IRAQIS DEMAND TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL

Rep. John Murtha wants the troops pulled back to a "safe zone" and then be redeployed. The majority of the American public wants the troops brought home. In Iraq 80% of the public want us to pull the troops out, with 45% saying they have the right to attack our troops because they are occupiers...which we are.

Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld say neither is going to happen. Maybe Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld should start lisening to us and the Iraqis.

From Information Clearing House:

Iraqi leaders demand timetable for troop withdrawal

By Agence France Presse

11/21/05 "AFP" -- -- CAIRO - Iraqi leaders reached a tentative agreement Monday to demand a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from their war-torn country during talks ahead of a reconciliation conference to be held next year.

Dozens of leaders representing most of Iraq's factions have been holding tough talks in Cairo since Saturday in a bid to reach a common agenda.

In a draft final statement, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, they demanded "a timetable for the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops".

The draft also advocates "immediately setting up a national programme to rebuild the armed forces in a way that will allow them to control the security situation and put an end to terrorist operations".

Iraq's disempowered Sunni community had long made the timetable one of its main demands before returning to the political arena.

But the current government -- dominated by the Shiite and Kurdish communities formerly oppressed by Saddam Hussein's ousted regime -- has so far stressed that a hasty troop withdrawal would plunge the country into chaos.

The United States, which leads the coalition of foreign forces occupying Iraq, has consistently said it would not stay indefinitely in Iraq but refused to announce a timetable.

The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Monday it was "possible to begin adjusting our forces downwards, meaning begin to withdraw, some forces beginning next year".

But he warned that a total pullout by November 2006 would be premature.

"I think a total withdrawal of US forces by then is unrealistic. I don't think the Iraqis will be ready to completely take over the mission by themselves by that time," he said on CNN television.

Apart from discussing the withdrawal of foreign troops, the planned reconciliation conference aims to lessen the ongoing insurgency by expanding political dialogue.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram that a large part of the insurgency could be won over if a common political agenda was agreed at the Cairo talks.

"A success of the Cairo talks will allow us to ... bring the resistance of the Arab nationalists to an end," he said.

But Iraq's most feared insurgent group, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has rejected any dialogue, saying the "sword and blood" were the only ways forward.

© 2005 Agence France Presse

'65 VS '05

From Tony Peyser via Buzz Flash:

SUPPORT REP. MURTHA

By now you all have heard about the proposal put forth by Rep. John Murtha...either here, someone elses blog, or the news.

Gordon at Alternate Brain had this post up and i thought I'd pass it along to those of you who don't regularly visit there.

"Tell Colonel Murtha you support him"

"I got an e-mail from Doctor Howie urging me to write to Rep. Murtha in support of him in the face of the chickenshithawk attacks on him. You can do the same: Shame on them."

I ask you to go visit Shame on them and leave a note of support for Rep. Murtha. I'm sure he'd love to hear how many people are standing with him on this.

LOW-BALLED AGAIN

Last night the House of Representatives held a vote on whether or not to immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq. The final vote tally was 403 No and 3 Yes.

The bill that was voted on was one which the Republican majority put foward to put an end to the demand made by Rep. John Murtha. It was designed to read that troop withdrawal would have to be immediate, not phased over 6 months as Rep. Murtha had wanted. This is dirty politics, legal but dirty all the same.

Rep. John Murtha's Resolution appears below. Contrary to the Republican plan which was a non-binding proposal calling for the "immediate" withdrawal of the 160,000 US troops in Iraq that just offered up verbiage to gain political points. Murtha actually offered up a plan.

Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to "promote the emergence of a democratic government";

Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U, S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;

Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;

Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;

Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency,

Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want U.S. forces out of Iraq;

Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified;

Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:

Section 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.

Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S Marines shall be deployed in the region.

Section 3. The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.

All of this was done after the Republicans had accused him of being a coward. The biggest Republican blowhard accusing him of being a coward was Rep. Jean Schmidt of Ohio whose only claim to fame was being part of Ohio's Right to Life Group. If anyone is a coward it would be people like AWOL Bush, 5 deferment Cheney, and any of the Republicans in Congress who found a way to stay out of the military during the Vietnam War but want our troops to fight and die for them.

