Monkeyfister

I wonder what they are going to do to try and get their way.

via Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Saturday he expected to reach a long-term security pact with Iraq despite Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki saying talks were deadlocked because of sovereignty concerns.

"If I were a betting man, we'll reach an agreement with the Iraqis," Bush told a joint news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "Of course we're there at their invitation."

He reiterated that such a deal would not commit future U.S. presidents to troop levels or establish permanent bases in Iraq.

The United States and Iraq have been negotiating a new security deal to provide a legal basis for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq after December 31, when their U.N. mandate expires, as well as a separate long-term agreement on political, economic and security ties.

Of course, the US version of the deal does, indeed establish permanent bases in Iraq, so I really do wonder what sort of tack George is going to take in these negotiations. I believe that the Iraqis should run out the clock to the end of the year, when the UN Mandate runs out.


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Labels: Bush Agenda, George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq, Iraq Oil, Iraq War

From my friend, Carbon Date, a Military blogger observing the world around him, decorated, honored-- a Troop who has gone anywhere and done anything he has been ordered to go and do-- on Iraq.

via The Command Post

This past September, I returned to my home duty station from Iraq. I was greeted rather graciously by home unit when I returned there, and by my family when I returned to visit my home town. Was there a ticker-tape parade, or even a letter from some of the fine folks who claim to “support our troops”, whether by supporting our mission, calling for us to come home, or by putting a yellow magnetic ribbons on their SUVs? No, and I’m quite sure I wouldn’t have wanted any of that. When I returned home, all I wanted was to see and be with my family, because that reunion was not, to my mind, guaranteed, and it was, ultimately, the most important thing in the world to me when I was ducking and covering during rocket attacks on our base. Political considerations took a back seat, and I certainly didn’t want to hear a bunch of insincere praise from people who don’t know or care to know who I am underneath the uniform.

But now that the moment has passed and I’ve returned to my duty section and started the process of leaving that all behind me, certain things have crept up, and I’m not sure what to make of them.

I’ve read the story about former Lance Corporal James Blake Miller, better known in the press as the “Marlboro Marine”. He’s been kicked out of the Marines for having PTSD, is jobless, and divorced. He survived the Iraq War, but he’s still given up the life that he had. He lobbied several congressmen on behalf of the National Mental Health Association, but none had any interest in taking up his cause or, in at least one case, even seeing him. They politely shuffled him along and presumably went on to meet with more “important” lobbyists (and we all know what makes someone “important” in Washington, right?)

I read of the homeless vets, how one in every four homeless persons is a vet, and that Iraq War veterans are finding themselves on the street more quickly than Vietnam veterans. I should have been outraged, but instead I simply thought, “maybe that’s where I’ll end up.” I can’t make any sense of these thoughts, but in the past week or so I’ve had a strong urge to simply drop out of society, to just quit. What would be the loss? My frequent moves while I’ve been in the military have kept me perpetually single, so I have no family obligations. Once my term of service is up, I’ll have no further military obligations. What do I do with my life then? I’ve given thought to going into journalism, but that’s driven by a desire to affect change and make the world a better place. I still have that desire, but I’m no longer certain that I have the ability. For all the writing I do, it seems that nobody with the power to act on my words listens to them, and I honestly have a much better track record of “being right” in recent years than the majority of the power brokers in Washington.

I can no longer abide being a mere symbol in some politician’s crusade. “Support or Troops”, as though we‘re a baseball team. “I Support the Troops and My President”, as though the two go hand in hand. “Support Our Troops: Bring Them Home Alive”, as though clever framing amounts to anything but kudos from your fellow peace activists. Every day that passes, more of my brothers and sisters in arms are dying, and every day more of us are asking why. We have not, to date, received anything but platitudes from the people who support the war or excuses from the people who oppose it. “If I would have known then what I know now…” Known what, Senator? That war is hell, and that every battle plan goes out the window the moment the first shot is fired? People have been saying these things for centuries, millennia. These are not new lessons, but perhaps your study of history is limited to the lessons applicable to your ascent to power. To the millions who marched in the streets trying to tell you then what you know now, you turned a deaf ear.

