Multiple Choice Tuesday:
Q: Is Iraq undergoing a sectarian civil war?
A. Yes.
B. No.
C. Today's Tuesday?
If I were MSNBC, my answer would clearly be A. If I were President Bush, my answer would clearly be B. If I were some random pot head that accidently stumbled upon this blog, my answer would probably be C. Regardless, the situation is as it stands - no one has any idea what state we are in in Iraq.
Personally, if I were to answer this simple question, I'd answer A. In fact, I have considered Iraq in a low-grade civil war state for quite some time. President Bush and his cronies would greatly disagree with me on this notion, however - only because my symantics are off key.
"There's a lot of sectarian violence taking place, fomented in my opinion because of the attacks by Al Qaeda causing people to seek reprisal," Bush responded when asked about the current situation in Iraq and how this week has been the deadliest since it's beginning in March 2003 - "We've been in this phase for a while."
Yes, yes we have, Mr. Bush. We have been in "this phase" for quite some time now.
I think we're all aware of that - especially the families of loved one's who have died because thier children/husbands/fathers/uncles/aunts/sisters/fiancees/neices etc. have been killed "accidentally" in this horrible, unfortunate war. That's correct - it has been reported that a majority of the deaths of American soldiers are being killed because they are accidentally caught
between enemy fire. That is - enemy fire of warring Sunni's and Shi'ites that are combating in a CIVIL WAR. Right now America is nothing but a referee in the midst of all of this - our people are dying from random gun shots and shrapnel from guns and bombs that are exploding around them. Can't you see, Mr. President? You are using our people as a buffer. You are using the lives of American troops as cannon fodder. You are allowing this to go on, and all you can say is "We've been in this phase for a while."
In the mean time - our presence there is merely just "buying time" for the Iranian and Syrian government whilst they stabilize their own "plan" for this "democracy" we are trying to implement. The only way WE are going to get out of this mess is if Iran and Syria allow us to at this point.
I am too disgusted to continue. . . . . but! In the mean time: The Bush Twins get robbed in Argentina under the noses of the Secret Service! (P.S: They're there to celebrate their 25th Birthday!) Glorious.
Ahhh . . . . The theme reigns strong, my people, Bush can't even secure his own children let alone our nation.
Food for thought.
A. Yes.
B. No.
C. Today's Tuesday?
If I were MSNBC, my answer would clearly be A. If I were President Bush, my answer would clearly be B. If I were some random pot head that accidently stumbled upon this blog, my answer would probably be C. Regardless, the situation is as it stands - no one has any idea what state we are in in Iraq.
Personally, if I were to answer this simple question, I'd answer A. In fact, I have considered Iraq in a low-grade civil war state for quite some time. President Bush and his cronies would greatly disagree with me on this notion, however - only because my symantics are off key.
"There's a lot of sectarian violence taking place, fomented in my opinion because of the attacks by Al Qaeda causing people to seek reprisal," Bush responded when asked about the current situation in Iraq and how this week has been the deadliest since it's beginning in March 2003 - "We've been in this phase for a while."
Yes, yes we have, Mr. Bush. We have been in "this phase" for quite some time now.
I think we're all aware of that - especially the families of loved one's who have died because thier children/husbands/fathers/uncles/aunts/sisters/fiancees/neices etc. have been killed "accidentally" in this horrible, unfortunate war. That's correct - it has been reported that a majority of the deaths of American soldiers are being killed because they are accidentally caught
between enemy fire. That is - enemy fire of warring Sunni's and Shi'ites that are combating in a CIVIL WAR. Right now America is nothing but a referee in the midst of all of this - our people are dying from random gun shots and shrapnel from guns and bombs that are exploding around them. Can't you see, Mr. President? You are using our people as a buffer. You are using the lives of American troops as cannon fodder. You are allowing this to go on, and all you can say is "We've been in this phase for a while." In the mean time - our presence there is merely just "buying time" for the Iranian and Syrian government whilst they stabilize their own "plan" for this "democracy" we are trying to implement. The only way WE are going to get out of this mess is if Iran and Syria allow us to at this point.
