Last week in Iraq(click here)
By Times Wires
Published August 26, 2007

Attacks

- Twelve people were killed by a barrage in east Baghdad on Aug. 19, police said. Homes were destroyed, and at least 32 people were injured in the Shiite neighborhood of Obeidi.
- A roadside bomb killed a governor in southern Iraq on Monday, the second provincial boss assassinated in nine days as rival Shiite militias battle for control of key oil regions.
- The toll from a series of truck bombings in northern Iraq on Aug. 14 has soared to more than 500 dead and 1,500 wounded, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society said Tuesday, making it the bloodiest coordinated attack since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
- A suicide truck bomber killed at least 45 people and wounded 80 Wednesday in Beiji. The death toll included 25 Iraqi policemen. At least 29 people were killed or found dead around the country.
- At least 32 people died in a gunfight between villagers and militants belonging to al-Qaida in Iraq on Thursday near Baqubah.

Military

- A senior U.S. general said Aug. 19 that about 50 members of an elite Iranian military unit are training Shiite militias south of Baghdad, the first time the U.S. military has alleged that Iranians are aiding insurgents from inside Iraq.
- Fourteen U.S. service members died Wednesday when a Black Hawk helicopter went down in northern Iraq. The military's initial estimate was that the craft had a mechanical failure.
- Army Secretary Pete Geren on Thursday said he saw no possibility of extending soldiers' tours of duty beyond the current 15 months.
- The number of detainees held by the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has swelled by 50 percent under the troop increase ordered by President Bush, from 16,000 in February to 24,500 today, according to American military officers in Iraq.

Rebuilding

- French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner arrived in Baghdad Aug. 19 on invitation from President Jalal Talabani. Kouchner said he came to listen. "This is an Iraqi problem and it must be solved by the Iraqis," he said.
- Sen. Carl Lavin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Monday that the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should be voted from office because it has proved incapable of reaching the political compromises required to end violence.
- Bush and his top envoy in Baghdad offered tepid endorsements of Maliki on Tuesday in comments suggesting a new distancing from the beleaguered Shiite political leader.
- On Wednesday, Bush renewed his support of Maliki in a speech to veterans in which he also likened the conflict in Iraq to wars the United States fought in Asia, particularly Vietnam, where he said a withdrawal of U.S. troops led to the deaths of thousands of people at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.
- Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said Thursday that Bush should start bringing home some troops by Christmas to show the Baghdad government that the U.S. commitment in Iraq is not open-ended.
- Iraq's Sunni vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi, said Friday that it was "out of the question" that Sunnis would rejoin the Shiite-led government of Maliki.

Deaths

As of Saturday, 3,728 U.S. troops have died in Iraq. Identifications as reported by the U.S. military and not previously published:

- Army Spc. Rickey L. Bell, 21, Caruthersville, Mo.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Spc. Kamisha J. Block, 20, Vidor, Texas; noncombat Aug. 16; Balad.
- Army Cpl. Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, Middlefield, Mass.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Cpl. Phillip J. Brodnick, 25, New Lenox, Ill.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Pfc. Edgar E. Cardenas, 34, Lilburn, Ga., explosion Wednesday; Abu Ghraib.
- Army Capt. Derek A. Dobogai, 26, Fond du Lac, Wis.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army 1st Lt. Jonathan W. Edds, 24, White Pigeon, Mich.; explosion and small-arms fire Aug. 17; Baghdad.
- Army Sgt. 1st Class Adrian M. Elizalde, 30, North Bend, Ind.; explosion Thursday; Baghdad.
- Army Capt. Michael S. Fielder, 35, Holly Springs, N.C.; noncombat Aug. 19; Baghdad.
- Army Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Flynn, 28, Whitsett, N.C.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Cpl. Joshua S. Harmon, 20, Ohio; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Spc. Michael A. Hook, 25, Altoona, Pa.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Cpl. Nathan C. Hubbard, 21, Clovis, Calif.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Sgt. Garrett I. McLead, 23, Rockport, Texas; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Staff Sgt. Paul B. Norris, 30, Cullman, Ala.; noncombat Aug. 16; Balad.
- Army Staff Sgt. Jason L. Paton, 25, Poway, Calif.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Spc. Jessy G. Pollard, 22, Springfield, Mo.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Cpl. Willard M. Powell, 21, Evansville, Ind.; small arms fire Aug. 16; Balad.
- Army Sgt. Princess C. Samuels, 22, Mitchellville, Md.; enemy fire Aug. 15; Taji.
- Army Spc. Tyler R. Seideman, 20, Lincoln, Ark.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Sgt. Matthew L. Tallman, 30, Groveland, Calif.; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Pfc. Omar E. Torres, 20, Chicago; explosion Wednesday; Baghdad.
- Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully, 33, Falls Creek, Pa.; explosion on Thursday; Baghdad.
- Army Capt. Corry P. Tyler, 29, Georgia; helicopter crash Wednesday; Multaka.
- Army Spc. Zandra T. Walker, 28, Greenville, S.C.; enemy fire Aug. 15; Taji.
- Army Pfc. Donovan D. Witham, 20, Malvern, Ark.; explosion Tuesday; Baghdad.
[Last modified August 26, 2007, 00:46:09]

By the way. Whatever happened to "Paula Zahn Now?"

August 02, 2007
• At Least Four Dead in Minnesota Bridge Collapse; America's Aging Infrastructure

July 31, 2007
• Koran in the Toilet: Hate Crime?; Political Bedtime Stories

July 30, 2007
• Negative Bias Towards African-American Athletes in America?; Clinton/Obama Ticket in 2008?

Fabricating the need for USA military involvement

The rules are simple, if the Iraqi government hasn't met the benchmarks the USA withdraws their military. Evidently, Michael Ware all of a sudden is aware as are other Neocon Republicans that what I have been saying all along is true in Iraq. There is no Central Unity Government and the militias control the safety of the people. The truth is the USA is killing and jailing more innocent people simply trying to secure a basis for a void. The void is the desire of the Iraqi people to again have a central government.

Iraq want to split. The legislature will not pander to Washington, DC. Their provinces are secured by their militias and they are not paying attention to war mongering Neocons that can't seem to leave the country. The only chance the Bush appointed Prime Minister Maliki has of holding onto any influence in Iraq is if the Bush military continues to carry out a Surge that has imprisoned more people and killed more people than any other strategy to date. The reason for the imprisonment and the killing is because the majority of the country does not want the USA occupation and has resisted the Unity Government at every turn except for a legislature that is working to free the people of a central government while divesting 'Iraq' and replacing it with autonomous provinces.


You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: More bad news for the government of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister in Iraq. More members of a major political bloc are simply pulling out of his cabinet. This bloc will keep its seats in parliament, but wants nothing -- nothing to do with this cabinet of Nuri al-Maliki.

Joining us now from Baghdad, our correspondent, Michael Ware -- Michael, at least from this vantage point, it looks like this Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki slowly but surely is falling apart. Some Shia coalition partners are leaving. Sunni partners are leaving.

Big picture -- what's going on?

WARE: Well, Wolf, I mean, really, there's never been an Iraqi government. I mean it's only ever been a so-called entity. It's been an apparition from the beginning, a loose coalition of militias, most of them, according to Western intelligence, backed by Iran, jammed together. So, really, there has never been a functioning government here.

