Tarbaby Iraq prevents the American government from concentrating on, and working to remove, by severely damaging a number of installations, the threat of nuclear weapons being produced by the Islamic Republic of Iran. And if nothing is done in the next year or two, and the Islamic Republic obtains those weapons, it will be the greatest failure of policy and one for which the entire world will pay.

Iraq causes us to squander every resource, men, mmateriel, and more money than has been spent on all the wars ever fought by the United States (save for World War II). It has created a runaway-train situation, in which the conductor, Bush, refuses to stop the train claiming that once Congress waved the flag to let him go, he need stop the train of the Iraq War not when Congress tells him to, but when either he decides to, or the "Iraqis tell us to leave." And we apparently accept this idea: not Congress, but the Iraqis or Bush, are the only ones who can decide when the war should end. This policy harms the morale of the civilian army and even the professional one, and makes more likely that the sources of those volunteers for the National Guard and Reservists, or of the kind of volunteers one would wish to have, slowly but surely dry up, as the most patriotic become offended at the callousness of their treatment by those eager, at whatever cost, to deliver up the bodies apparently demanded by what the White House calls a "strategy."

There is no need to do anything but leave Iraq. The Shi'a have won. They have won in Basra and all over the south. They have won in Baghdad, a city that has been emptied out of many of its Sunnis. They will not be able to crush Sunnis in Anbar Province, but as long as they can defend themselves if attacked, in Baghdad, or in any of the traditional Shi'a-dominated cities and villages, they will continue to rule. Anbar Province may wallow in squalor and despair, or may find itself receiving infusions of cash from rich Sunni Arab states and groups, and a low-level campaign against the Shi'a will continue without end -- and it may go beyond a low-level campaign, to something larger, something which will naturally attract greater aid and volunteers from both Shi'a Iran, and possibly the Lebaneze Hezbollah, on one side, and from Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, and not the government but the Sunni Arabs in Syria, on the other.

This is what constitutes an American victory, or as close to it as one can wish.

But it is a victory that can be claimed only if the Americans withdraw. By remaining, they continue to lose. By leaving, they start to win --despite whatever ululations of triumph come from the Arabs and Muslims for a few weeks, even perhaps a month or two, after the American withdrawal of troops. But not longer.

And meantime, Iran beckons -- not for an invasion, but for bombers and missiles attacking from the air. There is no possiblity of a land invasion at this point, but that was never the point, never necessary.

Will Iraq as Tarbaby in the end save the malevolent regime in Iran, or will enough people in the Administration finally realize that there is nothing further to be gained by remaining in Iraq and focussing attention there, and something to be gained by dealing forcefully with Iran's nuclear project now, and not in a year, or two, or three.

Posted by: Hugh at April 17, 2007 1:02 AM

new "nuclear achievements" ? For Iran, that must mean kidnapping a Russian nuclear scientist, right?

Posted by: Marvin at April 17, 2007 1:12 AM

"Iran says could reveal new 'nuclear achievements',"

Hilarious! Like having the nuclear Weapons they have denied and continue to deny developing ? and will probably get away with having , and using?

Posted by: MoBlows at April 17, 2007 1:18 AM

A lot of boasting & bluster there. Which means
Iran doesn't have weapons of Mass Destruction
yet-[possibly very near] so is playing Mind Games
to distract West from Endgame...Time for blasting
their Nuclear Eggs before Hatching!

Posted by: Morgane at April 17, 2007 1:48 AM

If the West hadn't come to develop the oil industry in some of the places I'm-a-nut-job is referring to where would they be now?

Under tents in the deserts I would guess.
Iran would have a good economy because they do,,,what exactly?

So where else does he mean?
Oh silly me, pallystein, chechnya??? Anyone?

The other list of islamic countries who benefitted from the west is longer I think.

Posted by: Gramfan at April 17, 2007 2:15 AM

"Zubaydah said his group's aim was to train Muslims for "defensive jihad" in places like Bosnia and Chechnya that had been invaded by non Muslims."

