IS IT TRUE that Karl Rove allegedly told Bush that this (the war in Iraq) would be his re-election campaign? If this is so, may it be to his everlasting shame, and a time-honored lesson!, the BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, the even greater loss of our finest men and women....

If the video that preceded is the general consensus of the majority of the populace of Iraq then let them have their way and their mob attitudes. It will only lead to their downfall as a nation.If not then let the soldiers (American and Iraqi)do their thing and put an end to these cowardly and gangster like actions and remember that politicians do not fight wars (Our military does) Flat and simple there is way too much interference from those who know nothing of the ways of war. People get killed in war and that's a fact.It's not the people in Washington doing it but the guys and gals on the ground there.Lets all support them and let them get the job done they were sent there to do or cut and run as was dictated by the politicians when we were in Viet Nam.We have the means and ways to finish this job but it will take the Iraqis wanting a different way and not letting another country do it for them. They should put up,present a united front to these gangs or remain prisoners in their own country.The choice and outcome is purely their own choice.As long as even one of our own remains there we as a nation should give them nothing but our total support and prayers.Let those who resist and mock our forces feel the real power and destruction of a military fed up with their petty and cowardly ways and send them to their ultimate destiny for even daring to challenge or assume they can conquer our nation our military forces and what they stand for.

Hi, I find the comments here run the spectrum from foolish to interesting to stupid. Having spent a year there as a guest of the Army, I can say none of you are really qualified to pass judgement on the situation based on one video that was made at the point of a rifle. Do you think he filmed anything they didn't want him to see? Hardly.
I can say with some experience that the media is selectively covering the war effort, and packaging it to influence public opinion against Bush.
If you truely support the troops, give us the means to win. The Iraqi people showed great heart and spirit. They do NOT want the Islamic extremists in power!

People like Mike From Chicago chill my blood. Do you have any clue what you are doing to your country? You love America, right? If you love America, you do not support the idea of using a pre-emptive nuclear weapon, and if you can't find compassion for innocents just because they call God by a different name - and a nuke would blow up innocents, not just gun-toting troublemakers/freedom-fighters (these are both true descriptions of any violent insurgency, it depends where you stand. So, would you put up with some foreign army stationed in Chicago, Mike, one which was opposed to YOUR name for God? Would you? If not, why should anyone else be expected to?

Two reasonably competent Israeli soldiers could wipe out all the participants in this victory parade in about an hour. What brave patriots riding around terrorizing women and children! Does
Allah really call true believers to slay all dissenters? If so, what a joke for a religion.

Richard,
Powerful piece. Hope the cameraman and his family are doing ok.
BTW, where is the money comming from, for these people to cause all the violence? Is there any way to stop the kind of funding the fuels violence-securing borders for example?
A very happy and safe NEW YEAR 2007 to you and your team.

How sad that so many still don't get it. The USA was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, because Osama was angry that Saudi Arabia had allowed infidels(USA millitary) on sacred ground, that is the Saudi gvt didn't ask him and his fighters to liberate Kuwait. The terrorist attacks were and still are a directly declared holy war of Islamic extremeists on the free west. Do I need to point out the many violent responses of said believers? Cartoons anyone? Just read George Will's page in Newsweek December 18th, or maybe a couple of books by Bernard Lewis, What Went Wrong? The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East, and The Crisis of Islam. The extremeists are intent on establishing sharia law on the entire world. Just pay attention to what is happening in Somolia right now. I am sick of Bush being blasted for this. Please remember the terrorists of Sept 11 came here and trained durring the previous administrations watch... NOT W's! The US has not been attacked since then. Period. No I do not agree with everything Bush does, but I sure feel a lot safer with W. leading the way. I take offence when others acuse the US as being imperialists and bullies, if I were in power and not W I would let a few whiners learn a lesson or two under sharia law before I went in and liberated you. Next time you show and ankle or wrist, listen to muisic you like, go dancing, have a glass of wine,speak out against your government, get on high speed internet, or maybe practice your own religion freely and without a second thought you will remember these freedoms are condemned and not permitted in most north african and middle eastern countries. This isn't about oil, or imperialisim, it is about freedom, my freedom, something I put tremendous value on and most certainly support defending. This is a war the west must win, the alternative is unthinkable.

We won the war! That govt is gone. We are now fighting an ideology that wants to dominate the world.
It has been so since the inception of that belief. Convert all, by the sword if necessary. The terrorists are not fighting for a country and they wish to die for their ideology.

