Politics: Where we struggle to kneel in the muck.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

• Many of President Bush's assertions about progress in Iraq -- from police training and reconstruction to preparations for January elections -- are in dispute, according to internal Pentagon documents, lawmakers and key congressional aides on Sunday.

For example, "[Bush] said nearly 100,000 "fully trained and equipped" Iraqi soldiers, police officers and other security personnel are already at work, and that would rise to 125,000 by the end of this year." However, "[t]he documents show that of the nearly 90,000 currently in the police force, only 8,169 have had the full eight-week academy training. Another 46,176 are listed as "untrained," and it will be July 2006 before the administration reaches its new goal of a 135,000-strong, fully trained police force."



Reuters

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
You are exactly what Sebby was talking about: the dumbest of dumb...the person who defends his party at any cost. Again, like an Italian family member, you don't care if Uncle Tony whacked his girlfriend. He's family, so he can do no wrong. Welcome to Dipshitville. Population: You.

Read this interview.

"Buckheit spent the last 20 years of his government career working on air quality issues, most recently as director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Enforcement Division. But in December, he made a difficult decision to retire from the EPA."

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4759864/

Okay in his 20 years he can point to one time where the rule worked. He "had dozens" of others cases that would have been a fight. Is it not posssible that the efficiency and incentives mentioned in the article might be better?

Have you ever spoken to even one environmental compliance officer at a major company? they do not want to violate, they want to comply. violation is too expensive.

I ask you Coltrane, is it not possible that the old man you quote is locked in the wars of the past, and a dinosaur?

[SlaveNoMore]

Gattigap
I understand the diceyness of deploying, say, the Turks into Kurdish regions, notwithstanding the Pentagon's original plans to do so.

But I understand somewhat less your rationale that troops from these other countries are somehow fucking worthless. I suppose, though, it would explain your insistence that "we've got all we need, thanks," as we've run fresh out of "acceptable" countries.

Did you see the scene in Braveheart where Longshanks sends in the Irish troops and they end up turning around and helping Wallace?

You really want Syria's assistance in this one?

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Did you see the scene in Braveheart where Longshanks sends in the Irish troops and they end up turning around and helping Wallace?

You really want Syria's assistance in this one?

Funny. I was about to make a similar comparison re: the Iraqi police force and national guard.

You don't want Eqypt or SA or Kuwait or UAE or anyone else this time 'round, eh?

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Gattigap
It used to be that our allies provided more than moral support, though I agree with you that standing up to be counted on a list is important, just as it's important to treasure the small things in life, and friendship is undoubtedly one of them. Truly precious, like the warm breezes of (say) Micronesia.

OK, here you've got me.

When, 1945. Because since then, they have been relying on the American dividend.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by sgtclub
When, 1945. Because since then, they have been relying on the American dividend.

You are mostly Right. The Right does not like subsidizing our friend's freedom (read: vacation lifestyles) with our nation's sons, dollars and daughters when they refuse to contribute to their own freedom in equal measure.

[Skeks in the city]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
You forget Kerry's "secret plan" to get more allies on board.

I suppose his plan may work, if it includes offering new allies exclusive rights to export crack and heroine into the US.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Was on a plane yesterday. Fully packed. I think the airlines are trying to save money by not turning on the air until after takeoff. In any event it was hot and stuffy and wouldn't you know, I get stuck next to a fatty, which made the situation that much more intolerable. I'm still fuming this morning.

Shut up, jerk.

Spill your damned iced tea on me, will ya'? Like, I was any happier with the situation? "Here, sir, please sit next to this Young Republican. He says he'll put his pamphlets away . . . "

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
If (if) Cat Stevens is a terrorist and should be excluded from the country for opining that Salman Rushdie should be killed for blaspheming, what does that mean that Oklahoma Senate candidate Dr. Tom Cobourn, who opines that doctors who perform (legal) abortions should be killed?

Depends on the next vote, doesn't it?

[Adder]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
I'm amused by people who live their lives like tomorrow is promised to them. I'll take that cash now. I'll deal with the problems of 40 years from now 40 years from now.

Just when you risk making sense, you have to revert to being insufferably selfish.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
If Tom Cobourn gave money that was funneled to people who bomb abortion clinics, deporting him would be fine with me. Hell, he and Cat probably take a lot of the same positions.

There's a big difference between pro-life and pro-death. Be more exact.

[Adder]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Did he? You suffer from the same dream that Clinton did.

I do love how people manage to conclude that because something didn't work, it shouldn't have been tried.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Adder
I do love how people manage to conclude that because something didn't work, it shouldn't have been tried.

Are you joking? Many people thought this at the time, including those that killed Rabin.

[Skeks in the city]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Was on a plane yesterday. Fully packed. I think the airlines are trying to save money by not turning on the air until after takeoff. In any event it was hot and stuffy and wouldn't you know, I get stuck next to a fatty, which made the situation that much more intolerable. I'm still fuming this morning.

Was Bilmore still in costume on the way out of SF?

[bilmore]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Whoa, we're talking 70s AM radio here. It ain't like Dylan or Neil Young decided to become monks in nepal or something...

I understand the need to speak prositively of the dead or the religiously insane, but when I hear people on VH1 say things like "Jim Croce's loss cannot be understated" or "Chapin's death left a chasm in modern music", its hard for me not to think "Whaaaa?" "Peace Train" is a fine and dandy little ditty, but its not Cole Fucking Porter.

Migawd, you are truly a hotair fuckin' thompson wannabe. Screw you, and maybe shut up when you know nothing.

It IS exactly like Neil decided to be a fuckin' islamisict. You didn't grow up playing guitar and singing and leading to 200 kids with Cat's songs didja?

Stop and think - maybe other people had different experiences.