Huh? Bosnia didn't know what Islam was until the Muslim hordes INVADED the land in the mid-15th century. Bosnia had been mainly Orthodox (Serb) prior to the arrival of the Turks.

Posted by: Flavius Constantin at April 17, 2007 2:21 AM

Ahmadinejad embodies the Muslim Mystique of vague threats and blackmail. What a guy. What a religion.

Posted by: champ at April 17, 2007 2:24 AM

Bush and his cronies are adopting opressive behavior and they have in fact harmed nations. So what's the hubbub for?

Posted by: idn batutta at April 17, 2007 2:27 AM

The "Death to America" chant is in no way connected to the "Nuclear technology is our right" chant. Of course not.

I mean, it's just a coincidence that they mentioned nuclear technology on the heels of wanting America dead, right? No connection -- none at all.

Posted by: champ at April 17, 2007 2:33 AM

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Posted by: champ at April 17, 2007 2:36 AM

The hubbub is that radical Islam is a cancerous growth on society and it must be stopped.

Mohammad was an evil man, not a prophet at all; along with his evil "manual for murder" known as the Qur'an. Mohammad was nothing more than a violent man, and a poor excuse of a human being who has led many astray.

Bush does not follow Islam, but Ahmadinejad does. Bush is bringing down the evil occupiers of Islam, while Ahmad is promoting the spread of this hopeless cancer known as Islam.

That is what the hubbub is about. Get out while you still can before it's too late.

Posted by: champ at April 17, 2007 2:49 AM

This is what constitutes an American victory, or as close to it as one can wish.

But it is a victory that can be claimed only if the Americans withdraw.

And best of all.. Free of any further costs.

Only HOW do we keep the UN and all those nasty NGO/'human rights groups'from burdening us with more 'refugees' once things really go to hell over there. Which we all know they will.

I want the moslems to hash out their differences OVER THERE.

We don't need them over here. Virginia will look like a picnic if we get any more moslems in here.

The POLOticians should also consider that the native polulace won't just keep on takin' it..

You can't make money without 'stability'.. You do NOT want to rouse the great mass of Americans too much... so KEEP moslems away from us all. Please.

Posted by: Allahfanculo at April 17, 2007 2:59 AM

Oppressive behavior?
What is it we're oppressing?...
...an evil power & control racket?
...an evil plan to conquer the world with islamism?
...an evil maniacal pot calling the kettle black?
...a plain old psychopathic lunatic?
Wait! I thought it was because of our arrogance, or did that threat not fly either? lol

Hmmm, and if we don't sumbit, we will be harmed?
Wow, that's very disconcerting. (as if)

Whatever happened to rule #1:"submit to islam"?
Oh, I guess the message got through, eh?
Apparently he forgot hezbollahs assesment of things.

Lan Astaslem!

Posted by: jcom972 at April 17, 2007 3:07 AM

If President Tom wants to see some "nuclear achievements" lets show him some.

Posted by: JSobieski at April 17, 2007 3:07 AM

Since nukes are their right, the US should give it to them - drop it directly from the air. Preferably, do that in their nuclear cities like Isfahan, Yazd, Bushehr, Natanz, et al, and claim that they already have nuclear weapons. After those nukes are dropped, it will be impossible to state whether the resultant gamma radiation is due to the dropped US bombs, or due to the nukes already manufactured; with that in mind, the US should follow up such an act by claiming that it has destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Oh, and I forgot to add - don't tell anyone that you dropped nukes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Let them try and figure out where all that radiation is coming from.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at April 17, 2007 3:50 AM

Nah...good ones, but missing 1 target:
QOM

If you're going to hit them, hit'em where it hurts most.

Posted by: jcom972 at April 17, 2007 4:05 AM

From a post above:

And meantime, Iran beckons -- not for an invasion, but for bombers and missiles attacking from the air.

