, the U.S. is taking more notice of ordinary Iraqis. After five years in Baghdad, a NEWSWEEK reporter hopes it's not too late

By Larry Kaplow | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Mar 17, 2008 | Updated: 10:46 a.m. ET Mar 17, 2008

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Posted By: hold2file @ 04/30/2008 7:53:30 AM

Comment: Our waste of 4,000 very good American lives was not "for Israel" but for both Iran that viewed Saddam as the instrument of the "Great Satan" US (Iran fed Chalabi the lies that he used to con us into going to war) and for George Bush #43 getting revenge on Saddam for trying to get a "hit" on George Bush #41.

It was not "war for oil" or politics but pure revenge.

The STUPIDITY of our State Department and CIA is that they didn't learn from Yugoslavia that when you have disparate cultures forged together by a criminal despot, when the despot dies all hell breaks loose as in Bosnia, Serbia, and all of the other pieces. Even Dick Cheney (Darth Vader) said in 1991 that if you got rid of Saddam would bring about a tremendous problem of creating a stable society to replacing his criminal infrastruture. In comparing Cheney to Darth Vader, most people still fail to realize the rest of the metaphor is that George Bush #43 is Darth Sidius.

And for the fools and fundamentalists who think our country can do no wrong, my "cred" is being a former Vietnam era Army Officer, life-long Republican (who trusted Bush #43 the first time and had no other choice the second time - Kerry is a bigger jerk), and Scoutmaster whose oldest son has had two tours in Iraq. If our country was a democracy based upon truth and law and order, Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld would be in jail for "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Obviously we have learned NOTHING from the deaths of 56,000 good Americans in the Vietnam war.
Posted By: hold2file @ 04/30/2008 7:53:23 AM

Comment: Our waste of 4,000 very good American lives was not "for Israel" but for both Iran that viewed Saddam as the instrument of the "Great Satan" US (Iran fed Chalabi the lies that he used to con us into going to war) and for George Bush #43 getting revenge on Saddam for trying to get a "hit" on George Bush #41.

It was not "war for oil" or politics but pure revenge.

The STUPIDITY of our State Department and CIA is that they didn't learn from Yugoslavia that when you have disparate cultures forged together by a criminal despot, when the despot dies all hell breaks loose as in Bosnia, Serbia, and all of the other pieces. Even Dick Cheney (Darth Vader) said in 1991 that if you got rid of Saddam would bring about a tremendous problem of creating a stable society to replacing his criminal infrastruture. In comparing Cheney to Darth Vader, most people still fail to realize the rest of the metaphor is that George Bush #43 is Darth Sidius.

And for the fools and fundamentalists who think our country can do no wrong, my "cred" is being a former Vietnam era Army Officer, life-long Republican (who trusted Bush #43 the first time and had no other choice the second time - Kerry is a bigger jerk), and Scoutmaster whose oldest son has had two tours in Iraq. If our country was a democracy based upon truth and law and order, Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld would be in jail for "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Obviously we have learned NOTHING from the deaths of 56,000 good Americans in the Vietnam war.
Posted By: hold2file @ 04/30/2008 7:30:29 AM

Comment: Justification of our stupidity and ineptitude in Iraq is like saying that pedophile priests are justified in what they do because of the "character" it gives to their victims.
Posted By: bohdansz @ 03/31/2008 8:04:23 AM

Comment: The problem of Iraq is al-Sadr! As long as he calls the power that tries to restore order "occupier," is is part of the problem, not the solution! A "cleric" that "has an army, which shoots at the seat of government - the Green Zone - is a bandit of the most vile kind! Al-Sadr is not a religious leader: he is an Islamic warmonger! A person like this must be caught and sent to The Hague on charges of banditry and genocide! His Sadr City must be cordoned by 80,000 troops, and every weapon must be confiscated! If not, America will be kowtowing to al-Sadr for many years to come!
Posted By: justaman1107 @ 03/26/2008 1:45:20 PM

Comment: Yet another story focucing on the negitive. It is time for someone to tell the people about the courage and nobility of not only our soldgeres and sailors but also the Iraqi people. For instance when the first free elections in Iraq were held in 2005, the Iraqi people were not detured from voting by attempts to bomb the voting centers. Insted over 60% of the elgable voting population voted. I work in a VA center and I tlak with warriors who have returned from Iraq every day. I listen to more storied that make me proud of our fighting men and wemen than anything else. I would say that over 95% of the warriors I have talked to had positive feedback about their mission(most of whome served in the most violent areas of Iraq). I served and continue to serve my self. I can tell you from personal experence that those who chose to serve this great country are not disadvantaged, mindless drones, who cant get a regular job. By in larg the men and wemen I have served with are the best and brighest people I have ever had the privilage of knowing. They are as a group the best critical thinkeres I have ever worked with. Give the warrior class some credit and apprication, they deserve it. Not only from our goverment, but most importantly from the people of the United States.
- Posted By: bohdansz @ 03/31/2008 08:19:45
  