It's certainly not delivering services to its people. I mean it can't even guarantee running water in its capital. It can't provide electricity.

Of Maliki's 37 cabinet ministers, 17 just don't show up for cabinet meetings or are actually boycotting the government. And we now see yet another political bloc, that represented by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, today announcing it, too, has withdrawn.

So, effectively, there's four more ministers gone. Wolf, there is no government here and anyone who says there is either delusional or trying to spin a line. There's nothing here for America to work with.

BLITZER: Yesterday John Warner, the Republican Senator from Virginia, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said the U.S. has to send a powerful signal to the Iraqi government and announce its starting to withdraw troops, get some of them home by Christmas, maybe only 5,000.

But on a practical level -- and you've been there four years plus now, Michael -- what happens when U.S. forces move out of an area and say to the Iraqis, you guys take over, you're in charge now?

Practically speaking, what happens?

WARE: Well, that sends a strong signal to the militia factions who own this country in whichever region we're particularly talking about where U.S. forces withdraw that it's game on -- power is yours. I mean that's what's holding this country together are militias. I mean comparisons to Lebanon in the '80s are not that far off base. So, I'm sorry, but with all respect to Senator Warner, he is absolutely kidding himself if, A, withdrawing 5,000 troops is going to send any kind of a message or, B, that American withdrawal without serious penalty -- the strongest message withdrawal like that sends is American defeat. And if you want a clear cut example of both the power of that message and what happens on the ground, just look at Basra in the South. The Brits have all been but forced to abandon Basra.

And what's happened?

Rival, sparring, brawling Iranian-backed militias have taken over and it's turning into an absolute disaster. That's a glimmer of Iraq's future without American forces.

BLITZER: Pretty depressing information.

Michael Ware, thanks very much for joining us.

WARE: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: And I'll speak exclusively with the man Michael just mentioned, the political leader Ayad Allawi, the man who runs that political bloc in Iraq that's leaving the cabinet. Right now, Ayad Allawi will join us, the former interim prime minister of Iraq, exclusively on LATE EDITION. That airs Sunday, 11:00 aamm Eastern.

The rantings of Mr. Ware are last ditch efforts to raise some fear about leaving Iraq to the people of Iraq whom obviously don't want what Bush/Maliki have to offer. It's more than laughable to think, in order to have the surge continue the Neocons now are seeking a Prime Minister of Iraq that Bush displaced with Maliki, namely Ibrahim Jaafari, the man that foretold of the disintegrating country known as Iraq and the rise of provincial authorities.


US envoy 'calls for new Iraqi PM' (click here)

Ibrahim Jaafari's government has been criticised for poor performanceThe US ambassador to Iraq has told Shia leaders that the US government does not want Ibrahim Jaafari to remain prime minister, senior Shia politicians say.
Zalmay Khalilzad said President George W Bush "doesn't want, doesn't support, doesn't accept" the retention of Mr Jaafari, Rida Jawad al-Takki said....

In this article in The New York Times this morning it was obvious there are gross multitude of lies surrounding The Surge and the State of Iraq. The entire time General Petraeus has been touting The Surge as 'the way' to peace in Iraq his primary focus of success has been in An Albar. An Albar is Sunni. The Sunnis are the ones that enlisted the homegrown extremist group, Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia to do the truck bombings and Mosque bombings. Now, Petraeus's precious Sunni province has more detainees than any other ethnicity in Iraq. So, much for success.

There is no success to The Surge because of the deaths and capture of the very people that are supposed to be 'turning away' from extremism and the lose of American soldiers in increasing number to demonstrate the continued resistance. In order to call, The Surge a success, I would expect the people of Iraq to find comfort in releaving them of these extremists and more than willing to defend themselves with increasing numbers in the Iraqi military and police. That isn't what is occurring. The people continue to arm themselves and kill Americans. The Bush "Surge" is contrary to every initiative by Iraqis. Bush is attempting nation building where it will never be accepted. The casualties of war will increase because the Iraqis don't want the occupation and the directive of the Bush White House.

With Troop Rise, Iraqi Detainees Soar in Number (click here)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 — The number of detainees held by the American-led military forces in Iraq has swelled by 50 percent under the troop increase ordered by President Bush, with the inmate population growing to 24,500 today from 16,000 in February, according to American military officers in Iraq.
The detainee increase comes, they said, because American forces are operating in areas where they had not been present for some time, and because more units are able to maintain a round-the-clock presence in some areas. They also said more Iraqis were cooperating with military forces. Nearly 85 percent of the detainees in custody are Sunni Arabs, the minority faction in Iraq that ruled the country under the government of Saddam Hussein; the other detainees are Shiites, the officers say....

The fact USA Neocons are struggling to return Mr. Jaafari to the role of Prime Minister in hopes the country will again follow is a clear surrender to the Iraqi will while acknowledging their ability to instill nation building in Iraq designed to serve Western interests.

It's time to leave Iraq. The benchmarks are sadly lacking achievement and Americans are dying in greater numbers than before. Bush can't even keep helicopters flying. It amazing how somehow there is justification in keeping USA troops in Iraq when they die of reasons other than combat. I don't think so. In order to run a successful strategy the military has to be able to maintain their fleet of transportation and assault vehicles. They haven't been able to demonstrate the ability to maintain their fleet yet alone run a successful mission.

The longer the USA stays in Iraq the more people will die and be imprisoned. Even with all these people imprisioned the violence continues and the American casualities escalate. The region has to solve it's problems. Mr. Jaafari was correct the entire time and he never 'played Bush tune' so he was unacceptable as a puppet to the current Executive Branch.

A side note about Glen Beck. It doesn't get sadder than that. He is manufacturing issues in order to be a Neocon. His latest attempt at 'issue creation' is the illiteracy of the Republicans. It's a very sad day at CNN when they have to 'create diversions' in order to avoid looking at reality and the events of the day as they occur that might even bring regime change in Washington, DC. I could almost here Beck crying during the entire show, "Oh, where, Oh, where did Karl Rove, go. Oh, where, oh, where can he be?"

Firing teams "Gunny" and "Storm" from the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division fire a M109A6 Paladin, a Self-Propelled Howitzer, into the Diyala River Valley in support of Operation Lightning Hammer, which was just underway when the rounds were launched late into the night, Aug. 13. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


This is a map from The New York Times showing the location of the attacks near a Syrian border. It isn't near an Iranian border.

AT THIS LINK is a map of Iraq (click here) which clearly illustrates the named provinces of Iraq as understood by the USA military and map makers evidently. The NEWLY named 'strategy' of Lightning Hammer is being conducted in Diyala Province. Diyala Province is number 10 on this map. Baghdad is Diyala Province in the way of populous. The point is the attacks on the Kurds were on the opposite side of the nation known as Iraq. That 'technicality' evades the media and the USA miliary when selling their war.

Selling the Bush Genocide

Since the beginning of the Iraq War the USA military has 'resold' the illegal war time and time again.. The latest is "Lightning Hammer (click here). Right at the side of the Bush White House has been the media. Today CNN does it again attempting to say the 'newly named campaign' of the USA military in Iraq is fighting a genocide they have inspired and taken part in since the first day.

