I am glad our top generals are now starting to speak out on this illegal monstrosity and quaqmire Bush and Cheney have lied us into for their war in Iraq.

Bush's pre-emptive strike on Iraq was all about obtaining personal billions$$$ via war profiteering theft of Treasury thru phony war reconstruction contracts handed out to Bush/Cheney's Republican "chosen few", to obtain total control of Iraq's oil, and to help rid the ME of Israel's perceived enemies for Israel's own security -- not ours.

No WMD's, or chem weapons, or al-Qaeda or any of the other crap and lies we were were told was truth and as reason for war but was not. They didn't "misspeak" they LIED.

Bush intends for this "war on terror" continue forever as he fills his and his Republican donors' pockets. They would like nothing more than the war in Iraq and their next war (Iran) to never stop until the USA has been bled dry of its resources, its Treasury, and its military finest be driven by exhaustion into the ground.

There is insurgency and civil war and unrest because BUSH WANTS IT. As long as unrest continues, so does the need for us to be over there and so continues the non-stop flow of "emergency funds" for more phony war profiteering contracts.

Any other "non-connected" persons in the private sector would have been jailed long ago for fraud, theft, and lying in order to steal. Too much proof is out there now for all to see. Anyone who tries to justify Bush's war and keeps their eyes closed is on Bush's side and Bush is not on the side of the U.S. or American citizens.

Terrorists and terrorist cells are destroyed by using intel agencies and it should be handled as an international police matter and thru use of intel agencies like the CIA and FBI -- all sharing evidence. That is how most terrorist cells have been discovered, broken up, and the terrorists jailed.

Using the full might of the U.S. military to go into countries searching for terrorist cells usually always consisting of small numbers of men is like killing six ants with a sledge hammer. Any fool knows this. But then...

Add ANOTHER general to the chorus that says Bush is a moron.

I would have been behind Bush/Cheney's war from the beginning if they had just told the truth. If they had said it's either the U.S. getting our hands on Iraq's oil now or real soon China and/or Russia will control it -- I would have backed Bush 100% on that deal.

Bush could even have said he had an agreement whereby Saddam would step down (quietly pay Saddam off with that $1 billion he wanted from us to get lost and leave Iraq) and we then put in our own favored new dictator -- I would have accepted that too.

I'm not a fool and I'm enough of a realist to know that if we don't control that oil there's a good chance someday soon the real threat to our country -- Communist China -- would. I wouldn't care how many billions U.S. big oil made off the deal either.

It was the lies, the almost 4000 dead of our military troops, the unnecessary 600,000 dead Iraqi civilians and -- the preplanned theft of billions from our U.S. Treasury -- that has turned America against this Administration.

Bush and Cheney should have had more trust in the American people. We're not stupid. If they had only told the truth from the beginning -- we need that Iraq oil for us and to keep our enemies from getting it first -- America would have backed Bush and Cheney all the way. But they didn't.

Now, we'll just sit back and wait for the righties to come and say how yet another commanding general in Iraq is all wrong. LOL

I am glad our top generals are now starting to speak out on this illegal monstrosity and quaqmire Bush and Cheney have lied us into for their war in Iraq.

No WMD's, or chem weapons, or al-Qaeda or any of the other crap and lies we were were told was truth and as reason for war but was not. They didn't "misspeak" they LIED.

Posted by CalifChris at 2007-10-12 08:18 PM |

Damm, if I didnt know better I would have thought that Danni was writing this crap.

Just like I always ask Danni but never get an answer, where is your evidence of these accusations?

You are making claims that Bust lied to get us into this war, yet even Gore and the rest of the left were saying the exact same thing. You are making claims this it was all over the oil, well where the hell is it?

Again you have no proof of this other than you hate Bush with every fiber of your being. By proof I do not mean some liberal rag you call a news paper or moveon.org. Those are nothing more than the opinions of more lefties who hate bush.

I'm gonna help you out on this one. You can not provide evidence of your accusations because it does not exist. If there really was proof, this congress would have moved for impeachment, if for no other reason than to get revenge from slick willy being impeached.

I am not defending Bush and Cheany, what I am saying is that you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. I guess that is unless the libs dont like you.

I don't understand. From reading the lefties on the DR, I was led to believe Sanchez was at the very least a flunky of the administration; at worst, a war criminal, on whose watch the Abu Gharib scandal took place.

Ah well. Just like the Greenspan thread two weeks ago--the libs on the Drudge Retort can be counted on to reflexively post anything critical of Bush, irrespective of the source.

Does make you kinda wonder if the liberals might be right on a couple of things, though. Could be that the Muslims are simply too backward to adopt a liberal democracy. And it makes you wonder--if the US military can't subdue a couple of renegade dustbin provinces, what chance would we have against someone who really knew what they were doing? A North Korea or a China, for example?

Sorry, rightwinging Bushlovers -- the truth hurts when it smacks you up the side of the head, doesn't it.

