Wednesday, July 26, 2006

NYT: The big meetup goes bust (Jim Rutenberg reports)

In this morning's New York Times, Jim Rutenberg's "Baghdad Chaos Pushes Bush to Shift U.S. Troops" attempts to address the face to face between Bully and Puppet. For those wondering, no chemistry. The statements from June 13th's drive-by meeting and yesterday's meeting aren't especially different. (June 13, Bully Boy snuck out of the US and went to the heavily guarded sections of Baghdad for another photo op.) Wally covered that yesterday. Bully Boy's still spouting nonsense, as he was then.

What's changed? The tone. There was no one to demonize and revel in the death of. The so-called 'crackdown' has clocked six weeks and saw no decline in the violence (to the contrary, the violence rose in Baghdad once Nouri al-Maliki imposed the 'crackdown'). Rutenberg notes the UN figures (almost 6,000 Iraqis dead in May and June alone) as well as other developments.

To read Rutenberg's coverage (or to watch or listen to the conference), there was no way not to note the lowered expectations, the lowered tone, and what played like a wedge between the two. al-Maliki wasn't in the mood to prop up Bully Boy and Bully Boy wasn't in the mood to prop up al-Maliki. So much so that some in DC are betting on how much longer the Puppet will be prime minister. (Six weeks is a popular bet -- and that's not in Rutenberg's article, by the way.)

So what happened? Rutenberg makes the case that reality happened. And has an unnamed source who counters Stephen J. Hadley's nonsense that the administration is switching to "Phase II." The source tells Rutenberg: "This is more like Plan B. Six weeks ago, we were talking about pulling American troops back from the city streets, not putting more of them out there."

Meanwhile the Democrats (led by Harry Reid) aren't making sense with their statements. But, whether it was stategy or dumb luck (bet on the latter), they've found a position that the mainstream media won't criticize them for and that Bully Boy can't (at present) attack them for.
They're saying Hizbollah has to be denounced or al-Maliki can't speak to Congress.

Had they argued anything else (hospitals must be built or he can't speak, the vast unemployment must be addressed or he can't speak, etc.), the administration would be issuing statements (and the press lapping them up) about how it was undermining the 'war on terror.'

They're protected. From him, from the press. From the press because they've played the actions by Israel government in the most distorted frame. From Bully Boy because his reactionary base won't take kindly to anything that appears to be less than 100% support for the Israeli government.

Whether it was strategy or dumb luck, al-Maliki's triumphant visit isn't going to happen. Bully Boy's boxed in, al-Maliki's boxed in.

Bully Boy got off his usual howlers. Rutenberg notes this one: "In the midst of all the violence in Baghdad, sometimes a success is obscured." And in the midst of a hurricane, sometimes it's forgotten that a drought may have preceeded it. (Which makes about as much sense in terms of reality on the ground in Baghdad.)

Rutenberg notes approximately 7,200 US troops currently in Baghdad and the plan to send in about 4,000 more. That's not 'success.' Or even 'a success.' It is the death of the Operation Happy Talk talking point that there might be a drop in the levels. Remember that? That was the 'big plan' for the fall elections. Troops may come home . . . a few of them.

It's not quite Nixon's boasts of a 'secret peace plan' but it's almost as hideous and just as pandering. Reality came into the picture and the visit (though by Sunday, you better believe the chat & chewers will be attempting to spin it otherwise) wasn't a public relations coup.

The whys of that may be best captured in Martha's highlight, from Peter Baker and Josh White's "Bush to Add Troops in Baghdad, Citing 'Terrible' Sectarian Strife" (Washington Post):

As the two leaders met, violence continued in Iraq. A U.S. service member from the 43rd Military Police Brigade was killed while on "combat operations" north of Baghdad, according to a U.S. military statement that did not identify the slain American. Violence also flared in northern Iraq, with car bombings, assassinations and an attack on a group of workers leaving an Iraqi military base.

