Good news finally about Iraq!

Good news finally indeed. Headline reads: "U.S. and Iraqi negotiators have abandoned efforts to conclude a comprehensive agreement governing the long-term status of U.S troops in Iraq before the end of the Bush presidency."

News report today from the Washington Post give us hope that we can finally allow Iraq to be a sovereign country as the deal for a presence in Iraq will be left to the next President, hopefully Barack Obama.

To further quote the article, "Unlike the status-of-forces agreements between the United States and countries such as South Korea and Japan, where large numbers of U.S. troops have been based for decades, the document now under discussion with Iraq is likely to cover only 2009. Negotiators expect it to include a 'time horizon,' with specific goals for U.S. troop withdrawal from Baghdad and other cities and installations such as the former Saddam Hussein palace that now houses the U.S. Embassy."

Finally something to be very happy about! Bush finally loses one.

To read the full article click here.

Iraq war about to get ugly again and cost more U.S. soldiers lives

Things are indeed looking grim in Iraq today. Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gave a "final warning" to the government Saturday to halt a U.S.-Iraqi crackdown against his followers or he would declare "open war until liberation." Al-Sadr was responsible for the cease fire over the last 6 months which significantly reduced the violence in Iraq. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, also a Shiite, has ordered al-Sadr to disband the Mahdi Army, Iraq's biggest Shiite militia, or face a ban from politics.

I have said here many times that when one examines all the variables that seem to best correlate to the reduction of violence such as the "surge", buying Sunni loyalty with U.S. Dollars over Al Qaeda, and finally Cleric Al-Sadr's cease fire. It is the cease fire that correlated the best to significantly reduced levels of violence. Now we face a return to the previous violence levels which were the highest in 2007 over all the previous years. This will certainly be bad news for our troops who already have served too many deployments. It ultimately is also bad for John McCain's position on the war and good for Barack's who was opposed to the war all along.

To read the news today on this topic click here.

More on Gen. Petraeus testimony

General Petraeus used the argument today that it is in the U.S. interest to prevent Al Qaeda from having a safe haven in Iraq and that the U.S. couldn't allow for Iraq to become a failed State. I raise several points relative to the General's comments. First, it wasn't until we went into Iraq that Al Qaeda ventured into Iraq. Secondly, much has been made that the cost of this war in blood and treasure has been worth it, because we eliminated the tyrant Saddam Hussein who terrorized his own people. Well guess what, we replaced Saddam and in his place brought instability and a Civil war. Thirdly, we don't want to have a safe haven in Iraq but we have allowed for 5 years a safe haven in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan and we continue to underfund this effort and don't have the troops to go after them there because they are tied up in Iraq. Why you ask? Because there is Oil in Iraq and it always has been about the Oil.

One last comment. Many say we will lose all we have gained in Iraq. Let me be perfectly clear. We have gained NOTHING in Iraq. Anyone that tells you otherwise, Republican or Democrat, is smoking something. Ask any American if we have gained anything in this misguided venture into Iraq and see what they say to you.

Any other questions?

Democratic debate in Ohio: Hillary's to win and Barack's to lose. Stay tuned!

Tonight is the Democratic debate from Ohio. It's Hillary's last chance before the voting in Texas and Ohio to go for a win over Barack or it is Barack's to lose. What will happen tonight is very important for both candidates.

In the past few days, Hillary has been on the attack over pamphlets Barack's campaign sent out which described Hillary's support for NAFTA, with all its problems. She and her husband pushed NAFTA and now she says she can and does plan to fix it. Barack didn't vote for the legislation so doesn't have to "fix" it. He was right on NAFTA and right on Iraq. She has been wrong on NAFTA and wrong on Iraq. Do you really think the voters need more comparisons to make their choices? I think not. And if we are so lucky to see Hillary play the politics of the past during the debate, and Barack not seizing the bait but rising above it, we will know who is better prepared to talk with world leaders we don't always agree with and also who is best prepared to talk to our enemies. It will be Barack.

Stay tuned, as it is only a mater of hours before we are treated to bear witness!

Headline reads: Turkey launches ground operation in Iraq

"STANBUL, Turkey - Turkish troops launched a ground incursion across the border into Iraq in pursuit of separatist Kurdish rebels, the military said Friday — a move that dramatically escalates Turkey's conflict with the militants.

It is the first confirmed ground operation by the Turkish military into Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It also raised concerns that it could trigger a wider conflict with the U.S.-backed Iraqi Kurds, despite Turkey's assurances that its only target was the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK."

