FARK.com: (8300437) As militants advance, the US prepares to evacuate Saigon. I mean, Baghdad

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		As militants advance, the US prepares to evacuate Saigon. I mean, Baghdad (nytimes.com)		240
		More: Scary, Iraqis, breaching experiment, sectarian

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5212 clicks; posted to Main » on 16 Jun 2014 at 10:32 AM (8 years ago) | Favorite | share:

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Generation_D

2014-06-16 9:28:13 AM

Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

IamKaiserSoze!!!

2014-06-16 9:31:10 AM

Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

Nope. This is the part where the Republicans say they finished the war, had several peaceful elections and the Democrats needed a political victory by abandoning the country years before it was ready thus creating a massive clusterf*ck.

And repeat in Afghanistan

/prefer milk duds

dittybopper

2014-06-16 9:42:01 AM

At least we won't see a replay of this scene:

Because we use these now:

MrBallou

2014-06-16 9:44:43 AM

Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

No, this is the part where Rush Limbaugh pops an on-the-air boner picturing this happening in Bagdad:

Remember, no amount of misery (for brown people) is too much, if it helps the GOP win a seat somewhere.

Chris Ween

2014-06-16 10:03:04 AM

HaywoodJablonski

2014-06-16 10:17:26 AM

IamKaiserSoze!!!: Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

Nope. This is the part where the Republicans say they finished the war, had several peaceful elections and the Democrats needed a political victory by abandoning the country years before it was ready thus creating a massive clusterf*ck.

And repeat in Afghanistan

/prefer milk duds

So here's where we'll see convincing arguments of how we should have kept troops there despite insistence by the Iraqi government that they had things under control and that we should leave? Great!

Dimensio

2014-06-16 10:25:59 AM

HaywoodJablonski: IamKaiserSoze!!!: Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

Nope. This is the part where the Republicans say they finished the war, had several peaceful elections and the Democrats needed a political victory by abandoning the country years before it was ready thus creating a massive clusterf*ck.

And repeat in Afghanistan

/prefer milk duds

So here's where we'll see convincing arguments of how we should have kept troops there despite insistence by the Iraqi government that they had things under control and that we should leave? Great!

I can assure you that no Republican President would have planned to abandon Iraq at the time that Zer0bama chose to do so.

Chris Ween

2014-06-16 10:31:03 AM

Dimensio: HaywoodJablonski: IamKaiserSoze!!!: Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

Nope. This is the part where the Republicans say they finished the war, had several peaceful elections and the Democrats needed a political victory by abandoning the country years before it was ready thus creating a massive clusterf*ck.

And repeat in Afghanistan

/prefer milk duds

So here's where we'll see convincing arguments of how we should have kept troops there despite insistence by the Iraqi government that they had things under control and that we should leave? Great!

I can assure you that no Republican President would have planned to abandon Iraq at the time that Zer0bama chose to do so.

They would have "strategically withdrawn" at the same time. Anyway, on Iraq, I wish we'd maintained stability a bit longer. Afghanistan can go fark itself.

Inflatable Rhetoric

2014-06-16 10:36:05 AM

Yea, let McCain bomb both sides. And send Palin over there immediately.

Deep Contact

2014-06-16 10:36:51 AM

dittybopper: At least we won't see a replay of this scene:

[upload.wikimedia.org image 825x541]

Because we use these now:

[s2.yimg.com image 331x500]

Hell with the copters, we have these now.

ChipNASA

2014-06-16 10:37:36 AM

B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-ut BENGHAZI!

akula

2014-06-16 10:38:29 AM

Not a big Obama fan, but I don't see this one as his fault.

If the Iraqis aren't going to fight to keep the extremists from taking things over there's fark-all we can do for them. They wanted us out, we wanted to be out. We can't, won't, and shouldn't have to play babysitter forever. Sure, invading Iraq was pointless, stupid, and ultimately unfruitful. But at some point they have to stand on their own two feet.

The Middle East is, was, and will continue to be a dog's breakfast when it comes to political stability and basic human freedom. Unless and until the people decide they've had enough and quit listening to those who are trying to impose the stone age at gunpoint it's going to be that way.