RIR - lack of comprehension? Sanchez backed the Admin. He was a Soldier. He's out now, and he's saying what he didn't say while in Uniform. What do you think is most likely? He was honest then, or he's honest now?

Come on - say it like a Right Wing Trooper:

General Sanchez is just another phony Soldier.

Any pragmatic person can see that Iraq is a mess. Sanchez is only the last in a long line of generals who've served in Iraq that have said the same thing. Pragmatic generals warned of every single thing that's occured the last 4 1/2 years before the first shot was fired.

If Bush is you righties idea of a 'good' president, I'd sure hate to see what your idea of a 'bad' president is. I doubt America would survive THAT one. We'll be lucky if the next one can undo SOME of the damage this moron has heaped on America. Thanks for nothing but a mess.

BRILLIANT! WATSON!

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CLUE?

"And it makes you wonder--if the US military can't subdue a couple of renegade dustbin provinces, what chance would we have against someone who really knew what they were doing? A North Korea or a China, for example?"

It depends on what the mission is and who our CIC is.

Can we force Chinese and North Korean people to think like us? No. You don't go to war with people to persuade them to follow an ideology. That is incredibily stupid.

Can we win wars when led by people who can't be bothered to do the proper research or formulate a complete plan? No. Garbage leadership guarantees failure.

If we actually had a reason to fight China or North Korea, one that negates any concerns over the opinions of enemy civilians, could we win a war against them? We certainly could.

The fact that the mission in Iraq has morphed into this touchy-feeling "Iraqi freedom" nonsense and the people who conceived and "planned" the war are ignorant, lazy and arrogant are the reasons why it is a mess beyond redemption.

No way! I just heard on Limbaugh today how we're "winning" in Iraq. I guess this phony Sanchez dude didn't listen. I bet he hasn't even been to Iraq.

Another dammed phoney soldier!

You'd think the army would do a better job at screening out all these girly men liberals.

Why do our Generals hate America?

Mission Accomplished!
Last Throes!!
Osama, Dead or Alive!!

It won't be long till this ex General is dehumanized by Rush, Billy O and every republican.

Seems yall missed this sentence.

" Sanchez went on to offer a pessimistic view on the current U.S. strategy against extremists will make lasting gains, but said a full-scale withdrawal also was not an option."

Since the man hasn't been there in a few years, I'll place more confidence in those that are there now.

I've noticed I don't see nearly as many articles casting Iraq in a negative context here today as I've seen here in the past.

Nor do I hear rabid dems (Murtha, Pelosi, Reid, Kerry, Kennedy etc. etc.) calling for retreat. Why is that?

Good catch, LOU.

We did make miscalculations throughout the earlier phases in a post-Saddam country. And we've been paying for that ever since.

No one is suggesting there is a quick fix. Our culture's "now" mindset doesn't mix well with longer struggles.

I'll answer your stupid question, LOU.
Dems aren't calling for a retreat because we aren't at war with Iraq; one cannot retreat from a country one occupies. Since we are now an occupying force (at least as long as it takes to build our super-fortress-cum-embassy), and have been one ever since the fall of Saddam, not much has changed. So, your broadswipe at Sanchez, suggesting he is out-of-touch with current conditions is quite laughable. But do try again.

Now, at long last but far too late, there is an almost constant release of previously withheld information about the rationale for the pre-emptive and unilateral war of choice in Iraq and, as here, its incompetent prosecution.

This country is now in a situation in Iraq where there are only bad options left but the reality is that we were in deep trouble the moment Bush gained the presidency. 9/11 allowed the creators of the PNAC agenda who came with his presidency to gain the upper hand over Powell's State Department and the CIA and get the Iraq war they saw as so necessary to American interests. So a frightened nation that allowed an enabling media not to question the shift of focus from Al Qaeda, OBL and Afghanistan to Iraq killed off whatever hope there was that a Bush presidency limited to four years would just lead to economic and social disasters confined mostly within these shores.

The one thing Bush has got right is that, one way or another, his successors will be dealing with his Iraq disaster -- he doesn't call it that, of course -- for years to come. A Florida vote count manipulated to a 437 or whatever Bush majority and expediently ratified by a partisan SCOTUS gave us all this. It's a matter of opinion whether the punishment fits the crime. Biblically, it certainly does which is perhaps appropriate seeing where so many of Bush's votes come from.

Biblically, it certainly does which is perhaps appropriate seeing where so many of Bush's votes come from.

Posted by BlueInBushland at 2007-10-13 09:50 AM

Are you able to cite the Book or books, chapter and verse's that lead you to make such a statement? Please don't neglect citing enough evidence (books, chapeter and verse)to provide context.

Thank you.

Hey NEOCON Ass Clowns,

The Gen Said The War Was Fucked From The Word Go !!

The "Current" Plan Is Fucked !!

That The Entire Mission In Iraq Is Fucked !!

