CO-02: Polis takes us inside a contractor's compound in Iraq

Wow, another compelling report from Jared Polis - who went to Iraq to find out for himself:

A Dire Prediction

I think it likely that there will be a mutiny from within the lower ranks of contractors. It’s only a matter of time. The fact that they are of various nationalities and speak different languages might mean it will be a poorly coordinated and easily put down mutiny, but it is a virtual certainty to occur if the presence of armed contractors continues; the people at the bottom of the chain of command have all the guns and outnumber all the others. They don’t have a heck of a lot to lose (they are working in Iraq as mercenaries for $1,000/month after all) and I highly doubt they have any scruples relating to war given their line of work.

I frankly asked the executive (commander?) of the compound about this, and his answer was far from reassuring. He recognized the possibility but said that because (in this case) the commanders of the Angolans were South African, they spoke the same language and understood "how to keep them happy." Right....

....snip....

I believe that taxpayer money should not go towards private contractors to operate militia forces. Corporations should be prohibited from operating armed militias for combat operations. We will regret it if we don’t pass a law to set parameters around the hiring of contractors and encourage other nations to do the same (perhaps seek a United Nations approach towards eliminating corporate mercenaries). There can be a place for private contractors in a war situation, but we should not place the contractors into combat roles like manning checkpoints and conducting official searches. We must not privatize the core purpose of our military. I will introduce a bill in congress to ban corporations from operating armed militias in combat operations.

I remember a scant year ago when Doug Lamborn couldn't find Blackwater on a map. I doubt Doug could understand the intricacies of what Jared is reporting today. And I also doubt he would care.....

Well, the George W. Bush era is officially over (unless he bombs Iran)

Poland out of Iraq. John Howard out in Oz. Bush seems to think he'll be seen as some kind of George Washington someday. Our first George would have never condoned this many failures.....

Another high-falutin' religious leader resigns amid charges

Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts, is out at the school his father created under threats from God:

Richard Roberts required students in a government class to work on 2006 mayoral candidate Randi Miller's campaign.

....snip....

In the weeks since that lawsuit was filed, others have cropped up, including one from a former senior accountant who alleged that the Robertses ordered him to help them hide improper and illegal financial wrongdoing from the authorities and the public.

Also included:

Allegations of a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for Richard Roberts' wife, Lindsay, a $29,411 Bahamas senior trip on the university jet for one of Roberts' daughters, and a stable of horses for the Roberts children.

Someone's going to learn a lesson here someday. Unfortunately, it probably won't be the most greedy and self-centered of the Men of God in this tale.

Local soldiers against the war - their rights are as valid as yours.

Some people 'round here think true soldiers can only want to stay in Iraq forever. That's a lie. anonymous commenters here still think there's something to win in Iraq. They'll probably also wish for a pony from Santa this Christmas.

Instead, they should re-up and give our guys on their 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th tours a break to be home with their families this Christmas.

Proof Jared Polis' fact-finding trip to Iraq was no stunt

Jared Polis, one of three Democratic candidates running for Colorado's Second district anchored by Boulder, has recently taken a trip to Iraq to get a feel of the place and to talk to sources who cannot be questioned any other way.

Some political hacks have called this trip a political stunt.

I really must question the political acumen of someone who thinks going straight to the problem area, talking directly to the involved parties, and wanting to see the place for yourself - good, bad, and ugly - is some kind of stunt. ColoradoPols seems especially comfortable being blissfully ignorant about Jared's run for this seat. And they are obviously jealous of his wealth.

But the Jared I met is always looking at old problems in new ways. You can always see the gears in action. And this is something we want in our elected leaders. What we don't need any more of is rubber-stampers on either side and those willing to let the leadership determine their votes. That's what got Dems elected in '06; and what has sent their approval to the toilet in '07.

Enough is enough.

Jared is ready to change the dynamic. And he had the guts and initiative to set a trip for Iraq that few would contemplate, let alone accomplish.

