The Surge in Baghdad

[bondurango]

Gen. Petraeus' "surge" strategy was nothing more than a surge in bribery.  He basically bought off the insurgents. So much for the notion that this had anything to do with radical Islam, Al Qaeda or even ethnic differences between Sunnis & Shiites. It turns out that the insurgency was, at the outset, the strategy of Saddam's military which simply went underground & fought a guerrilla war. But these guys are nothing more than gangsters & it was old fashioned payola that did the trick.

[kazooga1234]

this is how i fig the republicans do things its make the rich richer and who ever isnt in the higher class have to go to war where they then get badly abused caz there is no way for them to afford school unless they do and stuff like that and that is if they dont die and get siriously injured dose that happen

[BrezhnevIsMyCoPilot]

...Because they're being paid by us.

Al Qaeda in Iraq was never even close to being the largest part of the insurgency, so defeating it is hardly a great victory. You seem also to conveniently forget Muqtada Al-Sadr's year-long ceasefire, which might be ending at the moment. When/if that ends, casualty rates will likely return to 100+ American soldiers dying a month.

Also, if you want to call me "clueless" and have it at all believable, try to use proper spelling and grammar...

[BrezhnevIsMyCoPilot]

The Surge is bribing our erstwhile enemies to not attack us. Sunni insurgents are now in "Awakening Councils" that control little fiefdoms that American soldiers avoid. Paying off the "bad guys" is not the same as going after the "bad guys".

[Methadone4Life]

The surge has worked great..for about 3 square miles. Nothing that the GOP or Bush has ever done has worked,well except to make the rich even wealthier and to make the working class and the poor suffer even more. We have lost our civil liberties by the boatload,our economy is in ruins because of the cost of this idiotic war,recession is here..soon to be depression,gas prices have skyrocketed under Bush. Do not believe the hype..2007 was the DEADLIEST year yet. Surge working? Bush=failure

[fvhjr]

Do you look at The Surge as a mechanism? Do you know how it specifically works?

[fvhjr]

The Surge is basically:

Removing Right to Bear Arms & Removing Militias. Sound familiar?

[kickahippie]

VOTE

CHENEY/ROVE

2008

[abc7792]

petraeus is bush's man. there is no way he could ever or he would ever say things are bad even if they are. whenever something about iraq comes out of the mouth of bush administration or military generals, it turns out to be a blatant lie. only a fool would believe word per word what petraeus said. in few months time, when you see and read the news you'll realize on a daily basis that war is gone out of control.

[KitaroED]

Bin Laden should really thank Bush taking out Saddam in Iraq. Saddam was one of the leader in mid east killing Al Quada and terrorist group. Now thanks to mr. dumb asss bush, Iraq is now a breeding ground for US killers. LOL

[Meatpieandtatters]

Sadly, your inane writings have proven you to be the pathetic dumb ass.

[ginganz13]

How? This is exactly correct - the west supported Sadam because he was a brutal thug who suppressed popular movements with interests counter to America. Sadam was Bin Ladens sworn enemy, The US has done what Bin Laden had sworn to do all along.

[BI30]

"It's against the law to support violators of human rights."

Unless, of course *we* are *also* violating human rights.

[colmmernagh]

"It's not anarchy and more of a tribal traditionalism experiencing a socioculture evolution" what sort of bollox is that!!! you destroy a country,it wont be fixed for decades,100s of thousands are dead,alqeda are stronger now because you create more hatred towards you,an overwhelming majority of people are against the war,you have some neck pretending things are going swimmingly.

[kickahippie]

Liar Propagandist,

I have some neck? Because I provided context to the generalizations that you've manufactured into lies. If you believe what you say then you have some neck to be sitting around posting on Youtube while that happens.

[colmmernagh]

And why is that now ?? you provide zero but the same rehearsed(propaganda) garbage bush shits out his mouth everyday.Youd love people like me to stop commentin wouldnt ye,it isnt gona happen.

[kickahippie]

Because you place negative information out of context in the form of generalizations to represent the Iraq situation in its entirety. To believe anything positive is irrelevant to the situations makes you more of propagandist then me.

And I love when people like you talk. Like when you guys pretend that surge is over and it's failed. There are polls out asking people if it worked and it's not even over.

[colmmernagh]

So wheres the lies here?

