Three GOP Senators Urge Refocusing of Iraq Policy

[seemslikeadream]

By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 20, 2004; Page A16

Republican senators lobbed criticisms of President Bush's Iraq war policies during yesterday's news talk shows, arguing that the U.S. military needs more troops on the ground and should move without haste to turn the tide against a deadly and persistent insurgency.

Following a recent spate of attacks that have killed scores of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens, some senators said yesterday that U.S. policy has been misdirected and needs to be refocused. As the presidential election nears, the Republicans blasted what they called a sometimes stubborn administration and called on military leaders to launch attacks on insurgent strongholds sooner rather than later.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said on "Fox News Sunday" that he never would have allowed sanctuaries for anti-coalition fighters in cities such as Fallujah, where officials believe the insurgency has been strengthening.

"Allowing those sanctuaries has contributed significantly to the difficulties that we're facing, which are very, very significant," McCain said. "We made serious mistakes right after the initial successes by not having enough troops there on the ground, by allowing the looting, by not securing the borders. There was a number of things that we did. Most of it can be traced back to not having sufficient numbers of troops there."
more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34111-2004Sep19.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. We're watching Vietnam happening right before our eyes.

They're actually pushing Vietnam as this president's strongest hand in his re-election effort. How sick is this? We know there's no exit strategy, we know how many boys will die and how long it will last because we've been here before. But there's still stupid people out there that think this is a good reason to vote for this president.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[whistle]

5. The people are the war profiteers, follow the money...

...of the $18.7 billion congress authorized in May 2003 for Iraqi reconstruction only about $400 million or only about 2% has been spent so far. Rumsfeld and the Pentagon have dragged their feet for 16 months and now they want $3.9 billion of that money diverted to increase security, in other words to put it directly into the defense funnel where it will be quickly disappear into defense contractor's pockets. Corruption, defiance, arrogant disregard even when congress orders and expects the funds to be spent wisely and to build strong ties with Iraq, this administration ignores that directive and does what it damn well pleases.

[madmax]

2. "...offering economic development initiatives throughout the region."

On CBS's "Face the Nation," Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) announced that he is going to make nearly two dozen policy suggestions to the State Department and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to improve the situation in Iraq. In particular, he suggested starting training camps for security forces in the region surrounding Iraq and offering economic development initiatives throughout the region.

"The fact is, we're in trouble. We're in deep trouble in Iraq," Hagel said. "And I think we're going to have to look at some recalibration of policy."

Wonder if any unemployed Republicans are concerned about some economic development, right here in the good 'ol U.S of A.

The war in Iraq is such a major freaking blunder in so many, many ways it's heartbreaking.

[whistle]

Are these GOP senators now on the Bush hit list?

[truthisfreedom]

4. they can't afford to put any senators on the hit list just now. they may

end up with too few senators as it is!

[kainah]

3. and WHY is this on page A16?

That you have several well-respected Republican senators voicing serious concerns on the Sunday talk shows -- the shows that we are told will generate Monday's headlines -- and it's buried on page A16? This is a disgusting display of the way the WashPost is covering up for this president.

Leonard Downie -- the anti-Ben Bradlee

[54anickel]

6. Because they had to cover this subdivision story on the front page!

Unfrigginbelievable!

snipped a bit so no one would waste the time opening it.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34082-2004Sep19.html

N.Va. Neighbors Hoping To Raze, Rebuild, Profit
70 Homeowners Near Vienna Metro See Riches in 1,000-Unit Replacement

By Peter Whoriskey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 20, 2004; Page A01

Poplar Terrace, a Vienna area enclave of 70 houses with big yards and towering trees, looks like a pleasant place to live. But to Pete Young and most of his neighbors, there is much more to this subdivision they call home:

The potential for millions in profits.

In a reflection of Washington's surging home prices and the allure of cashing in, Young and nearly all his neighbors have banded together to form a real estate collective that proposes to raze their 40-acre community and realize above-market profits from its redevelopment as a cluster of more than 1,000 condominiums and townhouses.

[mike_c]

7. the concerns they're voicing are PRO-WAR...

...so I'd prefer to see them buried as deeply as possible. When Senate leaders have the courage to call for withdrawal from the catastrophe in Iraq I'll pay attention-- these yo-yo's are calling for ESCALATION. As if we haven't already done enough damage to Irag, our international reputation, and any remaing shreds of U. S. moral authority (illusionary though it might have been, we no longer have even the illusion of moral authority to cling to).

[shockingelk]

8. it's military code

All the military folks read page A 16 first because the A16 is a British long range radio, http://www.rigpix.com/military/a16prc316.htm and an Amerincan fighter jet, the A-16 "Fighting Falcon"

Kidding.

[Moderator]

9. Duplicate

add this article if it offers more information here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=839011