Webb Video Blog: After Four Years Of Occupation, Our Soldiers Are Burned Out

The Senate is facing a crucial Iraq war vote this week on legislation that requires that U.S. soldiers have as much downtime at home as they spend in Iraq. (Read more details.) A consequence of the legislation, analysts say, is that the current troop levels in Iraq would have to be decreased.

Below, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), speaks about the legislation and reaches out for support:

Just today, GOP Sen. John Warner, one of the most important swing votes, claimed that he is reconsidering his support for Webb's amendment. Greg Sargent reports:

Just when it looked as if Senator Jim Webb's troop readiness bill might pick up enough GOP support to reach the magic number of 60 filibuster-proof votes, we're now getting word that Senator John Warner is reconsidering his backing for it and may vote against it.

So reports the Wall Street Journal in a subscription only article. In a bit of a cruel joke, here's the reason Warner is giving for not backing a measure that would give exhausted troops more rest:

...in an interview Tuesday, the senator said he is "reconsidering his position" in light of the administration's willingness to move closer to him on expediting some reduction in U.S. troop levels this year in Iraq. "It took a lot of convincing to make the first units come home before Christmas," Mr. Warner said. "There is a lot of importance in that."

Read more here.

Comments

[Aanya]

John Warner is obviously not the upstanding Senator some were hoping he was. Just one more Bush tool, basking in the glory of living up Bush's Ass, doing Bush's dirty deeds. One more notation for the history books, all you god damn pussies! What does Bush and Cheney have on all of you?

[nick1936]

So much for the REPUK's always saying that they support our troops now is the time to take names and kick ass

[anfractuous]

You have to wonder how these guys live with themselves. The fact is, they don't. They have long since surrendered any moral reckoning they might have had, instead offering their principles to serve as George Bush's surrogate bicycle seat during his unbearable spells of pedalessness.
Warner is 80 years old. Again, you might think a guy would like to go out on a classy note. But, better to remain in the good graces of your back-room brothers in blood, than trade them for the praises of a grateful nation.

[chronic]

Republicans care more about thier power and Bush's legacy than the troops.


Republican­s/Conserva­tives are a threat to America and the stability of the world.

[grainger5]

But at least they keep the kiddie porn industry going. It's good for the economy.

[PADDYWHACK]

You have to hand it to them Repeckerheads they are looking at extinction and won't budge an inch.When they do break it'll be a stampede for the door.They must know something we don't no one is this dumb.

[philistine]

"They must know something we don't no one is this dumb."

That's what scares me. An Irani war could be the excuse to take it all over. After The Military Commissions Act and The John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, Bush can start the war, take over civilian law enforcement and state National Guard, take over the government, and we then have a de facto King George I.

[barrycourage]

So Warner made a deal with King Chimpster: I'll kill Webb's bill if you bring home three troops.

We could undo it.

Get Liz Taylor to threaten to sit on Warner's face.

[ming099]

..Get Liz Taylor to threaten to sit on his face......­..


....DAMN..­..that would be two OLD WRINKLED piles of SHIT pressed together..­..


.....Jeez.­...now I have to try to sleep with THAT visual in mind......­..

[speakingtruth2power]

For those of you who don't appreciate the blackmail accusation against BushCo,
this is a prime examlple of yet another Congressman pulled back into line!!!!!!!!!

[stlrfan]

Typical, Warner makes support noises, then when he gets "the call" he stabs them in the back. Republicons with their lapel pins and bumper stickers don't support the troops, they only support Bushco.

[repubesnivel]

Yeah Warner, hang in there like the asshole you are.

The soldiers will be so thankful for you bailing, again.

[louinphx]

Just as I have said all along -- Warner has talked smack before about pulling his support of the WH on the war -- and always voted with them. He is nothing if not predictable.

[nikto]

Let's bring back the Draft, raise a 5-million-man army and go invade Denmark---We will take ALL of their beer, pastries and blondes--We will absolutely clean the place out!!

