I think most of us know that Iraq was invaded for reasons to do with the projection of American power around the globe, and in particular in the middle east, as recommended by the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) during the Clinton years.

But another reason was that Saddam had plans to sell all Iraq's oil for euros, thus threatening the dollar as the world's unofficial reserve currency - something calculated to make the rich and powerful very nervous, since the dollar might decline in value as much as two thirds were it to be replaced by the euro as the medium of exchange for oil sold on world markets, and as the world's reserve currency.

Iran plans to open an oil bourse - an oil stock-exchange - on March 20th, that will trade oil only for euros, meaning that all Iran's oil will be sold for euros.

So Ahmadinejad will likely suffer the same fate as Saddam for having the effrontery to sell oil for euros, for this could be the catalyst for other oil producers - like Russia and Venezuela - wishing to tweak the American eagle's tail, to do the same.

So it seems there will have to be regime change in Iran, by fair means or foul, and quite soon

Richard J's on the button, perhaps those energy meetings with Dick that are so secret mean that this isn't Dubya's war after all but Huston's fault . . . well, at some point he is going to get called out on this mess, I can't wait for his excuses to start.

BURN BABY BURN

Diversion
Diversion is the name of the Game. WMD's, liberation of Iraqi people, spreading democracy in the Middle East are all diversions for the real purpose of armed conflict. America is establishing permanent military bases and military strongholds in the Middle East for the protection of corporate interest relating to energy and trade. The greater the demand for oil and resources by the industrialized countries in the world the greater the potential for profits for those who can control the movement of resources and this is the real purpose behind the American government’s activities. Multi-national corporations that are manufacturing and selling products worldwide and are in control of the most powerful military on earth are setting up their plan for the future. The horrible fact is: these corporations are loyal only to the dollar and are more then willing to sacrifice the lives of our military men and the wealth of the United States of America.

Amen, Richard, you hit the nail squarely on the head. Unfortunately our addiction to foreign reserves of US cash continues to grow with each passing year. The combination of the trade imbalance ($700,000,000,000) and government borrowing ($400,000,000,000) means that we must have a cool trillion dollars of foreign investment each year simply to balance the nation's economy.

This is also the reasoning behind the Bush administration's stubborn defense of the DB World cargo ports deal.

The question is not 'if' but 'when' the supremecy of the dollar will begin to unravel; this situation cannot be sustained forever.

And, I'd like to thank every president - dem and rep alike - since Richard Nixon for getting us into this predicument.

This war exsists because of one thing, money, as in billions, as in no-bid contracts, as in 8.8 billion given to government contractors just dissapearing (ie;60 minutes report),as in the largest defense budget ever, I believe that halliburton is rotten to the core, It seems that the problems are just so obvious, from the reasoning to go there in the first place, to this insanity that we are making anyone safer.

Me personaly, I don't want Mr.Bush protecting my family, my moral compass and that of Mr.Bush's are worlds apart, and never shall the twain meet.

Excellent. We know the reasons. They know we now know the reasons. Their knowedge that we are aware of the real reasons has done nothing to improve the situation. What must be done to correct the situation? More talk, more letters, more blogs, what?

We need to get the Republicans out of Congress this November and put the heat on Dems to begin the impeachment process on Boy George. And we really need to let those elected oficials know that we mean business! Get your act together or your ass is out the door!! I truely believe many in Congress feel they have total "job security". It's time we make them wake up and smell the coffee.
jim

I still say the fair and just way to solve all the problems in the world are to lock up everyone associated with the bush family and this fiasco that our congress are deeply complicit in and use their own inhumane laws against them for the next 25 years before we reevaluate their status.Imagine the revenue that could be generated by marketing these criminals on a ppv humiliation series daily for the next 25 years.The real marketing strategy though would be in using these thugs by selling lottery chances to be the lucky daily winners that get to wipe the smirks and sneers off these jerks and queers in dc. 20 trillion annually , I tell you , if only 5% of world population participated, I think alot more than that would enjoy watching this daily show.Talk about justice. This should be national policy.

It’s not only the rank and file troops that are totally disgusted with this war. The level of protest from retired US Army, Navy and Air Force general officers over the way things are being fought in Iraq has also been unprecedented.

And these are not just any retired general officers, mind you. Their ranks include at least one former Chief of Staff of the USAF (General Merrill A. McPeak, USAF Retired) along with a host of other very senior former US military officers who served with distinction in the highest levels of our armed forces.

I’ve called the Iraq debacle Bush’s “war on the cheap”. And while it’s hardly been “cheap” in terms of blood or national treasure, “King George” along with his “Field Marshal” Rumsfeld have chosen to protract it using significantly less expensive (so-called “part time”) Reserve and National Guard troops rather than employing primarily regular US Forces in the conflict.

Now, don’t get me wrong, our Guard and Reserve troops are just as loyal, just as patriotic and just as capable as their regular counterparts. They are also doing a fantastic job under some horrifically trying circumstances.

But, any way you cut it, forcing our guard and reserve troops (most of whom have other jobs and families and never intended to be “drafted” into the military service full time) to fight a long, protracted (not to mention increasingly hopeless) war in Iraq is a gross misuse of standby assets that were never, EVER intended for such extended deployment.

