Advertise Here

Deliver your message to thousands of readers every day.

Our readers are influential opinion makers - politicians, journalists and activists.

Our latest headlines

About Us

The California Progress Report is published by Frank D. Russo, a longtime observer of and participant in California politics.

About Frank Russo.
About California Progress Report.

Got a news tip? Want to write a guest column? Contact Frank here.

The War in Iraq - Longer Than World War II

By Bob Mulholland
California DNC Member
Campaign Advisor
California Democratic Party

This week marks the 5th anniversary of Bush Jr.’s invasion of Iraq when he sent our military in with too few troops and equipment and no occupation or political or exit plans.

One irony of this week – McCain and Cheney “visit” Iraq (with massive protection) while American military deaths are about to hit 4,000.

And McCain is so confused about all the lies (like Saddam Hussein was involved with 9/11) he and Bush Jr. have told over the years that on this trip McCain said that the Shia Iranian government is arming and training the Sunni Al-Qaeda. Another U.S. Senator had to correct him. Actually many wealthy Saudis are financing Al Qaeda and others in Iraq to kill Americans, while Iran is arming the Shias to kill Americans. Maybe McCain is in early stages of Dementia or Alzheimer’s.

We may never know what General David Petraeus (Commander in Iraq) really thinks about his Commander – Bush Jr. - and the Iraq war.

We do know that General Petraeus has said that the war in Iraq cannot be won militarily: “You can’t kill your way out of a problem like this.” Most likely, Petraeus has said this repeatedly to send a message to John McCain, Bush Jr., and Cheney that Iraq needs a political settlement, but this “Axis of Three” doesn’t get it.

How could Bush Jr., who figured out how to get into the Texas Air National Guard ahead of hundreds of others on the list, then get stationed in Alabama where he got paid about $2,000 a month to work (not doing that much) on a losing Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate, understand Iraq. He never will!

My guess, even today Bush Jr. doesn’t know that Saudis are Sunnis (85% of Muslims around the world are), Iraqis are mostly Shias and Iranians are Shia Muslims but not Arabs.

As you listen to McCain and Bush Jr., you don’t hear about how America will “win” in Iraq. You hear “the Surge is working” and “stay the course” and from McCain – a One Hundred Year War.

That’s the strategy of Losers!

Bush Jr. and McCain have the American military on three fronts – Iraq, Afghanistan, and the fight against Al-Qaeda. They are losing on all three fronts and they are putting America at great risk with a very reduced military capability.

The CIA recently briefed members of Congress that Al-Qaeda is now in 60 countries – yes, 60 -- and this happened during Bush Jr.’s watch! As President, would McCain put troops in all 60 countries? Probably yes!

Regarding the McCain Surge, it has little to do with some reduced violence. The untold story is that after Bush Jr. said many times that he will not negotiate with terrorists, and that he will find those who hanged the American contractors on a bridge, he actually has these killers of Americans on our payroll – some of the over 91,000 Iraqis Bush Jr. is paying in cash to be part of Neighborhood Militias.

Besides cash, Bush Jr. is supplying them with weapons in exchange for not killing Americans in 2008. On the other side is the Iranian decision to a 6 month Ceasefire, then last month an extension for another 6 months till September. And with Bush Jr. putting out millions of dollars on the streets, no doubt it will be extended again.

The Iraq government is mainly controlled by Iran and right now they are in a holding pattern – not solving anything, while Bush Jr. has wasted more than $500 billion over Iraq – much of it stolen.

If you asked Republicans in America if we should pardon those Iraqis who killed Americans, they would say absolutely not -- but that’s what Bush Jr. is doing.

If you asked these same pro-war Republicans to pay $250 a month extra in taxes to pay for the war and our troops, these “patriotic Republicans” would say “not me.”

Very few Republican families have their children join the military. Mitt Romney has five sons – all have refused to join the military. Also, Karl Rove’s son and Bush Jr.’s daughters refuse to join. They don’t even believe in this Iraq war. Maybe a draft for Republicans?

Iraq is Bush Jr.’s and McCain’s war. It is nothing but incompetence, corruption, murderers and double dealing agents on America’s payroll.

America has a choice on November 4, 2008 -- elect a Democratic President so we can bring our troops home, or go with McCain who probably has a secret Plan to invade Iran.

In March of 1968 I was wounded (Chinese mortars) in Vietnam (101st Airborne), so I have a special concern for our troops, stuck with 2 or 3 tours while their families at home are falling apart.

All this as Republicans in California work to keep their sales tax exemption on big luxury yachts.

Posted on March 20, 2008

Comments

Bob opines:

"Very few Republican families have their children join the military. Mitt Romney has five sons – all have refused to join the military. Also, Karl Rove’s son and Bush Jr.’s daughters refuse to join. They don’t even believe in this Iraq war. Maybe a draft for Republicans?"

Bob, please supply a list of democratic candidates for president with any military service. I'll help you out, NONE.

Please supply a list of democratic candidates today who have children in the military. I'll help you out, NONE.

But you think military service is a litmus test for republicans obviously...

...so by definition you will be enthusiastically voting for John MCCain, a Vietnam veteran and POW.

But if you wish to continue how military service is somehow important for candidates for president or for their children to participate, please note the last democratic president Bill Clinton avoided the draft, wrote a nasty letter to an ROTC unit CO, and bad mouthed his country overseas while you were in combat in Vietnam.

And Bill launched combat operations into Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan and bombed the heck out of Serbia. But I guess sending those kids then into harms way is somehow OK with you...

An his daughter Chelsea also "refuses" to join the military.

Appreciate your service, but your politics in how you project military service when it is an all volunteer military illustrate your shallowness, hypocracy and/or propagandistic approach to the party faithfull (aka "sheep") on this issue as you portray it.

Posted by: Jay Gould at March 21, 2008 10:18 AM

Not everyone supports the war. Yes, I believe we should have done something when they hit the World Trade Towers, but we should not be over in Iraq, well at least not for this long. I may support my soldiers over there fighting for us, but that dose not mean that I support this war. Too many people are dieing because of this war. Bush has gone way to far with this one, we should have been out of there after about 6 months maybe a year.
All that Bush is trying to do is throw us into another World war. There is not one person around that wants that again. So I say bring our men and women back home to their families.

Posted by: Lacie Spence at March 31, 2008 11:12 AM

Get Email Updates

Want the California Progress Report by email? Once a week, we'll send you the latest and greatest headlines.

Stat tracker