There will be a bloodbath in Iraq if we leave.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Funny, I haven't heard that phraseology from the WH and Pentagon lately. Maybe it's because....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061016/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_061015164409

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The death toll in a surge of sectarian killings in Balad swelled to at least 91 on Monday, police and army officials said, while bombings in and near Baghdad killed as many as up to 10 people. Eleven more bodies were found dumped in the capital.

Sectarian fighting exploded over the weekend in Balad and nearby regions, 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Baghdad. The bloodshed began with the slayings of 17 Shiite workers on Friday.

Shiites swiftly retaliated by setting up roadblocks, dragging off and killing those Sunnis they caught.

A police officer in the nearby Sunni-dominated town of Duluiyah said members of the Mahdi Army militia loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had moved into the area and were killing Sunni men and boys.

[whistle]

1. The U.S. has remained and there has been a blood bath...

...what's the difference...655,000 dead Iraqis and rising

[Hubert Flottz]

2. There has been a bloodbath in Iraq ever since we went there!

The GOP broke it!

[Binka]

4. The Vampires Are Pleased n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

3. So how many dead per day equals a bloodbath?

We already up to 50 to 90 per day dead not to mention the wounded and maimed. At what point does it officially qualify as a bloodbath?

[maine_raptor]

5. Is a "Bloodbath" the highest rank?

Isn't a "Civil War" worse than a "Bloodbath"?

[KharmaTrain]

6. I Wonder WWBD...What Would Bandar Do???

Methinks a big reason boooshie boy won't even think of "cut and run" is cause the Saudis need American troops as a firebreak in Iraq between them and Iran (Shiites) and Al Queda who still would love to bring down that corrupt family. As long as American soldiers play moving targets to distract both Iran and Al Queda, the House of Saud breathes safer and squirrels away several more billion dollars. I also believe it's a major reason oil prices are low to ensure boooshie keeps his rubber stamp so the Saudi's security blanket remains in place.

Of all places to screw around, booosh and his cronies had to mess with this crossroad of three very hostile populations surrounded by even more hostile ones. A U.S. withdrawl only hastens what I call the next "Saigon '75" scenario as Westerners are chased out of the country. Will the Saudis and other Sunni's stand by if there's either a Shiite bloodbath or another Iranian-based theocracy headed by Al Sadr? Then there's also the Turks who aren't crazy about an emboldened Kurdish Republic in control of oil. No matter what there are dark days ahead in Iraq, but our staying there only hastens it and puts our troops in greater peril...and for what?

[liberal N proud]

7. It already is a bloodbath so that meme will not work for the republicans

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. What would you call what Iraq has now? A flower show?

Ugh.

[hippiechick]

10. Candy AND flowers, yes ...

That's why a little violence erupts every now and again ... its a fierce competition between factions to see which can show our troops the most "love" for liberating them from Saddam Hussein.

:sarcasm:

[aikoaiko]

9. At this point, I don't think anyone really knows.

All we do know is that the status quo is miserable for everyone.

[Dhalgren]

11. You are right, this is no longer a good talking point for the fascists.

Saddam and his Sunnis were oppressing with an iron boot both the Kurds and the Shiites. If these two oppressed groups were ever to be politically "free", there was going to be a "bloodbath" - no way around it. The ruling Sunni minority doesn't want to give up its "ruling class" status and the oppressed majority has a whole bunch of manual karma to hand out. Only inept, greedy, businessmen with no military experience could have failed to see the inevitable outcome of the US invasion and occupation....

[davekriss]

12. Someone needs to inform Bush that 655,000 dead...

...IS A F*CKING BLOODBATH!!!

[Javaman]

13. Define blood bath?

Is it a tub filled with blood or a country completely awash in blood. If it's the latter, then nothing would change if we left because it already is a bloodbath.