"Sir, what are the benefits of all this work to get Iraq on its feet?

"From our perspective, we don't see much as far as gains," said Marine Cpl. Bradley Warren, the first to question Cheney in a round-table discussion with about 30 military members. "We're looking at small-picture stuff, not many gains. I was wondering what it looks like from the big side of the mountain - how Iraq's looking."

Cheney replied that remarkable progress has been made in the last year and a half.

"I think when we look back from 10 years hence, we'll see that the year '05 was in fact a watershed year here in Iraq," the vice president said. "We're getting the job done. It's hard to tell that from watching the news. But I guess we don't pay that much attention to the news."

Another Marine, Cpl. R.P. Zapella, asked, "Sir, what are the benefits of doing all this work to get Iraq on its feet?"

Cheney said the result could be a democratically elected Iraq that is unified, capable of defending itself and no longer a base for terrorists or a threat to its neighbors. "We believe all that's possible," he said.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/

that was a threat to my stock portfolio.

they'd Sadam would still be there. So for 2200 dead US soldiers and coming up on 1/2 billion borrowed dollars, we are where on this quest?

that's half a trillion dollars.

bleeding heart libs would have squandered it on social programs and helping the less fortunate anyway.

-85%

of freedom!

:sarcasm:

"But I guess we don't pay that much attention to the news."

Right from the horse's mouth.

were pre-rehearsed. I've heard Cheney say these exact same things before.To make it sound real, he had to get the right questions.