>>>

Crush them!

nabi ZK

Posted by: zonie kafir at April 17, 2007 4:12 AM

What oppression? our policy of insisting Islam is a religion of peace and bended over for any accommodation a muslim right group wishes ? Or is it the oppression of allowing people to be none muslim that he is talking about.Islam cannot allow anyone to not be part of the lie.

Posted by: KAOSKTRL at April 17, 2007 4:30 AM

so... Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is one in charge....his name should be mentioned everytime Ahmadinejads name is mentioned...

.....let's keep a track of his whereabouts...just in case...

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 6:00 AM

It must be easy for Iran to hide the nukes in caves since the Mullahs are already living in them, though I'd hate to climb over an ICBM on my way to the bathroom at night.
This isn't the War on Terror, it's the War on Morons.

Posted by: jewdog at April 17, 2007 6:04 AM

Re: Ahmadinejad tells the West: "Abandon your oppressive behavior. Otherwise you and your nations will be harmed"

The psychotic says what he says and does what he does because he is mentally ill. This "religion" is helpful in that.

In the long term, it is not the violence or intolerance (Saudi Arabia, etc.) that will undo Islam. It is its mandates to deception that make it repugnant. I cannot help but compare Mohammed's teachings to those of Jesus and note that Mohammed mandated deception and Jesus forbid all deception. It's true: "all deception comes from the evil one".

Posted by: Frank at April 17, 2007 6:40 AM

It is this that will start the alleged doomsday which Shiites so desire.-Posted by: Rougie at April 17, 2007 07:19 AM

Unfortunately, there is much truth in what you say. The problem is that too many sane people don't really believe the wackos mean what they say. It's not theater with them. They mean what they say. (People didn't believe Hitler meant what he said, but Hitler meant what he said based on his rationalization-belief system.) They mean exactly what they say.

Posted by: Frank at April 17, 2007 7:28 AM

the little monkey man from iran should be careful what he wishes for, for he just might get it,, a bulleye over his hairy little body. he wont have to shave to see his moon god allah, as his little package will be too small for a razor.

Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at April 17, 2007 7:36 AM

What a genius. "Stop criticizing us for our nuclear programme, or we'll tell you some more about it! Ha! Got nothing now, have....oh".

Truly, desperately stupid - but desperately stupid, and in pursuit of nuclear weapons, and with a stated aim of genocide. Now, it strikes me that it is eminently sensible in the field of foreign affairs to take your enemies at their word.

Posted by: Jesus Worshipping Zionist at April 17, 2007 8:06 AM

and they have in fact harmed nations. So what's the hubbub for?

Really? Which nations, genius? Which nations have GWB and his 'cronies' harmed?

Posted by: Jesus Worshipping Zionist at April 17, 2007 8:14 AM

"Bush and his cronies are adopting opressive behavior......

Posted by: idn batutta

....you mean...like attacking terrorists?......

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 8:21 AM

Dropping nuclear bombs wouldn't be necessary, and it would kill a lot of Iranians who would like to be our friends. A better idea would be to use the electromagnetic-impulse weapon, deployed by an unmanned aircraft launched from a U.S. ship in the Persian Gulf. The EMP would transform all the computers in Iran into mush. Computers are essential to the regime's advanced weaponry and research. The Iranian economy is already in bad shape; think of what would happen if the pumps at the corner gas station, and the cash registers in all the supermarkets, and the computers that calculate weekly salary checks suddenly stopped working....

Posted by: Aileen at April 17, 2007 8:59 AM

"Bush and his cronies are adopting opressive behavior and they have in fact harmed nations. So what's the hubbub for?

Posted by: idn batutta"

.....It appears to me that the countries suffering from violence are those countries where Muslims are attacking and killing other Muslims.....

...It is Islam Stupid.....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 9:14 AM

From the article above:
"Iran will announce unspecified new "nuclear achievements" if the United Nations takes fresh steps against it over its disputed atomic program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday.
"If they (the United Nations) pass another resolution against Iran, our nation will reveal new nuclear achievements," Ahmadinejad told a rally in the central province of Fars, the official IRNA news agency reported."