Murtha is a decorated Vietnam Veteran with the Bronze Star with Combat"V", two Purple Hearts...so he was wounded at least twice...and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He served for 37 years in the Marines. He had come out of civilian life and volunteered for duty in Vietnam. I don't picture this man as a coward.


Hat-tip to Taylor Marsh at "The Antidote To Right Wing Talk", and to Marjorie Swanson from Kenosha, Wisconsin for information for this post.

LETTER FROM A VETERAN'S DAUGHTER

This letter says alot about the Republican veterans who turn their backs on one of their own to back a lying, deceitful president.
From Buzz Flash:

No More Band of Brothers B.S.

By Marjorie L. Swanson

It was surprising during the Swiftboating of John Kerry that so few military people stepped forward in his defense. John Kerry served his country and for that he deserved respect and admiration. You didn’t need to agree with him, you didn’t need to vote for him, but as another member of the military you certainly should have respected his service.

Instead, a shameful campaign was launched to denigrate this man’s service and the medals that he received for that service. Any vet who voted for Bush after those shameful actions needs to never open his mouth again about any of this “Band of Brothers” B.S. Band of Brothers only if they agree with you? You find more loyalty in a rock band. Some brothers. Must come from a dysfunctional family.

Now another veteran has stepped forward and spoke his piece. Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania served his country all his life. Below is part of his personal biography.

U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha has dedicated his life to serving his country both in the military and in the halls of Congress. He had a distinguished 37-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring from the Marine Corps Reserve as a colonel in 1990; and he has been serving the people of the 12th Congressional District in Pennsylvania since 1974.

He learned about military service from the bottom up, beginning as a raw recruit during the Korean War. There he earned the American Spirit Honor Medal, awarded to fewer than one in 10,000 recruits. He rose through the ranks and was selected for Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. In 1959, Captain Murtha took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for Vietnam in 1966-67, receiving the Bronze Star with Combat "V", two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He remained in the Reserves until his retirement. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the Marine Corps Commandant when he retired from the Marines.

This tough old marine is now under attack by a bunch of people who never bothered to serve in the military of their country but are all too willing to let others fight and die.

If the people in this country who have served, as Congressman Murtha served, allow another veteran to be smeared by the lies and innuendo of a bunch of loud-mouthed cowards who never bothered to serve themselves, then the term "Band of Brothers" needs to be eradicated from the English language. If you do not stand up for your own, what possible unity do you represent?

Marjorie L. Swanson
Proud Daughter of One Who Served
Kenosha, WI

MORE PREZNIT NUMB-NUTZ

From Crooks And Liars:



Always hard at work wasting lives and fucking up.

A LETTER FROM HARRY

Got a new email from Harry Reid today. Looks like the Republicans are starting the mud-slinging early. They must be scared already.

Dear E.M.,

On Sunday the Republican National Committee is going to start running ads against me in my home state of Nevada - well I must be doing something right if they are already that scared.

The ads claim that I am politicizing the war in Iraq. Quiet frankly this attack is so ludicrous it would be funny, if the topic were not so serious. Our soldiers are fighting everyday in Iraq, but instead of engaging in a legitimate debate on the merits of our current course in Iraq, George Bush and Dick Cheney do what they always do and attempt to smear their opponents.

This week alone, we've seen Stephen Hadley. . . Donald Rumsfeld. . . President Bush. . . and Vice President Cheney lash out at their critics. . . yet they all remain silent when it comes to giving our troops and the American people a plan. Tired rhetoric and political attacks do nothing to solve our problems in Iraq.

As a former boxer I know, your opponent always starts to swing wildly when you've got them on the ropes. The way to beat them isn't to hesitate, but to continue landing punches until he goes down. The Iraq war is too important an issue to allow cheap political attacks to prevent us from doing what is best for our troops and best for our country.