Deep Contact

2014-06-16 10:38:41 AM

Deep Contact: dittybopper: At least we won't see a replay of this scene:

[upload.wikimedia.org image 825x541]

Because we use these now:

[s2.yimg.com image 331x500]

Hell with the copters, we have these now.
[pro-samolet.ru image 88x31]

ooops,

MFAWG

2014-06-16 10:38:51 AM

It won't even be that coherent. Mittens ran around all weekend saying Obama should do..... SOMETHING.

Rwa2play

2014-06-16 10:42:00 AM

akula: Not a big Obama fan, but I don't see this one as his fault.

If the Iraqis aren't going to fight to keep the extremists from taking things over there's fark-all we can do for them. They wanted us out, we wanted to be out. We can't, won't, and shouldn't have to play babysitter forever. Sure, invading Iraq was pointless, stupid, and ultimately unfruitful. But at some point they have to stand on their own two feet.

The Middle East is, was, and will continue to be a dog's breakfast when it comes to political stability and basic human freedom. Unless and until the people decide they've had enough and quit listening to those who are trying to impose the stone age at gunpoint it's going to be that way.

Also: This was Bush's mess.

Dog Welder

2014-06-16 10:42:06 AM

Just about everybody except those in the Bush administration predicted this would happen within a couple of years of our troops leaving Iraq. How is this a shock to anybody?

Smeggy Smurf

2014-06-16 10:42:20 AM

This is Fartbongo's moment to shine and he's off dicking (or possibly eating) the dog. A few well placed B-52 carpet bomb runs over the ISIS forces as they were massing to attack Mosul would have turned them from an army into puppy chow.

Mr. Parker

2014-06-16 10:42:42 AM

Can't we just claim it as a 51st state and command that oil already.

born_yesterday

2014-06-16 10:42:57 AM

I see our resident Republicans are making the usual erudite comments and razor-sharp analyses.

Bravo.

senoy

2014-06-16 10:43:07 AM

The problem in Iraq was not our troop withdrawal, but rather our completely misreading Syria and not considering its wider impact on the region. The reality is that Assad was not a nice guy, but as mid-East dictators go, he wasn't particularly bad either. We got caught up in an emotional 'Arab Spring' and then into a fight with Russia rather than actually reflecting on what our best interests were in the area. We miscalculated who would win in Syria and Iraq is paying the price. The irony of course is that Iran is the one that is reaping all of the benefits of all of this. It's going to step in as the hero of both Iraq and Syria and leave us and the Saudis out in the cold. This was a serious, serious misread from the very beginning.

big pig peaches

2014-06-16 10:44:12 AM

Iraq is Iran's problem now.

MFAWG

2014-06-16 10:44:16 AM

Smeggy Smurf: This is Fartbongo's moment to shine and he's off dicking (or possibly eating) the dog. A few well placed B-52 carpet bomb runs over the ISIS forces as they were massing to attack Mosul would have turned them from an army into puppy chow.

The Iraqi Gubment has no capability to do that?

Irregardless

2014-06-16 10:44:28 AM

From Wikipedia:
At 440,000 square meters, it is the largest and most expensive embassy in the world and is nearly as large as Vatican City.[1] It employs 15,000 people and cost $750 million to build.

With all of those people on the ground in Baghdad they had no clue that ISIS was about to take over vast portions of Iraq? Did they just not know or did hey know and not tell anyone? No heads up at all? Did they give us a heads up and we just ignored it? Either our intelligence gathering apparatus is not all it's cracked up to be or we are not listening to them at all.

Mr. Eugenides

2014-06-16 10:44:33 AM

MrBallou:

Remember, no amount of misery (for brown people) is too much, if it helps the GOP win a seat somewhere.

And no amount of misery for "brown people" outside the US is too much for the left to lift a finger to help.

So I guess it's damned because they did or damned because they won't.

AngryDesertDweller

2014-06-16 10:45:57 AM

Why are we not getting Americans out of Baghdad now as we speak (electronically) instead of sending in more men to guard the embassy ? Think of it as putting the wagons in a circle and waiting for the attack ??

/I like potato chips...

