CNN

Can we please not politicize this to the extreme. People are being killed. Our troops.Iraqi civilians. Not "terrorists". Who gives a you know what about what effect this could have on a political campaign? Get our troops home. To use this tragic news to promote your candidate is disgusting, and those who do so with glee need to remember that this is not "good news" for anyone.

Please replay Michael Ware's report and incorporate his critical insights into your comments. Iran is against al Sadr and is behind the effective efforts to erode his power. They are stealing his Mahdi army soldiers and officers, then training and equipping them to attack the Americans. Michael Ware reported that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s does not share Pres. Bush's agenda. Food for thought: If al-Maliki’s military is capable of mounting an offensive against what appears to be a political enemy, why can't they be defending other interests that our soldiers are dying for?

Iraq is the same as it was in 2003.. A MESS!.

what have we been doing the last 5 years?

– John McCain never knew what he was talking about. We already won, no saddam and no wmd's.. lets come home and let Iraqis sort out their own mess.

Grif,

I agree, but it is more like centuries. They will fight until the end of time. Notice from this piece it is Shi'ite fighting Shi'ite now. The insurgency was mainly Sunni. If there were 2 people in the Middle East and nothing but sand, the 2 of them would fight over the sand.

The only question for us is, how much of our blood and treasury do we want to pour out over there before we quit?

Oh, and don't be surprised if we invite 100s of 1000s of expatriate Iraqis to the US when it is all over, because they other side won and we have to guarantee their safety. That means they will be here taking jobs from the same Americans who fought to "free" their country.

And the beat goes on, the casualties go up, and the debt gets bigger.

Another Vietnam for sure; our departure then and Iraq today driven by costs; lives, dollars and moral bankruptcy.

Is anyone going to discuss the fact that the troop surge is not working it is actually the fact that american soldiers are paying Al Sadr's supporters money to stop fighting the Americans. We are paying them to stop fighting that is why it looks like the fighting is less and Bush is lying to the american people again.

Going broke!!!!!
.
We have a club, total participants number 20. The rules are simple, for every time you or Jack mention by name Barack Obama we must contribute $1.00 to Hillary Clenton’s campaign. I must tell you we are going broke. Another rule, which hasn’t had to be enforced is $2.00 for every time you mention the name Barack Hussein Obama.

I wonder if you could once in a while just say Barack or Obama not pronounced together. Going broke we are. But you sure are helping Hillary out. Please slow it down for a month or two. At least until we vote here in West Virginia. But then you want Hillary to drop out so we are deprived of our civil rights. You see we are of the female gender, and some are black just not black and white in one.

We are all retired and going broke.

You the Hanker-man. and only 12 comments... I don't think I believe that....
Therefore, I will have to wait to read other responders....

Let me get this straight...

The federal government has $3 trillion to spend on the 'war' (aka babysitting Iraq's internal civil war) and $30 billion to bailout Bear Sterns, but I get 10 email a day from my kids' school district about how they don't have any money, need to fire teachers, bake sale, etc.

Are there ANY republicans (aside from Ron Paul) out there who believe in smaller gov and pay as you go? Clearly not the Bush family nor McBush...totally irresponsible in the planning and execution of this quagmire.

Untold story – all major news agencies are holding back on this one – it is not the surge that is slowing down the violence in Iraq it is the BILLIONS we are paying the Sheiks and insurgents not to attack, not to mention – where did all those missing arms go? You guessed it – to the insurgents as well. The big question now is – what will happen if we stop paying them ? Moreover, what would happen if we try to get all those arms back ? Why is this story being held back until after the election ? Start looking for yourself – where are all those missing billions of dollars and tens of thousands of arms ? Have we given strength to an army just to delay a fight for a later time like the ones we did with Hussein and the Taliban ? our troops are doing a great job but if all was needed was more troops to tamp the violence and our military leaders could not figure that out than we are in big trouble, I don’t that is the case and I think that anyone who takes a serious look at this will conclude the same. Next time the generals are in Washington I hope congress will ask these hard questions .

Before the Bush war on Iraq, they may have been in a dictatorship but now civil war continues to rear its ugly head. Its a disaster over there, one that we and our children will be paying for, for years to come.