Not that I'm a fan of the Useless UN or anything, but I do remember a time when any nation couldn't get away with openly thwarting and thumbing their nose at UN mandate after UN mandate. I never remember a time when a nation could actually state EXACTLY what illegality they were going to perform while the UN literally stands by and merely watches.

What backasswards world are we living in? Bizarro world, for sure.

Posted by: JenBee at April 17, 2007 9:17 AM

I don't know Aileen. If thise idiots force us to attack them I think we should kill as many people as possible to punish them for their behavior for the past quarter century and to send a message to the next potential bunch of clowns. If they make us do this they should be left in critical condition requiring life support which will then not be forthcomming. I don't think we need to take them over. But we can destroy them real good and all nasty like, so people get the idea not to jihad on our a%$es any more.

nabi ZK - a nabi you might think is a little crazy but give it a chance and my rantings could grow on you

Posted by: zonie kafir at April 17, 2007 9:17 AM

to use up more money than has been spent on all the wars ever fought by the United States (save for World War II), to harm the morale of the civilian army and even the professional one, and to ensure that the sources of those volunteers for the National Guard and Reservists, or of the kind of volunteers one would wish to have, dry up, as the most patriotic become offended at the callousness of their treatment by those eager, at whatever cost, to deliver up the bodies apparently demanded by what the White House calls a "strategy."

Gosh, to hear you describe it; you'd think they planned it that way.

One thing I like about Ahmadinejad (cough, cough, chock, gag -- can't believe I said that) is that he stands up for his country.

There are none in Washington who have comparable fervor and resolve in protecting the sovereignity of this nation; they are so rash in cowing to the UN at any invitation.

If Ahmadinejad wasn't "Ahmadinejad," I almost -- ALMOST I said, would ... like ... uhhmmm ... someone similar to him in some ways ... to be ... (gawd, we must have someone in DC who loves our country?) ... our ... uh ... nope, can't say it!

Posted by: witness at April 17, 2007 9:21 AM

No more hearts and minds. Carthage is the model.

Posted by: zonie kafir at April 17, 2007 9:30 AM

"to damage to use up more money than has been spent on all the wars ever fought by the United States (save for World War II),"

In WWII, the US spent 30% of the GNP to finance the war

In Korea, the US spent 9% of the GNP to finance the war

IN Vietnam, THe US spent 3% of the GNP to finance the war

IN Iraq, (to date), the US is spending about 1% of the GNP....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 9:40 AM

Bush and his cronies are adopting opressive behavior and they have in fact harmed nations. All Ahmadinajad is doing is talking tough, so what's the hubbub for?

Posted by: idn batutta at April 17, 2007 9:54 AM

"All Ahmadinajad is doing is talking tough, so what's the hubbub for?

Posted by: idn batutta"

.....Ahmadinejad is talking tough....The Iranians are following a planned course of action dedicated to trying to provoke a first strike by the Western world....at the same time he and his Iranians Muslim slavemasters are instigating Muslims to kill Muslims in a senseless wave of self destruction....

.....real nice guys...these "Muslims"...

the only hubbub occurs in Muslim Circles...they are running out of options....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 9:59 AM

I would expect Iran to defend itself at any armed action on our part. Iran would turn immediately to the offensive. It knows it has but a limited time to respond. Use it or lose it.

Iran has capabilities to strike targets, in some fashion, where ever we withdraw to. Iran's conventional weapons, if left intact, is still effective enough to shut down shipping at just the threat of shooting.

If Bombs are going to drop on Iran, don't expect that to be the end of it.

The fundamental problem of Iran will not be settled by hitting a few Nuclear sites. It is the Leadership and their Praetorian Guard that needs to be eliminated. It is through these people that the majority of the major threats in the Middle East are built. You will never solve Iran as a problem if these people are left in power.

That is the reason the Army is there in Iraq. It need not cross into Iran itself except for local tactical reasons. The US would just be defending another Country's sovereign territory. Iran will come to US.

