“This March will mark the beginning of the 4th year of the war in Iraq. In contrast, U.S. involvement in WWI came to an end after 19 months. Victory in Europe was declared in WWII after 3 years 5 months. In the Korean War, a cease-fire was signed after 3 years and 1 month. But after more than three and a half years into the war in Iraq, your administration finally produced what is called a “Plan for Victory” in Iraq.” -from John Murtha’s “Letter To The President,” on The Huffington Post. Thanks to Crooks and Liars for the tip, where you can also view video of Murtha on CNN’s “The Situation Room,” with Wolf Blitzer.
And from Iraq today, via Riverbend on her blog Baghdad Burning, comes this:
“Americans write to me wondering, “But where are the educated Iraqis? Why didn’t they vote for secular parties?” The educated Iraqis have been systematically silenced since 2003. They’ve been pressured and bullied outside of the country. They’ve been assassinated, detained, tortured and abducted. Many of them have lost faith in the possibility of a secular Iraq.”
Cross-posted at www.seattlefordean.com and www.howieinseattle.com.
Howie, I read Riverbends entire article this morning. That is not the only thing she has to say about. I recommend that we all read her article today. Don’t you know that we are never planning on leaving!? Unless we get a leader that will walk away from that part of the world and let them do things in the Islamic way, we will always be there as an occuping force. The group we have now in place will linger with their plants and they will always be do things to anger the rest of the world. Just think about it. Wolfie is in the place where he can do a great deal of harm. Bolton is in place to do things that will probably never get resolved. The republicans have gotten their teeth in such a hold of and about things that we will never be the same. It was not 9/11 that changed the world. It was thsi administration that changed the world.
Would Riverbend ever need her blog if it weren’t for bush and his cronies?! I love her blogging and I can tell you, I pray for her safty.,. They will go after her sooner or later…
Our state of the union is so bad, I wonder if we will ever get away from it or if ppl in America really care if we ever do…
I couldn’t agree more, Brenda. Whenever I pull a quote, I am hoping readers go to the full story. And with Riverbend, that is always a rewarding experience for me.
You bet, Howie. I usually try to do such a thing, myself. I check out riverbend on a daily basis, to see if she has posted something new. Thank you for refering to her blog. I ran across her blog site at the beginning of the war. He thoughts and ways of writing have changed thru out the years. Anyhow, thank you again…I am gla dyouare here to join in with us to discuss things. HUGS
aw shucks…
“Where are the educated Iraqis?” Imagine our own country after so many years of dictatorship. We have all talked about leaving because of bush’s ascendancy. Certainly many have done so, and if it gets worse many will be gone. Much of our population comes from people fleeing difficult conditions in their home countries.
Financial opportunity controls so much of what happens, but not necessarily education. We’re all still here and still trying to work in a world where voting has become a matter of faith.
I like to believe “They got the guns, but we’ve got the numbers.” But where is the power of the people when they have no control over the electoral process?