Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion
Juan Cole is President of the Global Americana Institute
Murtha on Administration Name-Calling 
Rep. John P. Murtha is among the bravest men in the US Congress. He minds chickenhawks like Dick Cheney and George W. Bush insinuating that he is a coward or a defeatist for arguing that the US should draw down its troops in Iraq and let the Iraqis sort things out for themselves.
The photo-cartoon above may be freely copied and spread around, with attribution and a link, please.
posted by Juan Cole @ 10/15/2006 12:34:00 AM
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Muslim Denunciations of al-Qaeda and Terrorism
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Winner, October 5, 2007, Scott Nearing Award for Courageous Scholarship (Awarded by the Graduate Students of the Political Science Department, University of Pennsylvania).
Winner, 2005 James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism, Hunter College.
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the War on Terror
12 Comments:
Dr C, are you familiar with this
David Martin story on CBS suggesting that BushCo is thinking of actually withdrawing? My impression is that it's primarily an effort to mollify war critcs leading up to the election rather than a serious gesture, but I suppose it could also be a trial balloon.
Vice President Cheney has accused Democrats of "self-defeating pessimism." Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has faulted us for believing that "vicious extremists can be appeased."
The vicious extremists at the helm of the United States government have taught us all that there is no appeasing them. After their defeat at the polls they, Bush, Cheney, Feith, Powell, Rice, Wolfowitz, all of them, will be brought before the Anglo-American War Crimes Tribunal, where we will drive the legal stake through their hearts, and through the heart of American aggression, once and for all.
Some of my Democratic colleagues questioned whether Iraq posed an immediate threat to our national security; some were not convinced that Iraq was accelerating the development of nuclear weapons and had an active chemical and biological weapons program; and almost all believed that Iraq was not involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. They turned out to be right on all three counts. Nevertheless, since our forces deployed to Iraq, Democratic support for the troops has never wavered.
The Defeatists are those who have engineered not only this ahocking, awful war of aggression but, having led us to inevitable defeat in an unjust war are now digging us in deeper and deeper, with their beady, feverish, bloodshot, neocon eyes now fixed on The Lebanon Treatment for Iran.
The traitors in the White House cannot be appeased they must be defeated.
It's 1-2-3 what R we fightin 4 time
Iraqis Plan Five Man Junta to Replace Elected Government
(Sunday Times UK)
Not a bad idea perhaps. Certainly a better idea, three years ago than today.
May I please nab this graphic? Please? Please? (With a link of course!)
Murtha makes a very strong case, but even his essay has a piece of propaganda that shouldn't go unchallenged: "When U.S. forces first entered Baghdad, the Iraqi people cheered as the statue of Saddam Hussein was torn from its pedestal." The troops used to stage this blatant agitprop ought to have been engaged in quelling the looting and lawlessness that immediately broke out across Baghdad--looting and lawless anarchy that are now the hallmarks of the illegal Cheney/Bush invasion.
Draw down troops? Exactly how? Turn the neighborhoods over to the militias? Get on a plane and say good-bye? With the Iraqis really "sort things out for themselves" or (perhaps more likely) shoot and hack things out for themselves, as in Somalia or Ruwanda? Would the chaos be sure to decrease? If not, would you accept blame? Or would it still be "Bush's fault," no matter what? Is that acceptable solace?
Professor Cole,
I have just read in an Australian newspaper on the internet that within last 48 hours, the IDF has killed 22 Palestinians in the occupied territories. With the Foley scandal and North Korea dominating the news, the situation in the occupied territories has gone largely unreported. Can you bring your readers up to speed on the Israeli offensive in the territories and also talk about the embryonic civil war brewing in Gaza?
To withdraw troops, take a deep breath, hitch-up your pants, and issue the order. What Mr Koch seems to be saying is there needs to be a peace-keeping force to staunch the genocide we started and enabled. The invaders have ZERO chance at becoming peace-keepers because they are the enablers on the current SNAFU/FUBAR.
