The situation in Iraq has deteriorated so far in the last two days that I frankly don't know where to begin. But seven more troops have been killed since Monday morning:
Iraqi Shiite Muslims chant anti-US slogans in Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City. (AFP/Patrick Baz)I'm on deadline again and can't really give a complete rundown of the news, but check out Juan Cole, Billmon and Josh Marshall for some excellent roundups. But If I can take a moment to be frank: I cannot begin to explain how angry I am at how Iraq has been handled. Arrogance, heads-in-the-sandness and a complete lack of understanding of the culture, people and history of the country has been the hallmark of Washington's policy toward Iraq. The original plan called for 30,000 troops in August as happy natives bought Coca-Cola and waved little American flags. Such arrogance. Now the Pentagon is mulling extra troops. "There's no history of ethnic violence in Iraq," we were told by Iraqi exiles and Paul Wolfowitz. Well, maybe that's because the Iraqis have been ruled by an iron fist for a long, long time. Tom Friedman once noted that by removing Saddam, we would find out if Iraq was the way it was because of Saddam or if Saddam was the way he was because of Iraq. I think we can now say it's the latter. Saddam was brutal and -- yes -- evil, but when pro-American Iraqi bloggers say Iraqis "deserve" Saddam, that's a sign that the ballgame is almost over.
American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 6, 2004 -- Four Marines with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force were killed April 5 as a result of enemy action while conducting security and stabilization operations in Iraq's Anbar province, a Combined Joint Task Force 7 news release reported today. No further information on this incident was available. Three Task Force 1st Armored Division soldiers were killed during separate attacks April 5 and today in Baghdad's Kadhimiya district, according to another release. The first soldier died of wounds received during an attack that took place at about 11 a.m. April 5. The soldier was traveling with a southbound convoy when it was attacked with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. A second soldier died at about 9:30 p.m. April 5 when an RPG struck his vehicle during a firefight in the same area. An RPG attack at 12:30 a.m. today killed a third soldier, who was in a Bradley fighting vehicle. The names of the Marines and soldiers are being withheld until their families are notified.
Iraqi Shiite Muslims chant anti-US slogans in Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood of Sadr City. (AFP/Patrick Baz)I'm on deadline again and can't really give a complete rundown of the news, but check out Juan Cole, Billmon and Josh Marshall for some excellent roundups. But If I can take a moment to be frank: I cannot begin to explain how angry I am at how Iraq has been handled. Arrogance, heads-in-the-sandness and a complete lack of understanding of the culture, people and history of the country has been the hallmark of Washington's policy toward Iraq. The original plan called for 30,000 troops in August as happy natives bought Coca-Cola and waved little American flags. Such arrogance. Now the Pentagon is mulling extra troops. "There's no history of ethnic violence in Iraq," we were told by Iraqi exiles and Paul Wolfowitz. Well, maybe that's because the Iraqis have been ruled by an iron fist for a long, long time. Tom Friedman once noted that by removing Saddam, we would find out if Iraq was the way it was because of Saddam or if Saddam was the way he was because of Iraq. I think we can now say it's the latter. Saddam was brutal and -- yes -- evil, but when pro-American Iraqi bloggers say Iraqis "deserve" Saddam, that's a sign that the ballgame is almost over.
I have to admit that until now I have never longed for the days of Saddam, but now I'm not so sure. If we need a person like Saddam to keep those rabid dogs at bay then be it. Put Saddam back in power and after he fills a couple hundred more mass graves with those criminals they can start wailing and crying again for liberation. What a laugh we will have then. Then they can shove their filthy Hawza and marji'iya up somewhere else. I am so dissapointed in Iraqis and I hate myself for thinking this way. We are not worth your trouble, take back your billions of dollars and give us Saddam again. We truly 'deserve' leaders like Saddam.Iraqis were _glad_ to be rid of Saddam, make no mistake. But they had and still have a very complicated stew of feelings as to the way it happened. But if even that glimmer of goodwill and gratitude is fading, what else is there? If they're no longer even glad for that, then why the hell is the United States there? And why this desperate clinging to June 30? It smacks of a security blanket, of a childish administration so at a loss as to what to do that the only thing left is to cling to the one thing it has control over: the date when sovereignty will be returned. But returned to ... who? The IGC is reviled on the street. The interim constitution is rejected by most Shi'a. The Kurds just want to retreat to their mountains and the Sunnis are scared to death of everyone. And it's not like the U.S. is going anywhere. Large bases in al-Taji and elsewhere indicate that the U.S. is planning on a long stay. The Pentagon will still have control over the $18 billion "gift" to Iraq from the people of the United States -- except the Iraqis don't actually get the money or or have a say in how it's spent. The country's armed forces will still answer to the U.S. military. A reporter buddy who was in Iraq in December and January said -- and I agree -- that the CPA has spent a lot of time convincing a lot of Iraqis -- educated and uneducated alike -- that on July 1, the Americans will be gone. When Iraqis wake up and the Americans are still there, that will be a rude awakening for everybody. The White House is "playing poker and has been bluffing for a long time with a pair of twos," my reporter friend said. And speaking of Americans, millions are so _angry_ at the waste of lives, money, prestige. So very _angry_ at the incompetence on the part of America's leaders in the foreign policy sphere. How can anyone look at facts -- real facts -- and not see that what passes for "moral clarity" and "steely resolve" and "resolute leadership" is actually stubbornness, incuriosity and dangerous isolation from contrary views. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Mr. President. Your act doesn't fool me. Your self-puffery doesn't hide your lack of imagination and your disastrous policy choices made because you're easily swayed by powerful viziers. Your lack of engagement has killed 624 Americans as of this writing, 59 British troops and 44 other members of your coalition. God knows how many Iraqis have died. Your generals don't bother to keep track. You should never be forgiven for these death -- you should be held accountable. Come November, I hope that you will be, because your Iraq policy and, frankly, your entire administration is what Talleyrand said of Napoleon's 1804 execution of the Duc d'Enghien: "It is worse than a crime; it is a mistake."