Reminding Colonel Michael Steele in the very beginnings of the illegal Iraq invasion of the Bush Administration killed nothing but innocent citizens and never one insurgent. The death toll of Iraqis grew from there to counts speculated in the hundreds of thousands and near a million.

Today, in complete compliance to the demands of the USA military to remake itself and be respected for it, CNN allowed the open speculation of the USA military actually fighting genocide. This is a venue of deceit and is a strategy against the American people that other media sources have ended with a hint of speculation.

When the coordinated attacks occured on August 14, 2007 and many Kurds were murdered, most of the major newspapers including the New York Times and Washington Post didn't 'bill' the deaths as a success of the USA military. Quite the contrary, a refreshing statement the titles] to the Washington Post articles stated, "The Surge is Working?" I dont' consider this editorial a sincere statement of the 'reality' of Iraq but it is a step in the right direction. If I may?

250 Dead: The Surge is Working? (click here)
Does the death of at least 250 Iraqi civilians, the deadliest single incident of the war, coming four years into the fighting and seven months after the surge was announced, actually signal progress for the U.S. strategy in Iraq?
Listen to the military commanders and spokesmen, and to the new cadre of Petraeus propagandists, and you may get that impression. The theory, in part, is that the attack is intended to distract Congress and the American public from the progress being made in Baghdad and elsewhere, and that it is a kind of "last gasp" for al-Qaeda in Iraq....

The most accurate aspect of this editorial is that the attacks were conducted to terrify Iraqis and force the hand of the American people to remove the troops from Iraq. The question left DANGEROUSLY unanswered is 'should the troops be withdrawn from Iraq?' That level of uncertainty is what allows Bush and his military to continue to kill, conduct military school strategies, record their mistakes, suck monies from the USA treasury, send American troops home in body bags or maimed and basically continue a genocide of Iraqis without any concern to the outcome to the people within that country so long as 'the nation building' in Baghdad continues to be the focus of the media and the 'question' of elections. In other words, do the deaths of Iraqis at the hand of other Iraqis in a civil war legitimacize the presence of the USA military?

The attacks happened on August 14, 2007 and let's just say for the sake of 'familiar' argument the reasons were exactly for the reason the Washington Post editorial states it was conducted. To alarm the world. Stun the Iraqis and provide more impetus to remove Amerian forces. I personally don't believe the reasons were ONLY that but let's just proceed on that premise and follow up to conclusions more valid

4 Truck Bombs Kill 190 in Kurdish Area of Iraq (click here)
By DAMIEN CAVE
Published: August 15, 2007
BAGHDAD, Aug. 14 — Four truck bombs killed at least 190 people on Tuesday in two villages in a Kurdish-speaking area near the Syrian border, destroying houses and sending hundreds of the wounded to at least six hospitals as far as 150 miles away, the Iraqi authorities said.

On August 15, 2007, the current president of the USA wrote executive order number 13224. That executive order is invalid. It splits Iran, a sovereign nation, into many authorities as if there were separate sovereign authorities within Iran. To my knowledge that is not the case. Iran is a sovereign country and The Revolutionary Guard is a military unit of the Iranian with something like 125,000 members. If The Revolutionary Guard, which was named for the overthrow of the Shah, has authority to exist and conduct it's business that authority falls under the sovereign government of Iran. Bush needed to 'proclaim' through his executive order 13224, that Iran was a terrorist nation conducting it's business through orders given to The Revolutionary Guard. In that is literally a declaration of war. The charge of one sovereign nation of another and would have opened up Iran to openly defend itself in Iraq and would invite it's allies into joining it. So, the rafications of this stupid executive order could literally lead to WW III. Seriously. Want to talk about genocide now?

But to return to the 'remaking' mode of Bush in cooperation of the USA military, the attacks on August 14th couldn't have been better so Bush could introduce his executive order against Iran the next day. In other words, Bush 'spun' the attacks on the Kurds, dismissed the deaths and their reality and turned the 'reality' of those attacks into a political motive for his party and for his 'reason' to war with Iran. The attacks on the Kurds have absolutely NOTHING to do with Iran but when a PR campaign by Bush and his military is laced together with the words death, al Qaeda and The Revolutionary Guard; it is an attack on the American understanding of THAT REALITY. We have witnessed this mess once coined as 'reason to invade Iraq' for WMD and 'the mushroom cloud.'

US Deems Iran Revolutionary Guard As Terrorists (click here)
Washington (EON) - The Bush administration along with thev are nothing more than a “specially designated global terrorist” force.
This is according to U.S. officials as they try to fight the military branch which is made up of 125,000 troops.
Many U.S. officials as well as President Bush believe that the Revolutionary Guard Corps has been getting involved more and more in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also believed that they are heavy supporters of extremists in the Middle East.
Executive Order 13224 will designate the Revolutionary Guard as terrorists. Bush signed this order after the 9/11 attacks to try and stop terrorist funding. This means that the U.S. will be trying to freeze accounts of the military faction and block the assets of the terrorists.
This will stop all foreign businesses from supporting or assisting the group.
A U.S. official stated that “Anyone doing business with these people will have to reevaluate their actions immediately.”

Now today, August 16, 2007', on the heels of attacks on the Kurds on the 14th and the bogus Bush executive order, which doesn't necessarily avert WWIII for it's incompetency, on the 15th the USA military has 'it's face' on CNN and across the media touting a new strategy called "Lightning Hammer" (click here). Do read this article because the huge level of fire power is killing people in a nation where the only way they have to protect themselves is to return fire as they can.

So realizing the 'new' strategy was AGAIN studied by the rebels in Iraq; the 'new' strategy to counter that of the USA military in addition to Road Side Bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices is "The House Bomb."

'House Bombs' a Growing Risk for U.S. Troops (click here)
Soldiers Being Lured Into Buildings Rigged to Explode; Commander Cites Insurgents' 'Continually Evolving Tactics'
By Megan GreenwellWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, August 16, 2007; Page A08
BAGHDAD -- When the sniper's bullet hit Billy Edwards, his Army brothers did not hesitate.
The 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division calls itself the "Send Me" brigade, and on Saturday, its soldiers were quick to send themselves to find the man who shot Pfc. William L. Edwards, a wide-eyed 23-year-old from Houston. They quickly identified the house where they believed the assailant was hiding and moved in, just as the sniper knew they would.
Inside the house, one soldier stepped on a pressure plate, detonating an estimated 30 pounds of explosives hidden under a stairwell. In an instant, four troops were killed; four others were injured. Edwards died later in the hospital. The sniper escaped.
The attack in Arab Jabour, southeast of Baghdad, was particularly savage, predicated on knowledge of the soldiers' sense of duty to a fallen comrade. Military commanders say the number of similar incidents -- those in which soldiers are lured into a house rigged to explode -- has risen dramatically across Iraq in recent months....

