Growing up in West Virginia, I lived in a city of political activism (yes, we do have a couple of "cities" in West Virginia!). I will never forget one of our community activists who would attend every City Council meeting, or political rally, and would always keep our candidates and elected officials in check. "You need to start telling the truth", she would call out, "You are lying to the people!" As they would attempt to spin a web of even more lies to cover themselves, she would simply say over and over, "Lying to the people! Lying to the people!
How I wish she was alive today! I would have put her in the front row of Drake University yesterday during all the verbal balderdash of how long it would take to remove withdraw troops from Iraq. It was backpedal day for three of the four frontrunners, with Senator Edwards providing the least spine of all, simply opining that, "I agree with Joe."
Is Governor Richardson is wrong and Senator Biden is right? Governor Richardson has said 6-8 months to withdraw all of our troops (Stephanapoulos kept saying end of the year, but that was based on Richardson's comments 4 and 5 months ago!). Senator Biden has been attacking that timetable, and now it seems the three other lemmings (all past or present Senate colleagues) have joined the chorus.
I understand Senator Clinton's explanation, because she has always held this position. She has told her military advisors she would leave approximately 50,000 troops as a residual force. But at yesterday's debate, Senators Obama and Edwards also said we couldn't get out that quick; that it wouldn't be safe for our troops. Is that true, or are they "lying to the people?"
We currently have approximately 180,000 combat and support troops in Iraq. And although there are 100,000 private contractors in Iraq, approximately half of that number, according to published reports, are Americans. That's a total of 235,000 people to be moved, including 4000-5000 civilians in the "green zone".
235,000 people. 8 months x 30 days = 240 days. A C-130 can hold 92 combat soldiers. 235000/240 days = 979 people a day. 979 people a day/92 soldier capacity = 11 plane trips a day. Assume some cargo, and make it 12 trips a day. That's 4 C-130's making three trips a day - less than most pilots make.
From Germany, two 747 flights a day (a two-class layout accommodates a maximum of 524 passengers) would relieve the stress on our base there, and get these soldiers on American terra firma.
Of course, that doesn't count equipment, which was the new wrinkle from yesterday's debate; mentioned of course by Senator Clinton. What equipment? Tanks? Blow them up! Leave the jeeps, hummers, armored personnel carriers for the Iraqi police. Fly the helicopters to staging ships in the Med. Leave all of the supplies for the Iraqi people, only fair after totally raping their country.
So logically, according to my old time friend:
Senator Biden, you are lying to the people!
Senator Clinton, you are lying to the people!
Senator Dodd, you are lying to the people!
Senator Edwards, you are lying to the people (biggest disappointment!)!
Senator Obama, you are lying to the people!
Bring our troops, all of our troops, home now!