Free Republic

Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 05/16/2008 Pelosi Statement on President Bush’s Failure to Pressure Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Production Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on record oil prices as news reports indicate that Saudi Arabian officials have rejected pleas from President Bush to increase oil production. In trading today, oil reached a record more than $127 a barrel: “As record oil prices continue to burden American families and businesses, reports indicate that the President’s visit to Saudi Arabia today to push for increased production has failed. Despite considerable influence, the...

U.S. House defeats $162.5 bln in new war funds Thu May 15, 2008 3:42pm EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday defeated legislation that would have funded the war in Iraq for another year, in a surprise move that the Senate could overturn. By a vote of 149-141, the Democrat-controlled House rejected a measure that would have given the Pentagon $162.5 billion to keep the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan running through next summer, slightly below President George W. Bush's request. A large group of anti-war House Democrats voted against the funds. That, coupled with 132...

WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in reaction to the California Supreme Court's decision today to strike the state ban on gay marriage: "I welcome the California Supreme Court's historic decision. I have long fought against discrimination and believe that the State Constitution provides for equal treatment for all of California's citizens and families, which today's decision recognizes. "I commend the plaintiffs from San Francisco for their courage and commitment. I encourage California citizens to respect the Court's decision, and I continue to strongly oppose any ballot measure that would write discrimination into the...

Pelosi: Bush Comments 'beneath The Dignity Of The Office' May 15, 2008(The Politico) Democratic House leaders are calling out President Bush for a speech in Israel in which he seemed to suggest that Sen. Barack Obama wants the United States to "negotiate with terrorists." In his speech, Bush said: "Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along." The White House insists that Bush was "referring to a wide range of people, not any single person." But Obama's campaign says it appeared to be...

Fresno County Clerk Victor Salazar anticipates the ruling could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court....... Fresno County Clerk Victor Salazar said this morning he has asked the County Counsel for direction in light of the state Supreme Court's ruling today on gay marriage. "What we will be focused on is whether or not there is an appeal period provided. Usually, the ruling does not go into effect until the expiration of an appeal period," Salazar said. video link

Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 05/15/2008 Pelosi Statement on California State Supreme Court Ruling on Gay Marriage Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in reaction to the California Supreme Court’s decision today to strike the state ban on gay marriage: “I welcome the California Supreme Court’s historic decision. I have long fought against discrimination and believe that the State Constitution provides for equal treatment for all of California’s citizens and families, which today’s decision recognizes. “I commend the plaintiffs from San Francisco for their courage and commitment. I encourage California citizens...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., at podium leads a Democrat news conference, Wednesday, May 14, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington. From left are, Pelosi; House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C.; House Democrat Caucus Chairman Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Md.; and House Democrat Caucus Vice Chairman Rep. John B. Larson, D-Conn.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sensing trouble in the fall, the House GOP leadership on Wednesday addressed recent losses in special Congressional elections by unleashing a new agenda aimed at changing that party's image. House Republican leaders pushed the retooled message, which they call "Change You Deserve." They rolled out the first version Wednesday, which focuses on working mothers and military families. "This agenda is a reflection of House Republicans' commitment to providing American families with the change they deserve: common-sense solutions to the challenges they face in their daily lives," according to the agenda provided to CNN. "Today's families face challenges...

DEMOCRATS' HYBRID PICKUP TRUCKSMay 14, 2008 On the very day of a special election to fill a vacated congressional seat this week in Mississippi, The New York Times accused the Republican candidate of running racist ads against his Democratic opponent. Talk about dirty tricks! By The New York Times, that is. The Republican thus accused of racism narrowly lost the election the night the Times article appeared, so I guess the Times can proclaim: "Mission Accomplished." The ad in question, on behalf of Republican Greg Davis, pointed out that Barack Obama had endorsed Davis' opponent, Travis Childers -- another in...

The best evidence yet that the drumbeat against public support of pro-abortion Catholic pols at Catholic institutions is having an effect appears in the Boston Globe of all places. The Globe tells us how the personally opposed prevaricators are just not getting the choice commencement invites from Catholic Institutions to which they had shamefully become accustomed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one of the nation's most powerful Catholics, but this year the only commencement address she gave was at one of the eight campuses of Miami Dade College. Senator John F. Kerry is headlining three commencements this year - the...