OBAMA 08

Wolf:
Bush's logic is ludicrous....How can he say, today, that the "surge" is working??!.....The current insurrections in Bagdad and Basra tells me that none of the Iraqi factions want to see American troops/money leave what Iraqis' believe was broke by the US....I agree with Obama, there is only a political solution, here: not a military one.......Let the UN, Iran,Syria, and the middle east resolve this please....No more bodybags for your brave GI sitting ducks,please!

How is John McCain going to continue this war without reinstating the draft?

What are we going to do? Ask our troops to do a 5th, 6th, 7th tour of duty in Iraq?

And also, $12 billion/month in Iraq. I ask you all this: would we be a safer nation if we A) pump $12b/month into a far-off Middle Eastern country with no nukes and no previous links to Osama Bin Laden OR B) spend $12b/month investing in airport security, boarder security, and improving our intelligence?

Now, we know why Cheney went to Iraq. It's all about the Oil Pathway in the dessert. There is Russia on the top and Israel beyond the Meditteranean Sea. America is the self-proclaimed defender of the Jews not Amighty God.
Did nt God say, "I will give my glory to no one!"? Why then does America think that she is the only one capable of defending God's physically chosen. Besides, they have the armor, army, and technology to prevail.
CNN! You already know this! Surprising, there are others of us that do read and comprehend.
American Republicans and Hillary do not believe your own propaganda.
OBAMA in 2008

I suspect it has not been the surge that calmed things down periodically as much as the cease fire by Muqtada Al Sadr and his cronies. Now that they have unleashed again, things are getting bad for our troops most unfortunately.

It isn't good news for any candidate but McCain would be the best prepared to handle an Iraq escalation!

If you listened to Newt Gingrich speaking to the Enterprise Institute today on C-Span2 you would probably give up on the Dems period. He really made sense for this wavering Dem.

After Obama, I don't trust the Dem. party! Dean and Pelosie are getting nuttier every day, and Obama is a walking, talking, ticking disaster for America!

Our troops have performed magnificent. We have done our part, now let the Iraqi people police their own country.

W said "Mission Accomplished"....how long ago??

Iraq needs to close their borders. Don't ask us for help on that because we obviously can't close ours.

If "Al Sadr" cuts his people loose agin...nobody will be able to live a normal life in that country. Eventually Iraq will be like Iran

Was it worth all we gave? I don't want to hear how much our action in Iraq kept terrorists fro doing things here. All we did was bring more of them out in the open and create the atmosphere for them to grom in numbers.

Send Karl Rove to help the Iraqis....Ha!!!

bush's strategy: reminds me of "Apocalypse Now" where the officer looking for the renegade soldier lands in an american military camp and asks, "who's in charge"? and is met with statements like, "Is there anybody in charge...I thought you were in charge..."

Shia and Sunni maniac muslims have been fighting each other for 1400 years.

Even today in Pakistani shia and sunni insane islamists have killed 10s of each other,

Americans should seriously consider sending Bush and McBush to do their own fundraising and go baby sit sunnis and shia in Iraq, who could be fighting for another 1400 years.

However, not one more US life/limb/mental health should be wasted in Iraq, nor one more dime from US Treasury should be wasted in Iraq and kill off the American economy.

If Bush cared, he would start pulling Americans soldiers out of Iraq, and not leave his Iraq mess for President Obama.

Read about the Battle at Lepanto (Google it) and learn how to win the war on terror.

It seems to me there are two wars being fought in Iraq. One war is the war the US and Coalition Forces are winning, and then there's the war the media reports on that the Terrorists are winning.

Voters have to decide which war they favor and then make their decision to vote for President the man or woman who exemplifies their belief.

I believe the US and Coalition are making headway. I believe that they are realizing that there is no "Moderate Islam" but there IS a "Modern Islam." And it's the "Modern Islam" that will decide the end result of the war on terror.

Mr. Blitzer with all due respect this is not a "political" game with the new violence in Basra.....As we are speaking neo-cons are planning on how to go to war in Iran the way they were planning THIS war in Iraq....using the 9/11 attacks as a "political" tool.

Our troops are tired, our military is stretched thin.......When is someone going to ask John McCain if we are going to institute a DRAFT like we had during Vietnam?

