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- 1776, on 10/10/2007, -5/+30The title makes it seem like this is surprising news. It's no surprise that we've exhausted more resources over the last few years than any time in history, this administration has been more reckless with spending, deployment, government property, and our Constitution than any I've ever heard of. If you're not afraid, you should be.
- jmpeagle, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16that doesn't even count PMCs which esentially doubles that number
- indorock, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14omg submitter wrote EVER in title! Guaranteed front pager!
But, isn't this obvious? It's a surge, and Bush made no secret that he keeps wanting to send over more troops. Makes sense that the number of troops keeps going up. Why would i not believe it? - superdoofus, on 10/10/2007, -4/+1352 months...
52 ***** months so far and what has happened to speak of?
wait, did they just say 52 months? that long already? what the ***** are they doing over there besides evidently "misplacing" weapons and not having old-school battles to fortify and secure areas and thusly getting sweaty in the process only to have their laundry done at $100US per load payable to KBR by us truly? so let's see, laundry twice a month is $200US, they're in-country for about, say, 16 months, so that's $3200 for their deployment, multiplied by 162,000 troops...equals $5,184,000,000. over five billion dollars for laundry services, hmmm. ***** a timetable, the pigs have had too much time at the trough and it's evident they're just wallowing in their slops. or porkbarrel, whichever you prefer. - tehpwnrate, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9The war ended with this... http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Bush-USS-Lincoln.jpg The occupation then began...
- MrsButtersworth, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9Why would I not believe it?
- dtd00d, on 10/10/2007, -9/+16It's about time we got serious about getting out.
- tehpwnrate, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9To be fair, isn't "positive" just "less horrific" and haven't we stuck around long enough? Sorry if that comes across as pessimistic, I'm just trying to throw a little perspective on there.
- schrutefan, on 10/10/2007, -4/+10No, no you've got it all wrong. The extra soldiers are there to celebrate the end of the war. There's gonna big a huge party with a banner that says "Mission Re-accomplished."
- Look4Truth, on 10/10/2007, -7/+12That's because they're never leaving. You don't build huge permanent bases along with an embassy the size of the Vatican if you're planning on leaving. No, these NWO fools have other plans, like plenty of massive destruction around the world.
- allaboutdatiki, on 10/10/2007, -3/+7Ripley is rolling over in his grave.
- superdoofus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4correcting my math. it's not 5+ billion, it's a half billion for laundry bills alone (mayhaps i revisit calculators?). but i still stand firm that my assertation regarding numbers like that might just kinda hint at overspending and porkbarrel politics. and it's over ten billion taxpayer dollars if they do their laundry every week, but i erred on the chance that the military/us gov. might give a crap about conserving resources and frugality in contract agreements/negotiations and spending.
- Glitchr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Facts are a stubborn thing..
see: http://icasualties.org/oif/
How do you see this as winning? I'll read it for you and do some recap for the lazy..
July2007 deaths = 89
July2006 deaths = 46
July2005 deaths = 83
July2004 deaths = 58
July2003 deaths = 49
How is this winning? Did you read the news that ALL the Sunnis in the legislature just quit? There has been ZERO political progress there in the last year. We can play shoot up games in Iraq indefinitely and we will never "win" until they can run their own country (like they did before we invaded). Our work on their infrastructure is joke. They have substantially less power than they did before we invaded. Part of Bagdad is without water right now. Millions of people-- no water. Most of the skilled workers with resources have left the country for a safer place to live. The country looks like Beirut. As much as we disliked Saddam, it was a SECULAR country with a large middle class. Now it is ruins. WORSE, we have set up a Shiite government based on muslim religious doctrine and ties to Iran.
Yeah. Were winning... Right. I will give you one thing. Our military continues to do a great job. They sure do know how to destroy stuff and kill people. How they can live every day with Bush's dumb ass foreign policy is beyond me. - joelito, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4So? That only means that we have to exercise our second ammendment rights and start arming our selves for when TSHTF.
- kingraoul3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5You can go right now.
I trust their a recruit office near enough to where you live or work? - Glitchr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Six more months!. Then after that another SURGE! Then another six months! Then another Surge. This is like the third or fourth Surge since the war started. These surges just didn't not have the massive PR campaign.