Is it any wonder, then, why the recruiting efforts for all branches of our armed forces are now in the toilet?

Well done Doug! Wonderful comments from your readers too! This one is a keeper.

Ditto with Richard, Bruce, Chuck (and others above). As the motto of the "Powers That Be" reads: "Socialize the EXPENSES. Privatize the PROFITS."

Bush is a compulsive obsessive 'person,' as well as being a spoiled brat. He has failed in almost every business he has been involved with and is failing miserably as the so called President of the USA. He has alienated more countries toward the USA than any president in history. He has, without a doubt, put himself over and above the people and could not care less about what the people think or want. He is driven by his oil baron buddies with Cheney at the reins. He, Cheney and Rumsfeld must be made to resign in order to save the USA. NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL!

Oil and the defence of Israel seem to be the two...the only two guiding lights in Us policy in the Middle East. After all the neo-cons have a large Zionist group in their membership,....and the Zionist know only loyatly to Israel. The US is useful for their plans for Israeli dominiance over the Arab world.How long will Americans be allowed to let the wishes of Israel and the US Jewish Lobby dictate foreign policy goals.

Oil and the defence of Israel seem to be the two...the only two guiding lights in Us policy in the Middle East. After all the neo-cons have a large Zionist group in their membership,....and the Zionist know only loyatly to Israel. The US is useful for their plans for Israeli dominiance over the Arab world.How long will Americans be allowed to let the wishes of Israel and the US Jewish Lobby dictate foreign policy goals.

I keep thinking:

OK...only a few more years of this, and then I remember how much damage can be done in just a matter of months, let alone years.

I remind myself of how many arbitrary decisions can be made, and how Congress just flips over onto its back in compliance when our glorious "War President" speaks.

I try and tell myself that these are paranoid ramblings, but then I have to admit that a good deal of what our War President has already done would have been laughingly dismissed as paranoid ramblings when he was first elected.

GOD.....GUNS.......MONEY.....POWER

There is no more dangerous combination known to mankind. This debacle in Iraq is probably the most beautiful example of this deadly combination.

It is time for the 2 party system in our country to expand. Too much power in too few hands. It is also time for our nation to explore the possibility of coalition government. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have lost the concept of government of the people, by the people and for the people.

It is also time for a little bit of protectionism. A non-hostile take over can so easily be accomplished by controlling our economy. With a nation as large as our own, we are more than capable of providing well and completely for our own. That is not to say that there should not be world trade. World trade is as old as mankind itself, where each brings there offering to the table.

I totally agree that the war in Iraq was ill-conceived, deceptive and just plain wrong. I further agree that money and the oil boys in Texas (Haliburton, whomever) are the ones profiting by this stupid war.
However, I have one question: If we pull out now and the entire middle east (not just Iraq) degrades into mass conflict and civil war leaving regimes like Iran open to take control, do we simply stand-by and let that happen? i.e. Should we simply go isolationist and say to heck with it?

By chance is the Dubai Ports company in the Carlisle portfolio?
Please do not post this. An e-mail reply woould be just fine.
Thanks

Right you are Richard j.

The Project Fow A New American Century (PNAC) is the key to America's middle-east policy.
The PNAC is made up of strict Israel firsters and Zionists although Bush and his his brother Jeb brother may be of the 'Christian Zionist' variety.

And yes, popel need to pull their head out of the ground and look at 911 which was an INSIDE JOB!

“The process of transformation,” the plan said, “is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event—like a new Pearl Harbor.”

The WTC towers were not brought down by burning jet fuel but rather by CONTROLLED DEMOLITION.

Not reported by mainstream press was the fact that 3 buildings came down in their own footprint, not just the twin towers. For proof, watch the following video clip of WTC7 which housed the offices of the Secret Service, NSA, FBI, CIA, SEC and Rudy Giuliani.

http://www.wtc7.net/videos.html

For this and more check out the best 911 inside job documentary available, "Loose Change'.

www.loosechange911.com

Wake up people!

Reading these comments brings on a slow glow of appreciation for the fact that finally, we seem to be coming together in a better understanding of what is being done in our names.

Now if also we can just come together on a course of action, we may yet salvage something of this once decent country before the forces of greed took over. Let's start by getting behind the Impeachment process. The time is now.

TRUTHSEAKER 2:

Sorry my friend you will never convince me from what I have read so far that the towers were brought down by a controlled demolition, but considering how they fell it certainly did look suspicious.

As to 9/11 being an INSIDE JOB that's a given. Either this administration is so deaf and dumb ...AND STUPID with all the warnings they actually got or clearly it was meant to happen.

in a word DISGUSTING but like the Kennedy assasination we will never know the truth.

DOUG; In the survey and the Defense Department saying POOH POOHING the soldiers comments.

Well, The Defense Department is wrong in their assesment of the TROOPS SPEAKING NEGATIVELY in a combat situation. Of course the Pentagon and DOD have all the coloring pens and use them frequently. FAct is that the TROOPS have a tendency to TELL IT LIKE IT REALLY IS AND THE WHOLE TRUTH when they are in a combat situation KNOWING that every word and every breath before the NEXT INTERVIEW might be their last.

