Re: Survival In Iraq...Step Lightly..Ever So Lightly...

On 26 Oct 2005 13:59:45 -0700, "Too_Many_Tools"
<too_many_tools@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Gunner, our administration and military has GREATLY underestimated the
>enemy.
>
>Found any WMDs yet?
See below. Ask them

>
>Meanwhile, have I got the job for you!
>
>Be sure to include me in your life insurance policy and will before you
>go. ;<)
>
>TMT
>
Dont know much about my history, do you?

In response to your WMD question..see these people and ask them:

"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with
the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including,
if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to
respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its
weapons of mass destruction programs." -- From a letter signed by Joe
Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, & John
Kerry among others on October 9, 1998

"This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors
last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam
Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that
biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be
back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine
delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile
program to develop longer- range missiles that will threaten the
United States and our allies." -- From a December 6, 2001 letter
signed by Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman, Harold Ford, & Tom Lantos among
others

"Whereas Iraq has consistently breached its cease-fire agreement
between Iraq and the United States, entered into on March 3, 1991, by
failing to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program, and
refusing to permit monitoring and verification by United Nations
inspections; Whereas Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction,
including chemical and biological capabilities, and has made positive
progress toward developing nuclear weapons capabilities" -- From a
joint resolution submitted by Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter on July 18,
2002

"Saddam's goal ... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while
retaining and enhancing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs.
We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed." -- Madeline
Albright, 1998

"(Saddam) will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and
some day, some way, I am certain he will use that arsenal again, as he
has 10 times since 1983" -- National Security Adviser Sandy Berger,
Feb 18, 1998

"Iraq made commitments after the Gulf War to completely dismantle all
weapons of mass destruction, and unfortunately, Iraq has not lived up
to its agreement." -- Barbara Boxer, November 8, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are
confident that Saddam Hussein retained some stockpiles of chemical and
biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course
to build up his chemical and biological warfare capability.
Intelligence reports also indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons,
but has not yet achieved nuclear capability." -- Robert Byrd, October
2002

"There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat... Yes, he has
chemical and biological weapons. He's had those for a long time. But
the United States right now is on a very much different defensive
posture than we were before September 11th of 2001... He is, as far as
we know, actively pursuing nuclear capabilities, though he doesn't
have nuclear warheads yet. If he were to acquire nuclear weapons, I
think our friends in the region would face greatly increased risks as
would we." -- Wesley Clark on September 26, 2002

"What is at stake is how to answer the potential threat Iraq
represents with the risk of proliferation of WMD. Baghdad's regime did
use such weapons in the past. Today, a number of evidences may lead to
think that, over the past four years, in the absence of international
inspectors, this country has continued armament programs." -- Jacques
Chirac, October 16, 2002

"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of
threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction,
ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond
today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be
emboldened tomorrow." -- Bill Clinton in 1998

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports
show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and
biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his
nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to
terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no
evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11,
2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein
will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical
warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he
succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security
landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects
American security." -- Hillary Clinton, October 10, 2002

"I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons...I saw evidence
back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from
gaining entry into a warehouse for three hours with trucks rolling up
and then moving those trucks out." -- Clinton's Secretary of Defense
William Cohen in April of 2003

"Iraq is not the only nation in the world to possess weapons of mass
destruction, but it is the only nation with a leader who has used them
against his own people." -- Tom Daschle in 1998

"Saddam Hussein's regime represents a grave threat to America and our
allies, including our vital ally, Israel. For more than two decades,
Saddam Hussein has sought weapons of mass destruction through every
available means. We know that he has chemical and biological weapons.
He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and
is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to
build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to
achieving that goal." -- John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002

"The debate over Iraq is not about politics. It is about national
security. It should be clear that our national security requires
Congress to send a clear message to Iraq and the world: America is
united in its determination to eliminate forever the threat of Iraq's
weapons of mass destruction." -- John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002

"I share the administration's goals in dealing with Iraq and its
weapons of mass destruction." -- *** Gephardt in September of 2002

"Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf
and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his
access to weapons of mass destruction. Iraq's search for weapons of
mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we
should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in
power." -- Al Gore, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that
Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing
capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass
destruction." -- Bob Graham, December 2002

"Saddam Hussein is not the only deranged dictator who is willing to
deprive his people in order to acquire weapons of mass destruction."
-- Jim Jeffords, October 8, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and
developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Ted Kennedy, September 27,
2002

"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger,
that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass
destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed." -- Ted Kennedy,
Sept 27, 2002

"I will be voting to give the president of the United States the
authority to use force - if necessary - to disarm Saddam Hussein
because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction
in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." -- John F.
Kerry, Oct 2002

"The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is
real, but as I said, it is not new. It has been with us since the end
of that war, and particularly in the last 4 years we know after
Operation Desert Fox failed to force him to reaccept them, that he has
continued to build those weapons. He has had a free hand for 4 years
to reconstitute these weapons, allowing the world, during the
interval, to lose the focus we had on weapons of mass destruction and
the issue of proliferation." -- John Kerry, October 9, 2002