Iran is currently surrounded. We either do something about it now or we never will.

Kill off the Fast Jihad and let Westernization work against the slow Jihad. The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend. Not to mention runs my car, Lights, computer and a myriad of other items many here would find convenient.

Fomenting a Muslim Bloodbath from Gibraltar to the Philippine is hardly in the Worlds interest. Especially if coupled with a heightened sense of anti western sentiment. Simply for not wishing to confront 150,000 fanatics in Iran who are quite accommodating in their desire to die. Whose' removal will eliminate more than half the problems in the region. While the actions necessary to remove them will render Iran from funding any more of their nonsense.

Nobody said we need to hang around afterward.

If I were going to leave a place, It would be Afghanistan, Exposed and dependent on Pakistan for access

Posted by: flowerknife_us at April 17, 2007 10:07 AM

OK flowerknife. As long as the goal is getting these dudes. You may be right that bombs alone won't work. I say enough of 'em and large enough to boot and the nation itself can be completely dismanlted, no less the leadership. But my goal would be to further humilliate the mohametans by showing their flagship under water and making clear at the end of the day that all this posturing about allen's favor is dangerous nonsense. This is why I favor a no holds barred attack and not some pin prick deal with all conventional weapons. I don't wan't them to come back up for air. Ever.

nabi ZK

Posted by: zonie kafir at April 17, 2007 10:20 AM

Don't people know the ideology behind all this by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? His fantasy is that the 12th Imam is here; he will only show up in some worldly disorder involving Muslim persecution. This persecution will be orchestrated and a nuclear bomb towards Israel will not only make Islamic prophecy a sign for them but an excuse for the world to attack Iran once it threatens even more, which in turn is what he wants. He may actually pretend so much he provokes an attack upon him self. It's not like if he dies he is scared he is honoured too about it, so the situation is madness like he cares what he says like this latest rubbish. I don't blame the world fearing his madness, Saddam by contrast now seems like a quiet man this guy is advancing with weapons of a possible mass destruction whilst the world watches and he keeps going on about genocides and fighting back? He makes it sound the weapons have already been made if we were to attack his the Nuclear reactors which makes it more suspicious.

Posted by: jesusisthelamb at April 17, 2007 10:33 AM

This won't end well. Be prepared.

Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at April 17, 2007 10:38 AM

Correct JTL. This is why if we do hit them we must hit them hard up front with everything we have. Well not everything exactly, since that could end all life on earth. ;-) Just enough to end most life in Iran and certainly to end Iran as a functioning society. We know we are done when they are not capable of so much as a wimper. Trust me. It will feel good. Real good.

nabi ZK

Posted by: zonie kafir at April 17, 2007 10:41 AM

No more hearts and minds. Carthage is the model.
Posted by: zonie kafir

YES!!!! that's what I've concluded as well.

Pax Romana was built on the ruins of Carthage.

Posted by: A_Plague_on_Both_Houses at April 17, 2007 10:45 AM

It's a sad moment in history I feel I wish all this would go away, it's like problems are mounting on top of another as the next stage looks nuclear, which in fairness we don't have to use bt prevent it.

Posted by: jesusisthelamb at April 17, 2007 10:46 AM

All Ahmadinajad is doing is talking tough, so what's the hubbub for?

Ahmadinajad has always called for peace...

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has openly called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=15816

...and is misunderstood by his detractors in the West..

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday the solution to the Middle East crisis is to destroy Israel.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/03/AR2006080300629.html

...who have tried unsuccessfully to villify the poor man.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told an audience in Teheran that "Israel must be wiped off the map" and threatened Muslim countries that recognized Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1129540608312&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Ahmadinajad will no doubt be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize ...

In his speech, he described his vision of an age-old confrontation between the world of Islam and the "World of Arrogance," i.e. the West; he portrayed Israel and Zionism as the spearhead of the West against the Islamic nation; and he emphasized the need to eliminate Israel – which, he claimed, was a goal that was attainable.

