The president: "When I reported on the progress of the Iraqi security forces last year, I said that there were over 120 Iraqi and police combat battalions in the fight against the enemy -- and 40 of those were taking the lead in the fight. Today the number of battalions in the fight has increased to more than 130 -- with more than 60 taking the lead ... This is real progress, but there is more work to be done this year."
The public: Only 41 percent say the United States is making at least "some progress" in training Iraqi security forces; 24 percent say the U.S. is making little or no progress, and 35 percent say they don't know one way or the other.
The president: "The terrorists are losing on the field of battle, so they are fighting this war through the pictures we see on television and in the newspapers every day."
The public: Fifty-three percent say that neither side is winning Iraq. Twelve percent say the insurgents are winning; 29 percent say the United States is.
The president: "We will leave behind a democracy that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself."
The public: Fifty-four percent say that Iraq will "never" become a stable democracy. Only 5 percent say that Iraq will become a stable democracy within the next year or two.
The president: "And a free Iraq, in the heart of the Middle East, will make the American people more secure for generations to come."
The public: Sixty-four percent say that the creation of a stable democracy in Iraq won't make any difference in keeping Americans safe from terrorism. Five percent say it will make Americans less safe.
Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on Conscious talk radio www.conscioustalk.net
A report out of Iraq today notes that American forces dropped onto the roof of a home in the middle of the night, supposedly seeking an AlQaeda connection within.
What they found were two men, four women and five children, one an infant. All eleven were bound, gagged and shot in the head, including the infant. The bodies were then dragged into one room and the house was blown up..............
The bodies were found and taken to the local hospital, autopsied and photographed. Those who have seen those photos are sickened and outraged.
Again, this was an American operation, performed by American troops, perhaps as a training excercise for the increasingly violent Iraqi police and militia. A White House spokesperson noted only that the President was "aware" of the operation.
The same report noted also that air sorties and bombings have been conducted by American troops for a while now. No mention before this in any of our wonderful newspapers or any other media for that matter.
Randi Rhodes, one tough lady by the way, had copies of the photos and could barely speak after viewing them, she later noted that they were so sickening as they plainly showed the baby with a gaping bullet wound to the head.
What sort of people are capable of such actions as these? What sort of a nation are we that we do not rise up and bodily throw that rat bastard out of the White House?
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments)
on Thursday, March 16, 2006 at 8:17:13 PM
