Petraeus playing politics whilst dining with congressmen and women.
August 26th, 2007 | by Dusty | Published in Iraq War | 8 Comments
The people in Iraq can’t even get electricity 24/7 or running clean water. Yet Petraeus and our elected representatives are dining on lobster tortellini in Baghdad. This isn’t the worst of it however. That Petraeus would sit in a comfortable environment and lobby for the surge whilst eating this elitist food is wrong on many levels. Its wrong because it sends the imperialist message that the masses can ‘eat cake’ and suffer whilst the elite mutha fuckas suffer notta damn bit. The masses of course being the millions of Iraqi’s suffering through 115-120 degree temperatures without electricity, clean water or any of the other basic needs of a nation of human beings.
The NYT has a writeup entitled: Hear a General, Hug a Sheik: Congress Visits Iraq. It gives us a picture of what some of the congress-folk did during their summer vacation. A snippet from the article:
The featured guest was Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American military commander in Iraq. With an array of charts and maps behind him, he told the lawmakers President Bush’s troop buildup had produced “tactical momentum,” a phrase that he would use repeatedly in Congressiona l briefings and that lawmakers are now beginning to use as well.The meal was just one stop in a jam-packed tour that included visits with Sunni and Shiite tribal leaders (”a sheik engagement,” the Pentagon itinerary said), a chat with the Kurdish deputy prime minister and the all-importan t photographs with hometown soldiers to show constituents at election time. Just another day in Baghdad in August, high season for Congressional travel to Iraq.
The trips, highly choreographed affairs known as codels, for Congressional delegations, are an annual rite of summer for lawmakers, but they have taken on fresh urgency. With Democrats running Congress and Mr. Bush’s troop increase due for an intense re-evaluation in September, roughly 50 lawmakers have tromped through Iraq this summer, and their impressions are having a profound effect on the debate.
Such bullshit..so craptastic, I think my head will explode after reading it. So when we hear how bad OR good it is over in Iraq, just think of these fuckwits dining quite comfortably whilst the people of Iraq tried to make it through another day without being poisoned by the water they drink, suffer heatstroke and die, or get shot or bombed by extremists groups as they tried to buy food for their kids.
I think the gauge for how the ‘war is going’ should be how the Iraqi’s are suffering, Are they suffering less or more? Do they have more of the basic necessities than they did a year ago? Remember, we did this to them. We turned them into a bottom feeding third world country my dear reader..because evidently our dear leaders don’t.
Tags: Iraq Lies, congressional junkets, Petraeus,
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August 26th, 2007at 10:38 am(#)
As we round the corner (towards the light!), and head towards the beginning of the 6th year of the great and glorious war in Iraq, it’s probably a good idea to remind ourselves that again this summer we’re only about six months away from some real progress. The US has been at war (with Iraq).
I’m 75, not counting little forays like Granada and Lebanon and Nicaragua, etc. etc., my homeland has been at war of 35% of my lifetime. Makes y’ think, don’t it?
For a growing chunk of the population, war has been a normal state of affairs during their formative years.
This country has seen itself as “being at war” since Hitler was defeated. Actually, whatever gap there was between fighting the Axis powers and “opposing world Communism” was almost non-existent, at least to the Baby Boom generation. This “perpetual war for perpetual peace” was not invented by Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, you know. It’s been the American Way since I can remember.
War has become as American as apple pie. It pulled us out of the Great Depression (or so we tell ourselves) and we’ve never stopped relying on it since.
August 26th, 2007at 10:46 am(#)
Yes, war is GOOD BIDNESS Earl..I say with tongue firmly planted in my cheek.
The MIC (military industrial complex) is one of the biggest employers and lobbying groups in the US.
Until people see the forest for the trees the MIC will remain on top.
August 26th, 2007at 12:41 pm(#)
I spoke with a soldier about a month ago and asked him lots of questions. Asked him about food they were given…apparently it was gobs and boatloads of lobster. He wasn’t kidding either. Everyday…anytime…his eyes got big along with his grin and reacted like it was the life. It was the safe zone at the time in Gaghdad. We know it isn’t so safe there anymore. He’s been back a little less than a year. He probably misses the good times at chow line. That must be why the war is so expensive…they feed the troops freakin’ lobster! What does a person have to do to get some damn lobster in their diet? Join up of course…lobster and cigars for everyone!
August 26th, 2007at 7:54 pm(#)
Christ, I can’t afford lobster and although I do not wish any hardship on our troops..thats a lil over the top imho Sumo.
I am sure the contractor is charging at least double what it’s worth too.
August 27th, 2007at 3:44 am(#)
America lives off war. War drives its economy. If peace were declared tomorrow America would go bankrupt.
America sells 63% of the world’s arms. Britain, its buddy, is next with 12%. That makes 75% in total for two countries which are leaders in the horrific invasion and occupation process.
If American people want peace, get rid of the armament industries!
Cheers.
August 28th, 2007at 2:47 pm(#)
As I said Daniel, the MIC is king here. That isn’t news to those that pay attention.
August 28th, 2007at 3:08 pm(#)
It’s a shame that those who pay attention don’t correct the situation, Dusty! What exactly are they waiting for?
August 28th, 2007at 3:13 pm(#)
I think the folks that don’t pay attention outnumber us Daniel.