NewsBling - Your Iraq News Source

Theo N asked:


Obama and his supporters have attacked Clinton for voting for the Iraq War resolution. Then he picks Biden as VP who voted the same as Clinton. Now he’s embracing Colin Powell, who single handedly provided the justification for the Bush invasion. Does it bother you that Obama won the nomination based on Hillary’s war vote, but now is embracing those who planned the war?

Ralph

Antonio Thornton asked:


I recently saw an article entitled “Clinton: Iraq War Bush’s

Responsibility”. I very rarely touch on political topics because I feel

politics in general is such rubbish. Not to mention, it effectively creates

the perception of separation and elitism which is totally against every

universal and spiritual principle known to man.

Nevertheless, I read about 2 paragraphs of the article and amazingly,

Clinton and other people actually feel the war in Iraq is Bush’s “fault” and

responsibility. As if Bush elected himself president (twice), flew over to

Iraq, pushed a guy’s shoulder and said, “Hey I’m picking a fight with you so

I can profit a few billion off the oil trade”. Not!

WE created this war. Bush is only the personification (result) of the United

States’ (and the world’s) thoughts of creating war, corruption, and every

other negative event that we encounter in our lives. We created this

reality. We are just as responsible as Bush, the Taliban, Osama and everyone

else who talks about war, thinks about war.and writes about war. Yes, just

the writing of this article contributes to war.

The Law of Attraction states: You attract and bring forth what you think

about and focus on the most. We are the creators of the world we live in.

We, the people of this great nation (or whatever nation you may come from)

have created a burning desire to create war against anyone who may “hurt”

us. So war happens. And war continues to happen as long as it is the focus.

Just recently, Sen. Mitch McConnell said he doubts that a resolution

opposing a troop buildup in Iraq will pass. Vice President Dick Cheney said

the administration would proceed with additional troops even if a nonbinding

resolution won Senate approval. Sen. Joe Biden, who’s now running for

President, was just quoted saying, ‘It’s not the American people or the U.S.

Congress who are emboldening the enemy.it’s the failed policy of this

president…’ Wrong! It IS the American people - holding the thought of war

in their minds, talking about war, arguing about war. Let’s not mention the

media’s role in adding to the whole ‘war conversation’.

Even these so-called ‘anti-war’ rallies are only just creating more war.

‘Fighting’ against war is about the most ridiculous oxymoron I’ve heard in a

while. I loved Mother Teresa’s stance on anti-war rallies…She said, I’ll

never attend an anti-war rally, when you decide to have a ‘pro-peace’ rally,

invite me!”

Obviously, Clinton’s and Biden’s comments were just blatant political ploys,

but they are the embodiment of public thought - passing blame. Most people

put blame on other people, events or things for the conditions in their

lives. People blame their bosses, their ex-wives, the government, the

terrorists, technology.even the weather for what’s going on in their lives.

They find any and everything to point the finger at to avoid personal

responsibility.

The world needs to see that creating peace means focusing on finding,

developing and utilizing methods for peace. Really all that needs to happen

to create a successful campaign for peace is people believing that peace is

the answer. Just because a couple of people with particularly “big mouths”

say they don’t want this war, doesn’t mean that the majority is not still

calling out for it. When the Majority “believes” it is time for peace, we

will have it.

There is a common phrase that is perfect to illustrate my point on how to

achieve peace: “First you must believe (in peace) …in order to achieve

(peace)!” Just think about how quickly the world would change if we all

believed in the principles of peace.



Debra

Craig Howell asked:


If you subscribe to the military surge or the immediate withdrawal as the only viable options to ending the war in Iraq, there is another way. Here is an idea that defies the present mindset, yet will bring the honor and integrity of our nation back to where it used to be. And it may save a lot of young soldiers lives as well.

I’m not going to rant about the reason we are there or who’s to blame. I want to talk about people; people who need help. I have my views, but I’m not taking sides. I want peace above all.

The first problem in Iraq is the insurgents. How does one conquer an enemy that wears no uniform, obeys no rules of war and has no single leader? You do it with food, not guns.