Back when I was Nevada Gaming Commissioner the mob planted a bomb inside my car. That didn't scare me from doing what was right then, and I certainly am not scared of George Bush and his gang now. Democrats are going to keep pressing forward demanding accountability for intelligence failures and demanding a strategy for success that will bring the troops home.

Call the White House and let them know you are tired of political attacks and want real solutions for Iraq. You can reach the White House by dialing:

202-456-1111

Thank you,

Harry Reid

PS Since Tuesday more than 55,000 of you have signed the letter to George Bush asking him not to pardon Scooter Libby. You can still sign onto the letter by visiting:

http://giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/libby

Hey folks, if ya haven't signed it already....please go do so.
(Not you though, Helen, I know you did already.)

A PATRIOTIC AMERICAN

By now I think everyone has heard about the demand for the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq made by Rep. John Murtha, Dem., Pennsylvania. Probably heard the AWOL weasel's response, too.

Here's a little something from Shakespear's Sister that I just love.

Now, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and all their Republican/Conservative/Neocon buddies can GO FUCK THEMSELVES!!!

THE PASTOR AND THE KIDDIE PORN

This is for all those people who think that it's just the Catholic priests who are the deviates in the religious community. I'm not trying to defend those priests who have crossed the "line", I just want to point out that they aren't the only perverts in the "church"...anyone's church.

I find it unbelievable that a large majority of "christians" oppose gay marriage...and then this shows up in the news.

Thru one of the local TV stations:

Pastor Allegedly Downloaded Porn Pics of Young Girls

Updated: 7:07 AM Nov 16, 2005

Zac Schultz

Madison: A rural Mazomanie pastor has been officially charged with possession of child pornography.

Rev. Jerald Schara was unshaven as he made his initial appearance in Dane County Court. He's been in jail since his arrest last Friday–and he's now been charged with possession of child pornography.

According to the criminal complaint Schara confessed to detectives that he has been downloading images of pre–pubescent girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The complaint says during one binge of downloading kiddie porn near Halloween Schara downloaded a Trojan Horse Virus that locked up his computer. When he took it to a computer shop to get fixed the technician found the child porn and called the Sheriff's Department.

Schara is already out on bond. "Mr. Schara you'll be released from jail on a signature bond. There are conditions of your release. You're not to have any unsupervised contact with any female juveniles," says Court Commissioner Todd Meuer.

Schara was pastor at both St. Paul's and St. John's Lutheran churches in rural Mazomanie. The Lutheran church has suspended him and is conducting an investigation. “We also need to deal with the issues around Rev. Schara and that does rest on my responsibility. There will be our own investigations and determinations about next steps there as well," says Lutheran Bishop George Carlson.

Schara and his family live in a parsonage near St. John's owned by the church. Bishop Carlson says the congregation will decide if Schara and his family will be allowed to stay there. One congregation member told NBC 15 he's heard that they will be asked to move out in the next couple months.

If convicted, Schara faces up to 3 and a half years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

A DAMN GOOD QUESTION

More from Buzz Flash:

NO TOTURE HERE?

From Buzz Flash:

We Don't Toture by Steve Bradenton

ANOTHER PETITION FROM HARRY

I just got an email from Sen. Harry Reid about a petition he needs us to sign.
Here's the email he sent:

Dear friend,

I shouldn't have to write an email like this. It shouldn't even cross George Bush's mind to pardon Scooter Libby. Yet George Bush refuses to come out and just plainly tell the American people, if Scooter Libby or anyone else is found guilty of a crime in connection with Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation, he will not pardon them.

Last week, myself, and Senators Durbin, Schumer and Biden, sent a letter to George Bush asking him not to pardon Scooter Libby. So far the White House has not responded. Now it's your turn.

Sign our emergency petition telling George Bush: You must pledge not to pardon Scooter Libby or anyone else convicted as part of Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation:

Scooter Libby cannot rely on his close relationship with George Bush or Dick Cheney to obtain the kind of extraordinarily special treatment unavailable to ordinary Americans. To put it simply, a pardon in these circumstances would signal that this White House considers itself above the law. Only swift public action by George Bush will make clear that he takes seriously perjury and obstruction of justice at the highest levels of our government and that he meant what he said about bringing honor and dignity to the White House.

