It's begun: American pullout from South Korea

[Big Booger]

I have a slight feeling that the tide is slowly turning in Iraq. Now with the UN posed to join in, the interim council has been drawn, sovereignty coming down to less than 3 weeks, the 100,000 member Iraqi military force beginning to form, and so on.

That is not to say that Iraq is a Disney Land.. just saying that in the last month several things have started to change. But they have that Al Sadr fucker to deal with, and bombings, killings, kidnappings and the like.

After reading Time magazine yesterday, it looks as if the US is restructuring all it's forces abroad, from Germany to Australia. Looking to streamline their forces putting higher technology and faster and more mobile units in the areas where they need them the most.

I think it is good the US is leaving South Korea. They should leave everywhere and let the world live in "peace"
LOL

[Caustic Saint]

I'm afraid to ask but what's a gomi dumpling?

It's what you wake up next to after a night of hard drinking at the local bars... ]
That's quite enough out of you! :P

[GuyJean]

I have a slight feeling that the tide is slowly turning in Iraq.

I hope you're right, Big B.. But I think you might have that feeling of optimism because it appears the ONLY news in world right now is the coverage of the 'remembering, reflecting, observing, farewelling, mourning, and bon voyaging' of Reagan: Jesus Christ of the 80s.

Meanwhile, in the past 2 days:

* Returning Iraqi official killed. Iraq's deputy foreign ministers, Bassam Kuba, has been killed Saturday morning in an ambush outside his Baghdad home, according to witnesses and government sources.

*Rival Shiite groups fight in Najaf. (Can anyone say civil war?)The latest fighting in Najaf broke out in the yard of the Imam Ali Shrine between the rival Shiite groups. About 100 men were involved in fistfights, and people threw shoes and sand. Gunfire then erupted for about 30 minutes, with several Iraqis on both sides wounded.

* A car bomb wounded three U.S. soldiers Friday in southern Baghdad, a senior military coalition official said. The bomb went off as a U.S. military convoy passed by on a highway. Two of the soldiers have returned to duty, and the third remains hospitalized, the official said. Preliminary evidence indicates the bomb was activated remotely, the official said.

* A coalition patrol was ambushed in the central Iraqi town of Hillah on Friday, but no injuries or damage were reported, the coalition said. The patrol returned fire, forcing the attackers to flee, the coalition said.

* An Iraqi boy was in serious condition Friday after he was wounded in a mortar round strike in Baghdad, the coalition said. He and another boy were riding bikes Thursday in the city's Al Thawra district when the mortar rounds aimed at a coaliton base fell short, the Coalition Press Information Center said. Soldiers gave medical attention to the pair, and an evacuation chopper airlifted the seriously injured boy to a hospital, the press center said. The other boy received minor wounds. The coalition blamed al-Sadr's forces for endangering lives but didn't say if the militia was responsible in the strike.

* News footage Thursday showed members of an obscure militant group holding Turkish workers and issuing anti-coalition messages. The video, obtained by the Associated Press Television News, shows four Turks kneeling in front of masked, armed militants. The hostages were holding passports. They are thought to be part of a group of seven Turks abducted in Iraq. A video Tuesday showed three other Turks surrounded at gunpoint by militants. (Full story)

* A U.S. soldier died Thursday of wounds suffered in an attack the day before on coalition forces in eastern Baghdad, the Coalition Press Information Center said. Four other soldiers also were wounded. The attack is under investigation. The number of U.S. troops who have died in the Iraq war is 834. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/11/iraq.main/index.html

Shouganai, ne..

GJ

[Big Booger]

I have a slight feeling that the tide is slowly turning in Iraq.

I hope you're right, Big B.. But I think you might have that feeling of optimism because it appears the ONLY news in world right now is the coverage of the 'remembering, reflecting, observing, farewelling, mourning, and bon voyaging' of Reagan: Jesus Christ of the 80s.

Meanwhile, in the past 2 days:

* Returning Iraqi official killed. Iraq's deputy foreign ministers, Bassam Kuba, has been killed Saturday morning in an ambush outside his Baghdad home, according to witnesses and government sources.

*Rival Shiite groups fight in Najaf. (Can anyone say civil war?)The latest fighting in Najaf broke out in the yard of the Imam Ali Shrine between the rival Shiite groups. About 100 men were involved in fistfights, and people threw shoes and sand. Gunfire then erupted for about 30 minutes, with several Iraqis on both sides wounded.

* A car bomb wounded three U.S. soldiers Friday in southern Baghdad, a senior military coalition official said. The bomb went off as a U.S. military convoy passed by on a highway. Two of the soldiers have returned to duty, and the third remains hospitalized, the official said. Preliminary evidence indicates the bomb was activated remotely, the official said.

* A coalition patrol was ambushed in the central Iraqi town of Hillah on Friday, but no injuries or damage were reported, the coalition said. The patrol returned fire, forcing the attackers to flee, the coalition said.

* An Iraqi boy was in serious condition Friday after he was wounded in a mortar round strike in Baghdad, the coalition said. He and another boy were riding bikes Thursday in the city's Al Thawra district when the mortar rounds aimed at a coaliton base fell short, the Coalition Press Information Center said. Soldiers gave medical attention to the pair, and an evacuation chopper airlifted the seriously injured boy to a hospital, the press center said. The other boy received minor wounds. The coalition blamed al-Sadr's forces for endangering lives but didn't say if the militia was responsible in the strike.

* News footage Thursday showed members of an obscure militant group holding Turkish workers and issuing anti-coalition messages. The video, obtained by the Associated Press Television News, shows four Turks kneeling in front of masked, armed militants. The hostages were holding passports. They are thought to be part of a group of seven Turks abducted in Iraq. A video Tuesday showed three other Turks surrounded at gunpoint by militants. (Full story)

* A U.S. soldier died Thursday of wounds suffered in an attack the day before on coalition forces in eastern Baghdad, the Coalition Press Information Center said. Four other soldiers also were wounded. The attack is under investigation. The number of U.S. troops who have died in the Iraq war is 834. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/11/iraq.main/index.html

Shouganai, ne..

GJ

Of course those skirmishes are going to continue. I whole heartedly know that is going on, and it will continue even after the US have left. Terrorists really operate without an agenda. They attack when the moment is opportune. I really don't believe that those attacking are all Iraqi citizens. In fact, I'd say many were foreigners in Iraq from all over the Middle East. That is not to say that there are no Iraqis fighting against coalition forces.

It's just that the tide is changing. When the US pullout *if ever*, these militants I feel will continue to attack whoever is in charge.

I guess I am rather optimistic, but I would like to see Iraqis having a better life than what they have now or what they've had in the past.

[GuyJean]

I really don't believe that those attacking are all Iraqi citizens. In fact, I'd say many were foreigners in Iraq from all over the Middle East.

I agree that some of the goons are foreign]could[/i] be very ugly for very long..

The UN vote was a good start, but most country's want nothing to do with the Bush mess. NATO's not going, and Blair is taking political blows, (not the Clinton kind) on the home front:

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has apologized to Labour Party councillors who lost in local elections, acknowledging the shadow cast by Iraq.

Britons opposed to the war against Iraq handed Blair a stinging rebuff in the elections, with the ruling Labour Party coming third behind the main opposition parties. - http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/06/11/uk.blair/index.html

I agree, though. Optimism is good! I'm optimistic this mess oil money has produced will bring on a renewable energy revolution!

GJ