Iraq war
6 years in, and a 40-year flashback
As has been widely noted, this past week marked the fifth anniversary of the Bush administration's unethical, immoral, and unwinnable war in Iraq. As the war enters its sixth bloody year, no end appears in sight. The fragile, fractious political situation in Iraq is no better now than it ever was. The public infrastructure is still shattered, with such basic necessities as electricity and potable water still widely unavailable in many regions of the country for more than a few hours a day. The so-called surge is stalled and its tenuous successes are failing to take hold. Everyday violence is still omnipresent, and the 3,000-year-old civilization of Iraq is still in shattered ruins. By any measure, George Bush's ill-advised Iraq adventure is an unqualified disaster.
Numerous comparisons have been made between the untenable situation in Iraq today and the equally untenable situation in Vietnam back in the 1960's. Not all of those comparisons are apt or accurate, but many of them are. America in the spring of 1968 was a very different place than it is in the spring of 2008, even though it's fundamentally unchanged in many ways today. Racial and political tensions were far higher then than they are today, with riots in the streets still in the news and bombings of banks and other public institutions still far too common for comfort. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were raw wounds in the shared psyche of America in 1968. And overseas, an endless war against amorphous insurgents continued to drain the hearts and minds and blood and treasure of our nation's best and brightest for the sake of a cause that no one could satisfactorily explain at home.
Iraq quagmire | Iraq war | Tet offensive | Aaron Brown | ABC | America | CBS | CNN | Iraq | Vietnam | Walter Cronkite
Dear Iraq: I'm Just Not That Into You. -America
Hey Iraq,
What's up? It's me, America. I'm sorry I didn't really plan anything for our five-year anniversary Wednesday. You know I was never good with dates, or making plans, or remembering anything, especially when it comes to your needs. I mean I could barely keep your family members straight, you know like your Shia/ Sunni thing? That was really confusing! Wow, five years is a long time. You know, when I brought you democracy five years ago, I was really into you. In fact, I had had my eye on you for a long time. I was just waiting for some excuse to pursue you. So when that whole 9/11 thing happened, it seemed like the perfect ice-breaker. And I made a move.
But I think I was maybe into you for the wrong reasons. I've been doing a lot of processing lately. Remember how I used to tell you how badly I wanted to "invade you" and "liberate you" from that abusive dictator? Well I did. And after I freed you from Saddam, I ravished you; I ravished your oil fields, and I privatized your industries and and I drilled you long and hard until you didn't have any oil left to give me... and it was great.
five year anniversary of war in iraq | Iran | Iraq quagmire | Iraq war | seymour hersh
Yes...The Republicans DID Lie to Americans to Justify the Iraq Quagmire
As oil and wheat prices skyrocket, banks quite literally teeter on the brink of collapse, our soldiers keep dying, and the US deficit keeps on climbing, we may sometimes forget the monumental blunder that got us into this mess: the invasion of Iraq.
This is the number one drain on our economy, the number one reason for high prices and the number one reason the international alliance that supported American after 9/11 now barely speaks to us.
The Iraq Blunder is one of the biggest blunders ever in American History...and yet the George Bush/John McCain/Joe Lieberman axis of blunders STILL thinks we should be occupying Iraq for eternity.
But the one, single question that no Republican has ever been able to answer is just why did we ever invade in the first place. Why did we invade, what are our goals, what is our exit strategy? No answer from Bush. No answer from McCain. No answer from Lieberman.
No answer because there IS no answer. Every single excuse they ever gave us for invading Iraq proved to be a lie. I was one of those who, at the time they were making their case to the world for invasion, was dead certain they were lying. My knowledge of history and politics, everything I knew about the Middle East and Islam told me their excuses were lies. Those of us who saw through their lies were proven right. This morning I was reminded of this, on the eve of the 5th year anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq Blunder, that I was right.
Iraq quagmire | Iraq war | Republican lies | George Bush | Iraq | Israel | John McCain
Introducing Diane Benson: One Tough Woman Running for Congress in Alaska
I have recently covered Republican corruption in Alaska, focusing first on the VECO scandal that seems to involve a big chunk of the Republican Party in Alaska, then on Don Young, the corrupt Republican Congressman from Alaska. Don Young may be one of the most endangered Republicans in Congress today, dogged by the FBI, a Republican Primary...and Diane Benson: (video and much of the below info compiled from her website)
Diane Benson is very strong on important and progressive issues such as ending the Iraq War, veteran's benefits, developing and conserving the environment and extending quality health care and insurance to all. She is also a staunch supporter of the SCHIP program and of legislation to control the pharmaceutical industry. She would be a kick ass addition to the Democratic Congress and does not represent business as usual.
