[Lerkfish]

this CNN story is interesting..please read the entire article...of note:


quote:
(CNN) -- The United States failed to properly assess Iraq's pre-war economy U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday, but he blamed the condition of the country on its deposed leader Saddam Hussein.



quote:
"I don't want to downplay this. It is a dangerous situation," Powell said. "Our principal goal in the near future is to get the security situation under control in the Sunni triangle -- Baghdad, Fallujah, that whole triangle. Once that is done, then you'll see a lot of criticism -- about whether we are on the road to success or not -- go away."
Powell said that, to beef up security, more former members of Saddam's army and police will be incorporated into the new militias, police forces and border patrols. "We'll build 'em up as fast as we can, and when they come back this time, they will be representatives of the people and not of Saddam Hussein."



quote:
"We don't know where he is," Powell added. "I don't know if he's dead or alive. But it is not appropriate to say that intelligence has told us that he is pulling the strings and he is coordinating these attacks that we have been seeing in recent days."
U.S. officials have said they believe Saddam is still in the country, protected by his loyalists.

[BlackGriffen]

First Rummy, now Powell. Bush is going to look worse and worse if he tries to drag on the PR game out in the face of contradictory reports from high officials in his administration.

If the administration were a solid front, he might be able to pull it off. But that strategy didn't work too well in Vietnam, either.

Don't ever try to out-publicize the publicists.

BlackGriffen

[Lerkfish]

It appears to be confessional time that the Bush administration just didn't plan...well...at....all.
Someone did not do their jobs, and should hang for it (professionally). Unfortunately, its usually the whistleblowers that end up the scapegoats.

[Zimphire]

Keep on going around that Maypole.

[Mohammed Atef]

the subject is completely misleading. The only quote that relates to pre-war Iraq is the first one about the state of the economy. And what that has to do with the current situation, you'd be stretching your imagination to say.

the other two are totally insignificant and have nothing to do with pre-war Iraq. One quote says that things are bad in the triangle and once they're under control, criticism will diminish. the last one says that the US doesn't know Saddam's location.

like the first incarnation of your so-called 'topic', there's nothing here. It's hollow.

[AKcrab]

Originally posted by Mohammed Atef:
the subject is completely misleading. The only quote that relates to pre-war Iraq is the first one about the state of the economy. And what that has to do with the current situation, you'd be stretching your imagination to say.

So if the title was "Powell: U.S. misjudged Iraq" we could continue?

[Millennium]

Originally posted by BlackGriffen:
First Rummy, now Powell. Bush is going to look worse and worse if he tries to drag on the PR game out in the face of contradictory reports from high officials in his administration.

No, he won't. I can see the chess that he's playing, and it's quite a game indeed.

The administration is trying to reverse its position on Iraq. but it knows that it can't just do that, or their opponents will have a field day. So instead of just turning around, they're backing away slowly, one advisor at a time, and even then subtly at first. By the time they're done, a large portion of the constituency may well not even realize what has happened.

At least, that's their hope, I'm guessing. The sad part is, it'll probably turn out exactly that way.

[Lerkfish]

Originally posted by Millennium:
No, he won't. I can see the chess that he's playing, and it's quite a game indeed.

The administration is trying to reverse its position on Iraq. but it knows that it can't just do that, or their opponents will have a field day. So instead of just turning around, they're backing away slowly, one advisor at a time, and even then subtly at first. By the time they're done, a large portion of the constituency may well not even realize what has happened.

At least, that's their hope, I'm guessing. The sad part is, it'll probably turn out exactly that way.

I have a better memory than that.

I hope others do, too. If they are going to backpedal, I will still be just as judgemental because it reinforces my calls before All this happened to proceed cautiously, and the necessity for prudence.

Just because they suddenly realize that does not undo the damage.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by Millennium:
No, he won't. I can see the chess that he's playing, and it's quite a game indeed.

The administration is trying to reverse its position on Iraq. but it knows that it can't just do that, or their opponents will have a field day. So instead of just turning around, they're backing away slowly, one advisor at a time, and even then subtly at first. By the time they're done, a large portion of the constituency may well not even realize what has happened.

At least, that's their hope, I'm guessing. The sad part is, it'll probably turn out exactly that way.

It always works. Americans have very short memories. If it's bad, they forget it rather quickly. Post 9/11, we completely forgot that the US was very against international treaties outlawing the practice.

Americans only see what's in their faces. That's why the FCC is very strict about what they can show on TV. Unlike even very opressive governments... they can't show anything that involves US deaths. While the rest of the world see's video of US troops, civilians being shot, blown up, right before their eyes... we are shown very tame, censored video of guys in tanks fearlessly going into battle.

Why is a free society being restricted from showing what the rest of the world sees?

Americans like to hide. Sadly.

That's why many Vets feel unappreciated. That's why many WWII vets liked Saving Private Ryan being so bloody in the beginning.. when critics attacked that aspect, they said it was good because it gives a "hint" at what it really was like to be there.

Americans forget the bad to often.

Until recently, there was a big debate over 9/11 transcripts from the WTC. People didn't want to open old wounds... others wanted the world to see how some ordinary individuals went above the call of duty, in several cases sacrificing their lives to save others... boycotting the publication of the transcripts.

Again a case of many Americans trying to forget. Block out the bad. If it's ignored long enough... it goes away... or no?


Would be much more respectable if the Whitehouse admitted they went in with absolutely no plan or funding. At least then it's out in the open and over with. Rather than polk at it for months. Same with Clinton... everyone knew... but he kept hiding where he stuck is ****.

Wasting the world's time. The diplomacy effort being spent keeping this low profile could be spent fixing the issues at hand.. instead some geniouses sit in a room figuring out how to make the president look better... real productive use of our tax money.