PART I: THE OCCUPATION IS THE PROBLEM; WITHDRAWAL IS THE SOLUTION

82% OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE ARE AGAINST THE OCCUPATION AND DEMAND WITHDRAWAL

THE OCCUPATION IS THE PROBLEM; WITHDRAWAL IS THE SOLUTION


THE BEST WAY TO STABILIZE IRAQ AND THE MIDDLE EAST IS TO FIRST WITHDRAW ALL U.S. FORCES
OCCUPATION FORCES ARE THE CATALYST TO VIOLENCE IN IRAQ

THE OCCUPATION DESTABILIZES THE REGION AND THE OCCUPATION IS A THREAT TO ISRAEL AS A RESULT. WITHDRAWAL IS THE BEST SOLUTION.

Thank you, Ray. Stellar piece, simply stellar.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051123/from_cairo_hope.php
Also on the talks in Cairo:
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/porter.php?articleid=8171
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051129/the_path_to_peace.php


My last posting on November 13 is cited below in case you didn’t have a chance to read it. The best part in my opinion deals with “Intelligent Design” which I found was a very challenging bridge to build but helped better flesh out and define the values I hold dear.
Indybaymedia posting Part I:
http://www.indybay.org/print.php?id=1783085
Indybaymedia posting Part II:
http://www.indybay.org/print.php?id=1783084
READ, QUESTION, LEARN, THINK, REFLECT, WEIGH, DECIDE, ENJOY! READ!

“Learning serves as a critical component in the creation of an artful life. Learning can be life’s greatest adventure.”
~Rabbi Byron Sherwin


“What good is understanding a text, if one does not thereby attain a better understanding of oneself?”
~Mendel of Kotzk


BRINGING ALL THE TROOPS HOME ALIVE AND NOW IS THE MOST HUMANE, MORAL AND RIGHT THING TO DO: IT IS BEST FOR AMERICA, IT IS BEST FOR THE TROOPS, IT IS IN FACT BEST FOR THE IRAQI’S AND IT IS BEST FOR REGIONAL STABILITY AND OUR ALLY IN THE REGION, ISRAEL.

THE OCCUPATION IS THE PROBLEM NOT THE SOLUTION AND THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS IS TO PROTEST THE WAR WHICH WILL HELP ULTIMATELY SAVE THEIR LVES BY BRINGING THEM HOME!!!
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/

CORPORATE MEDIA FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB FROM THE BEGINNING.
DO YOUR JOB AND I’LL LAY-OFF YOU BUT UNTIL THEN, NO DICE.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/110505C.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1107-22.htm
http://www.observer.com/pageone_coverstory1.asp
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1202-28.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1202-20.htm
TURN CORPORATE MEDIA OFF; TURN YOUR DECADENT TELEVISION OFF.
HERE IS REAL NEWS THAT YOU CAN USE:
http://honeste--djoftruth.blogspot.com/2005/10/websites-to-help-you-stay-informed_19.html
UNLEASH A REVOLUTION OF THE MIND: A new tune in the music that is the mind
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/pilger.php?articleid=8150
Lead the way, Craig, lead the way:
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001570424
Competition is the mother of innovation, so if newspaper’s can’t change and become more innovative in the classified services they offer, then they will fail, that is free-market economics, folks. Newspapers can either adapt to the new landscape or fail:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/28/technology/28drill.html?th&emc=th
http://interventionmag.com/Primary/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=55

THE NEXT ARTICLE BELOW IS AN ESSENTIAL, TOTAL MUST READ:
I love the point Ken Silverstein raises about the dubious nature of “fair and balanced” reporting that strives to always tell the story in a way designed to present both sides of the coin. The problem is that some historical facts are not subject to two sides of the coin interpretation, for example, by the logic of “fair and balanced” reporting equal weight would be given to those who deny the tragic occurrence of the Holocaust to those who responsibly keep the factual occurrence of the Holocaust in the forefront of people’s minds as a reminder of what can happen when people, by their own inactions, fail to stop a tragedy of colossal proportions, driven by fear and hatred, from unfolding before them. By the notion of “fair and balanced” equal weight would be given to those who claim that September 11 was fiction to those who rightly and factually claim that the events of September 11 did in fact occur. By the notion of “fair and balanced” equal weight would be given to those who say Democrats were actively trying to disenfranchise voters in the 2004 elections when in fact the evidence of such claims are rather flimsy compared to the strong evidence cited against the Republican Party which actively tried to turn away African-American voters in 2004. The result of “fair and balanced” in this case masks the utter injustice of disenfranchising voters behind the convenient veil of “partisanship.” “Fair and balanced” is crap reporting, spineless and more about dollar-generating sensationalism than about real reporting and real investigative journalism that keeps the press “from fulfilling its responsibilities to serve as a witness to injustice and a watchdog over the powerful.” I implore you to read this article from the New York Review of Books, reviewing “The Press: The Enemy Within”
THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL MUST, MUST, MUST READ:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18555
It is because the press has failed and is failing to do its job that originally gave birth to the idea in my mind to wage a “writers-marathon” to bring the troops home and publish it widely to fill the information void and seek to educate and inform my fellow citizens. The Republic, our democracy, depends first on the citizenry being well-informed in order that they may then come together and make the right decisions on behalf of this nation, its future and the promise it indeed offers if only average citizens are well-informed. Leadership is not just about identifying a problem, it is about stepping forward, taking action, devising a solution, then working to implement it with boldness, principle, vision, courage, imagination, perseverance and fidelity to a worthy purpose. LEAD!!!!!
The information void:
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1126-21.htm
The propaganda:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7798.htm
Every time I post these articles, Mr. O’Reilly, I’m blowing you a big, wet kiss, honey!!
You, Mr. O’Reilly, are a liar, a blowhard and a cancerous mole on ass of journalism.
And you Mr. Murdoch who puts your pants on the same way I do, a kiss with tongue!!
Fox News should be renamed to FART NEWS……stinks!!!!
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/27/wallace-never-linked/