Realizing there are Howitzers going off in Iraq, it is easy to state there are at least one million dead. Easily. The deaths of Iraqis include battlefield deaths and death by poverty, starvation, thirst and grossly inadequate medical treatment. The deaths of American soldiers currently are:

American Deaths, since war began (3/19/03): 3701 (click here)

U.S. lacks mechanism to accurately track troops wounded in Iraq (click here)
By LORRAINE ASHGannett New Jersey
There is no disputing the number of American troops who have died in the war on terror. At press time, more than 2,590 soldiers had lost their lives, according to U.S. Department of Defense numbers.
But the number of wounded is not clear-cut. In fact, that count is elusive. DoD numbers have tallied 17,702 wounded.
"Basically, that's everybody who has been through the major military hospitals, like Walter Reed Army Medical Center," said Kryn Westhoven, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "There are some who are not counted in that roll-up, and the numbers are not broken down by state."
New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine has asked the department to track the number but the task is "nightmarish," according to Westhoven, particularly since the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (known as HIPAA) does not allow patients' medical information to be reported because of privacy issues. HIPAA covers both the civilian and military populations.
"Let's say a soldier comes back and he's the walking wounded. He just needs physical therapy, but he is nonetheless wounded," Westhoven said. "Let's say he comes back to Fort Dix. He might go to a local doctor for two to three months for physical therapy and then be on his way. He might receive a 10 percent disability. He might have no disability. He might be fine afterwards. The point is, he'll never truly be tracked."...

The Village Voice has a unique 'shot' of Katherine Harris with Petreaus worth noting. Many would like to discredit The Village Voice as an extremist newsprint. Look, the truth is the truth and for the Neocons, Petreaus is their savior.

Iraq and Petraeus Spin Out of Control (click here)
posted: 9:18 AM, August 16, 2007 by Harkavy
In what the GOP hopes will be a boost for next year's elections, General David Petraeus has broadly hinted in the wake of the worst massacre of the war that the U.S. will be able to start withdrawing troops from Iraq next summer.

So back to the 'dangerous' question; "Should the American Troops be Withdrawn from Iraq?"

To begin, do I actually have to answer that question now? I would hope not, but, I will and I'll answer it directly and why the media coverage of Iraq is grossly "W"rong and adds to the political 'spin' of a war killing a million people and causing a genocide with refugees in neighboring countries while emptying the future pockets of American generations with a military that wants to start a draft.

What is implied in the question, "Should the American Troops be Withdrawn from Iraq?" The implications are that the USA military is properly deployed to fight a war necessary to American National Security.

There is no purpose to the USA occupation of Iraq except nation building providing contracts for oil. There is no danger from Iraq to the USA. None. There is nothing the nation of Iraq can do to the USA. It's military is in disarray and the current attempts to rebuild a national military and police have failed and even if it were rebuilt there is nothing to say it would be used for peaceful purposes realizing Bush's illegal invasion have removed all the 'disarmament resolutions' that were issued against Saddam.

Iraq and terrorist networks are separate issues. The fact al Qaeda is in Iraq is a creation by the presence of the USA military AND especially the continued occupation of the USA. To refer to the 'reason' of the attacks in The Washington Post article, it stated "The attackers were able to produce a large body count among a people who don't particularly have a natural ally to retaliate for them. This attack is meant for U.S., Western, Arab, and an Iraqi audience -- to convey an image of instability, to motivate flagging fighters, to communicate to the U.S. that the surge isn't working."

That could be the reason. But, why would a terrorist networks called al Qaeda in Iraq which has already lost it's leadership in several successful attacks by the USA, Abu Ayyub al-Masri (click here) and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (click here) be so sophisticated in their attacks that all those directives are realized. They have that level of control over capacity well beyond their reaches? I have a tough time believing these attacks are anything except simply carried out for the sake of killing people and instilling fear in local populations, no different than the Taliban to insure loyalty.

The reason the loyalty is necessary is because the USA has literally driven them out of areas such as Diyala which brings me to my next point regarding the ineffectiveness of any USA surge or any other strategy including some kind of lightning whereby Howitzers are necessary. These killers of the Kurds don't have Howitzers, but, are far more successful than the USA has been and are.

The current Surge and Lightning Hammer are no different than any other strategy by Bush and the USA's variety of generals over the past years since March 19, 2003; in that 'it works' in the area deployed, ie: Fallujah, but nowhere else. The result are roving bands of militias, which al Qaeda in Iraq is, to areas of Iraq where the USA deployment is absent.

The result of these American attacks on supposedly troubled areas where al Qaeda is the enemy are dead civilians or refugeed civilians, destroyed infrastruture, isolating civilians from humanitarian aid or any methods of food, water and medical care. The dead civilians are then touted by the USA military as 'the reason' for retaliation and more killing of civilians as when the USA military moves in all the militias move out to areas in Iraq not occupied by the USA. This 'surge' and 'lightning hammer' is absolutely no different than 'Wack-A-Mole' except Petreaus is going to 'hold the area' longer than past generals so rebuilding can occur and Iraqi forces can be built utilizing locals for their own defense.

What Patreaus is doing is abandoning the rest of Iraq for a success in a 'locality' whereby the Bush administration can point to it and Patreaus can have a feather for his cap. If ALL of Iraq cannot be secured at the same time by The Surge (increased number of troops), as was promised, so the entire country can be held to allow rebuilding both miitary and infrastructure than there is no success. Because while Bush and Petreaus are playing 'success' in one area of Iraq the rest of the country is being lost. The 'idea' that the USA could ever build a nation out of an illegal war is perposterous. The 'theory' (playing with lives) is that the area where Petreaus has success will never be undermined once the USA military moves on to the next region of conquest. That is not realistic.

While Petreaus is 'holding his' in Diyala, there are militias all over Iraq 'holding their's.' They are not only holding onto their power and prowess they are hacking away at the American military while serving under Petreaus. Petreaus will never have a military solution for Iraq.

Currently, the Prime Minister has done the smartest thing he could by lending his loyality to Iran and Afghanistan to work toward a political solution to that country. Iraq is in no danger of invasion from neighboring countries. It's internal strife is the issue and that cannot be answered by the USA military. Iraq is a complete and abject failure. Currently, General Petraeus and Bush state the enemies in Iraq are al Qaeda and Shi'ite militias. Now, Iran is the enemy is as well in the form of The Revolutionary Guard.

The USA will never be successful in Iraq and more and more civilians will suffer and die. We know Iran does not have the perfect government but there aren't human rights issues leading to poverty and destitution. Iraq has to be allowed to find a solution within it's region and according to Iran the USA has to leave to insure progress toward stability. I am more confident than ever, Iran is right.

The USA military is not the solution for Iraq, OBVIOUSLY, and if the region including Iran can stop the suffering within that country then they need to be allowed to proceed. Iraq is not about oil contracts and American politics, it's about providing a chance for the Iraqis to find stability, peace and a chance to live without fear while worshiping Allah. That won't come from the USA military and it's Howitzers, but, will more than likely come from neighboring countries when the 'incentive' is there and they are allowed to proceed. Iran has been stable from the day the Shah was ousted, what makes anyone think they aren't capable of the same in Iraq. The genocide of the Iraqi people has to stop.

Al Qaeda in Iraq survives under Bush's Surge. It can't even be found in Iran.

Not to be overlooked:

CNN's conscience awakening takes form as a female anchor in Soledad O'Brien and the subject, 'Dedication to Mine Tragedy.'

Admirable.

