It's becoming more and more a Shakespearean Tragedy on a scale that was unimaginable at the end of the 90's. For all the AWCB's who sent this idiot to the pinnacle of American Power, here's a headline for you:
U.S. toll in Iraq matches highest monthly level
At least 135 Americans killed in November, military says
And if that doesn't do it for you, then there's this to chew on:
Since U.S. forces invaded Fallujah on Nov. 8 to regain control, they have found about a dozen IED “factories,” a number of vehicles being modified to serve as car bombs, and at least 10 surface-to-air missiles capable of downing aircraft, Whitman said.
...
Whitman said other discoveries in Fallujah include:
* Plastic explosives and TNT.
* A hand-held Global Positioning System receiver for use in navigation.
* Makeshift shoulder-fired rocket launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, 122mm rockets and thousands of mortar rounds.
* An anti-aircraft artillery gun.
* More than 200 major weapons storage areas.
When the "insurgents" start being able to use SAM's/AAA effectively, it's going to get pretty bad. Most of the strike aircraft in our inventory can defend against and attack both effectively, but it's a major shift in the battle from a few "insurgents" to a force that can effectively counter/threaten our air power.
Believing that Fallujah is an endpoint for insurgency is the same fantasy-land imagineering that believing ignoring Osaman bin Forgotten will make Al-Qaeda disappear. For every Iraqi we harm wheter they meant our troops harm or no, we are incurring blood-debts in a country where that means something. If there is no consensus that the "elections" in January are representative of the will of the Iraqi's and not for the placement of a puppet government (and I give that a real small possibility), then it's truly going to be Vietnam II, in spades.
Juan Cole has an excellent commentary about this up today, and if you haven't checked it out, make it a stop before hitting the rack tonight.
posted by Jo Fish on 11.30.04 at 12:35 PM
Comments:
Ahh, the elections in Iraq -- those will solve all our problems.
What's being elected? Why a council to write a constitution, that's what. Then, depending on what those lads (and lassies) write, there may or may not be some other kind of election at some other point in time.
Why do the Kurds and the Sunnis want to delay the election for six months while the Shias want the election NOW? Why because the Shias are 60% of the population, so they figure the quicker they get to vote, the quicker they write a constitution which, among other things, will have plenty of pay - back for the Sunnis in it (no oil for them) and will have some interesting ideas about Church and State (theocracy, anyone?)
And GIs and Marines (not to mention Iraqi men, women and children) are dying and getting maimed for this slow motion train wreck.
Well, this is what the 51% of the voting population wanted. No excuses now kids; we're in this with our Eyes Wide Shut.
posted by: fbg46 on 11.30.04 at 12:50 PM [permalink]
what's going on here? why can't I post a reply anymore?
posted by: Cambodian Boarder on 11.30.04 at 03:06 PM [permalink]
Jo,
Here we go again...
http://www.commondreams.org/views/050300-102.htm
Since there now appear to be a "content sensitive" restrictions to the text from the above mentioned article regarding Vietnam Elections (NOT) in 1956, I'll rely on you to read for yourself.
Given that the same creeps and underlings that traipsed behind Tricky Dicky are now part of Tweedle Dubya's cabinet, what makes you think that Iraq will turn out any differently?
Take advantage of the few days left before Dubya turns the screws. Send an email to a friend or post on a BLOG with any of these soon-to-be censored buzz words (make sure your entry fails the spelling check… or else):
a.) A-ssassination, A-ppropriation, A-ir A-merica R-adio, A-laskan P-ipeline
b.) B-ush (G.W. or G.H.W), B-ill of R-ights, B-uddhism
u.) U-nited S-tates of A-merica, U-nder I-nvestigation
v.) V-ietnam, V-ulva
w.) W-elfare, W-m-Dee, W-ashington, W-orld B-ank
x.) X-enophobe, X-rating
y.) Y-uganda, Y-ale, Y-assir A-rafat
z.) Z-ealots
This is just a small sampling of the list that will be p-rogrammed into the new s-p-y s-oftware. Feel f-ree to add your own entries, but beware of B-ig B-rother. He’s watching you right now. There are no right or wrong phrases, the F-ehds will be looking at everyone e-qually regardless of their p-olitical a-ffiliation.