To those who still support our mission? I’ll give you credit for staying true to your convictions, but to what end are we fighting? Can I get a straight answer from you just once? Not just a platitude espousing the virtues of freedom being on the march when freedom in Iraq seems to be synonymous with large explosions, gunfire, and flag-draped caskets rolling in front of me? To borrow a phrase, what the hell are we fighting for? Nobody really seems to know, any more -- even the people who insist that we have to keep fighting.

I’m not talking about politicians, pundits, bloggers, or callers on talk radio. I’m talking about my fellow service members, my fellow Iraq War veterans. Many of us are (were) not quite clear on what we’re doing there, and we’ve more or less resigned ourselves to the notion that it’s out of our hands. The powers that be in Washington are going to do what they’re going to do, and it’s going to have little to do with anything we do, for good or for ill. But is that as it should be?
I question whether you, who would ask for my vote (and my money) based on promises you’ve no obligation to keep, really feel as though you are accountable to us for the decisions you either have made or will make in the future. If I, in the course of my duties in Iraq, made a mistake that cost someone his life, I would rightly have to be accountable for that. You, who made a mistake that cost literally thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis their lives, ask for a promotion. Do you feel that you have at least a moral obligation to stop and listen to what I have to say for a few seconds before you turn around and hit me up for cash? The answer seems to be no, based on the response I’ve received trying to contact various Presidential candidates.

But I am here, and I’m not going to go away. My ranks are swelling, and soon we will be legion. You have only yourselves to thank for that.

Much more, and words for the opposition, at the link.

Bravo Zulu, my friend. Be safe. Get home. I'll meet up with you wherever you say the party is.



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Labels: Dick "dick" Cheney, George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq, Military Voices, Real Soldiers

Finally.

via Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush, under fire over the treatment of CIA detainees, on Friday ordered that agency interrogators comply with Geneva Conventions against torture.

Five years after he exempted al Qaeda and Taliban members from the Geneva provisions, Bush signed an executive order requiring the CIA to comply with prohibitions against "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" as set down in the conventions' Common Article 3.

Bush, who insists the United States does not use torture, has faced pressure at home and abroad over interrogation techniques used on suspected militants held at secret CIA prisons and other locations, including the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Critics have complained the CIA has mistreated prisoners during clandestine flights in and out of countries in Europe.

Bush's broad assertions of power in his war on terrorism also have come under assault from U.S. judges who rejected his indefinite imprisonment of enemy combatants and domestic spying program.

Whether this is just a cover is yet to be seen. I suspect that his administration is still culpable for all the torture and violations reported before today.


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Labels: Abu Ghraib, Abu Gonzales, Extraordinary Rendition, George W Bush and the Troops, Guantanamo, Torture

Atrios coined that phrase which refers to Tom Friedman's habit of every six months, coming out and saying, "The next six months of the Iraq War will be critical, and we'll see progress." in some form or another.

Nine Friedman Units later... Nothing but the same carnage as FU #1.



There is no more room for Friedman Units. Too many are dying for no mission whatsoever. Bring our Troops Home, or at the least, redeploy them to border security, and out of the meat-grinder.

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Labels: Friedman Unit, George W Bush and the Troops

Way to keep morale boosted, there, George. Ain't your Surge!(tm) a smashing success... Fuckwad.

via Attaturk:



Note: This is an insecure supply route problem, NOT a funding issue.


















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Labels: BushWar, George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq, Iraq War, Iraq War Cost

And God Bless Him for it!

VoteVets.org



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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq War

Bastards.


via Crooks & Liars

WASHINGTON – Bill and Georgia Thomas reported they were elated Monday when they met in the Oval Office with President George W. Bush to present him with a Purple Heart.

"We were just absolutely bowled over. Without reservation, it was one of the highlights of our life. He was such a gracious host," Thomas said. "It was just an incredible, incredible experience."

The couple was able to meet with President Bush for about 20 minutes to present him with one of three Purple Hearts that Bill Thomas received during his service in Vietnam.