It's good to know they are willing to seek issues of importance over the rhetorical warring causing huge issues with other countries. I do mean huge. I'll crosslink that reality in a few moments.

This is the crosslink (click here). The chronic 'war chant' of Bush has to come to an end. It has no basis in truth and does not serve the best interest of any other country except the USA's war machine. I realize a nuclear Iran is not a realistic idea for the Middle East to tolerate, but, the people of Iran are well educated people that can be summoned to a rational solution. The fact President Ahmadinejad was elected at all resulted 'directly' from fear of the expansion of the Iraq War. Iran's nuclear capacity must be dismantled, but, then that is a belief of Russia as well as the USA and the countries of the Middle East.

As a side note "To the Sensationalization' strategy of CNN: Oh, they just had to 'throw in' a UNSUBSTANTIATED report from an al Qaeda website by Deborah Feyerick. That is the problem with these 'sensationalized' news services. They 'interject all kinds of reason for fear when no real threat exists in the 'real world.' It does nothing to add to the credibility of their reporting. When this junk occurs it's laughable for as many times as they 'Cry Wolf.' It's also very expensive to cities that have to react and quell the concerns of citizens. I am sure the mayors are doing all they can to 'act' on these threats and protect their citizens. That's their job after all. Maybe CNN doesn't believe in the competency of Michael Bloomberg, huh? That is indeed CNN's problem and not mine.

US diplomacy with Iran is working (click here)
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Whereas the United States' new diplomatic approach toward Iran has already yielded tangible results, in light of Iran's enhanced cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the US-Iran dialogue on Iraq's security, the opponents of this approach in the US and Israel are nonetheless upping the ante against Iran, pushing for a military confrontation with the Islamic Republic, which is bound to have disastrous consequences for regional stability and global peace.
Led by such conservatives as William Kristol, the editor of The Weekly Standard, and the policymakers clustered around Vice President Dick Cheney, the "get tough on Iran" advocates have based their argument on the premise that the diplomatic approach championed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has not had any results in checking Iran's nuclear and regional "ambitions" and must therefore be regarded as a "failure".

The Rhetorical Neocon Network uses 'terroristic threats' as a means to propagate support for their profiteers by unsubstantiated claims as noted below.

On one hand this anonymously authored article states there IS INDEED a Russian Crackdown while on the other hand holds ridicule of the same initiative. I do believe the IAEA, whom has not to date lied about Iran, is the authority that can validate advances toward dismantling the threat, while all this propagandized rhetoric simply fuels 'an electorate of untrust' of their own government unless it promises to destroy populous other than them. That focus alone is genocide and not even prudent to consider. It is well known any military engagement, nuclear or otherwise could destroy all Earth's populous many times over. This propagandized rhetoric has to stop.

Russian Crackdown On Iran Nuke Project A Ruse To Delay Military Action Against Iran Iclick here)
2007-08-09 -- USA Religious News
WASH— Russia, according to European and U.S. diplomatic sources, says it is not going to deliver further nuclear fuel rods to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant until the Iranian government lifts its veil of secrecy surrounding its nuclear program. The move, however, appears to be a ruse as other sources report that Russia has already delivered the initial fuel rods and is just trying to pressure Iran not to enter into an agreement on a Turkish gas pipeline that would cut into Russia’s monopoly over the gas routes from Central Asia to Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin also is calculating that if he appears tough on Iran that the U.S. will back off sanctions or military action on Iran, further protecting Russian investment there.

U.S. Mars Phoenix lander lifted off Saturday to begin its nearly-10-month journey toward Mars Arctic, to seek clues of possible form of life on the red planet (click here). How did NASA brilliantly 'pull off' this mission while a Neocon occupies the White House. To believe life exists anywhere but Earth is against the premise of the Evangelical Christians. Who swept this under the Tony Snow PR Press Room rug?



George Bush's economy exists because he emptied the USA Treasury and sent the nation into insoluable debt. That's going to be quite an inheritance to the next administration and legislature.

There is nothing 'viable' about the Bush Economy UNLESS we continue to fight and fund wars with American will.

Just that simple.

The spending programs he 'dogs' the legislature about lusts after the monies available to his cronies. He doesn't care about keeping the federal government viable, it's just the opposite. If he could destroy the federal government except for the military infrastructure he'd do it today with a signature of his Executive pen.

The American economy no longer exists except in how it panders to foreign outsourcing. When is the last time a high school graduate could file an employment application for a high paying job at a manufacturing plant? A plant where unions thrive and produce good and benevolent products?

Bush talks really pretty, doesn't he?

Musharraf.

Back in the day, when Bush and Rumsfeld paid off Musharraf for air space to Afghanistan, the first mistake was made. Musharraf is a coupe leader and a warlord. He provides information to the USA when he is paid for it. Any country in the EU provides information for the defeat of terrorism.


Pakistan not to impose state of emergency in the country (click here)
www.chinaview.cn
2007-08-09
20:20:22

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will not impose a state of emergency in the country, Federal Minister for Information Mohammad Ali Durrani confirmed on Thursday.
Durrani said that he met President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday morning, and Musharraf said that the present situation did not necessitate the enforcement of emergency in the country, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported.
Musharraf said all efforts should be made to hold free and fair elections in the country and strengthen the democratic institutions, according to Durrani.
Musharraf acknowledged that there were challenges in the country and the government was trying to surmount them. However, the government did not like to take any step which might prove as a hurdle in holding elections, Durrani said.
There was a provision in the constitution regarding the imposition of state of emergency but Musharraf was of the opinion that the present time was not fit for enforcing it, Durrani added.
Musharraf also pointed out that all hurdles in the way of the forthcoming elections should be removed and he did not want to derail the democratic process, which was in vogue for the last five years, Durrani said.
Musharraf was in favor of allowing all political parties to play their role in the interest of democracy, creating congenial atmosphere and promoting political process, NNI quoted Durrani as saying.
Local Pakistani media reported earlier that Musharraf was mulling imposing a state of emergency in the country after holding a high-level meeting with legal experts and confidants in the capital Islamabad on Wednesday.

The 'local' governments of Pakistan have been trying to reclaim their government. With the USA providing incentive for Musharraf to do otherwise with fiscal subsidies, it only makes the local movement toward a free and democratic Pakistan that much harder. Lately, there was a judge returned to power while a meeting with Musharraf took place with Bhutto regarding power sharing. Finally, the local movement is achieving it's footing again. Bhutto was the Prime Minister when Musharraf and Osama bin Laden ran their coupe against that government. Hopefully, the power sharing will prove to be benevolent to the local people in Pakistan and further stabilize the government away from it's self-imposed dictator. A dictator supported by Bush's White House.

Here is a little discussed fact. The Democratic Legislature was finally successful in twisting Bush's arm to sign a 911 Commission Bill.

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission), an independent, bipartisan commission created by congressional legislation and the signature of President George W. Bush in late 2002, is chartered to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, including preparedness for and the immediate response to the attacks. The Commission is also mandated to provide recommendations designed to guard against future attacks.

The 911 Commission was formed in 'late 2002' according to this dismantled site. It's reports were submitted on July 22, 2004 the Commission released its public report, which is available for download from this site. The report is also available in bookstores nationwide and from the Government Printing Office. (click here)

On August 21, 2004 the Commission released two staff monographs, available for download along with other staff statements on this site.

