Ex-Commander Says Iraq Effort Is ‘a Nightmare’

[rmnunez]

Lets wait and see.

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: thx1138 You maybe be on to something there.

Won't that be an historic event.

[rmnunez]

What, that I'm 'onto' something or that they'd be releasing dangerous crack dealers to make room for political dissidents?

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: rmnunez What, that I'm 'onto' something or that they'd be releasing dangerous crack dealers to make room for political dissidents?

Well, I didn't want to get penalized any points, so I made it vague. You do, of course, have a link that supports such a claim?

[rmnunez]

Here's a recent note on this change in the sentencing for crack dealers:

The US Sentencing Commission voted unanimously yesterday to give federal inmates incarcerated for crack cocaine offenses a chance to reduce their sentences, paving the way for about 3,800 prisoners to petition for an early release in the next year. Yesterday's vote was a controversial sequel to the panel's decision this spring to change the guidelines it issues to judges, reducing the sentences that are handed out to people convicted of crack cocaine offenses. That decision, which went into effect Nov. 1, applied to future cases. Yesterday's vote made that decision retroactive, covering people already imprisoned. According to an analysis by the commission, 19,500 inmates will be eligible to petition the courts to reduce their sentences. The largest number of those -- more than 1,400 -- were convicted in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, covering Northern Virginia and the Richmond and Tidewater areas. About 280 inmates convicted in federal courts in Maryland will be eligible, as well as almost 270 prisoners convicted and sentenced in the District. For Crack Offenders, Earlier Shot At Release - washingtonpost.com

The fact that most of those who might get released sooner were sentenced in courts nearest Washington DC is what made me wonder about whether they needed some room for political dissenters.

[grandpa]

Britain bows out of a five-year war it could never have won - Independent Online Edition > Middle East

Britain handed over security in Basra province yesterday, bringing a formal end to its ill-starred attempt over almost five years to control southern Iraq. The transfer of power was marked by a parade of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and police beside the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which runs past Basra.

[xyzer]

Some correctly asked why are we listening to an ex commander? Good question! It brings to mind the question why are we implicitly believing the press?
This pieceGateway Pundit: Its a Quagmire!... Media Reports 6 Bogus Stories in 6 Weeks!
only scratches the surface of the duplicity of the press. The source pf most of our information....or is it misinformation?

If. as some on this site suggest, we are not fully informed of what is really going on in the world(Iraq) isn't it our subjective interpretations(belief) in a subjective press that is responsible for ouir misinformation?
Why does a military commander who hasn't been onsite for years get headlines for his obviously uninformed opinions?

This report only scratches the surface of the misinformation we are fed by the press and of course the political aspirants that are currently getting most of the coverage? Since it Christmas time I can only say BAH HUMBUG!

[rmnunez]

One frustrated critical lefty:

RAY SUAREZ: Well, at the beginning of this year, the Democrats returned to the majority after 12 years in the minority. You and Speaker Pelosi announced a very ambitious agenda. Now that one year has passed and you look back, how has it gone? SEN. HARRY REID: Well, we've been able to accomplish quite a bit, but not very much, certainly not as much as I wanted to. I'm kind of frustrated, like the American people.

Yes, he does seem a bit frustrated, it gets better:

Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, said Thursday that “this war is lost,” a stark assessment that Republicans argued would demoralize American troops fighting in Iraq. RAY SUAREZ: One thing that's changed a great deal since the beginning of the year is the number of American troops that are dying in Iraq and the rate at which they're dying and being wounded. The increase in the number of American troops in the theater, by many accounts, is having its desired effect, and the day-to-day violence in Iraq is in decline. Does that change your approach to Iraq? Does it force a change on your body, the Senate, in how you respond to calls to change direction now? SEN. HARRY REID: Ray, you can't have it both ways. The president said, "Let's send some more troops over there, and that will give the Iraqis the time to take care of themselves." We sent other troops over there, and there are a lot of reasons the surge certainly hasn't hurt. It's helped. I recognize that. Online NewsHour: Newsmaker Interview | Interview with Sen. Harry Reid | December 21, 2007 | PBS

So even though the surge has been successful, the war is lost anyway? Is this because whatever Bush does must fail, even if it works? Isn't that like having it both ways?

[Sonart]

.

Quote by: rmnunez What, that I'm 'onto' something or that they'd be releasing dangerous crack dealers to make room for political dissidents?

