http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspxRecent media reports indicate that the Bush administration has given new instructions to American forces across the Middle East on how to deal with Iranian operatives.  No more catch and release – now the orders are to capture or kill them. en-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42771Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:12:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42771Barry Gold, Temecula, CAI CANNOT BELIEVE we have been so STUPID as to not have been killing them from the start. I am scared as hell that our country has forgotten how to fight a war.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42779Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:22:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42779Edward K.Well Col, as you so ably point out, dealing with the Quds Force isn't as simple as "with us or again us" since at times they have been both. Additionally, the ridiculous policy being pursued by the administration is based upon supporting a Shiite government that has extensive ties and support from Iran to begin with and it is hard to believe that the Iranians aren't in Iraq without the "tacit" approval of the government. Which, I might add, on every occasion has protested the raids and arrest of those self same Iranian agents. So, while you may be cheering on the newest version of "dead or alive" it looks to me like running down the road of unintended consequences. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42782Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:29:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42782Kris WeinschenkerIt certainly makes sense that Iranians found fomenting unrest in Iraq should be captured. I was surprised to learn the US wasn't already holding such people. I must say I was rather impressed with Lt.Gen Petraeus. Since the troop surge is now assurred, I don't see much else to do but pray his sucessful.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42784Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:33:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42784Vinnie Sullivan, Eureka, CAby 'treat them like al-Qaida', do you mean let them scatter into the nearest mountain ranges, like we did in Afghanistan? Then invade a country that had nothing to do with Al-Qaida? I'm all for hunting down those who harm our servicepeople (I have a good buddy under fire in Iraq), but I'm sorry, I can't trust ANYTHING this administration says anymore. Any evidence they present that shows Iran is aiding and abetting insurgents will be greeted with skepticism. Thsi administaration simply has no credibility anymore, what with the 'we know where the WMDs are', etc., etc., ETC., talk. I wish we had done this right, we'd still be the good guys. Now, we just look like warmongers. God help us all...http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42787Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:35:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42787Kenneth Whitehead Demarest NJLt. Francona, I admire the work you do on MSNBC.Your experience and insight are informative and educational. I couldn't agree with you more on how to treat Iranians in Iraq. Thank you for your comments.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42790Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:37:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42790Matt H., Las Vegas, NVWhy were we letting them go in the first place?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42798Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:53:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42798MSNBC_Oliver Why are claims about old events being brought forward to rationalize new US murders of completely different people who are Iranian? I am mindful that some US and UK sources are unreliable and that some recent US and UK actions have been reprehensable and maybe even evil. Some have claimed that the Britsh SAS who were arrested briefly in Basra in Iraq may have been involved in facilitating or carrying out coalition terrorist attacks. There have been reports of US military units operating in Iran possibly even killing people there. I think it is time to put the over eager killers on the sidelines for a while.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42801Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:57:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42801Mike Zaloom, Bergenfield, NJI can't believe more troops are going to Iraq. Can somebody please explain to me exactly what we are trying to accomplish in the region at this point? We already set up a government for them, we know there aren't any WMD's, and Saddam is dead. What more is there to do in the region? I'm still trying to understand this. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42802Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:59:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42802KeeFu AikenWhat you seem to be missing is that the United States forces are already engaging active duty, Iranian forces.That means, whether we like it or not a war with Iran has already begun.Any forces captured alive should be takento guantanamo and severely questioned,and even though I despise this choice, the 21,000 troop reinforcement should be sent Immediately. Not because the Moron G.W. is right, but because our troops need the reinforcement. There are already more ships heading to the region, the administration is not actively engaging in any dialogue with Iran to avoid a conflict, so it appears that once again Bush has entered another middle-eastern conflict. He has completely de-stabalized the region, and When-not if- he elects to engage Iran, he will do so with no regard for the will of the American people, congress, our European allies,or world peace. If he had any sense,he would authorise our troops to shoot the planned Iranian satelite out of the air. It is no doubt a spy satelite-any other would be stupid.Our forces should remain on the ground in Iraq and our ships should remain in the mediteranean theatre as backup for whatever attack on nuclear facilities that Israel has planned. If Bush engages Iran, a draft is inevitable, and even if the congress doesn't agree with it on principle, we will hav so many soldiers at risk in the theatre,tht they will have no choice but to send reinforcements. G.W.Bush may be borderline illiterate, incompitent, and deceitful but he is quite adept at furthering his agenda by any means necessecary. The only other thing that he could do to further his cause is to stage yet another terrorist attack or attempted attack and use it to declare martial law,and keep himself in office.He's ruthless enough to do it.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42805Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:05:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42805Tim, ChicagoIt is obvious to me now that those people currently in charge of this country have come from locations that encourage 1st cousins to marry.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42815Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:34:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42815bubba tampa floridaIm a democrat and Im opposed to the war but if they find these guys, they should shoot them immediately. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42817Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:35:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42817SPC Anthony F. RybaThough there is no easy way to engage Iran at this point, with our resolve at its latest nadir, we must not give into despair and the darkness of pessimism. To "treat them like al-Quaeda" is the exact course we should pursue, but how far?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42819Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:39:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42819Mark G,, Mukegon, MIGood Article-very informative. Yet I am amazed at the bloggers who continue to believe that a war on terrorism can be "managed", as if it were a corporate business, complete with spreadsheets and expense reports. If you do a perfunctory study of ANY of this nations' wars you will find many examples of bad intel, miscalucations, out right blunders, etc. Yet we have won most of them because we ,as the saying goes, adapted, improvised, and overcame. We did not give up the first, second, or umpteenth time our plans went awry. Wars are not "managed"; they are in the most basic sense..struggles, plain and simple. The side that struggles the hardest, for the longest, wins. Period. We do have to admit our mistakes-such as not engaging the Qods force sooner, then learn, and fix them. It will be a continuos cycle. And the enemy will be doing the same thing... So don't hold your breath waiting for this war to be "managed", because we will be disappointed, And please don't fall into the trap of blaming one adminstration or one president. The war on terrorism has been going on for decades, and it will go for more decades. We should be patient, yet persistent, and take the fight to the Qods in their own back yard. God Bless America!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42820Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:42:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42820M. KellumIt is about time we started treating them like the terrorists they are, and not the troops protected by the Geneva Convention. If they won't talk, make them talk!! Look at the innocent lives they are taking in their own country and around the world. If they are captured do them like they do our troops---end their suffering. Let us quit being the "Treat them anyway horrible we want to, they won't be strong because their POLITICOS won't let them be".http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42823Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:47:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42823JpassIf the 'evidence' that Iran is sending active military into Iraq is as good as 'WMDs in iraq' or even 'Bin Laden did 9/11' evidence...then expect more of the same. Our nation (USA) will continue to be ridiculed for allowing criminals to lie, fabricate, send men to die, and destroy hundreds of thousands of lives in Iraq based on absolutely proven lies and fabrications...and now some are even considering supporting ANOTHER war. After 9/11 the motto was "Never Forget". What happened? We all let a cover-up sham job called the '9/11 commission' sell us a cartoonish fairy-tale about 12 virgins, box cutters, and a couple thousand evil doers from Afghanistan (with elaborate and un-provable connections to iran, syria and other 'evil nations'). In the mean time the chairmen of the 9/11 commission are making money selling books about how the very same 9/11 commission they chaired, was 'set up to fail'...books about how every major branch of the government involved lied to the commission. Remember, these wars can only be waged because of the scenario presented to the world FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION...about 9/11. We already know that Iraq was a bunch of shit. Look at 9/11. prove the governments case. E-mail it to me Well, prove it? Anyone.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42824Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:51:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42824Travis, Chicago, ILBefore we do anything more with this war, or get otherwise engaged in the Middle East it would be prudent to step back and assess what is going on there. Many of our current shortcomings seem to stem from not understanding the people of this region very well. While ideological differences are unlikely to be overcome, perhaps pursuing a better informed strategy would do us more good than trying to win on the strength of brute or technological superiority.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42827Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:22:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42827d haighway. Toronto Ont.if an enemy attacks you.then surely it is feasable to retaliate will all the resources you have available why do you ewven take a prisoner that just killed innocent people and put them on trial .or make excuses that they are from another country that you are not at war against. S urely the only reason they are in iraq is to kill off innocent people and attack american forces. As a canadian i feel bad about the whole war and the way it was run too many bad decisions and unnessary loss of lives . but love you fellow americans and wish you well http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42828Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:27:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42828Mike Zaloom, Bergenfield, NJThanks for your quick response KeeFu, but I must disagree with you. The majority of the people of Iraq never wanted us there and still don't want us there. The middle east should have been left to deal with their own problems. America never had any reason to go there other than to give Mr. President more power. "And please don't fall into the trap of blaming one adminstration or one president. The war on terrorism has been going on for decades, and it will go for more decades." I can certainly blame the war in Iraq on President Bush and his administration. I can also blame it partially on gung-ho patriots like yourself who never question anything the administration does, but even if there was 0% support for the war he would have gone in anyway. Violence is never the answer, especially when dealing with an inherently violent people. It gives them all the more reason to be violent towards America. They see us killing innocent civilians and children, and that's all they see. Our troops aren't exactly painting the most favorable picture over there.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42829Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:28:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42829ksoweto, Dallas, TXWhen will we learn that intelligence reports from the middle east are hyped. Because of this executive order, our troops will end up killing some innocent Iranian pilgrims in the area by mistake, thinking they were terrorists, and cause more grief, embarrassment, and anxiety for the US in the region.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42831Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:30:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42831GEORGE VIRES raleigh north carolina it is beyond me how someone who has not been in war ,can claim to know how to run one. our morals in the US will keep us from winning this war,we must do as they do,tell me how many prisoners do they have to slow them down, or burden their resources, I say eliminate them as we find them!!!!!!!!!!!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42835Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:38:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42835Res Ipsa LoquiturI suppose he implies all foriegn invaders who kill Iraqi civilians should be treated this way...oh wait a minute that would include US troops too doesn't it? When somen start drawing such thin rationales and excuses, its time to ask (again) a fundamental question. Someone remind me why we are there again. Bush has given so many lies and excuses, I forget which one it is this week. This is not like WW2, its more like Vietnam: a trumped up excuse to get into a war we find we cannot win and then lose our way--and then stubborn leaders (civilian and military starting at the top) put pride before the lives of our troops and won't rectify the error by pulling out.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42838Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:44:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42838Kim Joseph Its back to the Judeo-Christian crusade of killing Muslims wherever whenever you can and call more blood, gore, violence, destruction...and more Muslim blood. Whew what a violent religio... Shoot the kid who throw stones at you, kill the guy who stare at you.... Israel have violated over 60 UN Resolutions, defy the World Court of Justice, violated Human Rights, defy the Geneva Convention, defy the Internatioanl Atomic Energy Ag IAEA, shot at n hindered Red Cross work, destroyed over 45000 homes, cut over 1.6 mll olive trees, the longest occupying force in the world, invaded Lebanon 7 times etc etc... all done with approval and defended by the Evil Empire the USA. My vote for the real violent, brutal, inhumane religion: Judeo-Christianity.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42840Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:46:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42840Nelson RosaPlease enough with this, we should have never been in iraq to begin with, they have nothing to lose while we have everything to lose. dying to them is nothing they glorify it. And they don't have the army to fight back we have it all.Thats why we have to expect any and everything they have to offer. If not lets get out of there haven't we done enough damage to the country.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42846Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:54:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42846Pat Mesa AZIt is going to take the destuction of an American city before the fools that comment here and elsewhere get the fact that Islam fanatics really really mean us harm and that sticking our heads in the sand will not make them go away??? Say what you will about Bush (...and they say plenty, they want the good old days of Clinton and BJs in the White House), he understands the threat. Fools. Maybe Osama was right, we do not have the stomach, we are weak and getting weaker. Wake up, idiots!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42847Sat, 27 Jan 2007 01:58:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42847C Paschal, Batesville, ArYou know what it seems that the only people that remember September 11, 2001 are the people and children that lost loved ones on that day. We have become a nation of wimps that if we were to be given the task of fighting World War Two we would have failed miserably and this message would either be in german or japanese. As for tim from chicago, at least down here we don't kill our children and burry them in our basements.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42848Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:03:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42848Larry AllenQods,Hezbolla,Taliban, Al-Qaida'? How many stupid names are we gonna listen to? Here's a theory for you. If he, she or them are carrying a gun? shoot them immediately. If they look like they might blow up? Blow them up! If you have the slightest idea they'd like to cut your head off? Cut their head off! If they get within three hundred yards of you? use a rocket propelled grenade on them. If you think you might ever have seen their face on the internet? shoot them, and cut their head off! If they are tall, ride a camel, short, wear a ragg, have brown skin, and look kinda like an arab? shoot them, cut their head off and blow their ass up! If anyone asks? just say.....Qods. I think we need a couple hundred specialized groups with names circulating in that place? Specialized teams of take no prisoners men that like to do it. Give them names that would bring chills to the rag heads. (The HEADS) they could collect heads every night. (Or the Oop's)...for sorry about the bayonet up your rag ass...... There's one sure fire thing we could do? We could tell all these damn mexicans that they can get a job over there! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42850Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:12:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42850Jarret Herrmann Luray VATreat them like Qaeda, eh? That sounds good. So, to stop the threat from Al Irana, we should mutter inane speaches about "bringing it on" and "smoking them out" then let them hide out in Pakistan while we invade a country with nothing to do with them, such as Jordan. That sounds like a fine plan. Seriously, has the administration not learned that you can't just kill everyone who is against you? Of course Iran is going to aid Shia militias, they want to have allies and influence in Iraq and we should respect that. Bush is running around trying to plug every leak in a sinking ship with more bullets and it's clearly not working. Engaging Iran diplomaticly and accepting their influence in Iraq is the way to help stabilize the country. The alternative is another middle east fiasco against Iran.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42851Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:12:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42851AminInstead of allying with Iran, the administration is murdering Iranians, and trying to create a coallition of Arab dictatorships to counter the most progressive state in the middle east (and no Israel, which prevents 6 million Arab natives from returning to their land to keep its apartheid state "Jewish" is not progressive, it is a supremacist state). Good job American administration, looks like another war for Israel. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42853Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:14:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42853doug fisher olympia waMark G. Mukegon your wisdom should spread.People seem to get so cought up in details. They need to understand that Iraq is but one theater in the war in terror and that we better start "fighten like its a war"http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42855Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:17:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42855Jay, Evansville, INmy brother in law is going over as one of the 21,500 troops here in may. I am very worried for his safety. He has already spent 4 years in the military, and protected one of the embassies after it was bombed. Am I against the troop surge? No, I agree with a previous poster that our troops need reinforcement, but when the reinforcements get there, I hope this new plan is better than what we have been doing the last 5 years or so, because it sure seems it isnt working very well. I love our country, I do not hate our president, nor do i think he is evil like some people do, but i do think we have harmed the name of the USA in the mess that we have gotten ourselves into over in Iraq. Terrorism will never be defeated. For every terrorist, or terrorist leader we kill, it pisses off 5 more and makes them hate the U.S. We have to bring our troops home, and protect ourselves at home, because like it or not, one day, we are going to be fighting a war within our country with people we have let in, and I sincerely believe that a nuke will go off in the U.S. in the next five years. Just watch, and pray that it doesnt happen. But wouldnt it be nice to defend ourselves at home? Sorry this is so long, but we are going to be going to war with Iran within the year, and I will probably be over there because there will be a draft because our military is stretched so thin. Our country, and the stability of the world is in shambles like it or not, and something drastic has got to happen. Peace everyone.