Let France lead Europe. We Americans can do the heavy lifting,however, we must let the Union of Europe safegaurd their oil supplies. The French helped us win our independence, let them stand tall,co-operate with them. Recent moves from their administration will be put to test. Are you with us or old and in the way?

Bill
If the Us military is so over-streched, I have some solutions which no-one seems to have thought-of: get out of Iraq, get out of Afghanistan, and go somewhere you can do some good like Darfur. Stay in Kosovo despite those so-called European "wimps" (Have you thought that the Europeans are simply smarter than you are?). Dramatically reduce your nuclear armed military infrastructure and transfer the funds and personnel into the infantry. Deeply cut weapons research budgets, ditto. It's time to realise that the world has changed, and military configurations and mindsets developed to fight the cold war are both no longer appropriate and even positively dysfunctional.

Bill
If the Us military is so over-streched, I have some solutions which no-one seems to have thought-of: get out of Iraq, get out of Afghanistan, and go somewhere you can do some good like Darfur. Stay in Kosovo despite those so-called European "wimps" (Have you thought that the Europeans are simply smarter than you are?). Dramatically reduce your nuclear armed military infrastructure and transfer the funds and personnel into the infantry. Deeply cut weapons research budgets, ditto. It's time to realise that the world has changed, and military configurations and mindsets developed to fight the cold war are both no longer appropriate and even positively dysfunctional.

This just shows Rumsfeld couldn't manage himself out of a paper bag and should have been replaced long before he was. Managing men wasn't exactly his strong suit. Being obstinate was his strong suit.

France will lead the way.

Jindo

Isn't it interesting given the political climate (and the new pro-western Presidential Candidate) in France that all of the sudden America has warmed up to France again.

It is sad that we ignore the wisdom of nations that are much older than America, and leaders who have been around since some of our leaders were in high school or on the college cheerleading team?

France will lead the way.

thanx, mr. arkin for the lesson in military chess. it should also be stated the at recent statements out of afghanistan suggest that we mwy be thinking about giving up there in order to concentrate on iraq(oops! i really meant iran) are we all getting the drift now?

This is pure light and fast Rumsfeld, which has weakened our nation and it's military. Israel has also been infected by the neoliberal/Neoconservative approach to warfare.

BE IN DC ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2007!

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
~ The Plan for the Day - Gathering time and place, maps & housing
~ How to get to DC - By bus, van, car, plane, train and metro

~ THE PLAN FOR SEPT. 15 ~

On Saturday, September 15, tens of thousands of people from across the country will gather at 12 noon at the White House (north side, in and around Lafayette Park) and then march to the Capitol (west side). (The Ellipse on the south side of the White House is closed for maintenance repairs.)

Please see below for detailed information.

Click below to view and print a map (8.5x11 inch PDF):
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=sugzmXf8wZhBlSBpuv5ysw..

The march will go from the White House to the Capitol Building. The front contingent of the march will be Iraq war veterans, family members of soldiers and marines and other veterans. When the march arrives at Congress, the Iraq War Veterans and family members will be the leadership of a mass die-in symbolizing the deaths of an estimated 4,000 U.S. servicemembers. A powerful representation of the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis will be the other central component of this dramatic confrontation with Congress at the time that they will be debating spending another $100 billion to sustain the criminal occupation of Iraq.

The Die-In is a civil disobedience action and those participating may risk arrest. There will be a permitted rally taking place simultaneously with the Die-In. All those who cannot afford to risk arrest will be able to participate in the permitted rally that will take place on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building.

Sign up today:

YES, I can join the mass march in Washington DC on September 15. Click this link to sign up:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=p1P_FAOTEgGrgSrKbhhpIw..

YES, I will participate in the mass Die-In/Funeral. Click this link to sign up:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=9aqL2JxQJk0spIxQuaqqzA..
There will be information packets about logistics and legal Know Your Rights information sent to all those participating. The National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Committee and the Partnership for Civil Justice will be providing legal support for the demonstration.

An email update with details about the September 16-21 Week of Action will be sent out later this week.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT
www.Sept15.org
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=z2cvsM6V4eTJSI61zaMiBQ..

**********************

A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
www.answercoalition.org
info@internationalanswer.org
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
New York City: 212-694-8720
Los Angeles: 323-464-1636
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
Chicago: 773-463-0311

If this message was forwared to you and you'd like to receive future ANSWER updates, click here:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=RR-dWlKuH-jLNN_s1suUng..