On the other hand speaking from a large comfortable, air conditioned and cushy office thousands of miles away just before going to a lobbiest paid, three martini's and steak luncheon, well it would seem in that VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT THESE FOLKS WOULD HAVE A TENDENCY TO SAY MOST ANYTHING; EVEN LIE. I mean they can always deny it later, can't they !!??

From the comments I read, it says to me, the real reasons for being in Iraq, the pending same for Iran. Everybody knows the real reasons for everything. So, what do we do about them?
Some say to impeach Bush, put the Dems back in control and then what?
Nobody has come up with a solution to the damage done. Is it fixable?
We still need Oil, we will still need Oil for at least the next 10 to 20 years, at the same amount with maybe a slight reduction.
Since we have pissed off most of the oil producers, with the exception of Saudi Arabia, we could be faced with an oil shortage the likes we've never seen.
Just knowing who did what, is half the answer. Punishing those responsible, does not do anything to solve how to fix the mess they got us into.
We need answers and not just Band Aide answers.

Assuming Bush is the good Christian he is claimed to be, it would appear that the only person not aware of the truth of our situation in Iraq is Bush.
Richard Karam, Oklahoma City

The American people deserve a national debate on the illegal activities and outrageous political decisions that have been made by the Bush Administration in their name. It is past time that Impeachment Proceedings be brought against Bush. Please consider coverage of this important topic. Thank you, J. Joldersma

With 10 to 11,000 people flooding over our southern border every day, along with the influx of mexican drug cartels(now the most powerful in the world) and the various gangs, I believe this is a much greater threat to the basic american, than any Iraqi ever was. The idea that Mr.Bush's "claim to fame" is that he will protect this country, especially after checking out the website 911INPLANESITE.COM is laughable and scary.

Every decision made in this war has had nothing to do with national security or the welfare of our troops. Every decision has been made on the basis of what would maximize the profits of "Halliburton". Dying for your country is a noble thing. Dying for Halliburton's bottom line is stupid.

Now that we have the numbers proving our fighting men and women know the truth about why they are in Iraq and the majority of the fighting team wants out of Iraq, I have to chuckle at my republican friends, for sending me the occational E-mail from a soldier in Iraq, saying all the oppisite things.
I don't have to send them the E-mails, telling of the problem the Armed Forces are having, meeting their recruitment quotas.
There could be a bigger problem if troop withdrawals don't happen sooner, rather then later.
The survey listed a group serving their second tour in Iraq. These soldiers or most of them are probably into their third year of enlistment.
When you enlist it is a total of six years. Usually four years of active duty and two years of inactive Reserves.
Enlisting on a Reserve term, means, Two years of acive service, teo years of active reserves and two years of inactive reserves.
This is how the Navy did it, when I enlisted many years ago. If the Army does it this way, they will be facing a shortage of personel for active duty. They will have to consider changing the reserve status, to an active service to have the bodies in Iraq.
Let's not forget, we still need men serving in other areas of the world. Not every enlistee will go to Iraq. We could see large reductions to our forces in these other areas.
Let's us throw in Iran. If we are to invade Iran, we will need more troops then Iraq started with. Iran has a fighting Army, they will not be abandoning their lines when the fighting starts as it was in Iraq. In other words, it will not be the Cake Walk, like Iraq was when we first invaded.
Don't look for the major Air Strikes like Iraq did before troops set foot on Iran especially, if Iran does have a nuclear weapon or weapons. They will not hesitate to use it. Somewhere in the USA could be eliminated unless we are able to stop it from happening.
One other point, Do not count on any other country for help this time, including England. We will be on our own. Bush will not intimidate any country to join us. This could be a blessing in disguise. We can stop all foreign aid and that way Bush can make good on at least one promise. All the money could cut the deficit in half. Of course we won't have an ally to our name but, we will still have Bush to lead us to Isolationism. Put your car in the garage, lock it up tight and go on the Internet, to start pricing Horses. That will be the new transportation. Don't worry, Bush will save the oil to make gas for NASCAR. He doesn't want to make his good ole boy's mad at him.

Used to be in the service some years ago. Damned glad I'm not, now. Those guys in Iraq are going to catch all hell when Chimpo attacks Iran. Not to mention a few too many rems if Iran retaliates and the US responds with nuclear weapons.

But Duh-bya knows they'll retaliate. He's counting on it. What other excuse could he have to sieze the strait of Hormuz and Khuzestan?

Of course, that's all he could manage to secure. And even that's not a sure thing.

But with those bunker busting nukes, the rest of Iran just becomes a radioactive inconvenience.

Yes, I call that the "What? Who, me?" gambit.

Gotta stop that oil bourse, so they attack Iran in the name of stopping that unproven and non-immediate Iranian nuclear weapons 'crisis', let Iran respond, then hit them with everything they have, all the while whining that Iran has declared war on the US and or/Israel.

Man, if I were China, I'd be eying Tiawan pretty hard, right now.

But look at the bright side. It will mean the end of PNAC, anyhow.

Man, I'd hate to be one of those guys in Iraq.

"Chimpo" and "Boy George",aaaahhhhh life is good!

The saddest part to me is the finding that many reservists believe that those opposing the war are unpatriotic. I would have expected many of them to be aware of the admissions by the administration that the reasons for the invasion were false.