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42856Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:27:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42856eye of eagle, tecumseh, MI.Load 'em all on a leaky stinky barge towed by a small slow tugboat and send them all to "devil's island" off of South America. I know the french own or used to own the island, just don't tell them...They can fight among themselves and kill each other off. I don't believe any of them have watched the movie Pappilon, so they're not going to far.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42860Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:34:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42860Bob R., Washington, D.C.Colonel Francona: What happens after the first direct engagements between U.S. troops and and IRGC forces? If Iran escalates and sends hundreds of IRGC into Iraq to fight, how do we respond? I agree with the capture/kill decision, but at some point a 'hot pursuit' into Iran may be required. Where do the ROE end? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42862Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:39:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42862pete slc utIt escapes me how anyone can believe anything that comes from the bush admin when will the http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42866Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:45:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42866CFT, Newton, NHIf you don't understand why we are sending more troops to Iraq, and can't understand why we have been catching-releasing in the first place, and can't understand why we are finally willing to treat IRCG/Qods Force the way that they deserve to be treated then you have no right to criticize anyone in the current administration. Foreign policy is multi-faceted, give the Iranians the benefit of the doubt while we still think there's at least a snowballs chance in hell for diplomacy over their nuclear ambition ... once they step over a very fine line we start wiping them out, or hopefully *extracting* as much info out of them as we can prior to killing them. Also, we'll need the extra troops in theatre for when Israel strikes Iranian nuke facilities, and Iran makes the idiotic decision to counter-attack...Get our guys over there in a hurry Gates!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42891Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:14:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42891nomox,everywhereair,internationalmoreover, you all simply do not understand what evil really is. It breeds from the questions of right, and justice and lives in the very presence of illegitimate thoughts of blinking while they are burrowing through the earth to your feet. What really is up with this, are you all so blatently self absorbed as to not really understand the nature of evil? Evil is to distort what has been placed before us, evil is to embedd what it wants rather than whatis or we may know, evil is to shatter what little credo there is as proof so as to disqualify the right and good. that, is evils intent, to place the equilibrium into a one sided meat market advantage... weigh your options careful...God is watching... http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42892Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:15:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42892Pearlene Scott, Las Vegas, NVIt's got to be a little hard to sell the killing "IRANIAN'S" considering that we are trying to sell democracy, when one of the key things that make democracy work is the justice system. I forgot, Bush is the "Decider", Commander in Chief" and therefore kill the "operatives" and try then later. The Middle East East was a bad situation to began with and then Junior decided (the decider) to get Saddam but with his "C" average from Yale, he forgot to attend any classes that explained that Shiites are from IRAN (Hezbollah), Sunni's are from Saudia Arabia (9/11 hijackers) and like oil and water THEY DON"T MIX!. We have an explosive situation in the middle east and blaming Iraq for 911, invading them on the lies has created a situation that only needs a match. Killing Iranian's sounds like the match. Are you ready for another war? Are you and your children ready for the draft?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42899Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:41:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42899Sonny, Houston, TXHow do we achieve peace for middle east? erase the iran and syria from the map.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42900Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:54:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42900bob savagehopefully george will send every cruise missile available to hit targets in iran,syria and elswere he thinks needs some attention as soon as possible before the liberal jackasses get us all killed! keep up the good work george and dickhttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42901Sat, 27 Jan 2007 04:59:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42901MrWhyte, CanadaAlright I am a Canadian and I have to give my perspective on this. What the hell is wrong with America? Sending more and more troops into Iraq has to be one of the worst ideas this administration (if you can call it that) has made. The whole idea to go in after Iraq was probably orchestrated under Bush Sr's supervision. He failed there the first time so he sent his son to finish off what he couldn't. Shooting Iranian's is ridicualous. Instead of working towards a peaceful end George wants to start a war with a country much more willing to go to war than Iraq. All this looks like is a plan to start off another world war. All this president is doing is uniting all the muslim countries under one common enemy. United against the US and without a fear of death it could turn into a nuclear holocaust very easily. Unlike Russia these countries are not afraid of the reprecussions... This may not be the best spot for this, but I want to know why the US is focusing so much on the Middle East yet an insane dictator like Kim Jong-il who is testing missles and probably has nuclear weapons isn't being targeted by this administration... May God or whoever you believe in bless America because no one else will. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42912Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:00:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42912J Irons, Hanford, CAWe will not win this war by bludgeoning the people in the middle east be they Iranians, Syrians, Jordanians, Iraquis. For every woman or child we mistakenly kill we create hundreds of people who can only hate us for what we are doing to them. Remember, most of these people are uneducated and illerate except for what they hear from their clerics who are no more worldly than they. What they see is the reality they are living. We need to use our superior industrial ability, our knowledge, our diplomatic expertise and our humanitarian of fairness to stop this madness. We cannot continue on this slippery slope on which we are now standing. We must hurry the democratic process we the people spoke in November. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42913Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:06:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42913Brian, DC, Maryland The Iran factor will take this war to new increased levels of American involvment. The Iran-Iraq war lasted for over ten years. Hundreds of thousands died on both sides. Iran has been very patient and calculating in all this. Also watch for China to soon react oddly as we engage the Iranians inside Iraq. This war will go on longer than the average American can imagine or want to stomach. We are in this area for keeps and we are probably never leaving for decades. I sadly predict young American first graders today will have Iraqi mud on their boots fifteen years from now. The current situation will, after a wee bit longer period of horrible civil bloodshed, eventually settle down. Iraqi's will turn on and expel the insurgents among them. US forces will be carefully reduced and some will "re-deploy" out to their defendable remote air bases. But we will always be somewhere in Iraq to support the government and act as a regional balance to Iran. I think we're getting to like these people. America's air power and troops will be busy either protecting, reporting, advising Iraqi's or supporting American industrial interests. Rebuilding Iraq and extracting their oil is a goldmine for the US. I never believed any of the for public consumption motives for this war especially the Iraq democracy BS. Oh, that will take about fifty more years or so. Right now they have the crack and we have the habit. Ahhh, the steel like smell of capitalism in the morning. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42919Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:05:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42919Roger StanislawWhat is now happening in Iraq, had to happen because of failure to have REAL coallition partners from the Middle East. Our ability to sustain a long term battle without local support, will do to us as was done to the Russians in Afganistan. This War can go only two ways from here. Nuclear destruction of 40% of the Worlds oil and the area of the middle East or a backward step of our comfortable lifestyles in the civilized World. No matter what we do, eventually we will have to protect Israel from Arab destruction by the only means possible. Nuclear Armaggedon. George W only hastened the inevitable. Fighting with ground troops in the Middle East is a worse folley than Korea. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42922Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:16:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42922Kathy WilberI am in such fear that Bush's insanity, lack of any understanding of the cultures that his war has put into uproar and turmoil, and his arrogance toward the global community will get us all kiiled. His idea of "diplomacy" is to tell other leaders that they have to obey him or else. He needs to go, but I don't think our constitution provides for a solution to an insane president and a V.P. who's a slimy crook. Wish I had answers. How did we get here? Unfortunately I think its the our own fault--the information was out there before the Iraq war began--but no one had (has?)the guts to stop King George. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42926Sat, 27 Jan 2007 08:45:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42926Redfox-wWe seem to be descending into an abyss of turmoil. What were our military commanders doing in Iraq since the invasion. Competence was missing from the higher command.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42936Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:24:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42936D. Cole, Chicago ILI am a Viet Nam era vet w/draft age children, am terrified by thought of my kids in combat because a delusional zealot deems it necessary. Will we see the Bush and Cheney children step up and fight on foreign soil for their fathers'legacy? If the "decision makers" kids do not go, why should mine? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42942Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:05:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42942Robin RRHe might be ruthless but Bush obviously has military advisors who understand war and peace and a mission to win and protect all Americans from attack and terror. These scum lurking terrorist should fight in their own country and be handled strategicly with just one thing in mind......America is free and if I were Prsident I would protect it like my child, never letting our guard down or dropping our drawers in front of the world. Women are more efficient protectors when it comes to her young, flesh and blood. Although I'm not crazy about Hillary, I believe the right woman Pres. would be better for our country in these critical times. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42943Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:59:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42943D. Hahn, Rochester, NYPossibly if our troops (already placed)were guarding the borders in the area rather than concentrating on only Bagdad (with more troops sent in) Again thie administration moves on it's own, and only believes in advancing war,looking to engage Iran into a conflict. This administration is void of any dialogue with other nations, perhaps because the "decision maker" is unable to engage in a dialogue without again giving the direction to get them "dead or alive". Sound familiar?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42953Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:38:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42953Sgt Bob Bella Vista ArkansasColonel, I wish we would just Nuke Iran and get this over with. Maliki will look over his shoulder at the never-setting sun in the glowing east and become compliant. Once Ahmenijad started doing the Holocaust Denial crud He ended any chance of civil discussion with me. And I think US forces have been in between hearts and minds work and security for 4 years finishing neither for a lack of manpower. I am sure we as a people aren't upset at the military, it has as usual been asked to do too much without resourcing it, and outsourced skills haven't produced results. I think most of it is because some civilians know that eventually we will just salute, take our 3 peas and a slingshot and go win, naked, if we are told to.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42956Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:43:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42956Mark Hansen, Toronto, OntarioLt. Col. Rick Francona is a nothing but a dishonorable vulgar propagandist. Shia government of Iraq is a close ally of Shia government of Iran. Iran already has achieved its political and strategic objectives in Iraq--help Shias set up a Shia government. Both Iranian and Iraqi governments have repeatedly rejected anti-Iran American accusations.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42962Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:03:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42962Mansfield Gibbs Rochdale NYplease note to all americans living in this world today that this country does the same things Iran is doing to the Usa and let me say this to my fellow Americans today this Bush white house is all about lies and more lies.people wake-up and smell the bad cup of coffe that is about to come your way .Iran is not Iraq my friend the night and day in a war with Iran wil'be long bloody and costly not to say will take this whole world into a tail spin.we Americans give the jewish state of Isreal arm,technology,money to kill Arabs in the whole Middle-east my american friends Isreal is america's biggest problem and there is the whole mess to this bull-shit okay people wake-up leave Iran,American people and the Middle-east,Africa and the whole world in general alone.we have alot of mess at home to fix first a clean face to the world will help bring about a better world for all mankind to live.I'm still waiting for the world to change. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42964Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:11:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42964Richard B. SimonSo these guys helped foment the rebellion our President (Bush) asked for in 1991 and were working with the Northern Alliance to oust the Taliban? And now they are our enemies. Hmm ... What has changed? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42969Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:34:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42969Pete Bayside, New York (there are a few Conservatives in New York!Let me see if I understand the idea of the USA not using "the strength of brute or technological superiority." So, after literally thousands of people have been killed by terrorists in attacks (in embassy bombings and on civilians sitting in trains, restaurants, etc.) by the use of brute strength and technological superiority (example: cell phone bombs and IED's), it's the U.S. that must try to understand the ideological differences of the terrorists. Well, finally a more informed strategy has been adopted by the U.S. military. After extracting intell from captured QUD/Iranian personnel, treatment them as the enemy combatants that they are. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42970Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:36:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42970Tim, Upstate New York While I agree that the muslim Qods Force should be treated as enemy combatants (shot, hacked, captured, neutralized...) by making this an official policy may only lend some form of credibility to them and more importantly - their cause. This could ultimately strengthen their position. But, unfortunately, that's the sort of war we are in - and we need to win this - and that means taking off the kid gloves and playing hardball - whether the media and US public like it or not. I think also that the media needs to be controlled over there so as not to undermine US personnel and what they need to do to get the job done. War is never a pretty thing. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42972Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:39:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42972brooke..........lansing, michiganAmericans soldiers are not paying attention....in iraq....The russians put forward.....wheels...on vehicles to deal with roadside bombs....Why don't the amercians use the same techniques rather than driving blindly over them,,,,,http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42976Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:47:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42976brooke......lansing, michigantime is running out on Bush.....and his party won't get re elected........The democrats......will.......expand the war in the middle east....into iran and syria......as they get bolder with their intervention into iraq,,,,and lebanon,,,,,and as Iran,,,,,,openly start making nukes....http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42978Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:53:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42978brooke.....lansing, michiganwhen american home owners learn the technology of geothermal.......and when americans are able to convert their cars to fuel cell......hydrogen.....do it yourself knowledge.....because the auto industry won't because they are owned by the oil companies.....american politicans will feel free to use whatever force is necessary....in the middle east...http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42980Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:55:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42980Rick Rodriguez, Corpus Christi, TXSpin on brother! This laundry list of atrocious behaviour attributed to these bad Iranians is interesting in itself. If these people have had American blood on their hands for 20 years, why has it not been dealt with sooner. Any schoolboy knows that we can "reach out and touch someone" anywhere in the world. Or has it suddenly stirred the terrible anger of supporters and spin doctors of the self appointed decision maker. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42982Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:57:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42982brooke......lansing, michiganamerican corporations are the enemy within......they ship jobs to china,,,,,intel is an example....when they get nationalized,,,,,like chavez is doing in venzuala......they will learn....a lesson,,,,,and high tail it back........it's just a matter of time,,,,china will nationalize them.....in order to steal their technology,,,,,,when china,,,,gets what they want........http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42983Sat, 27 Jan 2007 15:59:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42983Sean , Brunswick,Ga.Being a Bush Hater will not make the bad guys go away! They have no demands and seek our total distruction, all of us:Black, white ,Jew ,Christian,Gay ,straight! I hear they take it easy on converts!Dems have no plans! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42985Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:09:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42985thomas remleyI am very glad that the Iranians now being found in Iraq will be captured or killed.. These people have been causung problems for a long time not only in Iraq but in Isreal, lebanon, and else where.. If we don't stop them now in Iraq and Afganistan, then PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY BETTER BE PREPARED TO FIGHT TERRIOST ON THEIR OWN BACK DOOR STEP..These people are destined to destroy the western world and take over total control and either kill or place all westerners under slavery.. WAKE UP AND LISTEN TO WHAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING.. I personally can't believe that the liberals of this country are so blind, and even a lot that aren't liberals..I believe strongly in my country and what we are doing to protect this country and to keep it free..I am sickened by the people that are not standing behind our President and this country and the war on terriosm..Belive me 911 was only a wake up call to this nation, and if we don't take the fight to them, then you WILL be fighting them here on your own BACK DOOR STEP. I believe that MOST americans have forgotten how we came about the freedom that we currently have and enjoy. Remember FREEDOM comes with a price, I understand that it is a harsh price, but remember what I said about those that want to destroy us..I am ex Militery and have fought in a war myself and I am hurt deeply by the comments from people about cutting and running.. We did that in vietnam and see what happened.. as soOn as we left even tho there was a treaty made the north immediatel;y moved in and killed tousands of people and took over the country. People are you wanting this to happen to the USA.. I know what Many of you are thinking, no no that can't hapPen, but I must say I believe it can and IT wilL if we don't protect our freedom NOW by fighting those that want to destroy us where they are, in their own country...I have only one other thing to say,, The people of this country beter PRAY that we win in Iraq and Afganistan.. Alos don't forget that our freedom didn't come over nite, and many died in the fight to gain the freedom we have NOW..http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42987Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:20:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42987john t. Princeton, nji'm amazed that people still snipe at Bush. I'm an independent voter, I voted for Bush and I believe that mistakes, misjudgments and a wide assortment of things happened, like in all wars before, that gave us less than the clean victory we had hoped for. The problem is that so many Americans do not realize that there hasn't been a war thats been clean and not fraught with problems and challenges.Critics say that Bush lied about WMD. How is that possible when most intelligence agencies agreed with the CIA that Iraq had them. I would ask how did he lie? In the entire scope of things it little matters except that some Americans refuse to think objectively and deal with the facts that we know. Get over it and lets move on. I was at ground zero and unless you stood there you can't understand the magnitude of what occurred. I was out of work for 27 months as my company collapsed. We need to pull together like we did then. Our very existence is at stake here. My father, who was a combat vet from WWII, often questioned our generation's resolve when it got tough. His retort was "i won't be here but I doubt you have the stomach for what we went through". God bless those killed already, but 3,000 dead - that was a good week in WWII when thousands died each day - 55 million over the course of the war. There really is a price for freedom. It looks like we are doing a number of things now including instituting actions to destabilize Iran's economy that might, along with the threat of force, make Iran back down. We have more than enough missiles to flatten every factory, oil field and pipeline there without losing a single soldier -completely destroying there economy and hopefully forcing a regime change. We need to come together again because each dissenting action emboldens the enemy - we all have the right to free speech but lets measure what we're saying to if its right for the time.