Why Iraq Was A Mistake

WHY WE SHOULD IMPEACH THIS 'son of a bush'

(an article from Time magazine)
A military insider sounds off against the war and the "zealots" who pushed it
By LIEUT. GENERAL GREG NEWBOLD (RET.)

Two senior military officers are known to have challenged Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the planning of the Iraq war. Army General Eric Shinseki publicly dissented and found himself marginalized. Marine Lieut. General Greg Newbold, the Pentagon's top operations officer, voiced his objections internally and then retired, in part out of opposition to the war.

Here, for the first time, Newbold goes public with a full-throated critique:
In 1971, the rock group The Who released the antiwar anthem Won't Get Fooled Again. To most in my generation, the song conveyed a sense of betrayal by the nation's leaders, who had led our country into a costly and unnecessary war in Vietnam. To those of us who were truly counterculture--who became career members of the military during those rough times--the song conveyed a very different message. To us, its lyrics evoked a feeling that we must never again stand by quietly while those ignorant of and casual about war lead us into another one and then mismanage the conduct of it. Never again, we thought, would our military's senior leaders remain silent as American troops were marched off to an ill-considered engagement. It's 35 years later, and the judgment is in: the Who had it wrong. We have been fooled again.

From 2000 until October 2002, I was a Marine Corps lieutenant general and director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After 9/11, I was a witness and therefore a party to the actions that led us to the invasion of Iraq--an unnecessary war. Inside the military family, I made no secret of my view that the zealots' rationale for war made no sense. And I think I was outspoken enough to make those senior to me uncomfortable. But I now regret that I did not more openly challenge those who were determined to invade a country whose actions were peripheral to the real threat--al-Qaeda. I retired from the military four months before the invasion, in part because of my opposition to those who had used 9/11's tragedy to hijack our security policy. Until now, I have resisted speaking out in public. I've been silent long enough.

I am driven to action now by the missteps and misjudgments of the White House and the Pentagon, and by my many painful visits to our military hospitals. In those places, I have been both inspired and shaken by the broken bodies but unbroken spirits of soldiers, Marines and corpsmen returning from this war. The cost of flawed leadership continues to be paid in blood. The willingness of our forces to shoulder such a load should make it a sacred obligation for civilian and military leaders to get our defense policy right. They must be absolutely sure that the commitment is for a cause as honorable as the sacrifice.

With the encouragement of some still in positions of military leadership, I offer a challenge to those still in uniform: a leader's responsibility is to give voice to those who can't--or don't have the opportunity to--speak. Enlisted members of the armed forces swear their oath to those appointed over them; an officer swears an oath not to a person but to the Constitution. The distinction is important.

58. IS IRAQ SAFER NOW!

Before bush Iraqis’, Foreigners, and some others felt relatively safe most places in Iraq. Since bush his administration, news reporters, the United Nation Peace Keepers, nor the United States Marines feel safe in Iraq. Solution; Impeach bush, try Cheney for his criminal acts, bring the troops home, and Iraq and the world will be better off without this ‘son of a bush’.

INSTEAD OF MY SON, THIS “son of a bush” SHOULD SEND………

His daughters, nieces, nephews and the rest of his dysfunctional family to include, him and his wife to Iraq to fight the “bush war”.

61. BRING "ALL" OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!

10/08/03 This administration’s actions are harmful to my son who served with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq, harmful to all who serve, many being minorities who will never benefit from the spoils intended if successful. If this administration continues to doll out such benefits to its special interest, which are 99% Caucasian, such spoils will go to the upper l% of the rich. Congress, the American People, and the world should insist that a resolution be negotiated immediately in the UN, allowing other nations to assist, and use Muslims to assist in resolving Muslim problems. This administration need to look at the discriminatory actions it implements and enacts on Blacks and others in this country prior to offering freedom to Iraqis. A partial solution would be to ask the UN to take charge of Iraq immediately. After doing so they should take charge of the Blacks in the US Army, have them come to the homeland and protect Blacks Human Rights in this country from this Administration, Ashcroft, and a justice system that is so unjust. Now we are going to appoint a Supreme Court Justice who will further limit minorities.

79. HOW MANY MORE NEED TO DIE

My son served with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq. This administration has put his life and the lives of all who serve in jeopardy for fraudulent reasons. They used lies to sell this war to the public so that super-rich corporations could get even richer by securing multi-billion dollar contracts in Iraq even while our soldiers were engaged in active combat. A disproportionate number of our soldiers are minorities. They and their families will never benefit from the profits of war. If this administration continues to doll out contracts to special interests, 99% of the spoils will go to the upper 1% in corporate America at the expense of the American taxpayer. Prior to attempting to liberate Iraq, the administration need to look at its own discriminatory policies enacted in the United States. Perhaps when this country resolves its racial problems, they may than address other Nations discriminatory practices and the lack of democracy. Our troops need to come to this country and safeguard human rights for Blacks and minorities, from this administration, and from a justice system that is so unjust.
Scores (53) 96% AGREE