[kickahippie]

We didn't destroy a country. It was already destroyed. You make it sound as if America is solely responsible for the death toll. You ignore the fact the radical movement has been growing since the 70s and Iraq is simply another tool for their cause. The radicals would have found another cause to fault the West for if the Iraq situation didn't exist just like the Democrats would find another issue to fault Republicans on. Both do it to gain power, influence, and support.

[ginganz13]

It was allready destroyed from the last time the Bush 1 destroyed it. Your support for Sadam for over 30 yrs even through his worst attrocities is part only part of what sparks arseholes like Bin Laden off. Its been going on since the '40's, its because of US foreign policy & the admin know about it. The Arabs want justice and you don't want them to have it.

[kickahippie]

Again, you can't break something that was already broken, even before Bush1 and I never supported Saddam.

The 70s movement I refer to is the large student Islamic activist movement that split from the Brotherhood after the Brotherhood signed a deal with Sadat.

I want more than justice; I want them to have their freedom.

[ginganz13]

The Mid East has been turned into a 'hell disaster' by western interference for 100yrs. Since WW2 America has never been interested in giving them justice or freedom - that is why the CIA employed Sadam to 'try' and kill mossadeq, the elected leader. The US wants control of the oil & don't care who it kills to get it. That's why Sadam was their best friend for years despite what he was doing. US policy is what creates radical hatred.

[kickahippie]

By western interference? Surely you can't believe it's the entire west's fault. What has the Middle East ever done for itself besides blame the west and Israel for their failures?

If the US was as oil thirsty as you make it, then why would they go through the trouble we're involved with now?

Compared to the West - do you believe there is any difference between men/women from the Middle East?

[ginganz13]

The US the list of attrocities, interventions, & manipulation is massively stacked against the arabs -- for perspective - when was the last time an Arab country dropped cluster bombs on an American city or Assassinated a president & installed one it preferred?

Oil - The US is 5% of the worlds population using >75% of its oil the thirst has nothing to do with me. If you really want the answers go watch Fisk or Chomsky here on YT

[kickahippie]

When was the last time America hijacked civilian aircraft and crashed them into civilian structures? When did it announce jihad on everyone not American? When did America blow-up night clubs and attack embassies? When did America behead men, women, and children that didn't support their cause? When did Americans car-bomb markets full of Americans? When did America blow-up its own churches to entice civil war? When did Americans blame everyone else for their problems?

[ginganz13]

'Project for the New American Century', your own version of Jihad, more interventions & invasions than any other country since the Romans, America blows up baby food factories & use banned weapons on civilians (more effective than airliners). Uses anti-tank missles on ambulances, the death the US inflicts is massively one sided - the reason the rest of the world hates America, not just the Arabs.

[kickahippie]

I take it your running out of material. Next you'll be referencing Loose Change.

[ginganz13]

Hard to see how - US attrocities massively outnumber any reaction they have provoked right or wrong. Go read Robert Fisks book, there's 1000+ pages for you if you dare - then ask why the most highly awarded journo in the world never gets mentioned in the American Media.

It's not just tobaco your smoking in those cigars eh sparky?

[kickahippie]

Fisk? You justify your position by referring me to Fisk? Tell you what, I'll read Fisk if you listen to Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, and Sean Hannity.

Have you ever heard of Fisking?

[ginganz13]

Nobody justified any position by 'Fisk'-you are desparately fishing to save this one.

Limbaugh, Levin & Hannity? Can't imagine how you left Coulter off your list of 'heavyweights'. Hannity has been made to look a complete Muppet with his Iraq WMD & Al Quaeda links.

Fisking - "A point-by-point refutation of a news story. A really stylish fisking is witty, logical, sarcastic and ruthlessly factual". Small wonder then that you are so terrified of it.

[kickahippie]

Ya, looks like you read it alright. You do understand that's what bloggers did to Fisk and not what Fisk was known for.

"To fisk is not to face the facts for as long as possible and, when found out, to divert the public from your mistake by spinning shiny stories in the air."

[ginganz13]

Yes it was well reported in the Independant which I have read since Bob left the Mail.

So why didn't you site Hitchens instead of those other lame-arses?

[ginganz13]

That's the old definition not the current one.

I understand that you are 'choosing' definitions to prop up indefensible US foreign policy.

[RBLA818]

YouTube Generation doesn't read more than a couple of pages. Get a Narrator!

[capslock86]

Quit wondering, the equation is simple; Bin Laden (6-7 "funded" actors) + Bush (Puppet) + Patriotic Rednecks = U.S. Government.

[hypnofan35]

I say we take a vote on whether the pope personally knows god, And that thing where the planets orbit the sun.... forget that!