HERE IS YOUR WAR AMERICA; HERE IS THE COST OF YOUR WAR AMERICA
TO THOSE WHO SUPPORT THIS WAR, I SAY, YOU BETRAY OUR TROOPS!!!!!
http://www.peacetakescourage.com/2000.html
http://theunitedamerican.blogs.com/Movies/2000A/2000.html
turn up the volume
FIRST GET QUICKTIME, THEN TURN UP THE VOLUME:
http://ia300130.us.archive.org/2/items/CATAPULT_1/Cata6.mov
http://theunitedamerican.blogs.com/Movies/Tears/Tears-1.html


OVER 2127 US TROOPS NOW DEAD IN VAIN, OVER 17,000 WOUNDED: HONOR THEIR SACRFICE BY BRINGING THEM HOME: PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112205Q.shtml
AN TOTALLY, ESSENTIAL MUST READ:
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051122/getting_out_our_strategic_interest.php

AN TOTALLY, ESSENTIAL MUST READ: THIS IS A TRULY GREAT ARTICLE
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/frey.php?articleid=8011
I love it when a Bush Republican, “gets-it.”

A BRAVE, PATRIOTIC AND TRUE AMERICAN HERO TO THE TROOPS AND THE REPUBLIC, A TRUE CONSERVATIVE I DEEPLY RESPECT AND ADMIRE
Senator Chuck Hagel on the legitimate right to question and criticize the war:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/15/AR2005111501450_pf.html
“Suggesting that to challenge or criticize policy is undermining and hurting our troops is not democracy, nor what this country has stood for, for over 200 years….To question your government is not unpatriotic – to not question your government is unpatriotic. America owes its men and women in uniform a policy worthy of their sacrifices.”
---Senator Chuck Hagel
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/1117-10.htm
Damn, Chuck!!! I was almost decided on Russ Feingold before you said that!! Now yet again, I won’t know who to vote for in 2008. Why did you have to go and say something that I deeply respect? Now I’m undecided again. Nice job, Senator, a carrot for you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Hagel

Next carrot, in fact, a whole bag of carrots:
HAIL THE MORAL COURAGE AND DECENCY OF THIS BRAVE MAN:
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN MURTHA’S TRUEST ACT OF COURAGE IS CALLING FOR AN END TO THE OCCUPATION AND AN END TO THE WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His service record in the military is fine and honorable too, but it is HIS COURAGE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME BY COMING OUT AGAINST THE WAR that demonstrates his true moral courage, his true strength on national security, and his true commitment to the values that make America decent. When people like John Murtha stand up, well, that’s when I feel the most proud to be an American. What I hail as his true bravery is not his military record alone, rather, IT IS HIS COURAGE TO COME OUT AGAINST THE WAR AND HIS NOBLE CALL TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS FOR REAL BY DEMANDING THAT THEY BE BROUGHT HOME NOW!!!! THAT IS COURAGE!!!
Take a lesson from Rep. John Murtha, Democrats, because you have a lot to learn.

BUT REMEMBER: TAKE POLITICIANS WORDS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, IF ALL THE TROOPS AREN’T OUT BY NOVEMBER 2006, THROW THE BUMS OUT ON THEIR EAR!! TARGET PRO-WAR, PRO-OCCUPATION DEMOCRATS WITH THE SAME VIGOR AS PRO-WAR, PRO-OCCUPATION REPUBLICANS!! NAIL THEM!! MAJOR KUDOS TO REPRESENTATIVE JOHN MURTHA: I RESPECT YOU SIR!!!! LEAD ME AND I SHALL FOLLOW.

2007 is too late Mr. Biden and Ms. Clinton: Why not demonstrate more courage now?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_go_co/hillary_clinton_iraq_1
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq_biden_1
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1123-28.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/22/AR2005112201356_pf.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Democrats_Iraq.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051123/ts_alt_afp/usiraqclintonpolitics_051123234916
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1130-35.htm
Get her in line or throw her out on her ass; do that by dividing the vote on the Left:
First drive a wedge between DLC and GOP, then get all our forces in line, then charge!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051127/ap_on_el_se/clinton_party_challenge;_ylt=Am1zA4yiuxNv.TdXw5pmw6ms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-
http://www.greenfieldforsenate.org/
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1129-31.htm

“LEAD ME, FOLLOW ME OR GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
---General George S. Patton

Moral courage is not taking a noble position after things have changed; moral courage is about taking a noble position before things have changed. Seize the moral high ground!!!
http://www.antiwar.com/ocregister/against-the-tide.html
http://www.antiwar.com/ocregister/machan-sorry-mrpresident.html
They say that moral courage is a rare commodity, but it doesn’t need to be because courage is a choice, so step forward and choose moral courage!!!!! SPEAK OUT!!!!
Moral courage:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/11/24/do2401.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/11/24/ixopinion.html


“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King%2C_Jr.


OUT IN 2006 AS A COMPROMISE!!!!!!!!!!! BEST OPTION IS OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!
The momentum is ours: I urge you to HOLD THE LINE: BRING THEM HOME NOW
Things are moving in our direction, however, they will now propose minimal troop withdrawals, 20,000 or 60,000 or whatever to try to take the wind out of sails of the anti-war movement. It is critical to hold our ground and make the logical argument for out now!! We must hold our ground to offer a distinct alternative to the Powers-That-Be.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/zeese/zeese17.html
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13264358.htm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1065-1891608,00.html
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112805J.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112805G.shtml
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19930
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/113005K.shtml
http://zenpundit.blogspot.com/2005/11/withdraw-from-iraq-recommended-reading.html
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1128-04.htm
http://www.upi.com/InternationalIntelligence/view.php?StoryID=20051129-020954-3606r
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1129-21.htm
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-iraq27nov27,0,2701104.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials

The more I hear from Hillary, the more I intend to clobber her in 2008:
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=8136
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051129/ap_on_go_co/iraq_clinton
Don’t expect courage from Hillary, she doesn’t do courage, she wants it both ways:
She is such a politician. Politicians without spine despise activists because activists make it difficult for such spineless creatures to predict which way the wind will be blowing, they prefer no wind, no change, no movement whatsoever, which is why they like the herd are followers. Followers need to be led and most politicians are followers.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--hillaryclinton-ir1121nov21,0,1830589.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork
I’m a Democrat but if given a choice between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Chuck Hagel in 2008, then Senator Hagel will get my vote, that’s right, a Republican.
And now a word, from our best know REPUBLICAN in Democratic sheep’s clothing, Senator Joe Lieberman who is no “centrist” rather he is to the Right of the center now:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/23/liberman.iraq/
He would be encouraged, I’m sure if he travels to New Orleans he’ll also be encouraged.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051128/ap_on_go_co/lieberman_iraq_1
Dump Lieberman:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1201-08.htm
The people, the activists, not the politicians drive the agenda because activists are leaders
http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2005/11/brigham.html
We stand a much greater chance of changing things if we endeavor to work together but we must not let our choice to work together be the means by which we sellout our values.
http://jeffrey-feldman.typepad.com/frameshop/2005/11/frameshop_new_b.html

YO!!! AL FROM!!!! GUESS WHAT, PAL??!! PROGRESSIVES ARE NOT GOING TO SHUT UP AND EVERY TIME YOU DECIDE TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE AND TRY TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS WITHOUT STANDING UPON PRINCIPLE, WE’RE GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!!!!!!!!! SO DEAL WITH IT!!! GET PRINCIPLED OR GET UN-ELECTED; MAKE YOUR CHOICE; MAKE IT SOON!!!
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050103/sirota
ACRONYM OF THE DLC: DUMB, LAME AND EXCEEDINGLY COWARDLY
http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/
Our government and all those who are sold to highest bidder in the political class think that they can control the political debate in this country and how issues are framed but the truth is that they cannot if you stand up and be heard. The irony of great power of the Federal government is this: they can kill people all around the world but they cannot kill a simple idea. Ideas alone can diminish the power of the elite and turn power back to the people. Wage ideas!! Contribute by speaking out, staying informed and getting involved.

I CALL ON United for Peace and Justice to plan on MULTIPLE, GRADUATING ANTI-WAR MARCHES IN 2006. BRING THE HEAT OF THE PEOPLE ONTO THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT!!! HOLD THEIR DAMN FEET TO THE FIRE ALL THE WAY UP TO ELECTION DAY. RAMP IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TURN UP THE VOLUME!!!!!!!!!! PROTEST THE WAR!! PEACE IS PATRIOTIC!! WAGE PEACE!!
http://www.unitedforpeace.org

But don’t worry Democrats, much like I taught my little brother how to walk, I’m going to teach you how to walk too. We in the anti-war movement are going to teach you about real courage, real strength, real national security and the real values defining our nation.
LESSON ONE: DO THE RIGHT THING, STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT:
FOLLOW THE LEADERS
YOU GOTTA WALK THE WALK BEFORE YOU CAN TALK THE TALK!!!!!!!!!
Exhibit A:
The Honorable John P. Murtha: You both rock. I salute you both twice over!!!!
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/28/shields.murtha/
THIS IS A MUST READ:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051212/editors
Exhibit B: House Minority Leader, Representative Nancy Pelosi:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1130-09.htm
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=40358
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051130/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq;_ylt=Ai8iI7h5lJz8a2KAbsCIQguyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-11-30T203332Z_01_BAU066721_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-DEMOCRATS.xml
NOW BRING THE CALLS FOR WITHDRAWAL TO A VOTE IN CONGRESS!!!!!!!
Others good articles:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1117-08.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111805Q.shtml
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051121/murtha_and_the_colonels.php
http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20051117-090928-6137r
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1202-29.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1119-23.htm
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001525271
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq_murtha;_ylt=AmeJmhWxW.hkVDoraaoWMiys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5020508
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5035043
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1120-20.htm
http://www.antiwar.com/lobe/?articleid=8081
http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north418.html
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112105Z.shtml
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq;_ylt=AgK.sxkvSH.IgW0yNeph5Aes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/11/con05442.html
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1122-22.htm
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13244880.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1122-25.htm
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051212/vonhoffman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/24/AR2005112400759_pf.html
“We are in a Tom Paine moment: “This is a time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country.” That means it’s time to crank up the volume of protest and press the press to tell the truth about what’s really happening by calling for an honest debate based on reality, not rhetoric and fantasy. Most politicians seem stuck in a cesspool of their own making. We need a media that tells the truth about the real choices.”
~Danny Schechter, Media Channel
http://www.mediachannel.org/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802397.html
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112205R.shtml
Applause for all those who are choosing to speak out:
Senator Barbara Boxer:
http://www.buzzflash.com/alerts/05/11/ale05160.html
Senator John Kerry:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=1328704
"Asking tough questions isn't pessimism; it's patriotism"
~John Kerry
Bob Graham:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802397.html
Paul Hackett:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/11/paul_hackett.html
Senator Robert Byrd:
http://www.byrd2006.com/news/news.cfm?ID=35
Senator Russell Feingold on the needed timetable that will undermine the insurgency:
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1115-27.htm
Feingold rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!! Give ‘em hell, Russ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/18/national/18patriot.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-feingold-2008,1,6150273.story?coll=chi-news-hed
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/58192.htm
Senators Feingold and Leahy:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/113005E.shtml
Kudos to Republican Senator Arlen Specter:
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news2/latimes932.html
An excellent source of news and developments:
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=917053
Former President Jimmy Carter:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111405Q.shtml
Former President Bill Clinton:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111605Q.shtml
It’s more than a “mistake;” it’s the worst foreign policy disaster ever:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/28/AR2005112801225_pf.html

I applaud the Republican Senate for drawing the line and seeking a way out of Iraq, however, this strategy cannot be a cheap trick that intends to extend the Occupation. Again, we must be vigilant about paying attention to what they do, not about what they say. And the measure of what they do is: ALL TROOPS OUT NOW, ideally and, ALL TROOPS OUT BY THE END OF 2006, at the very least. Until they are out, PROTEST!!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111505Z.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1119-25.htm