Sign the emergency petition by visiting:

http://giveemhellharry.com/page/petition/libby

Thank you,

Harry Reid

PS Here is the letter my fellow Senators and I sent to George Bush:

November 8, 2005

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The indictment of I. Lewis Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, marks the first time in 131 years that a senior White House official has been charged with a crime while still serving in the White House. The charges, while not yet proven, are extraordinarily serious and deeply disturbing.

Although it is too early to judge Mr. Libby guilty or innocent of these particular charges, it is not too early for you to reassure the American people that you understand the enormous gravity of the allegations. To this end, we urge you to pledge that if Mr. Libby or anyone else is found guilty of a crime in connection with Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation, you will not exercise your authority to issue a Presidential pardon.

It is crucial that you make clear in advance that, if convicted, Mr. Libby will not be able to rely on his close relationship with you or Vice President Cheney to obtain the kind of extraordinarily special treatment unavailable to ordinary Americans. In addition you should do nothing to undermine Mr. Fitzgerald's investigation or diminish accountability in your White House. A pardon in these circumstances would signal that this White House considers itself above the law.

We also urge you to state publicly whether anyone in the White House including White House counsel Harriet Miers or Vice President Cheney has already discussed the possibility of a pardon with Mr. Libby. Particularly given that the American people are still in the dark about what precisely transpired in the White House with respect to the CIA leak, it would be highly inappropriate if there were such discussions going on behind the scenes.

Swift public action on your part will make clear that you take seriously perjury and obstruction of justice at the highest levels of our government and that you meant what you said about bringing honor and dignity to the White House. We eagerly await your response and hope that you will announce your intentions promptly.

Respectfully,

Sen. Harry Reid, Democratic Leader
Sen. Dick Durbin, Assistant Democratic Leader
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Democratic Conference Secretary
Sen. Chuck Schumer, Chairman of Campaign Committee

RESISTANCE

The Republicans are always saying that the Democrats have no agenda. They say that all the Democrats want to do is stop what the Republicans are trying to do and have no ideas of their own.

Well, The Rude Pundit thinks that they DO have an agenda whether they know it or not.

Go see what The Rude One has to say about this.

CAMO BUSH

Something we'd all like to see. Thanks to Badtux.

FOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR LIBERAL BLOGGERS

Michael over at Damn Liberals has four simple suggestions to follow when we blog about Bush, any other Republican, or the republican party.

Here are Michaels suggestions:
1. When referring to Bush, always include the word "Republican" in close proximity to his name as in "Bush and his Republican Culture of Corruption..."

2. When referring to Congress, remember to remind readers that the Legislative Branch is Republican controlled. For example: "Legislators in the Republican controlled Congress today proposed legislation that would cut veteran benefits..."

3. When writing about Bush or Republican leaders like Frist, always include the word "Republican" in association with them. For example, instead of "Majority Leader Bill Frist" use "Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist."

4. When referring to the Republican Party, always start with the words "Republican Party" rather than "GOP." To the less politically aware, the lack of awareness that "GOP" is the Republican Party may be to the Republican's advantage.

As we all know, the problems we and our country have are not just Bush's fault. All Republicans and their party are responsible for the mess we are in. They are hellbent on destroying this country and it's standing in the world.

It's time they ALL were held accountable!

GRANDPA GOES TO WAR

Preznit Numb-Nutz doesn't care who has to go fight his war as long as he gets warm bodies to fill the bodybags that Halliburton has waiting for them.

The Mrs. found this article in the Beloit Daily News which was a reprint from the Wausau Daily Herald. It's about a retired veteran who has been called up for active duty in Iraq.

Grandfather called to active duty

MOSINEE, Wis. (AP) - Gary Olson is a 52-year-old grandfather, a retired U.S. Army veteran - and soon to be a soldier again, thanks to the need for troops in Iraq.