The Reason For The So Called Surge Was To Give The Iraq Government "Breathing Room" So They Could Pass Laws That Would Settle Issues In The Country And Have The Iraq Military Take Over.

So Give Me A Fucking Break, This Is A Civil War !!

How Many Al Quaeda Are in Iraq ? Do You Guys Have The Balls To Answer?

-Sarge

How Many Al Quaeda Are in Iraq ? Do You Guys Have The Balls To Answer?

-Sarge

Posted by Sarge at 2007-10-13 10:25 AM


I don't know, do you? I hope fewer than there were a few months ago. What do you hope for?

I also hope you aren't spitting all overself while your typing your rage, though something tells me you might be.

The man say's full scale withdrawl isn't an option. Do you agree or disagree with his assessment?

He must be another one of them there phony soldiers.

I wouldn't call him a phony soldier, but a few things seem pretty obvious. He's lost faith and his attitude isn't one that would be helpful in the further necessity to engage the Iraq sitution he readily admits can not be disengaged.

Thank you.

Posted by Lou_Dobbs


I watch Lou Dobbs on CNN, and you, sir, are no Lou Dobbs.

General Sanchez, better late than never, I guess. How long before the Hannity, and Limbaugh crowd start questioning the Patriotism of the great american hero? I guess in the internet age we will have our history sooner than in the past. We will not have to wait gernations to find out what the hell went wrong, thank god for the internet.

To you on the right...How many Generals have now come out or been fired by this administration for questioning the CHOICE of this administration to go to war? Will you now question there Patroitism, like you did the Democrats that ask that this War not happen!!!!

History is not on the side of War mongers, and history is happening now...These Chickenhawks will have all of American history to be scorned by future generations for there folly, If not Impeachment than I guess we will have to accept that as punishment for this most inept Administration of our History!!!!

I watch Lou Dobbs on CNN, and you, sir, are no Lou Dobbs.

Posted by CLINTONISKING at 2007-10-13 10:42 AM |


True. And neither you, sir, nor clinton, are kings.

"Neither you or Clinton are kings...."

Gets to the nub. Out of all American presidents, ever, the current one is the most royalist in orientation.

Clinton was not king, quite right. Now state the same about Bush.

History is not on the side of War mongers, and history is happening now...These Chickenhawks will have all of American history to be scorned by future generations for there folly, If not Impeachment than I guess we will have to accept that as punishment for this most inept Administration of our History!!!!

Posted by celisary at 2007-10-13 10:43 AM |


Funny, I don't see a solution in there anywhere.

When will anti Iraq war people offer some solutions instead of only blame.

Even this General admits withdrawl isn't an option.

"The American military finds itself in an intractable situation ... America has no choice but to continue our efforts in Iraq," said Sanchez

"When will anti-war people offer solutions....?"

Partition Iraq and give the Kurds the country they want. They'll be excellent friends, and we assure at least one-half Iraqi oil.

Tell me you haven't heard that one. By the way, George Bush is to blame. No one else.

Clinton was not king, quite right. Now state the same about Bush.

Posted by Zed at 2007-10-13 10:58 AM |


Bush is not King. But if you believe he is then you can only conclude the Democrat congress was in charge of and continues the coronation.

By the way, if you're qoing to place words in quotation marks please make certain they're the actual words.

It's good manners to do so.

I believe that he believes he is. Or maybe you think he thinks he's just First Citizen. That was the title Augustus liked.

But you do raise an interesting point. I'd pretty much bring the troops home now. The ensuing chaos won't be materially different from the chaos we've come to know and love.

"It's good manners to do so...."

Thanks, Emily.

By the way, George Bush is to blame. No one else.

Posted by Zed at 2007-10-13 11:02 AM |


I'm not going to spar with an unarmed victim. When you grow a brain, let me know.

"When you grow a brain...."

Actually, I was hoping the Wizard would give me one. Want to come along? As a Wizard, he may well have two of them.

There was never a war that was more the production of one man's unfettered and unlettered ego than Iraq. Bush, Bush, Bush, Bush----Keep repeating the name until the sound of it is just as meaningless as the man.

Those who served in the Military:
Democrats:
Sen. Bob Kerry...Medal Of Honor...Vietnam. Sen.Daniel Inouye...Medal of Honor...WWII
Rep. Jack Murtha...37 Years Marine Corps
Sen. John Kerry...Silver Star, Bronze Star an 3 awards of the Purple Heart (Remember Him?)
Vice-Pres. Al Gore...Vietnam January 1971
Sen. Tom Daschle...U.S. Air Force 1969-72
Rep. David Bonior...U.S. Air Force 1968-72
Rep. Richard Gephardt...Air national Guard
Sen Jim Webb...U.S. Marines...Navy Cross, The Silver Star, 2 Bronze Star an 2 Purple Hearts.
Rep. Charles Rangel...Bronze Star ..Korean War
Sen. Max Cleland...Silver Star, Bronze Star, triple amputee...Vietnam
Sen. Ted Kennedy...U.S.Army...1951-53
Wesley Clark...38 Years U.S. Army