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42989Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:27:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42989jin Wiesbaden GermanyLook at the big picture the budget surpluse gone defens contractors getting rich are we stupid or what? all these propaganda is for oil greed and power do not cover it with freedom 9/11 terror...wake up and smell the stink of imperialisem and greed by corporations and those who whish to be able to control all the world by their free trade and free market economy so it would be free for riches to freely rape the rest of world and if they rise....TERRORIST they would be????? GOD save us .....http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42991Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:29:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42991ML Reiffel, Pima County, AZWe have become; So Propagandized by the Dope Smoking, Pandering, Politically Correct, Left Wing Liberals and their Converts, we don't KNOW how to take casualties or conduct WAR... We're too worried about who's toes we're stepping on! Give Me a Couple of Divisions of the former "WAFFEN SS", with up to date Equipment, and The problem (in IRAQ) would be solved in a couple of Months!...http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42995Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:40:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42995Clinton White, Flemingsburg,KentuckyThis is "WAR", to fight it as if it were a trip to the Bahamas is to invite disaster. General Sherman once said "War is Hell" as he marched through Georgia burning everything in his path. Once he moved on there was no resistance or CSA troops of any type in his rear. We all know how that turned out. If we are to go to war then let us fight it as total war not a side note on the evening news everyday. We must also silence the liberal wing in this country for they are selling us all down the river to one world government in which no one will have the right to criticize. I would reinstitute the draft, call up 5 million American Patriots, and send the unwavering message that we are coming to get them and to eradicate them with extreme prejudice. Only in this way will we change the environment of hate and murder for they only appreciate strength. Thank God we as a country did not fight WWII in this manner because if we had we would still be saying "Heil Hitler". God Bless America! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42998Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:51:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42998steve ny nyWhat is the USA going to do when innocent christians and jews are charged with the same thing in IRAN?The only answer the USA has in Iraq is MORE VIOLENCE and more killing of innocent people.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#42999Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:54:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:42999John Norfolk VA Stories like this mean nothing to the Lefties of this planet. I strongly suggest they look in to what Iran and their buddies say and do. Bush bashing is cute but it doesn't save any lives or end the problem. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43010Sat, 27 Jan 2007 17:36:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43010CHUCK ROBISON OCALA FL.WE NEED TO FIGHT A WAR LIKE A WAR-WHATEVER HAPPENED TO "YOUR EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US" HOW QUICKLY WE FORGEThttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43011Sat, 27 Jan 2007 17:44:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43011Jim WhitmanTreating them like al Queada ??? That means Bush will divert resources & troops away from them..http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43023Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:45:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43023MichaelMost of the so called "Iranians" in Iraq who are fighting are not even Iranians...they are palestinians or lebanese. only high ranking Iranian officals are in Iraq and they are behind the scenes...it is amsuing how many palestinians and lebanese want to fight for the mullahs in Iran.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43025Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:56:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43025Denver CramerWhen the Bush Admin. leaves office we're still facing the war in Iraq, and Iran. Who do we want running the helm.Maybe a lady who jumps on a chair and screems when she see's a mouse,or a young oreo cookie that has no idea how to fight a war, the gang wars are still going on in Chicago. And who will he pick for running mate, Jessie or Al. Think about it. I agree Bush need's to fight fire with fire. They ( Iran ) set this game up, so let's play by there rules. Put road side bomb's along their route from Iran to Iraq. Send remote controled car bomb's to their city. I know the myth busters would really enjoy to show you how. Put up "DEAD OR ALIVE" posters on the Iraq and Irans borders. Any Iranian crossing border will be shot. No question asked.Signed G.W.BUSH. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43033Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:21:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43033Cuchieddie North Hollywood, CAWhat have we become? Our country will not allow our troops to kill the enemy. There is an ACLU lawyer and a reporter from the Mean Stream Media behind every bush just waiting to attack an American trooper. We are doomed as a nation unless we pull our heads out of our butts soon.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43039Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:39:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43039Dick Belfair WaWhen our troops meet them they should say, " Smile, as Allah is about to greet you and show you the way to Hell."http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43047Sat, 27 Jan 2007 19:50:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43047Fred Stradley Spokane, WaTreat this War like a damn "WAR"and stop trying to blame President Bush for everything. You don't have to agree with all that he does, but he won the election........so tough luck. Another thing I wish all of you bleeding hearts would get off of and that's not supporting our soldiers. I'm a Vet so I take it real personal. We are the most powerful nation in the world, and we didn't get there by whining we got there with Blood, Sweat, and Tears. And for some of you, if you haven't been there you don't have a damn thing to say. Nuke em and let God sort em out Fred Stradley Spokane Valley, Wahttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43050Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:11:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43050NaemI read this and pray to God what is becoming of this world.People who are civilized,Talking like savages.Go and kill any one who does not bow to us. Who gave you right to go and distroy other people's lives. For our self interest we would go and kill any one who does not agree or live to our will.Do you think it's just our right to go meddle in other people's lives and no other country can do the same. God gave you this rich country take care of people here and let other coutries live as they please. What if Russia or China start doing the same thing to America and support Canada in repressing Americans,Do you think people here would not object and do the same thing what Iran is supposedly doing. I wonder why these evil countries(Iran along with whole world) are not trying to destroy other democratic countries like Canada,France,Germany....because they don't try to impose their views on others. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43051Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:11:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43051chris clay, wichita, kswell. first things first. those iranian units should be destroyed where ever we find them.second. the president should initate an all out, world wide, 120 day offensive, along with our allies. and in those 120 days, WE SHOULD DESTORY ALL, AND ANY TERRORISTS WHERE THEY ARE FOUND. IN THE AIR, ON THE SEA, ON THE LAND, UNDER THE SEA. also, with no mercy. no quarter, no sympathy.we should use everything in our power, up to and including nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, bio weapons. if we are to win, we need to play to win. how do you talk a terrorist down? you dont! you put one in his head and two in his chest, and call it a day.as for casualities, we need to just accept that we are going to have them. you cant fight a war, and not lose people.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43052Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:15:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43052Larry Keller , Los Angeles, CaliforniaMy strong feeling about the events following Nine Eleven are simply that we should have eradicated those factions which are totalitarian and filled with hate. That part of the world is a cancer to our planet and should simply be destroyed. Instead of wasting years at war, the citizens in the middle east should have been given one choice, select democracy or die. Support america and stop hating, or die. I am usually gentle in my approach but when it comes to radicalists who only hate others and are determined to propogate that hate until they kill all of us, I am unforgiving.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43057Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:37:13 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43057Greg C. Reading Pa.OK OK, I too want to join the LIBS and close my eyes to the realities of the world. But that won't change the twisted goals of the very real threat we face as a nation targeted by terrorists. Political correctness has run array in that we couldn't allow our troops to kill Iranian special forces in Iraq until now. Ted Kennedy wants to give the poor terrorists a lawyer at Guantanamo. They're the same persons who would slit his throat or decapitate him in a split second if given the chance. But somehow, they deserve to be treated as if they're someone who deserves a welfare check. One thing is certain. "One only appreciates what one has earned". Since our freedoms were won by true patriots blood, our country has become a bunch of pendejos afraid to stare evil down when it shows it's nasty face. Maybe we should follow John Kerry's plan of giving Iran the nuclear fuel and see if they're honest in saying it's only for energy, not bombs. HMMMMMMM, are we that naive?? GOD help us all.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43060Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:58:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43060hoof spoof aloof 55padrive pa.why have we not been attacked since 911 in this United States of America.Is homeland security that good or do the terrorists realize that an attack can and will only make us stronger ..........So maybe the terrorists are planning something really gigantic in order to cripple this nation.Probably something multible. Let's face it anyone could manufacture a bomb and place it wherever they wanted to who can stop it there's more than meets the eye here in the first place when this country get's hit hard working people who don't have anything to do with the problem lose all of thier stocks and bonds .Many people are suppressed here and homeless and poor and are just specimens for the system to use..http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43064Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:11:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43064William R. Sell Colorado Springs, COLORADOThe moonbat lunacy I regularly read here is if anything, illustrative of WHY we no longer can enjoy a Constitutional government. How can we maintain a rational society when populated by folks that demonstrate such blatant idiocy as we can read here daily. These folks should spend a little time in a place and time wherte society is coming un-done. Perhaps then they could begin to garner a bit of "understanding". Or, the "refined" people of the "peaceful religion" can gleefully take their empty American heads off with a dull ginsu knlife for entertainment, or maybe equality, or religious freedom.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43069Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:25:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43069Michael O., San Francisco, CAIran did not suddenly become our enemy, remember the failed Iran hostage rescue attempt in 1980? They have been our enemy ever since. We have actually have HAD light engagements with them ever since. Go to goggle and search for "Operation Earnest Will" and "Operation Praying Mantis", just to name a couple of them. They have been directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of many americans (civilian and military) over the last 27 years? . Their training and supplying of insurgents in Iraq, is just Iranian goverment's latest continuation of their hostile policy toward us. They generally don't attack us directly (which would be insane), they tend to sponser and train irregular forces which attack us or our allies (for instance, Goggle: "Marine Barracks Beirut Lebanon 1983"). Still doubtful? Iranian Government Sponsored Terrorist Organizations: Lebanese Hizballah HAMAS Palestine Islamic Jihad Palestinian Rejectionist Groups Mujahedin-e-Khalq Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security Use Goggle or any other source to verify these....Now do you really believe we shouldn't target Iranian agents in Iraq?...Or that we are just "picking on" Iran? Look on a map of the middle east, what country is between Afghanistan and Iraq? Of course Iraq didn't really pose a major threat to the US. Our objective was/is to create democracies on both sizes of Iran, to eventually directly or indirectly democracize Iran. Iran was always the goal, not necessarily invading it, but one way or another to change it. The Iranian citizens would see the benefits it's new neighboring democracies are experincing and want those same freedoms themselves. Of course it's not turning out that way, and Iran is making sure it doesn't. The Iranian hardliners have ALOT to lose if we succeed. I'm sure quite a few middle eastern governments are threatened by the vision of democratic middle east. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43071Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:31:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43071William R. Sell Colorado Springs, ColoradoWho's surprised? Thinking was declared verboten at the end of the 'Nam. That's when the officer corps was beginning to be purged of anyone that thought for themselves. Now the entire Army has been purged and it is a continuing effort.Why do ya think reefer is 'verboten' today? Does NO ONE remember the purges that happenned during the Clinton debacle? And WHY does that STILL SORE chronological LIAR McCaffery have the job of the "bug Czar".. Because he's practiced the LIES for thirty years, that's why. Thinking for one's SELF is one of the liabilities of SMOKING GOD'S CREATION. Today's Army doesn't think it can tolerate thinking troops. Only automatons. As for the rest of the moonbat left, why don't ya move to this paradise of right thinking muslims, so they can enjoy the act of taking your empty head off with a dull ginsu knife, SIMPLY BECAUSE YER AMERICAN! Try to LEARN to THINK, people!It's only forbidden thiose in uniform. Of course, you wouldn't wear a uniform, it would reveal your limp conformity. Draft the MOONBATS!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43076Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:38:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43076Wayne G Quincy MassClearly this Administration has put our troops in harms way by allowing this behavior to go on.If there is a country sending troops to help kill our soldiers,i say kill their troops.Beyond that,the sponsoring country is obviously looking for a fight and i say give it to them.I know all you liberals out there think that no war is justified,but most of you are people who got bullied and pushed around.You people would love nothing better than to keep us weak.There is a time and place for war and seeing that Iran is formenting all the unrest in the Middle East,i think it is high time that they get a dose of what can happen when meddling with my beloved USA.For all of you who want to talk with Iran and Syria(and worry about a draft),why don't you just move to France,because you obviously are ready to surrender your dignity and pride, but you cannot surrender mine.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43079Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:43:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43079joe cicerowe should fight like they do and not be so easy of a target. put are soldiers in 6-7- different camps protected by air and sea and protect the borders from incoming insergents,iranians, and the iraqi soldiers sould handel the promblems in the cities etc.this war on terror is not going away and we need to stay and winhttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43081Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:45:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43081Bucco Mert HarpoCol., As long as those "leaders" in the Emerald City, posturing as democrats as well as those money-grubbers of ours in D.C., while "inexplicable" infiltrations occur at the gallows and official offices, I don't see any ally nor a valid government to protect. Any Iranian official activity within Iraq is a miscalculation giving that political miscreant in the White House more ammunition and bodies to waste in the sands of Mesopotamia. But then again, didn't the decider declare unofficial war against the Axis of Evil in 2002 to precipitate such actions? To presume we have the authority-military or moral, to engage this presence is to overlook the chaos our nation has unleashed for bogus reasons so to get Iran cornered between the two fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq. I see our presence in Iraq more like the visitation of Pike and his boys in the "Wild Bunch". As much as I revere that movie, it is the appropriate metaphor for the affects of the Neo-Con-Bush policy on the Iraq.. The advocates, supporters, and apologists mythologize their Foreign Policy as if it was akin to John Wayne coming in with the troops from Fort Apache to save the day. The reality is closer to Holden (Pike) and the boys getting a town shot-up to Hell in their FOILED ATTEMPT of aggrandizement. That's how the average Iraqi, who apporve to over 60% to having Americans killed, sees the consequence of our incursion to remove one dog-Saddam, but releasing the hounds of Hell upon them. Nearly 4 years into the war and we're finally getting around to providing security for the non-combatants who have been our wards ever since we deposed Saddam. But just like our own southwestern border, the Neo-Con-Bush policy never had the resources or the plan to control the Iraqi borders from the Guests Prince Georgie, the AWOL-One, invited with his "Bring'em On" speech. So while those back here are living in the delusion that we're the the guys in the white-hats coming to the rescue, the people of Iraq see the affects of our presence as akin to Pike and the boys making a "friendly" business trip to that poor South Texas town. For the sake of the Iraqi People and the safety of our Hostage-to-policy troops, we need to offer to the world community that a suitable REPLACEMENT force be mobilized to substitute for our troops who've become the tangible presence of the "Wild Bunch" policy of the Neo-Cons and Bush, and replace them with a credible force that COULD be the MATT DILLON for the GUN SMOKE of Baghdad and Anbahr province. Reduce the American presence to providing air transport and humanitarian logistical support for the Iraqi people through the Red Crescent/Red Cross or other NGO's. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43088Sat, 27 Jan 2007 22:18:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43088William R Sell Colorado Springs, CoThis is a "war"? Padna, the 'War" was over three years ago. This is the ensuing occupation. Seems this politically correct non dope smoking "Army" can't even do that right. Of course, thinking was declared verboten at the end of the 'Nam, and the purges have gone on ever since, under the guise of "substance abuse". Bullshit. Thinking was and IS the only enemy the Army has.WE didn't have bulletproof vests. We didn't have near the gear these guys have, yet we kicked the hell out of "chuck" in every contact. But we were permitted to think for ourselves. That ended in '73. And that ass McCaffery is STILL mouthing one bald faced lie after another. What a sore loser.What a F%%&)#$g TYRANT. What an ASS. He ruined a great Army.It is now only a small mercenary force. And we all know about mercs.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43089Sat, 27 Jan 2007 22:19:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43089AlHas anyone ever thought of the possibility that the U.S can lose this war big time in the minds of u.s. /world opinion. Militarily its very easy to inflict major (nearly complete destruction )casualties on a force of 100,000 plus soldiers hunkered down in an small area (Green Zone), particularly when the enemy is all around them. They seeem more like bait than a force. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43098Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:06:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43098rswiers, livermore, caSounds to me like you've provided an excellent rationale that U.S. Troops should be redeployed to protect the borders and ensure the Iraqi issues stay Iraqi. It also would justify the need to try diplomatic efforts to try to get the countries you mentioned to ensure the aggatators stay in their countires rather than Iraq. The idea the U.S. troops are going to go door to door and stop this is idiotic (which is the politest term I can think of). Once we get one, there will be two to replace the one. We screwed up. We lost the focus on the real mission which was in Afganistan to go into what was clearly a personal vindetta and now can't get ourselves out. Bush hasn't heard a counterplan? Here it is, George: Redeploy to close the Iraq borders to outsiders, begin diplomacy with neighboring countries and divide Iraq so the three ethnic groups all have their own "states".http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43099Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:06:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43099Thomas HollowayIt's so easy to point out ones fault's as so many Americans are doing with the leaders of our country who are tring to fight a war were the enemy is often invisible How about we all pull together and work together as one instead of beating up our goverment put your ideas on the table and see if there may be a way we can win the war and still bring our brothers and sisters home sooner than later leaving iraq before our mission is complete is not the answer I asure you we do not want a repeat of sept 11 keep our enemies on their shores take the fight to them. TO ALL OF AMERICA REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM AND TO WHOM OUR GOVERMENT STANDS FOR TOGETHER WE ARE ONE PLEASE DON'T FORGET GO BUSHhttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43104Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:31:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43104djthis is only a diplomatic move.isnt this obviouse Bush is looking for another war. why is this all important now http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43106Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:33:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43106Alvin Horeak, Regina, Sask. Canada.President Bush should have 100% support from the American people. We are at war and its time we woke up to that fact. There should be an immediate draft and the military should be strengthened by five million soldiers. Then let's take off the gloves and get to work. The current situation is worse than it was in 1938. America wake up. And Canada should wake up too. Three cheers for President Bush.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43108Sat, 27 Jan 2007 23:37:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43108Dennis, Arvada, COI have one question. What do we do about the SAUDI'S (Bush's friends) who are actively supporting the Sunni's in Iraq and at the very least indirectly responsible for the deaths of American Servicemen??? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43111Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:02:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43111Frank W. Battaglino, Washington, DCI pray to god that we win, the only way to deal with these terrorist is to be ruthless. Where are the Generals like Patton? Do we have anyone in our military that doesn't give a damn and just wants to win? We have to become the america that once was. when we went to war and won,when it din't matter what party you belong to. my fellow citizens make me sick. Sometimes I really do not want to be here anymore. The politicians and libs have really screwed this country up. If we keep it up, we'll be like France, that's frighting. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43113Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:17:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43113Kenn, NY, NYGet it? The stage is set, an all out war in the middle east created by none other than the good ole US of A. The majority of the Middle East will by the Sunni's, aligned with Al Queada, the the minority will be Iran, Iraq making up the Shia. Iran is only protecting its interest. They will face along with Iraq the complete and utter wrath of the whole middle east when the war of Sunni vs. Shitte spills over the borders of Iraq. The is a reason the Iran needs nuclear weopons and will pursue them at all costs. Protection. Get IT? Your leaders know nothing about the Middle East, its history or its people. They shouldn't be in Iraq. Saddam was in a much better position to run that country. We killed out last chance with his hanging, any hope of keeping the region stabilized. He, above all his evilness and stupidity, understood this concept with both insight and intelligence. We unleashed an evil we cannot contain. Americans are going to pay for our leaders stupidity for generations to come, along with many in the middle east and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, the war in Iraq, has barely begun. This war will destroy our economy, our people and our very way of life. We will not longer be the police state, the question is "Who Will?" Americans, wake up. Look at Russia and Mr. Puttin. Europeans are already getting a good look at who will have the most power and indeed we are not talking military. We are talking economical power. Russia has suddenly found itself in postion to control most of the worlds oil reserves and natural gas markets. He who holds key to economics, will hold the keys are well to polictical domination.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43114Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:19:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43114Frank W. Battaglino, Washington, DCAs long as I can remember, My dad god bless his sole. He was WWII navy vet. Joined after Peral in 41. Served 4 yrs and numerous campanes, he faught in the north atlantic, then the south pacific. During the 60's I would always remebered him saying "those Damn arabs there going make the sand into glass" and I would Say "what do you mean dad"? He'd say "hyroglifics son hyroglifics". Well he wasn't talking about bombs and bullets, he was talking about the big one. We let this thing go on and I'm afraid my old mans predictition is going to come true. I don't read the bible but they say it's all there. We let Iran get the bomb and we have no choice, those people want to live in the stone age, I say we put them there. Let the Liberals chew on that. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43120Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:51:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43120Carl, Hill Country TexasWhat were the Brits thinking when they let Sadr walk after Sistani{an Iranian} came back from London and made a deal with them? Did they learn something as a colonial power about dealing with a region that is fundamentally tribal? Sadr was on the ropes and going to take the count. Now, he and the Iranians are giving each other a local while our troops are further compromised with their role in this mess. We have a dry-drunk for a President that keeps uping the ante with a losing hand. Better yet, he's playing poker drunk while the Iranians are playing chess sipping tea. They are trading time for a better position. We may not be the preeminent power in 20 years, and our position argueably worse as the Iranians solidify their domination of the region. What will the consequences be if we don't defang Iran? Do we fight them now or fight them later? Can we make it so costly for the Iranians that they will give up trying to block the straights? We can weather a 40% reduction in oil flow better than most....now. What I would like to know is with some certainty is, can the West count on internal change within Iran to move it off of this desire to confront the Great Satan? The mullahs and Bush have a religious view of events unfolding that is scary. A perfect storm. Religiosity and ideology are going to get us further into this mess. God Bless Petraeus and our fine troops, I have confidence that if anybody can salvage Bush's miscalculations it will his leadership in Iraq for the time being. As for the future....the Navy, Air Force and Special Ops will fight Iran and the rest of America will hold on. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43121Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:51:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43121JP Sacramento,CAPeople are looking no further ahead than their next paycheck! All empires eventually fade. Our's is bound to. Iran was a power in ancient times and may well become a power again. The bi-polar world of east-west is done. We currently have one super power and a dozen pretenders. I predict a world balance will be restored eventually and our wars will again go cold. U.S. power and influence in the world will wane. How can it not? A tri or quad polar arrangement of world power will develop. A sort of balance will ensue. There will still be some friction points, but overall cooperation amoung nations in sharing reasources will prevail. Commerce is a human trait. If it is oil we need and it is oil they (Mid East) have, they will sell it. What else are they going to do with it? It doesn't matter if we buy from Shias or Sunni or Venesuelans. I wonder if someone has done the math on the cost of $5.00 gallon of gas for everyone vs. the cost of prolonged Billion dollar a day wars? I'd rather pay the $5.00 a gallon and keep my sons and daughters close to home with me to comfort me in my old age.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43123Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:55:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:431231stSgt Jim, Waco, TX, USMC (Retired)There is only two ways to win a war, and this is a war. Destroy the enemies will to fight or destroy his ability to fight. We have done none of this since WWII. Get the politicians out of things. They are only interested in their political future and don't give a damn about our troops on the ground. As long as they meet their political agenda, our troops will pay. Destroy the insurgents will and ability to fight. That is the only way to finish the job. I don't advocate mass murder. Just get the ones behind the funding and suppling weapons and I don't care who it is. The Iranians, Syrian, Saudi...whomever. Find the money, Find the resources, and blow the daylights out of em!!! Send them to allah, but somehow, someway get them, so our service members can come home.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43127Sun, 28 Jan 2007 01:29:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43127Sam Kirk Newtown Pa. Let our military run the War and keep politicians out of it! When will we learn from past mistakes. I think we need to look at our government and fix the problem before we loose our country. The Democrats and Republicans are not working to help our military. We are loosing the war because they are in touch with what is going on around us. Time For A Change!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43280Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:34:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43280George, Ottawa, CA"If we don't stop them now in Iraq and Afganistan, then PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY BETTER BE PREPARED TO FIGHT TERRIOST ON THEIR OWN BACK DOOR STEP ..." Just how would these people get here -- flown in by the US Air Force, or coming up through Mexico? What crap!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43326Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:57:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43326Garrett Miles, Morgantown, WV., 26505In the Bible, God told King David to kill every muslim, man, woman, and child, or they would forever be a thorn in their side. If it wasn't for juesu, we'd all be Jewish, so think a bit. The muslims sided with the nazis during WW II, and that's why the bloodshed in bosnia, and Serbia. But we saved their butts. Now iran will develope an atomic bomb, which they will test on Israel. The only active terrorists in the world today are muslims. their religon says convert them or kill them. This is not a people who listen to talk. BTW, add France to the list - they are selling the weapons to Al Q, Qod, and all the rest. The info on Qod is not from the Bush admin., it's from the Egyptians, lebanese, and turkish.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43360Sun, 28 Jan 2007 03:18:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43360B.M. HarpoUmm.. Didn't the decider do an unofficial declaration of war against Iran in his 2002 State of the Union Speech. They are foolish if they have directly taken the bait. So why the shock and surprise. Why shouldn't a nation take PREEMPTIVE ACTION TO PROTECT IS SOVEREIGNITY.. Or is the U.S. ther only country allowed to use such military or covert tactics? The neo-cons, their advocates, apologists, and sheoples are stuck to their tar-baby foreign policy and the incompetent cheerleader, frat-boy acting as their face and will, besides providing the insurgents and "terrorist" with the best real-time training for the future WITHOUT HAVING TO RETURN TO "Die Hiemat".http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43395Sun, 28 Jan 2007 03:41:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43395Dale Wilkum Milwaukee Wisconsinnice guys dont win wars,bad asses do,it about time we became the bad asses.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43401Sun, 28 Jan 2007 03:44:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43401ELC NMWhy don't you all stop and think about what we are up against. We have to dig our heels into the sand and make a stand. If not for us but for our children. What happened to the time when we backed our President? Quit crying and remember why we are free it was blood that has given us our freedom. If you don't like it here or the politices go live in another country and good ridencehttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43446Sun, 28 Jan 2007 04:28:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43446sal paradise, texasHow many of you people, who want the US to attack Iran, are willing to put your own butts in a bullet's way for this cause? How many of you believe that Arabs and Persians are inferior culturally, intellectually, or otherwise to White Europeans and Americans? How many of you believe that it is the burden of American and European culture and civilization to spread its culture, religion, and values to the non-White, non-Christian world? Your jingoism make me ill.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43472Sun, 28 Jan 2007 04:49:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43472chris mattewsthe sixth fleet is in the persian gulf ,,, why not hit iran now with nuke's and get it over with by the time they recover , they will be back to herading goat's again boomb's awayhttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43489Sun, 28 Jan 2007 05:04:44 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43489ric stoliker bridgeport ctIran was always the enemy..not Iraq..if we had supported Iraq's claim to Kuhsistan the arabic speaking and oil rich province on the Iran/Iraq border which was the cause of the Iran/Iraq war we could have avoided all these problems including perhaps the Kuwait invasion...support Kurdish and Iraqi claims against Iran and don't listen to England then maybe we can get somewhere in the middle easthttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43509Sun, 28 Jan 2007 05:24:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43509bill quincy massit is about time we treat these enemy combatants as just that.this policy should have been enacted on the first day of the invasion.i say take them to gitmo or abu graib prison,or just shoot the scum where they are found.not surpisingly,the liberals want to talk to iran and syria as they continue to forment unrest in the middle east(i.e the war in lebanon,hamas continued suicide attacks on the israeli's).i say let The Dogs Of War loose on those who seek to kill us,or perhaps we should all learn to live in caves and be forced to convert to islamhttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43551Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:07:46 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43551Tom,Chicago,ILAll were doing is going to start a war with another country. In this case it will be Iran and once again we will give the terrorist a legitimate reason terrorize us. I hate to say this but the further this thing goes on and the more people we anger the more the world is wishing the U.S would have another 9/11 and in this case for many it would be a legitimate attack on U.S. soil. " Live by the gun die by the gun". They started it with 9/11 but like the Roman Empire you take on too many enemies you too will fall sooner or later from abroad or from within.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43572Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:29:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43572Tony Mancina, Manchester, IowaWould one of you that insists on blaming everything that has to do with terrorism on George Bush, please tell us exactly what papers Bill Clinton had Sandy Berger destroy so that the 9/11 commission couldn't see them.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43583Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:49:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43583Bill Vincenti, Las Cruces, NMThere's no Iranian problem that couldn't be handled with a suitable application of thermo-nuclear incindiaries, when the glass settles, we could send our burgeoning illegal immigrant population over there to clean up the mess, suck the oil out of the ground, change the language, drive drunk without license or insurance, and maybe if there are Iranians left, they could provide the free medical and lunches and education to the immigrants, and for a bonus we can send Pelosi and queen Billary with them... Every Great Nation of history conquered then REPOPULATED, think about it, it would probably buy the USA another 200 years and would require practically no policing.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43596Sun, 28 Jan 2007 07:06:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43596Paul, Chicago IL I think the biggest problem now lies in the belief "The Qods Force is to the Shia militias as al-Qaida in Iraq is to the Sunni insurgent groups." We pushed the Sunni's to al-Qaida by our over commitment to the Shia. Our enemy's(Saddam)enemy(Shia)is our friend. Opps, that didn't work so good. So, it sounds as if the new theory is to disjoin al-Qaida from the Sunni's and The Qod from the Shia and then we'll have the Great Iraqi Democracy. Good luck. After we killed his(Saddam's) sons we should made the Sunni's work with the Kurds and Christians. We should have cut deals with middle tier Sunni's, left and right. Then isolate the Shia from Iran and let them fend for themselves. Best of a lot of bad choices, but don't worry the Iranian Government hates us anyways, and the U.N. isn't going to stop them from making a bomb any better than it did with North Korea. Playing the middle road now isn't going to work and while it sucks a strong finish might save us in the future. But then again, here's hoping for plan B or maybe the soon to follow plan C from the Democrats. Oh well, I'm sure sooner or later it will all go away.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43601Sun, 28 Jan 2007 07:16:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43601Jay, Ramadi, IraqHow sorry I am to see that many of my generation would rather tuck tail and run from an enemy that hates freedom, liberty, and justice, than to actually face that enemy abroad. Terrorism is the malignant cancer of the world that must be cut out. Unfortunately for all of you who have had cancer cut out, normal healthy tissue sometimes gets cut out along with it. These Iranian special forces who are injecting these poor, peaceful people with hatred against one another are the malignant cancer cells that must be stopped (i.e. killed). Has anyone actually seen our progress in Iraq? I have seen it in several cities. Did you know that we are building schools, establishing city councils, organizing neighborhood watches, creating local utilities, and even allowing women to get a divorce from their abusive husbands. Whatever happened to doing the right thing even though it's the hard thing to do? The invasion into Iraq is over, we've been here for almost four years now. It's just water under the bridge and there's no sense in beating an already dead horse anymore. The focus now is how to finish the job we, as Americans, set out to do. I, as an American soldier, would feel terribly disgraced if we didn't maintain our professionalism by cutting losses and running when over 3000 of my brothers and sisters in arms had died to bring democracy to the middle east. Either way, I'm over here wearing my uniform proudly knowing full well when I signed up that I would be coming to Iraq. I'm earning my right to say what should go on concerning our American way of life.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43608Sun, 28 Jan 2007 07:30:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43608W. Sullivan, Killeen, TXI talk to soldiers every day that just returned from Iraq. While I do not like sending troops to go to war etc., I am disgusted at how our country is conducting itself. I will bet over half the protesters in front of capitol hill have no real facts about what is going on over there. They spent a ton of money protesting and spent tons of energy setting up. I bet you they can not tell you how many homeless people die every day! They know the death toll in Iraq as the media posts it every day. I bet we could be much more effective if we all supported our country. The president may be wrong and may be right. Who really knows? Certanly not all the protesting Einsteins. Look into there pathetic lives....over weight, smokers, drinkers, poor parents, etc. It appears that we are a back seat country and everyone knows what to do. I would hate to be the president. Very simple.. we will never support any president in todays world. SOLDIERS TELL ME THEY COULD DO THEIR JOB IF THE MEDIA AND EVERYONE ELSE WOULD STAY OUT OF THE WAY! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43652Sun, 28 Jan 2007 11:10:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43652Robert AliI totally agree with Lt. Francona, its about time everyone opened their eyes. The Iranians have always been our enemy. They are backstabbers. Remember the yellow ribbons in the seventies? I totally disagree with the war period. It shouldn't exist. We should be focusing on afghanistan and the peace process in Isreal, and puting pressure on the Sirians. Since we already screwed up, and the iraqis owe us so much money, we are in a pickle. We should have three to five hundred thousand troops in Iraq. To police the state,rebuild, and launch a counter offensive against the Iranians or Persians if nesesary. Saddam Hussien was our best bet against the Iranians. We made him and unmade him for what? He hated the Iranians Al Quaida and everyone else, except he was a peg in the dam. I think more troops would be good in irak, but not 25,000, maybe a hundred thousand. And then their is the matter of all these political apointees who were inexeperienced and worthless. Then their is the matter of these undisciplined and just plane ignorant Iraki forces. What were they thinking? If I was embedded with them, I would be in the BACK, and have an american behind me, even a fat kid with a sling shot would be safer. I hope for our nations sake and our troops sake we can sort this one out gentlemen. God Bless Robert Ali Las Vegashttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43666Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:06:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43666NekoWill they start shooting Israeli agents too? They should....as they are no different! When they get religion out of all governments we can have peace and the troops can come home. Permiting Islamic Zealots to be in the Iraq government stands in the way of peace... just the same as permiting Zionists to control Israel has made Israel a Theocracy instead of a true democracy. Of course the real reason is the corporate christians want chaos so they want Religious Zealots killing each other.... It is good for business. The only thing I see from this article is propaganda to benefit the Houston oil barons like the TRAITOR Oscar Wyatt, the military contractors, and the people who are involved in the failed coup to turn the USA into a "Christian" police state. It is time for the US Military to do their duty....and remove the DOMESTIC ENEMIES from the Whitehouse and the Pentagon. When the leaders ignore the Constitution and the will of "The People"... then we must use our Second Amendment rights to deal justice to those who dare to attempt to steal freedom and liberty from Americans. Bush and Cheney have broke the law....if they don't step down.... well America will find itself in our own civil war. Do you really want that? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43674Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:54:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43674Gil, Mechanicsville, VAI think people miss the point here. I the rules of engagement have changed. I don't think the President signed off on allowing executions. There is a difference. The real problem is how we got to this point to begin with. Who fired the first shot becomes a moot point during a riot. Our real problem has been poor planning, not poor excecution. Our troops have done every thing ask of them. It is still all about the oil. Why else would we care? It is why we need to come up with other solutions because those folks are not going to stop killing each other. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43682Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:23:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43682Ellen McLean, Jarrell, TexasIran will always share a border with Iraq. We never will. Iran and the majority of Iraqis are co-religionists and Iran offered shelter to many Shia during Saddam's time. It would be crazy to assume that Iran would have no interest in what is going on in Iraq now or that the Shia would not appeal to Iran for help. We ought to at least talk to all the neighbors. If we are such scared little rabbits that we can't even talk to our foes, we are indeed up creek, sans paddle.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43705Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:09:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43705Mary Lou czupek, Plainfield, ILThe only solution to this quagmire is to bring the troops home. Why are we wasting precious lives, time and money on this country???? The policies of this administration have been counter-productive. Is he really "with us" or "against us". Someone needs to stop him before its too late. Non-binding is not good enough.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43713Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:18:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43713Mark, Gray MeThe innocent people in the Middle East have a long road in front of them .No matter how you look at it, its going to suck living there for some time. We should try, No put and end to this within one year .Not only for the innocent people of the Middle East ( yes people like you and me who just happen to be born there , I guarantee some are not terrorist. ) but also we need to stop sending our troops over there. What ever it takes to get this over with ,so we can rebuild Iraqi and do some real good. Either put an end to this or pull out! We ended WWII that was good.( I don’t mean we should drop the big one either) I never start a fight that I can’t win; Bush needs step up to the plate and finish this. Its real simple, end it or pull out. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43725Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:32:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43725V.TerranovaMaybe if the Carter Administration wasn't so "kind and gentle" back in "79....We should have kicked The Ayatolla's ass after the U.S. embassy was taken in Iran and the Marines were taken hostage. If the rest of the world don't like it we should stop all financial aid to them.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43740Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:12:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43740jeff hackett millville n.j.We should never have invaded in the first place. But since we did and have caused this incredible disaster for us and the Iraqui people we really have no other choice but to succeed. The Iranians should either leave of their accord or they should be killed or captured. This should be given priority over almost everything else. then we should gather our forces and systematically destroy theyre militaRy totally and theyre industrial capability. This includes of course every nuclear facility we can identify. We should blockade all theyre means of egress from theyre own country. Send them back to the stone age. I AM NOT A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43757Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:09:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43757walker, texasIran is secretly funding Shia-based militia groups in order to continue to disrupt our progress until we give up and they can move in. Unfortunatly we do not have the money or balls to to get into that fight.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43766Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:50:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43766Mark, Manhattan, KSGeez,,I can't believe the stuff I'm seeing here. People have forgotten 9/11 and many have not even bothered to research. WMD's and Al-Qaeda links to Iraq: Yes, there was intel about Iraq's development of WMDs and no to date the actual WMD's have not been found. However, equipment was found that was used for the research and development. And no, there never was any accusations that Saddam Hussein was connected to 9/11. However, prior to 1996, UBL and his organization was in contact with Iraqi officials, specially the head of Iraqi Intelligence, and made offers to fund Iraqi WMD research and development if Al-Qaeda could benefit from it as well. Iraqi scientists were sent to Sudan (where UBL was residing) and this process was started. With U.S. sanctions against Sudan for harboring UBL taking effect, UBL was asked to leave (or he left on his own accord depending on which version you subscribe to). OUR big mistake was not taking the Sudanese up on their offer to hand over UBL and information on him. This was in 1996,,hmmm,,,Clinton adminstration? Also another thing to consider: At the beginning of the war convoys of large vehicles left Iraq and went into Syria. An effort to get the WMD materials and equipment out of Iraq? Could have been. Mighty funny that since then Iran has been able to really step up their nuclear development efforts (Could Syria have handed over the stuff to Iran,,quite possibly). In dealing with Iran and Hezbollah and the IRGC, we had an opportunity to capture one of the lead operational planners in Hezbollah. A team was positioned to capture him,,however the White House (Clinton adminstration) said No! All of this is past. What matters now is the fight we are in. The extra troops are needed to hold the ground in Baghdad to allow the Iraqi government to do what is necessary. As for Iran, recent events tell the tell. Recent local elections have seen more moderate voices being elected. It will take time, but there will be change in Iran from within. The question is,,will it come fast enough to prevent their current leadership from doing things that will upset the tentative balance. Iran is a major player. That can't be forgotten. But at the same time they realize what a confrontation with the U.S. could or would mean for their country. They prefer to work in the shadows and on the peripherals. Is it any wonder that the up flair in violence occured in Lebanon with Hezbollah attempting to overthrow the Lebanesse governmetn came after the announcement of more U.S. troops to Iraq? Yes we are stretched thin. However, failure in Iraq (meaning allowing the government there to solidify and be able to protect the country) is not an option. We can either fight the terrorist over seas, or here on our streets. People need to understand that.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43768Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:56:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43768Roy Comfort, London, Britain"Terrorism will never be defeated. For every terrorist, or terrorist leader we kill, it pisses off 5 more and makes them hate the U.S. We have to bring our troops home, and protect ourselves at home..." We had 30 years of the same thing in Northern Ireland - two rival warring groups representing different releigion, lots of murderous splinter groups creating carnage, bombing of civilians aimed at terrorising people and grabbing media headlines, etc. The killing was not on the scale of Iraq, but the essential elements were comparable. The reason it's all stopped now is - we didn't run away and hold anti-war demos, we kept our nerve for 30 years, increased the troops to the necessary number and relentlessly pursued both political and military answers, while keeping our heads up even when spectacular bombing happened on the UK mainland. The fact is you can defeat terrorism if you have the determination and steadfastness. Too many pundits here seem to be advancing every conceivable reason and justification, political, moral and military, to give up, go home and let the fundamentalists inherit the earth. QODS activists should be under no illusions that, if captured, they will be interrogated, charged and imprisoned for long sentences. Northern Ireland was hard enough, if we'd had some third party meddlers from outside the country setting up offices there and actively encouraging and helping the terrorists, it would have been a lot harder. The troop increase is the right military response and the plan to get a grip on Baghdad in militarily feasible, proportionate and likely to be welcomed by the vast majority of the civilian innocents who are currently being slaughtered indiscriminately in record numbers by their fellow Muslims. I like the look of Lt Gen Petraeus, who unusually among the US generals so far, actually seems to understand what counter-insurgency warfare involves, how you go about winning it and the importance of changing the military objective. In the real world of hard COIN decisions and actions, political resolve and political negotiation, Speaker Pelosi and actress Fonda seem gratuitously ignorant and irrelevant. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43770Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:59:30 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43770Norma Clayton, Brevard, N.C. 28712I say we should let the military fight the war and tell them to fight to win. Keep media i.e t.v. newspapers, journalists, also congressmen and women away from the war area. Too many people critisizing about the way things should be done. Too many people telling the Military what and how to do it. Whoever, said War is Hell, knew what he was talking about. It's not for the squeamish. We should give the Military everything they need to fight and stand back and wait for the results.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43776Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:43:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43776Ali Al-EbrahimThe American people have shown their true self-centered shelfish selves with all those antiwar protests and now with this blog. You think the US gov. hasnt screwed around in the ME and Iran? You think they didnt install the Shah and that they didnt want to go into Iraq or only went there because of WMDs? You think the CIA is not worse than this so called Qods force if it even exists? If you do belive all these things you are sad, sad, and sad... infact you just proved my first point.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43777Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:44:55 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43777Dude in IraqApparently, you all don't realize that the Iranians are killing and aiding in the deaths of U.S. soldiers.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43780Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:50:13 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43780Christian ManIt is clear by reading the first 10 to 20 blog mewssages that this is a conservative right wing, violent bigoted site. Those people who advocate killing people who live in that region trying to defend themselves are at best shallow thinking hate filled individuals. We would not even be having this discussion if we were not lied to by the republican party so they could drain that reginon of oil. Now the mindless minions want to support the killing of other people in neighboring countries trying to repel an invasion of US. If the situation were reversed, we would do the same as Iran. Protect our resources and people from a threat of invasion. Why don't we do the moral Christian thing and leave them alone? Truth be known we destablized an entire region and have spread death and destruction. Are they really better off with the US than with Saddam? I don't think so. The body count from our interference is much higher than with Saddam. We Christians are great examples of killers justified. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43796Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:25:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43796david owenI wonder if anyone remebers history at all . I support mr.Bush and the troops i my self would listen to the troops be fore i would listen to any politian http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43799Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:31:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43799Stephan A. Mooresville NCI think that we should remember the Iran/Iraq war of the 1980s. Iran has a real strategic interest to seeing that Iraq is a stable and friendly country to them. Our intervention in Iraq has led to uncertainty for the Iranians and of course they would react as they have. We did the same thing in Vietnam but we called them advisors. What the peoples of the middle east value are strength (hence the need for dictators like Saddem) and business. It is time we back the ultimate winners, the shiites. so lets make strategic withdrawals to the Kuwaitii and Jordanian borders and let the Shiites get their payback then their will be "peace" in the Iraq and they will get on with the business of making money thru oil. Because oil is what this war was really about, justifiably so for us due to our dependence on it, another bad political error on our part.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43802Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:35:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43802J Wollin, MinnesotaI agree with John from Princeton. Look at the Normandy invasion...7000 dead in one day. I honestly believe that our nation's biggest failing is our lack of patience. This problem will not go away by itself, and we unfortunately have not had the patience to fight a war properly since WWII ended. The proper way to fight a war is to keep punching until the other guy cries "Okay, I've had enough, please, PLEASE stop hitting me." Unfortunately, the liberal left in this country will not allow us to fight a war in this manner unless THEY are the ones in office. I heard it repeatedly after 9/11..."Too bad Clinton wasn't in office when it happened." They politicize EVERYTHING, and will do and say anything to undermine the conduct of this war until a Democrat is Commander-in-Chief again. Think about it...Bush never lied. He was working with the intelligence given to him, and it STILL has not been proven that there were no WMD's. The only thing proven is that they are not where we thought they were. Unfortunately, repeating the same untruth time and time again apparently turns an outright lie into the truth for the liberal Democrats and their media patsies. That's precisely why they are called "Talking Points."http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43804Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:36:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43804Dr. Yazdi, Shervin SF, CAIf we want to be LOVED we should be loving; send the message of love to IRAN and see what we get back. As imple letter from our administration to theirs. Treat people like you want to be treated....with RESPECT. Wasn't that the Goldern Rule ? that is how the US will open up the doors of IRAN. RX: 1. Stop the War; 2. Pick up the telephone; 3. Be respectful 4. Ask for what you really want. The Iraninans will respond, I know them well; they are like people everywhere, Canada, Africa, Japan. Jesus Christ said all I ask of you is: "to love each other as I have loved you"....is this a difficult message to remember? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43813Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:10:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43813Yankee Zephyr, Olmpia WA.I wonder why you people keep complaining about GWB, this country is a democracy and the people are the power. However if you don't vote then you have no reason to complain. Only 49% of americans vote. when you dont exercise the power the politicians will asssume they can do what they want because the people don't care. Now we have another war,(by the way the USA seems to get into about every 20 years), What we need now is for these stupid politicians to quit playing Generals and the Generals to quit playing politician and go kick butt, conquer, pacify, then liberate...thats how you win a war.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43821Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:51:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43821Mark Woodhull, Boerne, TexasHere's my solution...send in the reinforcements...if someone points a gun or RPG at you or is caught planting IEDs...kill them. Let God sort out the morality issues later. We need to cut our wimpy Congress-bound hog ties, take the gloves off, and fight...hard...bloody...and without mercy. Our enemies will get the point REAL fast. Civil War Union General Tecumseh Sherman had it right. Devastate your enemy with "total war" and they will soon quit the fight.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43822Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:51:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43822Toxin, CALet's get some perspective folks!! Something doesn't smell right about all of this! If American policy is to support the Iraqi government (Maliki and Co.) and the Iraqi government is married to the Iranian government (Khomenei and Co.), why would Iranian agents be involved in killing American soldiers who are fighting to protect their (Iranian interests)? Let's remember, who is our stated enemy in the Middle East? Al-Qaida, Taliban, Saddam Hussain and the Mullahs in Iran! Who openly supports the insurgents and "terrorists" that are killing American soldiers on a daily basis? Al-Qaida, Taliban, and Saddam loyalists! Who has been the sworen enemy of Al-Qaida, the Taliban and Saddam Hussain for the last 30+ years? The Iranians! So what is going on? Let's walk down memory lane. Who are these pesky Iranians anyway! They are Persians, not Arabs! They used to control all of the Middle East for over a thousand years. In modern times, they have been weakend by struggles against British colonialsim and now "American imperialism" for control of the region. For the past 30+ years American interests have been focused on holding back the Nationalist/Islamist movement in Iran. We encouraged and help solidify Saddam's regime to fight the Iranian movement which wants the US and other foreign powers out of the Middle East. They have a stated doctrine similar to our own Monroe Doctrine. That is why Iran is the number one threat to American interests in the Middle East, according to WH (Cheney and Rumsfield), and Congress (every listen to Sen. Biden or Lieberman?). We want to control the Middle East and so do the Iranians. Here is the dirty little secret. We invaded Iraq because our man Saddam was a total failure when it came to stopping the Iranians. After a 10 year war with Iran, he was losing even with our help, so we brokered a peace with the Iranians. Saddam and Iraq got the shaft and they invaded Kuwait to get back at us and Bush Sr. had to put him in his place before he did any more damage. We then waited out eight years while Clinton was in charge hoping that the Iranian moderate reformers would play ball with us and forego all of this Iranian Nationalist/Islamist agenda. Then 9/11 happened. Our allies against the Russians and Iranians, the Taliban and Al-Qaida had turned on us, just like Saddam had. Who was going to hold off the Iranians now? Iran on the other had, saw its chance and approached us with a deal. They will help us in Iraq and Afganistan to get rid of the Taliban and Al-Qaida if we let them run the neighborhood. So why are we so hostile to this? Because, Iran did the unthinkable back in 1979 kicking out our main guy, the Shah and taking our embassy hostage, and then again 1983, with the bombing of the Marines barracks in Beirut. Both of these events were in your face insults on American power and perstige and the latter was the beginning of the battle between the US and Iran over the future of the state of Israel. Iran helped to build Hezbullah to counter Israeli which in all purposes is our 51st state. So here we are, trying to tell the world that all we want is democracy in the Middle East which as you may have heard is not our goal anymore and helping bring peace so that Israel can live along side with its neighbors. The real problems is that we are just as hungery as we were 250 years ago when we took over North America. We as a society are ok with taking things that we want by means of force. It has never stopped us before! That is why China and Russia are not helping us with Iran. We are in this one alone, we will have to pay with blood, including our own blood if we want to control this neighborhood. All the mercenaries are gone, its going to be good old American's like Clinton White from KY paying this bill. Ask yourself, who is going to benefit from this?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43825Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:58:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43825jim, Erie, Pennsylvaniathe american people need to understand that the idiot G.W. went into Iraq with no plans other than get rid of Saddam. If he would have dedicated 1.5 million troops to fight Saddam and bring him down, he would have had enough spare manpower to lock Iraq down tighter than a drum. that is, nobody gets into or out of Iraq. sealing the borders of Iraq from the start would have eliminated Iran and Syria meddling and taken away the insurgent's supply lines. Sealing the border would have stopped foreign Islamic Psychos from entering Iraq and allowed it's new government time to train and deploy security forces. But, that would have been the SMART thing to do.