Comments:

Flat Nested Threaded Embedded

Oldest First Newest First

Author	Thread:
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:32 PM Former U.S. Official in Iraq to Plead Guilty to Corruption: A former American occupation official in Iraq is expected to plead guilty to bribery, conspiracy, money laundering and other charges in federal court on Thursday for his actions in a scheme to use sexual favors, jewelry and millions of dollars in cash to steer reconstruction work to a corrupt contractor, according to papers filed with the court. The official, Robert J. Stein Jr., served as a comptroller and funding officer in 2003 and 2004 for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which governed Iraq after the American-led invasion. Four Americans, including Mr. Stein and the contractor, Philip H. Bloom, have been arrested in the case. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,593 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,007 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:34 PM The entire world knows beyond dispute that Saddam Hussein holds weapons of mass destruction in large quantities. —Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States of America, September 23, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:36 PM If you've retired, you don't have anything to worry about. —George W. Bush, Greece, New York, May 24, 2005
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2006 5:53 PM 5 More U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq: American military officials also announced the deaths of five service members. Three were soldiers who died when a roadside bomb struck their vehicle south of Baghdad on Thursday. A fourth soldier was killed Wednesday after being struck by small arms fire in southwestern Baghdad, and a marine was killed in combat on Wednesday near Falluja, west of the capital. Mass Killings Push Iraq Toward Civil War:  BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The bullet-riddled bodies of 14 Sunni Arab men purportedly seized by Shiite-led forces last week were found in Baghdad, and a prominent Sunni politician accused the government Saturday of pushing Iraq toward ''civil war.'' The grisly discovery threatens to further polarize Iraq's ethnic and religious groups at the same time Iraqi officials try to form a national unity government, which the United States hopes will lead to a curbing of this country's rampant bloodshed. The bodies were shot multiple times and dumped in the back of a truck in northern Baghdad late Friday, said Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali Kamal, the Interior Ministry's head of intelligence. He said he did not know if government forces had detained the men. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,596 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,010 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2006 5:55 PM Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. —George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, October 7, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2006 5:56 PM In New Orleans and in other places, many of our fellow citizens have felt excluded from the promise of our country.  —George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 31, 2006
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Monday, February 06, 2006 2:35 PM Ethnic Cleansing Prepares Iraq for Civil War: Local Sunnis said Shiites also began expelling many Sunni families from their homes, pushing them out of neighborhoods where Shiites predominated. In the Wihida district, just outside Salman Pak, 26 Sunni families were forced to leave their homes, said a Sunni man who contended he had left his house and fled the town in fear for his life. The allegations, while difficult to verify, appeared to match expulsions of Sunnis from some Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,598 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,012 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Monday, February 06, 2006 2:37 PM I can't tell you today if the use of force in Iraq will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that. —Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense of the United States of America, November 14, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Monday, February 06, 2006 2:38 PM To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nukyular energy. —George W. Bush, 2006 State of the Union Address, January 31, 2006
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 9:25 AM Roadside Bombs Kill Four U.S. Marines in Iraq: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 7 — The American military today announced the deaths of four Marines killed by roadside bombs in western Iraq, and two coordinated blasts in central Baghdad killed at least three people and wounded 20. ... The American military said today that a Marine had been killed on Sunday by an improvised bomb during combat in al-Anbar province in western Iraq, and that three other Marines were killed on Monday by a bomb in the city of Hit in the same region. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,599 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,013 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 9:27 AM If he declares he has no weapons of mass destruction, then we will know that Saddam Hussein is once again misleading the world. —Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary, December 2, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 9:28 AM I'm here to talk about welfare reform, but I'm also here to make sure that the good people of Ohio send this good man back to the Governor's Mansion. There was a lot of reasons to send him back, but none greater than the fact that he married well. —George W. Bush, Taft for Governor Luncheon, Columbus, Ohio, May 10, 2002
Been There	Stealing from Our Children and Grandchildren Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 9:35 AM George W. Bush continues to make good on his original 2000 campaign pledge to restore fiscal irresponsibility to the federal government: Deficit Will Hit $423 Billion in 2006, White House Says. The president is also calling on Congress to make his tax cuts permanent, and the White House acknowledges that the costs of war and of the recovery from Hurricane Katrina will contribute to setting a new record budget deficit of $423 billion for 2006. Bush and his cronies contend in public that arithmetic is just a trick used by professors to discredit tax cuts for the rich, while sniggering in private about the voters who fall for it. Now we face the consequences of the White House deception. For years to come, our children and grandchildren will pay the price for the Bush administration's stealing. It was obvious to everyone with a brain that stealing would be rampant once Bush became president. The people who voted for Bush anyway fall into three categories: Dopes who don't believe in arithmetic. Crooks who expect to benefit from Bush's stealing. Compromisers who condone Bush's stealing because they think he's against abortion. Been There
GoBackToCanada	Stealing from Our Children and Grandchildren Posted: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 1:04 PM Been There,   Since you are so convinced that, just because I support President Bush, I must be either a dope, a crook, or a compromiser, I am therefore going to assume just one thing about you. That, based on the frequency and times of your posts, you are a welfare abusing, Democrat lover who is waiting for a liberal to get back in office to support your lazy butt by taking the taxpayers hard earned dollars and handing it over to you, for doing nothing. Personally, I'd rather risk war and take out a few wrong-doing Muslim leaders than pay for welfare babies for the rest of my life. Thank you very much.