And you want to know what the Iraqi’s want? They want a timetable, they want us out!
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051123/from_cairo_hope.php
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news5/nyt46.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1335999
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112205A.shtml
GET OUT OF IRAQ NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112105D.shtml
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051202/the_insurgencies_are_winning.php
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120205A.shtml
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5035613
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1201-20.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112905F.shtml
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=8198
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112105J.shtml
The Occupation of Iraq: A textbook example of how to best demonstrate the limits of American power:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120205Z.shtml
http://www.antiwar.com/lobe/?articleid=8194
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10665
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_crumbling_coalition;_ylt=At_vW_MNrrrOV06S80r8a.2s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/article330424.ece
Bush on Iraq:
http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=19945

“The Truth is far more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction.”
~Mahatma Gandhi

Remember it was Bush not Saddam who ended up using Weapons of Mass Destruction:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112805P.shtml
I have a weapon too. It’s called the Weapon of Mass Enlightenment (WME):
http://honeste--djoftruth.blogspot.com/2005/10/websites-to-help-you-stay-informed_19.html



Now I would like to offer criticisms of the following article….mostly I agree with Professor Stephen Zunes but not entirely, my critique is below the link to the article:
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051122/getting_out_responsible_withdrawal.php
Look folks, whatever we do, a lot of Iraqi people are going to die. The Iraqi’s are fighting against the Occupation of their lands by U.S. forces. Will they fight a civil war if we leave? Possibly but not assuredly, in fact, signs are beginning to emerge especially from the summit in Cairo this past week that they the Iraqi’s will demonstrate a much greater chance for stabilizing their own country if U.S. forces first leave. They have shown the world their ability to hammer out non-violent compromise contingent first upon U.S. forces leaving the country, thus civil war is not a guaranteed outcome of withdrawal. What is guaranteed is that many more Iraqi’s will die if we continue to stay in Iraq. We cannot allow the Bush administration to sell us the following lemon: that first we need to build up Iraqi security forces and stabilize Iraq before we leave because the reality is that it is our presence that serves as the main catalyst to the ongoing violence. It could be argued that civil war is already underway now as U.S. remains on the ground in Iraq but if we leave, it is possible that an Iraqi civil war may yet be averted. It is our withdrawal not our presence that will largely contribute to the possibility of peace, stability and an end to the violence in the region. So we must get away from the kind of thinking that says, “We are responsible for stabilizing their country for them” which is wrongheaded, immoral thinking and instead embrace the reality that it is our presence that feeds the violence and put Iraqi’s on an equal playing field as us by understanding that they themselves, alone, have a much better chance at stabilizing Iraq than us. To assume that Iraqi’s need us to stabilize Iraq because they cannot do it themselves is flatly racist and it is on this point that I take issue with the article above by Professor Stephen Zunes. Furthermore, rebuilding Iraq’s infrastructure is a noble and necessary step toward stabilizing the country but we must recognize that the U.S. government has been trying to do just that for the last two years. The problem is that commanders on the ground in Iraq simply do not have the necessary numbers of personnel to secure sites to repair since they are constantly prone to violence and attacks. The repairs never get done because to repair, first you need to secure and there is not enough personnel to secure. So long as our forces are on the ground in Iraq, Iraq has no chance to rebuild their demolished infrastructure unless of course we have another 350,000 troops to send to Iraq immediately, which we don’t. Thus the best and most moral way to stabilize Iraq and rebuild Iraq is to withdraw and turn over the entire situation to Iraqi’s themselves. Might there be a bloody power-struggle after we pull out? Yes, in fact it may be a bloodbath but, worse still, it is a bloodbath now and that is the result of U.S. forces in an Occupation role in Iraq. I think it’s sad when we hear of the bombings in the London underground that we all get excited and grieve yet this is a daily occurrence in Iraq and yet few people, including those on Left, seem to give a shit about that. Well, folks, this is daily life in Iraq and the best, most moral and most responsible strategy we can pursue, a strategy that offers the best promise and hope for stabilizing Iraq and thus stabilizing the region and protecting our national interests and that of our main ally in the region, Israel, is to WITHDRAW ALL U.S. FORCES FROM THE GROUND IN IRAQ IN THE SOONEST POSSIBLE FASHION, which will subtract the from the equation the main cause of violence which is the presence of U.S. forces on the ground in Iraq. REALITY is that there is nothing that would take the sails out of the violence in Iraq more than withdrawing our forces. In the best interest of the Iraqi people and our own forces, we should withdraw completely and now: This is Iraq today and this is Iraq for every day we choose to stay, this is Iraq for every day we choose to believe that we must stay:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1343984
http://abcasiapacific.com/news/stories/asiapacific_stories_1516431.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10107233/
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1125-02.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1201-31.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1125-26.htm
http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/28941/
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10662
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L26654863.htm
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001571073
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120305E.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1127-22.htm
http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news3/latimes163.html
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=19946
A media mogul telling the truth about Iraq? Oh my word!! Now I’m shocked and awed!!
http://www.accessnorthga.com/news/ap_newfullstory.asp?ID=68274

Things in Iraq can’t get much worse than they are now, even if a civil-war came to fruition, it would not be any worse than it is now. Out now is the best option because it will deprive the insurgency of the wind in its sails, that wind being the Occupation. In good conscience how can we stay in Iraq and sleep at night? Staying in Iraq is immoral.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/113005F.shtml
THIS IS A MUST READ:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200512/iraq-withdrawal

Professor Zunes makes the point in his article above that “Bring Them Home Now” is a simple answer to a complex question. I respectfully disagree. When intellectuals say “that is a simple answer to a complex problem” what they are really saying is this “I don’t agree with you and because you don’t agree with me, you must be an idiot.”
It’s just intellectual bullshit, a way of demeaning those who don’t agree with you. Well, folks, I’m not Einstein but I’m no idiot either and I don’t agree with Professor Zunes about this point. Do you know what is as equally bad as devising a simple answer to a complex question? DEVISING A COMPLEX ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION IS EQUALLY STUPID. How to recover Iraq from its current predicament is a separate question for how do we stop the ongoing violence and slide into Civil War in Iraq? The answer to how to stop the violence is actually rather simple. Much like in a situation where there is a gas fire, the best way to put out the fire is to turn off the gas so while some intellectuals may deliver a host of complex answers to simple problems like gas fires, you should recognize that developing complex answers to simple problems is actually quite obtuse. The best way to put out a gas fire, folks, is simply, yes simply, to turn off the gas!!! U.S. forces on the ground in Iraq are the “gas” the fuels the fires in Iraq and the best, most moral, most responsible answer to the situation in Iraq is to BRING THEM ALL HOME NOW!!!!!

