Agreed. I can't fathom why Americans can't see the connection between running all over the planet bombing people and the state of our economy. War is not only deadly - it's expensive.

As the leader of Brazil said the other day, "I cannot understand why Americans want to spend their time and money this way. There are many better things to do."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but for the life of me, I can't seem to recall any hijacked planes ever being flown into any buildings in Brazil.

For the life of me, I don't recall any Iraqis or Afghans on those planes. Nor do I see us bombing Saudi Arabia.

How can you agree with Holbrooke? He was drugged up and under immense pressure. When you're in that state of mind, you'll say anything. Plus it seems that it was all taken out of context.

FromChicago

How can you agree with Holbrooke? He was drugged up and under immense pressure. When you're in that state of mind, you'll say anything. Plus it seems that it was all taken out of context.

Hi Fellow Chicagoan,

In this case since he was drugged, he spoke his most rudimentary subconscious thoughts. Hard-working people are at war with a panoply of power drunk multi millionaire/billionaire moguls aided and abetted by their puppets, the GOP/TEA BAGGER Party puppets, along with the media's misinformation of subterfuge and arrogance.

Ending the wars would enable US to eliminate an unnecessary part of the deficit and focus on the hard woring citizens so sabotaged by these greedy moguls.

what started out years ago, unfortunately, as a war on poverty has now moved onto a war on the middle class with, gasp, only the wealthy and the corporate doing well. the former two wars, as in afghanistan, america is losing. in fact, one can see many similarities (but i make no equivalency) - corruption, bribes, no infrastructure, the loss of blood and treasure.

sbv-418808

what started out years ago, unfortunately, as a war on poverty has now moved onto a war on the middle class with, gasp, only the wealthy and the corporate doing well. the former two wars, as in afghanistan, america is losing. in fact, one can see many similarities (but i make no equivalency) - corruption, bribes, no infrastructure, the loss of blood and treasure.

My point exactly thanks, sbv. The middle class have become the new working poor and homeless.

This discourse would be more like the man. I'm glad GW or somebody is clearing it up!! It would be totally unlike Holbrooke to say to a Pakistani or anyone else outside the State Dept. "you've" got to end the war, or even "we've" got to end the war. He just would not have shared that kind of thought to ANYONE, regardless of his circmstance. If some doctor breached confidentiality or made up such a story just to get a few minutes of press time, that so-called physician should probably be fired--or worse.

I can't seem to recall any hijacked planes ever being flown into any buildings in Brazil."

In your attempt at wit, you probably just proved the point of those you are trying to refute. I don't see Brazil going around bombing the world. I also do not see them occupying lands in the middle east, nor do I see them propping up an Israeli government hell bent on land grabs and making sure Palestinians are kept in check without a nation of their own. Perhaps that is why there are no planes being flown into their buildings. Do you know why that is the correct correlation? Because that is the reasons given by the people who flew those planes. They don't "hate our freedom" as so many of you fools will spout off. Plenty of free countries out there not having planes flown into their buildings.

So I am curious what you people think we should do the next time we are attacked because the US supports its allies in the Middle East? Israel is our ally, get over it. I don't like the idea that they have to fight to stay alive but they are there and none of the Arab countries are powerful enough to remove Israel from the Mid East. Again, get over it. Do we want some other country or some left wing Aussie making our foreign policy for us? Not the way a Superpower acts. Yes the Palestinians have been screwed over by Israel, fire 10000+ rockets into someone else's country and see how they act. Some of you might want to remember that the Gaza strip was owned by Eygpt until the 67 war when the Israeli's took over the land. I don't see them being attacked by the Palestinians. Or the Turks who owed the land as part of the Ottoman Empire. As for the US occupying other people's lands, please show me one that we occupied before 9/11?

Holbrooke meant it, IMO, but the rest of any american administration is going to tell us to pay no attention to the guy behind the curtain. We have a sweet set-up in Afghanistan: a power drunk, druggie we hand-picked, a place to dump money that can come back to our government workers all nice and laundered, and a place to put thousands of unemployed americans. NB: I do not think our troops are there doing nothing or that they are not brave. They are doing what soldiers have always done, followed the leaders. Just as it was in Viet Nam, this war is useless and impossible to win. Holbrooke meant it.

Did you READ the article, Ron?

He was making a joke on his way in to surgery. It was not, as has been exploitatively bandied about, his last gasp dying declaration. Ever had surgery? I have- more than plenty. The last time I was informed that they might be using staples instead of sutures. I asked, "what am I, a book report?". I would hate to think some idiot would report that to my husband and son as my last words.