Been There	Stealing from Our Children and Grandchildren Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 12:00 AM Nice to hear from you, HaveAJob. You'll be happy to learn that I do pay taxes, lots of taxes, and don't like to see the government waste money on stupid programs either. My point is that whatever the idiots in Washington (and both the Republicans and Democrats have plenty of idiots) decide to spend money on, we need to pay for those things as we go. Our children and grandchildren will have plenty of problems of their own, and it is absolutely immoral to steal from them to solve our problems now. Been There
GoBackToCanada	Stealing from Our Children and Grandchildren Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 10:15 AM Been There,   What programs is the government currently running that you consider stupid? I am curious to know, because whatever your answer may be, it is going to mean taking money away from some sort of interest group for the benefit of another, which means you find one group of individuals more deserving of assistance than another...that completely contradicts your complaint.   I also agree with you...it is not the ideal situation to be taking money from the future and using it now. But under the circumstances, do you think our children and grandchildren would have much of a future if it was laden with terrorism and nuclear threat? I think securing a SAFE future for our coming generations is a feasable way to spend their "stolen" money.   And what of the money that we are now stealing from our own grandparents? You make no mention of the Social Security problems we are facing and how that is beginning and going to prolongingly effect the elder generations, especially the aging baby boomer population. We, essentially, are stealing social security money to pay for things going on in today's world, but I am willing to deal with that in order to secure my safety.   No president in the history of the U.S. has done everything to the tee, and I don't think pointing out every flaw, like grammar mistakes and his lack of oration skills, is going to justify your attacks on his policy to keep Americans safe and keep the war from entering our hometowns.
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 1:11 PM Two Months After Elections, Still No Government in Iraq: BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's dominant Shi'ite Islamist bloc is struggling to choose its candidate for prime minister, delaying negotiations on the formation of a new government nearly two months after the elections. Leaders of the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) have held a series of meetings over the past three weeks to try to agree on a candidate for the top job in the new cabinet. But divisions between the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), led by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, and the al-Dawa Party, headed by Ibrahim al-Jaafari, have only led to a stalemate. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: Exactly 1,600 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,014 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 1:36 PM We know for a fact that there are weapons of mass destruction there. —Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary, January 9, 2003
Been There	1600 Days Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 1:42 PM Today we commemorate 1600 days since president Bush made his pledge to bring Osama bin Laden to justice "dead or alive." Here is a transcript of his remarks to Pentagon employees on September 17, 2001: I want justice. Q    Do you want bin Laden dead?      THE PRESIDENT:  I want justice.  There's an old poster out west, as I recall, that said, "Wanted: Dead or Alive." Q    Are you saying you want him dead or alive, sir?  Can I interpret --      THE PRESIDENT:  I just remember, all I'm doing is remembering when I was a kid I remember that they used to put out there in the old west, a wanted poster.  It said:  "Wanted, Dead or Alive."  All I want and America wants him brought to justice.  That's what we want. If Bush had followed up on that pledge, we would be much safer today. Instead, he dropped the ball on bin Laden, telling the terrorists that we'd get involved somewhere else if they held out long enough. The result is--and will continue to be--an increase in terrorism around the world. Been There
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 1:44 PM I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about Osama bin Laden. —George W. Bush, White House, March 13, 2002
Been There	Stealing from Our Children and Grandchildren Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 1:47 PM Hi HaveAJob, I don't see how my insisting that our government should be fiscally responsible contradicts my opinion that some government programs are stupid. I've made purchases from time to time that I later decided were stupid, but I still paid for them myself (and learned my lesson). But, since you asked, I can think of many stupid ways the government spends our tax money. Every budget bill contains billions of pork-barrel expenditures designed to make members of congress--Republicans and Democrats--look good to the voters at election time. Even worse, billions go to build weapons that the military neither needs nor wants, because influential legislators call the shots. Meanwhile many in military service in Iraq lack the armor they should have. I have posted in the past about the problems you mention about social security and the changing demographics, but you are the only other poster to show the slightest interest in that topic here. To me, those looming problems make today's fiscal irresponsibility even more appalling. I certainly do not agree with you that we should steal money from our children and grandchildren to solve current problems--whether or not we expect them to benefit from those solutions. In my opinion, that "Me Generation" approach typifies the whole Bush operation: First, steal from your parents and grandparents (as you pointed out), and when that is gone, steal from your children and grandchildren. And why? Just because the Bush people are too lazy to get off their butts and pull their own weight by paying for what they buy. Our children and grandchildren will face their own problems, huge problems, and it's disgusting that this "Me Generation" administration wants to load the cost of solving our current problems on their backs too. Been There
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Friday, February 10, 2006 9:45 AM 2 More U.S. Marines Killed in Iraq: The U.S. military announced Friday that two American Marines were killed a day earlier after their patrol was attacked by a roadside bomb near the one-time insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad. Their deaths took the number of U.S. military personnel killed to at least 2,269 since the Iraq war began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. U.S. officials were analyzing a new videotape aired late Thursday by a Kuwaiti television station showing American journalist Jill Carroll, who appealed to supporters to do whatever necessary to secure her freedom. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,602 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,016 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Friday, February 10, 2006 9:46 AM Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. —George W. Bush, State of the Union address, January 28, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Friday, February 10, 2006 9:48 AM I'm sorry the room is so small. I suspect we could have accommodated a lot more people if we had a bigger room.   —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 12, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Saturday, February 11, 2006 9:52 AM Another General Speaks Up About White House Stupidity: General Eaton was commander of all Army infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga., when he was told on May 9, 2003 — just over a week after President Bush's "mission accomplished" speech — to hurry to Baghdad, where he was to set up and then command an organization to rebuild Iraq's military. "I was very surprised to receive a mission so vital to our exit strategy so late," the general said. "I would have expected this to have been done well before troops crossed the line of departure. That was my first reaction: 'We're a little late here.' " ... "We set out to man, train and equip an army for a country of 25 million — with six men," General Eaton said. He worked into the autumn with "a revolving door of individual loaned talent that would spend between two weeks and two months," he said, and never received even half the 250 professional staff members he had been promised. The general's broad assessment of the problems he confronted was seconded by Walter B. Slocombe, sent by the Bush administration to Baghdad for six months to serve as the senior civilian adviser on national security and defense. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,603 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,017 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Saturday, February 11, 2006 9:54 AM Saddam Hussein has the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent. —George W. Bush, State of the Union address, January 28, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Saturday, February 11, 2006 9:56 AM It's clear when you get to know Steve Largent that he's got his principles indelibly etched on his heart. —George W. Bush, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 29, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:12 AM Al-Jaafari Named to Head Iraq's New Government: BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Shiite lawmakers Sunday chose incumbent Ibrahim al-Jaafari to be Iraq's new prime minister, taking a key step in forming a government nearly two months after national elections, officials said. Al-Jaafari is assured the post because Shiites won the most parliament seats in the Dec. 15 national elections. He won 64 votes in a caucus of Shiite legislators, one more than Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, officials said. There were two abstentions. After parliament convenes within two weeks, members must choose the largely ceremonial position of president, who will then designate the alliance's choice as the new prime minister. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,604 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,018 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:13 AM We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more.   —Colin Powell, Secretary of State of the United States of America, February 5, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Sunday, February 12, 2006 10:14 AM This fundraiser is going to be history in about 30 minutes -- or if I keep it shorter than that, about 20 minutes. —George W. Bush, Anne Northup for Congress Luncheon, Louisville, Kentucky, September 5, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Monday, February 13, 2006 10:08 AM Cleric Who Led Bloody Uprisings Against U.S. Troops Picks Iraq's New Prime Minister: Mr. Jaafari, a moderate Islamist, has been widely criticized as a weak leader over the past year and was considered a long shot to continue in his post. But he defeated his main rival by 64 to 63 in a vote of members of the Shiite bloc on Sunday morning after gaining support from followers of Moktada al-Sadr, the renegade Shiite cleric who is outspoken in his hostility to the United States. Mr. Sadr's followers now control the largest bloc of seats — 32 of 130 — within the Shiite alliance. They decided to vote for Mr. Jaafari after he promised to help carry out their political program, said Bahaa al-Aaraji, a member of Parliament and a spokesman for Mr. Sadr's group. Mr. Aaraji would not say exactly what the prime minister had agreed to. Mr. Jaafari may also have benefited from Mr. Sadr's longstanding grudge against the religious Shiite party of Mr. Jaafari's main rival. But Mr. Jaafari's surprise victory illustrated the growing political power of Mr. Sadr, who led two bloody uprisings against the American occupation and the interim government in 2004 and has made it clear that he favors a prompt American withdrawal from Iraq. In recent visits to Iran and Syria, Mr. Sadr has expressed solidarity with the leaders of those countries and angry opposition to American policy toward them. Mr. Sadr also commands the Mahdi Army, a broad-based militia that has been largely quiet since 2004 but is still armed and is said to be behind some recent deadly attacks on British troops in Basra. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,605 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,019 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Monday, February 13, 2006 10:15 AM Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons.   —George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, February 8, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Monday, February 13, 2006 10:16 AM August was a month of accomplishment here in Washington. —George W. Bush, White House, August 2, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 10:13 AM 4 U.S. Soldiers Killed by Blast in Afghanistan: KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 13 — Four American soldiers were killed Monday when their Humvee was hit in a remote-controlled roadside explosion as they were patrolling with an Afghan army unit in the southern province of Uruzgan, the United States military said. The explosion was so powerful that the four men were killed immediately, the chief spokesman for the United States military in Afghanistan, Col. Jim Yonts, said in a statement. Shortly after the explosion, the patrol came under attack from three small homes above the road, which winds through a valley, Colonel Yonts said. A group of insurgents fired down on the convoy with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades, he said, destroying another vehicle and forcing the convoy to call in air support, including B-52 bombers and Apache helicopters. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,606 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,020 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 10:14 AM Iraq has also provided Al Qaeda with chemical and biological weapons training.   —George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, February 8, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 10:15 AM I believe we can bring peace to parts of the world that may not seem like there ever is going to be peace. —George W. Bush, Kansas City, Missouri, June 11, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:44 AM Army IG Reviewing Soldier's Death by Friendly Fire in Iraq: The Army inspector general's office has launched a review of a friendly-fire case at a security checkpoint in Iraq that claimed the life of a young Ohio soldier, Army officials said. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,607 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,021 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:46 AM There is no question but what they will welcome as liberators the United States when we come. —Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States of America, March 16, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 9:47 AM And I want to thank the Morella men for allowing Connie to serve our nation and encouraging her to serve our nation. —George W. Bush, Friends of Connie Morella for Congress luncheon, Washington, D.C., June 28, 2002
BeNice	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 12:53 PM A few questions come to mind when i read all of the blathering you have done.   Does this idiot have a Job?   Should this person perhaps move to Mass. or California so he/she can be with other liberal terrorist like Kennedy and Boxer?   Do you spit on veterans when you meet them?   Did you write this kind of stuff when Clinton was in office?   What are you trying to accomplish?   Is this another attempt by some liberal loser to brain wash the masses?