McCain a Strong Candidate Despite Low Approval Ratings for Bush Americans are gloomier about the direction of the country than at any point since 1992, and Democrats have matched their biggest advantage in 25 years as the party better able to deal with the nation's main problems, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Despite more than eight in 10 now saying the country is headed in the wrong direction and growing disaffection with the Republican Party, Sen. John McCain, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, remains competitive in a general election matchup with Sen. Barack Obama, the favorite for...

A television ad in which the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and a former speaker, Newt Gingrich, warn about the dangers of climate change may violate federal election law. The spot, which shows Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Gingrich seated on a couch in front of the Capitol, is being questioned because the California Democrat faces a primary election June 3 in her San Francisco district. “It’s prohibited,” a Republican campaign finance lawyer, Jan Baran, said. He said the ad constitutes a “coordinated” expenditure on behalf of Ms. Pelosi’s campaign by the group sponsoring the ad, the Alliance for Climate...

"David Horowitz talked about his book Party of Defeat: How Democrats and Radicals Undermined America's War on Terror Before and After 9-11, published by Spence. In his book he criticizes members of the Democratic Party that, he says, are undermining the U.S.'s efforts in Iraq. This event was held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C." http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=205154-1&highlight=

The single most important piece of national security legislation -- legislation that if ignored will put American lives at great risk -- languishes in the House because “Blue Dog� Democrats have apparently decided to abandon their campaign promises to be strong on national security and kowtow to Nancy Pelosi. On Jan 28, twenty-one Blue Dogs signed a letter urging Speaker Pelosi to move forward with bi-partisan FISA legislation in the House in the same form that had passed the Senate in October. “The Rockefeller-Bond FISA legislation contains satisfactory language addressing all these issues and we would fully support that measure...

The FINANCIAL -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce raised alarm over legislation introduced by Senator Harry Reid to repeal tax incentives for oil exploration, impose a 25% windfall tax on oil companies, and allow consumers to sue nations that supply oil to the U.S. "Higher taxes and more lawsuits won't lower the price of gas at the pump or make America more energy secure. If this legislation is enacted, Americans must be prepared for potential oil supply disruptions and higher prices for gasoline, home heating oil and natural gas," said Bill Kovacs, vice president of Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs...

WASHINGTON — In a heated phone call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi late last month, Hillary Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein threatened to cut off campaign money to congressional Democrats unless Pelosi embraced a new plan by the movie mogul to finance a revote of the Democratic presidential primaries in Florida and Michigan, according to three officials who were briefed on the contents of the conversation. The three officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the private phone conversation, said Weinstein, a top supporter of Clinton’s presidential campaign, appeared determined to buy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5UYNX_XGQA&NR=1

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Hillary Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein threatened to cut off contributions to congressional Democrats unless House Speaker Nancy Pelosi embraced his plan to finance revotes in Florida and Michigan, three officials familiar with their conversation said.

Pelosi: Bush Administration’s Energy Policy is ‘Drill and Veto’43 minutes ago To: POLITICAL EDITORS Contact: Brendan Daly or Drew Hammill, +1-202-226-7616, both of Office of the Speaker of the House WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Democratic Committee Chairs and Members held a news conference this afternoon to discuss proposals to combat skyrocketing energy prices and create a New Direction for energy independence. Below are the Speakers remarks, as prepared: Two weeks ago, I sent the President a letter urging him to sign legislation that would help American families with the rising price...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is about to lead her party into a major showdown over Iraq funding by violating two Democratic campaign pledges in one fell swoop. To the critics, whether anti-war activists or House Republicans, Pelosi has made her feelings clear: Get over it. This week’s maneuvering over a $200 billion war spending bill has revealed Pelosi self-confidently playing what she believes — with increasing evidence — is a strong hand. Strong enough that she is expected to break one promise — her 2006 pledge for a more open and inclusive committee process — by circumventing the powerful...

Pelosi backs 2nd stimulus, says Bush "in denial" Tue May 6, 2008 12:30pm EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday called for a second economic stimulus package, and said President George W. Bush is "in denial" about the country's economy. "It's clear there is a need for a second stimulus," Pelosi, a California Democrat, told reporters at a news conference. "The president has for a long time been in denial on the state of the economy," she said. Tax rebate checks are in the mail to millions of Americans under a $152 billion...

