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W E D N E S D A Y , D E C E M B E R 0 1 , 2 0 0 4Iraq Going Great...For The Insurgentsby Michael in New York on
12/01/2004 11:27:00 AMYesterday, the New York Times ran an article about how poorlythe training of Iraqi forces is going and how weak their conductin battle. This isn't an attack on the Iraqi men themselves --anyone signing up for training as a soldier or cop wheninsurgents are attacking their families and suicide-bombinglines of workers is brave in my book.But a number of depressing points popped up: many of themlie to their families about their jobs and not just for security --some of them are embarrassed. But if Iraqis have to lie aboutdefending their own country from suicide bombers, we aredefinitely losing the battle for hearts and minds.One US soldier said a sign of improvement would be if Iraqisoldiers simply showed up for anything other than payday.But here's the little noted kicker:"Given the weak performance of Iraqi forces, any majorwithdrawal of American troops FOR AT LEAST A DECADEwould invite chaos, a senior Interior Ministry official, whosename could not be used, said in an interview last week."Excuse me, but shouldn't that have been the headline? Bush'soriginal plan to pull out most troops after three months hasnow switched to keeping them there until 2014 -- AT THEEARLIEST. Can you say quagmire?
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12/01/2004 11:27:00 AMYesterday, the New York Times ran an article about how poorlythe training of Iraqi forces is going and how weak their conductin battle. This isn't an attack on the Iraqi men themselves --anyone signing up for training as a soldier or cop wheninsurgents are attacking their families and suicide-bombinglines of workers is brave in my book.But a number of depressing points popped up: many of themlie to their families about their jobs and not just for security --some of them are embarrassed. But if Iraqis have to lie aboutdefending their own country from suicide bombers, we aredefinitely losing the battle for hearts and minds.One US soldier said a sign of improvement would be if Iraqisoldiers simply showed up for anything other than payday.But here's the little noted kicker:"Given the weak performance of Iraqi forces, any majorwithdrawal of American troops FOR AT LEAST A DECADEwould invite chaos, a senior Interior Ministry official, whosename could not be used, said in an interview last week."Excuse me, but shouldn't that have been the headline? Bush'soriginal plan to pull out most troops after three months hasnow switched to keeping them there until 2014 -- AT THEEARLIEST. Can you say quagmire?
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HuffPost PoliticsPaul Helmke: NRA Defeated In Key Gun ViolencePrevention Vote: Elections Have Consequences -The National Rifle Association leadership suffered amajor defeat in the U.S. Senate today, losing a keyvote on a bill that would have radically...21 minutes ago
Daily KosWhat's the Rush? Almost 5 Million Lose Insurancein 9 Months - To give added emphasis to themessage we're likely to hear tonight fromPresident Obama, that we've talked healthcarereform to death and now is the time...46 minutes ago
Ben SmithHealth insurance reform - President Obama seemsto have re-labeled his legislative push: In excerptsof remarks prepared for tonight's presser, he refersto it as "healt57 minutes ago
Political WirePreview of Obama News Conference - PresidentObama will hold a prime time news conference at 8p.m. ET. Excerpts of his opening remarks suggestthe main topic will be the health care reform...1 hour ago
Crooks and LiarsLiz Cheney Defends The Birthers - You can viewthis video right here by getting the latest versionof Flash Player! DOWNLOADS: (129) [image:Download WMV] [image: Download Quicktime] ...1 hour agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show All
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Iraq G...http://www.americablog.com/2004/12/iraq-going-greatfor-insur...
1 of 57/22/09 8:19 PM
A M E R I C A B L O G T V
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with
vodpod
In honor of SenatorDeMint
For the GOPers, healthcare is politics. They just
Traditional media has todebunk the birthers
One small step...
The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, in
REM - Orange CrushNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Iraq G...http://www.americablog.com/2004/12/iraq-going-greatfor-insur...
2 of 57/22/09 8:19 PM
Ezra KleinTab Dump47 minutes agoWonk RoomSen. Byron Dorgan:The ‘Trade’ InCap-And-Trade ‘MakesNo Sense To Me’2 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .3 hours agoThe TreatmentHatch Is Out4 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' Proposals10 hours agoG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
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Get the blog by email:
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Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R MAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Iraq G...http://www.americablog.com/2004/12/iraq-going-greatfor-insur...
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S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Iraq G...http://www.americablog.com/2004/12/iraq-going-greatfor-insur...
4 of 57/22/09 8:19 PM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Iraq G...http://www.americablog.com/2004/12/iraq-going-greatfor-insur...
5 of 57/22/09 8:19 PM