I couldn’t agree more with you Christopher. It is just amazing how uninterested the public seems to be.
Last week on NOW Bill Moyers talked about how the WWII the US introduced food stamps due to the war. I think any restrictions in day-to-day life like that are just not possible anymore today. The country is at war, and getting dragged into it deeper and deeper as it seems today, and all people can do is complain about high gas prices. Even the 9/11 discussion is already off the table although there are still many unanswered questions.
Naomi Klein suggests that the US is picking a fight with Sadr’s boys to justify delaying the handover of power.
Carston, I was thinking along the same lines, about WWII and now. I can’t imagine people putting up with self-sacrifice on the home front like it was done then. We’re too damned materialistic and self-centered.
Chris, I heartily agree with your righteous anger. It burns down deep in my gut, too…
Words fail. It is sickening that any guess is as likely to be the truth as any other guess. It is appalling that our pre-war protestations and predictions are daily being surpassed by the brutal reality. It is equally nauseating the number of US citizens who happily wave little flags and sing “we will rock you” until they see one photo of human carnage - and then it’s all “OMG! Is THIS what war is??”
I keep turning over in my mind Rummy’s snarling retort way back when about how everything would come up roses because it was being “planned that way”. Geez.
It was said before, but it’s worth repeating: The army is currently undermanned, and they can’t get new people enlisted. WHY OH WHY with soooooo many pro war people out there are they having problems getting new recruits? C’mon pro war people, get off your butts and go join the carnage you so vehemently supported!
I just don’t get this. This country is at war just as the President says all the time. And today one of the larger cities in Iraq has been taken over by a religious group. And what is the President doing??? He is on his way to his ranch in Texas.
http://reuters.com/newsPhotoGallery.jhtml
Top picture, President holding baby at Airport in Arkansas on his way to Texas, next picture right below, burnt out British army land rover in Amara Iraq. What the F* - Why isn’t the President in Washington in the situation room??? Isn’t he supposed to be the Commander in Chief?
Wow. Now tell us what you really think.
Actually Gerald, the military has met all of its recruiting goals, and most importantly, 99% of its re-enlistment goals (with the exception of helicopter pilots and Special Forces soldiers who can command huge salaries in the civilian sector). Enlistment standards had to be raised because there’s enough volunteers that the military can afford to be selective. Don’t believe me, read it here: http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=HTLEAD.HTM
Did you somehow forget about the history changing event that took place on Sept. 11. No, I didn’t think so. Now ask yourself what would you have done if you were the president of the US. Put your tail between your legs and run. Probably so. I have two relatives ih the military over in Iraq One of them is on his second tour since this whole thing started. He could not agree with Mr. Bush more. Half of these Iraqi people Hate the US and want us to die. Thier miserable beliefs are unrealitic and don’t stand a chance in our society. Therefore it’s my belief that Nato should rid this stinky poverty stricken country of the Sunnis, Kurds and any other group of indivduals who stand in the way of a new free Iraq. Nobody said that this was going to be an easy inexpensive task. Anybody that dosen’t stand up behind the US and our soldiers that fight for our freedom. Shut your damn mouths.
Regarding mysterious poster
I guess my first question is why waste tax payer money on bullets on a “stinky poverty stricken country”? Why should we care? Second, why Nato? If you want to kill millions of people because you don’t like them, please do this yourself, but don’t ask Nato to help you. Nato has a clear mission, and the mission is defensive, the Iraq war is not defensive, it was aggressive.
Lastly, I doubt that standing behind the US or its soldiers has anything to do with this war. This is a Bush war. Plus, these soldiers are not fighting for “our” freedom, they are fighting to “liberate” Iraq. Since Iraq never was a danger to the US the US can’t fight a war for its own freedom. Plus, I stand firmly behind the US soldiers and those from other nations and want their best, which means that they are alive and don’t get killed for nothing. So I will not shut my mouth. And if you haven’t understood it yet, even though I am against this war that doesn’t mean I want the troops out, since that would be complete chaos. The US has started the war with Iraq, they have to finish it now and make Iraq a save place.