GWB is and always will be a coward. He doesn't want to clean up his mess. He would rather leave it for the next president. That is what this is all about. GWB has no exit strategy. He is simply stalling.
FYI, Military deaths for JULY are up over last year (and the year before & the year before). You have mistakingly bought into the propaganda generated by the corporate media. You see.. During the hottest part of the Summer, military deaths go down. We have +6 years of data on this, so it really shouldn't be a surprise if the journalist were actually doing their job. Unfortunately they think their job is spouting propaganda for the government. Wake the hell up. It PAST time to do your own research if the media lies to you. You think you would have learned this by now. - whatthefu, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6The problem I have with pulling out without any sort of good plan to ensure the safety of the millions of innocent Iraqis is pretty big. It happened with Vietnam--we condemned many people to their deaths by pulling out. I'm not saying Vietnam and Iraq were/are not futile, but I feel like valuing the lives of US soldiers and our own personal welfares over something we ourselves started is inhumane. I would feel differently if it wasn't this country's fault that Iraq is in the state that it's in, but unfortunately that is not the case.
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3No, the NY Times
- tidu, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4I wish they'd include those counts in American (soldier) deaths in Iraq. It'd be quite startling.
- leexy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Yeah, more of the same and expect different results.
Gee.. - brentris, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5ya, I want to see the number including Blackwater and other mercs.
- Look4Truth, on 10/10/2007, -5/+8When are you people going to wake up?! They're NEVER leaving! NEVER!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12319798/
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/224055_iraqbases.html
This has NOTHING to do with rotation! Gah, wake up already... - billbacon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3If you ask 10 people why we are there, you'll get at least 4 different answers. One thing everyone agrees on is that the war cannot be won militarily. With the money spent so far, not including future costs (which are projected to be triple), we could have given every Iraqi man, woman, and child $16,000. That would have gone a long way to win the hearts of minds. Without a clear goal of what the mission is, no other conclusion can be drawn than that it is being intentionally prolonged.
Why would they want to prolong the war? The only ones with anything to gain are the multinational corporations. Unfortunately, the money put into the pockets of the multinationals no longer feeds the US economy. Somehow money for these corporations is still being referred to as "American interests". Even the projected 21 trillion dollars to be gained by big oil will not go towards repaying the American taxpayer. I'm not optimistic. - etnu, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Not necessarily. By most accounts, the mercs are better equipped, work in larger groups, and aren't targeted as frequently (probably because they don't wear standard uniforms). I'd be willing to bet that the death rate among mercs is less than half that of military.
- kingraoul3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4Humanitarianism does not fly out of the barrels of American weapons. Bullets do.
The only path to permanent peace and stability in that region of the world begins with the withdrawal of the invading army currently occupying that country.
To put it another way, the ultimate form that the state organ takes in Iraq MUST be a representative of the true desires of the general population; peoples inalienable right to liberty guarantees this historic fact. - batshitcrazy, on 10/10/2007, -3/+6"has nothing to do with a NWO conspiracy."
you do realize Bush Sr., followed by Clinton, and now the Neocons all publicly and clearly stated they intended to pursue a new world order?
fool. - Corrosionx, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3That's the problem with people who were for the war from the beginning, they invested so much belief and faith in it that they cling on to every little piece of seemingly good news, without realizing it comes from the same ***** who said it would be a walk in the park in the first place. You won the war, Saddam's army was beaten. For the rest, you're in WAY over your head.
- eviscero, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6The rate is actually going down so you can insert your foot in your mouth now.
.001/10 - guzziguy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3SURGE - DO you remember something called the THE SURGE........AND IT'S WORKING - I KNOW YOUR SAD AND ANGRY but IT'S WORKING....LET'S SEE HOW LITTLE COVERAGE THAT GETS....CHILDREN
Besides there are probably more people outside your local Starbucks waiting for the new flavor to be available then there are troops in IRAQ.
I'm thankful they are there fighting the RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISTS who want to KILL YOU! REMEMBER THAT. - Corrosionx, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3WE'LL BE GREETED AS LIBERATORS!!!
- salinemist, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6We've exhausted more resources than any other time in history? Have you ever opened a history book? Current military spending is less in actual dollars than at the end of World War II, and as a percentage of GDP it's still less than during the Kennedy Administration.
