What, you think applying more force isn't going to make this better or something?

Everyone in the Mideast is counting on the soft Americans to fold up their tents and leave. Only problem is they are facing a President who will not fold - period. Just when it seems that everyone is saying quit - he steps it up. Then the insurgent violence goes up a notch too. All these Mid East wacko leaders suddenly start making statements to the world and on and on. . .
Hmm. Just an observation.

Thats bull, if he wanted to "step it up" he would have sent more than 20,000 troops. We are going from 130,000 troops to 150,000, not much of a difference. If he sent 100,000 I wouldn't be happy but I would at least see his point, but I don't get 20,000.

Well 20,000 is like a 15 % or so increase - not a negligible increase.
Other Possibilities:
1) certain number needed for a specific task ie: securing Baghdad
2) didn't think he could get anymore
3) doesn't have anymore to spare
4)???

And let the rest of the country rot. I keep my stance.

You know that isn't true. He could have gotten a lot more if he wanted.

Same as before. The troops go in shifts, he has a lot more troops to spare.

Had a look at Iraqi Kurdistan lately, PH? Yeah, sure, big rot there. The place has been a success story since the Northern No-Fly Zone.

Baghdad isn't the only problem, it would be ignorant to think so.

Besides, why would we just put the minimum amount of troops to secure a city? If we overloaded the city with troops, the transition would be a lot easier. There is no good excuse to only send 20,000 troops. Go all out or go home.

Are you talking about 500 or so elected people that are so entrenched in the political scum, you'd play hell trying to dispose of them? Or by government do you mean the millions that occupy those desks, or benchs, or trucks, or tanks, and you can't do a damn thing about? :(

I was referring to the elected officials

Since we're talking about Iraq in a thread about Iran, I thought I'd throw in this recent encouraging news about Afghanistan. Apparently Bush is beginning to realize that if you look like you are losing a war in a country, you better fix it before it's too late. He's focusing new attention on Afghanistan, which hasn't been doing very well lately.

I though I'd post it because it's rare for Bush do do something that makes sense.

From the Washington Post.

Wow! That's pretty cool.

I hope it's not too late. The poppy crop has been harvested and sold, the Taliban(and their ilk) have collected their money and are arming to the teeth.
Do you think they will be dissuaded by new infrastructure? That's the first thing they'll blow up.

Funds for security? What's the plan, bribe the Taliban? Money doesn't make the place more secure, soldiers do. Whether it be military or Blackwater, there has to be boots on the ground to provide security and I haven't heard of the UN peacekeepers being reinforced.

What we should have been doing right along, is providing a way for the locals to make a living with something besides poppies. That would have prevented the Taliban from extorting the profits from the poppy crop to buy arms.

If you want to know the truth about Afghanistan, read a short article called The Perfect Evil by Michael Yon.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

I know, I know, 3 parts, grumble, grumble......trust me, it's not long. :angel:

Here's another piece on Afghanistan, There be Dragons.

And the Canadians, Hiatus Corpus.

Or this pdf War: Canadian Style from the Toronto Star.

And The Long Road Ahead.

No, we should be doing what many radio talking heads have been discussing lately: look deep inside the heart of this great nation and ask "What would Ronald Reagan have done in this situation?"

He would have had the answer. :sniff:

Ronnie Rayguns would have nuked them, I suspect. :tinfoil:

How about doing business in a Virgin Market.

Dasht-E-Margo....Desert of Death.

:eek: did you forget to take your meds?!