When the rightwing talks about liberating Iraq
they didn’t mean the people, just the oil. Now they
want to liberate Iraq from its people through genocide.
Right on! Its high time the coalition pulls out of Iraq completely, and let the Iraqi’s fend for themselves from here on out. Clearly the vast majority of them want to be ruled by militant Islamic fanatics who have no objection of depriving them of life and liberty. What possible interest do we have in getting between them and this fate?
Sigh, don’t know why I bother with you know nothings, but here goes.
Something like this was inevitable. At some point, some armed thug was going to try to get by force of arms what he couldn’t get at the polls.
There’s no reason that should affect the June 30th deadline. Quite the opposite in fact.
“Something like this was inevitable. At some point, some armed thug was going to try to get by force of arms what he couldnt get at the polls.”
Pierce Wetter: I’m curious — how is that scenario even remotely possible when there are no polls in Iraq, only a hand-picked governing council. (Talk about “know nothings”!)
Christopher: That was just extremely satisfying. Your anger is shared wholeheartedly here as well, your thought-provoking questions and accusations against the Bush regime thoroughly on the mark. That observance of June 30 as a Bushevik “security blanket” was sheer brilliance. And indeed, what else has gone according to plan in Iraq? Not a God-blessed thing, insofar as I can see, though the notion of “plan” is itself largely a fiction.
These would-be purveyors of “moral clarity” seem to think that trifling with human beings’ lives and limbs can somehow pass for “guts” or “integrity”. I’d say it’s much more suggestive of a mentality that can’t find it scruples (or rear end) with both hands!
“most importantly, 99% of its re-enlistment goals”
Stoner: Nothing very admirable in that, when the Pentagon simply made troops who were ready to leave the service “an offer they couldn’t refuse” — literally! — rather than make the government’s predicament obvious by imposing a Draft. Still, they’re busily greasing the wheels of Selective Service even as we speak, gearing up no doubt for an Inauguration Week “surprise”. (And of course, there’s those 10,000 bargain basement paramilitary “security guards” — $1000 / day apiece — to take up the slack meanwhile, almost unnoticed save for the huge hole in the treasury.)
I’m squarely with Gerald on that one. I’m sure the recruiting stations could probably use a few more good mouths (er, I mean men). And those rabidly gung-ho types we encounter here in Cyberspace ought to be worth any 2 merely human soldiers, it would seem, at least to hear them speak.
Lastly, I can’t believe there are still people in this country deluded enough to think that September 11 and Iraq were in any way connected (other than, perhaps, same stupid administration responsible for both and the same resulting “strategy” of forced annexation). Yo, anonymous one — read any good newspapers lately? (I didn’t think so.)
Mr. Wetter, I think that what is “inevitable” is yet to be seen. I’m not sure it’s helpful beyond providing some very temporary delusional gratification, to refer to a Shia cleric who has the stroke to order armed insurgency as “some armed thug”. But I’m completely puzzled as to your reference to the “polls”(what polls?) or what it is you believe he “couldn’t get” there and so, has resorted to “force of arms”. Why don’t you put some meat on that odd set of bones, for us “Know-nothings”?
Richard: Bravo. We coincided in both thought and time!
“And why this desperate clinging to June 30?” Because we have an election coming up, and this tar baby has got to be conveniently dispensed with for the sake of saving the Unelected Incumbent’s bacon.
“Did you somehow forget about the history changing event that took place on Sept. 11. No, I didn’t think so. Now ask yourself what would you have done if you were the president of the US. Put your tail between your legs and run. “
Which is exactly what George Bush did…pissed around while some schoolchildren and he read a book about a goat, then got the hell out of Dodge and flew around incommunicado wetting himself while the rest of the country waited desperately for some word from a leader who would help us deal with the trauma. His performance that day was an infamous indictment of his cowardice and total unfitness for the position.
Pierce Wetter— nothing was inevitable about this was except that it would be waged by the clueless and the lying, using the bodies of youngsters whose only fault was believing them. And if you think asSadr is merely a thug with a few disgruntled followers, you reveal your own “no-nothingness”. How can you read this weblog and fail to understand the real anger and vengeance fueling this uprising? If you can’t go read Raed, or Riverbend at Baghdad Burning, or Juan Cole, or any news service not towing the Bush party line. Don’t confuse the political aims of asSadr with the real grievances the Iraqis are carrying. This is the beginning of a long, long hell, and we have only ourselves to blame.
The really BAD thing is that we don’t have the best soldiers over there now. Most are weekend warriors, guardmans, etc…
SS is apparently instituting a ‘Special Services’ draft.
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18225
“Registrant Integrated Processing System”: RIPS
http://draftresistance.org/more.php?id=16010M
The agency already has in place a special system to register and draft health care personnel ages 20 to 44 in more than 60 specialties if necessary in a crisis. According to Flahavan, the agency will expand this system to be able to rapidly register and draft computer specialists and linguists, should the need ever arise.
What’s a crime is your idiotic world-view. So sit in your hole and wait for militant islamists to start blowing up trains here. Ass**.