Election 2008 | fisheries | Iraq war | Native American | Alaska
NYC Fundraiser for Diane Benson for Congress
I have volunteered to be on the Host Committee for a fundraiser for one of the most amazing women I have ever met: Diane Benson running for Congress in Alaska. And she has been outraising her Republican opponent! Yes, folks, we have a real shot at getting rid of yet another corrupt Bush/Abramoff Republican and replacing him with a true working class American patriot.
Join me on March 18th for a fundraiser to benefit Alaska Congressional candidate Diane Benson. The event will be held at the home of Barbara and Morris Pearl, 1020 Park Avenue (corner of 85th Street) from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM.
Our special guest speakers for the evening will be our local Congresswoman, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, and Jon Soltz, Co-Founder and Chairman of VoteVets.Org and a veteran of the Iraq War.
Diane Benson is a true American from a working class background, a former teamster and commercial fisherman, whose son lost both his legs serving in Iraq.
Diane Benson is very strong on important and progressive issues such as ending the Iraq War, veteran's benefits, developing and conserving the environment and extending quality health care and insurance to all. She is also a staunch supporter of the SCHIP program and of legislation to control the pharmaceutical industry.
Election 2008 | Iraq war | working class | Alaska | Congress | New York
VOTE TODAY: Election Day in Virginia and Ohio
Today are two important special elections for Congress: VA-1 and OH-5. Both used to be safe republican districts, but the Iraq Quagmire and Bush's staggering unpopularity have turned them into hotly contested districts. The Republican Party is so spooked over these that they are actually going deep into debt to try and win them. They are pouring money they don't have into these distircts, yet going into election day both seats are still up in the air.
VIRGINIA's 5th Congressional District:
Philip Forgit is aIraq War Vet and a Bronze Star recipient . He served with a Naval Special Warfare Unit as an advisor to the Iraqi Army in 2005-2006. Prior to being called up Forgit was a 4th grade teacher at Rawls Byrd Elementary, winning the 2005 National Education Association (NEA) Award for Teaching Excellence. Bronze Star AND NEA award for Teaching Excellence. Seems like an excellent candidate.
Phil Forgit has been endorsed by Teamsters Local 95, Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, Captain Ted Hontz USN (Ret) Former Commanding Officer, Aegis Training Center, Chap Petersen, State Senator-Elect, 34th District (and someone I have pushed for before!), Sheriff Gerald S. Holt, and many others.
Forgit has a shot at winning, albeit a long shot. What he needs is a high voter turn out. So, if you live in that district VOTE. And if you want to help (from within or outside the district) please contact Forgit's campaign NOW.
election 2007 | Iraq Veteran | Iraq war | OH-5 | VA-1 | Congress | Ohio | Virginia
In the Words of our Troops
Lying on my cot, I came to the point that many people reach in a situation where they stop what they’re doing and say, "Wait a second. This is bullshit. This isn’t right." Two guys in our battalion were dead, two families ruined. And try as I might, I couldn’t figure out what the purpose of that was.
Things that had been welling up inside me all summer suddenly exploded in my head like a dozen Roman candles. I hated the president for his ignorance. I hated Donald Rumsfeld for his appalling arrogance and his lack of judgment. I hated their agenda. I hated Colin Powell for abandoning the Army—for not taking care of his soldiers—when he could have done something to stop these people. I hated them because the Army had seen this insurgency coming. I hated them because they didn’t listen to the people who told them this was a bad plan. I hated them because now, it meant that my guys could be next. It meant that I could be next. And I didn’t want to die like this—not in a confusing mishmash of ideologies, purposes, and bullets.
I felt like we had been taken advantage of. We were professionals sent on a wild goose chase using a half-baked plan for political reasons. Lying there restlessly, I was reminded of a Schwarzenegger line in one of his movies—when, after being used and lied to, his muscle-bound character had expressed perfectly what was now on my mind: My men are not expendable. And I don’t do this kind of work.