Rachel notes this from an e-mail sent out by CODEPINK:

A poll earlier this year showed that 87% of Iraqis support a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops; another poll showed that only 1% of Iraqis trusted U.S. troops to protect their security.
Now we need YOUR help to get a meeting with the Prime Minister.
Please take a moment to contact the Iraqi Embassy and say: "Please encourage your Prime Minister to show compassion and meet with the fasters, including Cindy Sheehan, who have not eaten for 22 days."

Call: (202) 483-7500, press 1 for English, then extension 102 for the Ambassador's office. Fax: (202) 462-0564Email: feedback@iraqiembassy.org Please be polite.


From Military Families Speak out via Common Dreams (noted by Tom):


Military Families Travel to Washington, D.C. to Confront Congress and Highlight the Human Costs of the Iraq War Families Arriving for Last Two Weeks of '"Operation House Call"' are available for interview
WASHINGTON - July 25 - Families of U.S. troops who are serving, have served, or were killed in Iraq converge in Washington D.C. to participate in the last two weeks of ""Operation House Call"," a summer-long campaign to highlight the ongoing human toll of the war in Iraq. Since June 22, members of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) have been staging an ongoing vigil outside the Cannon House Office Building at Independence and New Jersey Avenues in Washington, D.C. Military families from across the United States have brought their message directly to the nation’s capital to confront Congress, highlight the growing toll of the Iraq war and tell Senators and Members of Congress to bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here.
The vigil features boots representing U.S. troops and shoes representing Iraqi children, women and men who have been killed in the Iraq war since June 15, when Congress voted to "stay the course" in Iraq, and when the 2,500th troop death occurred. New pairs of boots and new shoes are added each day to reflect current deaths in Iraq.
"My wife Linda and I have three sons and two grandchildren who are all Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom; since February, 2003 one or all of them have been deployed -- together they have spent 81 months in Iraq," said MFSO member Phil Waste from Tennessee. "Currently one son is deployed to Iraq with the 1st Armored Division; another son with the 1st Cavalry Division will be returning to Iraq this fall. The stress we feel is unbearable, having loved ones in harm's way in a war that should never have happened. I want those serving in Congress to walk past us and our vigil, and have to grapple with the true cost of this war that they voted to continue," he added.
In addition to the on-going vigil in front of the Cannon House Office Building, "Operation House Call" features visits by military families to Senators and Members of Congress, and special press events with military and Gold Star families and returned Iraq War Veterans. "Operation House Call" will be continuing each day that Congress is in session until August 4, when Congress recesses for the summer. At that time, MFSO members will follow their elected officials back to their home states and districts. “We are not going away. We will be engaging these elected officials wherever they may go, until they show real leadership, and decide to truly support our troops by bringing them home now and taking care of them when they get here,” said Cathy Smith of Missouri, whose oldest son was paralyzed from the chest down by an AK-47 round while serving in Iraq, and whose middle son is currently serving in Iraq with the Army.
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:
The following members of Military Families Speak Out will join "Operation House Call" during its last two weeks in Washington, D.C. and are available for interview. To get the full list of those available for interview who are participating or have participated in "Operation House Call," see below.
Gilda Carbonaro of Bethesda, MD whose son Sgt. Alessandro Carbonaro served with the U.S. Marine Corps' Second Reconnaissance Battalion and, on his second deployment to Iraq, was struck by an IED on May 1, 2006. He was burned over 60% of his body, and died as a result of these wounds on May 10, 2006 in Landstuhl, Germany.
Tim Kahlor of Temecula, CA, whose son is a Sergeant with the US Army 1st Armored Division, currently serving in Anbar Providence, Iraq on his second tour of duty. He lost his combat buddy to small arms fire on June 26, 2006.
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson of Boston, MA, whose son served with the Marines in Iraq in spring, 2003. Lessin and Richardson are co-founders of Military Families Speak Out, which began with two military families in November, 2002, and currently has a membership of over 3,000 military families.