This is not good news, as the potential for a wider conflict with Nato ally Turkey and with Iraq, both allies of the U.S., grows with each escalation. Turkey recently has been tilting to their Islamic groups which has troubled the secular leadership of the country. Turkey's ruling government party removed a ban for the head scarfs worn by women in Schools and Universities. The U.S. and its Allies have been looking to admit Turkey into their economic block with benefits. This incursion could harm the outlook for that to happen thus alienating Turkey against the U.S. even more than it has in recent years. Turkey has been a good Ally of the U.S. going back decades. It has been the Bush Administration that has most set back this relationship for possibly decades to come.

To read the entire article click here.

U.S. Fatalities for January 2008

The good news is that U.S. Casualties are down again for the 4th consecutive month. The bad news is that our brave soldiers are still getting killed each month. Any deaths are unacceptable in my view. I think if I had a son, daughter, wife or loved one there I would be on pins and needles every day they were away.

This latest month had 40 deaths as compared to the following numbers for January in previous years:
2007 83
2006 62
2005 107
2004 47

We need a President who will bring the troops home starting when they are elected. Remember, the cleric Sadr promised a cease fire until the end of March and that time will soon be here. The war will become front and center again I am afraid to say. It will not be Al-Qaeda, it will be a continuation of the Civil war, which was never civil. It will be Sunni against Shia, Shia against Sunni, and we will be in the middle.

Iraq needs to be front and center on our minds in the upcoming primaries

U.S. Fatalities in Iraq are down for the 3rd consecutive month, taking Iraq out of the Presidential debate for both parties as the Iowa caucus draws near. This is a very good news for U.S. troops and the families of our soldiers.

It does however cloud the situation in terms of who will get us out of Iraq now that it is off the topic in the last remaining days of 2007 and early 2008. Let us not forget, we still have 160,000 troops in theater and we need to stop the war we have chosen in Iraq and fortify our forces in Afghanistan so that we don't lose the victory we nearly had several years ago.

IT is up to the electorate to decide whether they want Iraq to dominate our lives for the next 10 years or whether we are finally going to get out of there. Only a very few candidates will get us out. They are, for the Republicans, Ron Paul, and for the Democrats Sen. Joe Biden, Rep. Kusinich, Gov. Richardson and possibly John Edwards. You can count on Hillary keeping troops there and Barack may also given his comments in the debate. None of the other candidates on the Republican side will end our presence in Iraq.

To forget about the importance of getting out of Iraq as a major issue in the primaries, is to do so at your own peril and that of your family and friends, because the future needs to be about change!

U.S. Fatalities in Iraq for November 2007

For the month of November there were 37 fatalities. In Nov. of 2006 we had 70 U.S. Fatalities in Iraq. This continues to be a major story and does show that the violence is down in Iraq, at least for Americans. It is a substantial reduction from the 70 last year.

For the months of November since this war started, these are the numbers of U.S. Fatalities in theater:

Nov. 2003 82
Nov. 2004 137 (This was the highest month of fatalities for the U.S. in the entire war)
Nov. 2005 84
Nov. 2006 70
Nov. 2007 37 By far this is an incredible reduction in U.S. fatalities compared to previous years.

There are many reasons for the reduction such as the surge working, Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calling off his Army and asking them to stand down, and U.S. forces working with Sunni's to oust the bad guys of Al Qaeda, but it really doesn't matter. The numbers have been drastically lower these past 3 months compared to the past 5 years of this war.

What I don't understand is why the media isn't making more of these numbers. Look, I'm no fan of this war either, but when there is anything that is positive about this tragedy, it should be heavily reported. Me thinks that the media doesn't want to be responsible for tipping the Presidential election. But the facts are the facts and we must not be stuck in a mentality that is rigid or we are no better than those we claim are idealogues. Let's call it a victory and bring them home.

There are now 3,882 U.S. Fatalities, as of the reporting this morning. May they rest in peace and their families healed for their loss.

Who's in control of Iraq? Gen. Petraeus or Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr? You'll know by April Fools day

The U.S. Military has decided to reduce the number of troops from the "surge" in Iraq, according to news reports. It is expected that 30,000 troops will come home by July of 2008 and leave a remaining force of about 145,000, which does not include contractors. What does this all mean? Will the gains claimed to be the result of the "surge" be won and not prove fleeting? Did the surge really result in the gains or was it the fact that Shia Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr asked his Militia to stand down on Sept. 1st. We will find out the answers to these questions as the time the militia stood down is going to come to an end, coinciding with Troop withdrawal during the next 6 months. By April 1st (April Fools Day), if Shia Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr continues to keep his Militia off the streets, there will continue to be less violence. If he chooses to stir up the ethnic battles with Sunni's, the violence will emerge quickly in April, which will be at least 3 months before the 30,000 troops are totally home.