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 3:27 PM Hi Benice, Nice to hear from you! It's always good to discuss issues with folks who can put forward the best arguments of the other side in a lucid, cogent manner. I notice, though, that you did not take exception to any of the facts I've posted, but rather to the fact that I chose to post them. Any particular reason for that? Been There
Wutzup	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 5:36 PM THREE CHEERS FOR BEEN THERE! HIP HIP HOORAY! HIP HIP HOORAY! HIP HIP HOORAY!
BeNice	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 5:50 PM Typical Liberal.....(Yes, Been There, this applies to you) You choose not to address any of my questions. Instead, you choose to ask another question of me. This is the problem with you liberals...NO PLANS....NO ANSWERS... NO COURSE OF ACTION TO MAKE THE FUTURE BETTER...   State an opinion of your own thinking already...not just quotes from some news source or other blog site...   What you post are not facts unless you put each and every statement/ quote into its proper context...CAN YOU DO THAT???   I don't have a problem what so ever with you posting whatever your little heart desires. I'm all about respecting the freedoms that our young service members fight for......unlike you probably...I've BEEN THERE.
Wutzup	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 6:24 PM Bernice: "Typical dumbass" applies to you; to ask a question of a questioner is called the Socratic method but I doubt you have any idea what that means or what it involves. If you thought about it, you could infer from the name -Been There- that you are talking to a vet of some war or wars -one who deplores the loss of innocent young lives - for what? I ask the question rather than supplying my opinion in true Socratic style. If you wer really there as you say, I imagine it was as a cook or quatermaster.
Wutzup	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 7:06 PM Or from the sound of you, you were probably cleaning out the latrines.
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006 10:57 AM 4 Schoolchildren Are Killed as Baghdad Violence Surges: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 15 — At least 11 people, including four children walking to school, were killed in a surge of bombings and assassinations in the capital on Wednesday. Radical Cleric Rising as a Kingmaker in Iraqi Politics: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 15 — Late Saturday night, on the eve of a crucial vote to choose Iraq's next prime minister, a senior Iraqi politician's cellphone rang. A supporter of the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr was on the line with a threat. "He said that there's going to be a civil war among the Shia" if Mr. Sadr's preferred candidate was not confirmed, the politician said. Less than 12 hours later, and after many similar calls to top Shiite leaders, Mr. Sadr got his wish. The widely favored candidate lost by one vote, and Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the interim prime minister, was anointed as Iraq's next leader. "Everyone was stunned; it was a coup d'état," said the politician, a senior member of the main Shiite political coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance. It was a crowning moment for Mr. Sadr, whose sudden rise to political power poses a stark new set of challenges for Iraq's fledgling democracy. The man who led the Mahdi Army militia's two deadly uprisings against American troops in 2004 now controls 32 seats in Iraq's Parliament, enough to be a kingmaker. He has an Islamist vision of Iraq's future, and is implacably hostile to the Iraqis closest to the United States — the mostly secular Kurds, and Ayad Allawi, the former prime minister. Mr. Sadr's militia fighters have been quieter since the uprisings, but they are suspected in a range of continuing assassinations and other abuses that American officials have pledged to stop. Mr. Sadr himself was accused by the American of arranging a killing in 2004, though the arrest warrant was quietly dropped. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,608 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,022 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006 10:59 AM The Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.   —George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, March 17, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006 11:01 AM It will be a signature -- I won't hesitate. It will probably take about -- you know, about three seconds to get to the W, I may hesitate on the period, and then rip through the Bush. —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 24, 2002
Been There	In Context Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006 11:12 AM Hi Benice, If you reread your first post yesterday, you'll notice that you did not present me with a list of questions to answer. Rather, your post was about what popped into your mind while reading these discussions. Questions and Answers However, because you gave that as your reason for ducking my question to you, I'm going to respond to your questions first. Fair is fair! Do I have a job? Yes, one that I enjoy very much. Should I move to Massachusetts or California because of my political views? No, I feel quite comfortable living in the area where I was born and raised. Like a majority of the voters in Michigan, I did not vote for Bush. In fact, our beautiful peninsula is represented in Washington by a congressman and two senators -- all of whom oppose Bush.   The more logical question is whether you should move to a red state like Idaho or Utah where more voters share your politics. I wouldn't suggest that though, because I like being surrounded by folks with a variety of viewpoints. Do I spit on veterans when I meet them? No. Between the two us, I'm the one who truly supports our military. Did I write this way about Clinton? I didn't have that opportunity. This web site wasn't up back then and I wasn't posting. However, political labels cut no ice with me, and I certainly denounced Clinton's failings to my friends, neighbors, and family when he held the presidency. What am I trying to accomplish? I believe the web is a great way for people in small communities to exchange information and opinions without interference from governments and corporations, so I'm being a good citizen by participating here. Am I trying to brainwash the masses? Masses? You've got to be kidding! I'm just posting facts that I consider important and opinions that I believe to be correct. Okay, Benice, I've answered your questions, so now your reason for ducking mine has gone away. Opinion You want me to state an