Quoted from Box A Rox

Cicero... Not only do I think that Bush lied... I also think he is inept.

(The Siena worst presidents poll kind of backs me up on this one) They place Bush 2nd from the bottom in the category 'Intelligence'.

There are historical rules of war, that seem to transcend the changes in warfare through out the years.  One of the rules translates to "believing your own BS.  
"We Will Be Welcomed in Iraq as Liberators"  was one such claim.  There was very little intelligence to support that claim but the Bush administration acted as if it were true, because they WANTED it to be true.  There was little or no planning on how to restore order in post war Iraq, because they never even considered that a major part of the population would NOT welcome us as liberators.
Believing your own BS!

They suspected that there were WMD's even thought the intelligence had little evidence of them existing.  They believed their own BS and acted as if WMD's would be found in abundance, even though their own intel said there were none!
Believing your own BS.

Quoted from senders

I would say we got our point across.....whether or not it is taking to heart is another thing......as for victory...it's always in the NEXT generation as to
the viability of the effects......

Quoted from Box A Rox

The Parliamentary elections in Iraq were over 6 months ago.  They are still bickering over forming a new government... Democracy is foreign to Iraq, and (IMO) democracy will fade away as US troops and support leave the country.

You can't force a democracy on a reluctant population by dragging them to the polls at the point of a gun.  Iraqi's were eager to vote in their first election, because they saw voting as a step toward the invaders leaving their country.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Same could be said for America between 1783 and 1789 .. we bickered ..were hardly a democracy .. and
almost didn't make it as an independent nation.   Give Iraq time ..it will be a democracy.

Quoted from senders

I would say we got our point across.....whether or not it is taking to heart is another thing......as for victory...it's always in the NEXT generation as to
the viability of the effects......

Quoted Text

BAGHDAD (AP) - Days after the U.S. officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq's ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens.

It was the first exchange of fire involving U.S. troops in Baghdad since the Aug. 31 deadline for formally ending the combat mission, and it showed that American troops remaining in the country are still being drawn into the fighting.

The attack also made plain the kind of lapses in security that have left Iraqis wary of the U.S. drawdown and distrustful of the ability of Iraqi forces now taking up ultimate responsibility for protecting the country.

Sunday's hour-long assault was the second in as many weeks on the facility, the headquarters for the Iraqi Army's 11th Division, pointing to the failure of Iraqi forces to plug even the most obvious holes in their security.

Two of the four attackers even managed to fight their way inside the compound and were only killed after running out of ammunition and detonating explosives belts they were wearing.

The American troops who joined the fight and provided cover fire for Iraqi soldiers pursuing the attackers were based at the compound to train Iraqi forces, said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Eric Bloom. Iraqi forces also requested help from U.S. helicopters, drones and explosives experts, he said. No American troops were hurt, Bloom said.

Quoted Text

Last combat troops outta Iraq...  Here's the real-deal.  


I thought that this was interesting and a look into the inside of things.....Travis is the grandson of a guy that works around here......He's the one on the right in the picture....



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Subject: Update 8-20-10

Hey, everybody! I just wanted to send a quick update and give y'all the REAL story on what's going on over here with the troop withdrawal.  The picture is of my crew and I on a break during a mission.   The guy to the far left is my gunner (Burks) and the guy in the middle is my driver (Mizell).  They go with me on every mission and are great guys.  The reason I'm sending this out is because I have had a few people ask if I left Iraq early because all of the combat troops are out of Iraq and I wanted to let everyone know the real deal.  It's kind of ridiculous how the news is saying that the last of the "combat" troops are out of Iraq because of Pres Osama (I mean Obama).  He says that it was his campaign promise.  Take our Brigade for example.  We were originally called a HBCT (Heavy Brigade Combat Team).  Well, since Obama said he would pull all of the "combat" troops out by Aug, all they did before we left was change our name from a HBCT to a AAB (Advise and Assist Brigade).  We have the same personnel/equipment layout as before and are doing the same missions.  The ONLY difference is that they changed our name from a HBCT to an AAB and that's how he is getting away with saying that he has pulled all of the "combat" troops out.  It is really ridiculous what he's doing and he has ticked a lot of people off.  And it's funny how the media is buying all of it, too.  So no the last combat troops are not out of Iraq. We are still here.  There are other Brigades just like ours that are doing the same missions that are still over here.  Sorry for going on about it but we are just sitting over here watching it and are like "You've got to be kidding me!"  So anyway now you know the REAL story, so that's why I'm not coming back early.  You have to watch those liberal, they're sneaky!  Anyways I hope everyone is doing well and I'll see you soon!