"(W)e need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous
dictator, leading an oppressive regime. We all know the litany of his
offenses. He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so
consistently prone to miscalculation. ...And now he is miscalculating
America?s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp
for weapons of mass destruction. That is why the world, through the
United Nations Security Council, has spoken with one voice, demanding
that Iraq disclose its weapons programs and disarm. So the threat of
Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but it is not
new. It has been with us since the end of the Persian Gulf War." --
John Kerry, Jan 23, 2003

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a
threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the
mandates of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass
destruction and the means of delivering them." -- Carl Levin, Sept 19,
2002

"Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological
weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for
the United States." -- Joe Lieberman, August, 2002

"Over the years, Iraq has worked to develop nuclear, chemical and
biological weapons. During 1991 - 1994, despite Iraq's denials, U.N.
inspectors discovered and dismantled a large network of nuclear
facilities that Iraq was using to develop nuclear weapons. Various
reports indicate that Iraq is still actively pursuing nuclear weapons
capability. There is no reason to think otherwise. Beyond nuclear
weapons, Iraq has actively pursued biological and chemical
weapons.U.N. inspectors have said that Iraq's claims about biological
weapons is neither credible nor verifiable. In 1986, Iraq used
chemical weapons against Iran, and later, against its own Kurdish
population. While weapons inspections have been successful in the
past, there have been no inspections since the end of 1998. There can
be no doubt that Iraq has continued to pursue its goal of obtaining
weapons of mass destruction." -- Patty Murray, October 9, 2002

"As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware
that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue
of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in
the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a
threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the
weapons inspection process." -- Nancy Pelosi, December 16, 1998

"Even today, Iraq is not nearly disarmed. Based on highly credible
intelligence, UNSCOM [the U.N. weapons inspectors] suspects that Iraq
still has biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, and
clostridium perfringens in sufficient quantity to fill several dozen
bombs and ballistic missile warheads, as well as the means to continue
manufacturing these deadly agents. Iraq probably retains several tons
of the highly toxic VX substance, as well as sarin nerve gas and
mustard gas. This agent is stored in artillery shells, bombs, and
ballistic missile warheads. And Iraq retains significant dual-use
industrial infrastructure that can be used to rapidly reconstitute
large-scale chemical weapons production." -- Ex-Un Weapons Inspector
Scott Ritter in 1998

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working
aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear
weapons within the next five years. And that may happen sooner if he
can obtain access to enriched uranium from foreign sources --
something that is not that difficult in the current world. We also
should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has
made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- John
Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002

"Saddam?s existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose a
very real threat to America, now. Saddam has used chemical weapons
before, both against Iraq?s enemies and against his own people. He is
working to develop delivery systems like missiles and unmanned aerial
vehicles that could bring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and
U.S. facilities in the Middle East." -- John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002

"Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Administration?s policy
towards Iraq, I don?t think there can be any question about Saddam?s
conduct. He has systematically violated, over the course of the past
11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he
disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any
nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do. He lies and cheats; he
snubs the mandate and authority of international weapons inspectors;
and he games the system to keep buying time against enforcement of the
just and legitimate demands of the United Nations, the Security
Council, the United States and our allies. Those are simply the
facts." -- Henry Waxman, Oct 10, 2002