Throw more money at them to calm down the situation. All the bribes to various factions in Iraq seem to have quieted things thus far. And after all, it's just the tax payers' money. Why should Bush care?

Mike says," Not send you to Pakistan to fight a bigger war against a nuclear power like Obama wants". Senator Obama never said he wants to go to war with Pakistan. His reference was to strikes on Al-qaida in the North if intellegence confirms Bin- Laden is about.. Typical mis-informed Hillary supporter, which brings us to the issue: were you born an idiot or have you studied under Hillary to achieve that? You have listened to your heroine so long you can't seperate fact from fantasy.

THIS IS NOT OUR WAR TO FIGHT. NEVER HAS BEEN. MCBUSH DOESN'T WANT TO GO AND LEAVE THE OIL AND GATEWAY TO NEW MIDDLE EAST WARS BEHIND. MCCAIN SEES THE ENEMY EVERYWHERE. HE HAS VENGENCE AND BITTERNESS MAYBE EVEN PTSD AS A RESULT OF TRAGIC MISTREATMENT AS A POW. HE RECALLS HIS FATHER SAYING "THE JAPANESE" BOMBED PEARL HARBOR. NOT JAPAN– THE JAPANESE. THIS MUST BE AN INSULT TO ALL THE JAPANESE-AMERICANS WHO WERE DETAINED IN INTERMENT CAMPS. IT'S LIKE THE WITCHCRAZE. CHRISTIAN EXTREMISTS ARE DANGEROUS, TOO.

Wolf,
interesting story line here, i wonder if it would be possible to dig deeper into the issues in what is the latest violence. In short, I have read there are 3 factions of shia's fighting for power in Basra. Also that there are elections coming in October and some are saying this military action is a political consolidation attempt no more or less. Don't Americans who are paying for this war deserve better analysis/reporting of the issues. Or do we really have to endure more clinton vs. Obama bickering. Face it. they're the same people by and large policy wise.

Wolf, you should interview Zbigniew Brzezinski about his op ed in the Washington Post. He's the only foreign policy giant who got the war right before it started and his vision for disengagement is quite compelling.

HEY, THE SURGE IS WORKING!!!!!

President Bush liberated the Iraqis so that they can kill each other.

Saddam ~ 250,000 dead
Bush ~ 704,000 dead

Yes, we are kicking AlQaeda's butt!

What do you mean, "How is McCain going to spin this?". Seriously? He's going to use the same fear card that Bush used. And people are going to buy it. Obviously we can't leave Iraq yet, there are still terrorists there.

It's been obvious for along time that the"surge" was "working" because Al-Sadr had called for a cease-fire, and the tribal leaders were being paid off to not support the terrorist militias.
I agree, watch the spin on this one, and the outrage of the neo-cons when they are called on it.
Part of BushCo's box full of lies, this one by omitting the true facts....

The lies from the GOP continue.

McCain is ready to serve Bush's third term.

No to McCain
No to a Republican White House

America needs healing.

Hillary 08!!

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands now, deserves the thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated."

Let's just turn our backs on the Iraqi's and run away....nice job liberals....nice job

It's really important that this is happening now. This is a perfect opportunity to see if the training that the Iraqi forces have received from US troops and commanders is paying off. Also, this is a great opportunity to see how smooth or not, the Iraqi government is going to step up to this challenge while the US takes a more hands off approach and offers advice and guidance.

The parallels are funny as Obama faces challenges to his character here and now, yet he steps up to each one and seems more presidential as time runs off the clock.

The troop surge had very little to do with the decrease in violence. It was due to the call for cease fire by al-Sadr. Anything to the contrary is just Bush and McCain war monger spin. The troops are doing what they are told and doing a fantastic job. Its way past time for all of them to come home.

Ok, even if you were giving Bush/Cheney (and now McCain) the benefit-of-the-doubt with the surge policy, fellow Americans open your eyes and lets get the hell out of there or at least contain the mess. I am a very dissappointed democrat! What the hell is this democratic led congress and senate doing. Overppwer the executive barnch! Murtha has been right all along! It is a CIVIL WAR fellow Americans!

So truth will out as always.......the surge didn't do a thing . a truce and then calm while they build up forces to hit us again.. Just as I saw in VM time after time.. who knows maybe Kissinger was at it again..
Bushie and boyes in the back room will say as always...So..... as dickie said just the other day... they know the voters are easily led and have apparently have no clue what the military establishment is.
LIke there energy policy america will just keep paying and blaming the other guy.
Again I am reminded. .we can not prepare for peace while waging war..

This recent violence only tells us what we already know. American troops have done all that they can do in Iraq. The people of Iraq must determine the future of the country. It is time to bring our wonderfull troops home to a Hero's welcome. Obama is the only candidate that can be trusted to bring us home.

I hate to say it but George Bush and John McCain are out of touch with reality when it comes to Iraq. No matter how many of our young men we lose George Bush will never admit that he made a mistake going into Iraq. If John McCain is elected President he will stay the course and we will lose another 4,000 lives for nothing.

Call him a dictator, call him a evil, call him the number enemy of our country, but Saddam had to do what he did to keep this country from breaking into million pieces. We simply went in with the cowboy attitude and screwed up that country big time. We are in Iraq only for their OIL! We could've covertly knocked Saddam out of power and put in a puppet government like we have and control the oil flow to our country. But NO! we had to follow the cowboy logic!

President Bush is an idiot. He has no idea who we are fighting over there and neither does John McCain. They keep confusing the Shi'ites and Sunnis and have no idea who supports whom. He is still talking of "victory" as if that were an obtainable goal. Either he is in denial or believes if he says it enough times, it will be possible.

This is a wonderful topic to discuss. After all American men and women are fighting for their lives. Let's not neglect them. I pray that this war will end soon. Our troops are true patriots and deserve so much respect.
These are men of real courage. Bravo to all of them for their performance in this battle.

Enough is enough. The US Government needs to take a hard look at what our "interests" are in the middle east. None of this in Iraq is truly helping to stem their dependence on the US presence. As well, the pandering to Israel MUST STOP. Yes.. we know and remember the Holocaust but this is 2008. Israel can defend themselves. They do not need the US coming to their defense every time they cry wolf or if they don't like the way someone looked at them. I am over protecting Israel.

GO HILLARY....this is all you people at CNN let get posted....

President Bush hasn't been right about his decision on this war for quite some time. Our American troops are such heros. Hopefully they are getting the recognition they deserve.

These have been so very sad to watch our men dying daily while we're bickering about silly topics.

We better have a clear picture of who would be the best qualified candidate. All candidates should be asked specifics about comments they make about our economy, the war and their moral values.

The media has so much control of it, it's scarey.

Sadly, I don't think there will ever be peace there, at least not in my lifetime. I agree we should never have gone to Iraq but admit I don't know the solution to getting out now. I worry about more people dying if we leave but don't want our troops dying either. It seems like a hopeless situation. I would like to hear more about the pros and cons of us staying there.

Totally amazing, folks whine about Iraqi's taking care of their own security and when they finally step up to the plate those same folks call it a failure of Bush. Nice spin...

Can we say Oil?

This is Iraqi's oil Mr.Bush

Nobody wins in a war. Nobody. Even the supposed winner doesn't win. I feel bad for our guys and gals over there. They should never have been sent there.

Hang in there, we'll get you out. The people in the region, need to find a common ground, without our strongarm interference... our meddling.

"Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Ron Paul!"

Wolf Blitzer:
This being the USA and in an election such as what is now taking place, ALL votes are to be counted! Therefore, NO STATES votes are to be omitted for WHATEVER!!
Concerned Citizens,
Michael & Carol Meier

Lemme guess. The al-Queada is in its death throes and we're turning a corner.

SENATOR CLINTON IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN STOP THIS INSANITY!!!!!!!!

VOTE HILLARY CLINTON!!!!!!!!!

Hmm. I thought the whole purpose of al-Maliki's government was that it be a Sunni/Shi'ite/Kurd coalition. If so, then how can the violence be Shi'ite vs. Shi'ite?

I guess we will just need to borrow more money from China or Saudi Arabia so we can pay both sides not to fight until McCain wins in November. Why are America's finest being placed in such an untenable position?

I guess we will just need to borrow more money from China or Saudi Arabia so we can pay both sides not to fight until McCain wins in November. Why are America's finest being places in such an untenable position?

