Iraq War Dreams
Snipped from dailykos.com.
How is it that Republican congressional leaders can visit Iraq and come back still supporting Bush’s “splurge”? Just when you think you have had enough of the blind loyalty to a failed policy, another congressional leader comes back spouting optimism about the obviously dismal and deteriorating conditions in Iraq. Now it’s Rep. Michele Bachmann’s turn down the rabbit hole and she says that Bush just needs more time. What I don’t understand about this dreamland of the Republicans is that we have been through this before. This is not the first surge in troop level we have seen in Iraq over the last 5 years. What makes them think it will finally work this time? When you hear about what Bachmann’s “little” visit was like, you too will be amazed at the obvious mind-control that Bush has over his Republican cohorts.
Bachmann’s little visit was so limited that there could be no way that she could even pretend to assess any kind of progress in Iraq. The security conditions were so tight that it prevented Bachmann from meeting any Iraqis, leaving the Green Zone or even staying in Iraq overnight. It was reported that she and other congressional leaders were required to wear full body armor, including Kevlar helmets, during the entire trip. It was so dangerous with regular mortar blasts occurring in the supposedly fortified and secure Green Zone, that they couldn’t even stay one night. Does this sound like progress in Iraq?
Well, not to be deterred, Bachmann came back all smiles saying that she was encouraged by reports of progress from Crocker, Gen. Petraeus and other personnel in Iraq linked to the surge that she was upbeat and optimistic. She keeps echoing what other Republican dreamers keep saying that “the surge just needs a little more time”. And, that we should just wait until Gen. Petraeus gives us his candid report in September.
This is what really kills me is that we are betting billions of dollars and more lost lives, not to mention our entire future as a world leader, on one general who we know, as a good soldier he is, that in September he will say he just needs more time and probably even more soldiers to do the enemy in (whoever they are.). Have you ever known a general to say…”I just can’t succeed and I want to get out now”? Uh, no…a soldier is a soldier. That’s what they do is soldier. That’s why we have a civilian over the armed services and our Commander and Chief is likewise. Now we are handing the keys to the chicken coop over to the fox by the name of Petraeus?
Here is a portion of the article that reveals the reality on the ground.
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann continued to stand by President Bush’s military surge in Iraq, two days after returning from a congressional trip that put her in the line of fire while visiting Baghdad.
“It hasn’t had a chance to be in place long enough to offer a critique of how it’s working,” said Bachmann, R-Minn.
The delegation’s visit was harrowing at times. While visiting with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker at the U.S. Embassy inside Baghdad’s walled, high-security Green Zone on Friday, mortar blasts landed inside the American-controlled territory.
“This recorded message played four times while we were there, asking us to move away from any windows, to get on the ground and move to the center of the building,” Bachmann said. “(Crocker) stayed in his seat and kept talking with us the whole time. He never moved.”
I suppose the fact that Crocker stayed in his seat the whole time reveals how numb the Americans are who have been exposed to the continuous daily onslaught of chaos that is known as Iraq. If you would like to read the full article click the image below.
6 Comments so far
Leave a reply
New Scientist
The Onion
Media Matters
Newsvine
Associated Press
Yes, as stated above: soldiers are soldiers. During peace times the brass pray/wish for a war. Very few get promotions during a time of peace. War is what they constantly train for and war is a time of advancement. A long war, for them, is a good war. That’s the way it is for choosing a militray profession. As for a congresssional career, read the above. What a planned and orchestrated field trip Bachmann had! And was had!
–30–
Stan, I agree about soldiering as a profession. I don’t think people remember why we have civilians over the military. With Bush being such an incompetent, we are even willing to turn over our war policy to the very people who thrive on it. What do people expect Petraeus to say? He’s going to say we can win, we just need more time…and money…any lives…and patience…and time…and money…and lives, etc. etc.
Bush has hurt us in so many ways that I can’t even count them anymore. This may be the biggest yet..incompetence trumps better judgment. When will it ever end?
Thanks for the comment Stan. Have a great day!
How They Do It — Almost all Congressmen/women who travel to Iraq return with glowing reports of how safe it is in Iraq. And report back to us on how successful the surge is going as did Rep. Michele Bachmann whose (tourist) visit is described in Unum’s “Iraq War Dreams” above article.
The answer, as we all know now this past week, is Blackwater. //Hey, I ain’t afraid to visit HELL if I have Blackwater guards escorting me there and definitely back. Hot Gawk Yes!//
The fact of Blackwater people at escort work in Iraq is the answer to the question posed by Unum. Yes, it’s Blackwater escort guards. And this answer is easy to prove: during the four days Blackwater people were suspended from operating in Iraq, the U.S. Embassy also suspended all land travel by its diplomats and other civilian officials, including visitors like Rep. Bachmann.
So…Sooo, during those four days in Iraq, it was surely not safe enough to “do Iraq” as a tourist. No one could go forth without Blackwater. And that speaks for itself. Now we can, not only ignore, but disprove the vampy reports we’ve been getting and getting and getting. Those reports are just “Iraq War [day]dreams!” Worse than kaka propaganda.
Recent Blackwater background info? Click on:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IRAQ_BLACKWATER?SITE=CACHI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
-30-
Blackwater Question: Now with Rice’s constraints and $8 million damage fee, per guard/escort’s dead body, to the deceased’s relatives, I have a question. I am curious. Who is or is anyone from Congress going on these fact-finding trips anymore to Iraq?
What, no more glowing reports about how the surge is working, about how it is so safe and so secure in Baghdad or its suburbs? Hey, the government doesn’t have to hide things anymore or spruce up things in Iraq for these visitors.
Well, I understand why you’re not going. Why, think it over. It could be a sudden death tour when the protection is on such a tight reign. Just like the Blackwater guards/escorts are on hold, so too are the junkets to Iraq on hold? A dare. I dare you to visit Iraq to find out how the surge goes. Report back to us if you make it back. Gawk!
-30-
Question: Did all the Blackwater “civilian soldiers” get booted out of Iraq? I will bet the hard-ass fellows who shot up the 17 or 21 Iraqi pedestrians were spirited out of the country a.s.a.p. What about the others?
Why sure, it’s safe and secure in Iraq. Our Congresspersons go there all the time on junkets with Blackwater. Oh yeah, but the Department of State can’t get enough volunteers to go work in Iraq. So they ordering them to serve an assignment in Iraq or be dismissed. Forty to fifty vacancies will open up next year at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and the Department of State is listing “Prime Candidates.” Would you like to be a “”Prime Candidate?” By Gawk, “Prime Target,” is more like it.
-30-