Tom of Scarborough, ME It would be wonderful if we could get past the name-calling and do some thinking. Presumably as Americans and human beings we hope that a peaceful, free Iraq emerges from this. What can we do to help that occur? If we leave Iraq in its current state, then what happens? Are we ready for Rwanda on steroids? It seems we ought to do what we can to prevent that.

The President apparently believes that establishing civil order and public safety is a necessary first step to achieving a political solution, and the US armed forces are the only entity on earth with any hope of doing that. Some people apparently think that a political solution is possible amid chaotic violence and murder. Let's at least acknowledge that the President's position is reasonable even if we disagree with it.

If Iran and Syria are willing to help stop Iraqis from killing each other, why haven't they closed off their borders? Why are they funding and arming the "insurgents," many of whom are Iranians and Syrians?

For those who condemn the oil companies, is there anyone out there who is willing to develop Iraq's most valuable resource for free? I haven't heard Joe Kennedy offer to do it. Shouldn't the oil companies who have the ability and expertise to do the job get paid for doing it?

Since nationalization is a real danger in the third world, shouldn't they expect to recoup their expenses as quickly as possible? Wouldn't you if it were your business? Don't they have a fiduciary duty to their stockholders to protect their investments?

For those who advocate a troop withdrawal -- sorry, redeployment -- please tell us what happens after that?report abuse

scotchbob of Brunswick, ME Save your breath 'sdemetri'. You are trying to be reasonable and responsible in response to those right wingers (not the true Maine conservatives) who just don't care about facts. Your comments about Iran helping out with afganistan after 9/11 are accurate. This administration hasn't a clue how to operate in the world. And it's clear Chaney and Rumsfeld have pulled the strings especially after the CIA won the inside political battle to operate in Afganistan; can you imagine the criteria for sending our people (non-military) to Iraq has been political connections and loyalty to the party? And not experience and ability. Worked really well in Katrina too. Take it from a vet: all war is insanity. And now it will be more of our fellow neighbors and family sent into the meat grinder. The only glimmer of hope is the American people spoke in November and maybe now there will be SOME oversight and accountability.report abuse

Keith of Old Orchard Beach, ME I just love the damn the liberal approach when what one sees is so true!!!!!! Bushy just will not listen to the American people via the election just past, he is too stubborn to admit how screwed up he has made this whole mess. Of course we should not be surprised he snubs his nose at ANYONE who tries to tell him the truth of the Iraq situation. God help us all through this mess!!!!!!!!report abuse

sdemetri of Windham, ME SB,

Do I believe Iran or Syria would help? They have made more overtures to us to help than we have to them. Of course, if you listen to Rush, or Hannity, or any of the other war-mongerers you wouldn't hear this.

Iran has made several gestures through the Swiss Embassy. Our reaction...tell the Swiss they are out of bounds passing along such messages. Or how about, the intelligence sharing that took place when we first went into Afghanistan. Iran shared significantly the intelligence they had on troop levels, positions, logistics of the Taliban. After all the Iranians very nearly had a war with them and Al Qeada due to the inroads the Taliban were trying to make into Iran. At that time, Iran offered to talk about all outstanding issues...support for Hezbollah, nuclear ambitions, mutual security, trade.

Listen to the war-mongerers and all you will hear is how evil they are, some talk of which is justified, but I'd encourage you to dig a little deeper. Unless of course you want a bigger war in the middle east.