Chris Ween

2014-06-16 10:46:04 AM

senoy: The problem in Iraq was not our troop withdrawal, but rather our completely misreading Syria and not considering its wider impact on the region. The reality is that Assad was not a nice guy, but as mid-East dictators go, he wasn't particularly bad either. We got caught up in an emotional 'Arab Spring' and then into a fight with Russia rather than actually reflecting on what our best interests were in the area. We miscalculated who would win in Syria and Iraq is paying the price. The irony of course is that Iran is the one that is reaping all of the benefits of all of this. It's going to step in as the hero of both Iraq and Syria and leave us and the Saudis out in the cold. This was a serious, serious misread from the very beginning.

The move from supporting, or being friendly with, dictators to letting the people decide seems to have destabilized the region...Iran's green revolution, to Egypt to Libya, to Syria, to Iraq. Amazing that what worked for the past 40 years before the past 10, somehow was holding that place together.

UncomfortableSilence

2014-06-16 10:46:07 AM

Would someone be kind enough to let me know whether the outrage will be that some were left behind to risk Bagdhazi or whether we're mad that some are being evacuated and showing weakness?

/whynotboth.jpeg see which sticks

jaybeezey

2014-06-16 10:46:18 AM

Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

Is this the part where Democrats go "But Bush..." and act like the guy that they elected didn't know what he was getting into and felt like he could it better?

/doesn't eat popcorn
//or really care about the politics
///Muslim extremists don't care about your American political affiliation, they kill you regardless.

Yaw String

2014-06-16 10:46:19 AM

clancifer

2014-06-16 10:46:20 AM

This adequately sums up the GOP reaction to current events in Iraq:

Irregardless

2014-06-16 10:47:05 AM

they know

tarheel07

2014-06-16 10:47:37 AM

But what about all the oil?

kindms

2014-06-16 10:48:35 AM

Irregardless: From Wikipedia:
At 440,000 square meters, it is the largest and most expensive embassy in the world and is nearly as large as Vatican City.[1] It employs 15,000 people and cost $750 million to build.

With all of those people on the ground in Baghdad they had no clue that ISIS was about to take over vast portions of Iraq? Did they just not know or did hey know and not tell anyone? No heads up at all? Did they give us a heads up and we just ignored it? Either our intelligence gathering apparatus is not all it's cracked up to be or we are not listening to them at all.

They'll blame snowden and say they missed it because he told them how to hide from the NSA

Smeggy Smurf

2014-06-16 10:48:37 AM

Our "intelligence" people are too busy spying on Americans to pay attention to Mr. I'm Going to Behead You and Rape Your Women.

Mr. Shabooboo

2014-06-16 10:49:00 AM

Ya, of course it has to be "someones" fault..Especially someone on the other side of the world..It could never be the fault of the people who are in charge of the place
where the problem is..It couldn't be that their military, literally, dropped their gear,stripped, and ran away from the fight. The officers were nowhere to be found.
But sure, let's blame a politician on the other side of the planet! That's realistic..

Chris Ween

2014-06-16 10:49:16 AM

jaybeezey: Generation_D: Is this the part where Republicans blame a Democrat for losing a war that Republicans started but couldn't finish?

/grabs popcorn

Is this the part where Democrats go "But Bush..." and act like the guy that they elected didn't know what he was getting into and felt like he could it better?

/doesn't eat popcorn
//or really care about the politics
///Muslim extremists don't care about your American political affiliation, they kill you regardless.

I'm enjoying the But Bush v. But Obama. I look forward to many more years of this with President Hillary Romney.

Rwa2play

2014-06-16 10:50:40 AM

Ah yes, the astroturfer chimes in.

Jim from Saint Paul

2014-06-16 10:51:39 AM

Hey look, I mean you no offense, but why does nothing here make sense?

Chris Ween

2014-06-16 10:52:09 AM

Jim from Saint Paul: Hey look, I mean you no offense, but why does nothing here make sense?

Its a conspiracy.

drjekel_mrhyde

2014-06-16 10:52:16 AM

My prediction. Iran and Syria will take over Iraq while China and South Korea will split NK

Inflatable Rhetoric

2014-06-16 10:53:17 AM

Rwa2play: akula: Not a big Obama fan, but I don't see this one as his fault.

If the Iraqis aren't going to fight to keep the extremists from taking things over there's fark-all we can do for them. They wanted us out, we wanted to be out. We can't, won't, and shouldn't have to play babysitter forever. Sure, invading Iraq was pointless, stupid, and ultimately unfruitful. But at some point they have to stand on their own two feet.