>http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-07-31-bomb-specialists_x.htm
>
>Bomb specialists highly valued, highly needed
>By Dave Moniz, USA TODAY
>FORT MEADE, Md. - Staff Sgt. Ryan Lair gets straight to the point
>when talking about why he loves his job.
>
>Blowing stuff up," he says with a wry smile, describing what he does as
>an explosive ordnance disposal specialist. Known in military shorthand
>as EOD, his job is one of the Army's most dangerous and tends to
>attract some of the same personality types as the elite Green Berets.
>
>In the midst of a guerrilla war in Iraq in which the deadliest weapons
>are homemade explosives hidden in cars, under roads and even in animal
>carcasses, Lair and his band of bomb-killing brothers are among the
>most valued of troops. (Related story: Military in 'bidding war')
>
>The problem is there aren't nearly enough EOD soldiers to go around -
>especially those with the experience to handle the most dangerous parts
>of the job. Lair and his comrades in the 744th Ordnance Company typify
>the personnel shortages hitting the wartime military.
>
>The Army is so short of EOD soldiers that it is paying bonuses of up to
>$20,000 for recruits willing to sign up and awards as high as $50,000
>to keep experienced soldiers. It has also taken the unusual step of
>assigning two full-time recruiters to do nothing but persuade other
>soldiers to leave their jobs and become EOD specialists. The shortage
>of specialists has also led the Pentagon to hire outside contractors to
>dispose of the hundreds of thousands of tons of leftover munitions in
>Iraq. (Related story: Security spending soars)
>
>Munitions disposal is one of many hard-to-fill jobs that has left the
>Army scrambling to find bodies. The Army is critically short of a
>number of specialists, including truck drivers, petroleum supply
>troops, medical personnel and soldiers who prepare food, according to a
>report in March by the Government Accountability Office, the
>investigative arm of Congress.
>
>The 744th, a tight-knit unit of about 20 members, is fighting its own
>war of attrition. Between private security contractors dangling
>salaries of $200,000 per year to his most experienced people, to
>federal agencies that also try to lure bomb specialists away from the
>Army, Capt. Chris Bartos has his hands full trying to keep his tiny
>unit whole.
>
>Last year, members of the 744th spent six months in Iraq, where they
>were called in more than 200 times to destroy roadside explosives,
>caches of unexploded bombs and other dangerous weapons. The work is
>risky. A total of 13 EOD soldiers have been killed in Iraq and
>Afghanistan, all but one while on missions for their units.
>
>First Sgt. Robert Breaux, a 15-year bomb disposal veteran, says the EOD
>motto is "initial success or total failure."
>
>Shortage of team leaders
>
>Designed to operate with seven two-man teams that handle the
>explosives, the 744th is nowhere near full strength. Bartos, the
>company commander, says he has only two team leaders who are qualified
>to disarm or destroy improvised bombs, perhaps the most critical task
>for EOD units right now.
>
>In that respect, Bartos' unit is no different from other Army EOD
>outfits in the USA, which are struggling to find enough people, says
>Cathy Kropp, an Army spokeswoman at Aberdeen, Md.
>
>The lack of trained specialists makes it harder to train the new troops
>Bartos gets and adds to the burden of the few experienced technicians
>assigned to the 744th.
>
>"I've got plenty of younger guys, but I can't use them alone," Bartos
>says, explaining that only team leaders are qualified for the most
>dangerous missions, including using remote-controlled robots to blow up
>improvised explosive devices, commonly known as IEDs.
>
>To be a team leader, an EOD soldier must have reached the rank of staff
>sergeant, a midcareer position that can take six to eight years for a
>newly minted recruit. Bartos has plenty of younger soldiers entering
>the unit, but they typically are low-ranking privates or specialists
>and are years away from becoming qualified as team leaders.
>
>The shortage of EOD soldiers is driven in part by the nature of the
>wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Iraq, the insurgents' weapon of choice
>is the IED, by far the single-largest cause of combat deaths. The
>proliferation of homemade bombs in Iraq and land mines in Afghanistan
>have kept units such as Bartos' extraordinarily busy.
>
>Master Sgt. Matthew Boehme, one of the new EOD recruiters at Fort Bragg
>in North Carolina, said a typical unit can expect to spend six months
>in Iraq or Afghanistan, return home for 10-14 months, then go right
>back overseas.
>
>The Army is in the midst of adding three battalions and six companies
>of EOD soldiers to meet the skyrocketing demand, despite the difficulty
>it is having filling the units it already has.
>
>Bartos' soldiers get little rest, even when they return from overseas
>deployments. From their base at Fort Meade northeast of Washington,
>soldiers from the 744th are constantly in demand for "VIP" missions
>searching for hidden bombs that might be used against the president or
>other senior government officials. Those missions could involve
>everything from crawling into air ducts to searching ceilings, elevator
>shafts and trash bins.
>
>During the second week in July, the 744th had seven VIP assignments,
>which can be performed only by the two team leaders or by Bartos or
>Breaux, who are responsible for managing the unit and pitch in only
>when absolutely necessary.
>
>Despite the dangers, EOD work appeals to soldiers who crave adventure.
>
>Many of the soldiers in the unit switched from other parts of the Army
>they found less appealing. Lair, who found he "didn't fit in as an
>infantryman," said he likes the fact that EOD soldiers work in small
>teams and have the independence to solve problems on their own, much
>like special operations commandos.
>
>One enterprising EOD soldier recently came up with the idea of using a
>remote-controlled toy car to deliver tiny blocks of C4 plastic
>explosive used to blow up IEDs. The tiny radio-controlled cars, which
>can be equipped with video cameras, are much less costly to replace or
>repair than remote-controlled robots.
>
>Kropp says it is that independent streak and flair for experimentation
>that attracts soldiers to the job.
>
>Sgt. 1st Class Dale Schmidt, a 19-year Army veteran who is one of two
>team leaders in the 744th, fell in love with the idea of becoming an
>EOD technician after watching Danger UXB, a public television drama
>about British specialists who disposed of unexploded bombs from the
>German aerial blitz during World War II.
>
>"In this job," Schmidt says, "you see the results of the mission. It is
>one of the few jobs in the Army where you are not actually killing
>people but saving lives."
>
>Schmidt won't be with the unit much longer, though. He plans to leave
>the Army next year after the 744th returns from Afghanistan, most
>likely to take a lucrative job with a government agency or a private
>defense contractor.

"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the *** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner
.

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