Bring Black Troops Home/Send Bush's Daughters

To serve in the US to protect the homeland and our human rights, being violated by the Bush Regime. I recently spoke to an African American Marine Officer, who was disturbed about how Black Marines are being treated prior and during Bush’s illegal occupation of Irag. He related to me that if it wasn’t for the low ranking Black Marines who were being discriminated against, and he felt they needed his help, he himself would resign. For this and other reasons Blacks serving in the armed services should not become solders of fortune, but instead should be assigned to protect the human rights of African Americans, and all people regardless of color or faith. This country should also realize why Blacks are not obligated to shed blood for this country. They will not be able to share in the spoils and benefits if any are derived from this invasion, and others. They nor their love ones in their life time will receive equal opportunities in this country. For Blacks to receive the discipline basically the military have to offer, and minorities are so much in need, I would suggest that they recruit Blacks, keep them in safe positions state side and not allow them a weapon, because they may use it against those they perceive to be their enemy.

134. What else before we impeach this “son of a bush”?

Hurricane Katrina has presented a defining moment for President Bush. So far, it's defined him as indecisive, uninterested in poverty and critically unprepared. His nationally televised address was an attempt by the White House to mark a turning point. But President Bush failed to deeply address either of the core vulnerabilities Katrina exposed—the federal government's inability to respond to disaster, and the poverty and racism that still remains in America. With the media jury out on the speech, we can help draw focus to Bush's failure to deliver on his core promise—to protect America from disaster. Despite all the money, reports and restructuring, America isn't any more prepared for a disaster now than it was four years ago, and President Bush doesn't have a clue as how to make us safe. Since September 11th, we have been told repeatedly by the president that America is safer. That message—that he would protect America—is the central reason why he won re-election. Those claims turned out to be false.2We need to Move-On and;
Scores (18) 95% AGREE

111. This "son of a bush" must deploy his daughters before my son this time!

My son, who spent several months in Afghanistan, was told if he extended his stay he would not have to go to Iraq. Soon after returning from Afghanistan he was deployed to Iraq. After serving 6years he decided to join the Reserves and further his education. Being African American, pursuing his Master Degree, this process came to a halt when he couldn’t find a job paying more than minimum wages. When he discovered that the administration was paying certain “Solders of Fortune” a $15,000.00 bonus in his field, he decided to re-up. After re-up and expecting this small bonus, he later expressed to me that the bonus would not be paid. My investigation found that the Pentagon had apparently discovered that they would have to use the bonus funds committed to solders such as my son who are predominantly African American, to support Halliburton, whose work force is predominantly Caucasian. Even though I advised him that no Black man or woman should shed blood for this country, he re-joined against my will. Now I have been told that he is due to deploy to Iraq again August 2006. See:
Scores (11) 69% AGREE

Bring Our Troops Home (a letter from Nancy)

