Iraq. It is not looking very good there now.

[TayTay]

OMG! Everything seems to be falling apart at once in Iraq. I truly hope and pray this is not the case. The good people of that country who mainly want to find a way to live and raise their families in peace have had enough of war. But, sadly, it looks like some agreements that have led to the recent relative downturn in violence are coming apart.

This is some advance notice. These hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) will be starting next week. This could be pivotal hearings that occur at a pivotal moment. So I wanted to give people plenty of notice.

IRAQ 2012:
WHAT CAN IT LOOK LIKE,
HOW DO WE GET THERE?

Thursday, April 3, 2008
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building

IRAQ AFTER THE SURGE:
POLITICAL PROSPECTS

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Time: 2:30 P.M.
Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building

IRAQ AFTER THE SURGE:
MILITARY PROSPECTS

Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Place: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building


Ambassador Crocker and Gen David Petaeus will testify before SFRC on Tuesday, April 8th.

I am worried.

[whometense]

1. The news has been pretty horrifying.

I hope the hearings can get at some real truth - or more than the usual doubletalk, anyway. I've tried to watch "Bush's War" on Frontline several times now, but can't get to far into it before I have to change the channel.

I can't even imagine how military families are dealing with this. There was a story this morning on NPR about high school kids near a military base who have gone through their entire high school experience with a parent serving in Iraq. It was heartbreaking.

[TayTay]

2. I heard that story.

My heart hurts for all our families who have loved ones serving in Iraq now. As ever, their service is amazing and wonderful. (I don't know where this country would be without people who selflessly do come forward to serve. I just wish we had the leadership in place that these folks deserve.)

I am heartsick over this. Everything seems to be in chaos.

[beachmom]

3. I find Iraq an infinitely confusing place. I mean it is bad there, but

of course, you know what argument the administration is going to use: the Brits left Basra, so now it went into chaos. That is what will happen if we leave the central and northern parts of Iraq. So we must stay forever. Sigh.

[BlueIris]

4. I hate to reference Pat Buchanan, but I still think his description of Iraq as a "hellish quagmire"

is the best one.