To those who would say, “No, to leave is irresponsible, we must stay and stabilize the situation in Iraq first,” I say to you, what are you going to say 2 years from now, 5 years from now or 10 years from now when the situation has not changed one bit, that we must continue to stay? Are you crazy? Or are you just flatly immoral and irresponsible?

THE BEST, MOST MORAL, MOST RESPONSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION IS TO WITHDRAW ALL U.S. FORCES FROM THE GROUND NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20051118-050501-9651r

It is the presence of our troops that is causing the violent resistance.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff38.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/lind/lind48.html
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0825-29.htm
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff38.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/lind/lind48.html
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0825-29.htm
http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinion/articles/2015322.html


TO THOSE WHO SAY WE CANNOT LEAVE, I SAY, RIVERS OF BLOOD DRIP FROM YOUR MURDEROUS HANDS EVEN IF YOU WERE AGAINST THE WAR!!
THE MOST MORAL, RESPONSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION IS TO WITHDRAW ALL TROOPS IMMEDIATELY AND LET IRAQI’S SOLVE THIS ON THEIR OWN.
It is the best of bad choices. Get it through your head, folks, there are no good options or happy endings in this tale. That is why it is the greatest strategic disaster in U.S. foreign policy history. No matter what we do, many Iraqi men, women and children are going to die horrible deaths and all troops who died, died for nothing, that is the truth in a nutshell.
FOR THE TROOPS SAKE, END THE MADNESS AND BRING THEM HOME NOW!
IT IS THE BEST, MOST MORAL AND MOST RESPONSIBLE OF BAD CHOICES!!!

HOW MUCH ARE WE WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR A CAUSE THAT CANNOT BE WON??? HOW MUCH ARE WE WILLING TO SPEND IN VAIN????????
The question is, are we going to destroy our military in the process? Are we going to further destabilize the Middle East by staying in Iraq? How many more of our troops are going to die so some feel-good types can falsely convince themselves that we can do good things for the Iraqi people and demonstrate our responsibility to save them from civil war and mass death…bullshit!!!! No matter what we do, a shitload of Iraqi people are going to die horrible deaths, the question is how can we lessen it and how much are we going to spend ourselves? The best, most moral and most responsible way to lessen the crisis is to withdraw. Removing the main causal element to the continuing violence is our best option. Out now is the best, most moral and most responsible option available.
If we leave, the bloodshed in Iraq will amount to 30,000 or 50,000 lives but if we stay two or three times or ten times that number will eventually die horrible deaths.
THE ANSWER, IN THIS CASE, IS ACTUALLY RATHER SIMPLE:
TURN THE GAS OFF AND DEPRIVE THE VIOLENCE OF ITS SUPPLY OF FUEL:
END THE OCCUPATION, BRING THE TROOPS HOME AND LET IRAQI’S SOLVE THIS CRISIS ON THEIR OWN WITH AS MUCH DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT FROM US AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS IS POSSIBLE. THE TRUTH ISN’T PRETTY BUT THE TRUTH IS REAL. WHATEVER WE DO, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL DIE.
DO THE RIGHT THING: PULL OUT NOW AND MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE.

----------------------

On the Republican Party in the House of Representative who spit upon the troops:

DO YOU THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE AMUSED AT HOW THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUST MOCKED THE TROOPS, MADE THEIR SACRIFICES INTO A BIG JOKE, AND BASICALLY SPIT INTO THE FACES OF THE TROOPS, SPIT UPON THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MAIMED IN AN UNJUST WAR BASED ON LIES AND FIXED INTELLIGENCE? HOW MUCH WEAKER AND MORE COWARDLY ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL SECURITY COULD ONE POSSIBLY GET? I IMAGINE OSAMA BIN LADEN IS HAVING A BIG LAUGH TOO AT THE JOKE THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUST PROVIDED HIM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LIVES LOST IN IRAQ!!! YOU PEOPLE MAKE ME SICK!!!! TRAITORS!!!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112005D.shtml
I QUESTION YOUR PATRIOTISM TO THIS NATION, MR. CHENEY!!!!!
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1127-23.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1127-27.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1128-26.htm
I QUESTION THE PATRIOTISM OF THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR PASSING SUCH A BOGUS JOKE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TROOPS!!!! HOW DARE YOU BETRAY THEIR HONOR TO THIS NATION!!
TO ME, YOU ARE FILTHY LIARS, COWARDS AND MORAL WEAKLINGS!!!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/111905Z.shtml
http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/oped/all-columnnov26,0,5152313.column?coll=all-newsopinionoped-col
Your unjust war and your attempt to malign the principle of patriotism kills my men:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-colonel27nov27,0,1641096.story?coll=la-home-headlines
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112705G.shtml
http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20051128-091236-2567r
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/28794/
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1129-20.htm
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm?Page=Article&ID=5565
My men have done their duty with honor. It is our duty to them to protest and bring them home from a war they should never have sent to fight at all. I honor them with the truth.

“You've done enough … Have you no sense of decency….at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?''
---Joseph N. Welch,
Attorney representing Fred Fischer before the Senator Joe McCarty on June 9, 1954

Do you want to know what “spitting on the troops” and undermining their role really is?
It is sending them to war based on lies, a war with no strategy, a war with no exit plan, and a war with no body armor, only then to just watch them all get killed while falsely claiming that everything is going well. That, folks, is called “screwing the troops.”
And the Bush administration is adept at screwing the troops.
SUPPORT THE TROOPS FOR REAL: BRING THEM HOME ALIVE NOW!!!!!!!
PROTEST THE WAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucrr/20051122/cm_ucrr/supportourtroopsnotourpresident
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/iraq-war-critics-are-the-_b_11078.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002645321_normdicks25m.html
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001571028
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/13255565.htm
http://www.populist.com/05.22.edit.html
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1129-07.htm
THIS IS A MUST READ:
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1125-20.htm
“They are risking their lives for nothing, except love and loyalty to their mates, the men and women fighting next to them -- in the end that is why soldiers fight. They fight out of loyalty to each other, not loyalty to their leaders or to abstract ideas, wonderful ideas written out in our Constitution more than 200 years ago, or in the Bible and other tracts written by geniuses, saints and sinners, too.”