I just wanted to point out how stupid bringing something up like WWII is. Just because they were completely different wars. There was separation between the civilians and the military w/ WWII. WWII we fought countries not guerilla groups of people. As far as wars go, these two are completely different. Moreover, this war was not at all a last resort, so excessive brutality will make the US all the more wrong in the global perspective. (Those who dont think it should matter are a large part of why we are in a war like this. This misunderstanding of what America stands for.)
The people that suggest we nuke them... I remember joking about this in grade school; after that I began to realize how absurd it was. Dropping a nuke is how America gets into an open war with all kinds of Muslim countries.
I think this video shows America has to get some clear direction in Iraq. This war seems to just be a shadow of the Russian invasion of Afgahnastan. I think it also shows that we have to have a foreign policy that deals with the causes of terrorism. I commend the journalists getting in harms way to inform people. I really think it is a great service. It would be great if TV news switched from the airing of opinion to something more like this.

im canadian from bc and im very upset at what i see in the world....its not islam or ceistians or catholics its extremests christian extremests blowing up abortion centres are just as dangerous as islamic extremests blowing a market to shreds etc etc stop war stop bickering and live like its your last day to do so with ur familys..ive lost my dad and 3 brothers in afganistan im the only male left now and why?? religion??oil??poppys??? who knows

We have really started a huge undertaking beyond any of our originial thoughts. I believe we are in a BIG PICKLE! What to do? I don't even begin to know. I feel this is the way most of us are thinking. We started this in belief we were going to eliminate HATE. Now we are being HATED. I will continue to pray to GOD and I hope everyone who reads this comment will also get down on you hand and knees and pray to GOD too!!! We really are in need of a higher power to find the right answers on solving this huge mess we are in!

If we are going to be there we need to play the game by their rules not ours (no it's not really a game, but we can't use our "Rules of Engagement"). We need to deal with them the only way they understand; Hit them HARD every time they even move. Show no mercy and they will give up. They see us as soft, confused, and cowards in the way we go about things now. I know for a fact the U.S. Service Personel are in no way soft, confused, or cowards. But they do abide by the rules they are given. We also need Commanders who know how to deploy their special assets such as Spec. Ops., Snipers, and such. We as a military are experts at conventional warfare, that is why Sadam didn't stand a chance. But just like 'Nam we haven't learned the Guerilla brand of warefare (actually we do have the means and personell to do it, but our overly conventional thinking leaders refuse to employ it). After we finished with Sadam we should have pulled the larger part of the conventional forces and put in the Specialists who know how to deal with this threat properly. I know we'd be home by know.

I can only laugh and cry. I freakin' told you so! Bush's lies have been exposed, and the idiocy of his plan has come to fruition.

All the gullible under-educated god-lovers fell for Bush's schtick and we are all suffering.

For shame!

WHERE ARE OUR SNIPERS AND OTHER SPECIAL OPS PEOPLE WHEN THEY COULD MAKING MARTERS OUT OF THESE TERRORISTS. IT SEEMS TO ME POLITICS HAS ONCE AGAIN TAKEN OVER A WAR FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROLONGING IT. I AM A HARD CORE REPUBLICAN, BUT I AM STARTING TO FEEL USED.

Dear Mr. Richard Engel:

I sincerely appreciate and respect your reports that come from the hot zones of Iraq with details. This is how you build your legendery in reporting part of our modern history. I know Baqouba as well as the rest of Iraq. Many years ago, I tought at the Engineering college - University of Bagdad for 18 years and I know well how the Iraqi think. Some of the violence that we see now in Bagdad streets and else where in the country was a result of many mistakes done by the American policy in Iraq since 2003. As every one now knows that resolving the "Iraqi Army and the National Security Forces" was the biggest mistake that has created a vacuum in the country and the people security (the American army invaded Iraq in 2003 should of been 750,000 soldiers in order to fill the created country security vacuum and the borders should have secured by the international coalition forces). It may be too late now, but in my openion the Americans need to bring the old Iraqi Army back to work with out its top generals and to enrol them in the new training up to the desired standard. Most of those men were experienced real fights. Second is to heal the damage and the tears occured in the society by providing jobs and providing money to the people who lost their income. Third, the American need to speak directly to the Iraqi people about their plans and intention in Iraq. They need to promise the Iraqis that their future is bright, prosperous and good for their children to live happily and to demonstate that democracy is the best way of living peacfully. Iraqis now need to get out of their isolation from the rest of the world and to have good standard of education again. America need to build new generation as quickly as possible in Iraq that understand the world global economy better. Most Iraqi do not know americans that well. In nature, Iraqis are peacfull people like most American are compationate and helpful. Itis up to the policy makers to combine these too factors between the Iraqis and the American together. Then ... I asure you that things will start to look different in Iraq. Mean while stay safe and I will continue to follow your news.