The first thing that needs to be done is to feed and house the people. Use the army to supervise and guard food supplies as they travel through rogue militias or warlord territory. If this requires temporary tribute to pass through unharmed, for God sake do it. Pay them off if necessary. Anything to stop the violence, however temporary. If we use the army to bring them food, water, medical and personal supplies, we will then truly be seen as heroes and not conquerors or an occupying force that will not leave.

Give some money directly to the people to help jumpstart the economy. Then start programs where skilled and unskilled Iraqi labor is used to rebuild schools, roads and other infrastructure, leaving Haliburton out of the picture for now. Supervise and guide this with the military, but use Iraqi bosses as foremen for Iraqi work crews.

To get power up quickly, install solar panels and fuel cells (the super-storage batteries that he army uses). Then you won’t have to wait to rebuild the generators, or use gas or oil, or have need of any electric wires or gas pipes. This would bring quality of living conditions and bring communications on line. This could happen really quickly.

Soon you will find that a well-fed populace with jobs, a decent place to live and a little spending cash are very willing to give away any information needed to crack down on the location of those who are committing the atrocities and disrupting daily life. They will actively assist in ridding the country of those who they are now cheering on.

Don’t forget that many of these “insurgents” are just uneducated and angry youths with nothing to do and no opportunities. Kids are paid just a little money to lay mines and take pot shots at American soldiers. Many don’t even care about what they are doing or why they are doing it, they just need the money.

So let’s give them the money to be at peace through jobs, instead of letting the opposition give it to them for war. Insurgents can not viably exist in a peaceful place. They feed on chaos and destruction. Take that away and they wither, crawling back into the cracks they came out of.

Once the violence starts to cool, there must be assistance to bring the religious factions into some form of cooperation or separation so that this does not cause any friction and begin the violence all over. For that, I leave it to the creativity of the diplomats. My main idea is to get the violence stopped or at lease under control without getting our troops injured or killed in the process.

I hear people saying that it doesn’t matter how we got there, that now that we are there and we have to deal with it. Well here is how I recommend we deal with it. If there are any politicians reading this, or anyone who has the ear of an influential person in Washington, please, let’s at least float this idea. It is a positive solution to a terrible problem. It is a way to unite both the Iraqis and the Americans in a cause to work together for the benefit of all.



Alicia

BarryPhillip asked:


If the Iraq war is unjust, and he and his supporters also have stated that our military is overstretched, it’s costing too much, then why does he and other libs want to go into DarFur and Pakistan? What makes those more reasonable wars? I mean, there were humanitarian reasons to go to Iraq, so why is starting two new wars in Pakistan and DarFur good and reasonable?

Rhonda

Katie Kelley asked:


(c) 2008 Katie Kelley

Brain injury is not only one of the most common injuries among Americans, it has also become one of the most common and expensive injuries that soldiers, now veterans, are coming home with.

With an average of 1.4 million Americans undergoing some form of TBI, the number of scientists and researchers striving to cure these individuals should be ever increasing, however, dwindling budgets continue to compress and squeeze war-related brain injury funding. In 2006, the U.S. House and Senate slashed the allocated funding for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) in half from the previous year.

Traumatic brain injury has been deemed the “signature” injury of the Iraq war, according to military doctors and experts. It is imperative for struggling soldiers to find assistance with their TBI-related disability.

What is TBI?

Traumatic brain injury is defined as an injury that occurs after an abrupt trauma causes damage to the brain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). War-related TBI can occur in many ways and individuals suffering from this and related side effects will find symptoms vary on a case-by-case diagnosis.

Researchers and scientists are, however, finding several repetitive conditions and symptoms among TBI victims. According to two renowned medical journals, Neuropsychology and Brain Injury, there are several signs and symptoms to watch for among veterans with war-induced injuries:

* cognitive issues

*decreased attention span, including focused, selective and sustained attention problems

*language difficulties

* lack of motivation

*inability to efficiently process information

* irritability

*depression and anxiety

* increased fatigue

*headaches

*memory loss or disturbance

* behavioral issues

* disrupted sleep

* post traumatic stress disorder

In May 2006, the co-founder of the DVBIC testified to a Senate subcommittee that while “body armor may save troops caught in blasts it leaves many with brain damage,” according to a USA Today news report. Additionally, the article cited several disturbing statistics on the state of TBI and war veterans.