It is true that soldiers fight out of loyalty to each other, to protect the lives of their fellow comrades for this is the same reason that I write the words that I do. The best way to save their lives, the lives of my buddies and those whom I don’t know but share in the great brotherhood of soldiers, is to protest the war and demand they be brought home now!! What other way, but to ensure their survival, could one possibly do to protect the lives of those whom one loves? What better way to honor the sacrifices of those who have fallen than to vigilantly pursue the best course known to save their precious lives? And for the sake of the troops, do not, I repeat, DON’T YOU DARE, blame them for the atrocities at Abu Graib and the thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians murdered in this war because the troops only do what their political commander-in-chief orders them to do and they have few options while in country but to obey their orders. Some people think they can simply refuse but it’s not that easy when it comes to groupthink and following orders when that is what they are trained to do. Let it not be forgotten who blames the troops, who spat upon them when Abu Graib came to light: It was the Bush administration who after authorizing the orders to torture then turned to blame a “few bad apples,” essentially blaming the troops spitting upon them to avoid accountability at the top: BASTARDS!!!
LET IT NOT BE FORGOTTEN THAT THOSE WHO SENT THEM TO WAR FOR LIES NEVER DID AND STILL DON’T SUPPORT THE TROOPS; THEY SCREW THEM HARD AND THE PEACE MOVEMENT REALLY SUPPORTS THE TROOPS!
BRING THEM HOME NOW!!!!! PROTEST THE WAR!!!!!!! WAGE PEACE!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.progressivedailybeacon.com/commentary.php?id=859
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
I do what I do for the good of the troops and for the country; I do it for God and country.

THE TROOPS ARE DYING IN VAIN IN AN UNJUST WAR. THEY DIE WITH HONOR BUT THEY DIE IN VAIN. BRING THEM HOME ALIVE NOW!!!!!!
HONOR THEM WITH THE TRUTH AND WITH PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR!

The Republicans don’t care that good troops are dying, they don’t care, they just care about how it might make them look or how political advantageous it might be for them.
DISGUSTING!!! YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I’M ANGRY, YOU SHOULD BE TOO!!!
IF YOU’RE NOT ANGRY, FOLKS, THEN YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION!!!
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1121-33.htm
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2005/11/28/for-bush-iraq-war-has-always-been-about-gop-politics/
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1128-06.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1129-22.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5453194,00.html
Anything for political advantage will these folks do:
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19938
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19936

Per this next article, I have a question for Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/20/AR2005112001167_pf.html
Are you saying that you, Mr. Bush, and you Mr. Cheney made a mistake in castigating critics of the war as unpatriotic? Because to accuse anyone who simply does not agree with you as unpatriotic and un-American is an accusation itself rooted in un-American values, an accusation rooted in McCarthyist rhetorical garbage, and an accusation, Mr. Cheney, that you can shove so far up your ass that it winks at you when you brush your teeth!!!! It is using playing on people’s fears to enforce your view and throwing a big temper tantrum and crying like a baby when they don’t share your point of view. Accusing others of being unpatriotic when they don’t agree with you is the equivalent of a two year old whining because it didn’t get it’s bottle on time. Every time you make such accusations, Mr. Cheney, I only hear from your infantile voice and way of thinking the following: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
Well, Mr. Cheney, I say quit your crying like a small, cowardly mole on the ass of humankind, stick a sock in it and grow up, ya big baby!!!!!! I disagree with your views 110% as does Representative John Murtha and he and I will always be patriots in ways that you, sir, can only dream about. So quit your crying and grow the hell up, crybaby!!!
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19917
http://www.antiwar.com/reese/?articleid=8154


If making theses deplorable accusations were indeed a mistake, Mr. Bush, then I call on you to do the right thing by admitting your mistake and issuing a public apology. I mean that is certainly what I would do. Why? Because it is honorable and I believe in HONOR.

"We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep into our own history and our doctrine and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes which were for the moment unpopular. This is no time for men who oppose Senator [Joe] McCarthy's methods to keep silent. We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot escape responsibility for the result."
-- Edward R. Murrow, 1954
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_R._Murrow


“Criticism in a time of war is essential to the maintenance of any kind of democratic government.”
~Senator Robert Taft, Republican Party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Taft%2C_Jr.


“The voice of protest...is never more needed than when the clamor of fife and drum...is bidding all men...obey in silence the tyrannous word of command.”
~Charles Eliot Norton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Eliot_Norton


“No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.”
~Barbara Ehrenreich
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ehrenreich


“If we confuse dissent with disloyalty — if we deny the right of the individual to be wrong, unpopular, eccentric or unorthodox — if we deny the essence of racial equality then hundreds of millions in Asia and Africa who are shopping about for a new allegiance will conclude that we are concerned to defend a myth and our present privileged status. Every act that denies or limits the freedom of the individual in this country costs us the . . . confidence of men and women who aspire to that freedom and independence of which we speak and for which our ancestors fought.”
~Edward R. Murrow


“Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't.”
~Mark Twain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

Mark Fiore: Stay-the-course-man
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0548,fiore,70398,9.html


The irony of the Bush administration is that despite all their tough-talking rhetoric, bravado, and shock-and-awe use of hard, raw power their failure to grasp the limitations of “hard-power” and grasp the difference between “hard-power” and “soft-power” make them incredibly weak, ineffective, and incompetent on matters of national security.
http://interventionmag.com/Primary/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=52

--------------------
On power to the people and political reform, here is a great idea to replicate in the U.S.:
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19909

