WASHINGTON (AP) – A progress report on Iraq will conclude that the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad has not met any of its targets for political, economic and other reforms, speeding up the Bush administration’s reckoning on what to do next, a U.S. official said Monday
Or about $4,600/second. That’s more than Clemens makes, IIRC.
These were targets first established in October I believe, well before the “surge” concept.
Does anybody need any more proof that this war has been a total waste?
god. getting a new administration cannot happen soon enough. this digusts me more than words can say.
no wonder we’re experiencing the 2007 version of the 60’s movement; this is Vietnam all over again.
god. getting a new administration cannot happen soon enough. this digusts me more than words can say.
no wonder we’re experiencing the 2007 version of the 60’s movement; this is Vietnam all over again.
I wish it was only Vietnam. it kinda makes ya’ long for the innocent days when our enemies had ak’s and not nukes. when we left Vietnam Pot killed like 10 million people. when we leave Iraq and iran takes over the middle east the death count in the middle east will dwarf SE asia.
I wish it was only Vietnam.
no wonder we’re experiencing the 2007 version of the 60’s movement
What do you mean?
People today are far too apathetic for anything coming mirroring Vietnam era peace movements. Just because everyone is complaining about the war in Iraq doesn’t mean anyone is actually doing anything about it.
Ah, I get what she was saying.
I think I’m with kittycat. And just because hippies are extinct doesn’t mean nobody is “doing anything about it.” Maybe people have found more effective ways of doing something about it than getting stoned.
People today are far too apathetic for anything coming mirroring Vietnam era peace movements. Just because everyone is complaining about the war in Iraq doesn’t mean anyone is actually doing anything about it.
reinstate the draft, that’ll change pretty quick.
not that people shouldn’t be doing more already, of course.
Not only the draft but the casualty and fatality count. Vietnam had over 58,000 fatalities and in the neighborhood of 350K casualties. With a population of around 200 million in the US during the time of the war that means that around 1 in every 500 people was either wounded or killed in Vietnam. By comparison there has been around 3600 fatalities and 26000 casualties thus far in Iraq and the US population is closer to 300 million. This puts the ratio around 1 in every 10K.
In short people simply aren’t seeing and being personally effected by this war like the Vietnam war. Personally I know several Vietnam vets and more than one that came back physically screwed up, but haven’t met or seen or even met a person that is related to a single wounded soldier from Iraq.
I think this type of “closeness” is what really drives people to get active. We have a few Cindy Sheehans that have been effected by this war but no “Mass” of people. If the casualties were anywhere near what they were in Vietnam I’d bet this thing would have been over a LONG time ago.
~Matt
Not only the draft but the casualty and fatality count. Vietnam had over 58,000 fatalities and in the neighborhood of 350K casualties. With a population of around 200 million in the US during the time of the war that means that around 1 in every 500 people was either wounded or killed in Vietnam. By comparison there has been around 3600 fatalities and 26000 casualties thus far in Iraq and the US population is closer to 300 million. This puts the ratio around 1 in every 10K.
~Matt
2 thoughts: gosh what compassion you have. surely you are not wanting to see more casualties. maybe W isn’t screwing up this war as badly as the media is screaming.
Two thoughts in response:
Matt didn’t say he wanted to see more casualties, and you’re dishonest for the implication. (Though this is where I point out that when we say that the casualties have been small, we need to say “American” casualties. Surely you think dead Iraqis count, right?)
Taking limited casualties doesn’t mean the war isn’t being screwed up. This is getting ridiculous. Talk about shifting goal posts.
“Just because everyone is complaining about the war in Iraq doesn’t mean anyone is actually doing anything about it.”
And what exactly did they do in the 60s?
There were actual protests, war resistors, draft dodging, etc. people actually showing they were dissatisfied with the government and their decisions. I think an above poster is correct when he states there isn’t much connection to Iraq War deaths for the majority of the population.
Today we have a bunch of arguing talking heads on TV, grumpy message board posters, and bills in the senate more about making statements and currying support then doing what the people actually want.
In other words, they complained out in the street, rather than, say, on the internet.
How’d that work out for them? Much better than today?
I think the Bush Administration would prefer people to keep hashing this out online rather than in front of the Whitehouse. The fact that the balance of contenders for the Republican nomination stand by the Iraq War despite massive public opposition shows how far removed they have become from the will of the people.
Since Vietnam actually ended eventually, while the Iraq War continues I couldn’t say if it did or didn’t work out much better.
What did WWII or WWI cost per second?
I think the Bush Administration would prefer people to keep hashing this out online rather than in front of the Whitehouse. The fact that the balance of contenders for the Republican nomination stand by the Iraq War despite massive public opposition shows how far removed they have become from the will of the people.
Since Vietnam actually ended eventually, while the Iraq War continues I couldn’t say if it did or didn’t work out much better.
The “Public” is a bunch of under educated fucktards that do not get it. They mostly dont vote and are too busy running from the police. Fuck em.
Only 50% Record. You and I each get 25% we agree with! 
What did WWII or WWI cost per second?
“But Clinton…”
"there isn’t much connection to Iraq War deaths for the majority of the population. "
That’s for two reasons. Viet Nam was 60,000+ deaths and probably the biggest reason can be said in one word - conscription.