  Comment: You may be a good man, Justaman, but your "critical thinking " is faulty and I will tell you why. When the Nation is in a desperate need of answers, like we are in Iraq, focusing on the positive alone is a dead end! Pope Benedict XVI said it best: "truth, positive or negative, if it is consistently maintained, is always perilous" (Principles of Theology, p.33). When it comes to Iraq, the best critical thinkers are those who point certain solutions, not the good or the bad of the situation! The solution in Iraq calls for disarmament of the militias! They are the "negative" in the equation! Al-Sadr City, and the "firebrand cleric" have been allowed to fester for five long years behind the walls of the Green Zone! Can you imagine an al-Sadr militia sitting behind the White House, hurling mortars for years at the President? That is the negative we are having in Iraq, a negative that we must talk about! The Generals of the U.S.Army, I am sorry to say, have been kowtowing to al-Sadr all these years! Until this changes, our soldiers, "critical thinkers," or not, will continue to die!
Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 03/26/2008 9:42:13 AM

Comment: Thanks for this honest reporting, unfortunately too little too late. As a marine grunt who served in Nam from 66-67, I saw and experience how a marine infantryman reacts toward the local villagers when they come under fire, they do things that normally back in the states would be considered criminal. The invasion and occupation of Iraq was based on lies and deception by the Zionist and neocons of the Bush administration in order to maintain Israel the super power in the Middle East. By defang Iraq military power, Israel can continue the systematic ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from their land unabated.
Basically, 4,000 American lives and hundred thousands of Iraqis have died for Israel.
Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 03/26/2008 9:41:03 AM

Comment: Thanks for this honest reporting, unfortunately too little too late. As a marine grunt who served in Nam from 67-68, I saw and experience how a marine infantryman reacts toward the local villagers when they come under fire, they do things that normally back in the states would be considered criminal. The invasion and occupation of Iraq was based on lies and deception by the Zionist and neocons of the Bush administration in order to maintain Israel the super power in the Middle East. By defang Iraq military power, Israel can continue the systematic ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from their land unabated.
Basically, 4,000 American lives and hundred thousands of Iraqis have died for Israel.

Carmelo, NJ
- Posted By: hold2file @ 04/30/2008 07:53:10
  
  Comment: Our waste of 4,000 very good American lives was not "for Israel" but for both Iran that viewed Saddam as the instrument of the "Great Satan" US (Iran fed Chalabi the lies that he used to con us into going to war) and for George Bush #43 getting revenge on Saddam for trying to get a "hit" on George Bush #41.
  
  It was not "war for oil" or politics but pure revenge.
  
  The STUPIDITY of our State Department and CIA is that they didn't learn from Yugoslavia that when you have disparate cultures forged together by a criminal despot, when the despot dies all hell breaks loose as in Bosnia, Serbia, and all of the other pieces. Even Dick Cheney (Darth Vader) said in 1991 that if you got rid of Saddam would bring about a tremendous problem of creating a stable society to replacing his criminal infrastruture. In comparing Cheney to Darth Vader, most people still fail to realize the rest of the metaphor is that George Bush #43 is Darth Sidius.
  
  And for the fools and fundamentalists who think our country can do no wrong, my "cred" is being a former Vietnam era Army Officer, life-long Republican (who trusted Bush #43 the first time and had no other choice the second time - Kerry is a bigger jerk), and Scoutmaster whose oldest son has had two tours in Iraq. If our country was a democracy based upon truth and law and order, Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld would be in jail for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
  
  Obviously we have learned NOTHING from the deaths of 56,000 good Americans in the Vietnam war.
- Posted By: hold2file @ 04/30/2008 07:52:56
  
  Comment: Our waste of 4,000 very good American lives was not "for Israel" but for both Iran that viewed Saddam as the instrument of the "Great Satan" US (Iran fed Chalabi the lies that he used to con us into going to war) and for George Bush #43 getting revenge on Saddam for trying to get a "hit" on George Bush #41.
  
  It was not "war for oil" or politics but pure revenge.
  
  The STUPIDITY of our State Department and CIA is that they didn't learn from Yugoslavia that when you have disparate cultures forged together by a criminal despot, when the despot dies all hell breaks loose as in Bosnia, Serbia, and all of the other pieces. Even Dick Cheney (Darth Vader) said in 1991 that if you got rid of Saddam would bring about a tremendous problem of creating a stable society to replacing his criminal infrastruture. In comparing Cheney to Darth Vader, most people still fail to realize the rest of the metaphor is that George Bush #43 is Darth Sidius.
  
  And for the fools and fundamentalists who think our country can do no wrong, my "cred" is being a former Vietnam era Army Officer, life-long Republican (who trusted Bush #43 the first time and had no other choice the second time - Kerry is a bigger jerk), and Scoutmaster whose oldest son has had two tours in Iraq. If our country was a democracy based upon truth and law and order, Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld would be in jail for "high crimes and misdemeanors."
  
  Obviously we have learned NOTHING from the deaths of 56,000 good Americans in the Vietnam war.