With a total force of only 2 million, there is no way for the U.S. to pacify the insurgency in Iraq without increasing overall troop levels very dramatically.

The counterinsurgency manual, written in large part by Gen. Petraeus, calls for at least 20 security forces for every 1,000 inhabitants. Baghdad is (or was) a city of about 6,000,000. That comes out to about 140,000 troops needed just for Baghdad. Iraq has a population of about 27 million, depending how many refugees have fled, which means you need roughly 4 times that many troops--560,000--to control the country (that number seems familiar...)

Of course, if you count Iraqi troops and police then we already have this number. The problem is most of them seem to be part of one or another insurgency...which we continue to arm. The lesson is simply, if you want a job done right you've got to do it yourself; which means America needs to put 1/2 million troops into Iraq or get the hell out.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP ~

The ANSWER Coalition has provided thousands of dollars as a scholarship to help Iraq veterans and other veterans get on the bus to join the September 15 protest. Thousands of Iraq war veterans want to join the protest. The biggest obstacle is lack of money. If you cannot come to Washington DC yourself but would like to provide a transportation subsidy for others, you can do so by clicking this link to make a generous donation:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=3eLy4_LH4AP3LLvQoka8wg..

~ PUBLIc TRANSPORTATION IN DC ~

The closest metro (subway) stations to the rally site at the White House (north side in Lafayette Park) are McPherson Square (blue/orange lines), Farragut West (blue/orange lines), Farragut North (red line); Metro Center (blue/orange/red lines) is also close.

Exact locations of exits from metro stations:
- McPherson Square (blue/orange lines): *SE corner Vermont Ave. & I St. NW, SW corner 14th & I Sts. NW
- Farragut West (blue/orange lines): *SE corner 17th & I Sts. NW, NW corner 18th & I Sts. NW
- Farragut North (red line): *NE corner Conn. Ave. & K St. NW, SW corner Conn. & L St. NW, NE corner Conn. & L St. NW
- Metro Center (blue/orange/red lines): *SE corner 13th and G Sts. NW, NE corner 12th and G Sts. NW, SE corner 11th and G Sts. NW, SW corner 12th and F Sts. NW
* = best exit to use

For an online DC metro (subway) map, click on one of the options below:

Interactive online metro map (click on station to view details):
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=GA-v5X1m5ehUvIFsDLwaUQ..

Please see the websites of these airports for information about public transportation and directions.

Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI)
800-435-9294, located in Maryland halfway between DC and Baltimore, about 30-40 min. drive from DC
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=rSGoAqtWFrbpWM5MxkzQvQ..
The best way to get from BWI to the rally site is to take the WMATA Express bus that leaves from airport and takes you to the Greenbelt Metro Stop. From there, you will want to go to the Gallery Place - Chinatown station where you can transfer to the red line and then exit at Farragut North. Click here for more information about bus departure times from the airport.
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=o1IluaqkX-sRDOHkom8MUg..

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
703-417-8000, located in Virginia very close to DC
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=l4Xlck_qSxs_DdvpaEnHeQ..

Washington-Dulles International (IAD)
703-572-2700, located in Virginia about 30 min. from DC
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=rgYR_fgwEBJwPuPcTYKE9g..

~ BUSES, VANS AND CAR CARAVANS TO DC ~

Transportation is being organized from cities all over the country to travel to Washington DC. Click here for details about cities organizing transportation:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=I8HjYFr6OWCL2HD4tMvb5Q..

People will be coming from every state in the East Coast, Midwest and South, and many are coming to DC from the West.

If you're organizing people from your area and you're not listed, fill out the online Transportation Form so we can help get the word out:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=5nHYGgNjH6fD96Zr-vFIUg..

For those coming by bus: Bus drop off will be near the rally site. Buses will be able to drop off passengers before proceeding to parking, and passengers will be able to walk to the rally site.

~ DRIVING DIRECTIONS ~

For detailed driving directions to Washington DC, click here:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=btmcvVAjppExQb7NyHHURw..

Enter "1600 H St. NW" in Washington (city) DC (state) 20006 (zip) as your "end" location.

For those driving personal cars and vans: You can park in the area of the opening rally site, and take the metro back to your car after the rally at the Capitol.

