VABills

Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who is expected to chair the Armed Service Committee in January when Democrats take control of Congress, said redeploying troops would prompt the Iraqis to take more expeditious steps to ending the war. Snow further disregarded Levin's call for troops to be withdrawn in months, saying the proposal "doesn't have any meat and bones to it." The Michigan senator said only Iraqis could determine the course for their country: "They and they alone are going to decide whether they're going to have a nation or whether they're going to have an all-out civil war." http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/13/iraq.next/index.html Of course, McCain actually wants to increase troop strength. First time I think I have ever agreed with him.

I see. Well I deal with the pop-ups because I am cheap. But I wouldn't want the kids to starve either.

Did you watch that play? It was a broken play and I am not even sure it was supposed to be a direct snap. I think Brees just missed the snap. Seriously you don't design plays to have the ball scooting around in the backfield on the ground. As far as the Extra TE, we did that with Peters 2 years ago. Again, it may work but it takes guys out of patterns and give the defense less guys to cover. With our receivers already struggling to get seperation, and find openings not a good thing. Having Reed out this week made it even more obvious, since he seems to be the only one consistantly getting open in the slots.

Is that your new defense now? When called out for being wrong, you say you were only kidding.

wants a phased pullout over the next few months. Says let Iraq figure out what they want whether a full scale civil war is up to them. Yeah good thing he speaks for the people on defense. What about outside influences if we left. What about an outside invasion (Iran) if we left. Damn I love idiot politicians, they make it so easy.

He took lessons from you.

Yeah, let's get rid of the QB, that direct snap to Reed worked so well a couple weeks ago.

Wow, what browser are you using? This isn't good, this is how Scott runs the board. It costs a lot of money and he has to pay some other bills, kids in private schools etc... If you aren't seeing the ads and pop-ups you're at least expected to pay for the membership fee. Unless of course you want his kids to starve.

You mean to say you don't really lick JP's balls?

I have my rare moments. They seem to be getting rarer all the time.

I thought it was Indiana.

Vice Versa as well. I think what people don't get is that JP is not as bad as some post neither is he as good as others want to believe. I believe the truth lies in the middle, and it's really up to the coaches and Marv to decide if he can grow with the team, and financially if we can continue to sell tickets through the pains. Remember football is a business and decisions are made not only for the actual benefit of the players but also for the business.

How about we ban the next mis-informed poster who licks JP's balls? We have enough of those to weed through as well.

A box of acorns for the blind epileptic squirral is all.

All those ads, pop-ups and membership fees. Scott has to be approaching Bill Gates revenue by now.

Very good speaker, and he was very humble to be among so many of us fellow Marines. BTW, President Bush announced that Cpl Dunham would be awarded the Medal of Honor at the ceremony. He is a WNY Marine in case anyone is wondering. From Scio, which I had to look up, just outside Wellsville.

and my Marine brothers. I had a good time at the Marine Museum dedication today. Met lots of Marines, listened to Jim Lehrer, Commandant Hagge, and President Bush speak. God shined upon us with a perfect day 75 and sunny. Semper Fi.