"He said he didn't feel like he had earned it," Thomas said, noting the president looked thinner in person than on television.

Thomas said he and his wife came up with the unprecedented idea to present the president with the Purple Heart over breakfast one morning a few months ago as they discussed the verbal attacks, both foreign and domestic, the commander in chief has withstood during his time in office.

"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds," Thomas said.

And these sick Rightwing fuckers wonder why, we on the Left, are so angry. Christ almighty, George should have had the fucking decency to tell Mr. Thomas to stay home. But, NOOOOO. As it always is with Preznit "MEMEMEMEME First," he took the guy's Purple Heart, and made a fucking SHOW of it.

George, you FUCKING BASTARD.


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Labels: George W Bush, George W Bush and the Troops, Idiot Son Of An Asshole, Republican Chickenhawks, Republican Values

"BlahBlahBlah, sorry about treating you Disabled Troops like shit snicker, BlahBlahBlah, OK, all you Republican Troops get over here for a picture, BlahBlahBlah, here are some purple hearts, which my crew will belittle come next election, snicker BlahBlahBlah, oh, look at the time-- gotta cut it short... good luck putting your lives back together... Vote Republican!" (door slams shut behind him)

Fuck you, George.


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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops

You can help. VoteVets has it really going on at their new site, Stop Iran War...

Please join the Iraq War veterans at VoteVets.org and me and sign the petition to President Bush today. Military force against Iran is not the solution now, and if we adopt the right strategy, perhaps it need never be. Urge him to work with our allies and use every diplomatic, political, and economic option at our disposal to deal with Iran. War is not the answer.

-- Wesley Clark



It's time to put out the roadblocks wherever we can, folks. This is a fine start.



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Labels: False Flag, George W Bush and the Troops, Iran

He's cutting, and cutting, and gutting the VA. The VA that I rely upon for my medical care as a Disabled Veteran.

via AssPress

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans' health care two years from now — even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system.

Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012.

After an increase sought for next year, the Bush budget would turn current trends on their head. Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly — by more than 10 percent in many years — White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter.

The proposed cuts are unrealistic in light of recent VA budget trends — its medical care budget has risen every year for two decades and 83 percent in the six years since Bush took office — sowing suspicion that the White House is simply making them up to make its long-term deficit figures look better.

It's really quite simple, George-- you CANNOT cut the VA budget whilst manufacturing more Disabled Veterans.

I rely on the VA for my medical care. Just three weeks ago, I had a massive seizure, broke my shoulder and three ribs, and messed up my back. Two days in the ER.

Were it not for the VA, the ambulance ride, and ER visits and all the tests would have had me staring at bankruptcy. During the Clinton years, the VA was FULLY funded, there were no waiting periods, I could call for an appointment, and get one for next week… Now, under George, I need to either wait up to 2 months, or go to the ER, or Acute Care Clinic, and wait ALL DAY. Sometimes, after waiting all day, we're told to come back tomorrow. I was sent home this recent trip to the ER, and had to have a co-worker pick me up, and take me back to the VA the next day for the rest of the tests. Yes-- it's that bad-- and George wants to make it WORSE.

His Tax-Cuts for the enormously wealthy are taking precedence over Disabled Veterans’ Care.

The Bastard.

And JUST YESTERDAY, he had the fucking NERVE to claim that his "Compassionate Conservatism" would be his legacy.

Something about my compassionate AK-47 keeps coming to mind.


Monkeyfister
(USN, DAV, ret.)

My experiences as a Disabled Veteran, and with the VA can be found here




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Labels: Defense Of Privilege, George W Bush and the Troops, Tax Cuts For The Wealthy, VA Budgets

I can't imagine why...

via Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush is trying to convince the world he has no intention of invading Iran, but is running into skeptics who see U.S. charges that Iran is shipping bombs into Iraq as a step toward conflict.

Having ordered two aircraft carriers to the Gulf and accused Iranians of providing Iraqi militants bombs that have killed 170 Americans, Bush and his top aides are struggling to tamp down talk that a new war is brewing.

