Baghdad Governor Slain, 5 US Troops Killed in Another Bloody Day in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBH8HTJK3E.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The governor of the Baghdad region, known for cooperating closely with American troops, was assassinated along with six bodyguards as he drove to work Tuesday in yet another bloody day of insurgent attacks that exposed grave security flaws in Iraq with elections less than a month away.
Other assaults Tuesday killed five American troops as well as 10 Iraqi commandos, bringing the death toll in the last three days to more than 70. Despite the violence, which U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces have been helpless to prevent, American and Iraqi leaders insist the Jan. 30 vote would go forward.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan acknowledged security "challenges" in Iraq but said the election timetable would not be changed.

"For much of the country, the situation is secure enough to move forward on holding elections," McClellan said. "There are a few areas that we're continuing to work to improve the security situation, so those areas will be able to have as full a participation as possible in elections."

While it's true that many areas of Iraq are calm, there are vast regions, including the capital, that are extremely dangerous. In places like Fallujah, which was bombed to ruins in a U.S.-led campaign in November, and the northern city of Mosul, there has been little headway in preparing for the vote.

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[bluestateguy]

1. Mission Accomplished!

Mm Hm.

[saigon68]

2. "Bring On the Body Bags", shouted the AWOL CHIMP

"More profits for Halliburton", he screeched.

[Robbien]

3. Standard response

Yes so and so died, or such and such was bombed

BUT never fear, The Elections Will Be Held!

[Cocoa]

6. 14 out of 19 provinces, etc. etc.

[Massachusetts]

4. The Bu$hco Decent

into the ABYSS continues.

[stellanoir]

5. "we gotta get outta this place. . .

if it's the last thing we ever do. . .there's a better life for me and you. . ."

(obligatory earworm for the day)

Sorry, that's just how I feel. This administration's blundering is beyond the pale and cannot possibly be redeemed. Instead of winning the "hearts and minds", due to our excessive irreverance and disrespect, they would prefer to sever our hearts from our minds (beheadings???).

Oh yeah. . .we're safer. . .fer sure.

[Wind Dancer]

12. I will add my sentiments to this nightmare.

DEJA VU (ALL OVER AGAIN)

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Did you try to read the writing on the wall
Did that voice inside you say I've heard it all before
It's like Deja Vu all over again

Day by day I hear the voices rising
Started with a whisper like it did before
Day by day we count the dead and dying
Ship the bodies home while the networks all keep score

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Could your eyes believe the writing on the wall
Did that voice inside you say I've heard it all before
It's like Deja Vu all over again

One by one I see the old ghosts rising
Stumblin' 'cross Big Muddy
Where the light gets dim
Day after day another Momma's crying
She's lost her precious child
To a war that has no end

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Did you stop to read the writing at The Wall
Did that voice inside you say
I've seen this all before
It's like Deja Vu all over again
It's like Deja Vu all over again

John Fogerty
©2004 Cody River Music / ASCAP

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. "many areas of Iraq are calm" agreed, lots of open desert!

The situation and lack of acknowledgment is in the classic corporate mode a la enron. To be expected of course, since it's the only way these clowns have been taught to react.

[anarchy1999]

8. Hey Scottie, GO CHENEY YOURSELF!

Sorry, I'm a little tense today.

It took us how long to get to the disaster area? We had to assess...

I think I'm losing it today, I am certain of it.

[Robbien]

9. Me too. Just read this German report on US Aid pledges

Furthermore, the money must be sent, not just pledged. The Bush administration is notorious for promising wonderful pots of money when the cameras are rolling - the Monterey summit meeting on poverty nearly three years ago comes to mind - and then failing to follow through once the attention fades. Victims of the earthquake in Bam, Iran, a year ago are still living in tents because aid, including American aid, has fallen short. In 2002 in Monterey, Mr. Bush announced a Millennium Challenge Account to give African nations development assistance of up to $5 billion a year. We're still waiting for the account to actually hand out so much as a dollar.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,335403,00.html

but never fear, the Iraqi elections will be held!

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Flowers and candy indeed... them Iraquis sure know how to

party huh?

Hey scottie, has anybody clued you people into how this looks eeriely like... Vietnam oh around 1966....

I know you hate the comparison Scottie, but aparently them ragheads are as good at partying as Charlie was... you do remmeber how that party ended, don't you? I suspect this one will end the same way...

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. The many areas of Iraq that are calm

are the areas where no one lives, like the middle of the desert!

[leftchick]

13. THE ONLY AREAS OF IRAQ THAT ARE CALM HAVE NO PEOPLE!!

Only a total tv watching koolaid drinking moran believes that shit! Oh yes, and a true patriot!
:argh:

[daleo]

14. Those areas will vote for Bush's puppet

Then, Bush will say his puppet has a mandate because most of the map is colored red (red for blood and Bush Republicanism).

[Ilsa]

16. I'm so glad you posted this so I didn't have to! ;) n/t

[bobbyboucher]

15. There's no more violence in Bagdad than in any large city in

the US. Get with the program.

[Dimsdale]

17. The last time I was in New York..

it was a really shitty day. Lots of small arms fire and mortar rounds incoming. Landmines and car bombs going off right and left. Had to call in an airstrike just to get a cab. Ah wait, no...that's right, that was in a piece in the National Lampoon circa 1976. Maybe that's where the fucking GOP's "no more violence than.." talking point came from.

[sarcasmo]

18. Just another typical day in Vietnam.

There will not be a march in the streets until the draft is reinstated. The Repukes will realize this is Nam2 when there 18 year old son/daughter gets drafted. I don't think most 18-22 year old young women think they will be drafted.

[Moderator]

19. duplicate

locking. discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1119659