Its not over, its not getting better and I want to know how Cheney defines "sucsess"

Cheney: Iraq will be 'enormous success story'

"We will succeed in Iraq, just like we did in Afghanistan. We will stand up a new government under an Iraqi-drafted constitution. We will defeat that insurgency, and, in fact, it will be an enormous success story."

CNN.com 6/24/05

speaking of Afghanistan The Forgotten War Raleigh, N.O 6-24-05


The last time I checked, we were still in Afghanastan, things there were not finished and there is nothing in our Middle East Policy that comes close to a "succsess story".

WASHINGTON, June 23 - The top American commander for the Middle East said Thursday that the insurgency in Iraq had not diminished, seeming to contradict statements by Vice President Dick Cheney in recent days that the insurgents were in their "last throes.

Though he declined during his Congressional testimony to comment directly on Mr. Cheney's statements, the commander, Gen. John P. Abizaid, said that more foreign fighters were coming into Iraq and that the insurgency's "overall strength is about the same" as it was six months ago. "There's a lot of work to be done against the insurgency," he added.

From CNN.com 6/24/05

Car bomber slams into U.S. convoy in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A suicide car bomber slammed into a U.S. Marine convoy west of Baghdad and there were casualties, the military said Friday. A top U.S. commander testified before Congress that the foreign fighter problem in Iraq has worsened.
The attack happened Thursday night in Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad. The troops were assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, the military said. No further information was made available.

Separately, American and Iraqi troops battled al-Qaida-linked insurgents holed up in a house in an upscale part of Baghdad Thursday, killing at least five militants apparently waiting to carry out suicide bomb attacks.

Full Story here Raleigh, News and Observer 6/24/05


Yeah. We have been hugely succsessful - in getting our troops killed. Oh and by the way? for the troops who are not killed the V.A got the shaft again - A billion dollar shaft.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress that its health care costs grew faster than expected and left a $1 billion hole in its budget this year, lawmakers said Thursday

"This shortfall results from either deliberate misdirection or gross incompetence by this administration and the Department of Veteran Affairs," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington (Also? all those troops being injured in the line of duty) Are you telling me that nobody took the continuing hostilites into consideration when doing the budget? GAWD! Good news, big old 2.7% increase for next year! More then I get as an increase for the coming year, still keeping up with COL.

Full Story here

This quote was in the Washington Post version of that story

"The disclosure of the shortfall angered Senate Republicans who have been voting down Democratic proposals to boost VA programs at significant political cost. Their votes have brought the wrath of the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and other organizations down on the GOP."

Yeah, its the Democrats that don't support the troops.