I am too disgusted to continue. . . . . but! In the mean time: The Bush Twins get robbed in Argentina under the noses of the Secret Service! (P.S: They're there to celebrate their 25th Birthday!) Glorious.
Ahhh . . . . The theme reigns strong, my people, Bush can't even secure his own children let alone our nation.
Food for thought.
posted by Politic-Anna at Tuesday, November 28, 2006
6 Comments:
I found this post particularly interesting for two reasons:
(1) I tend to agree it's a flat-out civil war in which we're now embroiled.
(2) A respected friend sent along the following text (see below) from a chain email. Advocacy points aside, the details stand in stark contrast to the disaster we too readily see.
Honestly, I'm not sure what to believe anymore, but I am convinced of this much: The situation is marked by both progress and regress, and the operative questions are those with which Pelosi, et. al., must now wrestle: How do we get out of the way of both the progress and the regress? And which way will our departure tip the scales? As in so much of life, there are no easy answers.
EMAIL TEXT FROM FRIEND
Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in Iraq?
Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3,100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq?
Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established 'Fulbright program'?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational?
They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control!) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?
Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?
Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3,500 new officers each 8 weeks?
Did you know there are more than 1,100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?
Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently?
OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? OUR MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US! Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades.
Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq >serves two purposes:
1. It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support.
2. It is intended to discourage American citizens.
Above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense web site. Pass it on! Give it a Wide Dissemination!
Peter. I did a little research and found that your friend must have recieved this information off the "urban myths" webpage I came across.
you can check it out here:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/combatend.asp
I don't believe these supposed "facts" for a second. I went to the DOD website and couldn't find any reference to any of the above statements. The fact is - the media would be promoting our efforts and growth in Iraq, if in fact there were efforts or growth.
There is no stability in the country! How could ANY of this be established or organized?!
A wide dissemination of mythical facts to promote public moral.
I would answer "C. Today's Tuesday?" But I know it's Tuesday. New DVDs come out on Tuesday. I always know when it's Tuesday.
Instead I'll answer "D. How can you tell?" I'm not so sure about civil war. Civil wars should be heralded by liveried messengers bearing engraved notices.
This just looks like chaos.
I'll also go out on a limb and take a second answer: "E. Does it matter?" People are dying. The situation is spinning out of control, and will continue to do so regardless of semantics.
Is now a good time for a quote?
"The people of England have been led in Mesopotamia into a trap from which it will be hard to escape with dignity and honour. They have been tricked into it by a steady withholding of information. The Baghdad communiques are belated, insincere, incomplete. Things have been far worse than we have been told, our administration more bloody and inefficient than the public knows. It is a disgrace to our imperial record, and may soon be too inflamed for any ordinary cure. We are to-day not far from a disaster." - T. E. Lawrence, The Sunday Times, 22 August 1920
Did you know, that before Iran was named "Iran" it was known as Mesopotamia?
Yes, I know. I should be spanked I am so smart.
Moving on: I must say, JoeFish, that though I appreciate your interest in extending the multiple choice answers on my "Tuesday Multiple Choice" test, I'd have to say that they are invalid and will be ignored due to the fact that this is my blog, and I make the answers. And the rules.
So there. Nee-ner. Nee-ner.
Nee.
Ner.
Thanks for the research, Anna. I had my suspicions about the list, but not the time, unfortunately to check out the details.
On another topic -- not life or death, but troubling, nonetheless -- I hope you and joefish will consider commenting on this subject at my blog ...
http://centralsanity.blogspot.com/2006/11/voice-of-america.html
Anna, have you seen the cartoon movie Madagascar? It's mostly pretty forgettable, but King Julian (voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen) is a real hoot.
"Maurice, because you did not raise your hand, you heinous comment will be stricken from the record."
I'll play nicer next Tuesday.
Maybe.
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