opinion? Happy to oblige! My big issue with Bush from the beginning was his willingness to steal from our children and grandchildren to finance federal programs. I've stated my objections to that practice over and over in these discussions, and sometimes a Bush supporter comes in to offer an excuse for his stealing  -- putting Bush's stealing into the 'proper context,' I suppose you'd say. In the past, those posters have always slunk away with their tails between their legs after a couple of exchanges. Perhaps you are made of sterner stuff. I hope so! Plan You want a plan to eliminate Bush's stealing? Okay, I'll lay it out for you right here: When creating the federal budget, compare the amount of tax revenues to be collected with the amount of money to be spent. If there is not enough money coming in to pay the bills, cut spending and raise taxes until the amounts are in balance. Then pass the budget. It's as simple as that. In his last campaign, Bush promised to reduce his stealing by 50% over five years. But this year he is asking for yet another record-breaking deficit. That doesn't sound like a plan to me. Does it to you? Been There
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:28 AM Iraq Interior Ministry Operates Death Squads: The investigation comes after months of reports that Sunni Arabs have been abducted by men in police uniforms only to be found dead days or weeks later, handcuffed and shot in the head. Hundreds of killings have taken place, infuriating Sunni Arab leaders and generating one of Iraq's most explosive political issues. The new investigation was started after Maj. Gen. Joseph Peterson, the American who oversees training of Iraqi forces, said he had discovered a death squad operating with Interior Ministry uniforms and ID cards, said Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal, a deputy to Iraq's interior minister. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,609 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,023 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:31 AM Well, there is no question that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical particularly. All this will be made clear in the course of the operation, for whatever duration it takes. —Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary, March 21, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Friday, February 17, 2006 10:32 AM I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Now watch my drive. —George W. Bush, Kennebunkport, Maine, August 4, 2002
BeNice	In Context Posted: Friday, February 17, 2006 4:17 PM Been There,   I don't see how i'm ducking your question. Are you refering to when you asked me about your choice to post what you posted and me not refuting any of the content?-Or, the fact you chose to post what you posted. If i can answer both with one simple statement i will give it my best go.   I don't refute the quotes you post are true as far as being exact quotes. I don't care what you post, where you do it,and who it offends.This is the beauty of the internet.   I would like you to start putting these quotes into the proper context, I would find them much more interesting. Until then "Reader Beware"    If you overheard me say " I don't like Blacks" would you automatically call me a racist. I could have been talking about the fact i don't like black cherries,or black crested spinner baits for murky water bass fishing. Context is as important as content and sometimes more so.   I hope i cleared that up/ answered your question. If i didn't i will be happy to try again.
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2006 9:54 AM Roadside Bombs Kill U.S. Soldier, 9 Iraqis: BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A spate of roadside bombings killed a U.S. soldier and at least nine Iraqis in Baghdad and north of the capital Saturday, officials said. Two Macedonians were kidnapped in southern Iraq, while a search was underway for a private German plane missing in the north. Company Executive Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Fraud in Iraq: WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 — An executive for a company that was hired by Kellogg, Brown & Root, the Halliburton subsidiary [Vice President's Cheney's company], to fly cargo into Iraq for the war effort has pleaded guilty to inflating invoices by $1.14 million to cover fraudulent "war risk surcharges," a federal district court in Illinois announced Thursday. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,610 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,024 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2006 9:56 AM There is no doubt that the regime of Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. As this operation continues, those weapons will be identified, found, along with the people who have produced them and who guard them. —General Tommy Franks, March 22, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2006 9:57 AM I've raised twins. If I had a choice, I'd rather go to war.   —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., January 27, 2002
Been There	In Context Posted: Saturday, February 18, 2006 10:08 AM Hi Benice, In general, I would agree with you about the need to establish the source and context of historical quotes presented to make a point. In this case, however, you are wrong. The Bush administration quotes that I post from the run-up to our country's attack on Iraq are still familiar to every American adult who reads newspapers or watches television. We already know what the context was. Those quotes simply serve as reminders of what we heard the Bush crew say before the war. It's helpful to remember those statements as we read today's news. The quotes I post under the "Presidential Thought for the Day" heading are probably not so familiar, but I think everyone enjoys reading them, regardless of his or her political leanings. Anyone who is interested in more details (or who doubts their authenticity) can look them up. But I'm sure that most everyone has heard enough actual Bush verbiage to realize that the quotes I post are accurate. Do you condone Bush's fiscal irresponsibility? Been There
Norway	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2006 9:51 AM Watzup, I am with you!!!    THREE CHEERS FOR BEEN THERE! HIP HIP HOORAY! HIP HIP HOORAY! HIP HIP HOORAY!   Norway