~ Airports, Bus and Train Stations in DC ~

Airports

There are three airports in the Washington DC area:

~ HOUSING IN DC ~

There are several options for housing if you are coming to Washington DC:

1. There is a Housing Board on which you can request and offer free housing.
2. Large groups (10 or more) can request housing in churches, community centers and other spaces through the ANSWER Coalition. Please call 202-544-3389 x14 to request group housing.
3. Special for students: The George Washington University College Democrats are hosting students for free in dorm rooms on campus which is just blocks from the White House.
4. A list of hotels, motels, hostels and campgrounds is available below.

Click here for details on each of these options:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=oVgQO9exTVNUqGxOdRKsIg..

BE IN DC ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2007!

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
~ The Plan for the Day - Gathering time and place, maps & housing
~ How to get to DC - By bus, van, car, plane, train and metro

~ THE PLAN FOR SEPT. 15 ~

On Saturday, September 15, tens of thousands of people from across the country will gather at 12 noon at the White House (north side, in and around Lafayette Park) and then march to the Capitol (west side). (The Ellipse on the south side of the White House is closed for maintenance repairs.)

Please see below for detailed information.

Click below to view and print a map (8.5x11 inch PDF):
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=sugzmXf8wZhBlSBpuv5ysw..

The march will go from the White House to the Capitol Building. The front contingent of the march will be Iraq war veterans, family members of soldiers and marines and other veterans. When the march arrives at Congress, the Iraq War Veterans and family members will be the leadership of a mass die-in symbolizing the deaths of an estimated 4,000 U.S. servicemembers. A powerful representation of the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis will be the other central component of this dramatic confrontation with Congress at the time that they will be debating spending another $100 billion to sustain the criminal occupation of Iraq.

The Die-In is a civil disobedience action and those participating may risk arrest. There will be a permitted rally taking place simultaneously with the Die-In. All those who cannot afford to risk arrest will be able to participate in the permitted rally that will take place on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building.

Sign up today:

YES, I can join the mass march in Washington DC on September 15. Click this link to sign up:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=p1P_FAOTEgGrgSrKbhhpIw..

YES, I will participate in the mass Die-In/Funeral. Click this link to sign up:
http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=9aqL2JxQJk0spIxQuaqqzA..
There will be information packets about logistics and legal Know Your Rights information sent to all those participating. The National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Committee and the Partnership for Civil Justice will be providing legal support for the demonstration.

An email update with details about the September 16-21 Week of Action will be sent out later this week.

Foreward looking...

As I understand it, at present, the U.S.A. has a military presence, or involvment in about 90 nations of the world; other nations, we sell weapons and technology to under the table (ala Ollie North).

Given what the current administration in Washington has started, the U.S.A will have to have troops stationed, permanently, in another sector of the world for the forseeable future (even after Space has been militarized).

In other words, the Americans troops, are never coming home again to stay anyway - not all of them.

The question is where will the strategic American Military Super Base, with the most sophisticated technology and surveilance equiment ever known to man be located.

I predict that in the future, half of America's military might will be located - remotely. Who knows? Perhaps, the troops will be stationed on an American made satellite/super-star that will be placed in orbit, rotating, around the planet concurrently with the moon.

Or, some astute nation might make a Qadafi like move, or go even further and have America to come in and establish that Super Base placed within their borders, let's say Russia or China. Then the two nations working together could cojointly dominate the planet and even America's old allies.

America will be on a permanet war footing for some time now, and a disproporationate share of the American taxpayers revenues, will be used to provide security and to control the other nationsn of this planet!

Don't tell lmao that I said this!

Dear Bill,

You can delegate Kosovo to the Europeans if you want, but that doesn't solve the real problem.

Our military forces are not in tune with the level of our military obligations because our society does not stand behind the policies of the Bush administration, and because the administration's actions are out of sync with its claims.

If the White House really viewed Iraq as the key to saving civilization, the obvious course would be to mobilize every man, woman and child and dedicate our entire economy to the effort as in WWII. In such a case, it is hard to imagine that our allies would not rally to help us.

Yet Bush has never attempted to achieve such a mobilization, preferring instead to keep the war simmering on the back burner while pretending everything was hunky-dory, and at the same time pushing the military to its limits.

The Iraq mission may be merely an ill-conceived "Operation Save the World Light". Or it may be a device for buying political capital.
But from the administration's approach, we can be pretty sure it is not the battle to save civilization.

But it's Iraq that's wearing down US armed forces, not Kosovo.