[kickahippie]

Those numbers are pre-surge. Also, the poll was rigged by only polling hotbed areas controlled by insurgents, AQI, and Sadr at the time. Try presenting current information from a wider selection of Iraq.

[firaq0069]

Totally moronic. What a waste of server space !!

[jerryfoster41]

stop wasting lives for the military industrial complex war profiteers-U S invaders out now

[AzraelsJudgement]

I hate neocons and this whole Iraq business is pure BS.

[kickahippie]

I love neocons (mostly) and this whole Iraq business in anything but pure BS. It's kind of serious stuff.

[AzraelsJudgement]

Yah serious for corporations and people who are making money. Serious for the over 2 million Iraqi refugees and the over 1 million dead ones. The neocons are traitors to the USA.

[kickahippie]

Yah and it's seriously kills terrorists (at least 212 for Aug) and denies them safe haven, too. Serious for over 27,499,638 million people who no longer live under a dictator and nearly 2 million dead ones that won't experience that. The neocons could've done a better job, but are far from being traitors.

[AzraelsJudgement]

LOL there were no terrorists in Iraq before we got there. They live under anarchy now instead of a dictator. They have polluted water and Depleted Uranium infecting their ground and children. Are you saying theose civilians are better off dead then under Saddam?!?! You have no idea what a true patriot is.

[kickahippie]

Doesn't matter now since they're now. It's not anarchy and more of a tribal traditionalism experiencing a socioculture evolution which is definitely better than a dictator. Actually, Al Sabah (Local Baghdad News) had an Article today talking about advancements in the Nasriya water project. The article kind of makes you look like a uniformed parrot or liar. Neither of those are patriotic I'm pretty sure.

[AzraelsJudgement]

LoL you pick out random articles yet ignore the population and their desire to be left alone. You ignore the corrupt and lazy government we helped install. You ignore the civil war being waged with US troops in the middle and being killed for no reason. Only people who benefit are the corporations we pay to be there.

[kickahippie]

Random? Local news from Baghdad (by Iraqis) is random now? I don't ignore the government. In fact, I believe there's a major problem with the MOI. Maliki should replace Jawad al-Bolani. His pick could aid in reconciliation, but that's an Iraqi decision to make. We have more to gain than any corporation believe it or not. Success in Iraq can lead to less conflict and more diplomacy with neighboring countries.

[AzraelsJudgement]

War is always good at bringing peace and diplomacy

[kickahippie]

Peace thru power.

[AzraelsJudgement]

The biggest oppressors in the middle east are the Saudis and Israel so I guess we should attack them next? You cherry pick information. Have you seen videos of the irawi's screaming and crying for the US to leave. Have you seen and read how they pack up and leave the Iraq hell hole?

[kickahippie]

That's your prerogative if you believe it.

Do you think it's possible for anyone on the planet not to have seen a video or read about that? Since I apparently cherry pick my information, can you please tell me where you get yours? And please no generalization, be specific.

[Methadone4Life]

Just like some of the idiots on here..BUSH SHOULD BE TRIED FOR WAR CRIMES,MURDER AND TREASON..ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION. He is EVIL..PURE EVIL. As for Tom Haydon..a true hero. If you dont agree..FUCK YOU!

[kickahippie]

I don't agree, so FUCK YOU, too.

[greenbean1984]

no one seems to be asking the most important question: why does bush/cheney insist on staying in iraq and everyone else says get out. why? why do they care so much? what do they know that the rest of the world doesn't?

[kickahippie]

Ya, because no one has asked that question have they?

I'm part of everyone and I'm not saying to get out.

They care because it's kind of the job of the executive branch to defend us.

There are many in the world that think the consequences of leaving are greater than staying until the job is done so we don't have to come back.

[bezerker4828]

Untill what job is done?

What the fuck do you want to get done?

I've heard that phrase so many times to the point where it seems like its chanted as dogma.

What job are you trying to get done?

[kickahippie]

Establishing an Islamic Democratic government, stable and competent, that makes decisions to provide for the prosperity of its people. Ensuring more than enough security exists to guarantee that prosperity, so that when we depart we can be certain that our investment in Iraq is safe. Doing what needs to be done to ensure that we don't have to come back.

[colmmernagh]

Weres is this mythical stable government,the prosperity or security for any iraqis,ur gov has killed more people then saddam ever could have in his wildist dreams.You circus acts wouldnt know how to keep peace,if neocons want peace why are they bullying the only one in the region who can maintain any peace(iran) ????