Watch casualty numbers for the next 5 months, especially Aprils to reflect what choice has been made. Interestingly, it will coincide with the rhetoric leading up to the U.S. Presidential debates between both the Democratic nominee and the Republican nominee for President.

U.S. Fatalities in Iraq for October, 2007 are the lowest of the war!

For the month of October there were 39 fatalities. In October of 2006 we had 106 U.S. Fatalities in Iraq. This continues to be a major story and does show that the violence is down in Iraq, at least for Americans. It is a substantial reduction from the 106 last year and the lowest month of fatalities since March of 2006 when we had 31 and before that for March 2005 when we had 35.

For the months of October since this war started, these are the numbers of U.S. Fatalities in theater:

Oct. 2003 44
Oct. 2004 64
Oct. 2005 96
Oct. 2006 106
Oct. 2007 39

This is an extraordinary reduction and while they may be many reasons for the reduction such as the surge working, Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calling off his Army and asking them to stand down, it really doesn't matter. The numbers are drastically lower than the past 5 years of this war.

What I don't understand is why the media isn't making more of these numbers. Look, I'm no fan of this war either, but when there is anything that is positive about this tragedy, it should be reported.

There are now 3,845 U.S. Fatalities, as of the reporting this morning. May they rest in peace and their families healed for their loss.

U.S. Fatalities in Iraq for the first 2 weeks of October.

For the first week in October there were 8 fatalities. That's a monthly rate of 32. The total now for the first 2 weeks is 22. In October of 2006 we had 106 U.S. Fatalities in Iraq. While the rate has increased this past week, it is a substantial reduction from last year.

Many believe the reduction has a lot to do with the new MRAP vehicles that have been delivered to Iraq in August and September. There are over 800 new vehicles in the Iraq theater. Whatever the reason for the decline, it is good news for the families waiting for their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and sisters and brothers, to come home safely.

There are now 3,829 U.S. Fatalities.

Something good is happening in Iraq!

Something good is happening in Iraq and no one is noticing, except those who are there. Dare I say it, but U.S. Fatalities ARE COMING DOWN!!! For the first week in October there were 8 fatalities. That's a monthly rate of 32. In October of 2006 we had 106 U.S. Fatlities in Iraq.

One of the reasons why could be that General Petraeus is getting a handle on this with extra troops. It could be that Iraqi's are turning against Al Qaeda or it could be a number of reasons. But one thing is clear, something is going right there and it isn't being covered by the media. It is a bit encouraging. If it proves out over the next few weeks to be true, it could give Sen. John McCain a boost in the polls for sticking it out, stubbornly at times and against what appeared to be all odds.

FBI investigation into Blackwater killings in Iraq

The FBI is supposed to be investigating the firefight which happened weeks ago in Iraq. The only problem is the FBI is yet to fly to Iraq. What do you think their investigation is going to conclude about the firefight. Let me help save you some time by telling you now. "The FBI was unable to draw any conclusions as to whether Blackwater did anything wrong when it killed 11 Iraqi citizens because the scene of the firefight is impossible now to make any determination as to the facts."

N.H. Democratic debate on Iraq-What a disappointment

What disappointment from Hillary, Barack and Edwards. All 3 said they wouldn't promise all the troops home from Iraq by 2013. I need to pick a new candidate and so do you or we will be there indefinitely. The only candidates who said they would have all the troops home from Iraq before 2013 were Biden, Richardson, Dodd, Kusinich and Gravel. Anyone voting for a Democratic candidate in the primaries, needs to reconsider one of these 5, who will bring the troops home. I just was shocked at the front leaders response and how Hillary found it useful not to stake out any popular position for ear of offending someone.

Biden and Richardson had no problem with bringing the troops home as soon as they can after being elected President. They also had bold ideas about saving Social Security. Biden wants to solve the problem by raising the Caps on when people pay taxes. Currently at $97,000, Biden wants all income above $97,000 taxed because anyone who makes $97,000 or under is taxed on all their income and why should those making more not be taxed on all their income as well. They don't need the break if they are making Millions of dollars according to Biden. I agree with him on that.

