MSNBC: Battle for Baghdad ‘a critical point’ (for victory) in the war

[kysrsoze]

"For U.S. military, victory in the capital means victory in the war"

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraq war could be heading to its decisive moment: a battle for the capital of Baghdad that already has turned dramatically bloodier for American soldiers and carries enormous stakes for the country’s future.

At least 13 American soldiers have been killed around Baghdad since Monday — the highest four-day U.S. toll in the capital since the 2003 invasion.

That count is likely to rise higher as the U.S.-led forces step up their campaign to root out the extremist militias, death squads and terrorist cells that have turned the city into a collection of armed, ethnically divided camps.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15145106/

So... a victory in the capital means victory in this war? Is this what the victory party slush fund is about? Is this our October surprise? We fake up some B.S. "victory" then announce we're leaving soon and getting out?

[pinto]

1. Saving the Emerald City is job number one.

We're not in Kansas anymore, America.

[kysrsoze]

3. It's looking more like Ho Chi Minh City every day

[pinto]

5. I know. It's really sad. FUBAR.

[Monkeyman]

10. hmm FUBAR very vet word

[ShockediSay]

15. Can someone tell me how the Japs would win after 2d A-Bomb?OR how we are

supposed to "win" in Iraq?

By not giving up?

[knowbody0]

2. I thought all they had to do was build a moat.

Who's in charge?

:sarcasm:

[VegasWolf]

4. The critical point was three years ago. Now its just keep our jobs as

politicans and screw the young kids dying. After all, they aren't any of our children.

[bronxiteforever]

6. "how do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake"

Words just as true today-I have been thinking about this quote all week. The GOP hides from this question

[MrPrax]

7. Technically, it's RECAPTURE the capital n/t

[lyonn]

8. Michael Ware of CNN in Iraq is quite graphic

Every day he reports the real bad news.

[kysrsoze]

12. Link re: a story by Michael Ware on Ramadi

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Video_Commanders_privately_express_needing_3X_0912.html

[lyonn]

17. This story sounds like so many others he reports.

Terrible news, and hopeless sounding.

You are doing a good job Rummy!

[Bozita]

9. The war ended under a "Mission Accomplished" banner on an aircraft carrier

... circling off the coast of San Diego. Bush said it. The war was over. We won it, fair and square.

That's when the occupation began.

GW Bush is the Baghdad Bob of the Western world.

[KansDem]

21. Right! Ever since then we've been engaged in a "mop-up" operation.

You know, ferreting out the last pockets of resistance while enjoying the fruits of victory.

edited for spelling

[anotherdrew]

11. "the war" ended a long time ago - this is the occupation

gee imagine that, an unasked for foreign power declares war and unilaterally attacks another then occupies the land and sets up it's own puppet government, what the problem? That's worked in the past so many times... or not... wait, acutally... that trick never works. bush as bullwinkle: "hey condi, watch me pull a democracy outta my ass!"

We're lead by shameless ignorant men unable to write a decent plot for a book, much less a realistic plan.

they must know this and that's why they didn't even try?

[Ouabache]

13. Securing the CAPITAL of a country they have occupied 3 years?

IS CRITICAL? No shit. Do ya think so?
Has anyone sent Condi the memo on this yet?
In triplicate, so she can't say she didn't see it...please include seat numbers for her too.

[anotherdrew]

14. these fools are so far in over their heads, it's such a tragedy n/t

[Javaman]

20. This is the alternative article that was shelved 3 years ago...

in the event we weren't greeted with candy and flowers, oh wait...

Soooo, then this article is for? In the event it all went to shit? during the invasion? Or when it all went to shit after the invasion?

Sigh, these 1984-like times are getting very confusing.

[Tin Man]

16. Shouldn't AP title read "defeat in Baghdad would mean defeat in the war"

...odd that title reads "victory in Baghdad means victory in the war" - this statement is the logical opposite of reality.

[ninkasi]

18. This is so far beyond being a nightmare

that I am at a loss to even know what to call it. The longer we are there, and the more Iraqis we kill and maim, the more homes, and hospitals and schools we destroy, the worse it will become. Imagine the hell this poor country has been going through...searing heat, no dependable electric power, unsafe water, sewage overflowing...and then the worry of being killed waiting in line to buy kerosene, or food, and unable to take wounded relatives for medical care...and it becomes much more clear why this war has already been lost.

It grows worse and worse with each passing day, and the moron just drones on, "stay the course", "our resolve won't weaken", and the other countless trite and pointless gems he tosses out after he has reminded everybody about 9-11. The man is a total failure, an incompetent, arrogant asshole, and is too dim to see what a FUBAR his whole presidency has been.

This is a man so self-absorbed that he needs to have the title President, or Commander in Chief, put on every article of clothing he wears, and it wouldn't surprise me if he has special toilet paper printed up to remind him of who just took an imperial dump. He is a disgrace to our country, and our congressmen and congresswomen, with a few exceptions, are just as craven and incompetent as he is.

[Historic NY]

19. Only fools wastes time, effort & blood on retaking ground...

already taken in battle. What a shame the debt was paid in March 03. There is no real battle going on we are losing ground because the people of Iraq want us out. Our well trained (:sarcasm:) Iraqi police seem to be turning against us too....they have been won over by the insurgents.

[damntexdem]

22. Ohh, a chance to turn another corner in Iraq!

But is it going around in circles, or is it a death spiral?

[samsingh]

23. unlikely that it's a decisive point

a victory now means nothing. the attacks will continue.

but i guess it's a good soundbite

remember the 'in its last thoes', violence is done (if we don't count any actual attacks).

[leftofthedial]

24. well, after all, we "won" in Afghanistan

when we installed Karzai as mayor of part of downtown Kabul.

[hedgehog]

25. "Troops in Battle for Baghdad" was the headline in the Syracuse

Post-Standard this morning. My jaw hit the floor when I saw that because I think that means we could lose Baghdad. Despite all the glee over Foley, I've been worried a bit about Iraq and Iran all week. I don't know exactly how bad it's getting in Iraq and I'm afraid george is going to bomb Iran any minute now.