Here's are two lengthy posts that give illuminating detail. And here's a rundown from Colorado Luis of the costs that everyone is so concerned about.

Here is a list of actions Jared is contemplating for George Bush's epic policy failure:

The invasion of Iraq was a colossal mistake

And I opposed the war from the very beginning. Bush’s blunders have left us without easy solutions for improving the situation, but I do believe that to end this conflict as quickly as possible, we should define success for our military operation as:

• Controlled withdrawal of U.S. forces that minimizes U.S. casualties and equipment losses
• A functioning Iraqi government operating on the basis of a ratified constitution
• Commitment from regional countries and major industrial nations to provide political, economic and diplomatic support to the Iraqi government during the withdrawal and beyond, and to facilitate dialogue among warring factions towards developing a stable Iraq
• Commitment from the United States and other countries to contribute long-term financial aid for rebuilding infrastructure as well as providing security training and ongoing anti-terrorism support

More here:

"We need to end our military presence, but there is a lot of work to do to build Iraq, transition authority, and nurture a democracy and functional government," he wrote.

The former chairman of the state school board was hit with few confrontational questions during his hour-long blog chat on the political website ColoradoConfidential.

Polis, a multimillionaire Internet entrepreneur, acknowledged he is covering his trip expenses as well as those of the Mile High United Way representative traveling with him. Polis said his attorney will determine what expenses he must publicly report as campaign expenses.

"I also plan to raise awareness in Colorado among the donor community about opportunities to give to help the Iraqi people, and I certainly plan on supporting some of the worthwhile organizations doing work here myself," he wrote.

These powerful words belie any accusation that Jared's trip was a stunt. Stunted thinking is what got us where we are wrt Iraq. It's going to take a hell of a lot of smart people to get us out safely and securely. Jared is one of those, for sure.

Walking - and flying - to Iraq

Local families will show their support for our troops in a symbolic walk to Iraq:

Hundreds of military families and well-wishers will be wearing out their sneakers in the next 15 months in a program designed to show miles of gratitude to Fort Carson soldiers in Iraq.

The “Walk to Iraq and Back” will feature volunteers logging more than 14,160 miles, the distance soldiers in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team will fly to Baghdad and back, returning in early 2009.
More than 40 walkers put in the first miles late last week in a kickoff event.

Brig. Gen. James M. Milano, assistant commander of the 4th Infantry Division, said he plans to keep soldiers from Fort Carson filled in on how many miles are being walked on their behalf and use the walk as a morale booster for troops living through a 15-month deployment.

“We know our families will be thinking of us while we’re away,” said Milano. “This is a way of showing that to soldiers.”

The first 3rd Brigade troops to head back to Iraq leave this week. A formal farewell ceremony for the unit is planned for Tuesday, and the 3,800-soldier unit will be gone by early December.

Jared Polis, one of 3 Dems running for Mark Udall's CD-2 seat, should be in Iraq withing 24 hours. He's going to see for himself (well, what they let him see, anyway) what's going on there. I'm sure he won't fall for the David Petraeus Dog&Pony War-tacular. Some people think it's a phony move. I think it's a sign of how seriously Jared takes the war and the need to get us out of Iraq as safely and quickly as possible.

Some think the $800 BILLION investment has actually made us safer........

The Cobalt Tide is still rising

The permanent Republican majority Karl Rove predicted is dissipating in a wave of incompetence, scandal, and lies. Democrats are looking up everywhere, and this will be as true in Colorado as the rest of the nation:

The Nov. 2-4, 2007, poll finds 54% of Americans saying they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, while 37% have an unfavorable opinion. Ratings of the Republican Party are much more negative, with 40% favorable and 50% unfavorable.

The public’s ratings of the Republican Party have improved slightly in recent months, edging up from 36% in July to 40% in early November. The current ratings are at roughly the levels seen in April and at several points in 2006. The party’s unfavorable ratings are down nine points since September and are now on the low end of what Gallup has measured since 2006.

Happy Monday!