News – What is the Truth on Iraq?

Iraq

Some of Bush’s key assertions on Iraq are disputed by Pentagon documents recently brought to light. It shows that of the 90,000 current police only 8,169 a full eight week stint of academy training. Another 46,176 are listed as untrained and it reveals that it won’t be until July of 2006 that the administration reaches its set goal of 135,000 trained police in Iraq. Six Army battalions have had “initial training,” while 57 National Guard battalions, 896 soldiers in each, are still being recruited or “awaiting equipment.” Just eight Guard battalions have reached “initial (operating) capability,” and the Pentagon acknowledged the Guard’s performance has been “uneven.” Training hasn’t started on a 4,800 man civil intervention force that is slated to tackle the insurgency. The documents estimate hat 22,700 Iraqi personnel have received enough training to make them “minimally effective at their tasks,” despite the fat 100k figure given by Bush.

I’ve had enough of the fucking lies. In the article it notes a senior official(who the hell knows which one of the pack of idiots) defines ‘fully trained’ as having “initial basic operations training.” I don’t now about any of you, but that sure as hell sounds less than ‘fully’ trained to me. And there’s more.. just read the article. I’m more inclined to believe Colin Powel when he says the security situation is worsening in Iraq.

If Bush could just be straight with America, I might be able to put some support behind him. But so long as he keeps lying his ass off(or being manipulated by his handlers to lie, whatever the background is), I won’t support him. Not when I think he’s just screwing things up worse. He has to inspire confidence in me and has been doing a sucky job of it so far.

A bomb attack against a patrol of Iraqi national guards killed three(Guardian says four) and wounded eight, three of the wounded civilians. A mortar attack occurred before this event, targeting a police academy in eastern Baghdad. No injuries were reported.

US forces claim 100 captures and kills of insurgents under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the last four weeks. Of course, those figures are disputed as well, with wonderings at how many of the dead are women and children.

Bush has promised to up spending on rebuilding Iraq, but others have contested this, saying spending will increase slower than Bush lays out. All well and good, but I’d like to see a serious inroad made against the insurgency, which is the most important matter.

Should the less stable portions of Iraq be excluded from voting if they’re not under control by election time? Personally I don’t think it will help turn them toward democracy.

Israel/Palestine

A carbomb killed Izz el-Deen al-Sheikh Khalil, one of Hamas’ leaders. What’s interesting about this one is that Hamas suspects another Arab nation might have conspired with Israel to kill him.

Afghanistan

Hamid Karzai pushes for the polls to open on time despite his opponents’ concerns over safety. Most of the 17 candidates running against him think that poor security would lead to intimidation of voters and to fraud. They suggest that an interim council should replace Karzai’s government and the elections be held when security conditions improved.

US

Tropical Storm Jeanne gives Florida it’s fourth hit of serious weather conditions this year. Fortunately she’s weakening, so any damage done should diminish proportionally.

The US government is being open about it’s big security kick as the time to elections dwindles to a slimmer margin.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is keeping an eye on the US from space.

Little surprise that both sides of the political spectrum are spinning their reports. The US will never be strong until we have leaders who don’t spin their words like a top every other breath.

Musing the run up to the debates. Should Kerry be lowering expectations for his opponent?

General

Today’s Papers has shady political advocacy groups playing with the McCain-Feingold strictures, the arrest of a senior Iraqi National Guard commander for ties to insurgents, a downgrade in the Bush vision for Iraq and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Osama bin Laden, killed, then not killed, then captured, then not captured, robs convenience store

Man threatens to blow up radio station because they won’t play Fats Domino

The long lines of people waiting to be screened for security threats, have now become a security threat

Man applies for job. Company does not hire man. Company makes error and pays man anyway. Man is convicted of theft for cashing the checks that were mailed to him

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