ThinkFast: September 26, 2006
ThinkFast: September 26, 2006
“In a new sign of mounting strain from the war in Iraq,” the Pentagon said that 3,800 U.S. soldiers will be staying in Iraq about six weeks beyond their one-year combat tours. Rumsfeld flew to the tiny nation of Montenegro “with hopes of tapping a new source of troops for Iraq and Afghanistan.”
6: The United States’ position on the World Economic Forum’s competitiveness rankings, a fall from first last year. “The U.S. lost its position as the world’s most competitive economy to Switzerland as budget and trade deficits prompted a slide.”
The Earth’s temperature “has climbed to levels not seen in thousands of years, warming that has begun to affect plants and animals,” the National Academy of Sciences reported. “This evidence implies that we are getting close to dangerous levels of human-made pollution,” NASA’s James Hansen said.
“Americans clearly want a system that guarantees health care for everyone,” concludes a new report by the Citizens Health Care Working Group. The group was created by Congress and is composed of 15 members, including Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.
At yesterday’s Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Iraq planning, retired Maj. Gen. John Batiste, the former commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Iraq, said the administration’s “plan allowed the insurgency to take root and metastasize to where it is today.” He and retired Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton declared that Rumsfeld must go. “He knows everything, except ‘how to win,’” Batiste said. Click here to see highlights of the hearing.
Larry J. Sabato, “one of Virginia’s most-quoted political science professors and a classmate of Allen’s in the early 1970s,” yesterday confirmed that he heard Allen use a racial slur to refer to blacks, a charge the senator has denied.
The African Union will add 4,000 troops to its mission in Darfur, bringing the number of police and soldiers to 11,000. Sudan has refused to allow a U.N. peacekeeping force into the region. Approximately 200,000 people have died since violence flared in 2003.
Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki expressed optimism yesterday that negotiations would resolve the dangerous impasse over his country’s nuclear program. “We do believe that the issue is once again on track now based on negotiations. All the parties should help and support.”
And finally: No rock, paper, scissors? A coin flip decided the primary race for Alaska House of Representatives yesterday. Deadlocked in a 767-767 tie, incumbent Rep. Carl Moses and challenger Bryce Edgmon watched nervously as a “gold-and-silver commemorative coin spun through the air” and “landed on a sea otter pelt – tails up – giving” Edgmon the spot on the ballot.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Well what mischief is the Bush Regime membership up to today? Who will Karl Rove smear for Dubya Dunce Decider Despot this week?
September 26th, 2006 at 9:14 amArmy holds Pentagon to ransom over Iraq
In a fresh sign of the intense strains placed by the Iraq war on the US military, America’s top uniformed army officer has refused to submit his service’s budget request for fiscal 2008.
General Pete Schoomaker, chief of staff of the army, said it could not fulfil its mission within the existing financial limits set by Donald Rumsfeld, the Defence Secretary.
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The army has a total active-duty strength of 504,000, of whom 400,000 have done at least one tour in either Iraq and Afghanistan, and some 150,000 have done two.
This size of army is so small how do you think you can fight Iraq and north Korea and Syria and other countries – - — Seems Bush is a joke ha ha ha
September 26th, 2006 at 9:15 amThe only problem is that it is not funny at all…
September 26th, 2006 at 9:27 am3,800 U.S. soldiers will be staying in Iraq about six weeks beyond their one-year combat tours.
Good thinking, Rummy. That ought to help with the recuiting efforts here at home as young people try to decide whether or not to give their country a piece of their lives in an unpopular war.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the recent raising of the enlistment age from 37 to 42 ain’t working. Maybe Rummy should raise it to say, 50 or more, so we can at least empty out the rest homes. I mean, at least that way warhawks like Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh can all volunteer to do their part.
September 26th, 2006 at 9:28 amThe army has a total active-duty strength of 504,000, of whom 400,000 have done at least one tour in either Iraq and Afghanistan, and some 150,000 have done two.
If this is the strength of Americas Army . then let me tell you 140,000 could be wiped out in a flash in the superbases with just a few missiles from iran …. Iran and Iraq are playing you as fools ( BUSH ) as for 50,000 in Korea could be wiped off the face of the map in North Korea
And your other soldeirs ( 35.000 ) could be taken in Japan just as easy ,,, lets say a fishing boat from North korea,
Once again we see America bullying the world with the Atomic bomb … you have 21,000 and russia has 22,000 ……… Thats a joke too
Seems like a lose lose situation to me …… maybe America should Change direction to one who adheres to international law and signs as many UN treaties as possible
BUT NO – America is still going the wrong way … Legalise torture and Military trials ……… your standing in the world is down to what comes out a dogs backside ….. completely Useless country and bankrupt …..
well done bin laden you truely did a good job
September 26th, 2006 at 9:31 amThis means roughly 3 of these kids will die after their one-year tour of duty is up. There will be no consoling their families who will receive a flag instead of a husband or wife, brother or sister, son or daughter.