I wonder if you, or any of the others who are throwing this around, have given a single, solitary thought to the feelings of the man's family. You do know what a family is, do you not? They are comprised of people often referred to as loved ones. The kind of people who might want to think that they might occupy the last thoughts of a family member.

First Read just set the record straight. Do the family a favor and stop repeating the false story as a means of expounding your own political agenda.

NJNB nj- do you ever NOT complain about ANYTHING??

no joe, no bo, nj

Did you READ the article, Ron?

First Read just set the record straight. Do the family a favor and stop repeating the false story as a means of expounding your own political agenda.

It doesn't matter if it's a joke or not we need to stop the war and concentrate on the war here the rich republican multi/millionaires/ multi/billionaires have imposed on the middle and working poor classes. Otherwise; it could get pretty brutal when people start robbing stores just to survive; not to mention the possibilities of the unintelligent, dim-witted, pitch fork and gun revolutionaries encouraged by that crazed lunatic; Glenn Beck.

D-b-o, way to refute something. Atta boy - or girl, as the case may be. Rarely have I ever seen such laser sharp arguments, such wit, all elucidated so clearly!

Of course, I have come to expect nothing more from you. . .

But- I truly thank you for illustrating my point exactly. And I have come to expect nothig LESS from you.

I agree but if we do that would not be politicaly correct and we would not have an out anymore for wasting or spending more money. Gotta spend that money man..

I know it sounds like old stuff but it is the Military Industrial Complex together with the Multi National corporations that don't mind using our kids as canon fodder to advance their greed and lust for wealth and power that have become the enemy.

Most of the real threat we face is right here in America. It is crystal clear that the rich and powerful have given up on America as the horn of plenty and are moving on to exploit other places around the world.

This war has NOTHING to do with 911. That was the excuse. If it were really about 911, we would have passed on the stupid war with Iraq, saved the trillions it will cost us and the lives, and went after al Qaeda when we had a chance to get them.

I'm sick of hearing dumb people following the Glenn Becks, Sarah Palins and Rush Limburgers like a bunch of lemmings. I'm sick of our elected public servants caring more about getting reelected than those they are supposed to serve. I just heard a jerkoff on TV today say that the financial regulators are not there to serve the people, they are there to serve the bankers. !!!

It will be interesting to see what goes down when many of the Tea Party folks, who do have a right to complain, find out the those they support are who they should be complaining about but don't see it.

Stop the *^*&%% war and get with saving this country from those that have betrayed it.

How about hanging Dick Cheney. That's something I'd vote for.

One observation I'd like to make about Afghanistan. If we got the hell out of there, perhaps al Qaeda will return and at least we'd have a shot at them.

The most telling cartoon of this time is a small group of terrorists sitting around smiling. The caption reads, "I'm sure glad we got to fight them over here instead of over there."

"Of course, I have come to expect nothing more from you. . ."

I am sure you know what an ad hominem attack is. So I probably don't need to tell you it is the lowest form of argument, and also the least logical. A last gasp effort, if you will.

Beverly in Chicago:

You really believe all of that nonsense about the rich and Glenn Beck?! What kind of thing have they imposed on the poor and middle classes? Please put the kool aid down! I know this sounds strange but you have to work to get money. Repeat after me: "I must work to get money. The government does not give it to you. The rich are not taking any money from me." Say this three times a day and you should be ok.

Yeah, what Harriet said....

Not once, but twice. She has the right idea, believe me.

Ah DBO, but has she considered the economic consequences of her proposal.

....he said, as he texted from next to the company water cooler.....

Well, what I find amazing is that 90% of the Afghanistans don't know why we're fighting them.

They just find their family members without limbs or lives. Which makes it pretty easy to recruit more to fight against us.

Stop drinking the left wing Kool Aid!

The vote was an error.

Your name says it all.

Anyone who thinks ending the war in Afghanistan is a joke needs to get out of government.

So you agree with Harriet from Bayside.

I will attempt to ignore your dyslexia when I ask why you are trying to argue that we should not stop the spending on two wars because it is not enough? You are saying that the spending on the wars is more important than healthcare and social security? You really want us to do away with the spending on those things because they cost more?

You toss out an annual cost but ignore the total cost of over a trillion dollars. If we had not been in either of these wars.... well I guess a trillion dollars isn't enough for you.

We would have just wasted the money on education, or medical care for the poor, or something else unimportant. Have to keep the war industry financed, you know.

Cry me a river, liberal!