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CJ Cregg
Commodore
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 1254
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 Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:50 pm Latest John Kerry Newsletter |
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| Quote: | Dear Supporter,
I have just come back from Iraq. After several months consumed by the campaign trail, I wanted to make contact with our soldiers on the ground there. The first thing I want you to know is that, in very difficult circumstances, our brave soldiers are serving America with enormous skill and great courage.
In the Senate, we have a duty during times like these to hold our Defense Department accountable for the well-being of our troops. It's one of the ways that our democracy makes our military the strongest in the world. And I can't tell you how comforting it is as a soldier to know even if you don't have a say over your own situation, the folks back home do.
I knew our soldiers were still facing hold ups getting the equipment they need, but I wanted to see it for myself. American troops deserve the best gear and equipment we can provide. But adequate vehicle armor remains in short supply.
A soldier who spoke up about these problems was told by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, "you have to go to war with the army you have, not the army you want."1 Well, it's been over two years since Rumsfeld planned this war. And whether he has the army he wants or not, he should at least have basic armor for army vehicles.
I'll say this in the Senate, but I'm asking you to add your voice to mine:
"President Bush, for the sake of our troops, replace Rumsfeld now."
http://www.johnkerry.com/replacerumsfeld
More than 500,000 called for Rumsfeld to resign during the presidential campaign. I'm renewing my call now -- please renew yours too, and forward this email to friends to bring them on board. Add your name to mine here, and add your voice to mine by speaking out in your community as I will do in the US Senate for as long as it takes to remove Secretary Rumsfeld from his post:
http://www.johnkerry.com/replacerumsfeld
It's a question of competence. Poor planning at the Pentagon is letting American soldiers down. According to the National Intelligence Council, the CIA director's think tank, Iraq is now providing the next generation of "professionalized" terrorists with "a training ground, a recruitment ground, [and] the opportunity for enhancing technical skills."2 Our troops need a capable Secretary of Defense. At the very least, they absolutely need that.
I believe that together, the three million of us who worked together on the campaign can help the troops. We not only have a right to speak out against failed Bush policies: we have a duty to defend this country from a President who refuses to recognize the total inadequacy of his own Defense Secretary. That's how democracy works. And that's why America has worked all these years.
The campaign season is over, but our citizenship continues. I know from personal experience that citizens and Senators standing up for the truth can be a powerful combination. Now, with email and the Web as citizenship tools, we can make ourselves heard even more clearly. And I can't tell you how inspired I am that you and I are using these tools to fight side-by-side for the things we believe in.
One more time: please join me in my call for President Bush to fire Donald Rumsfeld. He's the man responsible for the well-being of our troops. He's neglected his duty. He's made excuses. It's time for him to go.
Add your voice to mine in the Senate in calling for President Bush to replace Rumsfeld today.
http://www.johnkerry.com/replacerumsfeld
Thank you,
John Kerry.
_______________________
WHY RUMSFELD HAS TO GO!
1) Rumsfeld Blamed The Troops for Problems in IRAQ
Rumsfeld: "As you know, you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want." [CNN, 12/9/04]
2) Rumsfeld Admitted Bush Administration Was Not Prepared for Iraqi Resistance
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admitted that "I am saying that -- if you had said to me a year ago, 'describe the situation you'll be in today, one year later,' I don't know many people who would have described it -- I would not have described it -- the way it happens to be today. ... I certainly would not have estimated that we would have had the number of individuals lost that we have had lost in the last week." [Rumsfeld News Conference, 4/15/04]
3) Rumsfeld Failed to Equip Troops in Iraq
Army Study Suggests One-Fourth of Casualties in Iraq Could Have Been Prevented If Troops Were Properly-Equipped at Beginning of War. Newsweek reported, "A breakdown of the casualty figures suggests that many U.S. deaths and wounds in Iraq simply did not need to occur. According to an unofficial study by a defense consultant that is now circulating through the Army, of a total of 789 Coalition deaths as of April 15 (686 of them Americans), 142 were killed by land mines or improvised explosive devices, while 48 others died in rocket-propelled-grenade attacks. Almost all those soldiers were killed while in unprotected vehicles, which means that perhaps one in four of those killed in combat in Iraq might be alive if they had had stronger armor around them, the study suggested. Thousands more who were unprotected have suffered grievous wounds, such as the loss of limbs." [Newsweek, 5/3/04]
4) Rumsfeld Failed to Plan for Iraq War
In August 2003, the Joint Chiefs of Staff prepared a secret report assessing the post-war planning for Iraq. The report blamed "setbacks in Iraq on a flawed and rushed war-planning process." It also said "planners were not given enough time" to plan for reconstruction. [Washington Times, 9/3/03]