Cathy Smith of Liberty, MO,whose eldest son served with the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq and was struck by an AK-47 round. He is paralyzed from the chest down. He is now a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Cathy Smith’s middle son is currently serving with the Army in Iraq.
Cheryl Felder Stuart of Lewisville, AR whose son Captain Arthur “Bo” Felder, age 36, served in Iraq with the Army National Guard and was killed in action in Taji on April 24, 2004.
Phil and Linda Waste of Ten Mile, TN (permanent residence in Yakima, WA), whose three sons and two grandchildren are all Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since February, 2003 one or all have been deployed. One son is currently in Iraq with the 1st Armored Division; another son with the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry will be returning to Iraq this fall. Their third son served two deployments to Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division, has now completed his military service. Between their sons and grandchildren, they have served eight deployments and a total of 81 months in Iraq -- with 16 more months coming up.
The full list of Military Families Speak Out members who are participating or have participated in "Operation House Call" and are available for interview include:
ArkansasCheryl Felder Stuart of Lewisville, AR whose son Captain Arthur “Bo” Felder, age 36, served in Iraq with the Army National Guard and was killed in action in Taji on April 24, 2004.
CaliforniaTim Kahlor of Temecula, CA, whose son is a Sergeant with the US Army 1st Armored Division, currently serving in Anbar Providence, Iraq on his second tour of duty. He lost his combat buddy to small arms fire on June 26, 2006.
Dinah Mason, of Santa Barbara CA, whose daughter and son-in-law serve in the Army; her daughter is currently deployed to Iraq. Ms. Mason is a Veteran herself, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Mason’s family has history of serving in the military dating back to the Revolutionary War; her ancestor was Major John Buttrick, who led the militia troops at Battle of Concord at the Old North Bridge, and gave the famous order, "Fire fellow soldiers, for God's sake, Fire!" that initiated the "shot heard 'round the world."
Anne Roesler of Saratoga, CA whose son, a Staff Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division, based at Ft. Bragg, is currently facing a possible fourth deployment to Iraq.
District of ColumbiaElizabeth Frederick of Washington, DC whose fiancé is a former Marine Sergeant. He served one tour of duty in Iraq with the Army National Guard, under a stop-loss order. His National Guard unit had not deployed overseas since the Korean War.
GeorgiaKim Hines of Evans, GA whose husband is in the Army and currently serving his first deployment to Iraq.
MarylandGary Ashbeck of Baltimore, MD whose brother, a Captain in the Army National Guard, was injured in Iraq and is currently under medical care stateside.
MaryBeth Bullock of Germantown, MD who has two sons in the Marines, one of whom served in Iraq from October 2005 - February 2006. Ms. Bullock is a Veteran who served with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Gilda Carbonaro of Bethesda, MD whose son Sgt. Alessandro Carbonaro served with the U.S. Marine Corps' Second Reconnaissance Battalion and, on his second deployment to Iraq, was struck by an IED on May 1, 2006. He was burned over 60% of his body, and died as a result of these wounds on May 10, 2006 in Landstuhl, Germany.
Pennie Miller and Jim Holmes of Gaithersburg, MD whose son is in the Army and is serving in Iraq on his 1st deployment. He also served a 1 year deployment to Afghanistan.
Sarah Schneider-Firestone of Columbia, MD, whose brother serves in the Army and recently returned from a year-long deployment to Kuwait.
Hollace Snyder of Annapolis, MD, whose son is in the Army and has not yet deployed to Iraq.
Pat and Al McLaine of Columbia, MD, whose son Joe and his wife are both Captains in the U.S. Army and have served in Kosovo and in Iraq. Their daughter-in-law was injured by an IED during her service in Iraq. At the outset of the war in Iraq, the McLaines had a total of six family members serving in the military and in theatre, including three nephews and one niece in addition to their son and daughter-in-law.
Tia Steele of Baltimore, MD, whose step-son, Lance Corporal David Michael Branning, age 21, was killed in action in Fallujah on November 12, 2004