Good job, Democrats!!!
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1117-07.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1117-28.htm
The next article is a smart-move, you see folks, understand that in the military, everyone above the rank of Full-Bird Colonel is really just a politician so whenever you hear a General Officer open their mouth, first think “politician,” then question what they say:
They are not democratically elected politicians as in civil society but they are politicians. That’s not to say everything they say are lies because they aren’t but only that what they say should always be first questioned and seen through the lens of the politics of the day.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1132819,00.html
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20051121/murtha_and_the_colonels.php
Want an example? Here’s an example: Major General Lynch of the U.S. Army is trying to sell a lemon, that lemon being that they crisply understand the nature of the insurgency so well that it can be described as comprised of three distinct elements, here are his words

"We understand the capabilities, the vulnerabilities and the intentions of each group of the insurgency -- the foreign fighters, the Iraqi rejectionists and the Saddamists," Major
General Rick Lynch told reporters.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/iraq;_ylt=Aqoj7qxrzX036EXC0I97.O6s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

No, General Lynch, I don’t think you do understand, because if you did, you guys would have solved the problem by now but you haven’t, the problems have only gotten worse in Iraq since the dawn of the Occupation because the OCCUPATION IS THE PROBLEM NOT THE SOLUTION. These are the three groups Bush would like us believe the “insurgency” is comprised. In fact, the “insurgency” (why I put the word “insurgency” in quotation marks I will explain to you in a moment) numbers roughly about 250,000 members according to several recent estimations. Within this very broad definition exist a host of many other groups, namely, the “foreign fighters,” that is, terrorists, are said to number a mere 900 per Professor Juan Cole’s estimation, which I remind you is not enough people to establish any real semblance of an Islamic-fascist government (they simply do not have numbers to do so). Rather, they are just there to get in some target practice upon U.S. forces and hone their skills so one day they can attack continental Europe or the United States so contrary to what Bush says, by fighting them there we are making it more likely that we will be fighting them here someday in the future. These terrorists are hated by most Iraqi’s and will be kicked out of Iraq if we leave Iraq because the only reason they are there is to use U.S. forces as target practice. Next there are the Iraqi “rejectionists”, i.e., those who oppose Occupation, the stealing of their national resources, namely oil, who refuse to live under the occupying forces of a foreign power and the associated puppet collaborationist government.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112405D.shtml
These fighters make up the greatest number of fighters with support from roughly 82% of the Iraqi people as per a recent British poll and which are comprised of at least 26 tribal groups and an estimated 100 factions united against the Occupation and who reject such policies as mass killing of their fellow citizens, tens of thousands by U.S. troops acting under orders from the President, who reject U.S. forces breaking into their homes in the dead of night humiliating fathers in front of their families, who reject U.S. forces killing their brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, and other family members, who reject being tortured at such places as Abu Graib and who generally reject the fairly oppressive “freedom and liberation” that Bush has brought to Iraq and which is more for American rhetorical consumption than it is about anything truly substantive, they reject all of this and claim the moral right to resist against it and rightly so. Lastly there are the Baathists, politically referred to by the general as “Saddamists”, who are frankly less about Saddam and more just about re-acquiring the power they enjoyed under Saddam. To their credit, these fighters are generally also secularists so returning them to political power would definitely be a good idea since a Shia-dominated government would likely institute a fundamentalist theocracy allied with Iran which would be both bad for U.S. national interests and Israel (understanding the vast majority of people…I think nearly 60% of Iraqi’s are Shia so it would be very wise to either a) write into their Constitution a strict separation of Church and State [understanding, of course, that a Constitution like a paper dollar bill has no value unless citizens first believe it has value, otherwise it is mere words upon paper with no relevance to everyday life] or b) let the Shia’s form their own nation entirely). Frankly, I don’t see Iraq staying together as a nation in the long-term but that’s my opinion. Any attempt to force them to remain a nation will only make the situation far worse and further contribute to regional instability which would be far graver to U.S. national interests and Israel. Within this wider, more complex definition also sit three major ethnic groups, the Shia (geographically located in the South, more aligned with Iran, prone to religious fundamentalism and sitting upon a bed of oil), the Sunni (geographically located in the middle of the country, formerly in power as Baathists and who live upon sand but no oil) and the Kurds, (geographically located in the north, self-determination oriented whose leaders are rather ruthless and murderous [refer to Seymour Hersh], who share many brethren in the adjacent Euro-allied country of Turkey and also sit atop a bed of oil). This is a more accurate description of the various political, cultural, ethnic and geographic groups that comprise the so called “insurgency” on the ground in Iraq, folks, even though the Sunni’s likely make up the largest portion of that group for obvious reasons since they have the most to lose. It is conveniently broken down into three easy to understand groups by Mr. Bush and his peddlers, but the reality is that this “insurgency” is actually a national resistance-oriented coalition and resistance is NOT terrorism (by the way, military generals know that their careers depend on uttering Mr. Bush’s line). They, the generals, are as much politicians as some of the goofballs in Congress, minus Representative Murtha or Senator Feingold or Senator Chuck Hagel or the following Representatives who have proven themselves as courageous leaders.
http://www.blackcommentator.com/160/160_cover_see_war_clearly.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051125/ap_on_go_co/iraq_massachusetts_dems
(Seems the “CARNIVORE” program is working fine per Rumsfeld’s recent epiphany)
So for that reason, I would not put much stock in the public statements by generals unless of course they are willing to end their careers over what they say as one General Eric Shinseki once did. Otherwise, don’t believe what they are telling you, because much like the Weapons of Mass Destruction, it simply is not true. When 82% of the people of the country support those who are resisting Occupation then it can be said that those opposing Occupation are NOT an “insurgency” at all, rather they are the common, popular resistance movement backed by the democratic will of the people of Iraq. The Iraqi Resistance Movement, inaccurately referred to as the “insurgency” by Bush and those who do Bush’s bidding, is not an insurgency at all rather it is the democratic will of the people of Iraq!!!!! This fairly large, widely supported militant movement has its roots not in rebellion but in common, popularly-supported RESISTANCE against a foreign invader!!! Do you want to see democratic resistance in Iraq? Then take a look at the RESISTANCE FIGHTERS..that is the expressed will of the people of Iraq. THEY WANT US OUT OF THEIR COUNTRY!! SO GET OUT!! WITHDRAW!! There is no “insurgency,” folks, there is only a popular RESISTANCE AGAINST THE UNJUST, UNWARRANTED AND OPPRESSIVE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ BY A BUNCH OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS AND OPPRESSORS KNOWN AS THE U.S.!!! THE GREATEST NUMBER OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN IRAQ IS U.S. TROOPS. THEY DON’T WANT US THERE; WE DON’T WANT TO BE THERE SO LEAVE!!! BRING THE TROOPS HOME ALIVE AND IN ONE PIECE NOW!!!! SUPPORT THE TROOPS FOR REAL: PROTEST AGAINST THE WAR!!!!!
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/hjr55
http://nytimes.com/2005/12/02/international/middleeast/02insurgency.html?hp&ex=1133499600&en=fbcc90437d8fded9&ei=5094&partner=homepage
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120205E.shtml
And when I say now, I mean begin bringing them home now, understanding of course that any rear guard action where 160,000 troops are involved in a major move is likely to take at least 6 months. If it took 3 months to put them in, it will take 6 months to remove them, logistically speaking. So let’s follow John Kerry’s advice and try to bring home 20,000 for the holidays. I’m sure at least their families would very much appreciate it.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-11-24-voa61.cfm
On the topic of being away from home during the holidays, think of all the people out of house and home in the world and also in New Orleans where the Bush administration still does nothing to help the people of New Orleans. Didn’t Louisiana go for Bush in 2004?
http://www.justiceforneworleans.org/
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1124-03.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112405G.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112505P.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1123-05.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112305D.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1126-10.htm
http://www.alternet.org/katrina/28679/
http://www.alternet.org/story/28569/
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120305D.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1127-06.htm
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001571070
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/11/27/katrina_aid_falls_short_of_promises/
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10660
It’s an outrage than the Federal government continues to refuse or drag their feet to help New Orleans. So much fine culture has emerged from this region, so many contributions to jazz and funk music. I aspire as a writer to write in a jazzy and improvisational way, a cacophony of notes in form of values & perspectives; a kinetic cross-fertilization of ideas.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051205/yaffe/4

