Friday
Mar282008
“War is Not Simply Working”
This week’s escalation of violence in Iraq and the attacks on the Green Zone, American soldiers, yet again, are caught up in the middle of a civil war. As President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain inform the public about the progress of Iraq, Iraq experts tell all at a conference call today.
The speakers were Iraq War Veteran and Chairman and co-founder of VoteVets.org, Jon Soltz, senior fellow at the Center for Action Fund, Brian Katulis, from Democracy Corps Jim Gerstein and Karin Meredith whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004, while serving his country.
Brian Katulis started off by saying that much of the things happening in Iraq the past year were temporary; however the division between the Shiite groups was and still is very sharp. During the summer, Iraqis experienced a vast amount of violence in the Southern part of the country, where 4 politicians were killed and the violence reached its breaking point in Karbala, where 50 Iraqis were killed. During the fall season, the armed confrontations declined, due to the ceasefire ordered by the Prime Minister Maliki. However, some low level clashes were seen during winter and spring. Katulis continues by saying that this week’s attacks were the worst seen this year.
Jon Soltz on the other hand urges the president to come forward and confess that this war was a mistake and a big failure. He continues by saying that this cover was a “domestic political plan.”
The third speaker, Jim Gerstein, talked about how the public is sure about their stands on the Iraq War and how eager the voters are to move on from the current administration and its war policies. He also mentioned that electing Senator McCain will no way be a change in foreign diplomacy.
Lastly, Karen Meredith talked about her fallen son, and highlighted the fact that noting has changed since 2004 and the clashes between different Shiites groups have become more violent.
Listen
The speakers were Iraq War Veteran and Chairman and co-founder of VoteVets.org, Jon Soltz, senior fellow at the Center for Action Fund, Brian Katulis, from Democracy Corps Jim Gerstein and Karin Meredith whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004, while serving his country.
Brian Katulis started off by saying that much of the things happening in Iraq the past year were temporary; however the division between the Shiite groups was and still is very sharp. During the summer, Iraqis experienced a vast amount of violence in the Southern part of the country, where 4 politicians were killed and the violence reached its breaking point in Karbala, where 50 Iraqis were killed. During the fall season, the armed confrontations declined, due to the ceasefire ordered by the Prime Minister Maliki. However, some low level clashes were seen during winter and spring. Katulis continues by saying that this week’s attacks were the worst seen this year.
Jon Soltz on the other hand urges the president to come forward and confess that this war was a mistake and a big failure. He continues by saying that this cover was a “domestic political plan.”
The third speaker, Jim Gerstein, talked about how the public is sure about their stands on the Iraq War and how eager the voters are to move on from the current administration and its war policies. He also mentioned that electing Senator McCain will no way be a change in foreign diplomacy.
Lastly, Karen Meredith talked about her fallen son, and highlighted the fact that noting has changed since 2004 and the clashes between different Shiites groups have become more violent.
Listen
tagged 
green zone, iraq war, shiites, soldiers, talk radio news in Audio
green zone, iraq war, shiites, soldiers, talk radio news in Audio
Reader Comments (2)
It's difficult waging confrontational politics with those whose loss of children gives them a special entree into the argument. Nevertheless, policy issues remain paramount, and the narrative here completely misunderstands the war being waged against the Sadr's Mahdi Army.
The left cannot have it both ways: first, excoriating the Iraqi government for behaving like a US "puppet" and then excoriating it again when it attempts to assert its central authority. And that is what the current round of fighting is all about.
Those who wish Iraqis well would do well to urge them to relentlessly fight the Mahdis. Whether in Baghdad or downtown Washington, D.C., any government worthy of its name must monopolize armed force. Anything short of this is anarchy.
If Bush & Co. is subject to criticism, it lies in their refusal to decisively defeat Sadr in 2004. As history proves, one can defer these conflicts but not indefinitely postpone them.
Gold Star mothers get a pass on everything; however, Jim Gerstein doesn't speak for every voter. How do you spell left-wing p-r-o-p-a-g-a-n-d-a?