MassachusettsNancy Lessin and Charley Richardson of Boston, MA, whose son served with the Marines in Iraq in spring, 2003. Lessin and Richardson are co-founders of Military Families Speak Out, which began with two families in November, 2002, and currently has a membership of over 3,000 military families.
MissouriCathy Smith of Liberty, MO, whose eldest son served with the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq and was struck by an AK-47 round. He is paralyzed from the chest down. He is now a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Cathy Smith’s middle son is currently serving with the Army in Iraq.
MontanaDeborah Hayden of Helena, MT, whose son is in the Army and is currently serving a first deployment to Iraq.
Tammara Rosenleaf of Helena, MT, whose husband is in the Army and is currently serving a first deployment in Iraq.
New JerseyJanice Monson of Jersey City, NJ whose daughter and son-in-law both served in the Middle East with the Air Force.
Sue Niederer of Pennington, NJ, whose son, 1st Lieutenant Seth Dvorin, age 24, was killed in action near Iskandariyah, Iraq on February 3, 2004.
New YorkEllen Martin of New York, NY whose brother is in the Army and serving a first deployment to Iraq.
North CarolinaSummer Lipford of Statesville NC whose son, Steven Sirko, age 20, served as an Army medic with the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment and died in Muqdadiyah, Iraq on April 17, 2005.
OhioMona Parsons of Mt. Vernon, OH whose son is a Sergeant in the Army and is currently serving his first deployment to Iraq.
Teresa Dawson of Gahanna, OH whose daughter serves in the Army Reserves and is currently stationed in the U.S.; her son is in the Ohio National Guard and returned from a first deployment to Iraq.
PennsylvaniaStephen Cleghorn of Reynoldsville, PA whose stepson is a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. He received a Bronze Star for exemplary service during his 15-month deployment to Kuwait and Iraq.
Billie Jones of Shippensburg, PA whose son served two back-to-back deployments in Iraq during 2004-2005.
Diane Santoriello of Verona, PA, whose son, 1st Lt. Neil Santoriello, age 24, served in the Army's 1 Division 34th Armored A Company and was killed in action near Fallujah, Iraq on August 13, 2004.
Celeste Zappala, Al Zappala and Joan Koslof of Philadelphia, PA,. Celeste and Al's son, Joan's step-son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, age 30, was killed in action in Iraq on April 26, 2004. He was the first Pennsylvania National Guard soldier to die in combat since World War II. He was killed in an explosion while assigned to protect those in the Iraq Survey Group who were searching for Weapons of Mass Destruction long after it was known that there were no WMD's in Iraq.
Rhode IslandSteve Kelly of Sunderstown, RI whose son is in the Army and currently serving in Iraq on a second deployment.
TennesseePhil and Linda Waste of Ten Mile, TN (permanent residence in Yakima, WA), whose three sons and two grandchildren are all Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since February, 2003 one or all have been deployed. One son is currently in Iraq with the 1st Armor Division; another son with the 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry will be returning to Iraq this fall. Their third son served two deployments to Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division, has now completed his military service. Between their sons and grandchildren, they have served eight deployments and a total of 81 months in Iraq -- with 16 more months coming up.
VirginiaWendra Chambers of Alexandria, VA, whose fiancé is in the Army and recently returned from his second deployment in Iraq.
Nan Thomasson of Sterling, Va., whose son served with the Marines in Afghanistan in the spring of 2004. He is currently in the Individual Ready Reserves and eligible for deployment to Iraq.
Fran Middleberg, of Alexandria, VA, whose son is an Army Reservist and currently serving an extended tour of duty overseas, on a second deployment.
WashingtonJessie Archibald of Anderson Island, WA, whose son serves in the Army and is currently deployed to Iraq.
Stacy Bannerman of Kent, WA whose husband serves in the Washington Army National Guard, SFC Mortar Platoon, and served a year’s tour of duty in Iraq. Stacy wrote a book about her experience of being the wife of a deployed soldier who was sent off to fight a war she believed was unjust and unjustifiable, called “When the War Came Home: An Inside Account of Citizen Soldiers and The Families Left Behind”
WisconsinGeorgia Stillwell of Keshena, WI, whose son served as an MP in the Army and returned from Iraq with severe PTSD.
For further information on "Operation House Call" see
www.operationhousecall.org; for more information on Military Families Speak Out see www.mfso.org
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