Biden, Dodd and Richardson are the only hope of anyone wanting to end the war and picking a candidate that could make a good President. I believe Biden and Dodd could get both Independent voters and some Republican voters as well. Yesterday, Biden got his soft-partition non-binding resolution approved that favors a loose Federation in Iraq of three separate regions, one Shia controlled, one Sunni controlled and the other Kurdish controlled regions, where each would share in Oil revenues and the country would have a weak but effective central government. Biden garnered Republican and Democratic support with a winning resolution 75 to 23 votes. We need a President that can work with Republicans and Biden did.

If we are going to have any effect to bring the troops home we must choose, and loudly support with money and our voices, either Biden, Dodd or Richardson. If anyone polls us we must tell the media why we have changed our minds on the front-runners. There is no choice for Republicans with a serious candidate who has a chance to win, who will stop the war and bring the troops home other than Congressman Ron Paul.

U.S. Fatalities for the first 3 weeks of September

U.S. Fatalities for the first 3 weeks in September totaled 55. The first week of September had 19, followed by 20 in the second week and now we add 16 to this 3rd week for a total of 55. This week had fewer deaths than the previous 2 weeks and while none are acceptable, I am pleased to report less deaths this 3rd week.

For September of the previous 2 years there were:

Sept. 2006 72
Sept. 2005 49


While this past week saw the Democrats lose (Sen. Jim Webb D-VA) in their attempts to require soldiers to be home during rotations as long as the time they serve in Iraq (15 months in Iraq and then 15 months home) and the Bill to end the war in Iraq with a date certain also failing this week as proposed by Senator Feingold (D), it looks like indeed these figures will be difficult to see every month over the next many years of this war.

Let's hope that we can get these numbers down further and eventually to zero. As long as we have soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am afraid that will be nearly impossible but nevertheless, a worthy goal. But for now I will count the blessings of the week, that fewer were killed.

U.S. Fatalities for the first 2 weeks of September

U.S. Fatalities for the first 2 weeks in September totaled 39. The first week of September had 19. We are at a rate at least equal to last year's data. We may surpass that number and unfortunately could reach as many as 80 this month. The trend is still in the wrong direction and must challenge the picture General Petraeus gave us this past week regarding Iraq.

Sept. 2006 72
Sept. 2005 49

In the photo above, there are actually about 130 graves marked in this Arlington National Cemetery photo. That's a lot of deaths. Compare that to the 3,781 deaths so far from this war and you get a small picture of the price we have paid as a country in Blood. Multiply that 3,781 deaths by at least 2 parents and a minimum of 20 extended family members and you are soon up to impacting directly 83,182 Americans affected. Add the casualties of over 27,000 which multiplied by 22 and that equals about 600,000 affected by this war directly. I could go on and on but you get the picture.

Bush's grandiosity & the Republican's dilemma

So I boycotted the speech and today I am very glad I did. In what I learn this morning, President All Supreme Wise One, the Decider, Bush, didn't let America down. He showed us the lengths his is willing to go to continue with his Denial of the reality of what has happened in Iraq. If he were someone's patient in therapy, they might conclude that he has a sense of grandiosity and is not really here in his body but rather in some far off distant la la land. This character is often portrayed in movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, where someone is running around the Mental Ward thinking they are General Patten or some other figure. Heck, he probably thinks he is President, for all we know. In any event it seems that we are now going to have an enduring relationship with Iraq, similar to the one we have with South Korea, even though there may never be an Iraq if they can't get their differences worked out, which now seems even more impossible than it did a few days ago. The Oil Revenues sharing Bill looks like it bit the proverbial dust and the Sheik that was helping us get rid of al Quaida is now no more, being blown up by said terrorists.

Now everyone wants to know what the Democrats are going to do in response. I wonder more what the Republicans are going to do? He is one of their own you know. He's like the uncle no one wants to discuss to strangers and is a well-guarded family secret that he has gone mad. Et Tu Brutus.

Republicans need to win but that victory comes at a price

The Republican Party is at a critical choice point. They have, with few exceptions, supported this President and his Iraq policy valiantly. But if the Republicans have any chance to save their Party in the next election and possibly its future in more distant elections, they would be wise to abandon this President's Iraq policy and join with Democrats to try to salvage something of a bipartisan effort to end this war.

