Politics: J'accuse!

[Tyrone Slothrop]

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Too little too late for you, obviously.

I think you want me badly.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
Hiring lots of people to build public works doesn't get them built over night, particularly when those people, frankly, need months of training to get to the point where they can adequately build the stuff,

I'd say this is an overgeneralization. There had to be some internal expertise to build all of the public works (read: palaces) and oil infrastructure during the decade of sanctions.* I think it was just easier for the coalition to bypass these people rather than having to evaluate their abilities and, perhaps more significantly, ties to the former regime.

Speaking of ties to the former regime, it looks like the CPA is now far enough into the soup that they're reversing Bremer's earlier decision to disband Saddam's army by hiring its high ranking officers to whip the Iraqi security forces into shape. I honestly don't know what to think about this, except that I still think it was a mistake to disband the army back in the first place. Hopefully they can vet these guys as effectively as they promise.

*yes I know things were crumbling when we got there. I'd chalk that up to a lack of materiel and a longstanding policy of deferring maintenance.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
yes I know things were crumbling when we got there. I'd chalk that up to a lack of materiel and a longstanding policy of deferring maintenance.

Although the bombing probably didn't help. You can see how Iraqis might be miffed if we leave that part out.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Although the bombing probably didn't help. You can see how Iraqis might be miffed if we leave that part out.

But I only want what's best for them. How could they possibly be miffed with me?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Although the bombing probably didn't help. You can see how Iraqis might be miffed if we leave that part out.

Whiners. If they don't like this country, they can go back where they came from.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Not Me
I think you want me badly.

You are the first person in history to write something about tits I did not find interesting. What do you think? (Again, I may be assuming too much.)

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
I'd say this is an overgeneralization. There had to be some internal expertise to build all of the public works (read: palaces) and oil infrastructure during the decade of sanctions.*

To some extent yes, to some extent no. Very little of economic or social use got built at all while the sanctions were in effect - palaces aren't power grids, transportation systems or industrial infrastructure. People in major population centers with basic construction experience aren't that helpful when what you really need is nationwide power and clean water supplies, industrial refurbishment in the oil fields, roads, modernized irrigation systems, medical facilities throughout rural areas, etc.

Actually, I understand that a huge amount of the Iraqi infrastructure was not built by Iraqis at all but by European companies that were not permitted to bid as primaries on the reconstruction contracts because their countries didn't support the coalition (particularly German). Since they've got the blueprints, it's been a problem, though some have been brought in as subs.

edited because my speling and grammer suk

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
You are the first person in history to write something about tits I did not find interesting. What do you think?

Me thinks the gentleman doth protest too much. There are clear signals of sexual tension in your posts to me.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic Actually, I understand that a huge amount of the Iraqi infrastructure was not built by Iraqis at all but by European companies that were not permitted to bid as primaries on the reconstruction contracts because their countries didn't support the coalition (particularly German). Since they've got the blueprints, it's been a problem, though some have been brought in as subs.

The reconstruction would have been going better if we hadn't cut off our nose to spite our face? Shocking!

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
The reconstruction would have been going better if we hadn't cut off our nose to spite our face? Shocking!

Yes - who'da thunk it, a gov't making decisions for political and ideological reasons that totally igonore reality and practicality. Someone alert the media.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Although the bombing probably didn't help. You can see how Iraqis might be miffed if we leave that part out.

1.) I agree with BRC's point that the needs of the fat Iraqis pale in comparison to the needs of our brothers in Afghanistan; and

2.) I'm sure some areas of Iraq are more poor than others, so there are probably some needs that could be met in, e.g., poor Shiite and Kurdish areas for hospitals and schools and roads and water filtration plants.

Along those lines, in order of priorities, water filtration and purification plants and hospitals should always come first, anywhere. Well, not water filtration plants, but some source of clean water (wells if necessary).

But there is this little problem with places like Fallujah. 1st, these are the fat fucks who gorged on the putrid milk of Saddam's saggy teat for decades while their poor shiite brothers went to bed hungry. 2nd, most of the fighting last year bypassed them, so they didn't really see Col. Perkins advance up-close and personal (that whole combined arms thing). Which, apparently, has had some unfortunate effects. Bottom line: they had the most, and it didn't get broken during the war.

So, if the suggestion is to help ensure that poor people there are provided with improvements, then I'm all in favor, as long as they are our poor people. But if the choice is between throwing money at Fallujah and dropping bombs on a bunch of people who apparently haven't learned to fear our dropping bombs, then I'm all in favor of dropping bombs.

And where the fuck are my elections? I promise y'all, that is a good part of what's really pissing a lot of the officers corp off.

Hello

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Not Me
Me thinks the gentleman doth protest too much. There are clear signals of sexual tension in your posts to me.

At the risk of drawing another brilliant "if you deny it it must be true" argument from you or Bilmore,* let me note some points to the contrary:

1. Repubs are lousy in bed, in my limited experience with them (perhaps that because in the places I live, Repubs are such a minority that they get bitter and nasty. cf. Sgtclub).

2. If I had to bet, I would be that you are a man.

3. You claim to have fake tits, which I don't particularly like. In my not-so-limited experience, they rarely feel right.

4. You appear to confuse general disdain with sexual tension. It's okay -- I've seen Slave do the same, often with remarkable results. But it won't help you here.








*who is oddly silent today -- no doubt carefully crafting his post acknowledging that you are full of shit and the Dems on this board are right..... okay, I'm kidding -- he's a Repub and we -- more accurately, you -- have already proven that Repubs are incapable of doing that.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
Yes - who'da thunk it, a gov't making decisions for political and ideological reasons that totally igonore reality and practicality. Someone alert the media.

Bush lied?

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
Actually, I understand that a huge amount of the Iraqi infrastructure was not built by Iraqis at all but by European companies that were not permitted to bid as primaries on the reconstruction contracts because their countries didn't support the coalition (particularly German). Since they've got the blueprints, it's been a problem, though some have been brought in as subs.

Do you have a cite for this? I ask because I'd be generally interested to read more about that, rather than in the we-are-arguing-and-I-don't-believe-you sense.