Posted on 01/29/2007 9:48:45 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
But they are an increase in that these are troops that six month ago were not scheduled to be going in now? And they are in addition to the troops already there?
Again, most of my original statement was meant as sarcasm aimed at the MSM who finds fault with anything that has to with our efforts there.
I'm pretty sure we are on the same page when it comes to letting our people do what they better than anyone else in the world, or the history of the world, and then bring them home!
"According to who? Iraqi police officials? Unnamed Iraqi military sources? What terrorist group were they with? Why does the body count keep increasing by increments of 50 every time I hit 'refresh'?"
U.S. "officials" now saying 260 dead, some injured, and 300 captured for a total of 600. But not 600 dead.
Exactly. Does being 'free' really mean that we conduct ALL business in the open, including our military plans? That is ridiculous. If we had done so in the past, we would not exist. The president needs to put his foot down and say, "Enough! Our plans are secret to protect our troops and win the war. We have no duty to inform the whole world of our plans. So don't even ask. A handful of people in Congress will know. Anyone who releases classified information (politicians and news orgnanization included) will be prosecuted. Starting now." He points to his watch. "This press conference is over." We owe it to our troops. And to the country most of us want.
Another "Exactly". I can't believe we have let ourselves slip into this condition. If any one of those plants is out of commission (by accident or attack), we have no backups. We can't plan to buy all of our military supplies from China, for obvious reasons, but it seems as if we are painting ourselves into that corner. Suggestions?
I'm not a Bush hater and I'm not a Bushbot, but every administration that has fought a long war has faced (often thoughtful) criticism of the conduct of that war. For conservatives to say that I should give Bush a pass simply because he's a conservative is asinine; when it comes to the lives of the best of our young men and women I don't give anyone a free pass. In fact, for us to not criticize, and not to demand accountability, and to blame the administration's mistakes on some liberal media boogeyman does a disservice both to our country and to the troops fighting the WoT.
I doubt you have ever owned a pair. Must be nice going through life with lead glasses.
Pray for W and Our Troops
I'm just wondering how we spend trillions of dollars and our military is under-equipped. "Support the Troops" indeed.
Stupid MSM talking down the war effort.
the president does the best he can with the leftists and the MSM against him. Now with a hostile congress it will be even harder. Get behind the war effort instead of complaining. President Bush and Vice President Cheney know what they're doing.
Maybe he should have tried a little harder during the years when he had the non-hostile Congress?
About Iraq, you're right.
I believe there were many Senate hearings during WW II on equipment, war profiteering, etc. I can't believe there's a grunt out there who doesn't get disgusted with inadequate equipment when he or she sees money wasted on non essentials. We're asking them to risk their lives for us. They deserve the best we can give them, not a swiss army knife and an admonition not to whine.
The newspapers motives do not concern me. What concerns me are IEDs, soldiers, sailors, and Marines. Hiding military procurement problems isn't a force multiplier.
Do you really think thats all they have?
I do not understand the failure to use rational thinking.
They have tons of equipment, the best in the world. Now maybe they don't have enough, but rather than build up a ton more and send it over, I think we should get the job done and bring them back.
Either way, I have no problem with Congress dealing with it. I have a problem with the Wash Post using it as a political weapon on the administration. It is not necessary for that to happen and it undermines the position of our troops.
Imagine if the local newspapers had published to the British that Washington's troops were freezing at Valley Forge and losing their desire to fight. Now imagine if the troops had gotten a copy of that.
Go back a few more years first. We're operating now on 1996 End Troop Strength levels. Much of the equipment we had before was that Poppy left sitting in the desert at the end of Gulf War one. It likely was not ever replaced. Some of it state side got sold as well. Add to that the closing down of many U.S. defense manufactures and facilities for strip malls, developments, etc.
The bill is now coming due for 18 years of ignoring the problem and downgrading our military and every POTUS and Congress from Poppy-present ran up the tab by cutting defense. Building up our national defense and troop levels has been the last thing on the Congress or POTUS mind since Reagan left office. Somebody yelled war and forgot to make sure we had the means.
Some things they can't blame the DEMs entirely on although Clinton did his damage after Poppy got done doing his. We had 10 years GOP majority in both houses and not one time did they bother to address serious readiness issues despite warnings after warnings this was coming.
I do not understand the failure to use rational thinking.
They have tons of equipment, the best in the world. Now maybe they don't have enough, but rather than build up a ton more and send it over, I think we should get the job done and bring them back
Lets talk about rational thinking. The generals are saying they don't have enough equipment. FR posters with military experience are saying the same. Yet you are suggesting they not worry about getting more, just "get the job done." How are they going to do that without the right equipment? How many soldiers and marines are you willing to lose that could be saved by the right equipment? I'm no expert, but someone out that must have a rough idea of how many will be lost for going without the right vehicles, armor, etc. Will you accept their estimate and say "Fine, it's worth it not to bother getting them properly equipped"?
I hope not.
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