Venable said, "The poll's findings certainly aren't reflective of the attitudes we see displayed by the majority of troops, who are performing in a remarkable manner in a combat situation far from home,"

How DARE he imply that just because these guys & gals know the real reason they are over there, & maybe disagree with it, makes them somehow NOT doing their job! Who the hell does this creep think he is? The fact that a soldier, marine, sailor or airman can actually do their job DESPITE seeing how their commander-in-chief has lied to them & left them hanging, makes them all the MORE admirable.
Venable need to be out there on the front lines himself!
BB
Teleri
USNR-Ret

I agree with Richard J. It's all all about money and oil. It makes me sick when I think of our kids in uniform dying for that. Quite frankly the situation is Civil War now. Our inept President, who lives in some twisted fantasy world will probably never admit to that until Congress is ready to grow some balls and openly discuss impeachment and/or Censure. They have grown some buds concerning DPW deal. I hope they don't stop there. George W. Bush and his cronies are ruining this country. I never thought in all my born days I would ever see America in pitiful mess it is in now. George W. Bush is mad man.

When will our troops "mutiny" Bush/Cheney?

Everyone is ultimately responsible for their own actions. I don't buy the "only following orders" routine. As if some "outside force" controls each of us and our actions, so we have no responsibility. See "Nuremberg Trials", if you think soldiers aren't ultimately responsible for their own actions.

diesel motors wee designed to run off of pure peanut oil, even in extreme cold weather glow plugs could be used

I would like to respond to Mike's comment regarding; 'what if we pull out." Sadly Mike that horse has already left the barn. Americans died so that we could install a pro-Iranian theocracy in Iraq. Truth is Mike, Iran already controls the Iraqi government and they control it with American complicity. I remind you that the current government is controlled by SCIRI and DAWA. Two parties with strong connections to Iran. Our involvement in Iraq is not thwarting Iran, we are helping Iran to expand its influence.

We have heard nothing but lies...and more lies from this administration for five years now. And we can only expect the trend to continue for at least three more years. The vast majority of Americans either change channels when he spits his vomit or turn away in disgust and try to ignore him. He and his cohorts are not only a disgrace to our country but a menace to everything near and dear to our society. I am thankful that this is an election year and if we can heat things up and keep the heat hot as hell, we can make tremendous changes. We must make our voices heard LOUD AND CLEAR! We must be in touch with our congressmen and senators making our demands known. We must activate like never before to get things done. A march on Washington is NECESSARY and it must be very organized and LOUD!! Now is not the time to be intimidated! First and foremost, we Americans must defend the homeland. Get active, join groups, SPEAK UP, write letters, send emails, make calls. If we have to endure this administration for almost three more years, then WE THE PEOPLE have to CONTROL our government. Remind them that this IS A government OF THE PEOPLE AND BY THE PEOPLE and that BY GOD WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!! Get off your rears, Americans and GET BUSY!! WE HAVE WORK TO DO!!
Jayark

Mark-

We are trying to expand Iran's influence?? What?
Are we on the same planet?
With the fall of the Shaw in '79 and millions spent to aid Saddam in the Iraq-Iran war, and now the Oil Bourse loomming closer, how can you possibly say that?
Please explain.

we are only in iraq because they can, nobody will stop them, if good does nothing evil will win. simple, people in the USA are to fat, stupid, and lazy, to do anything. we have lost our government, were loosing our country, and were all going to shit. but, that's seem's ok to the people here, they must like it! they keep finding soldiers stupid enough to go to iraq.

I wouldn't say that the Bush admin is 'trying to expand Iranian influence'. That was just an unforeseen result of this whole debacle.

As I recall, they figured Iraq would be a 'cakewalk' and that they would be greeted as 'liberators' (Cheney). They also believed that it would take less troops to secure the country than it took to take it (Wolfowitz). So it certainly strikes me as no surprise that no one seemed to have a clue what might happen with the pro-Iranian groups after the dictator who kept them in check was deposed. Guess it was just too big a question for those almighty professionals in Washington to bother with.

Why it was unforeseen, I couldn't say. One would imagine that common sense would suggest that a strongly Shiah population with religious ties to Iran might produce a population and even a government with the same. But then, they pretty much went into Iraq without a plan, and this crew doesn't seem to be on the ball about divining the effects of their actions. Probably comes from relying primarily on ideologies.

But they're 'fixing' it. A civil war in Iraq will certainly weaken the pro-Iranian militias. And that was a heck of a demolition job at the Golden Mosque, if the Iraqi construction minister is to be believed.

And you know that when they attack Iran, those pro-Persian militias darned well better have their hands tied scrapping with the Sunni.

Sunni which, if I recall the administration's announcements correctly, form the backbone of the insurgency.

How convenient for Bush and company. How convenient, indeed.

Who knows what this administration is trying to do. You missed my point entirely. I said the fruit of our effort in Iraq is the expansion of Iranian influence in the Iraqi Government. The three main Shia powers in the Iraqi government are Dawa, SCIRI, and the Sadrist. All have conections in Iran. All subscribe to the same radical Shia doctrine as that of the clerics in Iran.

