[Happy2BMe]

Folks - we got some SERIES SHI'ITE going down this weekend.

If Bush won't "LOOSE THE DOGS," and do it NOW - he may give away this reelction bid on a platter to J-FK.

Our nation WILL NOT TOLERATE ANOTHER VIETNAM - PERIOD!

I personally have a son right in the thick of this shi'ite. I don't take kindly to him being thrown out there for cannon fodder to server political ends.

I'm NOT saying that is what is going on here. But - SOMETHING is definitely going on, and it is NOT in the favor of our troops in Iraq.

Has anybody besides me and a few others around here noticed the "STAND-DOWN, SIT-DOWN, SHUT-UP and GET SHOT" atomosphere being handed down to our troops in Iraq?

I DID NOT write the following, it was forwarded to me by an ultra-conservative FREEPER (you heard it right).

Listen to this:

"Happy - I think this weekend is going to prove the downfall (or the beginning of the downfall) of President Bush.

Iraq is a deadly disaster. There is going to be no defeat of these terrorists. The attacks are increasing and more deadly. Why? Because terrorists and money and weapons and explosives keep flowing in from Syria, Iran and "our friends" Saudi Arabia.

There is going to be no "peace in the Middle East" neither. "Satan don't do peace" He say: "wash yu talkin 'bout Christian democracy boyz? weez doan doan be doin dat no time soon!"

If what happened this week and weekend was just one small part of Iraq or it was just once in a great while, but overall we were making more progress or advancement) than defeat and set-backs, then it would be worth it... And, if we were to respond to all the attacks in a disproportionate way like Elliot Ness: they injure one of ours we kill ten of theirs, they kill one of ours, we wipe out a hundred of theirs. Animals, wolves, tigers, lions understand power and mastery...and kindness will get you killed trying to use it on them.

Bush is on the ropes and he is not ordering (or allowing) the Generals to wipe them out. I saw a General on TV talking tough. Then, the next day, he toned it down and made nice like a "political" and said is women and children are close or get in the way, then we have to back off and wait for a better day...blah blah blah. That dog of war was growling to be ordered to "sic em" and was leashed up by...who? Washington? Bush? Powell? Joint Chiefs?

Something ain't right.

END OF QUOTE:

Bush better wake up and let his generals be generals or he won't be the one calling the shots in 2005.

Seriesly.

[oceanview]

the personal tragedy of families who have lost soldiers is devasting for them.

while we surely have an issue with how we are conducting operations, what the rules of engagement are, the idea that these deaths somehow mean we are "losing" the war is off base. so are the comparisons to vietnam, that is a total media spin job. what was the typical loss of life each month to US forces in Vietnam?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Bush better wake up and let his generals be generals or he won't be the one calling the shots in 2005.

This isn't a real war and it seems we lost our will to fight a brutal, for keeps war.

All this talk about PC BS and talk of rebuilding their f-ing country at tax payer expense, while they are killing our people. These people are savages. Even their kids were pulling and pounding on those dead Americans. Look at the video images, there were hundreds of them, and those on the sidelines were cheering...

I find this whole damn Iraq thing extremely disturbing! What do we win here?

[Salem]

'Ping' on this thread to Happy2BMe's posting at 56. A lot has gone down in the last 72 hours and these events will define the future of our efforts in Iraq unless there is immediate and high profile command intervention.

---

AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~

[Lion in Winter]

You panic too easily. Are you a girl?

[faithincowboys]

I just hope they do what they knew to do and do it correctly. Bush should say "To Hell with politics" and make this thing work or make the bastards pay (big time).

[TomasUSMC]

This will show you why we are so screwed up in Iraq now.

Marine Corps commanders said they planned no change in their long-term tactics in Fallujah as a result of the deaths yesterday. Major General James Mattis, commanding the First Marine Division, has told troops that the test of their mettle will be not to lash back at the Iraqis because of casualties.

To the division's classic motto, "No better friend, no worse enemy," Mattis has affixed a preface for the mission in the Anbar Province, which includes Fallujah: "First, do no harm."

FIRST DO NO HARM. Now in the nastiest crap hole on earth with RPGs and mines and bullets flying like hail our brave Marines are being ordered by their commanding officer:

FIRST DO NO HARM.

that is treason. That is insane. Major General James Mattis should be thrown in the brig at once.

[TrueBeliever9]

Happy2BMe really hits the mark! And from what my son tells me she has a bullseye!

[xzins]

I respectfully disagree.

Military tactics and timing of operations should have nothing to do with rage. An operation should be properly planned, supported, and executed.

Fallujah is a town of about 150,000 people. That makes it about the size of Charleston, West Virginia. It is entirely possible for a riot to take place on one side of Charleston and the people on the other side have NO IDEA that it has taken place. They are separated by quite a bit of distance. Even in my small Ohio town of 1800, it's possible to do something on one side of town and the other side not have a clue.

All this is to say that not everyone in Fallujah is guilty of the murder of our 4 countrymen. Nor should we have a response that endangers the lives of everyone in that town.

Jonah in the "Jonah & Whale" story wanted the entire town of Ninevah destroyed. God told Jonah that He had concern for the thousands of people who lived there, some "who did not know their right hand from their left."

At the time of the murders, I would have gladly dropped a 155 round right in the middle of that mob that had gathered....they all had some culpability whether direct or not.

But, we are doing what's right. We aren't firebombing innocents. We've cordoned the city. We're gonna search it. We will clear it of all weapons and arrest those who have them. We will engage those who engage us.

My son is over there, too. He has his weapon all the time, and his rules of engagement enable him to attack anyone who gives him reason to be suspicious. He doesn't have to wait for them to shoot at him first.