Schumer: Success In Iraq A "50/50" Proposal (VIDEO)

Sunday's twin bombings in Iraq were the first topic of discussion on NBC's Meet The Press Sunday morning. The attacks killed at least 147 and wounded 720.

Referencing the attack, David Gregory asked Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and John Cornyn (R-TX) if the US had "won in Iraq."

GREGORY: Have we won in Iraq?

SEN. SCHUMER: Well...

SEN. CORNYN: I think we've certainly made great progress. You know, I wouldn't declare a victory or say we've won, but it certainly is much better than anyone even...

GREGORY: Mm-hmm.

SEN. CORNYN: ...hoped for just a few months ago.

SEN. SCHUMER: If, if the goal...

GREGORY: It's premature?

SEN. SCHUMER: ...if the, if the goal has--if the goal was to stop terrorism, that link between Iraq and terrorism has long been exposed as false. If the goal is to bring stability, it's still a 50/50 proposition even after all we've done.

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Before Sen. Schumer stated the dim "50/50" prospects for succeess in Iraq, he praised the sacrifice of troops, noting that over 4,000 had given their lives for the war. Schumer also noted the war's staggering $1 trillion price tag.

Sunday's bombings follow a report released by the Iraqi government estimating that 85,000 civilians died from 2004-2009. Deaths logged from March 2003 (the invastion of Iraq) - 2004, were not included in the government's tally. About 148,000 people were injured during the same period.

Comments

[Beca]

I think we need to put this out to a national referendum vote.


How do American tax payers want their money spent:

a) murdering people and destroying lives & communities in foreign lands, or

b) guaranteeing and providing health care to every U.S. citizen

Yeah, I know, the right wing extremists love the feel of our country throwing bombs at innocent people and destroying their homes and communities--so we know that they will vote to kill. They have proven that they don't give two hoots over American citizens (unless they are politically and financially alighend with them).
But I am confident that the % of murdering selfish voters will be much lower than the % of people who would rather use our tax dollars to keep our country healthy. (at leat I hope that to be the case/!)

[NEFox]

A big AMEN to that Beca. It's absurd to think of spending such big amounts on killing people overseas instead of making sure people have the health care they need here.

[Beca]

Please take note: Over (ONE) 1 TRILLION DOLLARS already spent on the invasion of Iraq since 2003-- and counting. This year, Congress just approved $636.3 BILLION defense spending for this fiscal year.
How many of these so called "fiscal conservatives" both the republicans and the blue dogs have yelled foul on this expenditure?? How many have asked "how are we going to pay for this?" , How many have stated their opposition to this bill for the sake of "American taxpayers and all our grandchildren who will have to pay this bill"? . NONE, since 2003, Congress has blindly approved the axhorbitant cost of this unnecessary invasiont--and none of the so called 'fiscal conservatives" ever said a peep about it. This new defense bill was approved by 93-7 votes, and the repugs who didn't vote yeah did so onlyin protest for the hate crimes ammendment that was slipped in there, but not because of the price tag.
However, according to these representatives, it is not OK that our OWN TAX-DOLLARS BE USED TO PROVIDE AND GUARANTEE HEALTH CARE TO EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN, WITH A LOWER PRICE TAG OF $900 BILLION FOR TEN (10) YEARS.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

[NEFox]

it's funny how we get such a loud outcry over health care issues, by supposed conservatives, but little over spending trillions on war overseas. One would think we could concentrat on getting rid of fraud, waste and abuse of power, and then start using our money where it would actually do some good. Think about it: Good healthcare for all of us. Good schools. Human rights. Better streets and highways. Etc.......­.........A­nd actually helping people in other countries, instead of destroying them.

[scottbalogh]

Violence begets violence. Who will be brave enough to stop it and say no more. Will people ever learn? Chasing bin Laden was very popular in the beginning. C'mon boys, let's get him. Yeah, then let's go ofter that rotten Saddam and free those poor people. They will welcome us with flowers and candy. Right boss, we are the good guys after all. It's ok for good guys to kill if they are the good guys. Sour and snide is how I have felt for years. And Bush and Cheney and the rest sold themselves as Christians. Did anyone believe them, anyone? Not I, not for a second.

[NEFox]

as one who considers herself a Christion, it always stuns me when I see such examples of good Christian behavior. I think He would be ashamed.

[Cwhyel]

It will be won when the defense contractors exceed their revenue projections.

I don't feel any safer from terrorists.

[NEFox]

A little gremlin in the corner of my mind wonders how many of said contractors are greedy enough to be selling weapons to the very terrorists we are trying to get rid of.

[NEFox]

a little gremlin in the corner of my mind wonders how many of said contractors are actually selling wepons to the very terr0rists we are trying to getr rid of.

[scottbalogh]

I hope the world has learned not mess with the US

[NEFox]

Yeah, no need to bother with that. We're getting good at being self-destructive. I'm guessing we can go right down the drain with little effort, if we don't start using a little intelligence.

[Nosmanic]

No one talks about to "ethical cleasing", killing all the men and raping all the women, that happen in Iraq. And that our troops didn't lift a finger. Well that's what the right calls mission accomplished.

[afgail]

Let the factions of Muslim tear each other apart until there is a "winner". The US has no role to play in this internacine war. Realistically we can not be a referee. In the end the most ruthless will prevail Give back the oil fields and just quit the country.

[hopefull252]

Iraqi government estimating that 85,000 civilians died from 2004-2009.

And someone thinks we won?

[NEFox]

Yep! we have a bloody nose, cauliflower ears(can't hear out of the left one), a broken leg and both eyes blackened, but we'rre still standing, and we're still the biggest, so I guess that makes us the winner!

[Mystic01]

"Win in Iraq"? Please. anybody with a brain, anybody with military experience, anybody with a knowledge of history knew this was never possible.

[miller4me10]

were you one of the people that said the surge would have no effect too?

[fedupscot]

....85,000 deaths of Iraqi civillians from 2004 to 2009"!!! On what freaking planet? The spin doctors are hard at work again. Quit printing their lies....take a stand for once!!! Question what is being said.

[Dham4201]

I'm thinking the exact same thing...by many estimates the true toll is upwards of 500,000...maybe more.

[Beca]

Actually, estimates go all the way up to 1 million. The 85,000 Iraqi gov. estimate is from the time they decided to start counting. Human rights organizations have been keeping a count since the begining, and the estimates are exceed 1 million Iraqi deaths.

[kozy]

The important thing is that we STOP health care. A trillion or so and thousands of lives on a war with questionable results is a great success according to the far right. Just, don't spend any money on SAVING lives as in heatth care. Lunacy prevails, lobbyists control the government instead of voters, and the aristocracy is smiling. Cheers.

[wendynyc]

Saddam Hussein set up a booby trap for the Americans and they blindly walked right in!

He and George W have successfully destroyed the fabric of society in that ancient civilization.

So many innocent people killed and so many families torn apart!

We are all to blame - we allowed it to happen...

[salkoc]

congress should pass a clawback provision on cheney / bush wealth . they should have to pay for the mess they created.

[stillbarbi]

They are war criminals, and should not be free.

[thebeerdoctor]

There will never be a sense of shame from the shameless ones.

[salkoc]

saddam hussein was hung for less .......just curious on how we look in the hypocrysy window.

[Polichick66]

And the war criminal speaks out publicly against the Obama administration 'dithering', of all hypocritical things. I thought the election last year would mean change more than it has, but I still have hope!