Carter Ties U.S. Presence, Iraq Bloodshed

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By DOUG GROSS, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA - Former President Carter said Wednesday that the apparent open-ended presence of U.S. troops in Iraq (news - web sites) has contributed to the wave of hostage-takings and other bloodshed.


"A lot of political analysts have said that one of the main reasons the Bush-Cheney administration went into Iraq was to establish a permanent military base there," Carter said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think this arouses a great deal of unnecessary opposition."


Carter's remarks came as the family of fellow Georgian Jack Hensley learned that the contractor had been beheaded by his captors in Iraq. He was the second American hostage killed there by Islamic extremists in as many days.


"As much as any president in history, I was afflicted psychologically and politically by the holding of American hostages," Carter said. "So my heart goes out to all those who are involved in a similar crisis, particularly the Hensley family."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=1&u=/ap/20040922/ap_on_re_us/carter_interview

[whistle]

1. Yep and I believe we now have 14 permnaent military bases...

...in Iraq. One for every oil pipeline junction! As Bush says, "We HAVE made progress in Iraq!"

<links>
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040323-enduring-bases.htm

http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=21331

[KC21304]

2. As Jim Hightower said, we may have not gone into Iraq

for the oil, but we sure as hell aren't going to leave without it.

[JoFerret]

3. Thanks for weighing in President Carter

Always good to hear from you.

[TacticalPeek]

4. Kick.

:kick:

[jumpstart33]

5. So do the Iraqis tie US presence to blooshed.

We are making many, many permanent enemies.

[struggle4progress]

6. kick

:kick: