posted on October 27, 2004 09:08:51 AM new
Iraq leader blames U.S. for massacre
October 27, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraq's interim prime minister blamed the U.S.-led coalition Tuesday for ''great negligence'' in the ambush that killed about 50 soldiers heading home after graduation from a U.S.-run training course, and warned of an escalation of terrorist attacks.
Underscoring the warning, insurgents made a new threat of nationwide attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces ''with weapons and military tactics they have not experienced before'' if American forces try to storm the militant stronghold of Fallujah.
Video posted on a militant Islamic Web site in the name of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's group also showed what it claimed was a Japanese captive and threatened to behead him within 48 hours unless Japan pulls its troops from Iraq. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi rejected the demand.
''I won't withdraw troops,'' he was quoted as saying by Japan's Kyodo news agency after receiving news of the hostage threat.
Meanwhile, in Washington, congressional aides said Tuesday that President Bush plans to send Congress a request of up to $75 billion early next year to finance wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and operations against terrorism.
Costs exceed projections
A proposal of that magnitude would indicate the wars' costs, particularly to battle the intensified Iraqi insurgency, are far exceeding what the Bush administration said it was expecting early this year.
White House budget office spokesman Chad Kolton said administration officials were only starting to assess what is needed to pay for the wars.
''There is literally no way to ascribe a final figure to what we will request,'' he said.
Also, Army Gen. Pete Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, said Tuesday the Army will not shorten combat tours in Iraq next year from 12 months to six or nine months, as some had hoped, because that would undermine the war effort.
Prime Minister Ayad Allawi told the Iraqi National Council, a government oversight body, that coalition forces' negligent handling of security was responsible for Saturday's deadly ambush along a remote highway near the Iranian border.
''It was a heinous crime where a group of National Guardsmen were targeted,'' Allawi said. ''There was great negligence on the part of some coalition forces.''
He said the Defense Ministry began an investigation into whether insurgents had infiltrated military ranks to obtain information about troop movements.
Allawi did not explain how the coalition had failed in its responsibilities to the Iraqi troops, who were traveling to southern Iraq in three buses after graduating from a training course at the Kirkush military camp. The buses had no armed escort and the soldiers were not carrying weapons.
But in an interview with Al-Arabiya television, Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan blamed the recruits, who in their eagerness to get home decided to leave immediately after their graduation and take an unauthorized route.
''They are to blame. They graduated at 12 p.m. and could have delayed their trip,'' he said. Shaalan added that neither the Defense Ministry, the Kirkush commanders nor the U.S.-run forces were to blame.
Shot execution style
Some of the bodies were found in rows -- shot execution-style through the head -- at a site about 95 miles east of Baghdad, the Defense Ministry said. Other bodies were found on a burned bus nearby.
The U.S. command did not respond directly to Allawi's comments, but said in a statement: ''This was a cold-blooded and systematic massacre by terrorists. They and no one else must be held fully accountable for these heinous acts.''
In his appearance before the council, Allawi also warned that more insurgents were massing in Fallujah, and ''you should expect an escalation in terrorist acts.''
Allawi has told Fallujah leaders that they must surrender extremists, chief among them al-Zarqawi, or face attack. His comments Tuesday appeared aimed at preparing Iraqis for the eventuality of such an attack.
There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
---------------------------------- "Give it up for George W. Bush, the best friend international jihad ever had."
posted on October 27, 2004 06:11:33 PM new
Ebayauctionguy, you're on the ball so why don't you show us some real good news coming from Iraq. I'm sure you have lots on file.
posted on October 27, 2004 06:41:43 PM new
The Vendio crowd waits eagerly as Ebayauctionguy steps up to the plate with the good news about Iraq and shows the reconstruction that is happening and he reassures us that everything is under control.
posted on October 27, 2004 06:52:49 PM new
I agree, ebayauctionguy, and we're not alone.
It's been mentioned over and over that the left appears to be 'wishing and hoping' our nation fails, both our economy and in this war, so the left can say 'see I told you so'. Well, imo, their going to be really disappointed.
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...in an interview with Al-Arabiya television, Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan blamed the recruits, who in their eagerness to get home decided to leave immediately after their graduation and take an unauthorized route.
''They are to blame. They graduated at 12 p.m. and could have delayed their trip,'' he said. Shaalan added that neither the Defense Ministry, the Kirkush commanders nor the U.S.-run forces were to blame.
Won't stop the 'blame America First crowd' here though.
posted on October 27, 2004 08:07:24 PM newWell you lefties finally admitted it: Any bad news in the war is good news for democrats. Pretty sick, but at least you're now being honest about it.
It's been mentioned over and over that the left appears to be 'wishing and hoping' our nation fails...
Oh please....
Irony:
The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.
An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.
A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect
____________________________________________
Dick Cheney: "I have not suggested there's a connection between Iraq and 9/11..."
posted on October 27, 2004 11:19:01 PM new
Prof, I know what irony is and this ain't it. It's true that any bad news in the war is good news for democrats. They want President Bush defeated at any cost.