- originofawful, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I see nothing to fear here, because either way you look at it President Bush is out in '08. By the way, the reason we have to go to all these lengths is because this is a different type of war than ones of past. However, I could do without the reckless spending. I also think that Bush, or the senate should run the war, just let the military deal with it, since they are the experts you know.
- billobob, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3This only proves how stupid conspiracy theorists are. Those two videos clearly illustrate that Clinton and Bush are talking about a world in which the UN fulfills its intended role, not some crazy skull and bones one-government-***** or whatever.
- Glitchr, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2That is the amazing thing. The GOP talk tough about immigration, but they did NOTHING while the controlled the legislature. NOTHING! In fact, they did the opposite by sending national guard and resources away from the real front. They created a war in Iraq and ignored the invasion of our homeland.
You have to admit, you defense minded conservatives. You have been HAD! You think that you have some control over the GOP, but you are wrong. Corporations control GOP policy and they want the cheap Mexican labor to increase profits. GWB latest immigration law attempts are further proof. These GOP leaders want their corporate profits and they want more of the latin vote. They don't care about you. What ever happened to the Libertarian party? They should be huge and growing, except for the fact that REAL conservatives are cowards. They let greed and stubbornness (continued support King George) get in the way of their principles (see balanced budget). - Look4Truth, on 10/10/2007, -3/+5http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12319798/
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/224055_iraqbases.html
Sorry my friend but this is anything but temporary. - dagnew, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2the real goal is endless war (which Cheney said in 2001). Something to replace the hugely lucrative (read steal from the taxpayers) Cold War. Towards that end, the 'surge' is a success! Even a 'cakewalk' as the neocons predicted, as long as you have no regard for human life. Permanent bases in Iraq (and control of their oil) can ensure havoc in the region for decades. And if we invade Iran, as Cheney is pushing, we can see FAR greater carnage, probably guaranteeing another decade of war profiteering. Defend the Constitution: Impeach (then indict) BuCheney!
- Applu, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2What the *****, why do you people say ***** like it's getting better over there? Seriously pull your head out of your ***** please? We are not accomplishing a goddamn thing over there, we are policing the country because we made a ***** mess. The only reason Bush won't pull out is because he is too headstrong and ***** stupid to know any better. On top of all that, his corrupted administration take his stupidity to full advantage and further screw the American people for what it's worth. Honestly, what have we really accomplished over there other then taking Saddam out? Perhaps, this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War#Human_rights_abuses - mal1964, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1So did Americans just over a hundred years ago. We have to many accomplishments to count.
- kingraoul3, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Are you talking about the Civil War? WWI? Are all violent deaths morally equivalent because some people a hundred years ago died in pursuit of a righteous cause?
What has been accomplished in Iraq? - BrutusCato, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1The Spanish American War??? I remember the Maine as much as the next guy, but really why the hell was the US nosybodying in a Spanish-Cuban Civil War? If the US didnt think it was the world policeman, the Maine would never have been in Havana and thus no reason to fight the Spanish in that "Splendid Little War."
- BohicaTwentyTwo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1We have the highest level of troops and the casualty rate is decreasing. There has been so much progress that the Democrats have had to change their official stance that "the surge is a failure (something they said before it even started)" to "military success does not mean political success".
- volanin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1IRAQ is a perfect strategic spot to set a military base in case you want to invade IRAN.
US has already positioned 3 or 4 battle ships for attack.
Now it's is positioning the infantry. - slundal, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2That's about twice the size of the entire swedish army.
- joe7845, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Well, civilian deaths in both June and July averaged 50-100 a day. Politically the situation is a disaster. The surge has made a small dent that probably can't be sustained. Unfortunately, it will probably be used as an excuse to "stay the course" and so on.
- yodaj007, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1This isn't a war. You can't fight a war against a tactic. It doesn't work. What is the winning condition?
- Alpione, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2That's my problem with the Dems and the left. As soon as any hint of good news comes out to refute their defeatism, they say "oh, that doesn't matter" and move to something else. Look, we all know that the Dems and left want to lose the war and will do anything to prevent progress, but at least stop changing the subject every time something positive happens...
- joe7845, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1What's the plan? Just kill everyone?
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2***** off, racist mother *****.
- kingraoul3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2MIndless slander.
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