LoyaltyisaCurse

In U.S. heartland, anxiety over Iraq, oil

By Alan Elsner Thu Aug 18,11:16 AM ET

BROKEN BOW, Nebraska (Reuters) - In the solidly Republican state of Nebraska, voters are expressing deep anxiety about rising gasoline prices and the war in

Iraq, a possible early warning sign for

President George W. Bush in one of his most reliable strongholds.

When Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) traveled around his home state this week, citizens at every stop brought up Iraq policy and the inexorable rise in fuel prices.

"Is there anything the United States can do to get some stability in crude oil prices in the world, because it affects everything we do?" Larry Ahlers, a manager at medical device manufacturer Becton and Dickinson in Broken Bow, asked Hagel in one of dozens of such encounters.

Hagel, a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2008, responded that gasoline prices were likely to stay high for the foreseeable future because of rising world demand and the U.S. failure to develop new energy sources and conserve.

Earlier the same day in Lincoln, an elderly woman asked about Iraq. "Why are we there in the first place?" she asked.

On Tuesday in the central Nebraska town of Lexington, after a meeting with law enforcement officials on drug problems, three sheriffs expressed serious doubts about what the United States was doing in Iraq and whether it could succeed.

Hagel, a Vietnam veteran, acknowledged the U.S. military presence was becoming harder and harder to justify. He believes Iraq faces a serious danger of civil war that would threaten Middle East stability, and said there is little Washington can do to avert this.

"We are seen as occupiers, we are targets. We have got to get out. I don't think we can sustain our current policy, nor do I think we should," he said at one stop.

UNCERTAINTY, NOT PANIC

In an interview, Hagel said uncertainties over Iraq and oil prices fed off and reinforced each other.

"The mood is one of a certain sense of unsteadiness," he said. "I have sensed that since September 11, 2001. Our people have still not found an equilibrium and when you get these shocks, like gasoline at $2.50 a gallon and projecting natural gas costs doubling and tripling from what they paid last year, that further shakes them."

"I don't think there's panic, I don't think there's cynicism. I think there's this steady unsure sense about where is this all leading -- the constant daily reports on Iraq, our people being killed there, the money being spent there," he added.

Nebraska has been a solid Republican state in presidential elections for decades. Republicans dominate state politics and hold most elective offices.

But Hagel said even some who had previously backed Bush strongly on Iraq now felt deep unease.

"The feeling that I get back here, looking in the eyes of real people, where I knew where they were two years ago or a year ago -- they've changed," he said. "These aren't people who ebb and flow on issues. These are rock solid, conservative Republicans who love their country, support the troops and support the president."

Hagel said Bush faced a growing credibility gap. "The expectations that the president and his administration presented to the American people 2 1/2 years ago is not what the reality is today. That's presented the biggest credibility gap problem he's got," he said.

"I hope he has some sense that something's going on out in the country, that there's a lack of confidence that has developed in our position."

__________________
Goin' "Double Maverick!"

LoyaltyisaCurse

Looks like even some Pubs do not agree with the planning and results in Iraq! Cant chalk this one up to media/liberal/whacko bias.


:watingforrepublicanattackmachine

__________________
Goin' "Double Maverick!"

SirStefan32

You'd just love it if we were defeated, wouldn't ya?

Well, unfortunately for libs, we will prevail, that's all.

__________________
"Don't try to threaten me Mulder! I've watched presidents die."

"If people would know the things I know, we'd all fall apart."

"Once again, tonight, the course of human history will be set by two unknown men standing in the shadows."

Cigarette Smoking Man

UncleChris

Geeeeeeezzzzzz, Stef....

Winning or losing has become irrelevant for "us libs." If it's just flat wrong that we are there, as some of us on this board feel, are you still suggesting that we continue the war just so we can chalk one up in the win column?!?!

Fine.... You think we should be there and fight the war. OK.... I think we should not be there and shouldn't have gone in the first place. I want us out now so that no more soldiers are killed or wounded over a made up excuse for a war. To suggest that any of us would "...just love it if we were defeated, wouldn't ya" is an offensive and downright silly thing to say... :

__________________
Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won; here's to America's colors, the colors that never run. May the wings of liberty never lose a feather. ....

justAndy

gotta give Stephan credit for consistancy.
Hagel must be one of those RINO's.
Can't let the facts get in the way of NeoCon ideology.