I have heard the assertions that we are fighting them over there so we won’t have to fight them over here. But let’s get real. The Shi’ias and Sunnis are fighting a blood feud against each other and Bush has put and kept our children in the middle of that. What makes anyone think they will carry their civil war to our shores?
Next argument, the “terrorists” in Iraq. 7-9 out of every 10 people rounded up in Iraq are later released. In other words, the ratio of “terrorists” to innocent civilians is quite small. Even ignoring that, are we saying that our homeland security is so poor that if we diverted our resources away from fighing in Iraq towards protecting our borders the “terrorists” will pour through? If we had 140,000 troops protecting our ports of entry it would be ineffective at stopping the “terrorists” in Iraq from coming over here?
September 26th, 2006 at 9:35 amABC News: Dozens of Foreign Pilots Training Illegally at US Flight Schools
September 26th, 2006 at 9:38 amHealth care for everyone in America is an important issue, but untill Americans demand it rigorously it will NOT happen! The US citizenry have allowed themselves to be defrauded by DC politicians, and led to believe that billions must be spent on military pork instead, but health care is way more needed than guns and bombs! So anyway wake-up my fellow Americans from the coma of endless warfare, and demand Canadian type health care for everyone!
September 26th, 2006 at 9:41 amAnother one of the many, many failures of George W. Bush.
September 26th, 2006 at 9:53 ammaybe America should Change direction to one who adheres to international law and signs as many UN treaties as possible……… your standing in the world is down to what comes out a dogs backside ….. completely Useless country and bankrupt …..
Comment by Tobey+Tall
Tobey Shorthairs seems to want to take this site a step further. While I might agree with some of what he says, most of his shit is just that. He is obviously not an American or a progressive.
If you had shit for brains, Tobey, you wouldn’t have enough to stink. What is your point about signing UN treaties? You need to put the diaper back on your head, pal, and quit trying to sound like an American.
September 26th, 2006 at 9:57 amI am one of the members of the extended unit. Let me tell you…not going over well. The thing I worry about most is the projected anger; innocent Iraqis may pay the price. We know well the risks associated with being here even one day longer than our expected deployment. Your worst fear is realized when they tell you about the extension and then all you care about is surviving that last little bit of six weeks which for me and my men amounts to numerous chances of being killed or wounded.
We know it sucks but it’s not 3IDs fault that they have to come back so soon, some of us are just glad it’s only two months and we’re helping out our fellow soldiers by giving them a little more time at home.
Hopefully they wont spend 7months of the year before they deploy away from their families like my wife and I did with 1BDE, 1AD. That’s something they dont put on the news, I was bascially “deployed” most of the year before I went to Iraq, so there really is no time at home. My wife and I are both over here and have a son that turned one in May, but what’s another month and half of his life being raised by his grandparents. We’ve only seen him for 8of his 18 months since he’s been born, and by the time we get back he will be 22 months old of which we will have spent 15 months away from him in training and in Iraq. That’s a great retention tool (sarcasm), especially for officers, who have degrees and could get a job easily on the outside.
September 26th, 2006 at 9:58 amHow has Bush been able to skate this long on pre 911 innaction?
September 26th, 2006 at 10:01 amThis world of ours…must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.
– Dwight D. Eisenhower
I doubt Joe Sexkitten will understand this
September 26th, 2006 at 10:05 am11/ get a real job then and stop killing and raping Iraqies in the name of your so precious country – do you seriously think your doing a good job ??? let me tell you – you are paid in BLOOD MONEY, how does that make you feel, dont come crying in this site if you cannot understand your family comes first GET A REAL JOB
September 26th, 2006 at 10:11 amI doubt Joe Sexkitten will understand this
Comment by Tobey+Tall
Nice quote on Eisenhower, Shorthairs. I didn’t think they taught you guys anything outside of the Koran. By the way, what country are you in, dipshit? Iran or Pakistan?
If you got anything to say about this country, feel free to point out its shortcommings. It has more than enough under its present inept and bankrupt leadership. But to equate this country with dog shit is over the line, asshole.
September 26th, 2006 at 10:19 amGood Morning all, Well here we are again, another Tuesday that seems like a bull shit bush Friday….All day’s of the week are turning into flash Friday’s..Use to be, in the past 6 year’s, Friday’s were the dump new’s on the public day. Now it’s every day of the week….
Sad to see our troop’s are being used up by this evil bunch.. My hope is they all get out with out any more losses. Hopefuly rummy will be unsecessful in his campaign to round up more young people and distruction on the world..
Off topic but very important, please go to common dreams site and read Thom Hartmann’s piece…..The senate will be working hard to trash habeas corpus, distroy the Geneva Convention and US war crimes act instead of defending our constitution……. It is plane to see all you’re representatives want to put the final nail in our coffins and support their dictator bush…..Blessings, we need them now…….Impeachment and jail to the traitors of our country….No more bush war’s.
September 26th, 2006 at 10:25 amWith more American troops staying in Iraq beyond their alloted time, do not be too surprised if enlisted personnel begin to imitate what their brethern did in Vietnam, and that is to frag the lieutenants and other superior officers who are urging them into battle.