Those who did not serve in the Military:
Republicians:
Pres. Gorge W. Bush...Air Guard (?????????????)
Vice President Cheney..."Had other priorities than military service"
Sen. Mitch McConnell...Did Not Serve
Sen. Trent Lott........Did Not Serve
Sen. Jon Kyl...........Did Not Serve
Sen. John Ensign.......Did Not Serve
Rep. John Boehner......Did Not Serve
Rep. Roy Blunt.........Did Not Serve
Rep. Dennis Hastert....Did Not Serve
Rep. Dick Army.........Did Not Serve
Rep. Tom DeLay.........Did Not Serve
Sen. Bill Frist........Did Not Serve
Gov. Jeb Bush..........Did Not Serve
Karl Rove..............Did Not Serve
Rep. Newt Gingrich.....Did Not Serve

Next time you Morons on the Right question the Democratic leadership check the list do you ignorant fucks see a trend here??????? These Democrats had seen battle and know what its about unlike the chickenhawks that represent your interest, not having seen military service the Republicians seem easy to send other kids to fight and die in a war of CHOICE!!!!!! Truly, have you and your Party have no SHAME!!!!!!

Solution:

Bring troops home, strengthen national DEFENSE, pour money into Research and development of alternative fuels, strengthen diplomatic ties, investigate and punish the war criminals restoring faith in the justice system, strengthen civil liberties and the morale of the people making America the beacon of FREEDOM it was meant to be.

The blood of Iraqis is on the Right's hands. If they want their own nation, they are gonna have to take it themselves. They can blame the republicunts for disrupting what stability they had before you guys started getting boners for war.

"LOU DOBBS"....Your President has created such a mess that your side may be right, there ARE no good choices. Now you clowns want the democrats to be put in the situation of getting us out or else it will be thier war, slick but no chance!!!!!You want solutions , how about just leaving and let them decide thier fate. You don't like that answer how about three seperate states with one centeral weak goverment head in Bagdad? Oh, you don't like that one, well hell you don't want answers you want us to stay forever. Well O.K. How many kids do you have to sacrafice for this effort????? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!!

If there is a god, and if there is a judgement after this life, then bush and cheney are pretty much toast.

Next time you Morons on the Right question the Democratic leadership check the list do you ignorant fucks see a trend here???????

Celery: Do you work in the San Joaquin Valley in the summer?????????? I see you do a very nice job of cherry picking!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When will anti Iraq war people offer some solutions instead of only blame.

Posted by Lou_Dobbs

How rightous you are. It is very simple. This war is like most americans, spending and running up their credit card debt until it becomes an insurmountable problem. The only way to stop the problem from getting worse is to stop spending. The debt remains and you have to clean it up little by little or declare bankruptcy and have a whole new set of problems. The difference is that with credit cards there are pre-set limits so that someone irresponsible has to stop at a certain point. With the Iraq war, there is no limit and our incompetent ands irresponsible president will continue to dig us into a deeper and deeper hole.

BTW after offering that pessimistic view, Sanchez went on to say "The American military finds itself in an intractable situation ... America has no choice but to continue our efforts in Iraq," said Sanchez, who works as a consultant training U.S. generals"

Typical of a moron. Though the situation is intractable, lets keep on doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

Geezer says....."How rightous you are"

You assume much.

I'm simply pointing to the reality this general readily admits. No amount of blame will change it.






" Sanchez went on to offer a pessimistic view on the current U.S. strategy against extremists will make lasting gains, but said a full-scale withdrawal also was not an option."




"The American military finds itself in an intractable situation ... America has no choice but to continue our efforts in Iraq," said Sanchez

Ray, what dictionary are you using? I've never read the word Intractable to be defined as impossible.

Lou
Intractable means difficult to manage. That was an understatement.

I didn't suggest impossible. A pullout is always possible. A military victory is certainly impossible.

Apologists follow every government failure with the excuse that not enough was done to produce the desired result. With perfect hindsight they argue we should have done this or that. I've seen Sanchez' excuse used over and over again to make excuses for policies that had no chance of succeeding, or worse, producing negative results.

It's leading to an excuse to expand the war in the ME. Worse to come.

chris sez-"That is how most terrorist cells have been discovered, broken up, and the terrorists jailed." Killed not jailed Chris. Anyway,Thanks George and Dick for the Juicy contract work after the military . Best Regards

GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE THIS BUT I AM GLAD TO BE HERE. WHEN SIG ASKED ME IF I WOULD CONSIDER ADDRESSING YOU THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT I SHOULD COME INTO THE LION'S DEN. THIS WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HAVE FIRMLY BELIEVED SINCE DESERT SHIELD THAT IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY THAT THE MILITARY AND THE PRESS CORPS MAINTAIN A STRONG, MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL AND ENABLING RELATIONSHIP. THIS CONTINUES TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR OUR COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES OF WAR. ONE OF THE GREATEST MILITARY CORRESPONDENTS OF OUR TIME, JOE GALLOWAY, MADE ME A BELIEVER WHEN HE JOINED THE 24TH INFANTRY DIVISION DURING DESERT STORM.