5) Rumsfeld Failed To Sign Condolence Letters to Families of Soldiers Killed in War on Terror
ABC World News Tonight, "Now on the home front here, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is under fire from some military families and members of the Congress. They're upset that he has used a machine to attach his signature to some letters of condolence. More than a thousand of those letters have been sent to families who have lost sons and daughters in the global war on terror." ABC (Yang) added, "After Ivan Medina's twin brother Irving an Army Specialist was killed in Baghdad last year he got a letter of condolence from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Today, Medina himself a veteran of Iraq said he was angered to learn that Rumsfeld never actually signed the letter or even saw it." Medina: "Our commanders here in the United States who include the President and the Secretary of Defense don't care about the troops. We're just a number to them and that's the wrong message to send back to our troops." Yang: "In a statement Rumsfeld said he used a machine." [ABC World News Tonight, 12/19/04]
Notes:
1. MSNBC, January 13, 2005
2. CNN, December 9, 2004
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Now i wait for the Republicans to attack the letter in some way or another.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Tue Jan 18, 2005 9:28 pm |
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They appear speechless. Go Kerry.
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CJ Cregg
Commodore
Joined: 05 Oct 2002
Posts: 1254
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:15 am |
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Its nice too see that he is still active unlike some other former presidential nominees
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:34 pm |
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1. Are you forgetting Gore? He did a LOT this past election. "He betrayed this country! He played on our fears!" (That was on Iraq, btw, a war that he had supported and a country that he had said we needed to disarm, during and after Clinton's term!)
2. Kerry's over and done with. I'm not going to concern myself with this, despite my disagreements.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:40 pm |
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Yay! Get rid of Rumsfeld. Soooooo signing up. Rumsfeld is a moron. The President was elected by the people to represent us, and the people say get Rumsfeld out.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:41 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | | Yay! Get rid of Rumsfeld. Soooooo signing up. Rumsfeld is a moron. The President was elected by the people to represent us, and the people say get Rumsfeld out. |
I don't agree with that, and I like Rumsfeld. Sometimes the President shouldn't be a demigog, you know 
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:45 pm |
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No, but sometimes he should use his brains and do the smart thing
(AKA:Getting rid of Rumsfeld) .
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:49 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | No, but sometimes he should use his brains and do the smart thing
(AKA:Getting rid of Rumsfeld) . |
But I disagree. Sure, Rumsfeld could have done some things better in Iraq, but he's a good man for the job. I think Bush IS using his brains and doing the smart thing.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:52 pm |
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Yeah he could have done some things better. He could done some vital thing s a hell of a lot better than he did. He needs to get it right, but he repeatedly does stupid things. Time for him to go.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:54 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | | Yeah he could have done some things better. He could done some vital thing s a hell of a lot better than he did. He needs to get it right, but he repeatedly does stupid things. Time for him to go. |
I disagree. Sure, he's made mistakes. But he's good at what he does. He should stay. And he won't go. Otherwise Bush would have gotten rid of him earlier
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:57 pm |
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He is good at what he does!? Are you kidding me???? Did you not even read the post!??! Sheesh, it is clear is is not good at what he does. Iraq has recently made NO progress. Now elections are coming up and could be a disaster.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 6:58 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | | He is good at what he does!? Are you kidding me???? Did you not even read the post!??! Sheesh, it is clear is is not good at what he does. Iraq has recently made NO progress. Now elections are coming up and could be a disaster. |
Yep. It's ALL Rumsfeld's fault. I don't think that all of Kerry's statements are true, and even if they were, I still have high respect for our Secretary of Defense and support him staying in his job.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:00 pm |
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Why don't you think his statements are true. I don't think he ever misled anyone, at least not more than any other politician. Btw, they aren't his statements, they are cited. He is using them to make a case.
More like you don't think his statements are true because he is a Democrat no doubt.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:05 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | Why don't you think his statements are true. I don't think he ever misled anyone, at least not more than any other politician. Btw, they aren't his statements, they are cited. He is using them to make a case.