Let us not forget that the tragedy that occurred in New Orleans happened because levies were not repaired because we spent the money instead on armaments, the Federal response was totally incompetent because it lacked effective leadership and resources, again resources spent on the war, and because of Mother Nature whose violence in recent years has been particularly acute as a result of the violence waged against her by humankind in the form of global warming and environmental destruction. Violence begets violence both amongst humans and also between humans and Mother Nature.

REMEMBER:
SCIENTISTS ARE NOT AT ODDS ABOUT THE FACT OF GLOBAL WARMING
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10198616/
It’s nice to know that Trent Lott’s house will be rebuilt but what about everyone else’s?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/112505M.shtml
Oh, I forgot, he’s rich, he needs the money more than the poor as do the politicians:
I got a better idea, let’s give the vets the tax breaks and send the rich off to fight the war!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/18/AR2005111802165_pf.html
http://www.house.gov/commerce_democrats/medicaidblockgrant/109-Medicaid-budrec-wrongpriorities.pdf
http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=3760
http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-03-05-dem-budget_x.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1126-10.htm
Better yet, Wall Street Journal, let’s close down the military-industrial complex for good.
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/23/wsj-close-public-schools/
No money to rebuild highways and infrastructure, plenty of money for Iraq….where are you priorities, Mr. Bush? The rich have enough dough. Invest in the public domain.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1126-06.htm
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2005/11/30/fiorewhile.DTL
My, where did they get that money for that pay increase? Like taking milk from a baby?
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1126-27.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/113005Z.shtml

Maybe you didn’t hear us correctly, Mr. Bush, we didn’t say bring home 60,000, we said bring them all home now, that is 160,000 troops back home to America, not redeployed.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1887806,00.html
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051124.wxiraq24/BNStory/International/
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1126-08.htm
http://www.minjok.com/english/news.php3?code=950
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051127/wl_afp/usiraqtroops
http://www.minjok.com/english/news.php3?code=950
It’s a start, indeed, so 37% of one carrot for you Mr. Bush since 60,000 is 37% of 161,000. Bush is offering no exit strategy at least as it would appear from this article, just more bombing runs instead.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/051205fa_fact
The reality, folks, is that they are planning on continuing the Occupation indefinitely, against the democratic will of the people of Iraq 82% of whom want an end to the military Occupation, while trying to make it look like they are withdrawing due to November 2006 elections concerns. If you want all the troops home you have to keep protesting and pressuring the politicians. Remember that their words means nothing but their actions means everything. Watch what they do not what they say. Until those troops are home, Mr. Bush, I’m the lawnmower and you’re ass is grass.
PERSEVERE!!!!!!!!!! PROTEST THE WAR!!! BRING THEM HOME ALIVE AND UNSCATHED NOW!!!!
Bush has no intention of withdrawing. His mantra to the troops is, ‘Just keep dying in a worthless, winless war for nothing but do it in a way that doesn’t make me look bad.’
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120105I.shtml
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120105K.shtml
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/29/us.iraq/index.html?section=cnn_latest
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1130-23.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1201-01.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/1130-03.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1201-22.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/120205B.shtml
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1201-28.htm
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/113005D.shtml
http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?ItemID=19954
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?c=klLWJcP7H&b=700005
The Occupation is about colonialism and the hostile takeover of Iraqi resources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/03/wirq03.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/12/03/ixworld.html
By the example our government is setting, one could infer that the preferred way to get rich in this country might be to roll tanks and occupation forces into the gated communities of the rich, occupy them at gunpoint and steal their money. The invasion and Occupation of Iraq is our government basically saying that if you want something bad enough, the best way to get it is put a gun to someone’s head, take what they’ve got and term this act of armed robbery “bringing liberation and democracy to the world.”
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1203-23.htm
BUT THE STRONGEST MESSAGE YOU CAN SEND TO BUSH WILL BE NEXT NOVEMBER, SEND IT TO HIM VIA HIS PARTY AND THROW THEM OUT!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/03/AR2005120301239_pf.html

CLICK HERE TO READ PART II:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/12/1787601.php