What is Digg?Sponsored by Threadless
$9 t-shirts today only view!
threadless.com - Today's the day to snag a deal on t-shirts! Threadless.com. $9. Every. Single. Tee.
165 Comments
- sharpfork, on 10/12/2007, -13/+167Republican Andrew Sullivan (the guy who wrote the article this digg is linked to) has woken up to the selling out of true conservative values by the GOP. Along with the selling out of true conservative values of small government and restrained spending, the GOP continues to sell out our troops in Iraq with undefined goals and reasoning for the war.
Letting the leader or Iraq dictate how our military will act in a situation where we have a captured solder behind enemy lines is absolutely disgusting. When you consider the GOP didn't want to attract too much attention to a standoff with the Iraqi leadership with elections looming, it makes it even more disgusting.
November 8th they will send in the special forces and get the job done. Up until then, they will sit on their thumbs and hope people go to the polls thinking of fear that Democrats will raise taxes instead of thinking of how badly the GOP has farked up Iraq and sold out our troops. - Eljefedeath, on 10/12/2007, -11/+127But in the meantime, lets make a big media splash about John Kerry and his poor joke telling ability.I hate election season.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -8/+100"The U.S. military does not have a tradition of abandoning its own soldiers to foreign militias, or of taking orders from foreign governments. No commander-in-chief who actually walks the walk, rather than swaggering the swagger, would acquiesce to such a thing."
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -9/+73Andrew Sullivan is not some random dumbass who decided to open an account at Blogspot. He writes for TIME.
- soll, on 10/12/2007, -6/+58Yeah I was thinking the same thing about the current media situation in America. I can understand why Kerry was the lead story everywhere last night even though it's stupid. The fact that CNN and probably other outlets are still pushing Kerry as their main story despite stuff like this coming out just saddens me that a majority of our people are being told that's the news that is most important.
It also makes it easier to understand why the Democrat's strategy lately seems to be shut the hell up and let the Republicans destroy themselves. - tpodr, on 10/12/2007, -7/+53@flicknut,
I wouldn't call it so much a debate. More think a discussion on how to best describe how ***** up Iraq has become and is Bush completely delusional or merely off his hinges. - rationalist, on 10/12/2007, -7/+50"It was the Iraqi prime minister who ordered the withdrawal. And I somehow doubt this order even gets to Bush."
The buck stops.....where, exactly?
Sounds like what the GOP Majority leader just said:
"GOP HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN BOEHNER: Let's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld.
WOLF BLITZER: But he's in charge of the military.
BOEHNER: But the fact is, the generals on the ground are in charge, and he works closely with them and the president."
Boehner blames the troops on the ground.
Does anybody in this administration take responsibility for anything? What a bunch of draft-dodging cowards. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -11/+50Since when is the Iraqi Prime Minister in charge of American forces?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+43The guy who wrote the article debated Christopher Hitchens on CNN today:
http://www.digg.com/political_opinion/CNN_VIDEO_Christopher_Hitchens_and_Andrew_Sullivan_in_the_Situation_Room - aviazn, on 10/12/2007, -4/+35I laughed out loud when the anchorwoman introduced Andrew Sullivan and Christopher Hitchens as two conservatives "with distinctly different points of view". I love them both, but they're pretty damn close ideologically--definitely both part of the neoconservative movement. And by "neoconservative," I mean the original meaning of the term--that is, conservatives informed by classical liberal principles.
- bogaboga, on 10/12/2007, -5/+31Well, since last Friday to be precise! Once again, we as Americans are being proven to, that having the so-called "best army on the globe", can be whipped left, right, front, back and center! The insurgents are giving us a hell of a hard time and the Iraq government, which we [help] put in place is telling us what to do. For sure, this is another Vietnam.
- aviazn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18Actually, Bush has been saying that we stay in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government for quite a while now. Once they tell us to leave, we will. Seeing as how the majority of Iraqis want us out, yet their government does not, I'm not surprised that they have failed to rally around their government. I think we should put our presence in Iraq to a democratic referendum in Iraq. Let the citizens of Iraq decide--we promised to bring them democracy, and that's what we should give them. If they ask us to stay, it's hard to object to a continued presence there, and if they ask us to leave, then there really isn't anything more we can do.
- MobbyG, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21Miltary commanders are responisible for all under their command. That includes the commader in chief. For their actions and safety. If this story is accurate, then it shows that our "Glorious Leader" has little respect for the men and women under his command.
- tadda, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18GW Bush: "Some people call you the elite. I call you my base."
Who's the elitist? - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+19"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it." - George W. Bush
- briancarnell, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15This is really an example of Andrew Sullivan being typically disinengenous.