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=iran&ID=SP101305

... because like Jesus Christ, Ahmadinajad espouses a love doctrine for all of humankind.

Iranian Muslim terrorist dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's October 2005 call for America's destruction was ignored by the pro-Muslim media

http://www.jtf.org/america/america.iranian.dictator.vows.to.destroy.america.htm

On this point of compassion for his fellow human, there is no dispute about Ahmadinajad's loving plans for the world.

Posted by: witness at April 17, 2007 10:57 AM

Hugh, Hugh, Hugh:

If you identified the primary threat as Iran, how would you move, say, a quarter million troops there? Through the Persian Gulf? Hardly.

Withdrawing the troops from Iraq would defeat the purpose of their being there.

Posted by: AbuNudnik at April 17, 2007 12:43 PM

"Withdrawing the troops from Iraq would defeat the purpose of their being there.

Posted by: AbuNudnik "

...the troops mission is completed, no need to stay there, Iraq has a new government, the evil murderer is gone, the WMDs have been moved to Syria, Most of the Christians have left town, SAUDI ARABIA is ready to take care of the Sunnis and Iran is ready to take care of the Shi'ites, many of the coalition forces have already gone home,...

.....The troops can be thanked for doing a marvelous job...we can bid Iraq goodbye....Iraq's future depends on its people, they can try to be a member of the real world or they can sink into a 7th century abyss...the choice is theirs to make....

...they no longer want us there....a victory celebration awaits the brave troops...

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 1:26 PM

Amazing that one of the biggest, most oppressive bullies on planet Earth can threaten and lecture the world at large over their oppressive bullying.

And not one major media outlet calls him on his hypocritical bullsh!t.

Welcome to the world of 2007, where aid is seen as oppression, genocide goes unnoticed and un-cared about, and America is always wrong, no matter what it does.

Anyone got a time machine handy? I don't think my brain can function in such a back-asswards world.

Posted by: Professor PyroSkank at April 17, 2007 1:29 PM

George Patton has the solution to the Mideast and Iran.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvk_UvdOAX8&NR=1

Posted by: km at April 17, 2007 1:41 PM

For those commenting about "if Iran gets nuclear weapons", published reports verify Iran has 4 of them which they purchased. Do a search.

This is why Iran has been so boisterous, why France threatened to nuke them and why America has not nuked them.

The posts claiming that America has spent more in Iraq as in all other wars is a misnomer of inflation as more debt was piled up in the Revolutionary War than in all wars combined. History is the factual teacher in France was destroyed by funding the American Revolution.

People need to stop having these spit fits in discussing this and weight the absolute facts. The facts are America is not stretched thin. America has divisions in Europe and Asia which have not even been tapped. Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Philippines etc... are not straining a thing. Most armies in the world will wear out in 3 weeks. America has been at this for 5 years and the Islamo terrorists are not winning and bin Laden knows that as well as all al Qaeda.

If you want to know the REAL problem in all of this ask the Saudi's and other nations in the Middle East like Jordan, Egypt and Israel.
Their intelligence people will tell you the following facts:

The biggest problem in the Middle East is Americans bitching that Iraq is a problem. The biggest problem in the Middle East are those same Ameircans who have abandoned President Bush and are calling him names. The biggest problem in the Middle East is those Americans who voted in Democrats.
The BIGGEST problem in the Middle East are these same Americans who are going to cause Hillary Clinton to be President in 2008.

EVERY NATION in the Middle East is preparing to be abandoned by Americans, because the majority is a fussing whining lot unable to sustain a policy.
EVERY NATION in the Middle East is now in negotiations WITH THE BOLSHEVIKS in RUSSIA to try and protect their regimes.

Ahmadinejad knows all of this and the Americans who do not know all of this for their whining abou the situation over there when they haven't set foot in the Middle East in to know what is going on ARE THE REASON that George Bush is being forced to strike Iran as Iran is hoping to be struck.

I see the term "tarbaby" posted here often. The Russians, al Qaeda and Iran are not dealing with tar, but they fully intend to push this to a nuclear polluted exchange to make this a nuclear baby which will drive America from the region.