* Nearly 10 percent of soldiers serving in Iraq have suffered from a concussion during some part of their service.

* 20 percent of all frontline infantry troops suffer from concussions during combat.

*Scientists believe the Pentagon must screen all troops returning from Iraq.

*The Pentagon has declined screenings for all returning troops and only screen a small population of soldiers.

*If left untreated or untested, multiple head injuries and concussions can cause permanent brain injury.

Also, several equally disturbing statistics have been reported from several specialized journals including Brain Injury, Internal Medicine, Soldiers Magazine, MIT’s Technology Review and Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. The information, which follows, includes:

* Nearly 25 percent of all military veterans of the Iraq war are diagnosed with a mental illness.

* War-related TBI patients often manifest distinct personality changes.

* Nearly 11 percent of approximately 35,000 soldiers that have been screened for TBI have been found to have symptoms of mild brain injury.

* Individuals suffering from lifelong TBI will find that no treatments have yet been discovered to deal with this.

Flawed Brain Injury Technology

Unfortunately, as budgets are cut, the quality of care and technology also decreases. Most recently the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed nine Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and found that the TBI-screening test’s validity and reliability may be flawed.

Additionally, the report found that soldiers with TBI may be receiving inadequate or unnecessary care for their brain injuries, according to an Associated Press article from January 2008. The report found that:

* Although the VA has implemented TBI screening tools, the validity and reliability of the tool has not yet been established.

* Soldiers who have been found to have TBI are under a VA-implemented protocol to ensure treatment; however, many of the VA’s medical facilities either did not follow the protocol or had difficulty doing so.

* Culturally, the VA has found that Iraq veterans feel the VA and its facilities cater to elderly veterans and do not want to treat young veterans.

* The VA is struggling with poor rural access to medical centers as well as poor turnout rates for injured vets who in some cases must drive 100 miles plus to reach a nearby VA hospital.

Living With TBI

Veterans who are currently living with TBI will find that not only does TBI affect them, but the ripple effect among an injured veteran’s family and friends is quite extensive. There are an array of clinical trials that a TBI victim can become involved in to improve the living conditions as well as to treat the symptoms of TBI. Some of these clinical trials can be found through the following organizations Web sites:

* National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN)

* Acoustic Neuroma Association Brain Trauma Foundation

* Brain Injury Association of America Family Caregiver Alliance/National Center on Caregiving National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

* National Stroke Association

* National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

Finding Brain Injury Assistance

There are several organizations available to offer assistance specifically to those with war-related ailments. The following are several of the leading organizations/hospitals:

* Walter Reed Army Medical Center Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center

* Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

* National Intrepid Center of Excellence Deployment Health Clinical Center

*Center for Study of Traumatic Stress Center for Deployment Psychology

* The Department of Defense (DoD) also offers a search component through their Web site to assist veterans in finding a veteran hospital in their geographic area.

Additionally, individuals enduring the pain of a war-related brain injury are encouraged to locate an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer who can provide assistance with developing a brain injury lawsuit. Monetary compensation is likely an option for individuals who have suffered from these severe injuries, which can be life altering.

TBI medical bills can be extremely expensive, and this potential for awarded compensation can provide relief from the stress associated with medical expenses.



Lisa

afreshpath_admin asked:


Every time someone here points out that Iraq did not have WMD’s (used as a justification for the CURRENT war) when we (the US) invaded Iraq, there are a half dozen or so answers who adamantly state that Iraq did have those weapons.

Where do you get that information? Where is the proof? give some links to documentation. If Iraq did have WMD’s at the start of the CURRENT war, I want to know about it.
Look, I know there weren’t any. This is an attempt to get the people who still say there were WMD’s to put up or shut up. I don’t want to beat the dead horse here, I want to bury it.
FREAKZILLA, so far you are the only one to point out any credible reference. Thank you!

