Confirmed: ‘Wyatt Earp’ losing War in Iraq

by fan of bell Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:05

It's every man for himself- funny the way Blair preaches peace isn't it?

Axis of Evil has split

by MichaelY - iawm Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:20

"The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating and there is no path that can guarantee success" ­- thus begins the Executive Summary of the 'Baker Hamilton Report on Iraq¹ presented to Georg Bush on Wednesday. The barbaric invasion of Iraq, soon approaching its fourth anniversary, is finally being painted in its true colours by a bi-partisan group of seasoned US politicians, intellectuals, ex-military men and jurists.

The 142 page report, that took nine months to complete, recommends radical changes both in military ["No commitment to stay the course, shift priorities from combat to training and withdraw troops gradually"] and diplomatic matters ["Engage Iran and Syria constructively"]. It also makes a couple of points re: the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that "must be settled".

Will Bush and its advisers listen to the recommendations? Will they accept that the Report highlights not only the reality of the situation on the ground, but also reflects the opinion of US citizens as well as public opinion worldwide? Will Bush be persuaded that there is, indeed, no political or military path that can guarantee success for the US plans in the region, and that a full US withdrawal could be completed by 2008?

The IAWM clearly states that this Report is a desperate and defensive attempt by sections of the US political and military elite to avoid an outright debacle for themselves in Iraq and in the wider Middle East region. There is no guarantee that the Bush Administration will take any notice of its recommendations, and may quite likely pigeonhole the Report, as has been the case many times in the past with similar efforts. While we have no doubt that the report will be celebrated in many quarters as a step forward, as anti-war activists we focus unambiguously on the fact that its rationale is purely, as it states "a new way forward for the United States in Iraq and the region".

This Report is not a recipe for the people of the region to assume control of their resources and destiny and to develop the political means to live their lives and run their countries autonomously from the US Empire.

To the extent that the report reflects the strength of opposition of the people of the region and the American public to Bush, it has to be taken on board and examined carefully. To the extent that its recommendations are designed for a more efficient and flexible control of the Middle East by the US it must be assessed as a recipe for a more 'acceptable' hegemony and thus must be opposed politically by all who are against war and imperialism

IAWM Steering Committee
Thursday Dec 7th

by breath-taken Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:18

The really breath-taking thing in this is, the current governments that have assisted
and supported the illegal wars that form the middle east 'road-map' are still in power.
they think that true democracy can be stifled through the print media.
As if Gordon Brown was not involved- who paid the defence budget?

As if Enda Kenny was not involved. The only opposition Party to call a conference
the weekend of the 100,000 anti-war march.
The future administrators of these islands think that we are all fools, and that a
managed 'regime change' will absolve the current administrations.
We should lobby for enquiry into the current government's involvement with Blair and Bush.

One thing, however, FF paid a lip-service to 'neutrality' but FG are right-wing,
pro-Nato, Pro-federal militarisation.

we get to choose between the hapless and the hopeless in the next election.

*No Fine Gael members attended the 100,000 anti-war march in Dublin.*

(unless it was 'personal capacity')

by David Fri Dec 08, 2006 14:20

Heres what the grass roots left are saying in the States.
Still a lot of justified outrage.

by Fred Johnston Fri Dec 08, 2006 17:18 sylfredcar at iolfree dot ie

The current issue of the admirable newspaper, 'The Connaught Telegraph,' carries a full front page article on how the infamous aircraft, 'The Guantanamo Express,' owned by a gent in Houston, Texas, has touched down at Knock Airport. Interesting that no other newspapers here in the West bothered to cover it. Worth getting a copy.