Olson was ordered to report for duty Dec. 4 in Fort Jackson, S.C.

“They're just looking for bodies to fill in. I have been out cold turkey for 13 years,” Olson said. “My philosophy is this: I'm going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If I have to go, I have to go.”

Sally Olson, his wife of 33 years, said Friday she was shocked by the orders and figured the chances of it happening were “slim to none” when he took early retirement more than a decade ago.

“Why don't they just go to the draft if they are getting this desperate for people?” she asked. “In a couple of months, he will be 53.”

Sally Olson said she disagrees with President Bush that the war in Iraq was justified.

Gary Olson said when his wife showed him the large brown envelop the Army sent last month, he knew without even looking inside that it contained his orders because two years ago he declined the military's invitation to voluntarily come out of retirement.

The Army told Olson, a sergeant first class mechanic when he retired, to prepare for 18 months away from home after he passes his physical to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Elizabeth Robbins, an Army spokeswoman at the Pentagon, said since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the military has called to duty about 6,500 retired soldiers on individual ready reserve because they have some specific, needed skills.

The Army has about 115,000 soldiers on individual ready reserve, she said.

Olson thought his days as a soldier were done when he accepted early retirement from the Army in 1992 as the military sought to downsize after Operation Desert Storm. A condition of the deal was Olson, who had spent 17 years in the Army, had to remain on ready reserve until age 60, he said.

Olson makes windows at a factory in Mosinee and hasn't worked as a mechanic since he retired from the Army, he said.

He now has three grandchildren, ages 1, 2 and 7, who all live nearby.

Sally Olson said the news of her husband's return to the Army hit the 7-year-old grandson hard.

“He said, 'Why does papa have to go?' And we told him they need papa to come back and help some more and finish a job that is not quite done,” she said.

Then the grandson asked if his grandpa was going to die, Mrs. Olson said, fighting back tears. “We just said, 'There is always a chance of being hurt. You say your prayers and hope everything is OK.”'

Gary Olson said he does not fear going to Iraq, where more than 2,050 troops have been killed since the war began. He's concerned about his wife and family.

“The wife, she's pretty upset,” he said.

You can't blame his wife for being upset. He's a 52 year old grandfather of three. Just why in the hell does he have to go fight a war for a bunch of chicken-shit chickenhawks.

DESTROYING THE US WITH DEBT

Via Gordon at Alternate Brain:

From Cookie Christine:

President George W. Bush and the current administration have now borrowed more money from foreign governments and banks than the previous 42 U.S. presidents combined, which the Blue Dog Coalition in the House of Representatives called "astounding."

Throughout the first 224 years (1776-2000) of our nation's history, 42 U.S. presidents borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion from foreign governments and financial institutions according to the U.S. Treasury Department. In the past four years alone (2001-2005), the Bush Administration has borrowed a staggering $1.05 trillion.

The asshole couldn't keep an oil company solvent, and then ran the Texas Rangers into the ground while ripping-off the citizens of Houston. If that wasn't enough now he's trying to bankrupt the United States.

A REAL VET SPEAKS TO PREZNIT NUMB-NUTZ

Bob Geiger at The Yellow Dog has a great post up. It's a letter from him to the chimp about Veterans and Veterans Day.

"Those of us who have served in the military know the rigors of boot camp, the positive aspects of completing that introduction to true mental and physical discipline and the lifelong feeling of pride in successfully finishing those hard months. Many of us have also held a rifle, fired that weapon at another human, had bullets come at us and know what that truly means."

"And no, Mr. President, it's not the toy-soldier, "bring-it-on" thrill that your protected, sheltered experience would lead you to believe. It is terrifying. You're scared to death, shoot at almost anything that moves and pray to whatever deity you worship that you see tomorrow. But you would have no way of knowing that – not even through the stories of the sycophants you are surrounded by, most of whom have never served a day in uniform in their lives."

There's alot more to the letter. Go read it.

A big Veterans Day hat-tip to Fixer at Alternate Brain.