Funny how liberals are accused of delighting in "watching the US body count grow" yet their critics are the ones calling for more war. Go figure. report abuse

Randy of Brunswick, ME It was Bush who called himself "the Decider." It was also Bush who said of the insurgency "Bring 'em on." And so, yesterday, we "cleared" a street near the Garden of Eden (I mean that unconscious area known as the Green Zone)that had been "cleared" several times before. It was an anti-Sunni action, of course. Will Maliki support a "surge" against his ally, al-Sadr? I would hope that those of us who have been in uniform and in harm's way would object to Bush's invitation to the enemy to attack. We may recall that Bush did not get around to reporting to the 'Bama ANG in a time of war. The word also begins with "d." And this is the little man who said -- after an African-American man had been dragged to death in Texas -- "All crime is hate crime." This is the little man who mocked a woman on death row with a falsetto parody of her plea for mercy. This is the man who made his money via a land-grab, detailed a few year's ago in "Harper's.' This is the little man who squandered an incredible educational opportunity -- Andover, Yale, Harvard -- and who now squanders American lives in his effort to "secure" his place in history.
The little man is not merely incompetent, he is despicable. And Dick -- are you a Russell Kirk conservative, a la the slowing process that goverment should provide for new ideas and proposed programs? A Barry Goldwater conservative, a la limitations in the public accommodations provision of civil rights legislation? Or an Andrew Sullivan conservative, as in his "The Conservative Soul," an all out attack on Bush and his policies? Just curious. And don't forget that Kirk, the philosophical founder of modern American conservatism, would disagree fundamentally with Norquist and the libertarian position. Or does today's conservatism simply echo what the odious little man in the White House says as he tosses the mortgage into the pot?report abuse

Styll of Topsham, ME i cannot believe the paper actually published this. I know its liberal as the city is but even that was too much. the saddest thing i take away from this is that in order to justify his feelings on bush, stein actually delights in watching the US body count grow. I suspect that would be true of most liberals as well. What would serve their agenda more than America failing(read bush if your a moon bat) and that means more troops dying. the military tends to vote conservative anyway right.

i would also point out to mainefem that ted kennedys father was an ardent Nazi supporter and did his best to keep America from joining in WWII on the allied side, including but not limited to trying to deport American flyers trying to join the RAF when the US would not enter. (that leaves out teds own rap sheet )
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SB of Readfield, ME Man you guys have been swimming in the MoveOn.org cool-aid again havent you. Do you honestly believe for one second the likes of Syria, Iran, and Jordan want for one second to help us with Iraq? What countries do you think most of the foreign fighters in Iraq are from?? Oh, wait you couldnt know because how havent been there, you have been spending all of your time listening to morons like Ted Kennedy, Cindy Sheehan and the likes.report abuse

lionel mandrake of Boston, MA The right word is "escalate". And if history is any guide, we may find the Guard shooting people in the streets before it turns around.

Our prosperity depends on our getting our oil from under their sand. Over the next few days the Iraqi puppets will be privatizing their oil industry and selling it off to Exxon, Shell and so forth. Mission accomplished.
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sdemetri of Windham, ME Flynt Leverett, former national security advisor to Bush, had an Op-ed in the country's newspaper of record recently in which key suggestions were blacked out, even though every one of the points made had been publically talked about by Condi, Powell, and others. Of the 10's of thousands of words he has written and published not one had ever been censored by the CIA publication review process. In fact, not one of the words in this Op-ed had been censored until the administration told them to. He is on the right, Pete. He says we should talk with Iran on all issues. He is a realist.

You need to turn off Fox News, Pete.

As far as oil revenues. Sure, they should be used. But the deal cuts the Iraqis almost out of the picture for a long time, while making some oil execs mighty happy. It goes along with all the other war profiteering private contractors are enjoying at the expense of American soldiers, their families, and the hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded Iraqis.

Apologetics for the Bush nightmare in Iraq have very little basis in reality. And are counterproductive to moving forward.report abuse

sdemetri of Windham, ME
"Wars don't generally go according to plan..." Plan, what plan?

Let chaos reign, then let Americans pay with blood and taxes to fix it? Disband the army with their weapons, then fight them in the streets?

Alternatives? Engage the neighboring countries to help cool the sectarian factional fighting that threatens to spread. Reverse the US position to abandon Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations. These have been proposed ad nauseum by many, even right leaning realists. It is disengenuous, Pete, to suggest there have been no alternative suggestions. This president, or should I say vice-president, has no interest in anything other than what he says is the priority. Escalation. Prepare for invasion of Iran.
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