TODAY, I WILL ATTEMPT TO DO TWO THINGS - FIRST I WILL GIVE YOU MY ASSESSMENT OF THE MILITARY AND PRESS RELATIONSHIP AND THEN I WILL PROVIDE YOU SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR WAR EFFORT. AS ALL OF YOU KNOW I HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES WITH OUR NATIONS MILITARY WRITERS AND EDITORS. THERE ARE SOME IN YOUR RANKS WHO I CONSIDER TO BE THE EPITOME OF JOURNALISTIC PROFESSIONALISM - JOE GALLOWAY, THOM SHANKER, SIG CHRISTENSEN, AND JOHN BURNS IMMEDIATELY COME TO MIND. THEY EXEMPLIFY WHAT AMERICA SHOULD DEMAND OF OUR JOURNALISTS - TOUGH REPORTING THAT RELIES UPON INTEGRITY, OBJECTIVITY AND FAIRNESS TO GIVE ACCURATE AND THOROUGH ACCOUNTS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND IN TURN OUR DEMOCRACY. ON THE OTHER HAND, UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE ISSUED ULTIMATUMS TO SOME OF YOU FOR UNSCRUPULOUS REPORTING THAT WAS SOLELY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING YOUR AGENDA AND PRECONCIEVED NOTIONS OF WHAT OUR MILITARY HAD DONE. I ALSO REFUSED TO TALK TO THE EUROPEAN STARS AND STRIPES FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS OF MY COMMAND IN GERMANY FOR THEIR EXTREME BIAS AND SINGLE MINDED FOCUS ON ABU GHARAIB.

LET ME REVIEW SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE MADE MY PERSONAL INTERFACES WITH THE PRESS CORPS DIFFICULT:

"DICTATORIAL AND SOMEWHAT DENSE",

"NOT A STRATEGIC THOUGHT",

LIAR,

"DOES NOT GET IT" AND

THE MOST INEXPERIENCED LTG.

IN SOME CASES I HAVE NEVER EVEN MET YOU, YET YOU FEEL QUALIFIED TO MAKE CHARACTER JUDGMENTS THAT ARE COMMUNICATED TO THE WORLD. MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE AND WE CAN FIND OTHER EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE TREATMENT OF SECRETARY BROWN DURING KATRINA. THIS IS THE WORST DISPLAY OF JOURNALISM IMAGINABLE BY THOSE OF US THAT ARE BOUND BY A STRICT VALUE SYSTEM OF SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR AND INTEGRITY. ALMOST INVARIABLY, MY PERCEPTION IS THAT THE SENSATIONALISTIC VALUE OF THESE ASSESSMENTS IS WHAT PROVIDED THE EDGE THAT YOU SEEK FOR SELF AGRANDIZEMENT OR TO ADVANCE YOUR INDIVIDUAL QUEST FOR GETTING ON THE FRONT PAGE WITH YOUR STORIES! AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOUR MEASURE OF WORTH IS HOW MANY FRONT PAGE STORIES YOU HAVE WRITTEN AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF YOU WILL COMPROMISE YOUR INTEGRITY AND DISPLAY QUESTIONABLE ETHICS AS YOU SEEK TO KEEP AMERICA INFORMED. THIS IS MUCH LIKE THE INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS WAS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF INTELLIGENCE REPORTS HE PRODUCED. FOR SOME, IT SEEMS THAT AS LONG AS YOU GET A FRONT PAGE STORY THERE IS LITTLE OR NO REGARD FOR THE "COLLATERAL DAMAGE" YOU WILL CAUSE. PERSONAL REPUTATIONS HAVE NO VALUE AND YOU REPORT WITH TOTAL IMPUNITY AND ARE RARELY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR UNETHICAL CONDUCT.