Vernon

suckapunchyoface asked:


If the previously stated question isn’t clear enough:
What is the money, that is spent on the Iraq War, being spent on?
It is apparent that my question is not clear enough:

What is the money, that is being spend on the Iraq War, used on? Is it being used on research? Training? Manufacturing?

Ralph

brainstormer asked:


Is the moral,.integrity, and humility standard of leadership in America lnow like that of third world?
These leaders mislead America but stilltalking tough like Mugabe sticking to power by all means)?
Remember watergate and even Monica Lewisky scandals?
How come people like Bush, McCain and other experienced leadership of America have not resigned as a resultof their pro-iraq war vote that have killed over 41000 Americans for nothing?

Yvonne

lizziemoffles asked:


would you think it necessary for the war in Iraq to be left alone or should we finish what we started?

Carolyn

Linda Dipman asked:


Many people are confused as to why the war in Iraq never comes to an end. They want the war on terror to be fought, but they don’t like to sacrifice American soldiers’ lives.

It is time to look at this war in a Biblical sense. Separate from the modern day prophets who say this war fulfills the end of times.

I would like to look at Iraq and the Arab people in a different spiritual light. Where did they come from and why are they such a threat to the democratic way of life.

The Bible states that Abraham had two sons. Ishmael was the son born through Sarah’s Egyptian maid servant. Ishmael became the father of the Arabs and the forefather of the Islam religion. While Isaac was a result of a promise. He became the father of Israel, who would bring us the Laws of Moses and later Jesus Christ the Son of God.

The Jewish faith brought a completely different concept to living in this world. It revealed God’s heart towards people. A Father who loved people and wished to teach people the right path to walk in this world with integrity and moral convictions.

The Laws of Moses gave the world a sense of order. Many of these laws became the very platform that Democracy was built from. Giving our world a guide in which to establish justice and to give people individual rights that lead to living in peace with their neighbors.

Rights that freed all of the citizens of the United States of America from the control of England and established our Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These words became the beginning to living in a Democratic Nation that gave people the freedom to worship the way they wanted to and to live how they wanted to live. Our freedoms prevented Kings and Dictators from telling us how to live.

While Democracy used the Laws of Moses to establish laws in the United States. The Arabs became the descendants of the Muslims who established Islam.

Both believed in one God. Yet many differences in how they worship arise when we look closely at the teachings as handed down by Muhammad.

The Judeo-Christian Bible teaches people to love our neighbors as ourselves. To do good to our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. They value and respect all human life.

Islam teaches that they are the only right religion and they are taught to hate Jews and anyone that teaches another god separate from their god.

The war in Iraq has illustrated a sharp contrast in cultural and religious differences. Giving revelation to why God states that the descendant’s of Ishmael will be in constant conflict with Israel and all other countries.

Genesis 16:11&12, “‘You are going to have a son, and you will name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your cry of distress. But your son will live like a wild donkey; he will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. He will live apart from all his relatives.’”

To fight against a Muslim nation is to put ourselves in a no win situation. Yes, we can set up democratic governments, but we can’t change their religious belief system which is at the very core of their existences.

This is the very reason why a civil war is taking place in the middle of the Iraq war. Factions are fighting each other according to how they interpret their Islamic religion and according to the power they want over each other.

God chose Israel to proclaim how to follow Him. While Islam proclaims a god of revenge. A god that demands human sacrifice, and a one dimensional god that kills anyone that tries to make it change.

Islam justifies even using a person as a human bomb to attack any people including their own brothers that comes up against their religion or way of life. You cannot win against an enemy that does not respect human life.

The United States entered the war for the sole purpose of fighting terrorism and stopping the production of chemical weapons of mass production. Now we are trying to establish a government based on democracy.

When the war stops being about protecting our country and changes to a war about which Islamic Religion should governor the country, we can’t win!



Ruben