As the story makes clear, the military is still actively searching for the missing soldier.
What the U.S. did was acquiesce to a request by the Iraqi government to end a blockade that had been in place in Sadr City for the past week. Clearly, maintaining the blockade for a week didn't turn up the soldier, and it is completely reasonable to weigh the possible benefit of finding the missing soldier with the blockade, with the possible detriment of reinforcing the view that the Iraqi prime minister is just a U.S. puppet.
Sullivan conveniently leaves out how long he would have had the military continue to blockade the area or any sort of analysis on how the U.S. should act when short term U.S. military goals may undermine long term U.S. interests in promoting Iraqi sovereignty.
That Sullivan is simply not serious is evidence by this,
"The U.S. military does not have a tradition of abandoning its own soldiers to foreign militias, or of taking orders from foreign governments. No commander-in-chief who actually walks the walk, rather than swaggering the swagger, would acquiesce to such a thing."
Sullivan can't have it both ways. He can't rail against Bush, as he has, for his unnecessary unilateralism, and then turn around and bitch when the U.S. tries to walk a fine line between accomplishing its political and military goals. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15The buck stops with the Commander-in-Chief.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -13/+25From the article:
"The commander-in-chief has abandoned an American soldier to the tender mercies of a Shiite militia." - Olle, on 10/12/2007, -12/+24Did you ever see Saving Private Ryan? During the film, did you ever wonder about the sense in risking the lives of many soldiers to save the life of one soldier?
While the thought of abandoning a soldier is disgusting it is likely that turning Sadr city upside down to find one soldier would cost the lives of many more soldiers. And it may be impossible to save that one soldier anyway.
So by withdrawing I see the following consequences:
1) That one poor soldier has just lost his best hope to be rescued (this is truly sad)
2) The U.S. pride got a ding and the proud Americans are upset (inconsequential)
3) By withdrawing on the Iraqi prime ministers "order" he gets credibility, which is against the wishes of insurgents. (This is good)
4) By withdrawing there are less clashes between soldiers and Iraqis. These conflicts are causing problems in an already volatile situation. (less clashes is good)
5) By being less visible fewer American soldiers will be killed. (This is good)
Igniting a new Falluja might prolong the U.S. occupation for many months before a withdrawal is possible. Maybe even a collapse of the Iraqi government. And if a hundred soldiers per month is being killed then the math is grim.
I think that Bush is a moron. And I think that the buck stops with him and that he could have ignored the Iraqi prime ministers order to withdraw. But I can't unequivocally state that it was wrong to withdraw. It may in fact have been a very tough decision to make and a politically wrong decision. BUT it might have been the right decision. And if he made this decision, maybe with information we don't have, fully knowing that it is a political bomb, then he just redeemed himself a bit in my eyes.
This is not a romantic war story where the hero comes home and gets the girl. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15And where is Osama again? Oh ya right, behind enemy lines.
- appetite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14Murtha never said to abandon soldiers in the field. He said to begin a process of deployment.
So less stuff like this happens. - silenceHR, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11You don't leave soldiers behind for simple reason.. morale of others.
Every soldier in every army needs to know that his fellow soldiers and commanders will do everything possible to get him out or help .... so he can fight.
If you were in Baghdad streets every day and if you knew Bush will leave you to insurgents ... how would that make you feel?
That is reason why Israel attacked palestinians and Lebanon, that's the reason why they are now negotiating their release ... that's the reason why army doesn't leave even the dead bodies behind if it's possible....
Soldier must know, without a doubt, that he can rely on this. When you start leaving soldiers behind, cause it's politcally convinient, soldiers will go to fight with another doubt in their mind and that is LAST thing they need.. another doubt. - appetite, on 10/12/2007, -5/+16Meanwhile, October ended with over 100 new US troop deaths 3 years and billions of dollars after the mission was 'accomplished' and you care so deeply about what Kerry said to a group of college kids on the mainland.
I fail to understand your priorities. - mwolfzorn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10then don't browse digg.com/politics
- WackyT, on 10/12/2007, -13/+22You guys definitely have your shovels out hard and heavy. Blaming President Bush for a missing soldier in Iraq?
"The soldier's Iraqi in-laws said they believed he had been abducted by the Mahdi Army as he visited his wife at her home in the Karrada area of Baghdad, where U.S. military checkpoints were also removed as a result of Maliki's action."
So, seeing as the left likes to spout how logical they are, is there anything showing the soldier contacting President Bush to ask for permission to visit an unsecured area? If not, is there any evidence of President Bush giving permission for this soldier to visit an unsecured area? - nixfu, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14NEWS FLASH... ITS NOT AN AMERICAN SOLIDER we are talking about here
It was an Iraqi translator who was working for U.S. troops that was kidnapped and is still missing...NOT a U.S. soldier. Evidently the translator was visiting family in Baghdad(?) when he was kidnapped by masked gunmen.
