Fossella calls escalation a doomed failure

We are witnessing a gradual escalation of America's role in this war. The Vietnam War offers us historical evidence that gradualism is a policy doomed to failure. Congress today demonstrated its support of our troops, but the President still needs to come before the American people and articulate our short- and long-term role in this military campaign." [link]

Rep. Vito Fossella, May 6, 1999

How does America feel about Fossella's war in Iraq: Troop Escalation

via CBS News/NY Times poll (July 9-17, 2007)

"As you may know, the U.S. has sent more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq. From what you have heard or read, would you say this troop increase is making the situation in Iraq better, making it worse, or is it having no impact on the situation in Iraq so far?"


Better 20%
Worse 22%
No Impact 51%
Unsure 07%

How is Fossella's war going so far?

Iraq. Rep. Vito Fossella owns it. It is his responsibility because time and time again he tells us we must fight there, they attacked us, they will come after us if we leave. I have had enough of his 4 year old mentality. This is Vito Fossella's war;

• The number of attacks on U.S. soldiers is way up, now accounting for 70 percent of all attacks in Iraq.
  
• While violence has dropped dramatically in Anbar Province, the number of attacks has risen sharply in four other provinces: Baghdad, Salahaddin, Diyala and Basra.
  
• In June, there were a record 55 attacks with Iranian-made roadside bombs -- called explosively formed penetrators. This is the deadliest form of roadside bomb seen in Iraq.
  
• Mortar attacks on the Green Zone have dramatically increased.
  

The people are speaking Rep. Fossella, you just are ignoring them;

A nationwide CBS News poll conducted late last month found that 63 percent of those polled said America should set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Two-thirds believe America should remove all or some of its troops, and 76 percent say the additional 20,000 U.S. troops sent to Iraq have either made no difference or made things worse.

A new estimate of war costs from the Congressional Research Service reports that Iraq is costing the United States $10 billion a month.

More troops to Iraq? Where is Fossella?

via ABC News;

The U.S. military is weighing new directions for Iraq, including an even bigger troop buildup if President Bush thinks his "surge" strategy needs a further boost, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.

The President has been divorced from reality for a while now, but the disappointment lies solely with Rep. Vito Fossella who is not only refusing to talk to the President about a new strategy he is supporting everything this President does.

This just in, Bin Laden is not in Iraq!

One year after Fossella claims a victory in Iraq

While researching something else I came across this press release from Rep. Vito Fossella dated June 6, 2006, following the death of al-Zarqawi;

“Every generation has its evil, from Hitler to Stalin to bin Laden and al-Zarqawi,” Fossella said. “His singular mission was to terrorize and murder innocent people. His death is a victory in the War in Terrorism and for the American and Iraqi people. His death will likely create disarray among the insurgency in Iraq and leave it without a mastermind to plan, coordinate and carry out attacks over the long-term. This is an important step in stabilizing Iraq and should allow the United States to move more quickly to draw down our troops. Al-Zarqawi’s death should send a clear message to every terrorist in any corner of the globe: The United States and its allies will hunt you down and bring you to justice for committing acts of violence against innocent people.”

One year later one must look back on Fossella's announcement and ask some reasonable questions.

When you claimed his death would cause disarray did you expect 4 of the 7 highest casualty months, since February 2003, for US forces to happen in the year since then? In the last year al-Zarqawi was leading the insurgency there were 827 American casualties. In the year following his death there has been 1,029. Is this the measure of success? (source: icasulaties.org)

If the insurgency is suppose to be in disarray why did you feel the need to support President Bush in sending even more troops to Iraq 9-10 months after you made the statement above?

I eagerly await a statement of retraction or correction Rep. Fossella. Realistically though I do realize you may be busy withholding money from charities and taking money from corrupt lawmakers, so no rush. Thanks.

Fossella's failing escalation in Iraq

First there was Rep. Vito Fossella telling us all is good in Iraq.
Then there was Sen. Reid (D-Maj. Leader) calling for troop support, not escalation support.
Now this is what reporters are saying, via the NY Times;

But there is little sign that the Baghdad push is accomplishing its main purpose: to create an island of stability in which Sunni Arabs, Shiite Arabs and Kurds can try to figure out how to run the country together. There has been no visible move toward compromise on the main dividing issues, like regional autonomy and more power sharing between Shiites and Sunnis.

