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The International Herald Tribune: U.S. seen in Iraq until at least '09 By Michael R. Gordon BAGHDAD: While Washington is mired in political debate over the future of Iraq, the American command here has prepared a detailed plan that foresees a significant American role for the next two years. The classified plan, which represents the coordinated strategy of the top American commander and the American ambassador, calls for restoring security in local areas, including Baghdad, by the summer of 2008. "Sustainable security" is to be established on a nationwide basis by the summer of 2009, according to American officials familiar with the document. "I can't be overdrawn!" the joke goes, "I still have checks left!" Using this nutball logic, will there still be a war in Iraq when we run out of soldiers?

4,000

U.S. Military Losses Hit 4,000 in Iraq, Afghanistan July 9 (Bloomberg) -- Four thousand U.S. service members have died in U.S. President George W. Bush's ``war on terror'' in Iraq and Afghanistan 5 1/2 years after American forces ousted the Taliban in December 2001. A total of 3,596 have died in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion that removed Saddam Hussein from power. Some 2,957 of that number were killed in action, according to the latest Department of Defense figures. More than 26,500 personnel have been wounded in that conflict, 11,959 of them so seriously they couldn't return to duty. In Afghanistan, 404 American personnel have died, of which 224 were killed in action. Those deaths include 61 personnel who died in Pakistan and Uzbekistan in support of the operation. Some 1,361 have been injured; 813 of them couldn't return to duty. In Iraq, an insurgency rages against U.S. and coalition forces. The first six months this year were the deadliest yet for the American military, with more than 580 killed. U.S. President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Afghanistan in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. The U.S. accused the Taliban regime of hiding al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden, wanted for the worst terror attacks on U.S. soil. American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces are currently battling a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan. “Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” --Hermann Goering “War is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow.” --Dr. Martin Luther King

10 Billion

Nancy Pelosi crunches the numbers: "Think about what $10 billion a month would mean to protecting Americans from terrorism, improving security at our ports and airports, and increasing border security. Think about what $10 billion a month would mean for the 47 million Americans who don’t have health insurance, for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and for the education of our children. Think about what $10 billion a month would mean to lowering the deficit so that future generations are not burdened with debt. "The American people are outraged at the Bush Administration’s misplaced priorities -- that is why Congress will hold the Administration accountable with votes this month to end the war and redeploy the troops. This will include a vote on legislation to begin redeployment of our troops within 120 days and to conclude by April 1, 2008, with the exception of those remaining in Iraq to fight terrorists and protect our diplomats. "The date-certain legislation gives our Republican colleagues another opportunity to join Democrats in heeding the wishes of the American people, who want to wind down this war and bring our troops home." Reality: Ten billion dollars a month. Think about how many schools could be built with that money. Hospitals. Museums. Libraries. We could send every child in the United States to college. Rebuild the railroads. Finance national health care. George Bush's 28%: Fuck that. We're America. That would be socialist bullshit. Charity. Let's get those lazy Cadillac-driving welfare queens instead! Reality: Here. This is yours. George Bush's 28%: Huh? What's this? Reality: The bill.