GIVEN THE NEAR INSTANTANEOUS ABILITY TO REPORT ACTIONS ON THE GROUND, THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACCURATELY AND TRUTHFULLY REPORT TAKES ON AN UNPRECEDENTED IMPORTANCE. THE SPECULATIVE AND OFTEN UNINFORMED INITIAL REPORTING THAT CHARACTERIZES OUR MEDIA APPEARS TO BE RAPIDLY BECOMING THE STANDARD OF THE INDUSTRY. AN ARAB PROVERB STATES - "Four things come not back: the spoken word, the spent arrow, the past, the neglected opportunity." ONCE REPORTED, YOUR ASSESSMENTS BECOME CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AND NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE. OTHER MAJOR CHALLENGES ARE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE MANIPULATED BY "HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS" WHO LEAK STORIES AND BY LAWYERS WHO USE HYPERBOLE TO STRENGHTEN THEIR ARGUMENTS. YOUR UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCURATELY AND PROMINENTLY CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES AND YOUR AGENDA DRIVEN BIASES CONTRIBUTE TO THIS CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENT. ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES COMBINED CREATE A MEDIA ENVIRONMENT THAT DOES A TREMENDOUS DISSERVICE TO AMERICA. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS WAR TACTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS HAVE BECOME STRATEGIC DEFEATS FOR AMERICA BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS POWER AND IMPACT OF THE MEDIA AND BY EXTENSION YOU THE JOURNALIST. IN MANY CASES THE MEDIA HAS UNJUSTLY DESTROYED THE INDIVIDUAL REPUTATIONS AND CAREERS OF THOSE INVOLVED. WE REALIZE THAT BECAUSE OF THE NEAR REAL TIME REPORTING ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU FACE IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPORT ACCURATELY. IN MY BUSINESS ONE OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS IS THAT "THE FIRST REPORT IS ALWAYS WRONG." UNFORTUNATELY, IN YOUR BUSINESS "THE FIRST REPORT" GIVES AMERICANS WHO RELY ON THE SNIPPETS OF CNN, IF YOU WILL, THEIR "TRUTHS" AND PERSPECTIVES ON AN ISSUE. AS A COROLLARY TO THIS DEADLINE DRIVEN NEED TO PUBLISH "INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OR OBSERVATIONS" VERSUS OBJECTIVE FACTS THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE FOR US WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF YOUR REPORTING. WHEN YOU ASSUME THAT YOU ARE CORRECT AND ON THE MORAL HIGH GROUND ON A STORY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RESPOND TO QUESTIONS YOU PROVIDED IS THE ULTIMATE ARROGANCE AND DISTORTION OF ETHICS. ONE OF YOUR HIGHLY REPECTED FELLOW JOURNALISTS ONCE TOLD ME THAT THERE ARE SOME AMONGST YOU WHO "FEED FROM A PIG'S TROUGH." IF THAT IS WHO I AM DEALING WITH THEN I WILL NEVER RESPOND OTHERWISE WE WILL BOTH GET DIRTY AND THE PIG WILL LOVE IT. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR STORY IS ACCURATE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS INTENDED. THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS STATES:
...PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT IS THE FORERUNNER OF JUSTICE AND THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY. THE DUTY OF THE JOURNALIST IS TO FURTHER THOSE ENDS BY SEEKING TRUTH AND PROVIDING A FAIR AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF EVENTS AND ISSUES. CONSCIENTIOUS JOURNALISTS FROM ALL MEDIA AND SPECIALTIES STRIVE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH THOROUGHNESS AND HONESTY. PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF A JOURNALIST'S CREDIBILITY

THE BASIC ETHICS OF A JOURNALIST THAT CALLS FOR:

1. SEEKING TRUTH,

2. PROVIDING FAIR AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF EVENTS AND ISSUES

3. THOROUGHNESS AND HONESTY

ALL ARE VICTIMS OF THE MASSIVE AGENDA DRIVEN COMPETITION FOR ECONOMIC OR POLITICAL SUPREMACY. THE DEATH KNELL OF YOUR ETHICS HAS BEEN ENABLED BY YOUR PARENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH POLITICAL AGENDAS. WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT YOU ARE PERPETUATING THE CORROSIVE PARTISAN POLITICS THAT IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY AND KILLING OUR SERVICEMEMBERS WHO ARE AT WAR.

MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT YOUR PROFESSION, TO SOME EXTENT, HAS STRAYED FROM THESE ETHICAL STANDARDS AND ALLOWED EXTERNAL AGENDAS TO MANIPULATE WHAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SEES ON TV, WHAT THEY READ IN OUR NEWSPAPERS AND WHAT THEY SEE ON THE WEB. FOR SOME OF YOU, JUST LIKE SOME OF OUR POLITICIANS, THE TRUTH IS OF LITTLE TO NO VALUE IF IT DOES NOT FIT YOUR OWN PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS, BIASES AND AGENDAS.

IT IS ASTOUNDING TO ME WHEN I HEAR THE VEHEMENT DISAGREEMENT WITH THE MILITARY'S FORAYS INTO INFORMATION OPERATIONS THAT SEEK TO DISSEMINATE THE TRUTH AND INFORM THE IRAQI PEOPLE IN ORDER TO COUNTER OUR ENEMY'S BLATANT PROPAGANDA. AS I ASSESS VARIOUS MEDIA ENTITIES, SOME ARE UNQUESTIONABLY ENGAGED IN POLITICAL PROPAGANDA THAT IS UNCONTROLLED. THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT THE STRENGTH OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR FREEDOMS REMAIN LINKED TO YOUR ABILITY TO EXERCISE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS - I ADAMANTLY SUPPORT THIS BASIC FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND COMPLETELY SUPPORTED THE EMBEDDING OF MEDIA INTO OUR FORMATIONS UP UNTIL MY LAST DAY IN UNIFORM. THE ISSUE IS ONE OF MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND STANDARDS FROM WITHIN YOUR INSTITUTION. MILITARY LEADERS MUST ACCEPT THAT THESE INJUSTICES WILL HAPPEN AND WHETHER THEY LIKE WHAT YOU PRINT OR NOT THEY MUST DEAL WITH YOU AND ENABLE YOU, IF YOU ARE AN ETHICAL JOURNALIST.