We will never abandon the people of Iraq. You are delusional if you think the American people would support that. Solutions need to be found to move the Iraqi govt and rebuild that country. Stop whining. You had your chance to stop the war by writing your representatives and protesting. I'm 100% sure no one posting here die either.

If the Iraqi Army can bring law and order to Basra and bring Al-Sadr and his supporters under control and back into the government that is what will get our brave service members home with "Honor and Dignity" not the post Viet Nam retreat the democrats are hoping for. As a retired Navy member I want us to win unlike some of you Bush-haters.

Mike... how much does Sen. Clinton pay you to spread her lies and Obamabash...

OBAMA/Richardson 08

Hey Mr. Wolf Blitzer, the last time I made an inportant comment
you did not let it through

Lets try again:

How about spending more time with more important issues which
could prove to be a bomb shell to the American people

"""Let the American people know more about the new surfaced
informaton about the Rev. Wright and Islam""""

This is a result and an outcome of the invasion of Iraq by the US and that Hillary voted for. Anyone, anyone, with some common sense and a little study of the people in this area would have known that the invasion would splinter these factions into a civil war that no amount of US interference or policing can stop. It will only stop after one faction or the other wins an all-out civil war and gains control of the country by way of a heavy hand. Only then will peace come to the Iraqi people. It may be a peace that is maintained and controled by a Dictator but there certainly will be more stability then there is now. And one day when the people of Iraq wish to rid themselves of a Dictatorship they will have to do so by way of their own desire and fierce determination. They cannot and will not be proded by another country as the US that they see as occupiers, not as liberators. Hillary should have known this as many Dems did who opposed the war as did Obama. You have to have empathy, understanding and a keen sense of the differences in people throughout the world in order to be successful in world affairs. Hillary obviously had neither when she voted for this war.

1+1=2, therefore US$trillions spent in Iraq = US trillions less in America causing recession in the USA – why can't we see the reality – Wake up America! bring the troops back homeand the war will disappear – all that the insurgents want is the publicity – and they are getting it. Ans stop being cheated that you will get the oil in Iraq, the Iraqis, the Chinese and others are well ahead of the game – for such a great nation, with the best brains, best of everyting – THE DREAM, lets wake up, Bush, McCain and others are taking us for a long dangerous ride on Iraq, and we are shamefully jumping on board – Its never too late to see the truth

Wolf, its time for CNN to start giving nuanced coverage of the Iraq war.
There are a few things that are bothering me,

1. I keep hearing and reading "the anti american cleric Muqtada al Sadr". What cleric or sheik in Iraq isn't anti american?

2. We hear that the "Iraqi security forces" are battling the Mehdi army. Aren't these securtiy forces heavily infiltrated by the Badr Brigade which is the biggest Iranian backed militia in Iraq?

3. I never hear anything about Kirkuk. Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the future of that city arguably the most explosive thing to deal with in Iraq. What happens with Turkey if the Kurds get it? Will they invade? And what will the Kurds do if the central government in Baghdad refuse to give them control of the city?

Just a few of the endless questions unanswered about this quagmire.

One question!

Why is that YOU as in CNN are forever talking about Hilary Clinton lying. Why wasn't the fact that Obama lied to the American people on CNN/360 when he stated quite clearly that and I quote " I was not aware of the comments made by my pastor"! The blog following that statement called him out on this yet NO ONE has made an issue out of that. He once again got a free ride!

I love CNN and have been watching it for my news for years but of late I have to say that your bias towards Clinton is so evident that it leaves me cold. How can we the viewers TRUST your news when we see things like this happening to one of your own!

I was always under the impression the News people reported the news without their likes and dislikes being front and center! There is NO doubt that Obama is your man..and you didn't have to endorse him for that to be understood!

Iraqi leaders are overseeing this campaign. These leaders are also Shia. This is a big step in the right direction for the Iraqi government. I believe that the candidates basically understand what had to be done in Iraq. They will simply call it different names. McCain calls it Victory, Hillary calls in withdrawl, Obama calls it redeployment. My point is everybody knows we have to get out and everybody knows we can't leave entirely. My first choices since the begining of the campaign was McCain and Hillary.
I have been an independent before when McCain had run the first time. I always thought my choice would be Hillary Clinton or McCain. I have thrown my support behind Hillary because I do not feel Obama will be a great leader and would only waste valuable time learning world politics instead of leading the world. I believe McCain and Hillary have the strength and ability to make the United States the Free Worlds leader again. We can be successful in Iraq. I said it people and I believe it.

