[Barney Gumble]

If Bush wants to fulfil sceptical liberal predictions of “another Vietnam” then he should continue doing what he is doing. This seems to be the cycle: Insurgents cause violence. US assaults insurgents. Insurgents take losses and call cease fire. Insurgents regroup and rearm. Insurgents cause violence. Al-Sadr will never be a decent human being. There is no reason for negotiations. Everytime we assault and stop, more Marine dies and it kills moral. NOTE TO BUSH: STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH MARINES LIVES. For a President who defined sceptics to invade Iraq (rightfully) he certainly has taken a back step, overly worrying about Muslim sensitivities.

I still like him, and he is doing a better job than Kerry would, but come on already… how many chances will we give Sadr, when he does deserve any?

[petro45acp]

Look for this cycle coming from state, not 1600.

I get the feeling that W is the type of commander that leaves his field leaders alone to prosecute his policy. I think the arabist state department would be the author of this kind of counterproductive protocol.

stopping when momentum is on your side is costly.....in both momentum and lives.

Pray for the troops,

[tomakaze]

re:"We are allowed to engage the enemy only in self defense and long enough to break contact," said Maj. Bob Pizzateli, executive officer for the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division. "That was a blanket order for everybody."
who the hell is calling the shots in this dog & pony show? jeezus this is the kind of political thinking crap that f****ed us in vietnam and gets people killed.
It's like whoevers calling the shots has ben screwing up purposely for the last several months, because alot of these decisions are just flat out stupid.

[BiteMedems]

Negotiate what??? Why is this guy still wasting perfectly good oxygen?

[Chief_Joe]

0 for 2. I did not read all the details of the article. I did not have to read them. Our actions/inactions speak louder than words.

[Lockbar]

I believe in negotiating from the flashing muzzle of an M-16A2. Stop talking, move in, wipe them out.

My former Army Division from years back is in the middle of this stuff. Its not going to end till full victory is achieved.

[Tennessean4Bush]

I still like him, and he is doing a better job than Kerry would, but come on already… how many chances will we give Sadr, when he does deserve any?

I suspect what is being negotiated is a surrender or die scenario. No way they pull back now. They have them surrounded. Blast them out, starve them out, or let them surrender. In any case, it all ends here.

[mikegi]

More "strategery" from those who brought you the miracle in Fallujah. Mr. President, let our troops fight - or - pull them out of Iraq!

[quadrant]

Not again!
The only thing that will gain respect in Iraq (and bring home the troops) is force.
The insurgents must be crushed completely, compelled to surrender.
Otherwise, we'll see a replay of the fighting in six months.

[Drammach]

Politics... Diplomacy...

Dare I say It ? ... ... Sensitivity ... ...

Such tactics have been a mistake from the start..
They only encourage militants to play the game...

Sadly, it is too late now, to act decisively, with dispatch and resolve..
A pattern has evolved, and the Jihadists will play it to the hilt, much to our disadvantage..

[newsgatherer]

bump

[Leatherneck_MT]

There should be NO TERMS except the following

Immediate and UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER

[afnamvet]

This is totally unacceptable. The war is being managed from the white house. If we do not rid Iraq of these thugs, terrorists, Muslim mercenaries and other fanatical killers, we will be fighting them here. When you have a killer cornered, you kill him. Either fight a war to annihilate the enemy or get out.

I'm a Bush supporter but this is wrong.

[No Surrender No Retreat]

I thought that muslims never lie? Turn the Marines loose and the problem will be solved. I am sick of all this muslim sensitivity. If the shoe were on the other foot, the mooselems would happily destroy a christian church with all occupants including women and children.(Infidels) The P.C. war tactics need to cease and let the Marines do their job. If we allow a truce, then we will fight them again later. Destroy the mosque and if there is a survivor ask him, "Where's Your Allah Now." God Loves The Infantry. Bush/Cheney2004

[edchambers]

Dammit! I thought they'd get that fat bastard this time.

[Coop]

Amazing. It didn't even take one reply. Nope, the same one who posted the article tries to blame it on President Bush.

Do you even pay attention to world events?

[timpad]

"Hopefully the talks will go well and everything will be resolved peacefully," Pizzateli said.

The continuing triumph of hope over experience. I'm not there, and I implicitly trust those who are. God help us all if their judgment fails.

[verity]

Perhaps a diversion - like nuking Iran - would satisfy you.

[pointsal]

Golly sakes, fight to win....

[Tax Government]

Elect a real republican.