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2006 10:15 AM Influential Iraqi Cleric Sadr Rejects Constitution: "I reject this constitution which calls for sectarianism and there is nothing good in this constitution at all," he told Al Jazeera television late on Saturday. Sadr, a rebel leader turned political kingmaker, said the charter was unacceptable, complicating efforts to form a government more than two months after parliamentary elections. "If there is a democratic government in Iraq, nobody has the right to call for the establishment of federalism anywhere in Iraq whether it is the south, north, middle or any other part of Iraq," said Sadr. His stand could give political ammunition to Iraq's Arab Sunnis, who want major amendments to a charter they fear will give Shi'ites and Kurds too much power and control over oil resources. The young cleric, who led two armed uprisings against U.S. and Iraqi troops, has emerged as a potent force in Iraqi politics, joining the powerful United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), which won 128 of 275 seats in parliament in December 15 polls. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,611 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,025 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2006 10:17 AM We know where the weapons of mass destruction are. They are in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad.   —Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense of the United States of America, March 30, 2003
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2006 10:18 AM You need to tell your loved ones, the little ones in particular, that when they hear the President talking about Al Qaeda, Iraq and other places, I do so because I long for peace. —George W. Bush, Louisville, Kentucky, September 5, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Monday, February 20, 2006 9:41 AM U.S. Warns Iraq Over Sectarian Divide Amid Fresh Violence; U.S. Soldier Killed: BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The U.S. ambassador to Iraq warned Iraqi politicians Monday they risk a loss of American support if they do not establish a genuine national unity government, saying the United States will not invest its resources in institutions run by sectarians. Meanwhile, at least 24 people, including an American soldier, were killed by bombings in Baghdad and elsewhere. ... As the country faces political deadlock, violence rages. The U.S. command said the American soldier was killed Monday by a roadside bomb southeast of Karbala, about 50 miles southeast of Baghdad. The soldier's name was not released pending notification of kin. In Baghdad, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt on a bus Monday in the Shiite district of Kazamiyah, killing 12 people and injuring 15, police said. Earlier, a bomb exploded next to tea stalls near Liberation Square, killing at least four day laborers and wounding 14, police said. In Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, a suicide attacker blew himself up in a restaurant packed with policemen eating breakfast, killing at least five people and wounding 21, including 10 policemen, officials said. Two more civilians died when a car bomb exploded in Madain southeast of Baghdad, police said. Eleven people, including three women, were injured. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,612 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,026 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	Beliefs Can Kill Posted: Monday, February 20, 2006 9:43 AM I felt like we would find weapons of mass destruction. —George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, January 14, 2005
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Monday, February 20, 2006 9:44 AM The invisible part of everything that you thought you could see, you can't see.   —George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, April 5, 2002 Context: Bush offering his appraisal of the Palestinian/Israeli situation in an interview with ITN
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 8:38 AM Violence in Iraq Continues Unabated: Bombing attacks on Monday, including one inside a crowded commuter bus in Baghdad and another in a restaurant in northern Iraq, left at least 26 dead and more than 60 wounded. One American soldier was also killed. ... The worst of the violence began in Mosul, in northern Iraq. Shortly after 7 a.m., a suicide bomber walked into the Abu Ali Restaurant and detonated his payload, spraying shrapnel into diners, killing at least six of them and wounding six more, the police and local officials said. The attack was a clear strike against the police force: the restaurant is near a police station and is popular among officers, many of whom were eating breakfast. "I could not hear anything, and there was heavy smoke," said Said Tharwat, a 30-year-old wounded in the attack. Several hours later in Baghdad, a man wearing a suicide vest boarded a bus in Kadimiya, a bustling Shiite neighborhood, and blew himself up, killing at least 12 Iraqis and wounding 15, most of them Shiite commuters, a Ministry of Interior official said. One witness said the fiery blast, which ignited the bus, had scattered body parts and severely burned the wounded. A nearby traffic policeman was also killed. The wounded, with burns on their hands and faces, were evacuated to Kadimiya Hospital, where an official reported a higher death toll: 17. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,613 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,027 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 8:40 AM I believe demolishing Hussein's military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk. —Ken Adelman, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, February 13, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 8:41 AM It changes when you walk into a shut-in's house, and say, "Can I love you?" —George W. Bush, Trenton, New Jersey, September 23, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:02 AM Blast Destroys Golden Dome of Sacred Shiite Shrine in Samarra: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 22 - Insurgents dressed as police commandos detonated powerful explosives on Wednesday morning inside one of Shiite Islam’s most sacred shrines, destroying most of the building, located in the volatile town of Samarra, and prompting thousands of Shiites to flood into streets across the country in protest. The golden-domed shrine housed the tombs of two revered leaders of Shiite Islam and symbolized the place where the Imam Mahdi, a mythical, messianic figure, disappeared from this earth. Believers in the imam say he will return when the apocalypse is near, to cleanse the world of its evils. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,614 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,028 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:04 AM Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt that he is amassing them to use against our friends, our allies and against us. —Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States, August 26, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 10:06 AM Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream. —George W. Bush, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, October 18, 2000