Hey Mike,
The guys who actually did attack us are actually in Pakistan...you realize that, right? You are aware they are trying as hard as they can to do it again? If there is any danger from Nukes...it is al-Qaeda getting their hands on what is in Pakistan and shipping it here in an unchecked cargo container.

Perhaps if we had sent 150,000 troops to Afghanistan in Oct 2001 instead of 15,000 we would have finished off al-Qaeda once an for all...instead we sent them in to Iraq do a job that a small CIA team could have done. And now look where we are....

What a disaster. For all you folks that voted for Bush-Cheney and the Supreme Court that gave him the White House, thanks. Thanks for all your wisdom and foresight. Look what you've done to our lives, our future and our beloved country – not to mention the Iraqis, and to every other person that's not a gazillionaire. Thanks.

$270,000,000 a day you say? Cheap at twice the price...

What's the big surprize? Bush and McCain support an illegal war that is a complete disaster. Yes, this will effect the election because Obama will win. Go Barack Obama – you are our best chance for peace.

To Mike:
It was with Hillary's help that Bush and McCain had sent our troops to Iraq. Don't ever forget that.

John Mcain is nothing but a "Social Darwinist".

The bottom line is that the people in Iraq don't want us there. There is no way to "win" a civil war being fought by the people of another country. We were beyond stupid to get in this war that was planned by Bush and Cheney long before it started, and who now have a tiger by the ears and don't know how to let go. Their solution, of course, is to drag their heels until the new President takes over, and then it will be his problem to deal with. McCain , of course, will continue to do all the stupid things that Bush did, to get us in the war in the first place, and the only thing that will change is the body counts.

Just the fact that this chicken hawk President that we have in the White House now, won't even let the flag draped coffins of the fallen heroes be photographed, when the bodies are returned to the Untied States, shows what a disgusting creep Bush is.

al-sadr's restless supporters have been waiting for us to leave,instead,we sent more troops,bush won't budge,until his reign is over,and our troops are going to get stuck in the middle of it.instead of a surge,we should have began withdrawing our troops a year ago,if not sooner.when bush declared victory,we should have left.it's not our job to solve other countries political problems.that's up to the u.n.

Call me crazy, but I fine the war in Iraq stiring up again is most conventent for the republicans. Just like the last election and gee bin laden tape pop's up again . dud

WHY ISN'T CNN REPORTING ON THE LATEST WRIGHT COMMENTS/PAMPHLETS THAT SURFACED TODAY!!!!

Oh look at this. The Dems were right. Again.
I think its clear who should be leading this country.

That said, I love how my fellow dems are about to sacrifice the most winnable election in years by deciding they would rather vote for McCain than the "other" Democrat.

Im an Obama supporter, but either Obama or Hillary would be miles above of McCain, who despite his foreign policy "expertise" still seems to be unable to tell the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite. Although I firmly believe that Obama has superior leadership qualities, better experience, and better judgement than Hillary, I would vote for her in a second over McCain.

Its time all Democrats woke up and realized what we are collectively about to do to our country by handing McCain the election.

I will be voting for my first time this election, I WILL vote for a democrat. I want that democrat to be Obama. Some of you understandably support Hillary, I completely support your right to do that. But if we back off on the Democrats because we couldn't handle a tough campaign which has gotten too nasty, and if we don't look at the big picture, there will no longer be a Bush to blame this on. We will only have ourselves.

President Bush as well as evil Cheney and evil Rumsfeld have referred to history on numerous occasions.... YES INDEED... history will tell.... above story is only one of trillion stories that will be written in history books to the disaster this administration has caused. 4000 of our troops, 300000 innocent Iraqis', billions of dollars of our money.... and counting... and the above.... as Kathleen said above, all we can do now is pray.....

WHY CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!!!!!!

Obama Richardson 08!!!

I love this stuff..........

It makes me all hot; it makes me want to kiss Joe Lieberman.