Democrats controlling the House plan to pass legislation this week funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into next year.The plan would give anti-war lawmakers a vote on nonbinding language setting the goal of withdrawing most combat troops by December 2009, said a senior House Democratic aide, though Senate Republicans have the votes to filibuster the move.The $178 billion-plus measure will also carry legislation costing $16 billion over two years to extend by six months unemployment insurance coverage for jobless people whose benefits have run out. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan would begin to receive a big boost in college...

Operating outside public view, the House Democratic majority is taking extraordinary steps to maintain spending as usual while awaiting a Democrat as president. Remarkably, the supine House Republican minority hardly resists and even collaborates with its supposed adversaries. There has been little or no public Republican protest over seizure of the appropriating process by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her clique. For the second straight year, no appropriations bill other than defense is scheduled for passage. Instead, spending details are crafted in the Speaker's Office, negating President George W. Bush's veto strategy. In a little-noticed maneuver April 23, Pelosi won...

Party of Defeat: How Democrats and Radicals Undermined America's War on Terror Before and After 9-11 Author: David HorowitzUpcoming Schedule Sunday, May 4, at 7:00 PM About the Program David Horowitz criticizes members of the Democratic Party that, he says, are undermining the U.S.'s efforts in Iraq. Mr. Horowitz spoke about this topic at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. About the Author David Horowitz is president of the David Horowitz Freedom Center. He is the author of many books, including "Radical Son: A Generational Odyssey," "Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left," and "Left Illusions: An Intellectual...

After U.S. gasoline prices surged to a record high this week, President Bush strode into the Rose Garden to unveil his plans for coping with skyrocketing energy costs: drill for oil in Alaska, add U.S. refineries and build more nuclear plants. Even the White House conceded that the ideas did not have a chance. Democrats howled, Republicans shrugged and Washington moved on. Ignoring the conventions of a lame-duck presidency, Bush is forging ahead with proposals that appear to have little chance of passage during his last nine months, relying on sharp rhetoric and strong-arm tactics in an attempt to influence...

Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 05/02/2008 Pelosi Statement on Disappointing April Jobs Report, Fourth Straight Month of Job Losses Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement this morning after the Department of Labor released its employment report for April showing a loss of 20,000 jobs, the fourth consecutive month of job losses: “Today’s jobless numbers, combined with slowing consumer spending and nearly flat wage increases, are additional evidence of the need for Congress and the President to work in a bipartisan way on additional steps to get our economy back on...

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) prepared to snub Capitol Hill’s most powerful money men, suggesting Thursday that they could hold votes on a massive wartime spending bill without letting appropriators touch the legislation first. Such a move risks creating a big battle over Iraq in an election year. The final decision has not been made, but lawmakers and aides familiar with discussions say there’s a strong chance the shortcut plan will go ahead. Appropriations panels would slow the bills down and probably mean the measure would be loaded with extraneous provisions. This, in...

For more than two months, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has denied members of that chamber the opportunity to vote on one of the most important pieces of national security legislation before Congress this year. That legislation is a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate in February that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies which helped the government monitor terrorist communications after September 11. So, House Republicans, led by Reps. Vito Fossella and Peter King of New York, are seeking to get around this obstructionism by employing a "discharge petition." If 218 House members sign the petition, the House would...

It is not just that Democrats sensed that a chance to pick up a vulnerable House seat in Nevada could be slipping through their fingers. And it’s not just that they couldn’t bear to have a little-known openly gay accountant who moved to Nevada just three years ago as their standard bearer in a heavily Mormon district. No, the reason House Speaker Nancy Pelosi herself was on the telephone line last Thursday beckoning – begging? — State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus to enter the race for Nevada’s 3rd congressional district was more significant. It’s because if the Democrats can’t...

A papal visit, with its weeks of build-up and intense media coverage, often seems to end with an afterglow — but very little news — once the pope and his party fly back to the Eternal City. Not so with Pope Benedict’s recent U.S. visit where, more than a week after it ended, the volatile issue of public figures, the abortion & Communion issue is making headlines.While journalists reported that prominent Catholic politicians who support abortion rights stepped up to receive the Eucharist during Masses in Washington and New York (here’s our story and blog post), the development was...

