They are taking an awful chance, just to bluff each other this far out. Can't either see the recent improvement?
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You make the assumption they care - this is strictly political grandstanding in their eyes, so it all doesn't count.

But you know... the folks in Iraq aren't stupid at all. IF through some collective brain fart this gets passed, and the troops are forced home, there's going to be a whole lot of veterans who may suddenly become politically active - and they're going to be pissed at the folks at home who forced a surrender, when the enemy couldn't.

But don't question their patriotism

A parked car bomb exploded near a market in a Shiite enclave northeast of the capital, killing at least 32 people and wounding 50, police said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, clashes broke out in the mostly Shiite city of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq on Wednesday, when a militia fought with police there after they arrested two wanted militia members, police said. Nine Iraqis were killed and 75 wounded, a police spokesman said.

A U.S. government report released Tuesday showed that the recent U.S. troop increase and security crackdown has had little effect on the high number of attacks in the country.

Military officials have said that since the security crackdown in the Baghdad region began more than 12 weeks ago, Sunni insurgents have hit back with powerful, and extremely deadly, car bombs that often cause more casualties than the types of attacks used previously.

FOOLISH STUPID AMERICANS........why do they hate our troops so much?

Again, their position has been misrepresented. The funds for the TROOPS will not be cut off, the funds for the WAR will be. See, the troops will get paid, they just won't be in Iraq. I'm sure you will correct this oversight.

So - arab on arab, Muslim on Muslim violence is the fault of the US? They hate us so much they'll slaughter each other at the slightest provocation?

Sorry, that just doesn't make sense to me.

But threaten to cut off funding for PBS and you're the antichrist.

Obama said he would vote for a cutoff as well as a second bill setting standards for the Iraqi government ''not because I believe either is the best answer, but because I want to send a strong statement to the Iraqi government, the president and my Republican colleagues that it's long past time to change course.

Wow! That's an incredibly revealing quote. One that could end a campaign, at least among fair-minded people who have yet to decide on a candidate. One needn't read between the lines to figure out that what Obama is saying translated to:

"My point, and my political party, is more important than peoples' lives."

The man has no shame.

civil behavior, I think the interviews for Katie Couric's job are being conducted on another thread.

And Obama's busy wanting to 'set standards for the Iraqi government'. From where? Okinawa?
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Who in the Iraqi government will receive this message if they are all on vacation? I say we pull the US forces out for a two month leave, and send them back when the Iraqis decide to get serious.

BG2, why do you object to politicians communing with their constituents? Never happens for you, huh?
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"I can't think of anything that undermines or disheartens our troops in harms way more.."

I can: being told they've had their tour extended.

I'm with Barney on this one. There's alot of work to be done in Iraq, and that work doesn't involve a vacation.

I wasn't ware till now that PBS was in the business of killing people. I may never watch or listen to them again.

civil behavior, Barney 'baloney' G2000, and your training in world affairs and military tactics was 'where'?

The terrorists are going to step up the attacks and the world knows why (just won't admit they know). If the majority party in congress supports the terrorists the terrorists must return the favor and the only way they can do that is 'Kill Americans', and Iraqi women/children. Like it or not, admit it or not, the fact is this blood is totally on the hands of the democrat party.
The world has finally admitted, 35+ years late, that the blood of millions in Southeast Asia, and suffering under communism for over 35 years is on the democrats hands.

Note:
More Americans killed yesterday by liberal democrat and welfare riding drivers with a cell phone stuck in they're ears than killed in the war last month.

Stop all taxpayer assistance to the communications industry and welfare system. Defund them now.

Of course Osama Obama want the U.S. out. He's a follower of radical Islam and will be until he dies or he would already have had his head removed, not just from his a** but from his body. Shrillary, a Klington will say or do anything to gain power. Body count (now outdated) http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/clintonfriends.htm.

civil behavior, I think the interviews for Katie Couric's job are being conducted on another thread.

Thread over. Dave D wins!