I keep thinking of the poor parents of a teenage boy who recently died trying to leap out of his car at 30 mph. He was trying to imitate the stunts like those on the movie "Jackass" while his friends filmed him. My heart goes out to his parents. My son was in Iraq driving a humvee on the most dangerous highway in Iraq---Rocket Propelled Grenade Alley--- for 11 months. Needless to say, I was worried sick and thought a lot about what it would mean if he died. Thank God he made it through---and it wasn't easy - four from his battalion didn't make it home. During the past year while working to support my son and his fellow soldiers by asking to bring them home and take care of them when they get here-I met many, many parents and spouses who did have the worst possible thing happen to them: they lost their son or daughter, husband or wife in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan was one of the mothers I met several times. I can tell you that she is a genuine and caring person. And I can tell you that she is really is trying to find the meaning in her son Casey's death. She wants to meet with the president and ask him why her son died. I know her: and it is that simple, though many on the right are trying to make her out as some crazy liberal with other motives. I also have met two Vermont parents of soldiers who are asking the same question publicly: Why did my son die? I cried yesterday when I heard the father talk about his son who died in Iraq, distraught over driving by Iraqi children begging for water on the side of the road. I know too well why he had to drive by them, my son had to do the same thing so that he could live. What are experiences like this costing my son and others like him? I am sure that the parents of the teenager who just died trying that stunt are also at this moment asking themselves why he died. And I ask myself: is their son's death any more senseless than Casey Sheehan's death when he was looking for nonexistent WMDs? I see the tear-streaked faces of parents on the left and on the right and know that they are trying to make sense of their children's deaths. Thank God my son made it home and I have not had to face that. I pray that he will not have to return to Iraq, like so many of them have had to. This weekend at the antiwar rally in DC I met several parents and spouses of soldiers who are on their second and third tour. I met a mother whose son has been in Iraq for over 500 days. How can any of them possibly bear it? I know that some of the parents say their loved ones died for a noble cause. Looking for WMDS. Getting rid of Saddam. Freedom. Bush keeps changing the noble causes that they are supposed to be dying for. But for me, it is too hard to ignore the realities on the ground in Iraq and what our own generals are telling us about this war. We are not creating freedom in Iraq. We are not gaining in Iraq, we are losing ground, and no amount of denial or wishful thinking will change that. The noble cause that I will work for is the one of not letting one more innocent Iraqi or American soldier die in a war based on lies. We need to withdraw from Iraq and our mission needs to be one of completing peace and justice. As Cindy Sheehan said last Saturday in DC: "We in the peace movement need to agree on one thing: yes we need an exit plan, but it is not a strategy, it is a command. The command should be: have all of our military personnel and paid killer mercenaries out of Iraq within 6 months, and the generals carry out the command. Simple, it's not brain surgery, and I think it is so easy even George Bush can sign the order. We can't give the homicidal maniacs any wiggle room or long-term strategy sessions. For one thing, when our leaders strategize, we are put in even more jeopardy - they have proven that they are not too bright or even a little compassionate. But the most important thing is that people die every day in Iraq for absolutely no reason and for lies. We have to say NOW because the people on the other side are saying NEVER. We can't compromise, we can't say please, and we can't retreat. If we do, our country is doomed. We have to honor the sacrifices of our loved ones by completing the mission of peace and justice. It is time. Bring our troops home, NOW!" The definition of insanity is to continue to do the same and expect different results. Hanging in there doing the same thing in Iraq will not win the war and make everything come out all right. To withdraw from Iraq is not "cutting and running" it is "coming to our senses" and realizing that our leaders lied to us and deserve to be impeached and fired. And saying we are "cutting and running" is really just calling us cowards--which may work on the playground, or in Bush's 'challenged' mind, but doesn't work with us or the rest of the world. As one sign read this weekend: the whole world can't be wrong. And as far as my actions helping terrorists: our president and his entourage have created more terrorists by their actions way faster than we can kill those terrorists. It is the acts of this administration that is at fault for ruining the United State's reputation and honor world-wide, not my actions or those of the other people brave enough to stand up and say"No more! Enough! Not one more American soldier or Iraqi death!" Over 25 families were at the Military Families Speak Out meeting last Sunday in DC. During introductions, we were asked talk about their loved ones, many of who died in Iraq. It went on for hours. There is no room big enough--nay, the whole world is not big enough--to hold their grief, and I am profoundly changed by hearing their stories. And from those I heard, those who have made that ultimate sacrifice ---I heard these words: "End the war: bring the troops home now. Not one more life." The time for action is now. Not one more life. Nancy

Why bush’s daughters should serve in Iraq

If Bush’s war is to continue any further, than this is how it should be manned by Americans. First of all those troops who do not believe in our purpose for being in Iraq and believe they should not risk life and limb for this illegal aggression, should be taken out of harms way immediately. There should be no problem in replacing them with “true blooded Americans”, Caucasian consercutives who believe this country is theirs, and all its resources. They must sacrifice their sons and daughters who will mainly receive the spoils of Bush’s War. We should allow the poor, deprived who are now suffering, to return to this racist society and at least live in poverty but yet have a “possible?” chance at the American dream. This may be possible if they can possibly survive the racism, discrimination supported by the news media, the Bush administration, industry, churches and the majority of this society. It is un-Christian (and certainly un-Christ like) for this administration to allow this illegal act of aggression. Bush should be impeached, his daughters and the sons and daughters of Congress and Senators, who supported the U.S. invading a sovereign country should provide their love ones to un-necessarily invade Iraq at the risk of our brave troops. We need to force Bush to resign, and charge Cheney for treason and other high crimes. Cheney should receive greater punishment because he is intelligent enough to know better. Congressman Murtha certainly speaks on my behalf.

MY SON WILL GO TO IRAQ AGAIN WHEN THIS “son of a bush’s” DAUGHTERS ARE DEPLOYED…..

Mr. President, my name is Walter Ellis. I have written you on several occasions. I have asked why you don’t send your love ones to Iraq? Recently I received an appointment as Honorary Chairman of the Republican Business Council. As an African American businessman, being successful during Democratic administrations, and going bankrupt during Republican administrations, I yet agreed to serve due to my commitment to African Americans,many who you let perish in New Orleans. I received your picture and am familiar of who you are. I have heard your speeches, many I didn’t understand. Since I have been invited to meet with you and I already have your picture, but do not wish to be seen with you, I would still like for you to understand that my son is scheduled to be deployed for the third time to Iraq. Before you send him this time we will discuss this matter. The end results will be he will deploy after your daughters serve their term in Iraq on the battle field. I served 4years in the Air Force with a honorable discharge, and never once went AWOL. I have since rejected war and especially illegal occupations. I await your written reply. http://www.uaadcorp.com