I never said it was the intent of the US government to expand Iranian power. Rather, the result of Bush's strategy was just the opposite of what he intended. There is no constituency for western style democracy in Iraq. Bush's 'democratic allies' in Iraq are in fact allies of Iran. American life has been lost, American blood has been shed, the result - increased Iranian influence in Iraq. I am sure this wasn't the intent of the administration - but it is indeed the fruit of its labors.

Let's not make it too complicated. The Neocons gained control of the Bush foreign and military policymaking apparatus. They had long had as their goal the elimination of Saddam Hussein. Saddam, as Richard noted, didn't help himself when he tried to convert oil trading to Euros. That was the final straw. As has been noted ad infinitum, we went into Iraq based on several premises that did not conform to reality. Now we find ourselves in a situation that cannot be righted. As a friend who originally supported the war admitted to me, "We have opened a Pandora's Box and now we can't close it." Now Bush and his gang of Empire Builders can only stubbornly and stupidly follow the same policies that have thus far failed. As for Iran, this country is in no position to attack Iran. Period. We are stretched to the limit right now. This country could NOT respond to any other significant military crisis. Bush is in hermitically sealed box, sealed by his own stupidity, lack of vision, lack of world knowledge, his religious fanaticism, and rigid stubborness. And he will suffocate in that box, becoming a political dead man. The Repubs will start to run for cover, even the most heretofore loyal follower, because they love their jobs more than Bush. I feel no pity or empathy for Bush whatsoever. I do feel for the dead soldiers, their families and the thousands of innocent Iraqi people who are the victims of our empire building strategy. The shame is that the millions of us who have always opposed him will be forced to endure the approaching dire consequences of his misbegotten policies. Thus be it always -- NO empire has ever survived and neither will this one.

Mark- sorry, I misunderstood what you were driving at. But I think we sort of see the situation in the same way, namely insofar as the reasons for invading are so disconnected from the result that it really boils down to a case of a rabid administration running in blind. Like Eriekayaker mentioned, those PetroEuros in conjunction with business interests were the springboard into an abyss.

Eriekayaker- If they don't attack Iran and disrupt that oil bourse, the American dollar is going into the toilet. They have to do something if they want to stay fat and happy, and they will.

After all, I wouldn't imagine that the neocon crew cares if they kill off a million of their countrymen if they think they're going to profit from that. They can always wave the flag, or some such nonsense, and their base will follow. Those who don't follow the base, well, they've already proven impotent. So why should the neocons worry about them?

Do not worry. People will believe all the lies from the Republicans again and put them right back in office. I do not understand how Bush won the second time. People will have to wake up someday. But, WHEN

That's a particular area of interest to me. At this point in time, I'm watching what is essentially a repeat of the Iraq ramp up. It became pretty apparent when no WMD were found and that there weren't massive demonstrations all over the country that the neocons had stumbled onto a winning propagandic formula. And I'm sure Rove knows that when you find something that works, it can be used over and over again.

After all, perhaps there weren't any WMD's, but the lack of public outrage demonstrated that the presence or lack of those WMD's weren't the real issue in the minds of most. All that mattered was the advertising campaign. People have the amazing capacity to completely ignore reality in the face of what they consider to be a good sell. Propagandists have been demonstrating that principle over and over for decades, and various religions for longer than that.

Sounds ridiculous, on the surface. But it's true. Just consider that a mere three years after the last bum sell, US opinion polls already indicate that most people are 'afraid of Iranian nukes' and consider Iran to be 'America's worst enemy'.

Yep. It's Iraq redux. And after Iran, there would be another yet Iraq redux. If not for the fact that attacking Iran will likely open a box like no one's yet imagined.

And would the neocons actually go there?

Yes. I've no doubt that they will. If a gun were to my head, and I had to bet, I'd say "yes, they will."

But not for lack of intelligence, per se. Merely because of ideology, which can make otherwise smart people do incredibly dumb things. They have a plan, a need, and no respect for either the nation or the people.

This rant and its comments simply add to the abundance of proof that Bush is either the antichrist or a minion thereof. Or maybe it's Dick "shoot first" Cheney. I pray for America's soldiers who've been enslaved in this abysmal hell.

RELATED VIDEO (10mb WMV download) - COMMENTS FROM THE FRONT LINES IN IRAQ - PASS AROUND, URGE FRIENDS TO VIEW, AND SO ON:

http://www.badongo.net/vid.php?file=rehost+this+10mb+film+everywhere__2006-02-09_amessageeveryfreedom.wmv

You are full of sh----! I have you know My Son is in Iraq right now fighting for YOU! YOU A-----H----. I hope the Terroist hits you home next. Then write this stoy again! I am proud of my Son. He is an all Amereican and Alot Braver then you. You Chicken Sh-----! Just like the rest of you with your comments that agrees with this __________!

No one in Iraq, including your son, is fighting for me. They are fighting for President Bush and the lying cheating reasons he has invented for HIS war. Thanks for wanting the terrorists to hit my home next. You are obviously a blind and hateful patriot. Get some counseling!!!