I'm sure the thought of vacation is tempting to them after hearing the Democrats and some GOP wanting to bail out on them. A vacation before the bloodbath?

Mixed signals, Eric.

While Maliki is directly asking the U.S. to stay the course and continue to help them get on their feet...meanwhile their lawmakers are going on vacation for two months.

As Barney said, perhaps we should give our soldiers the same 2 months of vacation, instead of them fighting and dying for a country where a portion of the ruling government is on a beach somwhere sunning themselves.

I see it as an insult. I'm pro victory on the Iraq issue, but I'm staunchly against us doing the all work for them.

Heralder, it's the USA that is giving the mixed signals.

While it would be fantastic for them to stand up no matter what our politicians do, we can't pretend that our politicians don't affect them. IMHO, it possibly could have been a reaction to seeing just how committed Democrats are to pulling out of Iraq. YMMV.

Eric,

I in no way meant to imply that we weren't. Our signals could not be any more mixed than they already are.

However, at the end of the day, whether we withdraw immediately or in two years, it's their country, and a two month vacation indicates that they are not taking this very seriously. I don't believe that has anything to do with the Democrats, it has to do with them.

Hard to admit it when the news delivered by Couric or civil behavior highlights the gross injustices continuing more gross injustices because a few deadenders refuse to acknowledge their mistakes.

Dang right it's time to cut the funding to the war and support those kids by bringing them home. That money will be better used digging us out of other holes baby bush has dug and god knows there will be more families that will be glad their kids will be safe.

Why are all you bangers so afraid? You keep repeating that they'll be over here fighting. You mean the policies that baby bush has implemented aren't going to keep them from coming over here? News flash, they'll be back here. Nothing but a radical overhaul of foreign policy with neocons out of range of power is going to stop that. And even then we're going to have to be mighty lucky.

Your boy bush has made sure of that.

I agree it's their country, and I'm sure they've gotten the message the USA won't always be around.

I suppose you and I are looking at this with two different perspectives. We both wish they would roll up their sleeves and tackle the problem no matter what the USA politicians say. I just feel the vacation argument would be stronger if, say, Congress wouldn't have been so staunch in their "leave Iraq" campaign.

I'll grant I could be wrong. I just question the timing. ;)

how about, instead, we cut off salary and franking privileges for serving senators that are spending all their time campaigning for another office?

8 years of liberal Clinton brought the terrorists onto our shores. Appeasement and denial the main motivator of the fails terror policies of Clinton and the dimmers. Now we took the fight to them. The bad guys are getting killed by the thousands but the dimmers want us to stop. Oh, that's right. We can talk to the people who want us to die. Delusional at best. ww

That bill lost 64 to 29. Seems that a good number of Democrats do not wish to be seen as surrender monkeys. Maybe there are Americans in this country who do not wish to lose another war for political reasons. It certainly not because of any military loss. If the number of troops lost in this conflict, though tragic, were the benchmark. We would not have gotten off the beaches in Normandy. Al Qaeda is already planning to form an Islamic state in the Sunni provinces. Wonder what they will do there. Probably turn that area into a vacation heaven for tired jihadist. Or maybe a training camp for the assault on America.

Quagmire! We are the bad guys! Al Qaeda is really just freedom fighters! No blood for oil! Bush lied, people died! Truth out! Loose change!

Sincerely,
Bhurka Hillary
Osama Obama
Demascus Pelosi
"Lil Dick Durbin
World-wide Terrorists

Well now we also know why the democrats don't want Fox to host a debate. They certainly would not want to be questioned about their surrender plans on a national forum that they could not control. Softballs only for them.

This looks comical to me. It's almost like they're trying to double-down to insure at least one hand.

""I can't think of anything that undermines or disheartens our troops in harms way more.."

I can: being told they've had their tour extended."

Well, Steve. As I am one of those troops, I can tell you that you are incorrect. You see, having my tour extended is irritating (quite) for a few months. What the dems are contemplating, however, would invalidate everthing I and all the others did over there.