Politics As Usual

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by sgtclub
I saw 3,000-10,000.

It's funny, those numbers do sound familiar, but as I recall they were based at least in part on Iraq's expected use of the as-yet-unfound chem and bio weapons.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Saying that it's a mess in no way disrespects the troops over there, or the many fine things we have done there.

If saying it's a mess were true, then it would in no way disrespect the troops over there. But when you keep saying it's a mess without much acknowledgment of the good, I say that is disrepectful.

[SlaveNoMore]

Tyrone Slothrop
Saying that it's a mess in no way disrespects the troops over there, or the many fine things we have done there.

It doesn't disrespect the troops in any way*

I just think the term is innaccurate in many ways. That is all.


* unless by "mess" you mean the troops that don't deserve respect, but whatever

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
I just think the term is innaccurate in many ways. That is all.


* unless by "mess" you mean the troops that don't deserve respect, but whatever

It is my view that, although we have a VERY long way to go, we have turned the corner, and the DEMS are selling tickets to a train that has already left the station, as is there propensity to do.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
It's funny, those numbers do sound familiar, but as I recall they were based at least in part on Iraq's expected use of the as-yet-unfound chem and bio weapons.

McCaffrey's weren't.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by sgtclub
It is my view that, although we have a VERY long way to go, we have turned the corner, and the DEMS are selling tickets to a train that has already left the station, as is there propensity to do.

We turned some kind of corner recently, with Fallujah and Najaf, but lots of Republicans seem to be jumping off the train.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
We turned some kind of corner recently, with Fallujah and Najaf, but lots of Republicans seem to be jumping off the train.

My take is that the Reps were quite worried in April and even up to mid-May but that many are more content with how things are going now.

June 30th may change things. Only time will tell.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Not Me
June 30th may change things. Only time will tell.

I need clarity here. Once again, it's too early to call it a failure, but it's never too early to call it a success?

Excuse me. SUCCESS.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
I need clarity here. Once again, it's too early to call it a failure, but it's never too early to call it a success?

It depends on what you mean by success - short term or long term. It is too early to call it a long term success. That will depend on what happens in the next few years as we turn things over to the Iraqis and withdraw our troops.

But it is not too early to call it a short term success in terms of both military and civilian casualties as well as rebuilding of the infrastructure and gettting the oil revenues flowing so that Iraq has funds to continue its progress.

How is the regime change in Iraq a failure so far in terms of casualties or rebuilding infrastructure or starting down the path to self-government?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
I think we're talking past each other, and that's probably due to my inability to sort out why your original post bugged me so much. Anyway, apologies.

Didn't I order a drink a while ago? Where is that waitress?

you're too polite to be here. you have to get meaner. think: Ty is one nasty fuck- yet he was seen as middle of the road enough to be made a sultan or whatever his title is.

you meant "fuck you rich boy. 850 skins what ain't your's are stretched out and it don't bug you, but a million won't bug you as long as the supply ships keep bringing JW into the country."
Slave meant "Be honest. the day before the invasion started, if someone asked you how many troops you'd think would die, you'd have said 2-3000. so it is pretty good. right?"

he's right (ie closer to things i've said in the past) but don't let that slow you down. Atticus is always wrong and he keeps posting- you just need to step up to the plate.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Saying that it's a mess in no way disrespects the troops over there, or the many fine things we have done there.

no. but everyone ignoring my "Kerry got the job done and got out of vietnam in a few months" post sure as shit disrespects me. WTF?

[Not Me]

So maybe panties on their heads isn't so scary to them after all:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...toryID=5350513

• UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Quick trials for Saddam Hussein and others from his regime, although rejected by Washington, would have deterred some of the violence now shaking Iraq, Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Friday.
  
  "We pleaded, really," Zebari told Reuters. "We were frustrated that we were unable to do that."
  
  Iraqi leaders had argued that trying Saddam and officials like Ali Hassan Majid -- known as "chemical Ali" for his leading role in chemical weapons attacks against the Kurds -- "would have a major impact" on those carrying out attacks on the U.S.-led coalition, said Zebari, who is himself a Kurd.
  
  Those staging the attacks were asking, "What can they do to you? They will arrest you and put you in a prison and feed you four times a day," he said in an interview.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
I thought we had seen a quantum leap forward in socking technology with Lawtalkers' introduction of a "log out" button and the ability to reuse the same Hotmail account to verify a valid address.

I never imagined it would be possible for a right-wing parody sock to actually become corporeal, incarnate, and, indeed, tenured at Boalt.

That is some of Penske's finer work, isn't it?

[sgtclub]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040605/D830ULNO0.html

[Reagan's health turns for the worse]

[sgtclub]

As far as Falluja goes, we have not been allowed to get back in there with any real numbers yet. Initially, it was confounding. However, a very interesting dynamic has developed. Since we have stayed out of Falluja and focused elsewhere, the mujahadeen have had their run of the town. As they have had no one to fight, they have turned their criminal instincts on the citizens. The clerics who once were whipping these idiots into a suicidal frenzy are now having to issue Fatwas (holy decrees) admonishing the muj for extortion, rape, murder and kidnapping. It is unfortunate for the "innocent people" of Falluja but the mujahadeen have betrayed themselves as the thugs that they are by brutalizing the civilians. There are, in fact, reports of rape, etc from inside the town. While the muj are thugging away inside the town, we are about 1/2 mile away paying claims, entering into dialogue and contracting jobs. The citizens come outside the city for work and money and are treated like human beings. They go back inside and enter a lawless hell. In short, the muj have done more to show the people what hypocrites they are in a few short weeks than we could have hoped for in a year. The result is more and more targetable intelligence. If we are given the green light, we can really go to town on these guys (no pun intended). However, as much as we would like to do just that, the optimal solution is to empower the Iraqis to take care of it themselves. That is precisely what we are doing.

From a marine in Iraq, courtesy of Andrew Sullivan:http://www.andrewsullivan.com/