The efforts to reduce sentencing for crack cocaine vs. powder cocaine has been going on since the crack epidemic began. It has everything to do with our prisons overflowing, and the exploding percentage of young black men filling them compared to whites, all because dealing crack cocaine -- the cheaper but more addictive form preferred by blacks -- gets you ten times the sentence as powder cocaine -- preferred by whites.

The Supreme Court simply brought us to our senses on the issue. Nothing whatsoever to do with political prisoners.

.

[thx1138]

Quote by: rmnunez What, that I'm 'onto' something or that they'd be releasing dangerous crack dealers to make room for political dissidents?

You really have a good insight on some of the covert operations of the U.S. government.

Bay of Pigs: Declassified

[grandpa]

Quote by: thx1138 You really have a good insight on some of the covert operations of the U.S. government.

Some leave only to make return appearances.

Grandpa h.

[Dieval]

Quote by: Sonart . The efforts to reduce sentencing for crack cocaine vs. powder cocaine has been going on since the crack epidemic began. It has everything to do with our prisons overflowing, and the exploding percentage of young black men filling them compared to whites, all because dealing crack cocaine -- the cheaper but more addictive form preferred by blacks -- gets you ten times the sentence as powder cocaine -- preferred by whites. The Supreme Court simply brought us to our senses on the issue. Nothing whatsoever to do with political prisoners. .

I'm not trying to continue to derail this thread, but, how about people be responsible for their own actions and just not deal cocaine, in any form, there by not ending up in prison....?

[grandpa]

Quote by: Dieval I'm not trying to continue to derail this thread, but, how about people be responsible for their own actions and just not deal cocaine, in any form, there by not ending up in prison....?

Selling crack is a way to possibly get very rich rather quickly. From a purely profit-savvy perspective, there's anything wrong with it. I doubt all drug dealers and prostitutes love everything about what they do, but such things are marketable (as are the prisons they may end up in). Some can avoid going to prison, yes, but there are socio-economic reasons people "turn to crime."

Grandpa h.

[Dieval]

Quote by: grandpa Selling crack is a way to possibly get very rich rather quickly.

Or spend lots of time in prison(which I hope they do).

Quote by: grandpa From a purely profit-savvy perspective, there's anything wrong with it. I doubt all drug dealers and prostitutes love everything about what they do, but such things are marketable (as are the prisons they may end up in). Some can avoid going to prison, yes, but there are socio-economic reasons people "turn to crime." Grandpa h.

Of course there are "socio-economic" reasons they turned to crime...you know, they have to pay rent or some other government sanctioned oppresive non-sense...

..why would it be their fault that they turned to a life of crime, when they can easily blame someone else for their actions?

[handicapwings]

real money, fake war, fight for the oil that is the true story

[Zeebadee]

Quote by: handicapwings real money, fake war, fight for the oil that is the true story

It's not even real money anymore.

[thx1138]

Quote by: Dieval Or spend lots of time in prison(which I hope they do). Of course there are "socio-economic" reasons they turned to crime...you know, they have to pay rent or some other government sanctioned oppresive non-sense... ..why would it be their fault that they turned to a life of crime, when they can easily blame someone else for their actions?

These are the people that need to be in jail for selling cocaine.

Gary Webb: In his own words - CIA and Cocaine

Dateline report on CIA drug trafficking into the US with follow-up commentary by Alex Jones

Michael Ruppert confronts CIA director about Drug Laundering

Mena Connection: Compromised: Clinton, Bush and the CIA, Drug smuggling

Mike Ruppert - CIA and Drug Running (1997)

[Matt W]

How about we stay on-topic?

DO NOT RESPOND IN THIS THREAD TO THE PRECEDING MESSAGE. Please contact a member of the staff privately if you have any questions.

[Marilyn Monroe]

http://news.google.com/news?client=s...e-results&cd=1

[grandpa]

30 Dead in Baghdad’s Worst Attack in Months - New York Times

BAGHDAD — Thirty people were killed Tuesday when a suicide bomber strode into a gathering of mourners at a home in eastern Baghdad and detonated an explosives-packed vest, the Interior Ministry said. It was the most brazen and deadly attack in the capital in months.

Another story about the nightmare in Iraq. Though, of course, Michelle Malkin and the like will just tell me I like it when such things happen, and that there is still much to be done. Indeed, there is.

Grandpa h.