Where? I asked what compromises, and you didn't answer? I asked what do you do about the money that the sunis are pumping into the insurgancy and you post noting? So you reitterate what I said on regional diplomacy being an issue. I stated that the US doesn't have "OPEN" talks with Iran or syria. You state they need to keep hands off Iraq. How do you do that without paying them off as well? BTW that is only part of the battle, which is external security. Small problem right now. Besides just because there are no "OPEN" negotiations doesn't mean there are no negotiations. Just not known in the public eye. Again, I forgot lots of countries involved, including Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lybia, and others. You can only get neighboring countries involved so much. Right now some want nothing more then the destruction of Iraq, other want a piece and yet others want to see the coalition fail for one of the two above reasons. In addition, instability is good for OPEC as it gets them more for their oil. Again, we do not want Irani and Syrian soldiers marching around Iraq, and some of the other neighbors can only do so much without raising the ire of their neighbors. Construction / constructive, not sure of you point. But why should the US pay France to build a school, when France was and still is unwilling to offer troops for the security of their workers? Same with Germany? Again, if these allies want to be part of the solution then they need to help build and protect if nothing more then their own workers in country. Again, you added no substance, and still have not answerd me, on how you would draw down troops which is what you and Pelosi want. The only way you do that is one combat ready battalion at a time. Complete with senior enlisted and field grade officers. Again, it takes more then 4 years to make a Colonal and 1st Sergeant equivalents. Even if they find some shining stars , it has to be done one battalion at a time. Each one that is built up and supported by the armor, and air support will replace roughly 2000 reinenforced US troops. I'm guessing by the time it's all done the Iraqis need 50 or so combat ready battalions. That's 50 or more field grade officers, hundreds of junior officers (Lt - capt), thats hundreds of senior enlisted , and thousands of non-commissioned officers. To over see that you'll need a dozen generals, which will probably be done by US and coalition troops for at least 10+ years, which means a greenzone with diplomats at least that long. These combat ready battaltions have got to be trained in urban fighting as that is how moist insurgancy fighting is, and the armor and close air support to protect the units engaged. Figure at least half your troops for such a role. The other half are external security, basically as trip wire troops in case Iran, Syria and anyone gets grand ideas of invading. These are more traditional troops and probably eaier to stand up. This actually will be the first troops that allow US troops to come home. Again you still need senior enlisted and officers. It still will take another 4-5 years before these guys fully can take that role, with the first US troops probably not rolling home for another 1-2 years. However, this doesn't solve the problem of US troop casulties. Since the insurgant fighting is the one causing all the problems, the US still must engage until Iraqi troops are ready and not just sent to get slaughtered. So don't expect US troops injuries to slow down anytime soon. Again, that's a plan, and one I've pretty much said for 4 years, that's it's going to take to turn it back over. BTW, I am now asking for about the 4th time in your thread, what's you plan? I see a bunch of sound bites, but still no plan. Monkeys in zoo.

France was invited by people who started the revolution, just as the Kurds and Shiites were asking for our help since 91 to get rid of the Suni oppressers and Saddam. Very much a parallel. The native elimination would be like the Kurds killing the sunis. Overall I wouldn't say that would be a bad things in this case.

Yeah except you seem to forget that the country in question got a lot of help from the originals natives of said country, plus a lot of help from a major super power in it's infant years( France). Without that help said country would never have been able to get freedom and democracy in the first place nor protect itself from the first invasion. But let's forget facts.

You'll have to excuse me but I don't remember any "kids" being killed in Iraq. I know of some men and women who volunteered to go there. At this point we have been there so long that if anyone didn't know that they would go they are lying. Enlistments are 2-6 years, and the US can only extend you for a short time. Therefore anyone still in, is very aware of their situation, and none of them are "kids". Secondly, I asked you. You and Pelosi, and all your liberal buddies ran on this stuff. You tell me where they can be drawn down. I know where and how, but the Iraqis aren't ready for that yet. And if you think you can build general and field grade offiers, and senior staff enlisted guys in 4 years you are living in fantasy land.

Oh sure if it wasn't bad enough that the dems won, you get one more purson dumped onto society so we have to pay for him. Unemployment, welfare, medicare, thanks, more taxes.

What troops do you want to draw down? Armor and any forward push to clear areas of insurgents? So you expose more Iraqi's who don't have the equipment and years of some of the hardest fighting experience needed. Yup, and they'll all quit within 6 months. Troop training? Who else is going to teach their troops? Police duties have already pretty much been turned over with US troops only providing support roles. Air support? I don't know if the Iraqis have the capability or pilots to do that? So that leaves security of the greenzone? Again, that's where the HQ troops, diplomates, training and planning is. Do you want to hand over complete security of that area to basically troops with no senior officers and elisted men?

This says nothing. What compromises do we want the Iraqis to make that will help unite the country? All three factions want the power and the one causes 99% of the issues is the smallest group who has always controlled others with an iron fist. Nothing less will be acceptable to that group. They have most of the money and will continue to import people to there cause for very little money. On the second point see above, the insurgency is a lot of paid labor from the old ruling party. Unlimited money supply and unlimited idiots who go to a "cause". Regional diplomacy? With who, other than Iran and Syria we have wide open negotiations. The main issue seems to be the utter destruction of Israel and a homeland for the terrorists from Palestinians. What allies aren't there or in Afghanistan supporting the effort? France? France hasn't been our ally for years? England there, Australia there, Canada there, plenty of others. Other nations in a construction role. Why, who's going to pay for it? Right now the US is picking up most of the cost. Why should we pay other contries to help rebuild when they didn't help eliminate Sadaam?