Why is this administration continuing on the wrong path in Iraq?

[conjur]

I was watching C-SPAN this morning and was rather impressed with the answers to the many questions from the callers by their guest today, A. Heather Coyne of the US Institute for Peace. She's in civil affairs and was sent to Baghdad. Her role was to promote the establishment and growth of indigenous Iraqi nongovernmental organizations, professional societies, and local citizens? committees to support the reestablishment of civil society. A couple of questions came to mind that have been unanswered in my mind and seem to be lacking from the national media, as well.

1) I saw Seymour Hersh speak here in town a year ago and back then he mentioned that the insurgents (assuming he was talking of the Ba'athist and Fedayeen members) had infiltratred all levels of the government. Also, we've read and heard reports of uniformed Iraqi security forces executing people and raiding homes in apparent retaliation for informing on insurgent positions. My questions are: How much is known about insurgent infiltration of the Iraqi government and of Iraqi security forces? What is being done to cleanse the government and the security forces of these militants? Also, how much of the missing $9.8 billion has ended up in these insurgents' hands?

2) Points were raised in today's show re: working to understand Iraqi politics (and one would think terrorism in general as Paul Hackett was discussing last night on Hardball on MSNBC). Coyne also brought up the point that our military is too involved in the peacekeeping/stabilization process in Iraq. My 2nd question is: Why is this administration continuing to use our military (esp. the Marines) as a peacekeeping force when that is not the purpose of our military (and is in direct contradiction to the President's promise during his 2000 campaign)? Also, why is the State Dept. not more vocal in demanding more control of the process? Is it because of incompetence in the State Dept.? Obstinance in the White House? Neoconservative forces in both overpowering reason and keeping the military in place?

These are questions that this administration needs to answer and they are questions the lapdog M$M needs to ask.

 

[EatSpam]

Iraq and Afganistan are investment for Haliburton. We go over there, assure that Haliburton's services will be needed for a long time, then move on to their next investment.

So no, they won't be forgotten. They're still items on Haliburton's income statements.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

Why is the State Department not more vocal? Are you interviewing for a writing job on SNL? The piano player doesn't like to play sour notes at the presidential cotillian.

 

[strummer]

Iraq won't become like Afghanistan, because there isn't much black gold in the latter. Afghanistan is in control of the warlords right now which is fine for BushCo and Halliburton, since they will allow the pipelines bringing product from Turkmenistan to be constructed. We won't forget about Iraq becuase they are siting on top of a fifth of the world's oil reserves.

The deal to allow the construction of the pipeline was completed in December 2002, after the fall of the Taliban (what a coincidence).

 

[IdioticBuffoon]

Because it can.

 

[palehorse]

who has forgotten Afghanistan?!

 

[magomago]

I would say most people have forgotten about Afghanistan.

 

[glenn beck]

kinda hard to think about Afghanistan when no one reports on it.

 

[palehorse]

I have always seen the lack of sensationalist headlines as a sign of progress in Afghanistan. While i was there, i can assure you that we were engaging the enemy quite often, yet very few of those engagements ever reached my family on the news. Why? because we were doing so effectively and without many losses. I'm glad that reporters aren't running around mucking up the situation. It gives our troops who are still there the room and latitude they need to get the f'n job done! Now, if only that were true in Iraq...

I visit one local Irish pub every other week or so, and every Friday and Saturday night, the owner gets up on stage to lead the crowd in a few good 'ole Irish songs. Every time he does so, he also leads the crowd in an excellent recital of "God Bless America," "The Pledge of Allegiance," and ends his speeches by making all of the servicemen and women stand up for a toast. In it, he ALWAYS toasts to our soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan; while the crowd responds with an incredibly loud cheer for both! So no, i don't think that anyone has "forgotten" Afghanistan or the fact that we still have troops there in harm's way.

maybe you have... but for that you only have yourself to blame!

 

[Lord Athlon]

Not much as changed since the fall of the Taliban it seems :

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-03-18-voa7.cfm

Afghan Man Faces Execution After Converting to Christianity
By Benjamin Sand
Kabul
18 March 2006


An Afghan man who recently admitted he converted to Christianity faces the death penalty under the country's strict Islamic legal system. The trial is a critical test of Afghanistan's new constitution and democratic government.

The case is attracting widespread attention in Afghanistan, where local media are closely monitoring the landmark proceedings.

Abdul Rahman, 40, was arrested last month, accused of converting to Christianity.

Under Afghanistan's new constitution, minority religious rights are protected but Muslims are still subject to strict Islamic laws.

And so, officially, Muslim-born Rahman is charged with rejecting Islam and not for practicing Christianity..........CONTINUED

[/sarcasm]How can this happen in a liberated American new democracy ? The neocons promised us freedom and liberty [/sarcasm]