Hello Everyone:

I really like to help promote Jon Soltz and VoteVets.org for all of the good work that they are doing!

Here is the Hardball video link from last Friday, August 22 where Jon Soltz debated Neocon Eric Egland about Iraq:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26354617#26354617  (09:52)

Obama vs McCain on Iraq timeline 
Aug. 22: A Hardball panel (Jon Soltz vs. Eric Egland) debates: Which presidential candidate will benefit more from a 2011 timeline for troop withdrawal from Iraq?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26354617#26354617  (09:52)

Here is the transcript link of this video with some of the main points that Jon Soltz brought up about the key issue of political progress in this dialogue which almost seems to be forgotten about when Neocons like to put so much of the emphasis on the military progress that is seen:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26391752/

'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Friday, August 22
Read the transcript to the Friday show

Guests: Eric Egland, Jon Soltz, Bob Shrum, Del Walters, Charles Mahtesian, Jon Soltz, Chrystia Freeland, Larry Kane

JON SOLTZ, IRAQI WAR VETERAN:  "I think some of the larger political issues in Iraq are very contentious because of the way the government is set up.  Maliki is a very—not a very strong coalition, in a sense that he‘s got Shia elements in there.  He‘s got Kurdish elements in there. 

From a political standpoint, it‘s very delicate.  There isn‘t a very stable government in place because of the way a parliamentary system is set up overall.  I think there‘s a tremendous amount of concern that we don‘t have an agreement with regards to the oil law and we don‘t have an agreement on what‘s going to happen in Kirkuk.  So I think—you know, I‘m not willing to say that some of the Sunni awakening stuff is falling apart.  I‘m not privy to that, per se.  But I don‘t necessarily think that‘s the case.

I think there‘s other larger issue that led to this debate that we‘re having today, specifically in regards to the Shia in Iraq, the radical Shia militias that don‘t want a long term American presence.  Maliki can‘t keep his coalition without it...

SOLTZ:  This is not about—this isn‘t about progress on the ground.  This is about domestic Iraqi politics..."

If you have not done so already, please sign this petition from Jon Soltz and VoteVets.org defending Gen. Clark:

http://ga3.org/campaign/petitionclark

"Thank General Clark for His Straight Talk, Tell Him To Not Back Down

Sign our petition, thanking General Wesley Clark for his clarity and honesty on what it takes to lead this nation’s military and veterans.

Join 26,595 Americans in signing our petition!

On Sunday, June 29, General Wesley Clark put into perspective what it takes to lead our nation’s military and veterans – the right judgment.  In doing so, he pointed out, quite correctly, that Senator John McCain’s honorable and heroic experience does not necessarily qualify him to be commander in chief, if he does not show the right judgment on the major issues of our time.  Sign our petition to General Clark, below, thanking him for speaking honestly and bluntly at this most important time..."

Please forward this post on so that more people can see Jon Soltz effectively deal with Eric Egland and so that they will also be able to sign Jon Soltz's petition to help defend Gen. Clark!

Mitch Dworkin

http://www.securingamerica.com/

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16039
RESOURCES: Speeches, Articles, and Career Highlights to help define Gen. Clark!
Submitted by Mitch Dworkin on July 7, 2008 - 2:51pm.

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/10756
StopIranWar.com: "War is not the answer"
Submitted by Wes Clark on February 21, 2007 - 11:40am.

http://www.securingamerica.com/ccn/node/7191
Listen to Gen. Wes Clark fight for Dems on Sean Hannity's radio program: An excellent example for all of us to follow and what we all need to be doing to help fight back against extreme right wing Neocon smear propaganda!