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43845Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:51:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43845Brian Oberkofler, Villas, NJTo those who just don't get it. Park your beemeer and step away from the cell phone, I would like to smack you. War is hell, get used to it. at least its not in our streets, just yet. Keep up with the lame partisan politics and it will be. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43848Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:53:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43848Michael (Seattle WA)Every time you fill up you car with gas you pay for a bomb to kill an American soldier. I'm sorry but I am sick and tired of the right wing treating the oil industry like some kind of extension of the American Flag. When Exxon made record profits who do you think their partners were in that windfall - Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela maybe even Russia. Our own oil industry is the worlds greatest financier of terrorism against Americans. I have a wild idea. If you don't like terrorist then quit making them rich and quit electing oil executives to public office. Wouldn't it be great to watch Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela collapse without a bullet being fired? The Republican leadership knows this but they would rather watch thousands of poor kids die than criticize the oil industry or (god forbid) help those Nazi environmentalist. If someone can explain how we are going to win a war while we are financing the other side I would love to hear it. No oil - No Terrorist states. Our enemies can not survive without our business. We don't even need to fight them. We can just watch them collapse. Think how much better the world would be if we had spent the billion in Iraq on developing alternative energy and Iran was too busy fighting economic collapse to bother with us. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43860Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:25:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43860D. Finney, Coeurd'alene Idaho Kill'em all, let Alah /god/jehova/satan..the local dump sort them out? B.S. policy and politics. Why werent the Insurgants treated , from the begining, as "Combatants"? There are so many things involved to really get your head wrapped around it just to understand ALL sides of this issue without being Biased is VERY HARD to do at best, but, BS policy or not, thats our kids over there. Brothers and sisters alike. LET THEM KILL? OR LET THEM BE KILLED? What does it settle? Not much. Our kids now have another tool to reduce the amount of Recycling Insurgant Recruits. So a thought,.... Peace, what things would it require to achieve it? Peace through Violence? I dont understand at all how this formula is possiable. But I do understand and hope all of you do to, That OUR kids are dying for THEIR freedom. Truly sacrfical Americans, believing and doing what our President issues out, BS policy or not. Let them protect them self, No more just a slap on the hand for killing our Soldiers, Be forewarned Iran, we now kill you too. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43872Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:10:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43872Mohsen MousaviThe path this administration are going is dead wrong. and every move they make is a failure in Irag. and they do not learn from there mistakes and some of comments in this blog are not helping, it just add more war and killing. OK! GOD BLESS ONLY AMERICA, and I hope "YOUR GOD" kills every one who is on your way. Yes, kill this, kill that, kill them and kill more, may be after every one on this planet you killed, you can go and sit watch your game on tv, without hearing any lie news. I hope "YOUR GOD" does not forget you at the time you are ready to leave this world with all those evil mind you are carring with you.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43877Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:32:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43877Warren SassermanNot that I thought Saddam was a good person, but at least I know now why he governed the way he did. With the mix of cultures, religious fanatics and foreigners in Iraq...what choice did he have? Not to mention having Iran and Syria on your flanks. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43889Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:38:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43889Gary Page, Phoenix, AZI have a real fear that if our shores were invaded, many people would say "Lets talk this out". Stupid.A few jokesters blame all this on the U.S. and President Bush. Does anyone really think that WMDs would be found in hundreds of thousands of miles of sand.I am a Veteran of Vietnam and pray to my God that this country is still not a country of a few cowards that lost us that war. I am afraid not of our Government, but a lot of the people in it (not politicians). God Bless and help the United States. Gary, Phoenix. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43891Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:43:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43891Stop Killing American Soldiers What is so wrong with Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq anyway? If we continue to help the Shiites commit genocide on the Sunnis, there won’t be two opposing sides to continue their civil war. So step and stand with Bush and turn on the ovens!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43896Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:55:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43896John Whitman Paschal, You certainly have a brainwashed perspective. Guess what, there were NO Iraqis involved in 911. Although the Bush administration has tried to draw this correlation for years along with fanatics like Billy O’Rielly, the honest truth is their involvement was a fantasy, like the WMD we went to war over and lost over 3,000 American lives…..for now. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43900Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:09:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43900James, Humansville, MOI was and am opposed to the Iraq war. We went in based on fabricated evidence and there is a far more dangerous country in the region we should have took out. Had Iran been took out first the other problem countries would have soon fell of their own undoing. However we did go to war in Iraq. Therefore we should go at it to win. We didnot win WW2 by allowing the protesting by the supporters of the enemy. If someone protested in europe during WW2 they were mowed down as the enemy they were. If they are protesting then they are supporting the enemy either financially or by helping them cover their tracks. Anyone protesting us being in their country should be treated the same as an enemy combatant and put out of their miserable existance. Why has it took this long to decide to take the Iranians who are present there out of the picture. It is a no brainer that if their there they are an enemy to be dealt with. My God where are some real leaders for our country. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43904Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:11:34 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43904Gerry AdamsPlease, lets be honest with ourselves. every action mentioned in the blog, is/was a reaction to misery brought on Iran by America to rape the country of it's oil. the shaw, the fall of “mossadegh” (elected democratic president of iran), the shooting down of a civilian airline, and the many things I've read in former President Carters books. america protects its interests, and iranians protect theirs. its time to burry the hatchets and work together against the real evil. Sorry to tell you buddy, but we were helping the wrong side in the iran/iraq 8 year war. Don't you think our bombs killed hundreds of thousands of innocent iranian civilians? the world does not revolve around 911. bombs are bad anywhere they go off. time for us to stop being so self centered, and join the rest of the (non-brown nose) countries in finding a real solution which benefits all good intending people. Also, the blog itself even mentions that the "qods" was fighting against evil Taliban. now how do you so blindly group them two together and call them the same? It seems that qods is a defensive force, more than an offensive one. Besides, the morality factor. qods is by no means good, but not the same as taliban. this paranoid grouping of muslim countries and organization is what has brought us here in iraq. i love america, but i love what this country stands for; more. this is not what our four fathers saw in the future of this country when they fought so hard to build it. over seas, mullahs of iran are hypocrites... they dont intend on attacking anyone, they just get richer and invest in other countries. they are uneducated farmers who rose to power after the US helped over throw democracy in iran and put a dictator back in power. The people naturally revoluted, and thought they can trust the religious leaders. Too bad they didn’t read about the dark ages and Christianity. Now, certain iranians with some power want to help the country stand on its own w/ nuclear energy. it is legal, and the world knows it. americans catch on too late, like in iraq. i wonder why... you force a dog in a corner with no way out, dog will bite. if iranians are being honest in what they say about nuke for peace/power, we are definitely giving them a good reason to change their minds. thus, no one questions nuclear korea. after years of struggle, iran is going democratic and getting better. like we saw with the previous president of iran "khatami". people are changing the government, but it takes time. democracy does not happen over night. you know that now after iraq. Idiots like ahmadinejad ruin it, but that’s just the opinions of one person. like bush has his views, that many americans dont agree with. iran is NOT ahmadinejad. Qods is NOT al-Qaeda. civilaziaton began in iran, the people who celebrate their ancient new year on the first day of spring, have not forgotten that. i do not anticipate seeing this post appear in the thread, but as long as Mr. Francona reads it I’m good. -Peace.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43910Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:19:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43910Donovan GriffithsI'm amazed at how gullible Americans are. I have not seen any evidence offered by the Bush-Cheney administration to support the claim that Iranians are killing American service men in Iraq. Their policies in Iraq have gone so badly that now they want to blame someone. And who is best to blame but the Iranians who are part of the Bush-Cheney axis of evil. Why haven't they blamed their friends, the Saudis, whose citizens were most of the terrorists involved in 9/11, and who arguably are just as invested in Iraq as the Iranians? After all, the Saudis would like to see Sunni control of Iraq. We are told that they are terrified that Shia control of Iraq would make Iran more powerful. Maybe they are the ones who are supplying Sunni insurgents with IEDs that are killing Americans. I believe most of the IED deaths have taken place in Anbar province which is a Sunni stronghold. I guess no one thought that maybe Bush-Cheney are searching desperately for a reason to stage a war with Iran. They seem to have a never-ending appetite for war, mayhem, destruction and senseless killings. Oh, I forgot, they are fighting the "war on terror." Maybe, their warmongering is creating more terror and terrorists. Sadly, too many Americans are just as bloodthirsty as their leaders. They are willing to condone the killing of over 650,000 people (and counting) for a war that was so unnecessary and was based on lies, deception and misrepresentation. How many more people, including Americans, must be killed before the American populace comes to its senses? I guess that will not happen until rivers of blood flow in Iran and we plunder and destroy that country. If I were Iran, I would be desperately seeking nuclear weapons to deter the blood crazed Americans. I hope that my country, America, ends its march to war with Iran and redeploy American troops in Iraq to our shores. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43911Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:20:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43911chris p. north, N.J.Its about time we start killing the Iranians, always coming in for mop-up duty. We should get rid of all media in Iraq, and CLUSTER BOMB to the max, ESPECIALLY Sadr city, sometimes I think the public thinks we are playing a video game, unfortunetly, when we lose a brave soldier.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43915Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:35:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43915Steve, San FranciscoHas anybody considered we may have Qods within the U.S, and they may have local support? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43917Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:41:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43917marjorie greene, virginiaAll of you who have the courage to speak out about the wrongs done by Israel need to be careful. One of my friends showed me an e-mail that CAME TO HER PERSONALLY, and it was one of the filthiest, nastiest, most ignorant bits of vitriol I have ever seen. This creep accused my friend of being an anti-semite. This, to someone who actually looked into joining a kibbutz back in 1965. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43921Mon, 29 Jan 2007 03:01:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43921william john, toronto,remember who threated to wipe which country off the map. with potential (if not already?) nuclear capability and committed forces so close, how is it not possible to have unfortunate and more deadly confrontations in the future, perhaps tomorrow, or the day after, and soon others will follow, http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43947Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:16:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43947J. Riddle Concord, CaliforniaIf it looks like, and smells like escalation, more than likely it probably is a policy of escalation for this Iraq debacle. This is far from what the American people voted for. The midterm election results were not in favor of a civil war of another country. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43955Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:38:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43955Jill M, CanadaCome on! If the USA would just stay out of other countries and mind their own business, a large percentage of terrorism would disappear. I'm not saying that all of it would go away, as there will always be people who are corrupt, but a major percentage would. How would you feel if your country was invaded by people who ridiculed your religion, raped your women, killed your citizens and had the nerve to call you barbarians? I'm in now way justifying the way Iraq reacted, but really, what did you expect them to do, celebrate and give you complete control? Of course they're going to retaliate and riot, wouldn't you? The funny thing is is that everyone is so busy blaming everything on terrorism, while you're own children are killing each other in the streets, and you call them barbarians? May be you should look at your own country and see how messed up it is. And what gives the USA the right to judge them, when their own country is far from perfect. The reason why negotiations don't work between the USA and other countries is because everyone knows in the end, if the USA does not get their way, they're just going to attack them. You all need to take a long hard look at how your country treats it's own citizens and then you'll see the reason why no one likes or respects you. Stay out of Iraq and Iran and any other country that you think you should control, because it's about time that they USA started minding their own business.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43960Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:08:29 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43960Jim, Sugar land, TXUNBELIEVABLE! Of course you have to kill Iranians involved in training and supplying the militias (and anyone else that does!). Isn't this reminiscent of not being able to cross the DMZ, or go into cambodia, or not being able to bomb Mig bases for fear you'd kill a russian or chinese advisor? Or how about being unable to chase Migs across the Yalu river in Korea? Does the USA always have to fight wars with such bizarre self weakening rules? The enemy respects strength, not the weakness so many of you are handing out. The enemy think America is a push over. The overt and inadvertent 5th columnists in the USA are feeding the enemies morale and smothering our own. Meanwhile the insistance of needing to know everything going on telegraphs every idea, every units movement, and every weakness to the same enemy. What happened to loose lips sink ships? Maybe you really want to see American troops get killed to support your ideas about how badly things are going. And finally for those of you who say there was no link between Bin Laden and Iraq. Maybe not, but the link exists now and the Jihad will be on even if the troops come home, but it will be here in the USA and every other free democracy.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43964Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:16:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43964Tom, LA, CAIt's sad to see people point out all of the obvious reasons that this Iraqi war came about. All of which has been proven to be, as Dick Cheney puts it, "hogwash. If you already don't know, there's 200 billion barrels of proven oil reserve under Iraq. Need we go furthur with the discussion. Iraqis, Iranis, Arabs, Kurds, etc. will defend their resources with all of their will. So unless George Bush and friends plan to stay there for the next 50 years and bleed money and blood, the spoils of victory will never happen.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43966Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:33:09 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43966XYZThe progressives are not going to fight for the USA. They would rather surrender to Hezbollah, just as Europe is doing. For everyone of you that says they "don't understand", here is the clarification, sans entertaining conspiracy theories: The Iraq War has always been about Iran. Iran has been itching for dominance since 1978. We should have wiped them out then. Every day we wait- we do so at our own peril. You doubt- and think Israel is at fault? Which country denies historical genocides, exports terror globally, and threatens our democratic ally's right to exist? Israel has had nukes for some time now. No one really got too excited. Now that Iran is almost nuclear...everyone knows WW3 is looming. The world runs on oil. It's basic economic fact...that is why Clinton agrees with Bush. MIDDLE EASTERN OIL IS CRUCIAL TO OUR WAY OF LIFE. Are you going to give me your keys and drive a hydrogen car to work tomorrow morning? What about the planes to Dallas or the trucks to Walmart? WE MUST HAVE OIL or we will be just as desperate as the Katrina victims in short order. It's the President's job to keep us secure. WMD was the hype vehicle to get us next door to Iran (the problem). 9/11 got us to the other side of Iran and next to Pakistan. These are the fronts in the war on terror. Exremist Islam is becoming more dangerous every day because of modernized weaponry. The Bush adminsitration idea to start a democracy next door to Iran may prove to be too little too late. People need to wake up and realize that these democracies are the only chance to prevent WW3. If we have to nuke Iran, it will drag China and Russia into this. Forget about the baby progressives even comprehending the size of the this Armageddon. They have no plan, no spine, and won't lift a finger for freedom because they DON"T GET IT. Iran will slice off their heads if we cannot get their people to democratize and oust their own extremist leaders. Pakistan is similar, except that Musharff is friendlier to us. Don't forget that Kahn sold nuclear WEAPON technology to Iran. The media fans the flames with the "peaceful nuclear stuff"...pure BS. Forget abot North Korea...They have no OIL. Wake up people. George W is willing to go down with the ship and all the media wants to do is piss on him. The Democratic party started all this when Jimmy Carter didn't take on Iran when he had the job as Commander. He passed the buck. Bush Sr. passed the buck. Clinton passed the buck (and he regrets it). WAKE UP!!! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43968Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:38:03 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43968tom watkins Dallas TexasYes here is more dilusion for Mrs. Clinton for one thing when she voted to go to war she had as much info or more bieng her husband was in the white house for 8 years prior and if any doubt they were being mislead she should ask bill if it was correct or not or misleading info after all bill is the one who signed into law the ousting of sadams rigiem just take accountablity tom http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43970Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:39:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43970diego berkeley californiawe need to destroy our enemies by spreading democracy worldwide. iran's regimen,syria's venezuela's cuba's north korea's. those are our curent enemies. we need to remind them we still in charge by showing them our strenght might. as to bush he is really doing good job in the pointhttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43985Mon, 29 Jan 2007 06:36:57 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43985Major Keith F. Simon USMCR (Ret)Washington is fighting its so-called "War on Terror" with one hand behind its back. Its trying to take a "guns and butter" approach. While somewhat better than the 1920s when the US ignored the facism that was building in Italy, Germany and Japan. Today, the US is unwilling to admit to itself and to the American people the seriousness of the threat. With Iran, conventional deterence doctrines and "mutual assured destruction" theories from the Cold War won't work. Iranian shiites would gladly sacrifice their country if they could take down the US and Israel at the same time. Sooner or later, the US will have to put itself on TRUE war footing. Just sending a couple carrier battlegroups to the Persian Gulf won't do the trick. The US Army and Marine Corps will have to be quadrupled in size. For the Army, only the DRAFT will bring in the needed numbers. The Marines will be able to expand without the draft because its young folks will volunteer for the Corps when faced with the Army alternative. A REAL War is coming, its just a manner of when, not if and its just a matter of whether the US will face up to the threat and move Americans off their TV couches, sports or rock stadium bleachers and beaches and into the breach. Unfortunately, America usually only wakes up after a Pearl Harbor. The next 911/Pearl Harbor will be a nuclear hit on multiple American cities courtesy of our Persian or North Korean adversaries. Wake UP America before its too late. The longer we wait the harder its going to be. The choices are either bad or even badder still. Nevertheless, we can expand and re-arm our conventional forces NOW and perhaps forestall Armagedon or we can wait until we're hit.