People are going to find out what loosing looks like in Iraq then, because you the American are going to be bankrupt from trying to heat your home, pay your electric and fuel your car.

Ahmadinejad knows all of this. He has run the war plans and knows Iraq is key just as bin Laden and Putin do. Get America out of Iraq and then the Middle East and America topples to a 3rd world state.
It is about oil and about economic might and the dollar exchange. That is one of many reasons Saddam was toppled as he went off the dollar standard for his oil revenue.

I do not know how to teach people to see the big picture that there are not bushels of corn or soybeans to fuel American cars and trucking. The Mexicans were rioting a month ago because of corn shortages and price increases already.
No one has addressed any of this in their opinions on the Middle East, but there is a reason George Bush is there, why bin Laden staked his claim there and why Iran and Russia are all leveraging America out.

The problem is not American firepower. The problem is the American people having now forced the United States into using massive strikes to try and keep America solvent as a nation which is intended to bring WMD's into response.

These postings have been ridiculed and I doubt I will try and inform people any more as nothing but what is coming is going to teach the hard lesson people are going to learn.
The greatest asset bin Laden has is the American majority. He was wrong in thinking American soldiers were paper tigers. It is the majority who voted Democrat and only focus on the present situation who are the paper tigers.

God help the United States as the majority will not and God bless the good as they need it.

Posted by: Lame Cherry at April 17, 2007 2:05 PM

"PATTON! PATTON! HE'S OUR MAN! THE REST BELONG IN A GARBAGE CAN!"

Say, is this guy running for office? I like him!

Posted by: witness at April 17, 2007 2:06 PM

"Get America out of Iraq and then the Middle East and America topples to a 3rd world state."

LC,

Why? Get America out of Iraq and the Middle East and America gets to do what it needs to do: deislamize THIS country.

Get America out of the Middle East and we no longer have to pretend the Saudis are our friends.
Let them sign contracts with Russia and China. I can't wait for their theocracy to be destroyed by atheists. It's no less than they deserve.

We don't need troops on the ground. Let the house of Saud be overrun by Islamists. See how many Americans give a hoot. Halliburton has already made its choice. They're in Qatar. See who cares about them, either.

Granted, the Europeans might care but they should have thought of that BEFORE cozying up to Yasser Arafat and his thugs in the 1980s.

It's nothing to be ashamed of when we say to all of them: take care of yourselves. Haven't you grown up by now? We've killed (in a manner of speaking) the enemy that wanted to destroy you, even though you bitterly resented us for doing so. Well, mission accomplished. You're on your own.

We don't need to thump our chests to prove we're strong. Silence can be better.

Posted by: PMK at April 17, 2007 4:10 PM

In WWII, the US spent 30% of the GNP to finance the war

In Korea, the US spent 9% of the GNP to finance the war

IN Vietnam, THe US spent 3% of the GNP to finance the war

IN Iraq, (to date), the US is spending about 1% of the GNP....

Exsgtbrown:

The first three wars was fought when the US had a vital manufacturing base and made many of its own goods and traded with allies. Now we import everything from China and borrow money from China and Japan to pay for it. Why are we borrowing up to $1 trillion to pay for the liberation of people who aren't worth one dime?
Aren't there countries with just as great a stake in the Middle East as the US? What are they doing other than trading with Iran and enriching themselves? None of them are worth an American penny.

We're selling our assets - states are actually selling their bridges for cash. Our GDP is only on paper and it's not worth even that much.

This war is also being fought even as we allow the people who are fighting it to enter this country with no problem. The previous wars took place in the absence of extensive global air travel. Travelers no longer dock at our harbors and go through Ellis Island. They land on good old terra firma in Chicago or LA or NYC.
This war is being fought by the umma, not by Saudis, not by Iraqis, not by Iranians. Why is one Muslim let in?
How many Japanese or Germans got in during WWII?
How many North Koreans got in during that war?

