Terrorists are ‘running out of people to kill,’ says Obey

Source: the hill



http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/terrorists-are-running-out-of-people-to-kill-says-obey-2007-11-06.html

By Mike Soraghan
November 06, 2007



If violence is decreasing in Iraq, it may be because insurgents “are running out of people to kill,” House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) said Monday.
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Obey was responding to a question about reports touted by Republicans that security is improving in Iraq and that President Bush’s “surge” strategy is working. He stressed that military success has not led to political reconciliation.........”

As the House’s top appropriator, Obey has his hands on the nation’s purse strings, giving him a significant say on the war in Iraq.

In his speech Monday, he stuck by his pledge not to approve any more money for the war until President Bush changes course on Iraq. He also offered a spirited defense of a new surtax to pay for the Iraq war, admitting that he knew it wouldn’t pass when he offered his support for the plan. But he said it highlighted the fact that Bush has loaded the cost of the war onto the national debt while pushing tax cuts tilted to the wealthy.

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Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/terrorists-are-running-out-of-people-to-kill-says-obey-2007-11-06.html

I'm not smart enough to understand the intent of this one.

to make since plenty of people are dying over there every day.

For example, Baghdad is now something like 75% Shi'a, when before it was closer to 50-50 -- one estimate I read recently said 65% Sunni.

Knowing Obey.

and he's from my state!

Anyone who would say: "If violence is decreasing in Iraq, it may be because insurgents “are running out of people to kill,” is a monster.

"that President Bush’s “surge” strategy is working."

The questioner implied that the reason for the downturn in killings has been the "surge". Obey was responded with another possible reason for the downturn in killings may be a lack of "targets of opportunity".

Why do you think there has been a downturn in the killings in Iraq? Do you think the millions of people that have already left Iraq due to the violence would not have been the targets of violence had they stayed?

I heard a sound-bite of this earlier, and it sounds factually dumb on Rep. Obey's part. Over 20 million people live and die in Iraq, as they have for many thousands of years.
Maybe Obey cranked up "Blackened" by Metallica one too many times!
It sounds like a pretty ignorant and ill-informed statement to me.

Obey was responding to a question about reports touted by Republicans that security is improving in Iraq and that President Bush’s “surge” strategy is working. He stressed that military success has not led to political reconciliation.

“The issue has never been military,” Obey said. “The issue has always been political improvement.”

The British press is reporting that violence on civilians in Iraq remains unabated.

Iraqi civilian deaths are way down.

http://icasualties.org/oif/IraqiDeathsByYear.aspx

There have been two Lancet reports and a Chatham House report showing that violence against civilians in Iraq continues unabated.

I'll have to look for the date of the Chatham House report you're referring to.

I heard millions refugees (barely surviving in the desert sands beyond the borders).

Neat. Everythin's fine now for the fascists enablers... :sarcasm:

You should be at least as circumspect as the site you cite:

"This is not a complete list, nor can we verify these totals. This is simply a compilation of deaths reported by news agencies. Actual totals for Iraqi deaths are much higher than the numbers recorded on this site."

The number reported by ALL agencies show they are declining.

Are you claiming all the reporting agencies are wrong?

Name them, please.

You can see it on a daily basis in Iraq:

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/1012/breaking1.htm

US airstrike kills 15 Iraqi civilians