To Mike Morgan,
Mike, I understand fully your reason for why we might attack Iran -- the bourse. But I simply must respectfully disagree -- sorry, Mike, the reason is simple -- we just do not have the military horses. We don't have the manpower OR the equipment. Let me present it this way. Iraq, in which we cannot prevail, has 168,000 square miles. Iran has 628,000 square miles, it is one-fourth the size of this country. If you drove across Iran from northwest to southeast, you would drive the equivalent from Montana to Louisiana. How could we occupy such a large country? I don't offhand know the population of Iran, but it must be at least twice as large as Iraq's. Iran has a trained army that won't crumble as Iran's did. AND, they will be fighting on their home turf and therefore fighting savagely, as we would if we were invaded. No, Mike, it just is not doable. One more thing: Iranians are a proud people. They prefer to be called Persians and they had a civilization in 700 BC. They will not tolerate a western invader, as much as they might be disillusioned with their leaders. No, there will have to be another way for Frat Boy and his cabal to destroy the Bourse, some kind of economic war will probably we generated. I'm looking forward to the Bourse. Let's see how Frat Boy handles it.

Doug - I love your writing but my pet peeve is using the word "jives" when "jibes" is the appropriate word. See m-w.com, intransitive verb. Sorry to nitpick but misuing the english language hurts. credibility.

Think more deeply folks:

It's ALL ABOUT PROTECTING Israel from Islamic Arabism, and the payoff to America is power and profit via oil and trade.

Zioinsts surround Bush and manage his every move.

Listen to Rush Limbaugh's protect-Zionsim-at-all-cost monologues each day, to include defending the indefensible UAE operation of U.S. ports, which deal has Zionists' fingerprints all over it, and even though the UAE publicly boycotts Israel.

This article is full of crap on so many levels. I will tear it apart tomorrow at www.rayrobison.com
For now let me say, every soldier knew, because it was the number one stated objective, that the mission was to remove Saddam. It was not a lie or a bait and switch, it was right there in the joint resolution authorizing the war for crying out loud. Geeze you people are morons.

yes...we amerikans have been duped by the sociopath now sitting in the oval office. What to do?? Number one: we need a third or forth political party in this country--in fact, we have over 15 or so "other" political parties...but...we only have one party in power, and that's the property party with alot of money with two different wings, one called democrate and the other called republican. In the mid-term and up-coming presidential election, we need another voice to represent those americans who have become disenfrancised from the political system. We also need a colalition government within the cabinate, so the president can "hear" all sides to the argument as far as social and economic issues are concerned. But!! Here's a problem...the national media is controlled by a few corporate conglomerates...."they" won't cover issues that are a threat to the power structure and the military and banking lobby in this country. The only alternative is the internet and the alternative press....to get the honest issues out to the amerikan sheeple....we are going to be in oily Iraq for along time....unless we start to conserve our oil and lifestyles...we are going to be in the middle east for along time unless we start to bring to market, alternate energy sources to power our vechicles and trucks. We need to modernize our faulty rail system, bring back the trolley car, and increase the federal tax on gasoline another dollar to two dollars a gallon...to get the american sheeple out of their cars and into mass transit, car pooling, riding a bike, walking, what have you. Part of the problem is that we have glorified the automobile to the point of absurdity and stupity...we have created a modern day nimrod made of metal and steel, which we worship like some sort of idol. We only have ourselves to blame....these next ten years will be a critical turning point for this country and our former republic. Amerikka, I hope you turn yourself around before it's too late....good night and good luck. Sincerely, William Huegel, veteran and patriot.

WOW!!!.....Am I glad other people feel the same as me, and you all.....let's impeach the 3 biggies....let your dem and republican congressmen know.....after all.....the republicans KNOW they will loose some seats next election unless we get this done.....it would change the course of power in DC.

Yawn. This poll has already been discredited.

The real reasons that we are in Iraq were dictated by a power greater than Bush and his Horsemen. The Illuminati have controlled world events for the past few hundred years. The Jewish thing is a huge lie that was started by the Khzars in eastern europe, when they adopted Judeaism as thier religion. The true chosen Jews are not part of the so-called Jews that settled throughout Europe and began thier evil takeover. There is plenty of documented proof that bloodlines of these so-called Jews ( Khzars )today
control the media, the military, the government. The new world order is the code name. Corporations now call the shots. Global free trade is nothing short of world control by these corporations. The goal is for all people to live like peasants and slave for the elite illuminati
families. Rothchild,rockafeller,bush,etc. 911 was
the ploy as the Verstag Fires was for Hitler to sieze total control of the german people through the fear tactic. The patiot act took all freedoms and rights from us. The American People didn't even realize it. There is such a control of the mainstream media, people don't even know about blding # 7 that collapsed in the afternoon of 9-11-2001. Why, cause of sensored media. Why did the FBI confiscate the video tapes from all businesses located in front of the Pentagon? Because they would show that a missile hit, not
a high jacked airliner. Why was there nothing left of the so-called airliner? NOTHING! All one needs to do, is too check out www.911 Research and the truth is undeniable. The immediate future of this country and the world for that matter is in for radical change. I fear that it may be too late to alter the course that will surely lower the standard of life as we know it in America. I am not a radical or any thing of that sort. I am just an average american that has done a bit of research instead of buying into the mass media bullshit. I truly wish there was a way to convince the american people to turn off the propaganda TV and to use the Internet for unbiased information. At this point in time, they do not control the Internet. The agenda of the current administration is to remove all power from the citizens, all rights of privacy, and to
lower our standard of living. History will prove that the planned event of 911 was not as they would have you believe, but was to enable them to enact the patriot act and to invade and occupy the middle east. Bush/Saudis. Cheney/Halliburton.
Rumsfeldt/Carlyle. Prescott Bush was a traitor in past wars and got away with it. Before you call me a radical alarmist, do the research.