Ths is a civil war within a civil war, and our brave men and women in uniform are caught in the crossfire. This failed Bush/McCain policy needs to come to an end. Bush/McCain and supporters of this failed policy care more about their ego and legacy then our troops in harms way. Enough of the madness.

Obama in 2008!

Carla,
I want to see peace in Iraq too. I think that we can find a way to work
together and take care of the people in their country. Surely they have
enought money of their own to rebuild that country. I pray for our
soldiers and the Iraq people who were caught in the middle. No,
I do not think we can desert the Iraq people. No. it would not be
right. God know, America needs to make amends somehow.

OBama/Edwards 2008

what can OBAMA do if IRAQ can no longer supply AMERICA a drop of oil?

Great analysis Wolf. I'm always wondering how the day-to-day actions in Iraq are going to continue to shape the race for the White House. It seems like Iraq is the ever-changing wild card, always violently rocking side to side, dislodging everyone's arguments and positions and forcing a new trail to be blazed nearly every day in response to each new development.

When Al Sadr took up the ceasefire agreement, people didn't really notice. They attributed all of the relative peace in Iraq to the surge's successes. But when Al Sadr starts killing again, what is going to happen? Surely we'll go right back to where we were last year – despicable and horrendous violence with no change in the status quo and no end in sight.

Time to bring our men and women home, establish a new energy supply and leave this entire region to implode, which we are currently only delaying. It'll be nice to get our military back and cut the financial bleeding, too.

The individuals on the ground know fully well that the surge has nothing to do keeping the peace. The militias are in control of the ground affairs, and regardless of whether we stay or leave, there will probably be a bloody war in the country leading to a dictator being in control, through military force.

The instability in the Mideast has been there for thousands of years. That region has been in almost constant conflict since before Christ's time. The wars are tribal, religiouis, and regional, and the only thing that has stopped them for even a short time is a brutal dictatorship such as Saddam's (the one very small positive thing, if you can call it that, to come out of his reign of terror). 150,000 coalition troops, supporting an American-installed puppet government that can't take a step without asking the American State Department if it's OK, plus millions of dollars a day is going to do nothing. Absolutely nothing. Oh, wait. It will do something. It will get a large number of troops coming home in pine boxes.

Thank you President Bush. Many presidents from both parties have fine legacies of which they can be very proud. Your legacy is recession, a collapsed economy, and death of our children, with no end in sight on any front. Your daddy bought your way through college. He can't save you now. I bet he's ready to take you to the woodshed.

I lived (and worked) in Saudi and Kuwait and there is no way this will be settled in a few years or 40 years. This was going on for a thousand years and is not something we will be able to force onto Iraquis over night. We just waste money and lives.

Why is it nobody wan't to Think, of what would have been the Alternative... I the USA and Whaterver alies hadn't invaded Iraq.

There would have been a Nuclear Battle of some kind.
Sadam was trying to turn the Palistians against Irael for Years.
And he was doing that for The then King of Jordan..
I gave it just two more years,,, in 2002.. My Oppinion.
From Europe Oppinions.... They didn't Like Israel And still Don't.

Wolf,

I saw this coming and I'm not a military expert with vast amounts of foreign relations experience. When the story first broke that violence in Iraq was dramatically down because a temporary cease fire had been reached the anti-American Shi’ite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, I knew the violence would explode again within the next 6 months. America's presence in Iraq is only delaying the inevitable, which is a state that will cleave into three parts only after a civil war. The kurds want the north part of Iraq, the shia (who want to form an Islamic state like Iran) wants the east, and the sunni (who want an Islamic state like Egypt) wants the west.

If the Iraq forces and Shia militias fully engage each other for more than two days, it will be the start of a full fledge civil war with American military forces in the middle of it.

Where is the Bush Administration's talk of Al-Qaida now?

I guess we ran out of money to pay al Sadr...I am guessing the only way for the democrats not to get the nomination in November would be...HILLARY CLINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey AMERICA, just laugh BUSH and McCAIN now. Once this AL QAIDA and TERRORISTS strikes back and dominate the world .Who you blame?

Tim, Have forgot that this mess is created by Bush without UN support? Now pay the price for purchase you made. You created mess ALONE, Now clean it.