FINALLY, I WILL LEAVE THIS SUBJECT WITH A QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK OURSELVES--WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ETHICAL STANDARDS OF THE PROFESSION IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY DOES NOT CONTINUE TO BE THREATENED BY THIS DANGEROUS SHIFT AWAY FROM YOUR SACRED DUTY OF PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT

.........Truth ?......the first casualty of this war......

.....Ron Paul was on the Daily Show last night.....

.......he said lets get out of Iraq and let the Iraqis sort it out..........

..........agreed.........

intractable -Perverse, headstrong, dogged, obdurate, stony, willful, froward. 1, 2. fractious, refractory, unbending, inflexible, adamant, unyielding

In Other Words I-R-A-Q

-Sarge

Lou
The burden of ethical standards belongs to the consuming public.
It goes far in explaining why mainstream news sources are losing out to the Internet.

Funny, this article doesn't mention the words above that this general also rendered.

Who'da thunk?

Dobbs: A big 'hallelujah' for American voters
POSTED: 10:13 a.m. EST, November 10, 2006


Editor's Note: Lou Dobbs' commentary appears weekly on CNN.com.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Hallelujah, brothers and sisters. I'm not even sure what "hallelujah" means, but the word just feels right after witnessing what is at the very least an awakening of the power of the people. I'm hopeful that November 7 was also a declaration that middle-class Americans won't be taken for granted by either political party.

This midterm election was a victory for the Democratic Party. Voters rejected the Republican Party out of hand and gave the Senate and the House of Representatives to the Democrats.

THANKS Lou Dobbs You Are The Man!!!!

Opposed to This "Phony Lou Dobbs" that Post here on the Drudge Retort.

-Sarge

Opposed to This "Phony Lou Dobbs" that Post here on the Drudge Retort.

-Sarge



Posted by Sarge at 2007-10-13 01:08 PM |


Coming from a could be Phony Sarge, I give your rants little thought.

Do you agree or disagree with the General's, general, assessment of the media?

Coming from a could be Phony Sarge, I give your rants little thought.

Lou,

Please Give Me A Break About The Media, Fuck The Media It is Owned by GE and Westinghouse Any Fucking Way. I Deal With Facts Not Fucking Conjecture !! The Media Will Always Look For The Train Wreck, The Burning Building, The Kitten In The Damn Tree, The Worse Case and Disaster Sells. It Always Has And Always Will.

I have 25 Years Of Military Service I'm A Combat Vet, Far From Phony. Now I want to Thank You For You Joy On the Congressional Election Though !!

A Big 'Hallelujah' for American voters
This midterm election was a victory for the Democratic Party. Voters rejected the Republican Party out of hand and gave the Senate and the House of Representatives to the Democrats
-Lou Dobbs

I Love That Lou Dobbs !!

-Sarge

I see. 2 generals equals THE GENERALs. Like that's some kind of consensus?

Here you are, not long ago.

Lou,

I Agree with "All" he has Stated it would be A Nightmare any other way.


Posted by Sarge at 2007-10-13 11:57 AM

You see, it's hard to take you seriously when you post that you agree with his assessment that withdrawl is not an option and then, less than 2 hours later post as you do above.

Are you menstruating?

Lou,

I have "Never" supported an Immediate Withdrawal, their is No Way it could happen. I like the Generals Say It is "No Military Answer" to Iraq.

So Your Point?

These are not the only Generals that do not Support this War and you know it!!

-Sarge

Lou,

I Agree with "All" he has Stated it would be A Nightmare any other way.

Posted by Sarge at 2007-10-13 11:57 AM

I guess you did not read that Post.

-Sarge

I guess you did not read that Post.

-Sarge

Posted by Sarge at 2007-10-13 01:58 PM |


I read it. You come in clear as a bell. Just not the bell you think you're ringing.

Time to do other things.

Good day.

This Is what He Said Lou:

"Sanchez went on to offer a pessimistic view on the current U.S. strategy against extremists will make lasting gains, but said a full-scale withdrawal also was not an option"

Just Like The Cook and Liars That You NEOCONS Are You Want To Change And Spin The Facts and the Truth !!!

