The Dissing by the Pro-War Neocons. It's a darn shame they can't think for themselves. Generals always ask for more time, Andy. Always. They always have another front to fight or another engagement in mind regardless of the current status of troops. It's what they do. It's how their departments are funded. If there weren't hysterical generals about what needs to be done including confronting Russia and China in a world war, there would be no military spending. Hello? Give the guy a camera and he thinks he controls the world.

Top general in Iraq asks Congress for more time

Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, came to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to convince lawmakers that additional U.S. forces dispatched to Baghdad have helped reduce sectarian bloodshed, and that Congress must allow more time to bring security to Iraq.

But Petraeus' message, delivered in separate meetings behind closed doors in the Senate and House, was stifled on a day when at least 45 Iraqis died in bombings, shootings and mortar attacks, and the United Nations reported that the number of casualties has increased since the latest operation to secure the Iraqi capital began in February.

"U.S. forces have not figured out how to stop suicide bombings that inflame sectarian tensions," said Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the Lexington Institute, a centrist think tank in Arlington, Va. "As long as those tensions persist, it will not be possible to stabilize the situation in Baghdad or elsewhere."

It the job of the Senate and the House to discern the difference between the militaries directive and correctness and the nation's security. That's whats at issue here, Andy. The Commander and Chief has redirected the war from the elements of networks that caused 911 to an Oil War in Iraq. The USA has an military unable to protect the nation from other fronts of FAILED dipmolacy. Perhaps you might note President Putin isn't making nice, nice these days.

COOPER: General David Petraeus shortly after briefing congressional leaders on the situation in Iraq, and arguing against setting a timetable to pull troops out. It turns out it wasn't enough to stop the House from doing just that, narrowly approving a war funding bill that calls for combat forces to start leaving Iraq by October 1, and sets a non-binding goal to complete the pullout by next April. The Senate vote is expected tomorrow. And, if it passes there, President Bush promises a veto. Earlier, with a debate still going on, we sat down with CNN's Michael Ware, just back from spending time with American forces on the ground in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Michael, you literally just got back from Iraq. You were recently embedded in Diyala Province. How does the situation on the ground compare to what we're being told over here?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, having just arrived back in then United States today, Anderson, I'm struck by the almost delusional nature of the debate that's under way. I mean, what we're hearing, in the wake of General Petraeus's briefing to Congress, I mean, it's so out of touch with what's actually happening on the ground. I mean, the truth is, America has a lot of tough decisions to make right now. It needs to define for itself what success really will be.

COOPER: We heard today, after meeting with General Petraeus, John Boehner, the House minority leader, said that -- he was saying, a lot of the sectarian violence is being backed by Iran, has been caused by Iran.

(CROSSTALK)

WARE: Old, old story. The sectarian...

COOPER: True?

WARE: Absolutely. The sectarian violence is two things. One, it is the ultimate legacy of former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Now, he was assassinated by the U.S. using a precision bomb that blew him up in a house. He said from the very beginning -- he wrote it: My plan is to create sectarian violence, a civil war, because that will feed al Qaeda's aims.That also feeds Iran's aims. The more that these two halves of this society go to war, the more it feeds America's enemies. And, to hear American politicians talking about putting pressure on Maliki, a lame-duck prime minister who has no authority with his own people or his government, to force a reconciliation, that reconciliation is in nobody's interests.

COOPER: Well, if not Maliki, what are the other options? Are there other options?

WARE: A great question, Anderson. The alternatives that are being considered are non-democratic. They point specifically to places like Pakistan and Egypt, where you have military strongmen with a quasi-democracy who first deliver security, and democracy comes after that.

COOPER: Where does the so-called surge -- others say just escalation -- where does it stand? How is it going? Too soon to tell?

WARE: Oh, way too soon to tell. But what I can tell you right now, that, in terms of Baghdad, if you want to look at it through a microscope, without looking at the rest of the country, the surge will have an impact. But, at the end of the day, if America wants to win in Iraq, it would need to surge the whole country. But it can't. So, what it's done, in Baghdad, you're seeing changes in the violence. You hear these politicians saying, sectarian murders are down. Yes, that's true, but at what cost? American deaths are up.

COOPER: Michael Ware, thanks.

The unfortunate 'truth' about the Senate and House these days is that it has become 'territorial' rather than 'directed' on the business of the nation. The death toll of civilians in Iraq reflects a 'surge' by the USA military that causes added burden without any proof of results. Even General Patraeus admits there is questionable resolve to the issues that beset Iraq.

U.N.: Iraq withholds casualty statistics

Published: April 25, 2007 at 11:25 AM

BAGHDAD, April 25 (UPI) -- The Iraqi government is withholding official statistics on violent deaths from the United Nations, making it difficult to assess human-rights conditions.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Iraq said in a statement its quarterly human-rights report, released in Baghdad Wednesday, does not contain official statistics of violent deaths that are normally collected by the Health Ministry and the Medico-Legal Institute because the Iraqi government "decided not to make such data available to UNAMI."

The mission said it regretted this measure because its reports "have been regarded as a credible source of information regarding developments in the human rights situation in Iraq." UNAMI stressed it would continue to urge the Iraqi authorities to provide such information.

In its previous quarterly report in January, UNAMI said 34,452 Iraqi civilians were killed -- an average of 94 every day -- and 36,685 injured in violence during 2006. The publicity of the alarmingly high numbers apparently upset the Iraqi authorities, who tried to discredit these statistics, saying the numbers were much lower.

