Politics: J'accuse!

[Not Me]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/s...079139,00.html

His dad sounds like he was one heck of a guy.

[Replaced_Texan]

Was someone looking for this document, not just the executive summary?

http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell...800-mp-bde.htm

[ltl/fb]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/05/10...nia/index.html

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Here are a few . . .

...I believe that Bush has generally done a fantastic job on the war on terror, which is my most important issue. I don't believe Kerry would be as good ...

Here's the full Guardian article on today's atrocity.

"The video bore the title ``Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American.'' It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi - a lieutenant of Osama bin Laden - was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution."

Who is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? Well, he's been a busy guy.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Fuck me? No. Fuck you.

Ah, I started a trend.

New Board Motto!

S_A_M

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Sexual Harassment Panda
Here's the full Guardian article on today's atrocity.

Now that is a correct use of the word "Atrocity."

Atrocity?

Beheading - Yes.
Panties on head - No.

Got it guys?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Sexual Harassment Panda
Here's the full Guardian article on today's atrocity.

"The video bore the title ``Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American.'' It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi - a lieutenant of Osama bin Laden - was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution."

Who is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? Well, he's been a busy guy.

Recall that before the war, the White House nixed Pentagon plans to bomb Zarqawi's outfit because it didn't want to undermine the case for war. Too bad invading Iraq was more important than pursuing a terrorist like this guy.

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Recall that before the war, the White House nixed Pentagon plans to bomb Zarqawi's outfit because it didn't want to undermine the case for war. Too bad invading Iraq was more important than pursuing a terrorist like this guy.

It wasn't clear, but the underlined "he's" was linked to an article that made that very point.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

This Wes Clark column is pretty good. I realize it challenges some articles of faith among the neocons and the right in general with respect to the lessons of the Cold War and their application to the Iraq project, but he does give Reagan some props, so maybe that can balance things out a little. Worth a read.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Not Me
Now that is a correct use of the word "Atrocity."

• a. (S) Punching, slapping, and kicking detainees; jumping on their naked feet;
  
  b. (S) Videotaping and photographing naked male and female detainees;
  
  c. (S) Forcibly arranging detainees in various sexually explicit positions for photographing;
  
  d. (S) Forcing detainees to remove their clothing and keeping them naked for several days at a time;
  
  e. (S) Forcing naked male detainees to wear women's underwear;
  
  f. (S) Forcing groups of male detainees to masturbate themselves while being photographed and videotaped;
  
  g. (S) Arranging naked male detainees in a pile and then jumping on them;
  
  h. (S) Positioning a naked detainee on a MRE Box, with a sandbag on his head, and attaching wires to his fingers, toes, and penis to simulate electric torture;
  
  i. (S) Writing "I am a Rapest" (sic) on the leg of a detainee alleged to have forcibly raped a 15-year old fellow detainee, and then photographing him naked;
  
  j. (S) Placing a dog chain or strap around a naked detainee's neck and having a female Soldier pose for a picture;
  
  k. (S) A male MP guard having sex with a female detainee;
  
  l. (S) Using military working dogs (without muzzles) to intimidate and frighten detainees, and in at least one case biting and severely injuring a detainee;
  
  m. (S) Taking photographs of dead Iraqi detainees.

I'm no expert, but:

Atrocities: a. (edit: moved from GC violation), c., f., g., h. (the worst of the bunch, IMHO), k., l., m. beheading.*

Mere violations of the Geneva Conventions: b., d., e., i., j.

• a. (U) Breaking chemical lights and pouring the phosphoric liquid on detainees;
  
  b. (U) Threatening detainees with a charged 9mm pistol;
  
  c. (U) Pouring cold water on naked detainees;
  
  d. (U) Beating detainees with a broom handle and a chair;
  
  e. (U) Threatening male detainees with rape;
  
  f. (U) Allowing a military police guard to stitch the wound of a detainee who was injured after being slammed against the wall in his cell;
  
  g. (U) Sodomizing a detainee with a chemical light and perhaps a broom stick.
  
  h. (U) Using military working dogs to frighten and intimidate detainees with threats of attack, and in one instance actually biting a detainee.

Atrocities: a., b., d., e., f., g., h.

Mere violations of the Geneva Convention: c.

*You asked for categorization, not ranking. Murder is worse than rape, but if you ask me whether both are felonies, saying "yes" imposes no equivalence between rape and murder.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
This Wes Clark column is pretty good. I realize it challenges some articles of faith among the neocons and the right in general with respect to the lessons of the Cold War and their application to the Iraq project, but he does give Reagan some props, so maybe that can balance things out a little. Worth a read.

If I may, the following quote is exactly the kind of thing he should have focused on more in his campaign:

"Whether or not you agreed with the president's decision to invade Iraq--and I did not--there's no doubt that America has a right and a duty to take whatever actions are necessary, including military action, to protect ourselves from the clear security threats emanating from this deeply troubled part of the world. Authoritarian rule in these countries has clearly created fertile ground for terrorists, and so establishing democratic governance in the region must be seen as one of our most vital security goals. There is good reason, however, to question whether the president's strategy is advancing or hindering that goal".

It comes across as a very reasonable common ground. Oh, and he should have kept quiet about his views that its okay to abort children up til kindergarten and any time after 80 yoa.

Its nice to see him finding this sort of common ground with America.

Hello

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Its nice to see him finding this sort of common ground with America.

Hello

Someone who can find common ground with the entire country should be sainted (or burned as a witch), not elected president.

Or are you defining "America" narrowly to further your personal aims?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Sexual Harassment Panda
Here's the full Guardian article on today's atrocity.

"The video bore the title ``Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American.'' It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi - a lieutenant of Osama bin Laden - was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution."

Who is Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? Well, he's been a busy guy.

All I can say is God bless this poor bastard's parents. How fucking horrific.

As to these fanatics, good thinking... any good will you had accumulated as a result of the prison scandal was just obliterated. You just handed Rummy a get-out-of-the-dog-house pass.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
If I may, the following quote is exactly the kind of thing he should have focused on more in his campaign:

"Whether or not you agreed with the president's decision to invade Iraq--and I did not--there's no doubt that America has a right and a duty to take whatever actions are necessary, including military action, to protect ourselves from the clear security threats emanating from this deeply troubled part of the world. Authoritarian rule in these countries has clearly created fertile ground for terrorists, and so establishing democratic governance in the region must be seen as one of our most vital security goals. There is good reason, however, to question whether the president's strategy is advancing or hindering that goal".

It comes across as a very reasonable common ground. Oh, and he should have kept quiet about his views that its okay to abort children up til kindergarten and any time after 80 yoa.

Its nice to see him finding this sort of common ground with America.

Hello

Yeah. I think you and I were lamenting his inability to get this common ground message out back when he was a candidate and his star was on the rise.

Or, uh, when his star seemed to be on the rise.

Uhh, when I hoped his star was on the rise.

Uhhh, he once wore stars on his uniform.

FWIW I heard Clark say many reasonable things along the lines of this column when he was working the CNN graveyard shift with Aaron Brown during major combat operations. Too bad he couldn't just contract out for someone to field the domestic policy questions for him.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch [list]

k. (S) A male MP guard having sex with a female detainee;

This explains why the news media made the distinction between rape of boys and "having sex with female detainee." It's the military's distinction.

I recently read a blog of a female soldier in Iraq, who was bitching about how the army always makes the women go to "rape prevention" training, but never makes the men go. Culturally, it's still women's fault.