I longed for the clarity of purpose we’d had in Afghanistan.
Iraq quagmire | Iraq war | listening to our troops
Deporting Parents of Dead Soldiers is 'Excessive' and 'Harsh' Punishment
New America Media, Commentary, Domenico Maceri, Posted: Sep 04, 2007
Editor’s Note: The father of U.S. Private Armando Soriano, 20, who died in Iraq is facing deportation. Many parents of U.S. soldiers who are fighting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are facing the same fate. Domenico Maceri, Ph.D, teaches foreign languages at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif. His articles have appeared in many newspapers and some have won awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications.
Three years after U.S. Army Private Armando Soriano, 20, died fighting in Haditha, Iraq, his father is facing deportation. Soriano is now buried in Houston, Tex., his hometown, where his parents, undocumented workers from Mexico, are currently living.
Before his death Soriano had promised his parents he’d help them get green cards. He only succeeded partially before losing his life. Although his mother was able to obtain a green card, his father did not qualify and is on the verge of being deported.
Enrique Soriano, Armando’s father, is not the only person to have lost a son or daughter in the Iraq war and face deportation. There are more than 3 million people born in the U.S. with parents who came into the country illegally. Those born in the U.S. are automatically citizens and have all the rights and duties enjoyed by Americans. That includes military service with the possibility of losing one’s life.





Open Thread | Deportation | Families of Soldiers | Immigrant Rights | Immigration | Iraq war | Armando Soriano | Domenico Maceri | Enrique Soriano | George W. Bush | New America Media
Meet Larry Kissell and Ambassador Joe Wilson in Charlotte, NC
When Bush lied about Iraq's WMD program so we could invade, one man called foul: Ambassador Joe Wilson who KNEW Bush was lying and said so. For his loyalty to the truth, his wife, a CIA agent, was punished by having her identity leaked to the media.
Larry Kissell, who probably won the NC-8 Congressional race but was cheated of his victory by Republican fraud, has invited Ambassador Joe Wilson to come to Charlotte, NC to speak in September. Here are the details from Larry Kissell:
Being willing to stand up and tell the truth, regardless of the consequences, is heroic. Unfortunately, we don't see too many heros in politics these days. I'm proud to tell you that Ambassador Joe Wilson, someone who has truly stood up to defend our Constitution as well as his family, is coming to campaign for us in Charlotte.
Please help me in welcoming Ambassador Wilson to Charlotte, NC September 22 for a fundraising reception. Ambassador Wilson is the author of the July 2003 New York Times Op-Ed piece "What I Didn't Find in Africa" and the memoir "The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity: A Diplomat's Memoir."
See on-line for details and advanced tickets.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Congressman John Spratt and I are hosting the evening.
Election 2008 | Iraq quagmire | Iraq war | Republican lies | Ambassador Joe Wilson | Democratic Party | Iraq | Larry Kissell
Shocking testimony from the Haditha massacre trial.
Posted by Adam Howard at 5:31 PM on August 31, 2007.
Adam Howard: Shocking testimony from the Haditha massacre trial.
Lance Corporal Humberto Mendoza testified this week that Marine Sargeant Frank Wuterich, who faces 17 counts of murder over the Haditha killings, ordered him to execute Iraqi women and children.
The marines had been responding to a roadside bomb on November 19, 2005 when a roadside bomb killed one in their midst. Mendoza says Wuterich ordered him and his fellow marines o begin clearing housses in search of insurgents, what followed was one of the most horrific episodes reported out of Iraq:
At one house Wuterich gave an order to shoot on sight as Marines waited for a response after knocking on the door, said Mendoza.
"He said 'Just wait till they open the door, then shoot,'" Mendoza said.
Mendoza then said he shot and killed an adult male who appeared in a doorway.
During a subsequent search of the house, Mendoza said he received an order from another Marine, Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum, to shoot seven women and children he had found in a rear bedroom.
"When I opened the door there was just women and kids, two adults were lying down on the bed and there were three children on the bed ... two more were behind the bed," Mendoza said.
"I looked at them for a few seconds. Just enough to know they were not presenting a threat ... they looked scared."
Open Thread | Haditha | Iraq war | Adam Howard | Lance Corporal Humberto Mendoza


