The thing is this. What is right for Iraq was that it should have never been invaded and to believe otherwise is simply selling the security of the USA to profiteers. There is far too much polarization of the House and Senate. The people of this nation spoke clearly last November and that is still not respected. The Republicans are attempting to use the Iraq War as a 'wedge' issue again for elections in 2008. They refuse to admit the death toll and refugee issue is so astronomical that it warrants a close look and a strong consideration of withdrawal to stop the bloodshed.

The strategy Bush has demanded of the USA military has resulted in over four years of failure and all of a sudden a reaffirmation of 'the surge' is supposed to end all that. It isn't. It is making the plight of the people of Iraq worse and not better. There are vast humanitarian needs and that is being supplied in good measure by Iran. We know that. It's a fact. If it weren't for the humanitarian efforts of Iranians to Iraqis the people of the south would be that much worse off. The USA has virtually ignored the plight of these people. The Iraqis are pawns in a very sick game of profits over lives which has absolutely nothing to do with the USA National Security. As a matter of fact the issues with Russia currently are DIRECTLY RELATED to the Iraq War and Bush's "W"rongly directed attention to Iran. Maybe you don't want to live in peace with others Andy but I do. And a lot of other people do as well.

I oppose any escalation of war including 'the surge' as it kills people needlessly and puts the USA closer and closer to a broader war with elements that can annihilate large numbers of troops. More like 3333 (The current number CONFIRMED dead by the DOD. There is one other uncertain.) dead USA military a week rather than from the beginning of the war. Granted there would be less need for the services of Walter Reed, but, then one is looking at a draft and that would be a mess because people won't go you see.

Two House members explain vote switch on Iraq
By Mike Soraghan
April 26, 2007
Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) said she switched her vote Wednesday on Iraq spending partially in honor of her friend Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.), who died last Sunday.

“The passing of my good friend Juanita Millender-McDonald meant that Democrats needed an additional ‘Yes’ vote,” Watson said in a statement Thursday. “I was proud to have delivered that vote in honor and memory of Juanita.”

Watson said that she remains opposed to continued funding for the war but believes in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) strategy “to hold the president accountable for the gross mismanagement of this war.”

The other switched vote Wednesday night was Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.). She had previously voted no with her fellow Republicans. But on Wednesday night, she joined Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) in voting present.

Emerson said in a statement that she’s frustrated with the politics on both sides of the aisle.

“I cannot abide the way this war is being conducted, but neither can I lend my support to a measure that politicizes the men and women in uniform so bravely serving our country,” she said.

I can relate to both these women. One had to lose a friend to understand the lose of families. I can relate well to that considering the members of Congress newly elected in November have people in Iraq that see the war far more clearly than Mr. Ware. Mr. Ware is such a diplomat, isn't he? Easy to tell.

This is noted from Michael Moore's website (click on). They just don't seem to 'get it' - the war is illegal and it makes the losses all that more profound. The terrorist network that killed on September 11, 2001 has been allowed to increase in capacity and strength, endangering our nation more. These soldiers, including Jessica Lynch (click on) never agreed to fight an oil war or kill innocent Iraqis endlessly for the sake of Bush's victory:

For You Matthew(click on)

The other member of the House changed her vote for an interesting reason and of course this is just my take. The Lady is interested in improving the MEDICAL conditions our troops face.

EMERSON RADIO ADDRESS: U.S. Troops Deserve More than Talk

See, Ms. Emerson knows that the 'pork' in the bill being sent to the president, that he intends to veto carries with it provisions/monies for medical treatment of our veterans and active personnel. The Lady wants to change the circumstances at Walter Reed and one can't do that without funding.

Emerson: U.S. Must Do Better for Soldiers and Veterans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) will today announce her cosponsorship of the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act, legislation to strengthen Congressional oversight of health care for current and former U.S. military personnel at 11:00 a.m. CST.

“Unacceptable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the subsequent passing the buck underscore the need for Congress to step in to this situation and make sure corrections are made throughout our system of care for soldiers and veterans,” Emerson said. “This legislation mandates improvements to VA facilities and frequent inspections; it cuts red tape; and it expands services to military families who are caring for a recovering servicemember. These steps are least among the measures we can take to honor our promise to the Americans who, by their service, have honored us.”

So, while Andy and the crew rant on and on about killing there are people in the House and Senate that see it far more clearly.

It was 'nice' of Andy to have Al Sharpton on. It saves him the same fate of Imus, I suppose. It has been noted time and again the bigotry, racial and otherwise of this news team including blatant ridicule of Rev. Jessie Jackson (It was a program where you tried to turn the tables on 'conspiracy theorists. I am sure you remember. I do.) But, then Katrina helped Andy make a name for himself. I suppose there is some interest in your 60 minutes segment as I received an e-mail about it.

It stated, "Are you going to watch the Cooper segment on 60 Minutes?"

I replied, "Not interested."

Return mail : "Me either."

Update: Cam'ron Apologizes For "Snitch" Comment On "60 Minutes"

I will say this much, the crew of 60 minutes knows how to keep you honest while keeping them out of trouble. They kept all comments 'on tape.' I don't know what was said only that it was not an 'inteplation' by you. It's the only way to 'KEEP YOU HONEST,' Andy.

Speaking to Sharpton’s Group, Obama Emphasizes Principles

Senator Barack Obama of Illinois told several hundred black political organizers yesterday in Manhattan that African-Americans had been “complicit in diminishing ourselves” by talking about blacks in the same sort of degrading terms that the radio host Don Imus recently used about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.

enough