These are the most pathetic wannabes I've ever seen in my life. For over 7 minutes about 25-30 guys with ski mask on and rifles drove around town making some weird sounds. I didn't see anyone fleeing to cover out of fear, I saw a hand full of citizens wave and even a few laughing, probably at the bad remake of 'Mad Max'. What is even more pathetic is that you pass this off as a town under seige while using a "stringer" that probably went to the rehearsals with them. Anyone who bought into this obviously bad production is even dumber than the idiots riding around making this bad production. Parades do have clowns in them and during this parade there was a few. Engel, one bit of advise, please stop with these so-called reports, you're embarrassing yourself. I understand why you wouldn't want to give the stringers name, because this one would ruin any chance he may have in Hollywood.

To Ian Swisher - thank you for your service. You are what makes America great. I am proud of each and every one of our service members and will always be thankful for their many sacrifices. My brother is stationed in Iraq and I am so proud of him.

You will always have my suppport!

People tend to forget the suicide bombers who are killing innocent Iraqis. How do america fit into these suicide bombers intention? Why are they killing hundreds of muslims and where is the outrage from the middle east on these killings? Rather than blaming america for everything, why people cannot use americans to make more money and improve their economy? Countries like India and China are making money out of american companies without compromising so much on their individuality. Iraqis should forget about saddam hussein and try to use americans to improve their economy and find their way in the world. Killing americans and their own Iraqis will not help them.

Dear Richard,

Welcome back to Baghdad. I saw your report on MSNBC the other day -- the one in which you said that, upon your return, you learned that one of your best contacts and best friends had been tortured and murdered. I am very sorry for you, and for his family. I'm sure it's hard enough to bear witness to such brutal acts, but it must be particularly painful when it's someone you know and care for....

I'll never understand why some of the readers of this blog are so hostile and cynical towards journalists, but many others of us respect what you are doing, and don't question your motives. I believe you are all doing a very brave thing -- risking your well-being so that we may know what is really going on in the country where our incompetent Executive has sent our men and women to die. Those who criticize you don't have the balls to do what you do.

Stay safe. God bless you.

GEOEGE L. SMOKOVICH, PITTSBURGH ,PA
How dare you talk about us Iraqis in such a language? Your country's policies brought those morons to our streets. 650,000 Iraqis have lost their lives in 3 1/2 years in addition to nearly 3,000 US soldiers, What for? And it seems that was not enough for your liking. It is alarming the percentage of ignorants (like you) who commented on this article. The bottom line is that US troops must leave us alone and with immediate effect. We don't want you in our country....

Spent a few min. running threw these blogs. Not one of you understand whats going on. You have no idea how,what,why, or who started this war!! Type in the word "illuminati" and start reading what's really going on!!

Julian from Argentina,
I appreciate your comments and perspective and agree with you. As an american citizen that has lived abroad for many years, my perspective approaches yours. I remember the strong emotions that America went thru after 9/11. When Bush invaded Afghanistan, I thought it was a sound move. Many people I spoke with wanted to "nuke" Afghanistan and blow it off the face of the earth! Then Bush decided there was "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq. He showed total disrespect for the United Nations and was very arrogant -- on public radio no less! Does anyone remember? While I was in a panic, thinking that the USA was invading another country without barely ANY international support -- and thumbing its nose at the international community -- most of America, including congress and the senate, were very very gung-ho about the whole thing. Unfortunately most Americans that I know do not have an international perspective -- including the government. They have never lived elsewhere and the nation is so large that unlike Europe, for example, there is never any contact with other cultures. Hence the horrific foreign policy. You are perfectly right. It is all about money. But the common man, in this country, is very idealistic, and beleives whatever the government dishes out. After all, his belly is full.
Peace.

Hey, what happened to that guy in Afganistan? You know...the one that really had something to do with the 911 attack...Uh, I don't think that was Sadam...maybe BinLaden!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To me it does not look like that these 'insurgents' are intimidating or terrorizing the local population. If you look and listen you can see everybody waving and you can hear them cheering and shouting 'god is great'. Well I also cannot see anybody running into their houses in terror... etc. To me it looks like they have the popular support, not the american troops.

George from Pittsburg you are 100% correct. As for the rest of you "do gooders" you sound like a bunch of friggin' morons and wimps. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY? You people are so politcally correct, you make me want to puke.
many wrote about the "poor inocent civilans". Don't tell me these people are innocent when they see an IED being installed and don't report it, or won't report their neighbors for having terroist living next door. You LIBERALS can kiss my a**!