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43991Mon, 29 Jan 2007 08:08:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43991Luis VillaI was at the airport and talking to gentleman from Nigeria about wars. I told him that i served in Iraq for 10 months and this war is not going anywhere but sacrificing our service members for nothing, then a lady told us that this war is so complicated (by the way she told us that she is a republican). So, i responded in kind and told her that you never been in iraq trying to dodge a bullet and yes this war is so complicated because of the REPUBLICANS. This is all just because of a revenge, oil or nothing but a Texan pride. And yes this war will be be at least for another 5 years or more because of the new technology that we have never tested in real war like, the RAY GUN ETC....And to top that two of the Iraqi top official said that we should not abandon iraq, yes, because if we have to there will be no more $2billion a month going to your country and of course some to their pockets.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43993Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:09:04 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43993johnI don't think Iranian agents are dumb enough to carry documents on them, they know what happens to spies. This seems subtle propaganda to support the the Bush (Neocon) agenda to attack Iran for another round of oil grabbing.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43995Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:43:43 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43995TrayI have read many of the comments posted by both sides, I am currently serving my country in Afghanistan. Why, as a country do we tear at our leadership, whine and complain? Does this accomplish anything? If you have a problem, come up with a solution. Many people sit at home and complain about the war, and all the mistakes made. Some even develop wild conspiracy theories with NO factual evidence. It is disgraceful to every man and woman fighting to protect your freedom. It is easy to sit and complain and do nothing, what solution can you bring to the table? None..... What is the best course of action we as a country should take? again, no answer. We focus on bashing ourselves, and the media hypes it by portraying our soldiers as baby killers. Did not women and children die on 9/11? There is no-one in the Military who intentionally targets children, but as you have seen in 9/11 this unfortunately does happen. We are not focused on the issue, Protecting our country, if this means bringing the fight to whichever group is targeting us, then, so be it. In case you've forgotten we didn't strike first, but, we will be here until our country asks us to come home.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43996Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:10:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43996Rick Stewart, Katy, TexasWhat I cant understand about our American Military leaders - when did it become necessary to tell the whole world including our enemies what our military intentions and objectives are? Why dont they just shut up and go and do what they think they have to do. I think we're the only country in the entire history of the world to tell our enemies - when we're going to attack, with how many men using these particular type of weapons - I think it's crazy to begin with, Are we so sure of our Military that telegraphing our every move will not make a difference in lives lost?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#43998Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:37:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:43998Raymond Jackson Sikeston, Missouri 63801I am new to this site but I think that all of these Ideas are good ideas. Anyone who points a weapon at you in a war zone should be identified as the enemy. This resolution was a long time coming and could have saved American lives. So, why was it not implemented in the first place. GWB has probably always known that Iran is an enemy of the United States. In a situation like this, you simply can not single out what enemy you are going to fight. I would say for whom the bell tolls. We need(should the troop surge be allowed) to have an operation possibly called "Operation Clean Sweep" Start from the beginning, go north with the troop surge, wipe out anyone who even looks like an insurgent. After reaching the end of the boundry, make another sweep to the south and clean it up one more time. End all of this in the south and load our troops on planes and bring them home and say "Sianora" to the Iraqi army and put it in their hands. When I went to Viet Nam, I trained a total of 16 weeks to prepare for the war there. Why is it that it takes 4 years to train Iraqi troops? Are that stupid that they can't be taught? We weren't. We trained, we went, we fought, we returned. That also was a long drawn out political war. Our costs of lives were at an all time high but someone had enough sense to say "enough". It's time to stop playing war games and support our troops to come on home.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44026Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:35:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44026Bohdan Szejner, Rome, ItalyThe troop surge should be used to clamp a martial law on Iraq. This step would legalize an all-out search for weapons. People should be ordered to leave Baghdad, period! Baghdad must be totally emptied, so that not a single weapon is concealed. After the city is divided in nine sectors, nine gates should be set up, each gate per sector, to fingerprint every inhabitant and to send them to temporary camps set up outside the city. Camps could be operated by UN workers and other international contingents. After every house is searched, people could be returned without weapons. Such operation can only be carried out under a martial law! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44027Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:36:00 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44027Pete H., Fairhaven, MAIraqi insurgents, those who are not killed, should be turned over to the Iraqis for "disposition". Foreign fighters in Iraq should be executed without trial or ceremony. If you allow these "Jihadis" to continue to come and fight us in Iraq, it will never end. Yes, I know we are "Foreign fighters" also, so those of you making that arguement tell me how many of our guys have been returned unharmed after being captured. Too many people want the moral high ground, instead of winning the war. War is a horrible thing, but students of history (our history), should be able to see that we cannot win a limited war. If you commit to war you commit to total war. That means anyone who is an enemy get killed or captured. I'm including Al Sadr in that mix too. If he is fighting our forces or the forces of the government of Iraq, he is the enemy. You make every attempt to limit "collateral damge", but accept that it will occur. Thousands of Phillipinos were killed when we "liberated" Manila from the Japanese. They weren't the enemy, but the only way to the enemy was through them...sorry, that's war. Those who want to bury their heads in the sand will eventually get their butts shot off. Wake up! In to win, or out.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44032Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:53:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44032Peter Heron, High Point, NCIt tires me to hear comments like "we better pray that the terrorists don't come to our shores," and "Iran is not Iraq; we'll have a bloody fight on our hands." Reminds me of an old one-legged man in a wheelchair I didn't like, so I told him not to talk to me. A younger,bigger man confronted me later. Drunk, he said, "I ain't no one-legged old man in a wheelchair." Reminds me of Iran and those who think Iran will give us a fight we won't like. Why? 'Cause the younger man hit me, suckered me; after I threw one jab and two rights I broke his nose and he pleadingly said, "I've had enough." Same goes for all the talk about and coming from Iran. And those who tell us we better pray the enemy doesn't come here. Are you guys kidding? We are a strong, brave, fighting country...always have been; it's time to call our enemies' bluff and really get down. Let America really get mad, up on its toes, and throwing punches without regards to other nations' feelings. Be a bunch of broken national noses, a bunch of third rate nations whining "we've had enough." Only when the USA decides to take its gloves off and go bare knuckle will we win the war on terror...decisively.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44048Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:25:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44048Felix Chlopek Chicago Il.Finely,the adminisration decided to go after the Iranians trouble makers with iron hand. I hope they are sucsesfull.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44058Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:33:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44058Rodney Thomas Missoula MontanaIt is time that we as a nation come to relize that war against muslim extremist's will be in our future. Extremists that killed US soldiers in Beruit in 1983 are at this very moment training Jihadists to fight agaisnt us where ever we may be. Iran's leaders are preparing to build a bomb that will be launched against Isreal. We as a nation allowed these groups to develope knowing that we would have to deal with them in our future. The future has arrived and Iran will and has been our enemy. We need to build forward bases in order to keep Iran in check and keep them from spreading violence. In conclusion I believe we as a nation must Jail or kill any person who threatens our troops and citizens abroad or at home. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44065Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:39:14 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44065Jose Calderon , Bronx New Yorkwell, well, well, for the last 5 years, all i have heard on the news,radio,public protest's and internet about everyone and thier mother complaining about how Bush has botched this war, how Bush does not have a effective post war plan .. how this war in iraq has spiraled into civil war and our troops are caught in the middle ....... I have only one thing to say to the United States people as a whole ....... U VOTED FOR THIS MAN .... TWICE. President Bush was not fit to run this country in 2000. and even after he and his administration lied to us about WMD's, YOU VOTED FOR HIM AGAIN! ... So now I ask U America? who really is to blame? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44072Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:49:15 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44072`Dave Wilmington DE.Send over the all of the idiot US Democrats to fight the Qods force since they think that Islamic Fanatics do not exist. The reality is it has taken 30 plus years to get to this point and it will take 30 plus years to tear down these 8th century goof balls.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44079Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:56:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44079Eleanor McGovern - Philadelphia PAGW makes a very good King Ahab from the old Testament - liar, etc, abd then some. Only the die-hard dummies in the GOP (that's Grand Oil Party) believe anything the administration reportshttp://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44087Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:11:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44087BradSadly the war with Iran is inevitable, especially without any diplomatic effort whatsoever. The only communication going on is 1-way chant and it's saying over and over, "No nukes!" We've laid a groundwork by working with Saudi Arabia to pinch oil. This step seems just like a fresh flag waving with an "We caught you" logo on it. They are laying the groundwork for it, so we might as expect it to happen. I imagine the 96,000 troop increase he called for will only help him in that measure. I do believe Bush entered this for all the right reasons, but not for the reasons he sold to us. I think his hidden agenda was there all along to start this moral cause against terrorism. It will eventually happen on our soil anyways, to those posters that think prevailing in Afghanistan and Iraq will cease that from happening are a tad delusional. They don't have a home. Do you think the bombings in Spain or England would have been prevented had the war been a victory at this point? I don't think so for one bit. They like to travel remember.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44089Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:13:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44089Al Lopez, Ellicott CityWe went to war in Iraq to support a lier that reprents not the people but oil interests. Now that things have gone awry his answer is escalating troops and hence violence, forgetting one of history basic lessons: Brute force is the argument of the weaker. Are we going to play by their rules ? Are we going to bet who escalates better the genocide ? Are we not going to learn Vietnam's lessons ?http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44107Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:28:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44107vic uniontown pa 15401get our troops out and then lets nuke them. they all want to go to paradise anyway.lets help them out.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44115Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:38:54 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44115Craig P. Jacksonville, FlGlad to read that there are some REAL americans on this Blog that actually understand what is going on against the Terrorists! It no longer matters 'why' we went into Iraq, only that we are there and we MUST be successful before leaving. It may take years and years, but we MUST win this struggle, else the extremists will be killing our children in our own country. If you can't see that, then why don't you volunteer to go 'negotiate' with them and I'll gladly make sure to replace your head when they chop it off.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44121Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:45:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44121Alex, Philly, PAIranians are Shias and Iraq is full of Shia holy sites. Looks like lots of innocent Iranian Shia pilgrims are going to be killed. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44146Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:30:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44146Pat G, PittsburghRegardless of the political reasons we may be in Iraq, I am not surprised that it only took a few years for most people in this country to forget what and who started this conflict.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44147Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:32:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44147Mario ScarpaOnce again the PC police will be out to undermind this new tactic, (killing and/OR capturing Iranian insurgents). What scares me the most, our political leaders will not want to offend the few in order to protect our soldiers. Will America ever get the full picture and understand that we have just scratch the surface of this war or will it take hundreds of thousands of American lives lost to get that fire in our bellies we had right after 911. We cannot negotiate with these people any more than we could have negotiated with Hitler, Tojo or Stalin. Fellow citizens, please get the picture and save our country, children and freedoms. Lets fight the fight and put it behind us once and for all.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44161Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:52:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44161John DoeLet's get our troops out of harms wy ASAP. This war in IRAQ (not afghan. !!) was waged using lies and deceipt, etc. There are no WMD, there was no relationship between OBL & Saddam, and finally it seems to most people (who can reason) that there were few (if any) terrorists in IRAQ PRIO to American troops going in. Let's concentrate on Aghanistan & and out stalwart (I'm lying here !!) Pakistan and find OBL and bring him to justice. Bring the troops home, secure our ports and borders and let IRAQ sort out their future on their own. They are (and IMHO may never be a nation) a series of tribes who have warred against one another forever and the presence or absence of American troops will not alter that one iota !!!!!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44175Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:19:48 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44175mike hawk,bakersfield,caits good to see the whole world hates us now.thanks papa bush and momma cheny.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44183Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:24:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44183msnbc FriendBefore we do anything more with this war, or get otherwise engaged in the Middle East it would be prudent to step back and assess what is going on in the world. I see Chinese are taking the world, while we are engaged in a crusade. Wakeup people.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44185Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:25:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44185Martin Lav This is nothing more than the a continuation of Bush's war with no purpose. Of course we have been killing or trying to kill insurgents regardless of where they're from. To simple state it as a "policy" now is to do nothing more than to build the case of Iranian involvement in this police action. Our Dear President along with his advisors are planning their next move in the region and since their overthrow of one government/nation (Iraq) has emboldened another (Iran) they now have to fight them. Stating this new policy is absurd and it is obvious to me that it's intended to incite the American people against the Iranians and all part of Bush's sabre-rattling campaign. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44194Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:38:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44194Anthony DeeSo, four years into a pre-emptive, arguably illegal aggression against Iraq, an 'excellent adventure' in foreign policy by the Zionist neocons in the Bush/Cheney junta, we have yet another American military man arguing, sheepishly and in a rather pathetic manner, that "Oh, the reason 140,000 American troops can't 'win' the Iraqui war is because the mean Iranian troops (Shia) have been supporting militarily the (Shiite) Iraqui puppet government we have installed in Baghdad." Sure, buddy. They probably have WMDs concealed in their pants. At least that is more than what the US leaders and their military leaders have in their pants. Lt. Colonel Francona, the American military and its pathetic 'allies' who are deserting the Titanic at this moment, are losing the Iraqui war because the war is an edifice built on an intentionally false and deceptive foundation of lies, including the nonexistent WMDs and elusive connection of Iraq to 9/11 (unlike the actual 18 of 19 hijackers who were Saudi extremists supported by our Sunni 'allie' Saudi government money). A series of inept diplomatic manuvers destroyed the Iraqui infrastructure and disbanded the Army. The costs of the war, now at $8 billion per month, over $400 billion and running, is a drain on the Treasury, money which is going straight into the pockets of your military contractors and other maggots in the Administration and the MIC. Your army is being decimated, along with their supplies and morale. Now, the Bush/Cheney junta, which is subverting democracy in the US in the name of an insane policy of aggression, conquest, and escalation in the tinderbox of the Middle East, has concocted an asine cover story of 'escalation or augmentation of some 15% of total forces in Iraq' and the newly discovered evidence that 'the real bad guys are the Iranians' (do you military guys who liked to play dress-up as children ever get intellectually beyond the 'good guy- bad guy' moronic dialect) to distract the bovine American public and the Geisha girl celeb media government propaganda outlets. All so that the Bush/Cheney junta can take possible tactical nuclear war to the Iranian people, who have invaded no one, though they may support their Shiite brethren against this American aggression, tantamount to a war crime of Stalinist proportions. If the Bush/Cheney junta of war criminals truly escalates the situation by undertaking on behalf of their Zionist 'client', Israel, with their nuclear weapons, I hope you will be man enough to endure being in the "crosshairs", not of the Iranians, who will surely disrupt the oil market, but of the remaining real American men and patriots left in this advancing police state and dictatorship, the USA. With the credibility of the Bush Administration and its minions, as well as that of the military, in tatters, couldn't you have come up with a better rationalization for your war crimes, Lt. Col. Francona? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44199Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:56:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44199Steve S Albuquerque, NMMore than likely we have been catching and releasing Iranian operative so as to tag them with electronic surveilance and mark their hideouts. No doubt the Iranians are using multiple safe houses etc.. in Iraq. Once you have sucessfuly mapped all of these locations it is better to take them all out simultaneously so as to leave the enemy with no place to hide. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44200Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:57:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44200domidroid"America" isn't the point, "democracy" isn't the point. The point is: People are Barbarians, they love fighting, about anything. So We beat up on Them, They retaliate, it never ends. Whatever ends this travesty, will only hold them over, until the next reason to fight, so why should I care? I'd rather think about things I can actually fix. Cave-People will do as they will...http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44210Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:13:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44210steve ny nyI would like to thank 4star general Joe Cicero for his mornic deployment of troops in Iraq.General they are looking for somemore input in Iraq from you.