Oregon Soldiers That Died In Iraq ... So Far

Total Dead US Soldiers: 3195

Total Oregon Soldiers Killed: 64

Some say the Surge is working. What they leave out is that it is only working in comparison to the recent months. Why don’t you decide? See for yourself. Notice where the last 2 months are with respect to the immediate preceding months, some would say that’s successful. Then compare the last two months to the last couple years. Is this success? Is this what we, as the mighty American military, (yes I served… as an Airborne Ranger) seek to accomplish? Is this the best we got?

As our troopies die, our politicians lie. While the right lies, the left waffles and fumbles. History, obviously, shows that we need to loose another 1,000 soldiers before the public stops turning a numb ear and eye to what is happening. 1,000 more soldiers have to die in order for the heat to be turned up before our politicians start acting in accordance with civility and honesty. 1,000 more will have to die before we really ever pull out.

Close to 60,000 U.S. soldiers died in Vietnam before we pulled out. As long as the public continues to stay ignorant we will continue to be on the receiving end of Blowback.

The right will never admit that the U.S. had anything to do with 9/11. They will never mention that we propped up the Mujadeen during the Soviet-Afghan war, that we supplied bin Laden with arms. That we were the one's who left Afghanistan in complete shambles after the Soviets pulled out in 1991.

The right will never mention that the U.S.'s "washing our hands" as we left pissed off bin Laden and the Freedom Fighters, otherwise known as "insurgents" who were fighting a hostile invading army. The right will never tell you what bin Laden's explanation was for 9/11. No, to do so points the finger back at us. There is no excuse for what happened, but if you are ignorant to history and our "enemy's" perception, then we are truly an empirical hubris society based on ethnocentrism.

Read your history people. Why did 9/11 happen? Do you really believe what the neo-conservatives tell you? That the fanatical Muslims hate us because we’re “Christians,” that they hate our “freedom.”

Enough of the Kool-Aide. Enough of the killing. Enough of the conservatives and their deficit spending for foreign policies that result in more Americans dying.

Oregon Total Killed In Action 64. Listed by city.

