Comments on: UNSTEADY STATE

By: Raging Bee

Raging Bee — Wed, 04 Feb 2004 13:39:09 +0000

“The American occupying force is increasingly and uniformly despised by a huge majority, and almost every faction, of Iraqis.”This statement alone sinks the credibility of the whole article. It’s about as stupid as saying that all Iraqis are throwing flowers at the feet of US soldiers. Are “every faction” of Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis thinking alike, regardless of their clearly varying self-interests vis a vis the US occupation? Such statements are not only wrong, but, coming from people who routinely condemn Republicans’ insensitivity toward other peoples and cultures, shockingly hypocritical.

By: Cyndy

Cyndy — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 09:18:20 +0000

Why is the only guy telling the truth, the only guy who seems to really understand what's happening and what to do, unelectable in America?Because people are afraid of pronouncing his name wrong considering they rarely hear it???

By: Dave Pollard

Dave Pollard — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:22:43 +0000

CS: Yes, you’re right. My question was frustrated and semi-rhetorical. I’m a strong Kucinich supporter, and he’s saying these things, but few are listening, the media aren’t giving him coverage, and the pundits are giving him so-so ratings in the debates and saying he’s unelectable. Why is the only guy telling the truth, the only guy who seems to really understand what’s happening and what to do, unelectable in America?John: Yes — and the attacks will continue even if/when the US pulls out, because the insurgents, mostly Sunnis and Baathists, are trying to undermine Shia/Kurdish attempts to build a country whose government will exclude them. The attacks are, in fact, the first shots in the inevitable civil war, and because they can be conveniently aimed at the universally hated occupying forces, they can proceed with impunity — the continued presence of the US/UK ironically prevents the Shia and Kurds from dealing with the Sunni and Baathist insurgency.

By: John Robb

John Robb — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:07:10 +0000

David,Unfortunately, guerrillas in Iraq are getting smart. Attacks against infrastructure will negate much of what the US does to rebuild it (most of which we destroyed in the first Gulf War – or – wasn’t built in reponse to population growth due to sanctions).

By: cs

cs — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 21:41:36 +0000

Dave, you wrote:So let me say it again: The US needs to invest heavily in rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure that it destroyed, let the Iraqis do the rebuilding themselves, can Bremer’s hapless Provisional Authority, and bring the occupying forces home and out of harm’s way now. When will someone running for US office have the courage to stand up and say this? Did we learn nothing from Vietnam?Dennis Kucinich has been saying these very things . . .

By: kuros

kuros — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 15:24:34 +0000

we shant be in iraq much longer the reasons were made clear a very long time ago “Beyond the Euphrates began for us the land of mirage and danger, the sands where one helplessly sank, and the roads which ended in nothing. The slightest reversal would have resulted in a jolt to our prestige giving rise to all kinds of catastrophe; the problem was not only to conquer but to conquer again and again, perpetually; our forces would be drained off in the attempt.” Emperor Hadrian AD 117-138

By: Jon Husband

Jon Husband — Sat, 31 Jan 2004 14:20:11 +0000

Oh boy – here we go.Thanks, Dave for this – as usual. You are indded something special. I’m glad we humans invented blogging, so that you could shine on – you crazy diamond.