More like you don't think his statements are true because he is a Democrat no doubt. |
Actually, you are right on some points. I read through the entire thing closely, and I see that what he spoke is the truth (although he's misled us more than most politicians I know ) However, I do not think that the quotes are necessarily the WHOLE truth, and I still believe Rumsfeld is the right man for the job. Unless, of course, say, Powell WERE to step in, but since that won't happen, go with and stay with Rumsfeld.
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:05 pm Re: Latest John Kerry Newsletter |
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WHY RUMSFELD HAS TO GO!
1) Rumsfeld Blamed The Troops for Problems in IRAQ
Rumsfeld: "As you know, you have to go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you want." [CNN, 12/9/04]
Thats not blaming the troops for the problems. You Dem. LOVE to twist words don't ya'll?
2) Rumsfeld Admitted Bush Administration Was Not Prepared for Iraqi Resistance
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admitted that "I am saying that -- if you had said to me a year ago, 'describe the situation you'll be in today, one year later,' I don't know many people who would have described it -- I would not have described it -- the way it happens to be today. ... I certainly would not have estimated that we would have had the number of individuals lost that we have had lost in the last week." [Rumsfeld News Conference, 4/15/04]
Ok? So what? They weren't prepared!? Why didn't they use their powers to see the future!? Bastards!
3) Rumsfeld Failed to Equip Troops in Iraq
Army Study Suggests One-Fourth of Casualties in Iraq Could Have Been Prevented If Troops Were Properly-Equipped at Beginning of War. Newsweek reported, "A breakdown of the casualty figures suggests that many U.S. deaths and wounds in Iraq simply did not need to occur. According to an unofficial study by a defense consultant that is now circulating through the Army, of a total of 789 Coalition deaths as of April 15 (686 of them Americans), 142 were killed by land mines or improvised explosive devices, while 48 others died in rocket-propelled-grenade attacks. Almost all those soldiers were killed while in unprotected vehicles, which means that perhaps one in four of those killed in combat in Iraq might be alive if they had had stronger armor around them, the study suggested. Thousands more who were unprotected have suffered grievous wounds, such as the loss of limbs." [Newsweek, 5/3/04]
Rumsfeld is to blame? Hey everyone! Lets forget that John Kerry voted to not give the army better armor..... 
4) Rumsfeld Failed to Plan for Iraq War
In August 2003, the Joint Chiefs of Staff prepared a secret report assessing the post-war planning for Iraq. The report blamed "setbacks in Iraq on a flawed and rushed war-planning process." It also said "planners were not given enough time" to plan for reconstruction. [Washington Times, 9/3/03]
Yup. Rumsfeld underestimated the enemy. It was only him. Not anyone else. Only him. The Dem. who voted to go to war. Not their fault. Only him.
5) Rumsfeld Failed To Sign Condolence Letters to Families of Soldiers Killed in War on Terror
ABC World News Tonight, "Now on the home front here, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is under fire from some military families and members of the Congress. They're upset that he has used a machine to attach his signature to some letters of condolence. More than a thousand of those letters have been sent to families who have lost sons and daughters in the global war on terror." ABC (Yang) added, "After Ivan Medina's twin brother Irving an Army Specialist was killed in Baghdad last year he got a letter of condolence from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Today, Medina himself a veteran of Iraq said he was angered to learn that Rumsfeld never actually signed the letter or even saw it." Medina: "Our commanders here in the United States who include the President and the Secretary of Defense don't care about the troops. We're just a number to them and that's the wrong message to send back to our troops." Yang: "In a statement Rumsfeld said he used a machine." [ABC World News Tonight, 12/19/04]
Apalling! Because we know that Rumsfeld was the first to do this in the histroy of the gov. Bastard!
Notes:
1. MSNBC, January 13, 2005
2. CNN, December 9, 2004
[/quote]
Now i wait for the Republicans to attack the letter in some way or another.[/quote]
I attacked it. Happy?
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:07 pm |
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Watch the language, but otherwise, Founder, those are VALID and FANTASTIC points. RIGHT ON. It's ALL Rumsfeld. I love how you Libs (yes, you, Kevin) like to twist the words of Republicans. Get 'em out. It's all there fault.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:11 pm Re: Latest John Kerry Newsletter |
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| Founder wrote: |
Thats not blaming the troops for the problems. You Dem. LOVE to twist words don't ya'll?
There is no twisting there....that's what he said....
Ok? So what? They weren't prepared!? Why didn't they use their powers to see the future!? Bastards!
So what they weren't prepared??? That is the dumbest thing I have heard lately...