Bush himself prompted the talk in a January 10 speech outlining his reworked Iraq strategy, by saying "Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces."

Maybe it's because George is a well-known liar, with a yen for starting wars that he cannot fight or finish.


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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops, Iran, Liar, Worst President Ever

He needs to send twice as many Troops, and he is seriously underfunding it.

The CBO has put together the actual personnel and budgetary numbers for Bush's Surge!™ Plan... Seems he forgot to include the Military Support Units when he told us about his little plan, and even left them out of budgeting (do we need to doubt a Surge!™ in Halliburton contracts?). Not only that, but, he's only asking for $US3 Billion, when a minimum of $US9 Billion will be needed...

The administration's estimate of approximately 21,000 extra troops only counts combat units, according to the analysis, and because combat units require support forces, the actual number of additional troops who will be in Iraq will likely exceed 35,000.

From the analysis (you can read it here ):

To reflect some of the uncertainty about the number of support troops, CBO developed its estimates on the basis of two alternative assumptions. In one scenario, CBO assumed that additional support troops would be deployed in the same proportion to combat troops that currently exists in Iraq. That approach would require about 28,000 support troops in addition to the 20,000 combat troops—a total of 48,000.

---

The analysis, which estimated the cost of the president's plan "from $9 billion to $13 billion for a four-month deployment and from $20 billion to $27 billion for a 12-month deployment," was sent to House Committee on the Budget Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) today.

Dear Senate,

I know you all work really, really hard to pass that super-cool Non-Binding Iraq Resolution just the other day and all, and please don't think me ungrateful, but, ummm, it's time to make that Iraq Resolution binding...




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Labels: CBO, George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq, Surge, War Escalation

George's DoD cannot admit the ugly fucking TRUTH...

via Editor & Publisher

BAGHDAD Contrary to U.S. military statements, four U.S. soldiers did not die repelling a sneak attack at the governor's office in the Shiite holy city of Karbala last week. New information obtained by The Associated Press shows they were abducted and found dead or dying as far as 25 miles away.

The brazen assault 50 miles south of Baghdad was launched Jan. 20 by a group of nine to 12 militants. They traveled in black GMC Suburban vehicles - the type used by U.S. government convoys, had American weapons, wore new U.S. military combat fatigues and spoke English.

In a written statement, the U.S. command reported at the time that five soldiers were killed while "repelling the attack." Two senior U.S. military officials as well as Iraqi officials now say three of them were found dead and one mortally wounded in locations as far as 25 miles east of the governor's office.

The DoD is disastrously compromised by NeoCon ideologues. It is now safe to expect NO MORE truth from them from here on out.

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Labels: George W Bush, George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq, Iraq Civil War, Iraq War

OK. Right.

via Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney said on Sunday the United States must show it has the "stomach" to win in Iraq or it will confirm al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's view that Americans can be pressured to leave.

U.S. allies helping in fighting terrorism -- Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Egypt -- must have confidence that the United States will stay until a successful outcome, he said.

"If the United States doesn't have the stomach to finish the task in Iraq, we put at risk what we've done in all of those other locations," he said on "Fox News Sunday."

Yo. Dick. You want some American stomach? Here's yer frickin'American stomach for you:

There...

Fucking Victory!


No escalation. Bring the Troops HOME.



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Labels: Dick Cheney, Dick Cheney Hates America, George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq

Check out the Deciderer on a 60 Minutes preview, via Think Progress

Transcript:

Q: If you have the authority to put the troops in there no matter what the Congress wants to do.

BUSH: I think I’ve got, in this situation I do, yeah. I fully understand they could try to stop me from doing it. But I’ve made my decision. And we’re going forward.

Welcome to 2007-- The Year of Constitutional Crises.



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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops

My God... What a fucking mess!

I will guarantee you that today, the newz channels are going to be a veritable Freak Show all about THE SURGE.


I gotta go back to sleep-- I'm sick still...




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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq Civil War, Surge

All this means is that he can fill three to five minutes of his short time with SOME sort of "good news" on the "War on Terra." He needed ONE peg to put his hat on.