The Middle East is, was, and will continue to be a dog's breakfast when it comes to political stability and basic human freedom. Unless and until the people decide they've had enough and quit listening to those who are trying to impose the stone age at gunpoint it's going to be that way.

Also: This was Bush's mess.

Cheney's gonna be soooo hurt that you didn't mention him. And Feith, and Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld ....

MutantMotherMouse

2014-06-16 10:53:40 AM

Dog Welder: Just about everybody except those in the Bush administration predicted this would happen within a couple of years of our troops leaving Iraq. How is this a shock to anybody?

akula

2014-06-16 10:53:54 AM

Rwa2play: Also: This was Bush's mess.

Yup. As much as Obama blames everything, including the Nationals being swept this weekend, on Bush, on this one it really DOES belong to W. There just wasn't much Obama could do about Iraq. That said, he did actively campaign for this job, not once, but twice... if he doesn't like catching some flack from preexisting conditions he should have considered that before running. Moreover, his "the buck doesn't even slow down here" attitude makes every time he blames Bush seem disingenuous even when he IS correct about it.

qorkfiend

2014-06-16 10:54:04 AM

You do know that Obama campaigned on a surge in Afghanistan, not Iraq, and had always intended to keep this timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, yes?

PunGent

2014-06-16 10:54:35 AM

You can always tell armchair generals, you just can't tell them much.

Air supremacy is a lovely thing, but we all know just how well air supremacy worked against insurgencies in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and...Iraq.

Slaxl

2014-06-16 10:55:38 AM

I don't know why, with all our intel, satellites and drones, we can't just throw a few missiles at the advancing militants. Everyone's saying they're just a few hundred, barely a thousand. We've killed more people than that accidentally.

Rwa2play

2014-06-16 10:56:36 AM

Inflatable Rhetoric: Rwa2play: akula: Not a big Obama fan, but I don't see this one as his fault.

If the Iraqis aren't going to fight to keep the extremists from taking things over there's fark-all we can do for them. They wanted us out, we wanted to be out. We can't, won't, and shouldn't have to play babysitter forever. Sure, invading Iraq was pointless, stupid, and ultimately unfruitful. But at some point they have to stand on their own two feet.

The Middle East is, was, and will continue to be a dog's breakfast when it comes to political stability and basic human freedom. Unless and until the people decide they've had enough and quit listening to those who are trying to impose the stone age at gunpoint it's going to be that way.

Also: This was Bush's mess.

Cheney's gonna be soooo hurt that you didn't mention him. And Feith, and Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld ....

Well, I would think that would be automatic by just mentioning Bush.

akula: Yup. As much as Obama blames everything, including the Nationals being swept this weekend, on Bush, on this one it really DOES belong to W. There just wasn't much Obama could do about Iraq. That said, he did actively campaign for this job, not once, but twice... if he doesn't like catching some flack from preexisting conditions he should have considered that before running. Moreover, his "the buck doesn't even slow down here" attitude makes every time he blames Bush seem disingenuous even when he IS correct about it.

Bush started that mess because chasing Bin Laden was too hard, signed the accords to get us out of there and Obama just carried it through. Simple.

vudukungfu

2014-06-16 10:56:37 AM

Po-TAY-toe
Po-Tah-toe

Plant Rights Activist

2014-06-16 10:57:55 AM

Slaxl: I don't know why, with all our intel, satellites and drones, we can't just throw a few missiles at the advancing militants. Everyone's saying they're just a few hundred, barely a thousand. We've killed more people than that accidentally.

we start lobbing missiles at them and they become martyrs fighting the tyranny of the Western imperialist powers. If they want their country let them fight for it.

machoprogrammer

2014-06-16 10:58:02 AM

Arming the Syrian rebels, who later turned out to be the ISIS, sure worked out well.

Although the crux of the problem (besides the obvious being the Iraq war itself) is due to Al Maliki being a total douchebag and arresting Sunni politicians and being an ass to non-Shias. If he had been good to the Shias, ISIS would have no popularity and would've gotten gangraped when they set foot in Iraq. Instead, you had the army majors telling the troops to stand down and actually defect due to sectarian differences.

Although now that Iran and Kurds are getting involved, ISIS might be screwed.

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