Next, on to Holland...

[grainger5]

Statement from the Finnish Ambassador to Pluto: "KLAATU! Barada Nikto! Berengi denna, Klaatu!"

[PADDYWHACK]

grainger can you transate that?

[ghostsofamerica]

First they came for the Iraqis, and we did nothing...


Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army


http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/20/1337226



http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/21/1340210

Blackwater has an aviation division -- not that I know of. Blackwater has an aviation division,and they have at least 20aircraft. And one of the things that I did in the book was to look at the commonalities between the extraordinary rendition flights,the patterns of the aircraft that are engaged in Extraordin­aryRenditi­ons,and Blackwater’s aircraft. And several of Blackwater’s aircraft,as I document in the book,fit the pattern,the flight patterns,of these flights that were engaged in Extraordin­aryRenditi­on.

Now,I have to say,I’ve tried to get all of Blackwater’s contracts. Some of them are classified. In fact,Blackwater’s president,­GaryJackso­n,has said that some of their contracts are so secret that Blackwater can’t tell one federal government entity what it’s doing for the other. I think this is a story that really needs to be examined much more thoroughly. I think it’s something that Congress should be investigating. The EuropeanUnion,when it began to do its investigat­ions,Black­water’s name popped up in their study. This is something I’m going to continue to follow.

I find it interesting that Blackwater has this thriving aviation division and the ViceChairman of the company is CoferBlack,the man who really kickstarted the widespread use of extraordinary renditions after 9/11,where prisoners are taken on the battlefield,zipped up or not on the battlefield,out of JFK Airport -zipped up,a diaper placed on them,shackled and sent to a third country hell-hole to be tortured.

ag: And this was Cofer Black in a previous position within the CIA?

js: Yes, he was the head of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center, the man who told Congress that after 9/11 the gloves came off.


JS: He’s now the vice chair of Blackwater and one of the people behind this new intelligence company that Blackwater executives are at the core of. And they’re marketing their services to private companies. This is one of the frightening new frontiers of private warfare. .."

[repubesnivel]

See, it's this ghostie...­.you are not on topic. Imagine my surprise. I mean, you are not on topic.

No crap, you cut and paste piece of lint.

[hugs4u]

What could you expect from a repukeican when they are needed for the country. they would rather kiss bush worthless butt.

[oldschooldemocrat]

Please contact your legislators to demand support for this bill which genuinely supports our service men and women.

[researcher]

Welcome to America where we worry about dwell time for our mercenary army.
This war is illegal and we worry about dwell time for our troops.

This Americans is imperialism defined.

Lets get more Mexicans up here and offer them 20,000 and US citizenship to go to Iraq and kill Iraqis.

Yes the two party system is working just fine.

Both parties imperialists bought and paid for by the industrial military complex.

[Captain EdwardGraham]

Big oil’s waiting game over Iraq’s reserves
By Ed Crooks and Sheila McNulty

Published: September 18 2007 23:07 | Last updated: September 18 2007 23:07

In Iraq, oil companies face a dilemma. They can wait for the central government in Baghdad to agree a new oil law that will give them a legal framework in which they can operate, and for the security situation to become manageable.

Or they can press ahead and sign agreements with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the authority in the autonomous north of Iraq, at the risk of souring relations with Baghdad and shutting themselves out of deals in the rest of the country.

It is a decision that has so far divided the smaller operators from the majors.


http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/314b8bce-6612-11dc-9fbb-0000779fd2ac.html

[KBAR]

http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/21836

Iraq to resume oil shipments to Jordan

Iraq is to start this week delivering oil to Jordan at preferential rates under a year-old agreement, the kingdom's transport minister said in an interview published on Sunday.

"The Iraqi side has informed the Jordanian authorities that it was ready deliver shipments ... within three days," Saud Nessayrat told Ad-Dustour daily.