[kickahippie]

Developing in Baghdad over time. The Saddam comment is a lie which makes you a liar, Liar. Thinking that Iran is the only one who can keep the peace while they chant death to America and Israel means your ignorant of the topic or your trying to engage in electronic mujahid tactics. Either way your new name is Liar, Liar.

[colmmernagh]

How is it a lie shit head ??????? did americans and europeans not sell saddam chemical weapons ??? did they not back him against Iran knowing he would use them,did america not support him during the 80s when he gassed halabja,kurds and iranians ???????? Did iran not complain to the UN because saddam was using WMD,Stop me when im lieing !!!! idiot.

[kickahippie]

Are you saying its Americas & Europe's fault? If so, your last name must be Propagandist.

Hello, Liar Propagandist.

Only thing of any truth you posted is that we supported Saddam against Iran. The rest you manufactured by posting information out of context. Would you care to look at what the UN Annex-Overview of the chemical weapon programme of Iraq report has to say about it?

[bezerker4828]

BAHAHAHAHA!

Oh that's perfect, you can establish a non oppressive representative democracy which reconciles Kurdish, Sunni, and Shiite Iraqis..now how do you plan to do that?

I mean come on guys isn't going to work here.

I'm all for democracy but there are places where it won't work, and any attempts to enforce it are doomed to fail.

[kickahippie]

Not at first, but over time it's very possible by seeing our commitment thru. Personally, I'd like to see a government modeled after Turkeys.

[colmmernagh]

Right on the nail bezerker,what fuckn job.I think he means secure the oil,an bulid those permenant military bases to attack everyone in the region who say NO,to american policy.

Kickahippie your a clown.

[kickahippie]

And you say I'm the clown? Funny because the circus didn't show up until you posted.

[colmmernagh]

"Deinies them safe haven",what fuckin planet are you on.There are more foreign(alqeda)terrorists in iraq then ever before,american army kill iraqi resistence who want to liberate iraq from you invaders and exploiters.Iraqi gov is looking to iran for help because americans are full of shit.

[kickahippie]

I'm from earth.

It gives us more of reason to stay in Iraq if there's more terrorists there then ever before.

Your last comment is more full of shit than any American.

[AzraelsJudgement]

Most fighters in Iraq are people battling the occuptaion and are not terrorists.

[kickahippie]

Really? Did you get those stats yourself? I mean, if you consider it cherry picking information by me making reference to a recent article in it's entirety from a local Baghdad newspaper written by Iraqis, then you obviously must have gone there yourself and talked to every fighter personally. Anything less would be an assumption and you know what they say about people who assume...

[AzraelsJudgement]

STFU I am tired of cowards who fear Muslims and their cries for war and death. Go to Iraq if you wish for the USA to be there so bad.

[kickahippie]

Did you post to the right person?

[bcatku]

i'm confused as well...i did not read that as a pro-Iraq war piece. am i completely dense? let me know...

beth

[temptation4life]

"It gives us more of reason to stay in Iraq if there's more terrorists there then ever before." ... so that their numbers could increase at an increasing rate ..

what a noob! get a life man

[kickahippie]

...So you prefer that we leave so their numbers increase at a slower rate...

And you say I'm a noob in need of a life. Talk about throwing stones in a glass house.

[JAIB14]

i am iraqi and this vid was right in alot of ways. may iraq one day live in peace

[kickahippie]

Where in Iraq?

[hondo1188]

the bush regime's handiwork...

[theone23ord]

Frank Zappa

The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre. (1977)

[theone23ord]

" WAR is a racket. It always has been."

"It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. "

General Smedly Butler

google bush crime family

[TS175]

Look like the Israelis in Palestine!

[cjfriz]

those are some really powerful statistics. The kind of thing that you don't hear on the television, but needs to be blared from the rooftops: Iraqis don't want us, we are oppressors not liberators.

[kickahippie]

The reason it's not being blared from rooftops is because it's outdated info from a rigged poll. Go to Iraq the Model dot com and ask those Iraqis living there yourself if they think it's accurate.

[ginganz13]

In 1948 Eisenhower had a survey to investigate the groundswell of Arab hatred towards the US. If found ordinary Arabs resented US support for oppressive regimes who prevented development & Democracy. The polls today say the same thing only worse, Now they want to return the favour to the US. The Islamic fundamentalists are best described by a term the CIA invented. Blowback. A problem America created though its own beligerence.