What A Fucking Liar You Are He "NEVER" Stated:

"You see, it's hard to take you seriously when you post that you agree with his assessment that withdrawl is not an option"


Give It Up Lou And Change Your Name, I Know Lou Dobbs and Sir You Are "No" Lou Dobbs !!

-Sarge

Given how badly we have already fucked over the Iraqi peopls over the last four years, could it really be that much worse if we simply pulled out to tomorrow. (oh, that's right. Stupid me. If we pull out tomorrow we lose the upper hand on the oil which we have sacrificed so much to gain.)

Time to do other things.

Good day.

Posted by Lou_Dobbs at 2007-10-13 02:03 PM


Thank You And Your Silly Fucking Bell Please Keep Ringing It Maybe You Might Hear The Right Tone !!

-Sarge

WOW a GENERAL that talks after he leaves the service...i wonder what the title of his book will be "I COULD HAVE HAD A BETTER PLAN"... where is his sacrifice...if he truely beileves in what he is saying...why not speak up while in uniform and go to congress and the media and make his case...instead of waiting and retireing while our brothers and sisters are dying on the front line...is the pension worth the wait???? sad sad sad...these generals disappoint me

Why don't we just nuke the place and get it over with? We should still be able to get the oil right? Hell there are tours of the chernobil (sp) site now.
I have done 4 deployments to that sandy area and I don't want to do another one.

I am not defending Bush and Cheany, what I am saying is that you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. I guess that is unless the libs dont like you.

Posted by sickoflibs at 2007-10-13 12:13 AM | Reply | Flag:

"I am not defending Bush and Cheany"

BWAAAHAAHAAAHAAHAHAHA.

NO! Nothing like that.

I am not defending Bush and Cheany, what I am saying is that you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty.

What are your feelings on "Gitmo", sickoflibs? Somehow I doubt if your generosity toward Bush and Cheney extends to the people held their without charge for years.

Does anyone know how to get a hold of Mel Brooks?

I have a great idea for his next blockbuster Hollywood movie- A parody of the entire Iraq War from Hans Blix to the largest embASSay ever built!

I think I can come up with 30 pages of material that would be side splittingly funny without much effort!

Saddam with a glued on mustache that keeps trying to come off... etc. etc.

Jim Carrey as President Bush!

Easy Pickin's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again you have no proof of this other than you hate Bush with every fiber of your being. By proof I do not mean some liberal rag you call a news paper or moveon.org. Those are nothing more than the opinions of more lefties who hate bush.

I'm gonna help you out on this one. You can not provide evidence of your accusations because it does not exist. If there really was proof, this congress would have moved for impeachment, if for no other reason than to get revenge from slick willy being impeached.

I am not defending Bush and Cheany, what I am saying is that you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. I guess that is unless the libs dont like you.
Posted by sickoflibs

And I guess by your thought process OJ is innocent also.

SARGE...so you are saying that its better for a general to retire than to speak out in uniform...because money is more important than lives

let me remind you that we have had general in the past that spoke out to the public about directions of war...and they were fired... the generals name is mcauther....so its posible to speak out in uniform...it might not be the right thing to do....but its the generals duty to his men to see that when fighting wars that they have a voice....not to sit and wait for his retirement.....the generals actions alone show his immediate concern....where is his sacrific (generals do not normally die on battlefields)....his sacrific should be to his men is to his men

nothing i mean nothing will perk up my ears more... than a general denoucing the war in uniform....but it seem that the general that speak up are usually retired and are working on a book (not surprising)...and these generals speak with passion not action....it does not bother them really that our troop were dying while they were writing their books waiting for retirment....it hard for me to see their anguish of the war....these generals concern are not genuine...so why listen...unless you are antiwar or partisan

Judas,

You are "Preaching To The Choir" the Legal line is the Issues, the only reason Mac was not Court Marshalled was because he was A War Hero, any Lesser General would have fallen victim to Article 88. I have spoken to several Generals which I personally know and they stay in their position to fight Behind The Curtains and not in the Public Eye.

-Sarge

"GOATMAN"...Exactly what do you object from the list, these are all well known leaders from both parties, all in leadership roles when this war started. Once again you all attack the messenger. I find it funny that you and your elk always use racial remarks when trying to defend yourselves. "Cherry Picker", is that the same words that youall used in the 50's and 60's, or no that was COTTON PICKERS, you RACIST prick................

ITS SMALL SACRIFICE FOR SOMETHING A GENERAL BELIEVES IN...ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR TROOPS ARE DYING ON THE FRONT LINES....THIS GENERAL IS SAYING SOMETHING AFTER THE FACT....AND WHEN IT BENIFITS HIM.....IF HE TRUELY FEELS HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING HE SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN UP THEN NOT NOW...AMERICANS RUN THIS COUNTRY....NOT GENERALS AND NOT POLITICANS....HIS SLIENCE AND PLAYING BEHIND CURTAINS DOES NOT BENIFIT OUR TROOPS...I HOPE HIS PENSION CHECK CAN BUY HIM PEACE