Congress: On the heels of a rules change that iced the Colombia free trade treaty, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scrapping the appropriations process in a new war funding bill. Something new and anti-democratic is afoot.Whatever is driving her, Pelosi seems to be moving Congress toward a one-woman dictatorship, showing little or no concern for holding actual votes or building consensus on key issues as she manipulates Congress. She's altering and contorting long-standing congressional rules to get her agenda through instead of trusting the voting process. This gives clout to special interests and makes her powerful as a political boss, but...

Last week, NewsBusters reported the peculiar occurrence of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich appearing alongside current Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a global warming ad funded by Nobel Laureate Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection. Included in this piece was an explanation the former Speaker offered at his website regarding this matter which sparked largely uncomplimentary reactions in the rightosphere as well as from conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Two days later, Gingrich appeared on Fox News's "O'Reilly Factor," and answered Rush (video embedded right): I disagree fundamentally with Rush on this question because I believe we have...

Pelosi Says She Heard Disputed Bible Verse from Priest By Pete Winn CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer April 29, 2008 (CNSNews.com) - The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told Fox News last week that Pelosi heard the disputed Bible "passage" she used in her April 22 Earth Day message from a priest in San Francisco. Brit Hume reported last Thursday on "Special Report with Brit Hume" that Pelosi's office had told Fox News that the Speaker had "heard a priest quote the verse many years ago during a mass in San Francisco." On Thursday, Friday, and again on Monday,...

Unquestionably, canon 915 is the most discussed canon in the Codex Iuris Canonici, or Code of Canon Law, in recent Church history.  Many in the media have reported on the January 8, 2004 canonical actions of Archbishop Raymond Burke, then bishop of the La Crosse, Wisconsin diocese.  Archbishop Burke’s discipline on legislators has rocked the Catholic Church worldwide.  Because of misinformation, speculation and outright resentment, confusion reigns regarding the Archbishop's promulgation of his 'canonical notification' based on canon 915, the official communication of what the Church's discipline is. I would like to make some important clarifications, with appropriate documentation, in...

Republicans are howling over what appears to be Nancy Pelosi’s plan to bypass the House Appropriations Committee on the upcoming Iraq war supplemental, complaining that the move will be the beginning of the end of the usual appropriations process and will further consolidate power in the hands of a speaker who already has a lot of it. Democrats will meet throughout the week to hash out their strategy, and they insist that Pelosi and other Democratic leaders have not yet made any final decisions about how to handle what’s likely to be the last Iraq funding debate of the Bush...

In the aftermath of the U.S. visit by Pope Benedict XVI, traditional Catholics are asking a troublesome question: Did pro-choice politicians receiving Communion at the papal Masses indicate the pope had softened on the abortion question? The answer is no. On the contrary, it reflected disobedience to Benedict by the archbishops of New York and Washington. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sens. John Kerry, Christopher Dodd and Edward M. Kennedy received Communion at Nationals Park in Washington, as did former mayor Rudolph Giuliani at Yankee Stadium in New York. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington and Cardinal Edward Egan, archbishop of...

“The climate crisis is both urgent and solvable [so] our ultimate aim is halt global warming,” proclaims an Al Gore website and ad campaign. But conservatives, among whom former Speaker Newt Gingrich proudly counts himself, believe hardly a single word of that statement. So it’s hard to fathom why Gingrich is appearing in TV spots with Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi, promoting the campaign. In a damage control letter, Newt claims he is merely trying to engage the climate debate and keep the right relevant, without granting the left’s premise “that we have conclusive proof of global warming [or] that humans...

PART 1 In just one year. Remember the election in 2006? Thought you might like to read the following: A little over one year ago: 1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high; 2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon; 3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%. Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen: 1) Consumer confidence plummet; 2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon; 3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase); 4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund...

Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 04/28/2008 Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Voter ID Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision today on Indiana’s voter identification case: “The Supreme Court’s decision is disappointing. The Court’s decision today places obstacles to the fundamental rights of American citizens—especially the poor, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities—to participate in the electoral process. Requiring American citizens pay for underlying documents needed for an identification card and travel to distant motor vehicle locations for processing hinders—and diminishes—their right to...

