Pentagon Issues Rebuttals for Iraq Debate (unusual "debate prep book")

[sabra]

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/06/15/ap2817879.html

Pentagon Issues Rebuttals for Iraq Debate


The Pentagon armed congressional supporters of the Iraq war with an unusual "debate prep book" on Thursday, packed with ready-made rebuttals to criticism of a conflict that has now claimed the lives of 2,500 U.S. troops.

With the House beginning an election-year debate on the war, the Pentagon suggested lawmakers make the point that "Iraq will become a haven for terrorists, murderers and thugs," if the United States leaves "before the job is done."

"We cannot cut and run," it says at another point, anticipating Democratic calls for a troop withdrawal on a fixed timetable.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the 74-page document. It was sent to both Republicans and Democrats and it laid out the administration's positions in strong terms and offered page after page of counterpoints to criticisms that Democrats typically level against President Bush's war policies.

[EVDebs]

1. If we can't 'cut and run' howzabout cutting funds for permanent bases?

Nyuck, nyuck.

[Dhalgren]

2. How about "Nick and Step"? Sounds less cowardly...

Or, "Our troops currently have 'other priorities' and will have to opt-out of the current conflict." It seems that this excuse for not fighting in a war has worked for some in the past; why can't it apply to all our troops now?

[EVDebs]

5. I like Rep Mike Thompson's "redeployment" to other areas in the Gulf

the best. Thompson and Murtha know that these neocons are breaking the Army.

[coalition_unwilling]

10. How about declaring Victory and coming home? (n/t)

[EVDebs]

11. The 'R's will demand another Decent Interval

As with Vietnam, when they realized the jig was up in '68, they kept things going another four years or so, and the body count reflected that accordingly.

History seems to require repeat treatment. The military never learns.

[coalition_unwilling]

19. I don't think Repukes post-68 approach to Vietnam was as

simple as requiring a "decent interval." Rather, Nixon thought he could "win" by expanding the war to Laos and Cambodia (thereby illustrating Ellsburg's 3 precepts about the war -- 1) don't withdraw, 2) don't expand and 3)only break precept #2 if not to do so would mean violating precept #1).

[The Deacon]

3. Too Bad the 'Penta-gone'

Couldn't have been as detailed in its planning BEFORE they invaded Iraq.

[Mandate My Ass]

4. False dilemma

If you don't do "X" (my way without exceptions) then the only other possible outcome is "Y" (FUBAR).

[Dhalgren]

6. The Pentagon and the Repo-fascists have nothing to offer but

"false dilemmas". They are as intellectually bankrupt as the are morally and ethically so. "Cut and run" means absolutely nothing - it is a meaningless phrase. A withdrawal of troops means only that the occupation is over. At any point in time, when the occupation ends, the troops will be withdrawn. The only thing "cut and run" means is that the Dictator has failed in his war crimes, otherwise it would simply be the end of the occupation...

[wordpix2]

7. Iraq is already "a haven for terrorists, murderers and thugs," so how is

that a good argument? geesh.

[UpInArms]

8. Reich-Wing Propaganda Talking Points printed and paid for with your tax $$

disgusting

:puke:

[peacebird]

9. call congress - ask how Pentagon funded this political propaganda.

Pentagon is supposed to stay divorced from POLITICS.

This 74 page pro-war screed is resleased the day of the house "debate" on the war - giving page after page of "talking points" to support the war?

How was this FUNDED? This goes against the rules - military is NOT ALLOWED to be political, this doc is strictly political. Call congres. Ask for an explanation.

I called Warner (no answers except to written requests), Allen, Moran, and Goode.

[EVDebs]

12. Current emergency funding and the Senate bill 2766 has some

interesting funding sections re commercialized intelligence matters. Looks like 'psyops' to me

S.2766
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Placed on Calendar in Senate)
http://thomas.loc.gov /


http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:1:./temp/~c109bYNw20:e490635:

Sections 1031 ff have some interesting titles. What 'questionable intelligence activities' currently go unreported ? I wonder...would this include TALON and domestic operations ?

[peacebird]

17. yikes! thanks for that info....

i now feel so much "better" - not.....


:cry:

[grahamhgreen]

13. WHO IS OFFERING TO PAY FOR THE WAR?

[EVDebs]

15. R's HR 1268 emergency funding for war

Also see post #12 above, on section of S.2766

[The_Casual_Observer]

14. Apparently they are better at writing fiction than they are about actually

"winning" aren't they? I wonder if their little essay mentions the name "Bin Laden"?

[maxrandb]

16. This is Dangerous and Serious as Hell Folks!

YGTBSM! To those of us in the military, that means "You've Got To Be Shitin' Me"!

This is serious and important. To me, this means that they've (Repukes) either become so drunk by power, or they know that the fix is in for them to remain in power, that they don't have any qualms about having the Pentagon...LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN...THE PENTAGON!!! prepare talking points for them. This is absurd.

Look, one of the main reasons that our little experiment in Democracy has lasted as long as it has, and one of the only reasons that we have peaceful transfers of power, is because the Pentagon (read military) IS NOT PERMITTED TO BE A POLITICAL ENTITY!!!

There was a very good reason that the framers of our country ensured civilian control of the military. That was to prevent the senior military officials from entering into a "protective" agreement with either a king, or a politician.

You want to see Democracy die quickly? Let one party control the military.

Leaders from both damn parties better demand an investigation into this, and they better get to the bottom of who authorized this, who paid for it, who commissioned it, and who timed the release.

Am I putting my tin-foil hat on too tight, or does this look like collusion between the military (which is supposed to answer to and protect ALL AMERICANS) and the Bush regime? Is our military...the military of ALL THE UNITED STATES...preparing "talking points for the Repuke Party?

We're looking more and more like a dictatorship every day. Are there any Dems, or Republicans with integrity, that going to PUT THE PENTAGON BACK IN IT'S PROPER PLACE???

Hell, I might as well resign my commission and move to Iraq. It's like we've switched places. We're trying to establish, in Iraq, the Constitutional government we used to have here, and in America, we're establishing the government they used to have in Iraq.

This is as "effed up as a soup sandwich".

[librechik]

20. YASR

You Are So RIGHT!!!

WASF!!!

We Are So FUCKED!!!

and they don't seem to have a clue anything is wrong. Why don't we have an American Government instead of a Fascist Pretend Party?

IGU!!!

[Veronica.Franco]

18. We are making the entire Pentagon playbook for debate, which follows:

Pentagon talking points on Iraq, war on terror
An incredibly lengthy "prep book" for discussion of the Iraq war and US efforts to end terrorism has been issued to supporters in Congress, and acquired by RAW STORY.

The 74 page document seems to be an election year guide for Republicans and Democratic supporters of the war, with many of the "points" seeming to be rebuttals to arguments made by opponents of the war.

Other portions seek to categorize opponents of the war as "cut and run" advocates.

Though certain images could not, as of the time of publication, be transferred, we are making available to readers the entire Pentagon playbook for debate, which follows:

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Republican_talking_points_on_Iraq_war_0615.html

I haven't seen this posted in it's entirety elsewhere ... sooooo since the moderator locked my previous post I'll combine it with this one which doesn't seem to contain the entire document ...

[Up2Late]

21. Again, WHY did this surprise me? Unbelievable. K&R

Grrrrrrr. :banghead: :argh:

[Supersedeas]

22. Pubby dimwits need all the Bush Country coaching they can git.

[speedingbullet]

23. How About "Perp" Book?

Troubling that the Pentagon is writing propaganda for the thieves and liars.