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44211Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:13:59 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44211John BeekmanWhat has happened to the effectiveness of our covert operators? What have they done that would stop them from doing their jobs? I am a vet. from Beirut, and the Bakka valley from 77 to 81. I wittnessed a transition from plane clothes to uniformed operators. Does anyone remember when a spook was a spook, and they did the job that was placed before them? I believe we need that type of cold mentality back. Are we so deathly afraid of being accused of an act that any other "agency" around the world would certainly, at least, take into consideration? They know where to work effectively, and how to work effectively. One or two targets would certainly open the eyes of our enemies to the fear that trickles down. Where does our true fear lay? http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44212Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:16:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44212RHKokoodan The sectarian violence amongst the Shiites, Kurds, Sunnis and others has been going on for centuries in the Middle East. It is about time that these Iranian and Syrian Shiites killing American troops and civilians in Iraq be liquidated and repudiated in kind ... not excluding the posibility to cross the borders of Iraq in pursuit of these militants in their sanctuaries. Otherwise, let us comnpletely withdraw our troops and support and let the Iraqis take care of their civil unrest. I see no American Interest in this matter. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44218Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:25:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44218Ron M., Oklahoma City, OKWhat in the world are "foreigners" like Iranians doing in Iraq? I thought it was the exclusive reserve of the "natives" from Oregon or New Jersey or Arkansas or other places like that! It's no wonder we want these Iranian "invaders" out of Iraq!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44231Mon, 29 Jan 2007 19:40:32 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44231Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca.This weird situation can still be turned around. We send 2/3 of our troops home, send 1/3 to Israel to support them, then we sell (at large discount) all the conventional weapons each mid-eastern nation needs to arm everybody. The rest will happen naturally. Give them the ability of self determination.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44319Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:07:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44319Terrence Healy Santa Clara,CA Like it or not Iran needs to be dealt with Reagan did not do it, Bush Senior did not do it, Clinton did not do it, and the current administration invaded the wrong country. Iran is currently deploying the latest Soviet Anti Aircraft Defense system, its either now or never and live with a Nuclear Iran that has been killing Americans for 20 years and wants to Nuke Israel and the US. Ask yourself, do you think Iran would provide Weapons grade Nuclear Material to a terrorist organisation that wanted to strike the US. Then ask yourself, if you could do something about it, would you? Like it or not, we can either deal with IRAN now, or suffer the consequences later.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44339Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:20:58 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44339Kevin Culver, Omaha, NEWe have been negotiating with terrorists and dictatorships for decades. We give and give and give in return for their good behavior. Our philosophy to negotiate has never worked. We continually get ourselves in deeper and deeper until one day we realize that we have been taken advantage of. Then what shall we do. The longer we wait the more serious our dilemma becomes. I hope we do not wait until most countries in the middle east or world for that matter have nuclear weapons. Nukes will definetly make for good jihad. Iraq has to be our stand against terrorism now, not 10 or 20 years from now.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44341Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:21:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44341Tim Kenney, San Bruno, CaPlease people, stop acting so ignorant. His first name is Rick not Col. His Rank isn't LIEUTENANT (2Lt. or 1Lt.)it is LIEUTENANT COLONEL (Lt. Col.). Please learn to read.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44357Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:35:53 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44357nick phillips Chandler AZPachek, I say we send the troops we are pulling from Afghanistan to the Israel/Palestine border, and send the 21,000 new troops there as well. Start preventing the the arabs and Jews from killing each other as the Brits did with the Catholics and Protestants in N. Ireland. At first everybody hated the idea, but ultimately it worked and it can work in Israel/Palestine as well. We should have done it years ago. If Israel doesn't like it, we tell them "tough," you accept our aid, all or none. Now if we can get Massad out of Washington D.C... As far as the Iranian operatives in Iraq directly contributing to the insurgents/enemy, I'm not sure what all is true about this, as it could be more propaganda to start gearing up to go to war with Iran(as we have been lied to before) however, if it's true, all's fair in love and war and they should be treated as the enemy (or enemy sympathizers) plain and simple...http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44361Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:38:47 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44361Jim, Sugar Land, TXSince the current size of US ground forces seems to be inadequate for 2 wars, and the additional 90,000 troops won't be ready for a couple of years we have to be careful about not overtaxing the troops available. If the troop surge doesn't work I suggest a strategic withdrawal of ground troops out of Al Anbar province to Basra. Encircle Basra with barbed wire and setup checkpoints to prevent insurgents from coming in and we could lock the city down tight. Then start a real reconstruction plan there using Iraqis to do the work. Train up Iraqis form Basra for the military and police and after they are ready for the job let them take over security for Basra. Target the next city using the same formula and repeat. The nice thing about this approach is that everyone (insurgents included) can see concrete results and territory won this way would be territory held. Eventually a real Iraqi army can route out the vipers in Al Anbar with US air support and real reconstruction can take place there as well. Finally, american troops can come home. The problem with this plan is that it takes time. By the way the british did something very similar in a conflict called the Boer war.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44376Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:50:22 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44376Robert Edwards, Alamogordo, NMKill them all and let God sort them out. Is how you fight an all out war against these so called sons of islam anyway. Kill them now or kill them on our shores. And Friends they are already behind our gates.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44384Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:01:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44384Get Over It Already, St. Louis, MO Firstly, the US invaded Iraq primarily because of oil. This is a fact. So what? Are you people too stupid to understand that the US is an oil dependent nation and the free flow of oil from the Great Sand Box is in our nation's strategic interests? Jimmuh Carter knows it. That's why in 1980 he created what we now call the Carter Doctrine in which ol' Jimmuh specifically said that the free flow of oil from the Persian Gulf is in the US's "vital interests." (Ooops. Most of you liberal hand-wringers didn't know that little factoid, did you?) Secondly, Dubya Bush can and should be criticized for a number of blunders relating to this war. His single greatest blunder was his unwillingness to immediately expand the war to include Iran and Syria. The insurgency in Iraq is the direct result of Iranian and Syrian efforts. The only way to stop the insurgency is to stop Iran and Syria. If Dubya is unwilling to fight Iran and Syria, there is no way the US can "win" in Iraq, no matter how many troops we park there. Ergo, Dubya should have never invaded Iraq unless he was ready to go all the way. You don't just stick it in a little... Thirdly, regarding terrorists in general, the only way to defeat them is to destroy them. No negotiation. No peace talks. No hootenanny songs. Die or surrender, Islamic fascist, it's that simple. Sooner or later, Darwin's Theory will kick in. Survival is an amazing motivator. The US has faced-off against these kind of fanatics before, the Nazis and Imperialist japanese come to mind, and we won simply by killing more of those maggots than they killed of us. It's a war of attrition. We fire bombed a lot of German and Japanese cities. And we nuked a couple more. It was cruel, and a lot of innocents died in the process, but it worked. Worked very well. Germany and Japan haven't given us much trouble in the last half-century, have they? Problem is this war is being handled by a bunch of political water-walkers who want us to fight the Islamo-fascists with one hand tied to our testicals. We have all the military might we need to make these people disappear in a puff a smoke. There wouldn't even be a greasy spot left. Yet, we can't use our full military potential for fear it might make some people hate us. So what if they do? Our culture is no less meaningful just because of bunch of Muslim fanatics don't like us. In the end, they're going to hate us anyway, so we might as well give them a good enough reason. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44387Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:09:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44387Tom Carey, Columbus, OHThat they were not killed or captured to begin with is just another example of the screwed management of the war by Dubbya. Let's see, it was okay to kill Jordanians, Syrians, Sudenese, Egyptians, Afghans, or any other foreigner who entered Iraq to fight against Americans--but Iranians had a free pass. My-oh-my, Dubbya told us that our very survival as a nation depended on America invading Iraq. Saddam was the greatest threat since Hitler. Yet, did Dubbya send in enough troops to do the job--no; did he have a plan for the followup to the invasion--no; did he appoint competent people to manage the CPA--of course not. Now he wants to act like a bad-ass! Oh wow, he's just so tough! I love how all the neo-whatevers say that we can't leave Iraq too soon because it would embolden our enemies--the only thing emboldening our ememies is having a moron for a president! PS I am wondering why LTC Francona did not criticize the Dubbya administration before this for allowing Iranians to operate inside Iraq. Now he wants to congratulate Bush! We don't to look as far as Iraq to find other people that have American blood on their hands, as well! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44395Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:21:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44395Matt Moorestown, NJWell, they should've been more keen on big issues like this in IRAQ. First of all why are we just now hearing about this for the first time? It's obvious that they are a formidable foe, with a major influence as to the outcome of Iraq. It only makes sense too, because they don't have to cross an ocean to harm us, we're right in thier backyard. Iran knows just as well as we do that once Iraq gets on it's feet, that area will be a major staging platform for military operations in that region. Bottom line, fight fire with fire. They should've been hung out to dry yesterday. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44401Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:27:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44401Russell Fletcher, Lancaster, CAI have to admit that I am completely stuned by most of what I have read here. Since when has it been unpatriotic to oppose the policies of our government? Since when is it not supporting the troops when you question why we are at war? Since when is it wrong to voice a dissenting oppinion? The truth is very simple, it is because the President and his cronies want it that way and are actively encouraging it. The war in Iraq is, was and will always be wrong. We should not now or ever have been there. Anyone who thinks that Iraq had anything to do with 9-11 needs to learn to read and listen to the facts. We are supposed to be at war with Al-Queda. We are supposed to be hunting Bin Laden and his lieutenants. Al-Queda was after Saddam just as much as it is after us. Iraq's proplems are Iraq's - Shia and Sunni and Kurd groups that have fought each other for centuries. We need to refocus on the war on terror that the congress and people authorized the president to fight. Iraq was not part of that authorization. Nor is eavesdropping with out a warrant, openning mail with out a warrant, etc. We have our freedoms and rights because we fought for them. We should not be giving them up just because our idiot president wants to be able to take on the world. If he wants to fight Al-Queda, then let us go forward. If wants to fight Syria, Iran, etc. then we need to stop the insanity. The middle east problem cannot be solved with physical force - it never could be. Look at how many wars have been fought in the middle east throughout recorded history. We need to let them solve their own problems. Let Isreal, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Irag, Lebanon, etc. all fight it out on their own and solve their own problems. We need to withdraw our troops from Iraq and send them to hunt down Bin Laden and his followers. As for the statement that if we don't win Iraq they will be over hear fighting us on our own door steps, that is the true propoganda. They can not be over hear if we don't let them. We are supposed (you notice that I say supposed) to be securing our borders to prevent just such a thing from happening. This was another thing that congress aproved. What has our president done to execute that directive? We need to focus on what was authorized not what the Bush Administration wants. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44402Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:29:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44402WayneOnce again, divided America will pull the rug out from under their military and thousands of folks will die for nothing. Looks very familiar to me. http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44404Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:38:38 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44404John, New JerseyFunny how we have this moron President from Iran making statements that he wants to help the Iraqi Country get back on its feet after the removal of Hussien....Hmmm, Lets think about that for a second or two and see what you might come up with? I can tell you this much...He's a liar...always has been and always will be. I think in my mind that this idiot is trying to take over Iraq for himself and not for the Iraqi people who deserve more than just another moron running it like they dealt with from Hussien. Do I believe that our country should be involved in it or should have gone there in the first place...Absolutely not!!!! What should have happened is that the Saudi Government should have taken care of that issue cause they are the more respected portion of the Middle East...Even tho thats where Bin Asshole is from. Oh and one other thing....I have once stated that we shouldn't trust Pakistan...Well, Mr. President Bush.....HAve you really looked into the possibility that Pakistan has been harboring Bin Laden for the last couple of years and not once did you go and invade Pakistan to see if he was there. Show's you how stupid this country has become when it comes to detaining borders. If we cvan't detain our own...How can we detain any other!!!! Think about that a bit!!http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44406Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:42:18 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44406John, New JerseySpeaking of Getting over it from St.Louis.... Yea and that shows you how stupid our Poloticians are these days....Even back then we had stupidness in office. Why would Jimmy Carter even think of doing such a stupid thing when this Great Country of ours has enough oil to supply this whole world for the next 2 billion years.....http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44410Mon, 29 Jan 2007 22:47:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44410Al, Burlington KSSo what do we do with Iranians caught in Iraq...we kill them. What do we do to the Sunnis trying to protect themselves from the Shias...we kill them. What do we do to the Shia militias fighting against the Sunni...we kill them. What do we do to Hezbolla...with Israel's help...we kill them. Does anyone see a common thread....we did you all get so bloodthirsty...when did America become so bloodthirsty. Nothing good ever comes from war. This is not a real war...it's a war we made up...and the killing goes on. The citizens of Iraq did nothing to us, until we invaded them. The answer lies not in finding (or dreaming up) more people to kill...the answer lies in getting out and stopping the killing. Let's make the world safe FROM democracy.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44429Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:25:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44429Seth Pyers, Detroit MichiganWe are forgetting our history. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were friends during our revolution. The founding fathers took great pains to ensure that are war did not kill with uncontrolled violence. There were many battles faught but by and large the deaths were limited to combatents where possible. Adams and Jefferson split on the French revolution. Jefferson thought we should back the French and Adams thought the democracy would not last. The French revolution was so violent and the rule of law disappeared. Adams said that this would inevitably lead to a despot ruling with an iron fist and many more deaths after the revolution. Napolean took over. He brought the rule of law as well as the death of millions of people. This should sound very familiar to the situation in Iraq. We have brought them democracy but they have NO rule of law. Even if the goverment can take control of the country they will have no way of bringing the rule of law. The way they handled the hangings and to continue to allow death squads to roam the country while chasing away people of consience and those who have educated professions will leave the citizens hungry for anyone who can stop the killings. This will lead to someone as bad or worse than Saddam. If he is Shia, the despot will be opposed by Saudi Arabia and they will most likely intervene or try to blunt the influence. If he is Sunni, the Iranians will want to interfer. The only part of the country that has a working government is the Kurdish region. This region has its own axe to grind but they have developed an economy and some rule of law to minimize the uncontrolled killing. The surge may suppress the violence long enough to get our troops out. However the blood fued between Sunni and Shia will not be over. The best person to lead the beginning may be a Kurdish statesman. Unless the Iraqis see the positives of the Kurdish reason and say enough blood enough killing enough violence we want better and we need to build rather than destroy, they will continue to be nothing more than a mass of conflicting interests fighting over territory that has much human capitol and natural resources. There will be no way for the common person to make a living. Everyone will be living off the scraps except the Kurds. The religous leadership is not willing to let a nation form and Iran is duplicating what it did in Southern Lebanon (Hezbollah) and the Isreali conflict. In Irag a militia (the Maqdi army) is acting as a sovereign nation and the rest of the country pays the price. In the case of Lebanon, the western democracies are ponying up money to help Lebanon rebuild. Will this house of cards (built with our money) and any more money that we similarly spend in Iraq endure long enough to bring peace. Not while there are malitias with more pull than the government. These people do not yet want to live in peace with one another. No businesses with any thought towards minimizing risk (with the possible exception of the oil companies) would invest here. It may be time to let them have their civil war. As long as we keep a lid on it with our blood and our treasury they have no incentive to do a damn thing for their own people. And as far as the cost for the war, it keeps going up and up. The current estimates are that the total cost will run to 2 trillion dollars when all of the medical aid for our more than 26,000 wounded troops have finished with our veterans hositals. We are not counting the costs now nor did we before we went into the war. I want to be clear that the troops deserve the medial help they are getting. I just believe our government is morgaging our future and our coveted tax breaks will not be sustainable because we are spending without paying.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44445Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:45:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44445RegulusExcept one major thing; Qods Force is a part of the Iranian Millitary. al-Qaida is not a part of any millitary. These are Iranian soldiers attacking American soldiers... an act of war.http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44460Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:17:11 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44460Seth BrownWhere do I start?...What has happened to us?...The new left is no different than the old left....my generation has become parilyzed by Vietnam....STOP this insane self infliction/ moral relevancy BS we here every day in the media....Abu Grab....come on it saw more media attention than the beheadings by Al Qeada........the pessimism we hear is infectous....we are turning into Frenchmen....can you imagine CNN at Guadelcanal...or the weeks after Normandy ( pre breakout)....my god...I'm ashamed of this generation...mistakes were made..ok...this war is only lost in the minds of those who are weak and stupid.....get some huevos....let the military do their thing...remind the Shia and Sunnis what will happen if we leave! http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/01/26/42746.aspx#44461Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:21:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:44461Ali, Los AngelesHow intresting the author fails to note how the biggest sponsers of international terrorism still remains Great Britain, with Hezbullah, Hamas, Islamic Armed Jihad, Egyptian Armed Jihad, and many other extremist drug running terrorists run a safe haven from London and are granted full political immunity. Let's not forge the Chechnian warlords and the Mujahadeen Al Khalq have their HQ in London Washington DC. Almost every country in the world is involved with international terrorism, and the biggest ones are STILL the USA and Britain. Want to get Terrorists, bomb Britain.