Astoria
Browning, Brian A.
Private 1st Class
06-Feb-2007

Beaverton
Nettles, Marcques J.
Petty Officer 3rd Class
02-Apr-2006

Bend
Newman, Randy Lee
Lance Corporal
20-Aug-2006

Brownsville
Moothart, Travis A.
Sergeant
27-Jan-2004

Clackamas
Jensen, Drew N.
Captain
07-Sep-2007

Coos Bay
Stacy, Steven A.
Lance Corporal
05-Jul-2007

Corvallis
Fennerty, Sean P.
Sergeant
20-Jan-2007

Corvallis
Blickenstaff, Joseph M.
Specialist
08-Dec-2003

Corvallis
McKinley, Eric S.
Specialist
13-Jun-2004

Corvallis
McMahon, Graham M.
Corporal
19-Sep-2007

Elgin
Zyla, Michael S.
Staff Sergeant
13-Dec-2005

Estacada
Loveless, Jeremy M.
Corporal
29-May-2006

Eugene
Thornton, Steven W.
Major
18-Apr-2005

Eugene
Whitman, Chase R.
Specialist
08-May-2004

Grants Pass
Schill, Juan M. Garcia
Lance Corporal
01-Jul-2007

Gresham
Rogers, Philip G.
Specialist
04-Apr-2004

Gresham
Plumondore, Adam J.
Sergeant
16-Feb-2005

Hammond
Mitts, David A.
Sergeant
04-Dec-2004

Hillsboro
Walton, Brett Andre
Private 1st Class
09-Apr-2007

Hood River/Ashland
Simpson, Jacob M.
Sergeant
16-May-2005

Hood River/Ashland
Lee, Marc A.
Petty Officer 2nd Class
02-Aug-2006

Independence
Kesterson, Erik C.
Chief Warrant Officer
15-Nov-2003

Independence
Wiens, Kory D.
Corporal
06-Jul-2007

Keizer
Hill, Ryan J.
Private 1st Class
20-Jan-2007

Klamath Falls
Van Leuven, Gary F.
Lance Corporal
17-Apr-2004

Klamath Falls
Kelly, Bryan P.
Lance Corporal
16-Jul-2004

Klamath Falls
Rodriguez, Dominic N.
Specialist
22-Jun-2007

La Grande
Warren, Mark C.
Sergeant 1st Class
31-Jan-2005

Lebanon
Davis, Kevin Dewayne
Staff Sergeant
08-Apr-2005

Madras
Tucker, Thomas Lowell
Private 1st Class
16-Jun-2006

Medford
Leckel, Daniel A.
Specialist
25-Jul-2007

Milwaukee
Jones, Robert L.
Specialist
17-Jun-2006

Multnomah County
Bradachnall, Travis J.
Corporal
02-Jul-2003

Newport
Wessel, Kevin S. K.
Private 1st Class
19-Apr-2005

Newport
Roberts, Bob W.
Lance Corporal
17-May-2004

Newport
Lightner, Nicholas J.
Sergeant
21-Mar-2007

North Bend
Elizalde, Adrian M.
Sergeant 1st Class
23-Aug-2007

Otis
Vaughan, Michael L.
Sergeant
23-Apr-2007

Pendleton
Stever, Robert Anthony
Staff Sergeant
08-Apr-2003

Portland
McCrae, Erik S.
1st Lieutenant
04-Jun-2004

Portland
Linden, Justin W.
Specialist
04-Jun-2004

Portland
Ramirez, William C.
Private 1st Class
11-Feb-2004

Portland
Wesley, Christopher Jude Rivera
Specialist
08-Dec-2003

Portland
Johnson, David W.
Sergeant
25-Sep-2004

Portland
Kent, Aaron A.
Seaman
23-Apr-2005

Portland
Tobler, Brandon Scott
Specialist
22-Mar-2003

Portland
Weisenburg, David J.
Staff Sergeant
13-Sep-2004

Portland
Henkes II, Richard J.
Sergeant 1st Class
03-Sep-2006

Portland
Haag, Chase A.
Corporal
01-Oct-2006

Redmond
Peterson, Dale G.
Lance Corporal
23-Apr-2007

Roseburg
Moore, James Lee
Corporal
26-Jan-2005

Roseburg
Bright, Dean
Private 1st Class
04-Oct-2006

Salem
Eyerly, Justin L.
Sergeant
04-Jun-2004

Salem
Jones, Derek W.
Lance Corporal
08-Oct-2006

Scappoose
Windsor, Nathanial Dain
Lance Corporal
11-Mar-2007

Sheridan
Isenberg, Benjamin W.
Sergeant
13-Sep-2004

Sherwood
Contreras, Aaron Joseph
Captain
30-Mar-2003

Stayton
Walker, Ryan D.
Specialist
05-Jan-2006

Tangent
Troyer, Tyler J.
Lance Corporal
19-Nov-2005

Tualatin
Gibson, Brennan C.
Sergeant
10-Dec-2006

Umatilla
Huston Jr., James B.
Lance Corporal
02-Jul-2004

Veneta
Kenny, Joseph P.
Specialist
23-Jun-2007

Warrenton/Cornelius
Leisten, Ken W.
Private 1st Class
28-Jul-2004

Winston
Rockholt Jr., Ricky W.
Specialist
28-Apr-2005

What ever happened to the ideals of Reagan?

Brave, Moral and Just Presidential candidates understand what it's like to nuke civilians.

The difference between Pre-emptive vs. Preventive war

Let's make an important distinction between pre-emptive war and preventive war.

Pre-emptive war is what happens when a state targets an enemy that represents an imminent threat of attack. The Six-Day War was a pre-emptive war.

Preventive war is what happens when a state targets an enemy before they can become an imminent threat of attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a preventive war.

Here's why this is important:
The war against Iraq was justified primarily as a pre-emptive war. But now the WMD are nowhere to be found.

Am I glad that Saddam is gone? Absolutely. I was in favor of regime change before, during, and after the war. It was enough for me that he had links to that thug Arafat's terror organization. After all, the Bush Doctrine is clear: if you support terrorists, you are a terrorist.

Had POTUS sold it in those terms, I think the American public would have bought it.

But if it turns out that the intel on WMD was cooked, or if it turns out that top-level administration officials lied, or if it turns out that POTUS wanted a preventive war along, but knew we wouldn't buy it, then I fear we've lost more than we gained.



http://www.rubyan.com/politics/2003/06/the_difference_between_preempt.html

The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer

"WASHINGTON - The State Department promised Blackwater USA bodyguards immunity from prosecution in its investigation of last month's deadly shooting of 17 Iraqi civilians, The Associated Press has learned.

The immunity deal has delayed a criminal inquiry into the Sept. 16 killings and could undermine any effort to prosecute security contractors for their role in the incident that has infuriated the Iraqi government.

"Once you give immunity, you can't take it away," said a senior law enforcement official familiar with the investigation.

