Lobotero’s Info Ink

Lobotero’s Info Ink

This is from my major site and where most of my stuff is published.

The Iraq Surge

International Crisis Group - 75 Iraq after the Surge II: The Need for a New Pol

Some good points were made in this analysis, maybe someone, somewhere should be listening.

America's Medicated Army -- Printout -- TIME

America's Medicated Army -- Printout -- TIME


The more things change, the more they stay the same.......somethings remain the same from war to war.....Vietnam to Iraq...a medicated Army.

Report: Blackwater buys Brazilian-made fighter plane - USATODAY.com

Report: Blackwater buys Brazilian-made fighter plane - USATODAY.com


Does anyone see anything wrong with the whole situation with Blackwater?

Vets for Peace Booted from National Memorial Day Parade

Vets for Peace Booted from National Memorial Day Parade


Now this is just flippin' wrong.....if anyone has a right to protest for peace it is the vets that fight the damn war. Cannot have these people out there contradicting the popular stand on the war and the surge.

Global Peace Index 2008 - Global Peace Index

Global Peace Index 2008 - Global Peace Index


The USA is not doing too well in the peace category.

The Enemy Has Changed In Iraq

The shift was articulated this week in Washington by Gen. David Petraeus, who told Congress that "unchecked, the special groups pose the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq."

Before, American commanders have called al-Qaida the greatest threat.

There is little doubt that Shiite extremists fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces have received Iranian weapons, although Iran's government denies supplying them.

But Petraeus' comments obscure the fact that the United States has waded into a monumental power struggle within the majority Shiite community — and crucially, that both sides in that struggle, not just the "special groups," maintain close ties to Iran.

Bush and the boys have just got to keep the landscape of war ever changing to keep their hold on the situation. Sorry, but Bush, Patraeus and others are playing a dangerous and lethal game with the lives of American service people. Sad part is that McCain will play the same game with the same results. IMO, I am not too sure that either of the Democratic candidates will do anything different.

The American voter has control of this situation, but will they exercise their desires or just go back to the "good old days" of voting for the popular candidate not the one that would actually do something constructive about Iraq.

General Speaks: Yet Again!

Patraeus is due to testify before Congress this week and he will have his work cut out for him. With the escalation of violence in Iraq, it will be a hard sell.

"General Petraeus really has a very difficult issue on his hands because Sadr City is home to the Mahdi Army and militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, one of the most powerful and popular in the country. It's densely populated.

For the U.S., They are on the outskirts of Sadr City but for them to move deep into this area, they risk a potential bloodbath. Nobody wants to see that happening.

The U.S. has been looking for a political solution to that, trying to bring Moqtada al-Sadr on board. They've been successful to a degree but what has been seen in the last few weeks - and there were 20 people reportedly killed overnight in clashes between U.S. forces and the militia inside Sadr City - what you've seen is a very determined defense by these militias not wanting to give up the rocket launch sites, or any ground.

His defense of the Bush policy will be put to the test. Repubs will do a lot of back slapping and hopefully the Dems will do a lot of face slapping. The truth is ugly, but the lies are unforgivable.

Iraq: No End In Sight

Democrats called this approach unacceptable and said they would pursue an alternative policy through legislation. They said their focus will be on restoring the strength of the Army and Marines and refocusing the nation's resources on fighting terrorists in Afghanistan.

But Democrats face an uphill battle. Lacking a veto-proof majority, the party has repeatedly failed to force Bush to accept any anti-war legislation, including one measure supported by many Republicans that would have required that troops spend more time at home between combat tours.

Further, the only legislative approach guaranteed to end the war would be for Congress to cut off money for troops while in combat — a position that not enough Democrats support and which Republicans universally oppose.

The lack of options has left Democrats with mostly rhetoric, as it becomes all but certain that the next president will have to manage the war once Bush leaves office.

"The current Iraq strategy has no discernible end in sight and requires the United States to spend additional hundreds of billions of dollars despite urgent national needs in education, health care, and infrastructure improvement, and when high oil prices have provided the Iraqi government with billions in additional revenue that could pay for their own redevelopment and security," the Democratic leaders wrote in their letter.

"This strategy is neither sustainable nor in our broader national security or economic interest," they said.

More terrible news for the troops and their families. I am so sorry that we, as a nation, cannot end the mental suffering of these people.

The Iraq War--5 Yrs Later

Oh good, 4000 deaths and the Prez has this to say, "One day people will look back at this moment in history and say thank God there were courageous people willing to serve because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come [and] I have vowed in the past and I will vow so long as I am president to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain,"

Just who has the deaths benefited? The Iraqis? Do not think so! The US? Well, yes, there it is, the answer. Who has gotten rich off the invasion? Halleburton, Blackwater, and others within the military-industrial complex.