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:45 AM Despite U.S. Occupation Iraq Spirals Toward Civil War: The bombing, at the Askariya Shrine in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, wounded no one but left the famous golden dome at the site in ruins. The shrine is central to one of the most dearly held beliefs of Shiite Islam, and the bombing, coming after two days of bloody attacks that have left dozens of Shiite civilians dead, ignited a nationwide outpouring of rage and panic that seemed to bring Iraq closer than ever to outright civil war. Shiite militia members flooded the streets of Baghdad, firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at Sunni mosques while Iraqi Army soldiers who had been called out to stop the violence stood helpless nearby. By the day's end, mobs had struck or destroyed 27 Sunni mosques in the capital, killing three imams and kidnapping a fourth, Interior Ministry officials said. In all, at least 15 people were killed in related violence across the country. Thousands of grief-stricken people in Samarra crowded into the shrine's courtyard after the bombing, some weeping and kissing the fallen stones, others angrily chanting, "Our blood and souls we sacrifice for you, imams!" Iraq's major political and religious leaders issued urgent appeals for restraint, and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari called for a three-day mourning period in a televised address. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric, released an unusually strong statement in which he said, "If the government's security forces cannot provide the necessary protection, the believers will do it." Most Iraqi leaders attributed the attack to terrorists bent on exploiting sectarian rifts, but some also blamed the United States for failing to prevent it. Even the leader of Iraq's main Shiite political alliance said he thought Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador to Iraq, bore some responsibility. The Shiite leader, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, said Mr. Khalilzad's veiled threat on Monday to withdraw American support if Iraqis could not form a nonsectarian government helped provoke the bombing. "This declaration gave a green light for these groups to do their operation, so he is responsible for a part of that," Mr. Hakim said at a news conference. Gunmen Kill 47 Iraqi Factory Workers: The victims were traveling in three buses when they were stopped at a checkpoint in the Nahrawan area, about 12 miles south of Baqouba, said Dhari Thuban, a member of the Diyala Provincial Council. The buses were burned and their passengers killed, he said. The golden-domed shrine housed the tombs of two revered leaders of Shiite Islam and symbolized the place where the Imam Mahdi, a mythical, messianic figure, disappeared from this earth. Believers in the imam say he will return when the apocalypse is near, to cleanse the world of its evils. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,615 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,029 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:46 AM From a marketing point of view, you don't introduce new products in August. —Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff, September 7, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:48 AM I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer questions. I can't answer your question. —George W. Bush, Reynoldsburg, Ohio, October 4, 2000
Been There	Turning Tail Already? Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2006 9:55 AM Benice,   I wonder if you've ever come up with the reason that Bush supporters always prefer to argue using emotions rather than facts. The drug-addled talk-show hosts who blanket our airwaves every afternoon are a perfect example.   Could it be that the facts aren't friendly to the Bush crew? Think about it.   Been There
GlennK	Meditation Groups in the Copper Country? Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2006 4:39 PM Being new to the area I haven't found any meditation groups in the area.  Sometimes these groups meet but don't advertise so I'm asking if anyone knows of any.   If there isn't one I wonder how much interest there would be to form a non-sectarian, non-dogmatic sitting meditation group.  Just a bunch of like-minded individuals interested in meditation (for whatever reason) that would meet to meditate and support each other's practice. Thanks, Glenn
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Friday, February 24, 2006 10:24 AM Iraq Moves Closer To Civil War; 7 More U.S. Soldiers Slaughtered: Since Wednesday, a groundswell of sectarian fury has roiled Iraq, leaving at least 138 people dead in the first two days and political negotiations over the new government in ruins. The threat of full-scale civil war loomed over the country as Sunni politicians lashed out at Shiite leaders on Thursday, accusing them of igniting anti-Sunni reprisals, and at the American military, charging it with standing idly by as the violence erupted. The most powerful Sunni Arab political group said it was suspending talks with Shiite and Kurdish politicians on forming a new government. Across the country on Thursday, thousands of furious Shiites flooded the streets in a second day of protests against the bombing of the Askariya Shrine, whose signature golden dome was reduced to rubble by explosives on Wednesday morning in Sunni-dominated Samarra. ... Three journalists from Al Arabiya, the Arab satellite network, were abducted and killed Wednesday in Samarra, near the ruined shrine. Seven American soldiers were also killed Wednesday in unrelated attacks involving roadside bombs. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,616 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,030 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Friday, February 24, 2006 10:26 AM Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities used for the production of biological weapons.   —George W. Bush, President of the United States, September 12, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Friday, February 24, 2006 10:28 AM This deal wouldn't go forward if we were concerned about the security for the United States of America.   —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., February 23, 2006 Context: Bush discussing the pending sale of U.S. port operations to a Dubai-based company.