State Department officials declined to confirm or deny that immunity had been granted. One official — who refused to be quoted by name_ said: "If, in fact, such a decision was made, it was done without any input or authorization from any senior State Department official in Washington."

Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd and FBI spokesman Rich Kolko declined comment..."

Well, looks like it's open season on rag heads. And to think... we were all getting bored with nothing to do. Now Uncle Sam will make ok to murder civilians... as long as they aren't our civilians.

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel WARNS our Government has LIED about WAR!

Does any of this sound familiar? Iraqi Civil War... Sectarian Violence... Morally Wrong... Tactically Wrong... We will not win a war of attrition... Skepticism of the American people over a 4 year period. The reality of what's going on, as ol' Chuck says, is that we are engaging in a “war” that is not only a lie but is ruining our country.

All from a Republican, Chuck Hagel, criticizing Bush and the administration and our very presence in Cambodia…. I mean Vietnam… oops, I mean Iraq.

Poll: Public not swayed by Petraeus

Regardless of the credibility that Patraeus brings to the table, people are still resolute regarding their opinions on the war. People, the people of the United States, the people who vote, the people of this “democracy” still want the U.S. out of Iraq.

Regardless of what Bush & Co. continue to keep pushing, over 2/3 of the public do not believe that the war is “winnable.” How do you win a war on “terror” when you’re fighting against a guerilla force based on sectarian violence among the indigenous people?

… You don’t! And 58% of the people polled don’t want us there any more. Read what USA Today had to say about it.
========================

By Susan Page, USA TODAY

"WASHINGTON — A plurality of Americans say Gen. David Petraeus' proposal to begin withdrawing some U.S. forces from Iraq is on the right track, but his long-awaited testimony to Congress last week failed to change fundamental attitudes toward the war.

A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday found essentially no shift in views on whether U.S. forces are likely to win the war — two-thirds predict they won't — and if the United States should set a firm timetable to remove troops.

In the days before Petraeus' appearances and President Bush's speech to the nation last week, 60% supported setting a timetable for withdrawal and sticking to it "regardless of what is going on in Iraq at the time." Now 59% do.

The findings underscore how attitudes toward the war have solidified 4½ years after the U.S.-led invasion.

"In terms of public opinion, it seems like Petraeus didn't really change anyone's mind," says Christian Grose, a political scientist at Vanderbilt University who studies the impact of the war on voting behavior. "He may have bought the president some time in Washington … but not in the public's eyes."
The number of Americans who say it was a mistake to send troops to Iraq ticked up to 58% from 54% in the USA TODAY Poll a week earlier. .... "

Poll Results

Greenspan Links Iraq War to US thirst for oil - Blames Republicans

"...The Iraq war is largely about oil." Says Alan Greenspan the Former Federal Reserve chairman . Greenspan, who is a lifelong Republican, writes that he advised the White House to veto some bills to curb "out-of-control" spending while the Republicans controlled Congress.

Here we have another person from within the upper echelons that be stating the truth. The other Richard Clarke (who worked for the State Dept. under Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton and Dubya and was promoted to chief counter-terrorism adviser on the U.S. National Security Council). Clarke was immediately demonized for his unpopular stance on the Iraq threat.

I highly suggest that you read what Greenspan says about republicans and the conservative elite who march to battle with empirical hubris over oil under the Trojan Horse of “Eminent WMD Threats / Democracy”… take your pick.

"I'm saddened that it is politically inconvenient to acknowledge what everyone knows -- the Iraq war is largely about oil," he wrote in reported excerpts of the book, which is set for release on Monday.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, while explaining his "respect" for Greenspan, rejected the charge that a thirst for crude explained the decision to invade Iraq in March 2003. "I know the same allegation was made about the Gulf War in 1991, and I just don't believe it's true," he said on ABC television Sunday. "I think that it's really about stability in the Gulf. It's about rogue regimes trying to develop weapons of mass destruction," he said.

Some articles on Greenspan and his highly respected stance and criticism of the Bush administration.

• Greenspan labels oil as prime motive for Iraq war
• Greenspan memoir links Iraq war to US thirst for oil
• Greenspan's shock: oil behind Iraq invasion
• Greenspan Says Politics Are Getting In The Way Of Sound Policy
• Alan Greenspan: "Iraq was invaded for oil"

Who is Alan Greenspan?
Greenspan is an American economist and was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve of the United States from 1987 to 2006. Following his retirement as Fed chairman, he accepted an honorary (unpaid) position at HM Treasury in the United Kingdom. Read More on Wikipedia.