On the tube when Cheney was ask about the opposition to the war by the American people, he said "SO". Now there is the real answer to why the war continues. The elites want it, so be it.

Language is being used by the WH to control the situation and the attitudes toward the war. What? Take surge for instance, a surge is a limited influx of something with an end to come. Like a surge of power, it ends. Want another? How about regime change? Instead of what it was an invasion. Again? It is called a war, but it is an occupation. Check history! You people are allowing these people dance you around like a cheap WHORE. Don't think so? Then why are all returning dead taboo to the media? Why are all services for the dead taboo to the media? Ok, family privacy, is a good call and in most cases legit. News of this would swing the support away from the bullsh*t that they have been cramming up your ass for 5 years.

Wake up people!

Sad Anniversary

This one is from the war in Iraq.



Death Toll: 4000


Are you people happy now? Must we lose the 53,000+ of the Vietnam War before you see the horror of this situation?

Have Cigar

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War, now there is something to celebrate. 5 yrs, almost 4000 dead, many thousands wounded and maimed and a 1/2 a trillion bucks spent. Take a moment and think about that. Now that you have, what have we gained from this waste of money and treasure? Are we safer? According to the Pres we are, but then he has been in never never land for 5 yrs.

Now Bush is using our fear of higher gas prices to motivate the people. He know says that we must stay in Iraq to prevent al Qaeda from taking over the oil fields and using that cash to create market chaos and to fund their activities. I can smell the fear rising now!

Many protesters took to the streets yesterday as a nationwide protest to the war. A valiant effort, but will it be effective? NO! I WILL NOT! When half the American people still believe that Saddam was so how responsible for 9/11. Sad indictment of the mentality of the American people.

McCain In Iraq

What a piece of work! get the American people to pay for a trip to Iraq as a campaign ad. Let me see. it is Sens. McCain, Graham and Liebermann, all are part of the McCain Repub campaign. And the media is buying into this ploy by saying that they are all part of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. Where are the Dems on that committee? This is a campaign stop, people.

If this was not about his running for President then ALL members of the committee should be there. This is an attempt to give the American people the Repub side of the war and not the truth, the whole truth.

If this was a fact finding mission everyone should be there at the same time and get the same info. This is the perfect time for McCain to go to Iraq, the Dems are up to their butts in accusations and campaigning.

Just another way they will dupe the voter. Sad part is they will buy it hook, line and sinker.

40 Years Later

It has been 40 years since the cruelty of the My Lai massacre. Many will not remember the name until they are reminded by someone whi does. The media will let this go and it will be remembered officially by few with the exception of the Vietnamese people.

March 16, 1968
Charlie Company landed following a short artillery and helicopter gunship preparation. The soldiers found no enemy fighters in the village on the morning of March 16. Many suspected there were NLF troops in the village, hiding underground in the homes of their elderly parents or their wives. The U.S. soldiers, one platoon of which was led by Second Lieutenant William Calley, went in shooting at "suspected enemy position". After the first civilians were killed and wounded by the indiscriminate fire, the soldiers soon began attacking anything that moved, humans and animals alike, with firearms, grenades and bayonets. The scale of the massacre only spiraled as it progressed, the brutality increasing with each killing.

The report concluded that the Task Force commander responsible for the operation, Col. Frank Barker, had failed to "make clear any distinctions between combatants and noncombatants in their orders and instructions." The result, it stated, was that he had "conveyed an understanding that only the enemy remained" in My Lai.

The report asserted, however, that there was no higher command responsibility for what happened in My Lai. It concluded that the policy guidance from Gen. William Westmoreland, the commander of all U.S. forces in Vietnam, was "consistent in adhering to the humane standard of protecting the civilians within the combat zone."

Two things to remember: 1) you were probably not there, so your opinion holds no value. 2) troops follow orders, it is something that they were brainwashed to do.

WORD!

Another War?

Today are the primaries for Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island. It wiill be an interesting and long day for political junkies like me. But before that I need to address the possiblity of yet another conflict that could get ugly for the US.

well, Professor where are we talking about this time? South American, most notable the anger between Colombia and Ecuador. It seems that the army of Colombia crossed the border to go after the leftist organization, FARC and di d kill one of its commanders. There is protest flying all over Washington and the UN. Now Chavez of Venezuela who is an ally of Ecuador, has sent roops and equipment to their border with Colombia.

Now we have a stand off between those who align with Chavez and those who align with the US. This could get really ugly, if not handled properly. Considering there are US troops in Colombia helping that country fight the war on drugs, which is yet another sore spot in the region.

Since Bush has his head up his butt, the possibility of this escalating into a full blown war is a great possibility. You asked for it--you got it!