Rumsfeld is to blame? Hey everyone! Lets forget that John Kerry voted to not give the army better armor.....
He sure did, but now he is fighting for them. As RM would put it...so he made a mistake...everyone makes mistakes." :roll
Yup. Rumsfeld underestimated the enemy. It was only him. Not anyone else. Only him. The Dem. who voted to go to war. Not their fault. Only him.
Were the dems the ones planning the war?....doubtful...
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:15 pm |
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| Quote: | | There is no twisting there....that's what he said.... |
Actually, it is. If you read or watched all of it, there was more to it. I liked his response.
| Quote: | | [b] So what they weren't prepared??? That is the dumbest thing I have heard lately... |
He meant prepared for what they didn't know would happen
| Quote: | | He sure did, but now he is fighting for them. As RM would put it...so he made a mistake...everyone makes mistakes." :roll |
A mistake is not simply, blatently not voting for Body Armor for our troops.
| Quote: | | [b] Were the dems the ones planning the war....doubtful... |
Was it ONLY Rumsfeld that planned the war? I thought that there were Generals and others that helped with that 
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:19 pm Re: Latest John Kerry Newsletter |
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Rumsfeld is not a people person. He says a lot of unflattering things, because he's not there to try and present the war with flowers and peace symbols. He should have someone else speak for him, in my opinion, actually. The war has been difficult, but I'd like to see someone else do it better. Care to try, Kevin? Hmn. I wouldn't be surprised at an answer of 'yes.' Even so, I do wish we were hitting places in Iraq harder. I wish this whole thing would speed up. We aren't, and it won't. It's going to take time, and a lot of effort. It will happen, though, and this will end. I'm glad we have someone like Rumsfeld on board.
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:19 pm |
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Im 18 years old. I think I can handle the language and so can others.
I don't care if Rumsfeld is taken out of office. Im not really fighting to keep him there, but the "mistakes" offered are rather lame. You put the bulk of the war on his shoulders.
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:31 pm Re: Latest John Kerry Newsletter |
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| Exalya wrote: | | Rumsfeld is not a people person. He says a lot of unflattering things, because he's not there to try and present the war with flowers and peace symbols. He should have someone else speak for him, in my opinion, actually. The war has been difficult, but I'd like to see someone else do it better. Care to try, Kevin? Hmn. I wouldn't be surprised at an answer of 'yes.' Even so, I do wish we were hitting places in Iraq harder. I wish this whole thing would speed up. We aren't, and it won't. It's going to take time, and a lot of effort. It will happen, though, and this will end. I'm glad we have someone like Rumsfeld on board. |
Yes I would care to try. Not Rumsfeld position, but Mr. Bush's. I certainly would have forced Rumsfeld out by now.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 7:33 pm |
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Bush's? My, ambitious. Here's one--what do you think Rumsfeld should be doing differently, exactly?
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:39 pm |
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Gosh, what should he be doing differently. Well it is hard to say without just pointing at the entire Iraq war.
First of all, we went in there with waaaay to little forces. If I recall, other generals were pushing for more, but Rumsfeld apparently thought 100,000 would be enough.
When you look at Iraq right now is it making any progess. No. There have been thoughts among analysts that civil war is possible, if you don't already think that is what is going on. There are insurgents all over the place. Yes, yes, I know someone is going to so...oh that is just in blah blah blah...the rest of Iraq is just dandy. Well it aint. With all the terrorism in Iraq, civilians have no sense of security and certain future. The whole thing seems ill planned.
(will expand later if necessary, gtg atm)
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:46 pm |
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I meant what would you be doing. Do you think there's any way to make Iraq "just dandy" at this point?
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MJ
Lieutenant Commander
Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 266
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| Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:04 am |
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| Republican_Man wrote: | | Quote: | | There is no twisting there....that's what he said.... |
Actually, it is. If you read or watched all of it, there was more to it. I liked his response.
| Quote: | | [b] So what they weren't prepared??? That is the dumbest thing I have heard lately... |
He meant prepared for what they didn't know would happen
| Quote: | | He sure did, but now he is fighting for them. As RM would put it...so he made a mistake...everyone makes mistakes." :roll |
A mistake is not simply, blatently not voting for Body Armor for our troops.
| Quote: | | [b] Were the dems the ones planning the war....doubtful... |
Was it ONLY Rumsfeld that planned the war? I thought that there were Generals and others that helped with that |
Your smilie use seems a little inappropiate in this topic, hypocrite.
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