There was a song in the Wizard of Oz sung by the Scarecrow, which seems prophetic at this moment in time. That song, "If I only had a brain", metaphorically should haunt Republicans to rise above the fray, work as they have in past Administrations and difficult times for our country and work for the common good. There is no common good extending this war past the next year or two. It is inevitable we will be out of Iraq at some point in the future. Now is the time to join forces with Moderate Democrats like Senator Jim Webb of VA and others and work out a new course of action for Iraq. Senator Warner and others, who have served as Republican leaders of distinction, deserve our respect and our ears to hear their calls for moderation in policy. But those calls have fallen on the deaf ears of this President who has disgraced his Party and will go down in history as one of the worst Presidents we have had. But I will leave that call to historians. For now, it is time to seize the moment and save the Party.

Iraq, War & Politics: I'm tired! Are you?

I guess after General Petraeus's report to Congress today along with one from Ambassador Ryan Crocker, I am a bit exhausted. It was 6 plus hours of testimony where the outcome had been decided in advance by both sides of the debate. It wasn't even covered by major networks. I had to watch it on C-Span. Both men were articulate, although not as informative as many wanted. To be honest, we are in this war past the 2008 election, as nothing will take place to get us out. I don't like it, but I am going to live with it.

Why you ask? I'll give you the best reasons I can. First of all, I'm tired of the whole thing. I have been disappointed by this President, VP and entire Administration for the continued subversion of the Constitution. I am tired that only one or two Republican leaders like Sen. Chuck Hagel, Sen. John Warner and Rep. Ron Paul, haven't put their party ahead of the country and the Constitution. And I am tired of the impotent Democrats who removed their saber tooth after getting a majority in the last election and must have checked it, along with their spines, at the door of Congress and the Senate.

I'm tired of trying to convince the public through my writings here to mobilize and get involved while they are too busy with taking their kids to school, shopping at Wal-Mart, working at their jobs relentlessly each week. I'm tired of trying to convince others that they can make a difference because they truly don't care.

So here's where I'm coming out of this. If the Military families, who bear the greatest sacrifice for the consequences of this war, aren't protesting in the streets in significant numbers, and we don't have an Army that is going AWOL in mass, then I say keep at it this war and let's focus instead on Britany Spears or some good entertainment like the new Fall schedule of shows. Then we'll be close to Christmas shopping, which always starts before Thanksgiving. Before you know it we will be enjoying the next summer. Wake me up on November 3rd, 2008 so I can vote on November 4th, 2008. I feel better now, almost rested. But then, there’s tomorrow.

Senator Joe Biden's flawed reasoning for continued funding of the war.

God bless Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) presidential candidate and the most trusted Senator when it comes to Foreign Relations. This morning on Meet The Press, he articulated his position as to why he won't cut off the funds for the war even though he believes there is no hope of the current strategy in Iraq working. His rationale is this, as long as there is a single soldier left in Iraq, he won't cut off the funds because the funding is paying for special armored vehicles that can stand the I.E.D. explosions which have killed or injured thousand of our troops. These vehicles cost Billions of dollars and he wants to make sure they are made.

Here's what's flawed in the Senator's position. Let's look at recent data. Since August 1st, there were 100 deaths of our soldiers. 50% of the deaths were caused by I.E.D.'s. The next single cause of the deaths was because of Hostile fire at 24% and helicopter crashes accounted for about 20%.

So the best we could do using Senator Biden's reasoning would be to save 50% of the deaths. This is very good indeed if we could pull it off in the next 6-9 months. But the vehicles are still being built and may not be in theater far beyond a year from now. But what about the other 50% your reasoning can't save? Theses new vehicles will not save lives for soldiers walking around on missions in Iraq from such things as hostile fire, small arms fire and snipers. So the best we can do is not good enough, Senator Biden.

By voting to cut off the funding, you are assuring that eventually the troops will start to come home, safe with their families and recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.), which by the way doesn't physically deform or injure the body, but instead ravages the mind, not only of the soldier, but of their families as well because they must live with their loved ones mental damage for years to come. Those vehicles can’t do a thing for P.T.S.D. You see Senator, the only thing that can be done to honor the troops and their sacrifice, is to admit the truth of the situation and bring them home. Anything else, is truly cowardice and I respect you but think your reasoning can't stand the rigor of a logical analysis without crumbling. Senator, changing your view here could help change the course of this war. Many listen to you and could follow your recommendations. If you believe these vehicles are necessary anyway, just fund the vehicles but strip away everything else and vote to bring the troops home.