[kickahippie]

How many of those ordinary Arabs from the poll in 1948 do you think are still alive?

Islamic radicals were used by the CIA, but were not invented by them. The CIA may have provided the tools from time to time, but the radical idea was already in place and in practice.

[ginganz13]

Still alive?-irrelevant, go to the Congressional Library & read it's a survey of population not individuals.

Didn't say they invented them, they did however train, arm & support them in an act of suicidal belligerence. Now the US has made a massive playground for them. When people have nothing to loose they become 'radical'. US policy is the reason they have nothing to loose. The fundamental hatred of the US is of it's own making.

[kickahippie]

The reason I ask how many are alive, is that, is it not possible for it to be taught from generation to the next.

So the CIA created Shaheed and influenced the Hadith? If Snap-on (tool manufacturer) provides the tools and training of their use to a contractor that wants to refurbish a structure, would you consider Snap-on the Architect for the design outcome?

[ginganz13]

What? The outrage at US oppression & support for brutal regimes won't be passed through the generations? Ludicrous statement.

If snap-on killed the elected president, installed the brutal director it prefered, stopped the workers being paid what they are worth just so it could sell the only tools then yse it would be up for it. This is metaphorically what the US has done.

[kickahippie]

The CIA has bogeyman status in the Middle East. I don't deny their involvement, but to blame the US for all failures in the region is a ludicrous statement.

That is your metaphorical perception. Reality is we provided the tools to people with a goal that coincided with ours at the time. Was it wise of us, no, but we're not solely to blame. I just find it hard to believe that Arab people are so weak minded that they unknowingly succumb to American will.

[ginganz13]

The reaction to US Policy was obvious & Avoidable. The US empowered Sadam through his worst attrocities then used them as an excuse to destroy what was left. Your defense of US policy is the same as giving a Rapist hadcuffs & keys to the girls dorm, then complaining when they want to scratch his eyes out. 'Arab people weak minded'- you are a bigot & a racisit.

[kickahippie]

Nice try, but no cigar.

[ginganz13]

You'll need better flame-bait than these weak arguments if you wanna get close to lighting yours.

[kickahippie]

You play the race card and call my arguments weak, LOL. I just finished my cigar - can I have yours since you won't be smoking it anytime soon.

BTW, check-out my new post to see flame-bait.

[ginganz13]

"Arab people are so weak minded" - your 'race card' quote quote not mine.

By all means puff away, you'll need a pretty dense smkoe screen to hide the egg on your face.

[kickahippie]

Please put it context.

"I just find it hard to believe that Arab people are so weak minded that they unknowingly succumb to American will."

[kickahippie]

Meaning you believe that they are. Here's an example of what you said:

"Didn't say they invented them, they did however train, arm & support them in an act of suicidal belligerence. Now the US has made a massive playground for them. When people have nothing to loose they become 'radical'. US policy is the reason they have nothing to loose. The fundamental hatred of the US is of it's own making."

[kickahippie]

This cigar tastes better then the first.

[ginganz13]

No it means that there are roots of legitimacy in any act. When a population is subject to acts of genocidal attrocity negative backlash is inevitable, no matter how 'noble' the stated aims. Terrorist can only function with popular support, smoke your cigar smug in the knowledege that the US invasion has made terrorist attacks 7x more likely.

[kickahippie]

You Fisked, again.

[ginganz13]

Rather depends on which definition you are 'choosing'. Anyhow euphemisms whichever one you choose don't change the facts - why don't you try refute the facts rather than hiding behind semantic arguments.

[ginganz13]

Context is irrelevant - you played the race card I did'nt.

[kickahippie]

In your case, of course it is and, no, you played the race card while playing the victim card.

[ginganz13]

What you really need to do then is explain what is wrong with wanting the occupying forces out of their country & in the face of vastly superior power using 'terror' tactics? The Iraqi insurgency is a popular movement of Iraqi's, not Al Quadea. They are doing exactly the same as the French resistance did.

[soadfan333]

you rock tom! keep doing ur vids. there great. barack obama for prez

[spookynshadow]

Tom Hayden LMAO, what a fucking traitor to your country. You and your ugly ex-Jane Hanoi Fonda are an imbarassement to America. Go crawl under the rock you came out from under you fucking old hippie and take her with you!

[exile467]

Your country?

[kickahippie]

Hippies piss me off. They say they want to save the world, but all they do is smoke pot and smell bad.