OhOhOh... look... George thinks he's wearing a two-ton feather... Too bad he's naked. (Hastert clap)

George can talk for at LEAST three minutes on "oh, yeah (snort, spit), we got them Embassy bombin' SOBs done done... "GET 'ER DONE, DOOOODES!!!!! Go Troops an' shit!!!!" and on like that for as long as he can handle a riff...

He'll think it was mahvelous. {"Heh, heh... It feels good..."}

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrotingFoxtrot????

I just wanna know WHY... Without snark, of course.


I assert the question: Why was it OK to surprise-attack Somalia with indiscriminate airship attacks, on multiple villages, citizens and animals, but, we cannot attack KNOWN al Quaeda and Taliban sites in Pakistan... WHAT is the differing aspect?

Ummm.... Forgive me for noticing, but, ummmm... we're legitimately at war with the Taliban and al Qaeda in... ummmm... AFGHANISTAN, and they...like... um.... teleported to the Pakistan side of the border, and stuff and like, they've been in those places for like a really long time and stuff, and... ummmmm... you KNOW where they are, and... ummmmm... since, like, the Taliban HARBORED AND SUPPORTED THE VERY PEOPLE that attacked America in 2001... ummmmm... Gubmint?

UMMMMMMM...

Thanks and all that for maybe killing a couple of the dudes involved with the 1998 Embassy bombings and all that, but, ummmmmm... really, forgive me for noticing and stuff, but, we KNOW exactly where the al Quaeda and Taliban sites are in Pakistan borderlands... ummmm.... isn't, like, your hypocrisy slip showing? Like, you're having a TOTAL Brittaney Spears pussy moment, doodz... ummmm... America WANTS you to totally DIS the Taliban, and we WANT to know that Mullah Omar and Osama hasn't Bin Forgotten... ummm... Sorry for noticin' and all... I just, like, hope you read this and take it to, like, your heart and stuff.

And ummm... With this whole "Sovereignty" thing being void now, and all... ummmm America thinks you should maybe focus on the enemy that we... ummmm... like... CONTRACTED TO.

Just, like saying, and stuff...



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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq Civil War, War OnTerror And Shit

Oy.

via Think Progress

A State Department official leaked word this week that President Bush is considering sending “no more than 15,000 to 20,000 U.S. troops” to Iraq. “Instead of a surge, it is a bump,” the official said.

This claim was bolstered last night by CBS’s David Martin, who reported that military commanders have told Bush they are prepared to execute a troop escalation of just 9,000 soldiers and Marines into Iraq, “with another 10,000 on alert in Kuwait and the U.S.”

. Go see for yourself... video.


"... rode, the 600 9,000."


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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops, Iraq Civil War

This whole Barney salute thing stinks to fucking heaven...

via Dependable Renegade

What I'D like to know, is whether the Marines are saluting the Chimp, or Barney.

Lord knows, Barney is FAR more salutable than the Chimp in Chief.

Fuck, if *I* were a Marine, I'd be PISSED that the CinC can't be bothered to put the fucking mutt down to render an HONORABLE SALUTE.

I'd feel the same way if I were still in the Navy.

Most of the time, I EXPECT George to salute USING Barney.

George does NOT respect the Troops that serve him, he never has, and he doesn't know how, and he never will.

The contempt that he bears to his Troops by his over protection of Barney, who should be on a LEASH, and lead by some Junior during these ceremonious times, is just one more example of George needing to LEAVE OFFICE as soon as possible.

Looky here... as an Enlistedman in the Navy, I was expected to DROP EVERYTHING, to render a Proper Salute to a Superior Officer. Given THAT, a Proper Salute was expected in return. It's a little something called MILITARY TRADITION, for which George has nothing but obvious contempt.

Fuck you, George. put the fucking mutt DOWN... Put him on a fucking LEASH, and let Big Boy Huge Hughes, or some other lackey lead him down after you. THAT is the appropriate thing to do, George.

WHY must you be such a fucking disrespectful ASSHOLE to your Troops, George?

GAH!!!



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Labels: George W Bush and the Troops, Respect