The Bush administration is delusional. They could have chosen to unite the world in a fight against terrorism after 9/11, but instead they misled us into a war in Iraq that will have no good end. Even if we are there for 10, 20, 30 more years... will things really be better there? We all hoped that somehow the Iraq war would be good in the end for the Iraqi people. But the reality we suspected is finally becoming clear to us... except for a few in the White House. Whomever takes over in 2009 has a long and difficult task ahead of them, whether it's pulling out or staying in.

What the hell are we allowing to happen to ourselves and our country? Take away the "patriotic rhetoric" and we appear nothing but thugs.

Is there a reason why we call al-Sadr anti-American? Is it because he's against the occupation? If that's the case, can we be consistent and call over half the population of the US anti-American too?

NO! I didn't think so...how about let's step out of the echo-chamber for a second and see al-Sadr and the PEACEFUL protests for which he's calling for what they are!

He doesn't speak for all Shia...about like Bush doesn't speak for all Americans. Let's put some perspective on this and at least ACKNOWLEDGE the fact that al-Sadr is calling for an end to the violence in Basra even though some Shia are not.

I have gotten extremely cynical of the entire mess.

I had already believed that Al Sadr would hold his truce until the fall, then unleashing attacks to influence the U.S. elections. Thus getting the candidate elected, that would pull out U.S. troops

I am not above thinking that Maliki was forced to attack Al Sadr, to drain his resources, prior to this fall, so that the surge would appear to be working, which would benefit McCain's position.

Imagine that...... We started out to install a puppet government and ended up with one ourselves.

If Bush wants McCain wants to win the election, he should give al Sadr some money to keep the cease-fire longer until the election and then show the American people that "look we are winning the war. we are making progress. there are less casualities due to the surge"

I can't wait for the Administration's spin on this one!!

No mater your beliefs on the war I hope the Iraq's are able to have peace. I hope they can find a way to work together and take care of the people in their country. I pray for them everyday.

Hmm – sounds like CIVIL WAR to me. Should we really be playing in this particular sandbox?

And it won't get any better.....

It's the Middle East.. Hasn't changed in Decades
and Decades...
They want to Rule Like Kings...
All over the World...

To our US troops, you have done a wonderful job. Thank you for your sacrifice. We will bring you home with Hillary's help.

Not send you to Pakistan to fight a bigger war against a nuclear power like Obama wants.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THOUSANDS OF

YEARS & ARE NOT ABOUT TO STOP FOR BUSH, HILLARY OR

MCBUSH. THIS WAR NEEDS TO END BEFORE OUR ECONOMY

TANKS ANY FURTHER. THE ONLY FLOWERS WE GOT ARE THE ONES

WE PUT ON OUR CHILDREN'S GRAVES.

Lies will always back fire. When the Bush administration along with John McCain said the surge was working didn't tell the American people that the clergy al Sadr had declared a cease fire which stopped the violence during that time. Clergy al Sadr lifted the cease fire as a result of this current termoil and al Maliki can not and should not be trusted.

Spare us the breathless drama, Wolfie.
"Events" will dictate responses and outcomes,, as Churchill said, not the agenda- driven media..

Well lets not forget the ECONOMY, the reason things are bad is b/c of the WAR.
I think we should all hit the street every week and protest this quagmire! Get your friends, neighbors, go door to door, grab you sisters, wife, brother, kids, the dog the cat , everyone must PROTEST this war.

$$$$ 275 MILLION DOLLARS A DAY!! $ $$$$$$$$$$$$

Where is the progress McBush and his party say is happening in Iraq? We shouldn't have been in this mess from the get go and now see what is happening.
I will vote for wisdom and good judgement anyday, anytime.
Vote OBAMA 08, 12!

Let's see McSame spin this one, "my friends".

This is ridiculous. Who didnt see this one coming? It is nearly impossible to get the people of Iraq to agree with eachother! They are too different! The entire countries borders were drawn WITH NO REGARD for the people that lived there by the French and English. Our troops need to come home NOW. There is no reason why U.S. troops ALONE should be the peace keeping force. This is a job for the U.N. Make China do it. Needless to say, if this continues, John McLame is done.

Wolf, thanks for the new information.

All we can do now is pray, really pray for our troops.

Obama/Edwards 2008