There are only two countries with strong enough militaries that would bring some credibility to the situation and might act as mollifiers: China and Russia (I favor China). Yes, such an event would mean massive loss of face by the USA; but when you're already naked, what more can you lose? Personally, I don't think either party has enough imagination to even see/utter my suggestion. But after thinking long and hard and looking at the reality of the current world situation regarding this problem for several weeks, I see no other alternative. Of course, the incumbent criminals would never even entertain such a solution; so, they must be expunged as the first step toward any solution, not just this one.
In arguing this proposal, remember "coalition" troops MUST be withdrawn for any attempt at civility to have any chance of bearing fruit. NO ONE else should die for the Cheney/Bush etal's crimes. Unfortunately, the current situation will drag on for months, and thousands more will die, become maimed, raped, and radicalised. Of course, China and those sent in its support must be willing and capable.
About the withdrawal schedule on CBS:
Withdrawing 5 percent every two months means never fully pulling out. US - please do not make that mistake.
What is important is not the schedule. What is important is the statement, "we are pulling all the way out and will not retain influence over your country".
That is the opposite of "we will stay to ensure that Iraq is an ally in the war on terror" which, like a drawdown by percentages, means the US intends on remaining forever.
About the 5-man Junta: Coup rumors pop up every few months these days. Needlenose deals with this episode very well. A coup would not be the stupidest thing the United States has done in Iraq since 2003, but it would be a very stupid thing.
A coup would hurt the US a lot more than just leaving an Iraq that is not an ally in the war on terror.
Karlof1: The Chinese Army foolishly slaughtered their own students in the Tianaman Square massacre. The Chinese style of governing is by dictat, not by persusion or mediation. I doubt that they would be more flexible with Iraqi dissidents. Bad choice for a peacekeeping force.
On the 5-man Junta plan: I note the idea is being floated by a Sunni politician who "says" he has Shiite support. Why would the Shiites hand over their dominant role in the current government to a group of 5? Ain't gonna happen.
Has US behavior in Iraq been any better than that of China? EVERY power large enough to have a chance at peace-keeping in Iraq has ugly skeletons in the closet. I chose China because it seems to have the greatest level of credibility from an Iraqi POV and the assets for peace-keeping; plus, China has much to gain from the region's stabilization sans the US with all of its newly inked hydrocarbon contracts over the last 18 months or so along with Iraq and China's recent re-establishment of a Saddam-era contract the US would have liked canceled.
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LARRY BAILEY (BOOTMURTHA.COM) OCTOBER 1ST RALLY IN JOHNSTOWN, PA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cliff Hancuff
September 29, 2006 (202) 247-1418
Journalismisflat@aol.com
"American troops could be home now, except for critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief," charges Cliff Hancuff, Director of The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too.
"Media and right-wing bloggers are ignoring this fact. For weeks I have been challenging political activists and journalists to act with a minimum of ethical standards," continued Hancuff.
"I became involved when the Sun-Sentinel in Florida reported that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) said the U.S. poses the top threat to world peace. I watched in dismay as the media and bloggers worldwide reported on this misquote."
"My involvement continued when I discovered Diana Irey, John Murtha's political opponent, had attacked Murtha using a fictional quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln."
"Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com is continuing his three year blind support of our current Commander in Chief's incompetence in war. President Bush declared war in Iraq without the 4th Infantry, our most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division in the world," added Hancuff.
This mistake lead to the atrocity of Al Qaqaa. Iraqi insurgents stole hundreds of tons of high explosives to be used as weaponry.
"These are the explosives being used by Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda to perpetuate the war in Iraq."
"I am distressed that the same issues ignored by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 are being ignored again in 2006," said Hancuff adding, "Americans, American soldiers, and their families deserve better."
"Without these critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief, our American troops would be home with their loved ones, with honor, right now."
On October 1, 2006 Hancuff be at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena located in Johnstown Pennsylvania for Larry Bailey's Swiftboating of John Murtha rally. It is there Hancuff will continue his wait for Mr. Bailey to recall the values of honor and integrity taught him by our US Navy.
There is a youtube.com video online at:
YouTube - Rovian Architecture Unplugged
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jcyHokFyE
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
(202) 247-1418
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