History has taught us that other than raising taxes, nothing can be more damaging to the United States than assuming a protectionist posture during a time of economic downturn.  But that’s exactly the situation after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to bar a vote on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Colombia Free Trade It is important the United States gains equitable access to the markets of fast-growing developing nations like Colombia.  Colombian-produced goods already enter the United States duty free, but American-manufactured goods exported to that country face stiff tariffs, ranging from eight percent to...

House Democratic leaders are putting together the largest Iraq war spending bill yet, a measure that is expected to fund the war through the end of the Bush presidency and for nearly six months into the next president's term. The bill, which could be unveiled as early as this week, signals that Democrats are resigned to the fact they can't change course in Iraq in the final months of President Bush's term. Instead, the party is pinning its hopes of ending the war on winning the White House in November. Bay Area lawmakers, who represent perhaps the most anti-war part...

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan wants to snatch House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat from her in November, but first she's going to need the help - and signatures - of 10,198 friends and supporters. Sheehan was at San Francisco City Hall on Friday to take out papers for her independent run for Congress, but without those signatures from voters in the district, her name won't show up on the ballot. "It's an uphill battle," said Sheehan, who vowed to run against Pelosi in July after the speaker refused to start impeachment proceedings against President George Bush.

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan wants to snatch House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat from her in November, but first she's going to need the help - and signatures - of 10,198 friends and supporters. Sheehan was at San Francisco City Hall on Friday to take out papers for her independent run for Congress, but without those signatures from voters in the district, her name won't show up on the ballot. "It's an uphill battle," said Sheehan, who vowed to run against Pelosi in July after the speaker refused to start impeachment proceedings against President George Bush. "But I'm excited about...

More Republicans are having a field day over the fact that Nancy Pelosi doesn't know the price of gas? Check out the transcript from "Larry King" last night: CNN’s LARRY KING: “I want to get this right. In a 2006 press release, you declared Democrats have a ‘common sense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices.’ Gasoline now, it keeps going up – record high in the history of gasoline. What happened?” SPEAKER PELOSI: “Well, it’s almost three times what it was when President Bush took office. It was $1-something when he took office. Now it’s $2.56, on average,...

Washington DC, Apr 24, 2008 / 10:17 pm (CNA).- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is facing criticism for repeatedly attributing an incorrect quotation to the Book of Isaiah that concerns ministering to creation, Cybercast News Service reports. The speaker has used the quotation at least five times, often in reference to environmental concerns.The falsely-attributed quotation most recently appeared in her April 22 Earth Day news release, in which Speaker Pelosi said, “The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, 'To minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday called on the White House to temporarily stop sending crude oil into the nation's emergency stockpile. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters she was calling on President George W. Bush to work with Democrats to find a way to "temporarily suspend" oil deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The White House immediately rejected the plea. "We don't believe the fill rates have a meaningful impact on oil supplies," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. "We continue to fill the reserve to provide an added layer of protection to...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is fond of quoting a particular passage of Scripture. The quote, however, does not appear in the Bible and is "fictional," according to biblical scholars. In her April 22 Earth Day news release, Pelosi said, "The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, 'To minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.' On this Earth Day, and every day, let us pledge to our children, and our children's children, that they will have clean air to breathe, clean water...

Pelosi wants Bush to stop filling Petroleum Reserve By Mike Soraghan Posted: 04/24/08 11:54 AM [ET] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Thursday called on President Bush to stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a way to reduce gas prices at the pump. Her call came after days of demands by House Republicans that she produce a plan to reduce gas prices. “I call upon the president today to work with Democrats to lower gas prices,” Pelosi said. The Speaker stated that the reserve is 97 percent full, and cited experts saying that the move could reduce gas prices by...

This is an excerpt from an e-mail we received from former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on why he participated in an ad for WE. Many of you have written to me to ask why I recently taped an advertisement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for The Alliance for Climate Protection, a group founded by former Vice President Al Gore. I completely understand why many of you would have questions about this, so I want to take this opportunity to explain my reasons. First of all, I want to be clear: I don't think that we have conclusive proof...

Both opponents and supporters of the war in Iraq seem reluctant to raise the issue of what's going on there now as an issue in the presidential race. Opponents, of course, can't deny that things are better than a year ago - and may fear that this could persuade voters that President Bush was right after all. After all, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid decided that the war was "lost" a year ago. And critics have sounded the tocsins about the supposedly coming Iraqi civil war for five years. (Some even suggested at times that Iraq was already in civil...