I love to say, "I Told You So":
The New York Times reports this morning that the Corporate State's latest contrivance, the Jim Baker led "Iraq Study Group," invented to bail out big oil and save Bush's ass, will recommend that its new functionary in the Pentagon, Bob Gates, will oversee a strategic ploy that will leave an estimated 110,000 plus U.S. personnel in Iraq. Those figures reflect the arguable pull back of some 32,500 thousand troops, with an estimated 144,000 currently in Iraq. This does not include the recommended boost of some 20,000 troops to "insure" the strategic retreat.
The odd way in which the Times reports this story is more corporate spin - despite its reputation as the iconic leader of the "Liberal Media" The Times lead is pure "news speak:"
Iraq Panel to Recommend Pullback of Combat Troops
The bipartisan Iraq Study Group reached a consensus on Wednesday on a final report that will call for a gradual pullback of the 15 American combat brigades now in Iraq but stop short of setting a firm timetable for their withdrawal, according to people familiar with the panel's deliberations.
The report, unanimously approved by the 10-member panel, led by James A. Baker III and Lee H. Hamilton, is to be delivered to President Bush next week.
The question is: will the American people buy this ad campaign for permanent U.S. occupation in the Middle East and/or will the newly elected Democrats let Bush-Cheney get away with it.
Odds are being taken. Place your bets.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. My husband is currently in Balad, Iraq serving his country as an Army Civilian. This is his second tour. I wanted to say that while my courageous, brave, 58 year old husband that I am in love with has chosen to serve not once, but twice to serve his country. Employed by the Dept. of Defense for several years now, the only complaint either of us have is that it is deplorable that the United States of America tax him on his income. I believe as well as many others with whom I speak have a fit when my husband sleeps on a cot, in a dangerous, mortar filled country to fix the humvees for their safety has to be taxed fully on his income. Then he comes home and pays taxes as a United States Citizen. It is outrageous and unfair. I would like to add that while he gets danger pay and base differential pay, he still gets taxed on it! Where I believe he should pay Old Age Benefits, insurance, etc. Federal and State Taxes should not apply. How do the rest of you think?
Linda Robinson at 12:45PM on Nov 30th 2006
2. My husband is currently in Balad, Iraq serving his country as an Army Civilian. This is his second tour. I wanted to say that while my courageous, brave, 58 year old husband that I am in love with has chosen to serve not once, but twice to serve his country. Employed by the Dept. of Defense for several years now, the only complaint either of us have is that it is deplorable that the United States of America tax him on his income. I believe as well as many others with whom I speak have a fit when my husband sleeps on a cot, in a dangerous, mortar filled country to fix the humvees for their safety has to be taxed fully on his income. Then he comes home and pays taxes as a United States Citizen. It is outrageous and unfair. I would like to add that while he gets danger pay and base differential pay, he still gets taxed on it! Where I believe he should pay Old Age Benefits, insurance, etc. Federal and State Taxes should not apply. How do the rest of you think?
Linda Robinson at 12:45PM on Nov 30th 2006
3. i just hope pulling out wont keep us there longer in the long run if you know what im sayin. we forget that Iran is run by a man who is using the same tactics as Hitler. He says he hates the jews and wants to annihalate them, he wants nuclear weapons because otherwise they wouldnt have plutonium they would have uranium, he is trying to bide time and to disrupt the agenda of the power that would try to stop him. And I just pray we dont fall into a trap where we leave and Iran pushes its influence to turn Iraq into a puppet state. This man hates america, his country hosts the world without america conference, he at one interview says Iran loves everyone and then in another says he wants to annihalate the jews. Iran is the biggest factor in which I say we stay until Iraq has a strong enough ARMY to take on Iran if it had too. I think its well established that Iran funds many of the deaths we see, it wants Iraq instable, because once we leave who will be there to stop them from dominating the middle east besides the jews. Before it was Iraq, if we leave too early Iraq will only be a conquest in the coming years. What a messed world we live in
brennan at 5:52PM on Nov 30th 2006
4. I read the above comments and I agree that soldiers fighting in Iraq and abroad should not pay taxes. We must respect our warriors or stop waging war.
As to Iraq, we should have had and should have still the untied nations helping us. We cannot bear the expense alone. It is totally unfair to the american people. Education not war is the key. But even still we have no education and positive promotion in iraq or elsewhere, no strategic educational plan. If we spent the same amount of money to educate Iraq rather than wage war we would have much better results. Iraqis have lived with a consciousness of accepting that it is ok to kill each other. There are many factions in iraq killing each other. Iraqis feel it is better to have a dictator to keep all the other factions under control even if that dictator is more cruel, because it gives them the illusion of safety. They don't believe freedom is possible, many are too scared to try for it. They want to continue to kill each other...that is all they know...how are we showing them anything different. What information is available to them to unify the various smaller factions? Are we doing that? Are we educating each faction and offering either ourselves or others they trust as intermediaries. Is there consciousness raising between all of the groups and factions. In the US we have had rapists and women who have been raped sit in the same room and talk with each other...where a mutual healing took place. We will win this war with iraq only by helping to heal the fractured elements, and getting them to understand and not be afraid of freedom.
Jeri at 10:37PM on Nov 30th 2006
5. You would think that after 3 tours over there , these brave men and women would not have to go back for a fourth time.. I commend all the men and women who have sacrificed their lives and families to go over there, personally for me I have 2 sons over there.. My oldest was told after his 3 tour there he wouldnt have to go back again, well guess what?. Now he is going back for a fourth time.. Something needs to be done and fast! Some of these kids, now adults, need a break!! As I said before I commmend those who are there and those who have had to endure everything they are being forced to go thru,..I didn't post this for anyone to be offended or to start arguements, This is just My opinion.
stormy at 8:23AM on Dec 1st 2006