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2006 8:52 AM Attacks Surge in Iraq Despite Curfew: The violence occurred despite an extraordinary daytime curfew in Baghdad and three surrounding provinces. Stretched security forces could not be everywhere to contain attacks that have killed more than 150 people since Wednesday's shrine bombing and pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war. Iraq Militias Prepare for Civil War: BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 24 — The sectarian violence that has shaken Iraq this week has demonstrated the power that the many militias here have to draw the country into a full-scale civil war, and how difficult it would be for the state to stop it, Iraqi and American officials say. The militias pose a double threat to the future of Iraq: they exist both as marauding gangs, as the violence on Wednesday showed, and as sanctioned members of the Iraqi Army and the police. The insurgent bombing of a major Shiite shrine on Wednesday, followed by the wave of killings of Sunni Arabs, has left political parties on all sides clinging to their private armies harder than ever, complicating American efforts to persuade Iraqis to disband them. The attacks, mostly by Shiite militiamen, were troubling not only because they resulted in at least 170 deaths across Iraq, but also because they showed how deeply the militias have spread inside government forces. The Iraqi police, commanded by a Shiite political party, stood by as the rampage spread. Now, after watching helplessly as their mosques and homes burned, many Sunni Arabs say they should have the right to form their own militias. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,617 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,031 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2006 8:54 AM The entire world knows beyond dispute that Saddam Hussein holds weapons of mass destruction in large quantities. —Dick Cheney, Vice President of the United States, September 23, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2006 8:55 AM The best way to fight evil is to do some good. Let me qualify that -- the best way to fight evil at home is to do some good. The best way to fight them abroad is to unleash the military. It is so important for citizens in this country to put a face on America for the world to see, the true face. —George W. Bush, Knoxville, Tennessee, April 8, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:07 AM 2 U.S. Soldiers Among 7 Dead in Iraq Violence: BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Bomb blasts and gunfire killed at least seven people, including two U.S. soldiers, in Baghdad and to the south Sunday as an extraordinary daylight curfew was lifted in three provinces following the bombing of a Shiite shrine and a wave of retribution against Sunnis. A bomb exploded at another Shiite mosque in the southern city of Basra, injuring at least two people performing ablutions before praying, police said. Shiites from across Iraq visit the Emir Mosque because they believe one of their 12 imams, or saints, prayed there in the 9th century. A 24-hour vehicular ban remained in effect in Baghdad and its suburbs as authorities tried to halt the violence that has killed nearly 200 people since the Shiite Askariya shrine was destroyed Wednesday in Samarra. But traffic restrictions were lifted in the strife-prone provinces of Diyala, Babil and Salahuddin, where the shrine was located. Two U.S. soldiers were killed early Sunday when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in western Baghdad, the military said. At least 2,289 service members have died since the war began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,618 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,032 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:09 AM Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. —George W. Bush, President of the United States, October 7, 2002
Been There	Presidential Thought for the Day Posted: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:10 AM The definition of a patriot in the face of the evil done to America is to serve something greater than yourself in life, is to help somebody in need, is to love a person one at a time, as we remember that -- which I know we will. —George W. Bush, Manchester, New Hampshire, October 5, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Monday, February 27, 2006 8:39 AM 3 More U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq: Shiite militiamen retained control of some Sunni mosques they had raided, and scattered mayhem left at least 14 people dead, including three American soldiers. At least 227 people have been killed since the shrine bombing. The young spiritual leader of the Shiite militiamen, Moktada al-Sadr, made his first appearance in Iraq since the paroxysm of violence. He arrived in the southern port city of Basra from a trip to Iran, and, in a rare public speech, called for unity between Shiites and Sunnis while demanding a timetable for the withdrawal of American forces. Blaming the American military for the recent violence, he told Iraqis to "cut off the head of the snake." Thousands of followers, some waving Kalashnikov rifles, cheered in the streets. ... The American military said two soldiers had been killed early Sunday in Baghdad by a roadside bomb. Another soldier died from small-arms fire in the evening. We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,619 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,033 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Monday, February 27, 2006 8:40 AM I can't tell you today if the use of force in Iraq will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that. —Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, November 14, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Monday, February 27, 2006 8:43 AM Secretary Powell has won the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice -- once with distinction. I'm not sure what happened the other time.   —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 9, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:02 AM 1 U.S. Soldier, 2 British Soldiers Killed in Iraq: In addition, two British soldiers were killed in southern Iraq, news services reported, and the American military announced that a soldier had been killed by small-arms fire west of Baghdad on Monday. Dozens More Killed in Baghdad: BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Five explosions -- including three car bombs, a suicide attacker wearing an explosives belt and a blast near the National Theater -- rocked Baghdad Tuesday, killing 41 people and wounding scores, police said. U.S. Government to Pay Fraudulent Charges Billed by Cheney's Company: The Army has decided to reimburse a Halliburton subsidiary for nearly all of its disputed costs on a $2.41 billion no-bid contract to deliver fuel and repair oil equipment in Iraq, even though the Pentagon's own auditors had identified more than $250 million in charges as potentially excessive or unjustified. Asked by a reporter today how he justified using taxpayers' money to pay the fraudulent charges, Vice President Cheney chuckled. "The government is obligated by contract to pay whatever we bill. Why do you suppose the contract was secret, you idiot?" We all evaluate facts in the light of their context and the principles we deem important. From my perspective, the following facts underscore some important truths: 1,620 days have now passed since since September 17, 2001, when President Bush pledged to take Osama bin Laden "dead or alive." 1,034 days have now passed since May 1, 2003, when President Bush gave his Iraq "mission accomplished" speech. Been There
Been There	The Marketing of a War Posted: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:04 AM If he declares he has no weapons of mass destruction, then we will know that Saddam Hussein is once again misleading the world. —Ari Fleischer, White House Press Secretary, December 2, 2002
Been There	The Iraq War Posted: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 10:07 AM I'll talk about the values that make our country unique and different. We love freedom here in America.   —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2003