The ten members of the 9-11 Commission announce the creation of the 9/11 Public Discourse Project.

The Commission closed on August 21, 2004.

Unlike the Brady Bill, which has been gutted by Bush and his NRA cronies, the 911 Commission Bill couldn't be passed until Democrats had control.

The story is this. The 911 Commission closed on August 21, 2004. But. The bill for their recommendations didn't get passed and signed until August 3, 2007 (click here). THREE YEARS LATER and LESS than seven months since the inauguration of the Democratic majority.

So, Bush still wants to 'kill, kill, kill' in Iraq and Iran. It won't happen. The two Shi'ite nations have decided to lead the way to peace in the Middle East. All we can do is hope this is a valid attempt. I personally believe it is. The question remains, how to get rid of the Americans in Iraq that continue to cause a burgeoning genocide.


Ahmadinejad: Iran, Iraq have duty to establish peace, security in Mideast (click here)
www.chinaview.cn
2007-08-09 19:01:47

Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

TEHRAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country and Iraq had the duty to establish peace and security in the Mideast region, the official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday.
"The current situation in the region today, including Iraq, isvery sensitive, Iran and Iraq have a heavy responsibility to establish peace and security in the region," Ahmadinejad said during his meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
"We counts on the victory of Iraqis for the future of the region," he added.
For his part, Maliki said Iran was "positive and constructive" in helping his government to bring security in the war-torn country, underlining that "Iran, Iraq and other countries in the region must fight against terrorism."
Maliki arrived here Wednesday morning on a three-day visit for talks with Iranian leaders on improving the security situation in Iraq.
Iranian First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi said during his meeting with Maliki on Wednesday that Iran was ready to contribute to Iraq's reconstruction and promotion of its security.
"Iran has always tried to restore security to Iraq because the country's security will benefit both Iran and the region," said the Iranian official.
Besides Ahmadinejad and Davoudi, Maliki will also meet with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Judiciary Head Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi, Majlis (Iran's parliament) Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel as well as other senior officials.

Bush wants to know if it's 'worth-it' in Iraq?

NO !

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.

Oppose the draft.

Troops out now.

War's over. George is too feable minded to realize it. Money, money, money.

enough

CNN the Hypocrit (Crosslink to reality rather than propaganda. Educate yourselves if you care. Click here.)

CNN exists as a watchdog for the Republican Party. No different than Murdock and FOX News. They don't care about the compassion or the people, they care about protecting the industries and their stockholders.

Realize, Saudi Arabia is a big stockholder in CNN. The CNN view of the world panders to that reality. Lord only knows where else the CNN profiteers have their interests including the American coal industry.

CNN and FOX and Murdock and Time Warner 'sell' their stockholders interests. They don't care about people. They care about their profits and the possibility a lawsuit could impact those profits.

In one breath they are worried about the death of mine workers and in the next pulling up advertisements to promote the American Coal Industry as the next Saudi Arabia in the world.

Amazing.

Double standard.

Completely.

They are not the least bit worried about the people of the coal industry except for the stockholders. They aren't a bit worried about the Human Induced Global Warming damages of this industry except to accept the lies of 'Clean Coal Technology.'

Hypocrits, all.

Lou Dobbs is admiring the dignity of the purpose of American generals. He feels the generals needs support from 'some place' - 'any place' to continue to destroy the Middle East.

I don't believe this 'junk' sells.

Barbara Starr is such a moron, she states, "The USA military is not going to invade Iran to stop these rocket attacks, they are relying on diplomacy."

Hey, Barbara, tell Lou Dobbs there is such a thing as The War Powers Act. It might be enlightening to realize the USA military and the Commander and Chief in the White House has to have permission to invade a country.

It helps to understand all the dynamics, not just the lies of frustration Lou Dobbs likes to spin. These media services think they are somebody. I don't think so, unless The World Court wants to finally hold them responsible for the deaths of Iraqis.

At the snail's pace Lou Dobbs has success, our borders will have been breached for ten years and the children of Ramos and Compean won't recognize them when they finally finish serving their jail sentence. Lou might try talking to Democrats for a change. That is your president, Lou, the man you helped elect. Who is the bigger jerk?

In the face of a burgeoning genocide of the Iraqi people, Lt. General Odierno wants more of the same including confronting Iran, currently the source of humanitarian relief reaching the people of Iraq. I would think if I were Iranians trying to get humanitarian relief to the people in Iraq I would be armed. What do you think Lt. General Odierno, sound reasonable? Heck, the folks Baghdad died from celebratory fire after 'Team Iraq' won a tournament. I would expect those determined to save innovent lives in Iraq through humanitarian aid; which is a common practice of Muslims, they act out of charity; when confronted by American soldier whom have been the cause of the hardship, there will be confrontation. I'm fairly confident that will happen.

It's called a political solution to allow such interaction between the neighboring countries of Iraq and allowing them access without retribution for aid to reach the people suffering under American occupation. Sound right?

See, I would think long about now, the American forces would be realizing the 'weakening' rebellion in Baghdad is due to attrition by death and sustained impoverishment rather than will. The Iraqi will is never going to change. Their only hope is that the USA military will leave and they will have a chance to live through it.


A report to the DOD expresses how al Qaeda has either left Iraq in many provinces or was purged by some method. It would seem as though al Qaeda is not a threat in Iraq any longer in any significant way. (click here) This according to the Lt. General. So, why then are the Iraqi people STILL suffering so significantly without relief?


Causing vast civilian tragedy is the methodoly of the Bush/Gates military?

I see.

Perhaps, the Lt. General could explain how the Commanders, such as Commander Micheal Steele, lied to the troops regarding their mission and whom the enemy actually was; as Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with September 11, 2001 and there was no WMD. Perhaps the Lt. General could explain exactly what took them into war in Iraq when the war/mission in Afghanistan was never completed. Perhaps he can explain why the USA is more in danger today than ever? I never know that brainwashing troops was the American Way. Evidently, under Walker Bush it is a requirement.

A replay of the interview of the Lt. General at 3:41 pm on CNN, the Continuous Neocon Network stated nothing new.

Basically, the Lt. General stated:

(In regard to the injury of his son in Iraq.) It impacted me as a father. As a leader hopefully it doesn't reflect at all in my decision making. It allows me to relate to that a little bit better. "Accomplishing our mission."

A while ago it was hard to see a soldier that lost an arm or leg,…, but there is a life after that as my son does.

It is amazing to have a Lt. General be part of the USA military that treats returning injured and dead to USA military bases and otherwise as a 'private' issue, yet, to promote the war the Lt. General openly USES his personal tragedy to extend an understanding of commitment to the illegal war in Iraq. It would seem as though the people involved in the war aren't interested in privacy as a directive against media involvement. It allows them clout that it would not allow anyone else in war promotion. My, my.

He goes on:

We were turning over responsibility to Iraqis took quickly, they weren't ready to do that.

No clue. You know, Iraq never had and I am not sure they actually should have a strong military presence in the region. The escalation of the Iraqi military and police is causing escalation everywhere including in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. Does an American Lt. General actually believe escalation in the Middle East is a way to peace? Or perhaps he isn't interested in peace?