[quote]You are full of sh----! I have you know My Son is in Iraq right now fighting for YOU! YOU A-----H----. I hope the Terroist hits you home next. Then write this stoy again! I am proud of my Son. He is an all Amereican and Alot Braver then you. You Chicken Sh-----! Just like the rest of you with your comments that agrees with this __________!

Posted by Jane at March 2, 2006 04:29 PM

---
This article is full of crap on so many levels. I will tear it apart tomorrow at www.rayrobison.com
For now let me say, every soldier knew, because it was the number one stated objective, that the mission was to remove Saddam. It was not a lie or a bait and switch, it was right there in the joint resolution authorizing the war for crying out loud. Geeze you people are morons.

Ray Robinson
---

Yawn. This poll has already been discredited.

Diane
[/quote]
Jane, if you want your son dead, so be it. Nice of you to think of his welfare. Glad to see you support making him fight for no good reason, even inflaming the problem, and call others "A-H-". Why don't you go ask Bush when was the last time he served in any war? Why don't you ask him why he thinks he qualifies to send people to a place he wouldn't have the guts to go to?

Diane: so convincing, that you make statements like that with nothing backing them up. Very, very convincing. Have you been touched by the Flying Spaghetti Monster yet?

Ray Robison, I saved you for last:

"This one really has me worked up!
Okay, this is why I have decided to blog. I ran across this piece of garbage and I just want to jump up and down and scream “what the hell is wrong with you people!”

Capital Hill Blue released an editorial from Doug Thompson, the founder of the rag. It was based upon the results of the Zogby poll. It perfectly demonstrates how data can be twisted to fit any conclusion. Or more precisely a conclusion can be twisted to fit the data since the data is what it is, it is the conclusions here that are linked to the data by sheer lies.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/blog/2006/03/soldiers_in_iraq_know_they_are.html

“Nearly three-quarters of the American troops serving in Iraq think the U.S. should withdraw within the next year and 29 percent feel we should get the hell out of the war immediately, a poll of military personnel serving in country reveals.”

Rummy and the President have both made the case that we should be able to have significant troop reductions in 2006. In fact, this statement shows specifically that 75% of the U.S. troops in Iraq are in sync with and thus would seem to support the President’s plan for troop reductions.

“This jives with emails I've been getting from soldiers over the past several months and it confirms that those serving on the ground in the war don't share the rosy optimism painted by the Bush administration about the invasion and occupation of Iraq.”

Well of course! The soldiers who email The Capital Hill Blue (which I bet 95% of U.S. soldiers never even heard of) are going to be left leaning and politically involved, which is frankly a very small minority of soldiers, from my 13 years experience as a green-suiter.

"Man, this gig has FUBAR written all over it," says a Marine who has served in Iraq for seven months. "Morale is the pits and nobody in our unit thinks we should be here."

Let’s give this comment a little perspective. When you are deployed in a combat operation you have good days and bad days. There were times in the Gulf War when I would have traded a testicle to go home. Seriously, as much as I believed in the mission, understood the objectives and supported freeing millions of Kuwaitis who were being raped, tortured and murdered by Iraqi troops, there were days when I got up, thought about my family, and would have left in a heartbeat. War is a terrible thing to any sane person and OF COURSE they want to come home.

“The poll, conducted by Zogby International, offers a rare look into the mindset of fighting men and women serving in a war zone. That mindset is, to say the least, reflective of growing American unrest over a war based on false information and outright lies.”

This is nothing more than left wing political propaganda. The vast majority of the soldiers do not think they were lied to about why they are there. How do I know this? Because the soldiers are the ones who are killing al-Qaeda terrorists. The U.S. soldier and marine are on the front lines facing these clowns down on a daily basis. If anybody knows that we are there to “fight the terrorists over there, so we don’t have to fight them over here” it is the troops.

“Among the findings by Zogby:

Only 23 percent agree with the President's position that we should "stay in Iraq as long as needed."”

Immediately I note that this doesn’t give the question that was asked. Any honest report would do that. It is a pretty dubious conclusion based on the fact that Mr. Thompson doesn’t say what the question was. For instance, this could be a multiple answer question:

Stay as long as needed?

Stay until Iraq is secure?

Stay until the mission is complete?

I would pick “stay until the mission is complete”, therefore that could be characterized as Thompson has above as disagreeing with “stay in Iraq as long as needed”.

“85 percent of those surveyed felt they were fighting the war "to retaliate for Saddam's role in the 9-11 attacks," although the 9-11 commission in 2004 found "no credible evidence" that Iraq had cooperated with al-Qaida in the attacks. “

Okay, left wing propaganda time again. The President never made the case that Saddam had a direct role in 9/11. The case is that Saddam supported the terrorist organizations that carried out the 9/11 attacks (specifically the EIJ which joined with OBLs group -see my essay on Saddam and al-Qaeda) in the past and was therefore complicit in any attacks they carried out and that it was possible he would support future terrorist attacks. So yes, going after Saddam did have to do with Saddam’s support to terrorism which contributed to 9/11 and the soldiers know that better than either Thompson or his left wing numb nut friends. By the way the 9/11 commission did not say that there was no connection between Saddam and al-Qaeda.

