Bush wants a "War Czar" for Iraq, Afghanistan

[NorthSideSox72]

So now Bush wants a "War Czar" to oversee Iraq and Afghanistan. Because what this situation needs is another bureaucrat.

 

Nevermind that BushCo consistently ignored the military advice given by generals prior to each war. No, they'd prefer to have that information muddled even further before it hits their ears.

 

Check out the quote from one of the generals who turned them down (Sheehan).

[Balta1701]

Huh?

[Balta1701]

Link

In response to increasing criticism of his handling of the war in Iraq and the disaster in the Gulf Coast, as well as other issues, such as Social Security reform, the national deficit, and rising gas prices, President Bush is expected to appoint someone to run the U.S. as soon as Friday.

 

"During these tumultuous times, America is in need of a bold, resolute person who can get the job done," said Bush during a press conference Monday. "My fellow Americans, I assure you that I will appoint just such a person with all due haste."

[NorthSideSox72]

Huh?

That's what I said when I read it. It sounds like a joke, but its not.

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

I could go on a 20 minute rant about what I think of the way this war is being run but I would get in SOOOOO much trouble. I guess it took me coming back over here again here and now to see just how......well yeah, you see where Im coming from.

 

Suffice it to say that we could be doing sooooooo much with what we have here but our priorities are laughably out of whack.

[Texsox]

I could go on a 20 minute rant about what I think of the way this war is being run but I would get in SOOOOO much trouble. I guess it took me coming back over here again here and now to see just how......well yeah, you see where Im coming from.

 

Suffice it to say that we could be doing sooooooo much with what we have here but our priorities are laughably out of whack.

 

I thought the priorities were to find the WMD and remove SH from power.

Mission Accomplished!!

 

 

 

That's what I said when I read it. It sounds like a joke, but its not.

 

The Onion link the Balta tossed out there is a joke. It's the Onion. Too many frickin' MBAs around here

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

I thought the priorities were to find the WMD and remove SH from power.

 

 

Those were the original war aims. Now that this has shifted to a counterinsurgency fight things are different. Unfortunately, we're not doing nearly everything we can and, as I said, our priorities are just totally in the wrong place.

[NorthSideSox72]

The Onion link the Balta tossed out there is a joke. It's the Onion. Too many frickin' MBAs around here

 

Thanks Tex, I hadn't the slightest idea that the Onion was a farcical periodical.

 

...where's that rolly eye smiley...

 

signed,

NSS72, MBA

[Texsox]

Those were the original war aims. Now that this has shifted to a counterinsurgency fight things are different. Unfortunately, we're not doing nearly everything we can and, as I said, our priorities are just totally in the wrong place.

 

Maybe after achieving the original aims, we should have declared Mission Accomplished and exited.

[kapkomet]

I could go on a 20 minute rant about what I think of the way this war is being run but I would get in SOOOOO much trouble. I guess it took me coming back over here again here and now to see just how......well yeah, you see where Im coming from.

 

Suffice it to say that we could be doing sooooooo much with what we have here but our priorities are laughably out of whack.

And it's because the "American People", er I mean the American POLITICIANS (yes, both parties) don't have the balls to "get 'er done" and get ya'll back home.

 

Everything has to be all "PC" so that we don't "offend" anyone. IT'S A WAR, start acting like it.

 

I know, I know, it's easy for me to say this behind my keyboard not getting shot at. But, you either have to poop or get off the pot sometime, because the tact taken right now is not working.

[FlaSoxxJim]

I know, I know, it's easy for me to say this behind my keyboard not getting shot at. But, you either have to poop or get off the pot sometime, because the tact taken right now is not working.

 

I agree. And most Americans think it's long-past time to get of the pot, so hopefully the White House is listening.

[kapkomet]

By "getting off the pot", I don't mean getting out. I mean, finish the job and THEN get the hell out of there. They need to stop politicizing the whole damn thing and give these guys the means and directions to clean things up and then leave - so hopefully at that point there's not the vacuum that exists now should they leave.

[Texsox]

"get 'er done" and get ya'll back home.

 

 

 

Let's review Bush's call to war and what we accomplished

 

No Weapons of Mass Destruction

 

No Saddam

 

 

 

We got 'er' done!!

 

 

 

Now let's get them home.

 

 

 

Wow, Kap, Jim, and Tex all agree. Amazing.

[Soxy]

By "getting off the pot", I don't mean getting out. I mean, finish the job and THEN get the hell out of there. They need to stop politicizing the whole damn thing and give these guys the means and directions to clean things up and then leave - so hopefully at that point there's not the vacuum that exists now should they leave.

Just a question: how would you operationally define "finish the job," I'm just curious.

[kapkomet]

They've got to rid the sectarian violence enough to not leave a power vacuum when we leave.

 

Right now, they're not taking action because they don't want to "offend" (that is probably a really bad choice of words, but for lack of another word at the moment, that's what I'm using) or to not get the right people...

 

They have to use more force, show they are serious about ridding the troublemakers, and then ensure that the Iraqi's keep the peace after the areas have been cleaned out.

 

Another real problem is that the Shia vs. Sunni thing has gone on for 1,500 years, so there may not be an answer - but you certainly have to try, and just not "leave" right now.

 

 

Oh, by the way, the "war czar" is insanely ignorant.

[BigSqwert]

They've got to rid the sectarian violence enough to not leave a power vacuum when we leave.

