Toll of Iraq Looting More Serious Now

[cjbuchanan]

WASHINGTON - When looters rampaged through Iraqi ministries, schools and hospitals after Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s fall, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld called it the inevitable "untidiness" at the end of a dictatorship.

But a year after the war's March 19 start, it has become clear that the looting had a serious impact — slowing U.S. efforts to restore electricity and water, adding untold millions to the costs of rebuilding and hampering inspectors trying to uncover Saddam's weapons.

Some believe it helped create a sense of lawlessness in Iraq (news - web sites) that continues today.

The United States "has not yet been able to retrieve the lost ground and establish public security in Iraq," said James Dobbins, who held high-level diplomatic positions in the Clinton and Bush administrations and is now with the Rand research group.

More at: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/iraq_looting_s_fallout

So what will the right say about this?

[truthspeaker]

1. they'll claim no one could have predicted it

Even though the State Department and CIA both predicted it would happen.

[RobertSeattle]

2. Poor planning

Kerry should hammer the Bush Admin on the obvious points:

1. If you ARE going to invade another country, you must do with such forces that you can IMMEDIATELY take over the entire running of the country and security. Heck - the Nazis knew this. Rumsfield was going for the minimal force test and hoping for the "Happy Iraqi" scenario.

2. When invading another country, a substantial # of the invaders must speak the local language and appreciate the local customs.

[Columbia]

3. What you going to do?

Shoot the looters?

[GregW]

4. It's not as bad as removing the 'W' key from a keyboard ...

... or even worse ... leaving empty pizza boxes laying around. Oh, the humanity!

:eyes:

[TahitiNut]

5. Can you imagine the horror, the utter horror ...

... if the troops invaded only to find the "_"s removed from keyboards of Iraq? My god! Rumsfield and Cheney _ould be insane _ith rage! _O_! Those Iraqis sure kne_ better than to do that, fer sure.

:eyes:

[Lisa]

8. yeah, not to mention the problems finding ...

... the _MDs.

[hang a left]

6. Interesting, this is the second criticism of the US *Regime

by someone at RAND in about a month. IMO RAND=CIA

[King of New Orleans]

7. They'll hire fake reporters

to say every thing is going great!

[UpInArms]

11. no need for the "fakes" - Jennings did a fine job for the

*Co on Evening News tonight.

:mad:

[radwriter0555]

9. LOL! it's the LOOTER'S fault, NOT THE BOMBS BUSH DROPPED ON THEM???

Give me a FUKCING BREAK.

Will this admin ever, EVER take responsibility FOR ANYTHING?

[radwriter0555]

10. dupe oops

[Gin]

12. Looting is "Untidiness"..........fraud is "Mischief".....but...

a blow job is serious enough to impeach a president. Whenever I hear the word "mischief" describing what these crooks do...I want to smash the TV.