Yea, mc mark...Kerry's joint statement sounds solid, but his disgusting rhetoric is apparent. That is the truth... An Iraq with an elected and fair government is SO much better than a government with a murderous dictator who killed thousands upon tens of thousands of his own people...supported terroristic endeavors, blatantly took over a neighbor without international regard, and was substantially in keeping with the allure of destructive weapons... The potential of Iraq to show a better way of life is very promising, and that country will not be a threat, will not incite terroristic encouragement...How can anyone argue with that? One less country in the governmental support of terroristic endeavor...That IS in keeping with my mindset of what the war on terror is all about...There is a true middle-eastern connection to our war on terror, and to make an ideology-based impact of democracy in the land of the fanatical will reverberate for the long term...No doubt about that!
^ These are all good points but the devil is in the execution. Everything you say makes sense but the US has historically proven bad at nation building especially in the situation of what is pretty much an artificial nation with deep tribal and sectarian rifts. Further the mere imposition of democracy onto a society with no tradition of it has proven very questionable. So yes I can agree with all the points you raise and still believe that the invasion and occupation was a bad idea.
a josh post -- I'm a bit confused. I'm hearing a lot of reports about Republicans chanting about staying in Iraq forever, the danger of ever withdrawing our troops. There's Cheney. There's Frist. I can't say I've done a systematic scan of all media. I'm just saying what I've happened across during a day of work. And I'm not seeing any Dems. Not hearing any clear message. What Republicans want is More of the Same. That's the motto. More of the Same. The president says he wants to stay in Iraq for at least three more years. Virtually every Republican agrees. Three more years. They approve the course the president has set. They're for More of the Same. They don't have a plan. They just want to stay indefinitely. They're just for More of the Same. I must say it drives me to distraction that Democrats aren't saying this more clearly. Get on TV. Get on the radio. Why cede all the ground to the likes of Dick Cheney? -- Josh Marshall
After Criticism Of Dems For Pushing Timeline, Bush Admin Now Has ‘Adjustable' Troop Withdrawal Schedule... U.S. General in Iraq Outlines Troop Cuts WASHINGTON, June 24 — The top American commander in Iraq has drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September, American officials say. According to a classified briefing at the Pentagon this week by the commander, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the number of American combat brigades in Iraq is projected to decrease to 5 or 6 from the current level of 14 by December 2007. ------------------ Under the plan, the first reductions would involve two combat brigades that would rotate out of Iraq in September without being replaced. Combat brigades, which generally have about 3,500 troops, do not make up the bulk of the 127,000-member American force in Iraq. Now, after criticizing Democratic lawmakers for trying to legislate a timeline for withdrawing troops, skeptics say, the Bush administration seems to have its own private schedule, albeit one that can be adjusted as events unfold. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/w...&en=6477656e4067993d&ei=5094&partner=homepage