But I have bad news for you. Though insurgents and terrorists are throwing everything they've got to defeat Bush, though democrats are throwing everything they've got to defeat Bush, and though the liberal media is throwing everything they've got to defeat Bush, Bush is still going to win the election.
And here's a little more bad news: Bush will succeed in changing Iraq into a democracy.
I hope you democrats remember, in 10 or 20 years, when Iraq is a successful democracy, when freedom in Iraq is spreading to other Arab countries, I hope you remember how you all bitterly opposed it. Just like how you bitterly opposed Ronald Reagan's efforts to win the Cold War.
posted on October 28, 2004 12:31:18 PM new
Some of the Vendio crowd ask for just a little proof of the good things in Iraq but Ebayauctionguy makes a feeble attempt trying to convince them that Bush knows what’s best for the world. EAG then flees the room in embarrassment, realizing he has nothing to show and tell.
Next the neocons send out Bear who can only grunt so they quickly bring out Parklane. He tells jokes about body orifices and excrement and tries to show us some more wit by introducing his twin brother Stonecold who shows us bad pictures he drew six years ago.
Next up is Linda_k who tells all the bad things about Canada and she shows us pictures of laughing faces but then she laughs so hard over Parklane’s jokes she becomes hysterical and falls to the floor.
Yellowstone, who was going to show us pictures of all the insurgents and terrorists in Iraq and tell us it's a good thing quickly rushes out to assist Linda_k out of the room, giving us accusing looks because he thinks we ganged up on her.
Other neocons grow restless because of our intelligent questions and they boo and hiss from the sidelines. Finally they send out their best 'show and tell' expert who they have been saving for last.
Twelvepole struts out on the floor and starts telling us about gay guys he harasses in the bars that he cruises and then he turns around, bends over and moons us all.
posted on October 28, 2004 12:32:14 PM new"Just like how you bitterly opposed Ronald Reagan's efforts to win the Cold War."
LOLOLOL! Reagan had very little to do with ending the cold war Ebaysuctionguy. It amazes me that people still think that. Also Bush will be remembered for bombing a hornets nest, and the 2 of them will be remembered for being the biggest kooks in U.S. history.
posted on October 28, 2004 12:59:25 PM new
Here goes another bald-faced LIE from linduh:
"""It's been mentioned over and over that the left appears to be 'wishing and hoping' our nation fails"""
Since when can you read minds, linduh? You can barely spell and now you can read minds!!!!!!!!
No one, you LIAR, has ever said they wished the war in Iraq would fail.
Another LIE from the uneducated, bitter, hate-filled widow!
posted on October 28, 2004 03:30:43 PM newEAG then flees the room in embarrassment, realizing he has nothing to show and tell.
Lol, well I'm back! Kiara, you must be a blonde and so I'll cut you some slack for being wrong all the time.
The best news in Iraq is yet to come, but here's a list of some good news in Iraq:
-No more mass murder by Saddam Hussien
-No more rape and torture chambers
-Iraqis can voice their opinions without getting their tounges cut off
-Iraqi athletes don't have to worry about being tortured if they lose a game.
-No more $25,000 rewards for Palestinian suicide bombers
-Like moths to a flame, terrorists are going to Iraq to fight us instead of here
-Everyday, we are killing terrorists in Iraq by the DOZENS
-Iraq has a strong and popular leader
-Iraqi elections are on schedule for January
-Iraq will be the first democracy in the Arab World
-The Iraqi people are optimistic about their future
-The worst dictator since Hitler and Stalin is sitting in a jail cell
And best of all:
-Saddam Hussien will definitely not be making any more WOMD's
posted on October 28, 2004 04:14:23 PM new
Wrong EAG. How can YOU revise facts? It was Gorbachev's initiative to end the cold war, not Reagan's, even though he got most of the glory for the event. I thought it was pretty much common knowledge.
posted on October 28, 2004 04:33:04 PM new
Kiara, let's come back and debate this in 3 months. And please save your previous post.
Kraft, Reagan's military build-up, which the left opposed tooth and nail, bankrupted the Soviets. You seem to forget that the Soviets were winning the Cold War before Reagan was president. Our military was weak, the economy was a wreck and Communism was spreading. We couldn't even land planes in a desert.
posted on October 28, 2004 05:39:03 PM new
And then there's Kiara who has secret sexual fantasies about President Bush, she wonders what it is that is stuffed into the crotch of his flight suit. She just can't tear her eyes away from the bulge in his crotch. Shall I go on??
posted on October 28, 2004 06:04:38 PM new
Now, now, Yellowstone. I already explained that I deliberately tossed that little comment in just to see if a neocon fish would bite and not see the rest of the message.
Besides, we all know he has no balls and was too afraid to go to Vietnam but finds it easy to send young men and women to do his dirty work now.
Seems like neocons are focused on sex like they think it's nasty and doesn't feel good. Bush & Co don't want sex-ed taught in school...... only abstinence, remember?
That's why neocons focus on Clinton so much years later .... evil envy that they are so deprived.
Edited to say that I'm referring to Bush when I say he was too afraid to go to Vietnam.