All I care about is getting the mission done. That is what I expect the American people to expect. I think this war has an impact on our country. Al Qaeda is ruthless and it is horrible and if we are not careful it could effect the USA in the future.

You'll excuse me, but the Lt. General is OUT OF TOUCH with the opinions of the American people and WE don't take orders from OUR Defense Department or their personnel. The egos are not to be believed.

Lt. General Odierno needs to stop killing people and find a way for them to live.

Hello, Lt. General Odierno? You in there?

This should help reorient the estranged Lt. General back to American values.

A CBS/New York Times Poll - the date is July 18-21, 2007

"All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?"

WorthFighting - 36%

Not WorthFighting - 63%

Undecided - 1%

Sorry, Lt. General, you lose. All these American can't be "W"rong.

Troops home now.

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.

Oppose the draft !

One aspect of 'media corruption' leading to support of illegal military operations, such as noted with Iraq:

These extremists media services, such as the Murdock empire and CNN which is portraying itself as the 'insider service to DC.' (We have C-Span I, II and III; we don't need Time-Warner's aspirations to be the 'official' government station. I suppose they are a BBC wannabe, but, they could never be that successful as their bias is too obvious.)

These extremist stations 'grew up' when cable was a commercail free enterprise. It was affordable for the huge number of subscribers that desired 'adult' access to the video world. But, over the past six years since September 11, 2001 their viewership has grown limited while people turn to internet for accuracy and pier feedback. The internet is a healthier environment for people. It allows 'processing' of information in many venues.

Those venues depend on 'reputable' news sources, such as the 'major papers' of any country, including the USA. To prove how invasive the corruption of these extremist services continue to be, they are frequently referred to in 'breaking news' episodes because 'during their hay days' they were able to develop this capacity and it serves as a commercial commodity to traditional newspapers. The 'economics' of news production at all venues incorporates the ability of these extremist media services as a matter of 'access' to enhance their presentation of the news. So therefore, through economic interdependency, formerly unbiased news media are contaminated by these extremists. That interdependency is exploited by the extremist media and more and more contamination of news media is exponential.

There needs to be a reining in of these cable news networks whom simply don't share the values of average citizens seeking benevolent government. They have an agenda and in all honesty could be litigated as 'anti-trust.' One of the reasons that doesn't happen to date is due to this spiralling corruption. In other words, if traditional, unbiased media services litigate 'anti-trust' they run the risk of losing their 'edge' and hence would result in detrimental outcomes in the face of potential but not likely decisions in their favor. Unlikely because of the intermingling of government in the media through FCC is corrupt as noted with appointees by a Neocon Executive Branch.

The traditional media services attempt to 'waterdown' this interdependency that lends itself to legitimacy through editors and their columns maintaining a focus of long standing democracy, freedom, human rights and citizens' rights.

This struggle however is being met with frustrated citizens seeking to be autonomous and uncorrpt and hence the birth of the highly coveted "You Tube" and similar 'off takes' of this including a new Russian media service through their state website now offering a 'You Tube' environment without the civilian participation, but, their citizens can interact through the internet except for the language barrier.

Traditional media has many competitors. Cable. Internet. All these competitors are striving to 'control' information and in the case of 'You Tube' produce it. In all honesty, the independent contributors through 'the net' will become a method of acquiring news and eventually a fee system may become a manner of income to such internet services, no different than royalities currently paid to traditional media today.

It would be better for any nation to maintain a well balanced media service while eliminating those too corrupted by their own competitive nature to deliver information well and honestly. The interdependency of the extremist news providing sensatinoalized presentations to the tune of 'godly content' has provided venues of propaganda and not news gathering. I believe traditional and legitimate news media is facing endangered status if they can't muster the resources to stop a run away Neocon administration and the propaganda media affilated with it.

Americans in particular are seeking a return to 'honest media' wherever they can find it even if they have to produce it themselves.

CNN is creating an exclusive 'place' for the word "God" as connected to extremism.

"God's Soldiers"

"Anvil of God"

These are 'presentations' CNN considers 'specials.' They seek to reward Neocons in their belief that people are 'chosen' to make moral dictates a matter of government in the USA and especially dangerous in a military capacity.

They are regularly using the 'word' God (as noted below) to instill hope where there is actually none. Hence, when the bad news comes, rather than blaming their government for failures in infrastruture they will seek solice in a 'godly intent.' It is a passifier for the populous of the USA seeking to find it.

'Only the Lord knows' if miners are still alive (click this title)

The title shows on the CNN main e-page. It is from a quote of by a CEO of the company.

..."I don't know whether these miners are alive or dead, only the Lord knows that," said Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, the parent company of the mine's operator....

To use the words God/Lord to the people at the scene is to allow an image of a CEO directly connected to his faith, but, with little knowledge of the working conditions of his employees. It is a PR strategy being used AGAINST the families and citizens affected by this mine collapse. This entire mess in broadcasting using 'God/Lord' in titles, context is an attack on people to seek 'religious correctness' and secure a viewership that is primarily wealthy enough to use 'cable news' services. There was a time when anyone could afford cable services, now it's a matter of spending preference and content.

God/Lord has become a marketing tool to these networks. It is a form of religious bigotry and victimizes people not involved with such extremism. Very few in the USA connect the bungled war in the Middle East with devine purpose. Those that do have been lied to and mislead. This plays out in election results for politicians that use the attack of strategy against people. God, to these people and CEOs, is a survival mechanism when faced with having to supply 'real answers' to real problems.

This is not responsible journalism, which is supposed to point to such corruption as this. Yes, using religious overtones to war, lost infrastructure, contaminated food supplies and political dogma is corruption with intent to 'control loyality' of citizens. It's the worst form of corruption. It's manipulative and dangerous.

CNN doesn't balance any of this extremism with 'the truth' regarding the contnued destruction by the USA miltary in Iraq while their commander and chief continues to lie about the fact Iraq is a war whtere al Qaeda exists. It's all a lie and news networkds such as CNN and FOX seek viewership through exploitation of the focus of a despeate administration. An example of a very scary reality is noted in the case of Colonel Michael Steele whom built his presence in Iraq on the pretense the war was to defeat the people that attacked the USA on September 11, 2001. By displacing the 'reason for war,' by the USA which is supposed to be in defense of the country, onto 'any' country, all invasions are possible. What has occurred in the case of Colonel Michael Steele clearly demonstrates the adverse effects of liesby the Executive Branch. Colonel Steele justified his very aggressive techniques in Iraq as a way of 'instilling in soldiers' the will to fight. It worked but 'in that' they only killed innocent civilians, never one insurgent and it can be easily extrapolated that Colonel Steele was responsible for the beginnings of Iraq's insurgenty, turned rebellion, tuned civil war.

When FOX and CNN reward these lies and false promises they are more the problem than the problem itself. They do not reflect the reality. Arguably, they may not have that cognitive capacity within that corrupt corporate structure.

The Republicans 'insure' a war against Islam in the Middle East as part of the policial agenda by including in their specific verbiage of terror the description of a terrorist as an Islamic Terrorist.

