Comments on: No Parades http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/ Exposing the ugly truths about the Bush Administration. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:14:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: The Mahablog » Saturday Cartoons http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-264335 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 12:31:55 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-264335 [...] I’m no military expert, but I take it Fred Hiatt isn’t, either, so I say my opinion is at least as informed as his. I question whether a “residual” force could be kept in Iraq for very long. In March 1973, when the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, the U.S. planned to keep a “residual” force there, also. Two years and one month later, as North Vietnam took control of Saigon, the last Americans were airlifted out. My fear for the “residual” troops is that they would be targeted by insurgents — some of whom are part of the Iraqi military they’d be training — and there’d be not enough protection for them. [...] […] I’m no military expert, but I take it Fred Hiatt isn’t, either, so I say my opinion is at least as informed as his. I question whether a “residual” force could be kept in Iraq for very long. In March 1973, when the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam, the U.S. planned to keep a “residual” force there, also. Two years and one month later, as North Vietnam took control of Saigon, the last Americans were airlifted out. My fear for the “residual” troops is that they would be targeted by insurgents — some of whom are part of the Iraqi military they’d be training — and there’d be not enough protection for them. […]

]]> by: The Mahablog » Unserious? http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-254535 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:30:26 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-254535 [...] Yesterday I wrote about Sen. Richard Lugar’s apparent shift on Iraq policy. Matt Yglesias is skeptical. On the subject of US foreign policy, Lugar is one of the most knowledgeable senators, and certainly the Republican member who carries the most respect around town. [...] […] Yesterday I wrote about Sen. Richard Lugar’s apparent shift on Iraq policy. Matt Yglesias is skeptical. On the subject of US foreign policy, Lugar is one of the most knowledgeable senators, and certainly the Republican member who carries the most respect around town. […]

]]> by: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-252927 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:54:45 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-252927 It's the GOP jumping ship domino theory kickin' into high gear.... :) I don't know why there won't be a parade..Congress allocated the money for a victory celebration about 2 years ago. It’s the GOP jumping ship domino theory kickin’ into high gear…. :)

I don’t know why there won’t be a parade..Congress allocated the money for a victory celebration about 2 years ago.

]]> by: merciless http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-252920 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:51:07 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-252920 Seems to me I read last week that Congress asked the Iraq Study Group to submit their own report this September. I expect that the report will contain some language for phased withdrawal and that congressional republicans will be on it like white on rice. Such a report would give them the benefit of talking peace and saving face at the same time, which is what they crave more than anything. But other events may conspire against them. For one, Cheney may be able to persuade the Joint Chiefs to give him the nuclear launch codes so that he can nuke Iran. Another would be if Bush (or Cheney, for that matter) simply refuse to compromise with either side of the aisle, and veto any compromise legislation. It wouldn't surprise me if Bush did it; he's so disturbed that any compromise might be the beginning of his personal meltdown, so he'll just stay in denial-land instead. I can think of others, perhaps a devastating attack on American troops, Cheney being booted out of the White House for failure to pay rent (hey, a girl can dream), or another attack somewhere else. Anyway, I'll believe it when I see it, and not before. Seems to me I read last week that Congress asked the Iraq Study Group to submit their own report this September. I expect that the report will contain some language for phased withdrawal and that congressional republicans will be on it like white on rice.

Such a report would give them the benefit of talking peace and saving face at the same time, which is what they crave more than anything.

But other events may conspire against them. For one, Cheney may be able to persuade the Joint Chiefs to give him the nuclear launch codes so that he can nuke Iran. Another would be if Bush (or Cheney, for that matter) simply refuse to compromise with either side of the aisle, and veto any compromise legislation. It wouldn’t surprise me if Bush did it; he’s so disturbed that any compromise might be the beginning of his personal meltdown, so he’ll just stay in denial-land instead.

I can think of others, perhaps a devastating attack on American troops, Cheney being booted out of the White House for failure to pay rent (hey, a girl can dream), or another attack somewhere else.

Anyway, I’ll believe it when I see it, and not before.

]]> by: jerri http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-252896 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:34:17 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2007/06/26/no-parades/#comment-252896 The withdral/draw down plans will not reduce the killing of American soldiers if we do not negotiate with the Iraqi's. The sunnis and shia will go right on planting road side bombs and sending rockets into the green zone. We must find a way to withdraw peacefully...and that will take lots of talking....which takes time. There is no way we can leave Iraq without incurring more American dead without a cease fire of some kind. The withdral/draw down plans will not reduce the killing of American soldiers if we do not negotiate with the Iraqi’s. The sunnis and shia will go right on planting road side bombs and sending rockets into the green zone. We must find a way to withdraw peacefully…and that will take lots of talking….which takes time. There is no way we can leave Iraq without incurring more American dead without a cease fire of some kind.

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