...even then, the politics of the situation on the ground might just mean that backing off a little might increase the chances of getting him back alive. - cramtod, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11> The other party is not out to destroy America.
Correct. The Republican party isn't out to destroy America. They are doing what they believe is best for the country. Unfortunately, what they believe is best IS destroying America. No malice on their part, but the result is the same.
> People who can't get that through their skulls might as well press their hands against
> their ears and sing loudly because they'll blindly take whatever candidate their party
> offers them without even considering that there might be reasons for why other people
> would have differing opinions.
I'm all for other people having their own opinions. It's when people have their own facts that I get upset. - twooranges, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15Is anybody else sick of all the political topics on digg. there's just so much hate for both sides. you need to just shut up and make your voice really count and GO VOTE!
- osbjmg, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14You are confusing the old members of the GOP with the NWO. There are still decent republicans out there, but I'll let you know when I can find one.
- rationalist, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14Perhaps if you typed with both hands, you'd learn to spell.
- botchems, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13Did you see the amount of flaming of Kerry in previous stories for his comments?
And only a few had actually managed to find and watch the whole context. Why doesn't the CNN main story carry the rest of his speech at all? Why even the big fuss to quote him out of context?
Sadly, there seems to be some jump the band wagon media reporting at the moment, and some people are already forgetting the main issues regarding the war in Iraq. - AtomicCow, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Does "Commander-in-Chief" ring a bell?
- martalli, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10The real tool here is the President.
- appetite, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10It doesn't jive with my preconceived notions, so it must be false!
- jjb123, on 10/12/2007, -6/+13Oh, kinda like when Carter left 66 Americans in Iran?
- geronimo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10But Iraq is just fine, we have it under control. Why don't they stroll through Sadr City, wading through all the rocks^h^h^h^h^hflowers thrown at them and knock on some doors.
- appetite, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10"It sounds like the Liberals want a dictatorship, then the Pres. would be responsible for every single thing that happens...."
Rather than responsible for nothing? - LaueOfficer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Out of curiosity, why do the US POWMIA databases not have ANY record of a POW (or MIA) for that matter, in Iraq AT ALL?
- burgerboy06, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Has anyone noticed that digg actually works. Stories hit the front page about politics, then more people go looking for political stories, and get promoted, its really what the people care about. And right now, people care about how much our government sucks.
- pinoy22, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9bsonline.....Clinton wasnt being impeached because he got a blowjob its because he lied about getting a blowjob on the GRAND JURY.
- bsonline, on 10/12/2007, -7/+13I'm embarrased that we live in a country that will consider impeaching a president for getting a blow job... but let's this dumb ***** do as he pleases. Has no one considered that maybe we should fire his ass?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+12why bother, we elected bush twice and everyone still bitches about him
- portwojc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I guess everyone forgets that incident in Mogadishu where they were just left there. That's being abandoned.
The guy shouldn't have gone and visited his wife in the first place. It's called set up. Someone knew she was married to an American. I'm sure that someone told someone else who then arranged for a "greeting" for him. Duh.
Hopefully they can find him. Hopefully safe. - botchems, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10Story with link to video with rest of Kerry comment. Watch and judge for yourself.
http://digg.com/politics/John_Kerry_Botched_Joke_Comment_Clarified_by_Keith_Olbermann - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8ALRIGHT!! Can we please not have any more not an american soldier comments, he is an Iraqi-American U.S. Army Translator!! DAMN!!
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/23/iraq.main/index.html
YES! That means American Soldier! - mushimonster, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7MARKED AS INACCURATE ... since the article doesnt have CLASSIFIED information to back it's claim.
This article is just more anti-Bush propaganda. How can you doubt that the U.S. military will continue to search for this Soldier. To all of those people who think they know something ... Let me ask one question ... Are you privy to Classified planning and intellegence briefings. Do you know for sure what the President is planning? - JimNtexas, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8I'm pretty sure that this solider violated the rules by going off base on his own. It's not like the Army (let alone the President) ordered him to visit his relatives.
GIs in Iraq are instructed to never get caught alone outside the wire.
Buried as inaccurate. - raptordrew, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Since when is withdrawing from an area always mean abandoning someone?
- steinbeckgirl, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10That showed the GOP's desperation, they took the Kerry joke and ran with it on every news station. To the average person, it seemed like a laughable desperate attempt to defer the attention off themselves.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 167 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is