"Giuliani saved his sharpest jabs for Democrats. (click here) "In four debates, not a single Democrat said the word, 'Islamic terrorists.' Now that is taking political correctness to extreme," he said.

They are incorrect, not from the perspective of political correctness, but, from the perspective of wide spread fear and hatred of Muslims. Mr. Giuliani likes to practice bigotry to stigmatize and 'unknown' commodity in the Middle East. Every year Saudi Arabia issues an 'most wanted list' among it's populous. This example is 2005 (click here).

List of 36 most-wanted terrorist suspects
On June 28, 2005, the Ministry of Interior issued a new list of 36 suspects who are most wanted by the security forces in connection with acts of terrorism.
Of the 26 on the most-wanted list issued on December 6, 2003, 23 are known to have been killed or are under arrest....

The point is there are huge numbers of innocent people killed and currently suffering in Iraq. The numbers are so large that if the current people 'under seige' don't receive relief from neighboring countries and the ceasation of American occupation, there could be a slide into a massive genocide. The Republicans don't even recognize the civilian deaths they have caused and the suffering they continue to cause.

The illegal invasion and continued occupation of Iraq has been the 'direct result' in their deaths and suffering. That cannot be disputed. Somehow that gets translated by the Republican seeking presidential nominees as 'necessary' in the face of a grossly failed USA strategy. The danger in all this, including the Guiliani verbiage is a continued scapegoat of Muslims in the Middle East.

This is a reference from Wikipedia and while some would debate the 'validity' of this source, it is a source that 'keeps up' with current trends and facts. The definition of Islamist Terrorist states clearly from the USA Counterterrorism Center of the USA that not all terrorists are Islamists.

"...According to statistics (click here) gathered by the National Counterterrorism Center of the United States, Islamic extremism was responsible for approximately 57% of terrorist fatalities and 61% of woundings in 2004 and early 2005, where a terrorist perpetrator could be specified. [1] Extremist acts have included airline hijacking, beheading, kidnapping, assassination, roadside bombing, suicide bombing, and occasionally rape.[2][3]

This 'bigotry' uttered by minimally Giuliani of the Republican Party has direct intent to instill false fear of Muslims. That is extremely dangerous as the Republican agenda of the illegal invasion into Iraq since March 2003 has failed. The current 'trends' Bush states are a swing of success with 'the surge' are claimed on the tails of populous depletion of Iraq as millions have gone into refugee status and the dead continue to escalate in the face of the USA occupation which is stated by Bush to be necessary to stop the deaths. Bush's statements are complete contradiction in terms. Iraq is best left to the region. The longer the USA remains in Iraq the greater the casualities will become and the real chance the current trends toward genocide will become an actuality masked by the propaganda of the USA media to the people of the USA as the elections of 2008.

Mr. Giuliani has demanded a return to 'the culture of fear' experienced by Americans in previous election rhetoric with complete abandon to the facts, the realization that the USA Counterterrorism Center doesn't even use the verbiage Islamic Terrorist, the current warring that does exist is a civil war and not a USA National Security mission or the fact there is escalating hardship of the Iraqi population. That escalating hardship brings to reality the fact a full one third of the populous there doesn't possess the physical strength in the face of poverty and famine to carry out an act of war.

The people that seek to further victimize the people of Iraq, including the media. in the face of ALL facts are serving to escalate a genocide and NOT the national security of the USA. Dead people cannot attack the USA and to realize was never a threat to the USA is outrageous in the face of the suffereing of that people.

In all honesty, when realized there is a full one third of Iraqis in profound poverty that threatens their ability to sustain life; any rhetoric and I do mean any, currently of the Giuliani campaign and the Republican Party in general is perposterous and only raises more and more speculation to the intent of these political figures.

Iraq is NOT the 'central front' of terror. It is a country in chaos and remaining so under the leadership and occupation of the USA. I am sincerely concerned for the 'hatred level' of the Republican rhetoric which demands an escalation of war in Iraq without a plan to 'exit.'

The focus of the Republican political rhetoric needs to be far, far less rhetorical while addressing not just Iraq but all aspects concerned by Americans including their economy, trade deficit, Darfur, failing infrastructure causing the loss of American lives all the way back to Katrina, the poor state of American healthcare, the national deficit and the list just continues to grow. When an entire political party grows it's hopes for election on an unjustified and illegal war there needs to be sincere concern for such agendas.

This is genocide. It is measurable/verifible genocide occurring in Iraq. When an entire third of the people there die through humanitarian neglect and continued unjustified war the world will have another Rwanda.


Third of Iraqis 'need immediate emergency aid'
PA
Published: 30 July 2007
Nearly a third of Iraqis need immediate emergency aid while the conflict in the country "masks the humanitarian crisis", according to a report out today.
Although the everyday threat of armed violence is the biggest problem facing most ordinary Iraqis, eight million - almost one in three - are in urgent need of water, sanitation, food and shelter, the report by Oxfam and the aid agency network NGO Co-ordination Committee in Iraq (NCCI) said.
According to the report, four million citizens (15%) regularly cannot afford to eat; 70% are without adequate water supplies (up from 50% in 2003); 28% of children are malnourished (compared with 19% before the 2003 invasion); 92% of Iraqi children suffer learning problems, and more than two million people - mostly women and children - have been displaced inside Iraq, with a further two million Iraqi refugees fleeing the country, mainly to Syria and Jordan.
Jeremy Hobbs, director of Oxfam International, said: "Basic services, ruined by years of war and sanctions, cannot meet the needs of the Iraqi people.
"Millions of Iraqis have been forced to flee the violence, either to another part of Iraq or abroad. Many of those are living in dire poverty....


Iraq: One in seven joins human tide spilling into neighbouring countries
Patrick Cockburn in Sulaymaniyah
Published: 30 July 2007
Two thousand Iraqis are fleeing their homes every day. It is the greatest mass exodus of people ever in the Middle East and dwarfs anything seen in Europe since the Second World War. Four million people, one in seven Iraqis, have run away, because if they do not they will be killed. Two million have left Iraq, mainly for Syria and Jordan, and the same number have fled within the country.
Yet, while the US and Britain express sympathy for the plight of refugees in Africa, they are ignoring - or playing down- a far greater tragedy which is largely of their own making.
The US and Britain may not want to dwell on the disasters that have befallen Iraq during their occupation but the shanty towns crammed with refugees springing up in Iraq and neighbouring countries are becoming impossible to ignore.
Even so the UNHCR is having difficulty raising $100m (£50m) for relief. The organisation says the two countries caring for the biggest proportion of Iraqi refugees - Syria and Jordan - have still received "next to nothing from the world community". Some 1.4 million Iraqis have fled to Syria according to the UN High Commission for Refugees, Jordan has taken in 750 000 while Egypt and Lebanon have seen 200 000 Iraqis cross into their territories.
Potential donors are reluctant to spent money inside Iraq arguing the country has large oil revenues. They are either unaware, or are ignoring the fact that the Iraqi administration has all but collapsed outside the Baghdad Green Zone. The US is spending $2bn a week on military operations in Iraq according to the Congressional Research Service but many Iraqis are dying because they lack drinking water costing a few cents.
Kalawar refugee camp in Sulaymaniyah is a microcosm of the misery to which millions of Iraqis have been reduced...