Posted by: PMK at April 17, 2007 4:24 PM

"Now we import everything from China "

...no we do not....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 4:58 PM

"Aren't there countries with just as great a stake in the Middle East as the US?"

....If your are referring to oil importation, then...

....sure, the list of major oil importers is listed below...note the US is at the top, but the US does not import a large amount of Middle Eastern Oil, The other countries do.....

"Top World Oil Net Importers, 2005*

Country
Net Oil Imports
(million barrels per day)

1)
United States
12.4

2)
Japan
5.2

3)
China
3.1

4)
Germany
2.4

5)
South Korea
2.2

6)
France
1.9

7)
India
1.7

8)
Italy
1.6

9)
Spain
1.6

10)
Taiwan
1.0

*Table includes all countries that imported at least 1 million bbl/d in 2005.

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 17, 2007 5:09 PM

" Abandon your oppressive behavior"
................................
Well...well...same to you buddy!

Posted by: pismopal at April 17, 2007 8:14 PM

memo to Idn battuta:

Muslims have cold-bloodedly murdered over 300 million people over the past 13 centuries in the name of all-ah the "merciful." If anyone ever DESERVED to be (and SHOULD be) oppressed it is they.

Who cares if Islamia has been harmed? Why should anyone care? Iran itself through its "intelligence agencies" has provided material support for genocide in Sudan, the Congo and elsewhere in Africa, where jihad wars have claimed over 7 million lives in the past 25 years. Does Iran's mighty nut job Ahmadinejad care about THAT??? (no).

So we here we see a double standard: Islamia backs jihad warfare across the globe and cries "victim" when such nations fight back. Well, good!!!

In reality, Islamia is the world's greatest hotbed of bad karma and is well along the path to its own self-destruction. Islam oppresses its own at a level that no western democracy could ever hope to (much less want to) match.

Islamic oppression is a 'tough act to follow', as 'they say'. May Islam and Islamia self-destruct itself into oblivion soon!

Posted by: pythagoras at April 17, 2007 9:54 PM

Hey with this guy (Ahmadinejad) it is damed if you do and damed if you dont... watch out if you dont leave us alone, but if you leave us alone we will develop weapons which will kill you faster...

Posted by: Gaye at April 18, 2007 4:44 AM

Prez Mahmoud is perfectly sane. Unless you consider Islam an insanity, in which case Prez Mahmoud fades into the crowd and disappears from our concept of a nut-ball.

He's an enthusiastic Moslem with the balls to speak out his Islamic principles. He's a kidnapper and a ransom-taker. He's a damned good Moslem and is widely admired in globally by like-thinking Moslems, which is to say all observant Moslem.

Prez Mahmoud, you are the man, the New Moslem, the Unapologetic Moslem, and I salute you for that.

Many think that smile on your face all the time is there cuz you're insane. No, you're just pleased with yourself, with the Koran, and with the Commies in China and Russia.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at April 18, 2007 5:19 AM

"None of them are worth an American penny."

Posted by: PMK

....you are wrong, Japan, China, Germany, South Korea, France, Italy , India, Spain, and Taiwan are (for the most part) quite wealthy ,certainly worth more than an American penny and most are generally allies of the United States....all have contributed to world history and will continue to do so....

....note, the ones with stringent gun control laws, France, Germany, Spain are the ones having problems with Muslim riots and violence....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 18, 2007 7:08 AM

"Our GDP is only on paper and it's not worth even that much."

"Posted by: PMK

....you are wrong...

"A region's gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of the ways for measuring the size of its economy. The GDP of a country is defined as the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time. It is also considered the sum of value added at every stage of production of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time."

"United States GDP (gross domestic product)
11,711,833,700,000 U.S. dollars..

....looks like a lot to me.....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 18, 2007 7:25 AM

PMK

.....by the way the US GDP has been improving every year for several years in a row ....

.....you talk like a pessimist dhimmicrat.....

Posted by: exsgtbrown at April 18, 2007 7:28 AM