They Can Keep Him
by mcjoan
Wed May 30, 2007 at 08:13:35 PM PDT
Joe is in Baghdad, and he's getting a clear message from the troops:
I'm sure they appreciated hearing that one from him. A lot.
by mcjoan
Wed May 30, 2007 at 08:13:35 PM PDT
Joe is in Baghdad, and he's getting a clear message from the troops:
Spc. David Williams, 22, of Boston, Mass., had two note cards in his pocket Wednesday afternoon as he waited for Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Williams serves in the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C., the first of the five "surge" brigades to arrive in Iraq, and he was chosen to join the Independent from Connecticut for lunch at a U.S. field base in Baghdad.
The night before, 30 other soldiers crowded around him with questions for the senator.
He wrote them all down. At the top of his note card was the question he got from nearly every one of his fellow soldiers:
"When are we going to get out of here?"
...
The soldiers smiled and greeted him, stood with him for pictures and sat down to a lunch of roast beef and turkey sandwiches. It was unclear if they ever asked their questions....It isn't clear whether Williams mentioned the last line on his note card, the one that had a star next to it.
"We don't feel like we're making any progress," it said.
And Joe's message to them? "I think it's important we don't lose our will," he said. "To pull out would be a disaster."The night before, 30 other soldiers crowded around him with questions for the senator.
He wrote them all down. At the top of his note card was the question he got from nearly every one of his fellow soldiers:
"When are we going to get out of here?"
...
The soldiers smiled and greeted him, stood with him for pictures and sat down to a lunch of roast beef and turkey sandwiches. It was unclear if they ever asked their questions....It isn't clear whether Williams mentioned the last line on his note card, the one that had a star next to it.
"We don't feel like we're making any progress," it said.
I'm sure they appreciated hearing that one from him. A lot.
Dude I thought you knew Escazu. Escazu is in the center of Costa Rica. There is really no diving in the area. Though that may be an interesting concept to try.
I went against the theme park looking idea of a Sports Bar and really we have gone after the Old World Tavern feel. Come down and see it. I told the Nicas that are doing the work about how highly you spoke of them and they said they would be happy to meet you.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=1&id=4&Itemid=128
The "government" does put the info youre looking for out every single day, as well as the bad news....all right there DP.
Maybe you mean the papers should start reporting it?
Its just a another case you being lazy.
The site as whole contains all sorts of things to chart progress but whats the difference to you? Its all "propaganda" anyway,right?
The "government" does put the info youre looking for out every single day, as well as the bad news....all right there DP.
Maybe you mean the papers should start reporting it?
Its just a another case you being lazy.
The site as whole contains all sorts of things to chart progress but whats the difference to you? Its all "propaganda" anyway,right?
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/04/surge_results_are_visible.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18950252/
It appears the surge has improved security in Baghdad.
Since the surge, murders in the city dropped immediately
More Iraqis are fighting against our enemies
Iraqis are independently emboldened to fight Al-Q (even if they say they don't want our help)
If these trends continue, it should mean that Iraqis will eventually be able to provide for their own security.
At the end of the day, it's hard for any of us to really know the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Everything we're told has inherent bias.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18950252/
It appears the surge has improved security in Baghdad.
Since the surge, murders in the city dropped immediately
More Iraqis are fighting against our enemies
Iraqis are independently emboldened to fight Al-Q (even if they say they don't want our help)
If these trends continue, it should mean that Iraqis will eventually be able to provide for their own security.
At the end of the day, it's hard for any of us to really know the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Everything we're told has inherent bias.
Come on Base, we don't need to go there. DP may actually have a cool place. At least it's in Costa Rica.
I thought for a brief second that it might be sarcasm,but then I decided you probably werent capable of it.You sounded pretty serious to me tho ,that shouldve been a dead giveaway huh?
Im sure your shop is nice.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Commander Details Progress in Baghdad
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
</TD></TR><TR><TD>WASHINGTON, June 1, 2007 – While the “surge” in U.S. and Iraqi troops is continuing in Baghdad and other areas of Iraq, progress is being made in quelling violence there, a top U.S. commander in Iraq said yesterday. Baghdad is the center of gravity for the fight, and six coalition brigades with 24 battalions are in Baghdad, Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said during a teleconference with Pentagon reporters. In the belts of villages around Baghdad -- from which extremists often launch attacks -- there are six brigades with 20 battalions.
Another U.S. brigade moving into the belts around Baghdad -- the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division -- will complete the surge, the general said.
But U.S. forces are not alone in the fight. More than 79,000 members of Iraqi security forces are in the city and its surroundings as well, officials said. There are 22 Iraqi security force brigades in the city, 35 Iraqi army battalions and 19 national police battalions. More than 25,000 local Iraqi police are also in the city.
These units are moving into the neighborhoods, called “mahalas,” of the city. "This is all about establishing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week presence inside the city of Baghdad and protecting people where they sleep," Odierno said. "Currently, we have 28 joint security stations and 28 combat outposts operating throughout greater Baghdad area."
Under current strategy, coalition soldiers live, work and patrol with their Iraqi counterparts. The U.S. and Iraqi servicemembers develop relationships with each other and build the trust of the local residents, the general said.
"In addition, we hope this will help to build confidence of the populace in their own Iraqi security forces," he said. "We believe overall this will provide confidence and hope to the Iraqi people. People are thanking us for driving away gangs, criminals and terrorists, but we have not completed the mission."
The close cooperation allows coalition and Iraqi government officials to identify Iraqi security forces that do not operate according to the rules, or who continue to have sectarian agendas. "We have systems in place to do this with the government of Iraq, and we try to execute those vigorously," Odierno said.
The pace of operations has quickened in the city. Since January 15, U.S. servicemembers have conducted 98 battalion-level operations, Odierno said. The troops neutralized six car-bomb factories and dismantled four improvised-explosive-device cells. Coalition and Iraqi forces have killed 837 insurgents and terrorists and wounded 180.
In addition, coalition forces have found 441 arms caches in Baghdad just since January. In all of 2006, coalition troops found 266 caches, the general said.
Humanitarian progress also continues throughout Iraq, officials said. The military has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development to produce 32,000 jobs in the country. The goal is to create 40,000 jobs before the end of June, Odierno said. The command is working with USAID to fund business loans and grants to jumpstart economic development.
The military is working to establish the Baghdad International Airport as a business zone.
Odierno said civilian deaths and sectarian killings are down in Baghdad. "There are some positive signs," he said. "But it's not enough. We still have much more to do."
Local commands in Baghdad also have invested $3.3 million in various areas around Baghdad. This helps fund garbage hauling, educational supplies, agriculture, transportation and water and sanitation improvements.
"We have not made the progress that I think is necessary yet," the general said. "But I hope over the summer that we will continue to make progress."
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I am very sarcastic. The problem with written communication is you can't hear my tone of voice.
If you come down to CR you can come visit our Tavern anytime. If you don't mind supporting a non-right wing business. We even have a few damn liberals in my family that might be there too. Please don't give them to hard of a time. I hate having to clean up the mess....lol...all joking a side feel free to talk politics and religion as long as you know how to not take it to seriously.
If you come down to CR you can come visit our Tavern anytime. If you don't mind supporting a non-right wing business. We even have a few damn liberals in my family that might be there too. Please don't give them to hard of a time. I hate having to clean up the mess....lol...all joking a side feel free to talk politics and religion as long as you know how to not take it to seriously.