“68 percent said they believed that the real reason for the war was simply to remove Saddam Hussein from power.”

When will these libs learn to read?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html

Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

“Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;”

It says it right there “remove from power”. Way to go Sherlock!!! You figured out that the soldiers understood the mission. Fantastic Mr. Thompson ….clap….clap….clap.

“40 percent say the Iraqi insurgency is mostly homegrown, with very little foreign involvement - a direct contradiction of claims by the Bush administration.”

This kind of depends on where the soldier is fighting. If he is in the Sunni strongholds, then that would be what he/she sees. By the way, the President has said repeatedly that it is a combination of both.

“55 percent flatly oppose using torture and other harsh interrogation methods on prisoners.”

Once again Mr. Thompson has shown that the majority of the military service is in agreement with Bush administration policy. By the way, “torture” and “harsh interrogation methods” are very different things and I find it odd they are lumped together.

"Ninety-three percent said that removing weapons of mass destruction is not a reason for U.S. troops being there," says John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International. "Instead, that initial rationale went by the wayside and, in the minds of 68% of the troops, the real mission became to remove Saddam Hussein."

This quote of Zogby is fundamentally misleading. The troops are there now for a SASO (Stability And Security Operation) mostly, along with killing terrorists. But that is what happened in most of our wars of this century. After we defeat them, we help them rebuild and they become friends of our country. So yes, WMD is not a reason for us to be there, even though it was a reason to go in. Wars have phases and missions change. That doesn’t make the President a liar because a mission changes. That is the worst kind of analysis and this doesn’t exclude the legitimate need for regime change that was articulated by Congress in the joint resolution.

“In another direct contradiction of stated White House policy, just 24% said that "establishing a democracy that can be a model for the Arab World" was the main or a major reason for the war.”

First of all, this poll hasn’t demonstrated ANY contradiction with White House policy so far. Again, this is very question dependant. If I saw a survey and it said.

Main or major reason for going to war?

Security of the U.S.

Democracy for the Arab world.

Guess which one I am going to pick and therefore would not be in that 24%.

“Zogby interviewed the 944 soldiers at various locations throughout Iraq. Three quarters of the troops had served multiple tours and had a longer exposure to the conflict: 26% were on their first tour of duty, 45% were on their second tour, and 29% were in Iraq for a third time or more.”

The Pentagon did not cooperate with Zogby in the survey and is trying to downplay the significance of the soldiers' responses but offered conflicting responses. In one released statement, the military brass said the troop comments were not valid because "troops in a combat zone are likely to express negative views of their situation."

Mr. Thompson, how old are you, twelve? What or who is the “military brass”? How are we supposed to give any credibility to an article with a quote that doesn’t even state who said it. You sir are a moron.

Then Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Venable tried a different spin.

Mr. Thompson, this is a military officer whose boots you are not fit to shine. He is not “spinning” anything. He is making a press release.

"The poll's findings certainly aren't reflective of the attitudes we see displayed by the majority of troops, who are performing in a remarkable manner in a combat situation far from home," Venable said. I asked Venable's office for any polls the military had conducted on troop attitudes and morale and they admitted they had not done any surveys but added that they based their conclusions on reports from "commanders in the field."

Emails received almost daily from soldiers in the field confirm Zogby's findings and say Pentagon claims of success and high morale are, as one National Guardsman said: "Pure unmitigated bullshit."

Sir, for every email you provide, I will provide you ten that say the opposite. Just tell me how many and when and where. You will have them.

Their emails, and now Zogby's findings, show these men and women who put their lives on the line day in and day out do so for a war they fully know was based on false pretenses and they are fighting and dying for a cause that doesn't exist.

They are fighting and dying to protect us by killing terrorists, supporters of terrorists, and by changing the very face of the Middle East that generates the terrorists by freeing men, women and children from tyrants. You, Mr. Thompson can’t even conceive of what that means."

Feeble, egotistic, AND wrong. Impressive. I invite you to view Doug's articles from the past. Perhaps you ignored them. And perhaps you missed the fact that Rumsfeld signed orders allowing torture, as long as it didn't result in death.

Dillard, you made my day. You said it all, just like it truely is. The end of freedom is at our doorsteps, and the American sheeple are too busy with American Idol to even notice or care. The camps are ready for us [disenters], the plan is in high gear. Slaves to the new world order? Never!!! I'd rather "die on my feet than live on my knees".....

Feeble, egotistic, AND wrong. Impressive. I invite you to view Doug's articles from the past. Perhaps you ignored them. And perhaps you missed the fact that Rumsfeld signed orders allowing torture, as long as it didn't result in death.
Posted by Lord of the Dragons at March 8, 2006 01:02 PM

wow, short but pointless. BTW, the Rummy authorized "torture" that you libs are crying about I call basic training, and it used to be called fraternity hazing. Get a spine wimps.