__________________
"Seachicken - it's what's for dinner" - me (until the 'Hawks sweep the Cards)
Check out Dephinger on our MySpace page.

PortlandCardFan

I have anxiety and want us out of Iraq too. But to do so now would create a huge void in the middle east!!

__________________
All Hell is breakin loose!!!!!

An unarmed person is a subject. An armed person is a citizen.

40yearfan

UC, think about what's on the news right now. Do you think Cindy Sheehan and her group are calling for an orderly withdrawal?

The problem is that there is a contingent in the US who are against war for any reason and they are getting their voices heard because they are the ones screaming the loudest now. These same people would go to any lengths to prevent war, even if it meant giving up their personal freedoms and being ruled by an invading force. Of course after having done this and realizing what they had to give up, they would regret their choice, but it would be too late. These are remnants of the hippee/Vietnam war generation. Look at some of the people that are backing Sheehan.

__________________
“So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldn’t find honest employment.” —Mark Twain

justAndy

NObody can invade us MILITARILY, they got us with guerilla/terrorist tactics.
So - we have 135,000 troops in Iraq at the same time as our OWN borders are out of control.
I want a secure America, not foreign adventurism. I'm no stinking hippy!

__________________
"Seachicken - it's what's for dinner" - me (until the 'Hawks sweep the Cards)
Check out Dephinger on our MySpace page.

PortlandCardFan

:sniffsniff:

yep.... no patchouli here!!!

The PC term is.... Granola.

__________________
All Hell is breakin loose!!!!!

An unarmed person is a subject. An armed person is a citizen.

RedStorm

If anyone thinks that protesting the war is going to force the troops home is wishful thinking. We will not be bringing the troops home for some time yet. There is too much at risk now to do that. All the protesting does, IMO, is create controversey and puts our troops in danger.

There was a time to protest and to make your voice heard. We have, at this point, heard all the arguements and now it is time to have both sides put all the differences aside and get behind our troops and do whatever we can to "ENCOURAGE" the soldier in the field. I challenge anyone who does not personally know or have a loved one in Iraq to adopt a soldier and begin encouraging him/her. Tell them how much you value their service and that when they have finished their hard work that they come home. That they will be greeted with cheers as the heros they are and to keep their head down and come back alive.

Forget the !@#$!@#$%!@# politics and the protesting against the war. Time for that is over once the shooting began. It is long past due that we have have gatherings and vigils for our troops that will encourage them while they finish their work.

I want the troops back as much as anyone but the protesting, IMO, is demoralizing for the troops and only emboldens the enemy they face.

We are Americans. We can disagree but we are all still Americans. Once this is over and our troops are home I will welcome all talk and debate and examination/investigations that are needed so we can learn.

Let's keep our eye on the ball...It is the soldier in Iraq who needs our support.


JMHO

__________________
The greatest lies are told before a marriage, after a hunt and during an election - Count Bismark

Rivercard

It seems many of our lawmakers do not want secure borders. They won't admit it, but they support the availability of the illegal cheap labor.

Rivercard

Interesting position Red. How can you tell people to stop protesting the war and at the same time "welcome" talk and debate?

justAndy

You are not correct.
I want truly SECURE borders, I want Arabs "profiled".
I want our ports guarded, our airspace secure. I LIKE spy satellites. I support counterterrorism. I just don't think invading and trying to change Iraq enhances our security, and sure is costing a lot of treasure.
Maybe you are brainwashed by the military/industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about.
I don't mind a little granola now and then - it's a nice breakfast food.
I prefer eggs benedict and a double order of bacon.

__________________
"Seachicken - it's what's for dinner" - me (until the 'Hawks sweep the Cards)
Check out Dephinger on our MySpace page.

PortlandCardFan

I have the same issues with secure board thingies!!

did you think I was mocking you?? If so, i wasn't.

Oh.... and I prefer Biscuits and Gravy or Cornbeef Hash...MMMMMM...........

__________________
All Hell is breakin loose!!!!!

An unarmed person is a subject. An armed person is a citizen.

Linderbee

Mmmmmmmmm........Eggs Benedict......

__________________
dreamcastrocks--My Hero!!