 

Right now, they're not taking action because they don't want to "offend" (that is probably a really bad choice of words, but for lack of another word at the moment, that's what I'm using) or to not get the right people...

 

They have to use more force, show they are serious about ridding the troublemakers, and then ensure that the Iraqi's keep the peace after the areas have been cleaned out.

 

Another real problem is that the Shia vs. Sunni thing has gone on for 1,500 years, so there may not be an answer - but you certainly have to try, and just not "leave" right now.

Oh, by the way, the "war czar" is insanely ignorant.

We are seen as occupiers. Adding more troops will not help eradicate sectarian violence. Brute force alone is not the solution, as we have seen for the last few years.

Edited April 13, 2007 by BigSqwert

[kapkomet]

We are seen as occupiers. Adding more troops will not help eradicate sectarian violence. Brute force alone is not the solution, as we have seen for the last few years.

Really? That's not what a lot of guys say that are over there.

 

I do agree that "brute force" won't work, but you have to do more then you are... because otherwise we're just sitting on our butt letting the bad stuff happen.

[BigSqwert]

Really? That's not what a lot of guys say that are over there.

 

I do agree that "brute force" won't work, but you have to do more then you are... because otherwise we're just sitting on our butt letting the bad stuff happen.

We've seen what a strong U.S. military presence has done over there for the past few years....nothing. It seems that things are getting worse.

[Soxy]

They've got to rid the sectarian violence enough to not leave a power vacuum when we leave.

 

Right now, they're not taking action because they don't want to "offend" (that is probably a really bad choice of words, but for lack of another word at the moment, that's what I'm using) or to not get the right people...

 

They have to use more force, show they are serious about ridding the troublemakers, and then ensure that the Iraqi's keep the peace after the areas have been cleaned out.

 

Another real problem is that the Shia vs. Sunni thing has gone on for 1,500 years, so there may not be an answer - but you certainly have to try, and just not "leave" right now.

Oh, by the way, the "war czar" is insanely ignorant.

I guess I just look at the way Israel is, Iran's probable involvement in Iraq, and the general climate in the area and I can't help but think if we wait that out we'll probably be there another 1000 years--especially after the recent parliament bombing.

 

I don't think we can just leave now, but I really don't see us ever winning or even breaking even on this.

[Texsox]

I guess I just look at the way Israel is, Iran's probable involvement in Iraq, and the general climate in the area and I can't help but think if we wait that out we'll probably be there another 1000 years--especially after the recent parliament bombing.

 

I don't think we can just leave now, but I really don't see us ever winning or even breaking even on this.

 

 

 

No evil dictator, no WMD, we have already won. Trying to stop a religious civil war ain't ever going to happen. That's like calling a victory here when we end gang violence. If we are waiting for that day, it ain't ever coming. As soon as we get that through our skulls, we may start understanding why we can leave soon or much later and it won't make a difference.

[kapkomet]

I guess I just look at the way Israel is, Iran's probable involvement in Iraq, and the general climate in the area and I can't help but think if we wait that out we'll probably be there another 1000 years--especially after the recent parliament bombing.

 

I don't think we can just leave now, but I really don't see us ever winning or even breaking even on this.

And that might be true - but shouldn't we at least try?

 

A key point to all of this is, as well, we are there for Isreal, and Iran, and many other reasons as well... that is never talked about.

[BigSqwert]

but shouldn't we at least try?

Four years and thousands of casualties later....i'd say we've tried. We have no business occupying a foreign land in the middle of a civil war.

[Soxy]

And that might be true - but shouldn't we at least try?

 

A key point to all of this is, as well, we are there for Isreal, and Iran, and many other reasons as well... that is never talked about.

But we have been trying. I think that's what is so frustrating about it--reading news reports everyday about kids my age and younger that have given their lives TRYING. We toppled Saddam's regime what, 3.5 years ago (probably more) and we've been trying to get things in order since then. It seems like just aren't calming down over there. I read Nuke's blog about finding that huge IED factory and it's just like, my god we just can't keep up with it. It's not for lack of trying, it's just (I think) futile to think we can end this sectarian violence. I mean there was just that announcement about Turkey's crackdown on the Kurds. It's mind-boggling.

 

And I know we're there for Israel and Iran and Syria and all the rest of them. But, it's just so frustrating. I don't understand what kind of victory we think we're going to get over there.

[kapkomet]

But we have been trying. I think that's what is so frustrating about it--reading news reports everyday about kids my age and younger that have given their lives TRYING. We toppled Saddam's regime what, 3.5 years ago (probably more) and we've been trying to get things in order since then. It seems like just aren't calming down over there. I read Nuke's blog about finding that huge IED factory and it's just like, my god we just can't keep up with it. It's not for lack of trying, it's just (I think) futile to think we can end this sectarian violence. I mean there was just that announcement about Turkey's crackdown on the Kurds. It's mind-boggling.

 

And I know we're there for Israel and Iran and Syria and all the rest of them. But, it's just so frustrating. I don't understand what kind of victory we think we're going to get over there.

This is a difficult one... because I don't think the ideals of Islam and "capitalism"/"democracy" really coincide. Am I wrong about that? And, if they don't coincide, then you all are right, and we really are wasting our time.

[southsider2k5]

This is a difficult one... because I don't think the ideals of Islam and "capitalism"/"democracy" really coincide. Am I wrong about that? And, if they don't coincide, then you all are right, and we really are wasting our time.

 

They seem to just fine in Dubai FWIW.