Just in case Yellowstone thought I meant him and not Bush........ sheesh.
posted on October 28, 2004 06:11:55 PM new
Couldn't resist
This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40844
Monday, October 11, 2004
FROM JOSEPH FARAH'S G2 BULLETIN
U.S. military sees good news in Iraq Declassified report finds progress in government, utilities, health care, schools, economy, security
While continuing terrorist attacks in Iraq have pushed the military campaign into the middle of the presidential debate in the United States, a declassified military report shows the progress that has been made on the political, economic and societal fronts.
On the transition to Iraqi sovereignty, the declassified report obtained by Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium online intelligence newsletter published by WND, points out significant progress is being made across the board – in the new government, with utilities, in health care, in schools, the economy and in national security.
Elections for the National Assembly are scheduled for Jan. 31 with the transitional government taking power early in 2005, the report boasts. The draft of the permanent constitution is set for Aug. 15, 2005, with a referendum on the document scheduled for Oct. 15. Elections for the new government will be complete by Dec. 15 next year and it takes office Dec. 31.
While those dates have been fixed for some time, what is getting less attention more generally from the U.S. news media are the accomplishments on the economic side.
As of July 21, estimated crude oil export revenue had reached $9.2 billion for 2004. While the unemployment rate in the country is high by U.S. standards at 28 percent, far more people are working than just six months ago. According to a recent survey, average household income had risen from $124 a month to $214. Nearly 3,000 loans totaling more than $6 million have been disbursed to micro-enterprises and small businesses throughout the country. And the New Iraq Dinar has been relatively stable for more than six months at around 1,425-1,460 to the U.S. dollar.
The report says there have been major breakthroughs in water supply and sanitation. Some 12 million people are being served by new projects across Iraq. A poor area of Baghdad with nearly 1 million people is now getting water from a rehabilitated water treatment plant. Some 30-40 percent of the marshlands deliberately drained by Saddam Hussein in his genocidal campaign against the marsh Arabs have been reflooded. A program last year cleared more than 17,000 kilometers of Iraqi waterways to improve water flow and irrigation. Another program is set to clear some 20,000 kilometers and employ around 100,000 Iraqis.
Health care for Iraqis has been greatly improved as well, according to the report.
It is estimated that 85 percent of children have been immunized and rates are increasing with ongoing programs. More than 240 hospitals are operating along with 1,200 preventive health clinics.
There are now nearly 2,500 schools in operation across the country with 4,500 new ones planned. Another 1,200 will be rehabilitated. Some 32,000 secondary school teachers and administrators have been trained. More than 8.7 million textbooks have been printed and distributed, along with large amounts of equipment including student desks, chairs, cabinets, chalkboards and teacher kits.
Power supplies to civilians at 120,000 megawatt hours are now higher than pre-war levels of 95,600 MHP.
The security front is also greatly improved, according to the declassified report.
There are now 88,500 police on the job with a goal of 94,400. There are 18,200 border enforcement officers with a goal of 20,400. The Iraqi national guard is up to 37,400 strong reaching toward a goal of 41,100 and there are some 11,200 Iraqi army regulars with a goal of 35,200.
U.S.-led coalition forces have also been buoyed by last week's news that the rebel Shiite Muslim militia led by Moqtada al-Sadr has pledged to disarm in what could be a major advance for efforts to calm violence in Iraq ahead of elections due in January.
The proposal, which meets a key demand of the interim government, was announced by Ali Smeism, a top al-Sadr adviser, on Arabic Al-Arabiya television. It followed the release of a pro-Sadr cleric from U.S. detention in Abu Ghraib jail. Smeism said that in return for any weapons surrender, the government must guarantee that al-Sadr's followers are not "persecuted" and the U.S. military must free more of his aides.
Talks are also under way to defuse a standoff with insurgents controlling the Sunni Muslim stronghold of Falluja.
There was no immediate word from the government or the U.S. military on the ceasefire deal proposed by Sadr's aide. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini of Italy, which has troops in Iraq, said it was a good start.
Subscribe to Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin
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posted on October 28, 2004 06:37:39 PM new
Nice to see you recover, Linda_k. I forgot to mention that when you crumbled to the floor in your hysteria that you dropped your stack of national enquirer papers.
Bear must have saved them for you so you can show and tell how to C&P from rag sites instead of thinking for yourself.
posted on October 28, 2004 06:37:59 PM new
Wrong kiara, without knowing you're exact words at this red hot moment you responded by saying to me that you had posted that just for me or something like that. Which was a bald face lie.
You wanna talk about who has balls, ok, i'll tell you my thoughts on this. You're right Kerry has got balls. It took balls to deliberately wound himself and lie about other wounds just so he could get out of service. It took balls to testify against his fellow soldiers. It took balls to commit treason by secretly meeting with the enemy during a time of war. It took balls to throw his medals away and then claim that he only threw the ribbons. It takes balls to run for President and lie, flip-flop and say anything to get elected. Kerry's balls will be cut off soon, just wait and see.
I have to say that your cheap-shot to me was kinda ballsy also. I have allways treated you with civility and you also to me but if you want to throw that all away and pick each other apart, I can do that, probably better than you. I'd rather not though but i'll leave it up to you.
