US AND THEM: US, UN & Iraq, version 8.0

Also, that "progress" you talk about. Iraq enjoys less oil production and export now than before the war. Iraqi's enjoy less energy now than before the war. Without the income from oil and less energy to run their country, it's impossible to show "progress" in their standard of living or economy.

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I love that Americans are downhearted because the media is 'focusing on the Plame and FISA issues.' Yeah f*cking right. You guys really crack me up. Cycloptichorn

Constitution of the United States of America
Article II.
Section 2.
The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States;
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Article I.
Section 9.
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The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.
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Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger;
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On (1), it's all in the timing. We needed most "after major combat operations are over."
We had more than 200,000 coalition troops in Iraq just after major combat operations were over. Commanding General Tommy Franks in retrospect in his book, American Soldier, published in 2004, alleged that was more than enough.
On (3), this administration depended too heavily on expats for their information, and not on the warnings by those in the Know.
Who knew who was in the know until the know was actually known?
On (4 thru 6), we'll agree to disagree.
Ok!
On (8), if you believe that sign was not at the direction of this administration, you haven't learned much about politics.
Regardless of who directed the sign be displayed, if you believe the sign was celebrating anything other than the carrier crew's completed mission -- and not a war or peace which was known then to be not yet completed -- then you are attributing to Republicans the kind of tricks perpetrated by Democrats.
On (9), most Americans will disagree with you - even republicans.
Most Americans will disagree with you
On (10), according the reports I have been reading about our progress in Iraq, for every step forward, there's a step backward. The biggest problem with this "progress" is the simple fact that the Sunnis and Shia are not going to kiss and make up any time soon. We have also learned that the Iranians have much influence in Southern Iraq. Lastly, if you're looking for "American Style" democdracy in Iraq, you just don't understand the influence of religion in the region.
It's a struggle for them to recognize that it is no longer in any Iraqi's long term self-interest to adopt the Batthist's former form of government. But I bet they will come to recognize it soon enough.

I'm looking for a government in Iraq where majority rules without killing or threatening to kill (or enslave) the minority, and the minority loses without killing or threatening to kill (or enslave) the majority.

Other Republicans - most prominently Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee - have joined their Democratic colleagues in questioning the administration's legal rationale. Specter has said his committee would hold hearings about the NSA program in January, and two other Republican senators, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, signed a letter with three Democrats, calling for an investigation by the Senate's intelligence and judiciary panels.

Another Maryland Republican, Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, said Congress is divided among those who would support or oppose the administration regardless of the scenario, as well as staunch civil libertarians who would question any encroachment on privacy rights. Others look at the issue with an analytical eye, rather than through the lens of partisan loyalty.

"In this situation, I think it's appropriate, with an objective sense about you, to question this type of operation," said Gilchrest, who represents the Eastern Shore

More than four years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, many U.S. adults still believe some of the justifications for the invasion of Iraq, which have now been discredited, according to a new Harris Poll. For example:

• Forty-one percent (41%) of U.S. adults believe that Saddam Hussein had "strong links to Al Qaeda."
• Twenty-two percent (22%) of adults believe that Saddam Hussein "helped plan and support the hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11."
• Twenty-six percent (26%) of adults believe that Iraq "had weapons of mass destruction when the U.S. invaded."
• Twenty-four percent (24%) of all adults believe that "several of the hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11 were Iraqis."

ICAN's comment about the phony FISA issues seems to be backed up by the American people. They are not buying the left wing propaganda.

According to Rasmussen Reports today, 64% of the American People polled say that the President should be allowed to intercept phone conversations between terrorism suspects in other countries and people living in the USA. Only 24% said he should not have the power to do so.

Walter, Too many Americans have been brain-washed with this administration's rhetoric. They have repeated it often enough, and that's the message that penetrated their brains.

As for the others, they are hard-core republicans that doesn't know how to read and/or ignores reports that are shared in the media. They must support their justifications no matter how their position looks ignorant of the facts.

Walter, Too many Americans have been brain-washed with this administration's rhetoric. They have repeated it often enough, and that's the message that penetrated their brains. As for the others, they are hard-core republicans that doesn't know how to read and/or ignores reports that are shared in the media. They must support their justifications no matter how their position looks ignorant of the facts.