For American troops, Baghdad has become a deadlier battleground as they have poured into the capital to confront Sunni and Shiite militias on their home streets. The rate of American deaths in the city over the first seven weeks of the security plan has nearly doubled from the previous period, though it has stayed roughly the same over all, decreasing in other parts of the country as troops have focused on the capital.

Democrats on troop support, not escalation

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid;

Democrats are continuing to fight to give our troops the resources they need, including a strategy for success worthy of their sacrifices. The President's new plan to follow up his ill-advised escalation by sending ill-prepared National Guard troops to Iraq is another misguided strategy neither our troops nor the American people can afford. Nearly 90 percent of the Army National Guard has less than half the equipment they need to respond to a national crisis, and the war in Iraq is endangering our National Guard at home.

President Bush has done more than anyone to damage troop readiness, which are at levels not seen since the Vietnam War. While the Administration continually shifts its stance on when the escalation will end and when we will see results, our military is stretched too thin and our troops are returning to combat too soon and with too little training.

Vito's escalation, part II

So you recall Rep. Vito Fossella adamantly speaking against the Congressional effort to limit President Bush's plan to send more and more troops into Iraq to support his 'accomplished' mission? Just in case you don't, here is what we wrote on March 20;

At the time the President was saying we would need 21,000 more troops.
Vito applauded.
Then he said 4,400 more on top of that.
Vito applauded.
Then the top US commander in Iraq asked the President for 3,000 more troops.
Vito, I am sure applauded.

So that is 28,400 of the 21,000 Bush told us about, and Fossella backed. Now 12,000 more;

Coming on the heels of a controversial “surge” of 21,000 U.S. troops that has stretched the Army thin, the Defense Department is preparing to send an additional 12,000 National Guard combat forces to Iraq and Afghanistan, defense officials told NBC News on Thursday. [MSNBC]

40,400 mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters out of the only 21,000 Fossella told us was necessary. How many times until Fossella's attempts to mislead us catch up with him?

Vito's escalation

Rep. Vito Fossella has already told us that he supports the President and his infinite wisdom and supports increasing the amount of troops we send to Iraq as part of a troop surge or troop escalation.

At the time the President was saying we would need 21,000 more troops.
Vito applauded.
Then he said 4,400 more on top of that.
Vito applauded.
Then the top US commander in Iraq asked the President for 3,000 more troops.
Vito, I am sure applauded.

This is Vito's escalation. This is Vito's war. Every step of the way he has told us he is independent, and then without question supported President Bush. In 2008, whether we are out of Iraq or not, President Bush leaves his current job and can't screw up or fix things any more than he has. In 2008 Vito is planning on running for re-election to go back to DC to more of the same.

England not so keen on Iraq Escalation

While Rep. Vito Fossella continues to take marching orders from President Bush and his administration on the war in Iraq, it seems our allies, whom you may remember from such acts as the 'coalition of the willing', well they are not so willing anymore. It seems England has realized sending addition troops is not the solution, and in fact will be removing theirs from Iraq altogether. The WFP Blog has a nice write up on this;

Tony Blair is rejecting George Bush's escalation strategy and bringing British troops home. Blair is bringing 1,600 British troops home now - that's around a quarter of the British troops still in Iraq - with 3,000 more to come home by the end of 2007 and the rest to follow in 2008.

And Senator Kennedy calls out the administration;

"Eighteen other countries have already withdrawn or dramatically reduced their troop presence in Iraq. A majority of the American people voted last November for a changed policy in Iraq. A majority of the House and the Senate, a unanimous Baker- Hamilton Commission and numerous generals have rejected the Administration's policy in Iraq. And now our country's strongest ally has rejected it."

LTE: Fossella's indecision on Bush's Escalation

A Sunday 'Letter to the Editor' (LTE) in the SI Advance addresses Rep. Vito Fossella's long drawn out indecision on Bush's Escalation plan. Fossella held out until the day of the vote to then declare his continued support of President Bush;

According to a recent survey posted by the Web site Think Progress, 435 members of the House were polled and the most astounding fact is three of the 435 refused to answer if they favored or opposed escalation of the Iraq war. One congressman who apparently has no opinion about the deaths of young Americans is Staten Island's own Vito Fossella.

Read the entire piece here