Pentagon sounds out troops for Iraq backup

[Texsox]

The Pentagon was on Tuesday reviewing what active-duty forces could be quickly sent to Iraq in the coming weeks, as American diplomats scrambled to shore up the US-led coalition.

 

General Richard Myers, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the US top military commander, told a congressional hearing on Tuesday he had drawn up a "scrub" of US forces across the world to find out which units could be available at short notice, if required.

 

Gen Myers spoke as the resolve of some members of the coalition appeared to be wavering. Honduras decided on Monday to withdraw its 370 troops, which came in the wake of the Spanish government's announcement that it would pull out its 1,400 soldiers, who began returning home earlier this week.

 

On Tuesday Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's prime minister, said he would pull his country's 451 medical and engineering forces from Iraq if they were attacked. "We do not go there to fight," Mr Thaksin said. "If we get killed, why should we stay?"

Link to rest of gloomy news

[Texsox]

Yeah, come on all of you, big strong men,

Uncle Sam needs your help again.

He's got himself in a terrible jam

Way down yonder in Vietnam

So put down your books and pick up a gun,

We're gonna have a whole lotta fun.

 

And it's one, two, three,

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam;

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why,

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

 

Well, come on generals, let's move fast;

Your big chance has come at last.

Gotta go out and get those reds —

The only good commie is the one who's dead

And you know that peace can only be won

When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come.

 

And it's one, two, three,

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam;

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

 

Huh!

 

Well, come on Wall Street, don't move slow,

Why man, this is war au-go-go.

There's plenty good money to be made

By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,

Just hope and pray that if they drop the bomb,

They drop it on the Viet Cong.

 

And it's one, two, three,

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam.

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

 

Well, come on mothers throughout the land,

Pack your boys off to Vietnam.

Come on fathers, don't hesitate,

Send 'em off before it's too late.

Be the first one on your block

To have your boy come home in a box.

 

And it's one, two, three

What are we fighting for ?

Don't ask me, I don't give a damn,

Next stop is Vietnam.

And it's five, six, seven,

Open up the pearly gates,

Well there ain't no time to wonder why,

Whoopee! we're all gonna die.

[The Bones]

whilst we're posting anti-war songs here's one that's a little more recent

 

In A World Gone Mad

In a world gone mad it’s hard to think right

So much violence hate and spite

Murder going on all day and night

Due time we fight the non-violent fight

 

Mirrors, smokescreens and lies

It’s not the politicians but their actions I despise

You and Saddam should kick it like back in the day

With the cocaine and Courvoisier

But you build more bombs as you get more bold

As your mid-life crisis war unfolds

All you want to do is take control

Now put that axis of evil bulls*** on hold

Citizen rule number 2080

Politicians are shady

So people watch your back 'cause I think they smoke crack

I don’t doubt it look at how they act

 

In a world gone mad it’s hard to think right

So much violence hate and spite

Murder going on all day and night

Due time we fight the non-violent fight

 

First the ‘War On Terror’ now war on Iraq

We’re reaching a point where we can’t turn back

Let’s lose the guns and let’s lose the bombs

And stop the corporate contributions that their built upon

Well I’ll be sleeping on your speeches ‘til I start to snore

‘Cause I won’t carry guns for an oil war

As-Salamu alaikum, wa alaikum assalam

Peace to the Middle East peace to Islam

Now don’t get us wrong ‘cause we love America

But that’s no reason to get hysterica

They’re layin’ on the syrup thick

We ain’t waffles we ain’t havin’ it

 

In a world gone mad it’s hard to think right

So much violence hate and spite

Murder going on all day and night

Due time we fight the non-violent fight

 

Now how many people must get killed?

For oil families pockets to get filled?

How many oil families get killed?

Not a damnone sowhat’s thedeal?

 

It’s time to lead the way and de-escalate

Lose the weapons of mass destruction and the hate

Say ooh ah what’s the White House doin’?

Oh no! Say, what they got brewing?!

Well I’m not pro Bush and I’m not pro Saddam

We need these fools to remain calm

George Bush you’re looking like Zoolander

Trying to play tough for the camera

What am I on crazy pills? We’ve got to stop it

Get your hand out my grandma’s pocket

We need health care more than going to war

You think it’s democracy they’re fighting for?

 

In a world gone mad it’s hard to think right

So much violence hate and spite

Murder going on all day and night

Due time we fight the non-violent fight