September 26th, 2006 at 10:27 amLacking both the experience and perspective of age, I did not yet grasp the power of ideology to selectively “edit” history into a politically-correct propaganda film, to regard human nature as infinitely pliable and human beings as glorified lab rats in a continuing social experiment, and to deconstruct reality into inert data that can be reframed and reinterpreted at will. I did not, in other words, realize how ruinously the Left had already subverted academia and the media, slowly, poisonously undermining our love of liberty and country so that we began to feel there was something vaguely shameful about defending them.
Shawna Fleming
September 26th, 2006 at 10:28 am14 – Tobey, I can only assume that you’ve never spent time in the Serivce.
Why do you think that soldiers/marines/sailors & flyboys have a choice about where they get stationed? Could it be that you’re completely brain-washed on how the military works?
Why do you think that everyone who’s serving in Iraq is targeting innocent people and raping women? Could it be that you’ve never considered military service as an honorable action? I wonder why not?!?
I think you need to address that cranial-anal impact you’ve got going there. It seems to be impeding your view.
Just because SOME service members have screwed the pooch doesn’t mean ALL service members have done so.
Tom Paine has honored his committment and disagrees with the current administrations actions. Just like a number of service members currently do.
The Bush Administration is responsible for more Democrats exiting the service than entered in the first place!
September 26th, 2006 at 10:28 amDoes anyone listen Glen Beck on CNN? He belongs on FOX news cause he is going to give CNN a bad name if he continues his rants on CNN. What a meat head.
September 26th, 2006 at 10:34 am11/ get a real job then and stop killing and raping Iraqies in the name of your so precious country – do you seriously think your doing a good job ??? let me tell you – you are paid in BLOOD MONEY, how does that make you feel, dont come crying in this site if you cannot understand your family comes first GET A REAL JOB
Comment by Tobey+Tall — September 26, 2006 @ 10:11 am
Some committments are made and some bargains are hidden Faustian. I wouldnt have been able to afford college without the military. Not to mention I am not a fair weather patriot as I ENLISTED in 1999 and became an officer in 2004. And also someone like you wouldnt be able to understand the nuanced conflict between duty to one’s subordinates and peers and staying true to your sincere moral and political beliefs. A person like you would also be hard pressed to understand the honoring of a committment or obligation even to the extent of selfless service or sacrifice. Where do you work? A gas station? Taco Bell? Where do you live? Your parents basement? The one thing that does make me feel good is knowing that if I ever met someone like you, that said something like that to my face, I would have the ability to stay cool and walk away. Because I have seen death and destruction of the human body, and I really just dont want to see it anymore. That’s one good thing that’s come from my months here in Iraq, I guess. It’s going to save people like you once I get back to the “real world” and get a “real job.”
September 26th, 2006 at 10:38 amRice says that the current adminsitration has been just as agressive on terrorism as the CLinton adminstration…without any facts to back her up. She also claims that they were left no comprehensive anti terror plan in direct contridiction to President Clinton, and Sandy Berger, and Richard Clarke etc… We can take their word for it I guess.
In Olbermans comments yesterday he pointed out that if Clinton was truly distracted by the whole Lewinsky deal, who was causing the distraction, the republicans of course. Now if we take Rice’s statement that this adminsitration is at least as aggressive as the last we can read a couple of things into it. 1) the right continually claims that the Clinton administration did little or nothing to stem the flow of terrorism, so if the Bush adminsitration is doing at least as much as Clinton then Rice is admitting that they are doing little or nothing. 2) some righties say Clinton did all the wrong move, so Reading into Rice’s comments the current administration is doing at least as much as the previous, so they are doing little or nothing. 3) The right has also siad Clinton was ineffectual and allowed the terroism to grow under his adminsitration. If as rice sdays the current adminsitration is doing at least as much as the previous administration, then she is admitting that terrorism is growing under the current adminsitration…well, she got that one right.
What right wingers will never admit is that Clinton started from nothing. They frequently say that he knew all about terror, especially OBL, since the February 1993 bombing of the WTC, which they blame him for too. Of course this belays the fact that we all have known about terrorism since at least Munich in 1972. Or perhaps since Beiruit in 1983, or the Achille Lauro, or the various attacks at airports throughout europe over the last 30 years, or since the IRA was working their magic etc…the point being is that terrorism has been around for a very long time. But regarding AlQueda, which we did not fully know existed till about the mid 1990’s, at least according to real facts, not made up anecdotes, we started from scratch. We had to learn about them, find out how they operated, etc… all while reacting to their attacks. The Bush adminsitration at day one had the benfit of the previous administrations efforts. Regardless of what anyone says about the Bush adminsitrations actions prior to 911 the news of the day for his first 8 months was about things like Star Wars, Tax Cuts, Cutting Milk Subsidies, His efforts to seal presidential records permanently, his efforts to close the naval gunnery range in Puerto Rico, the efforts to kill the crusader artillery piece, Downed plane in China, an angry pretzel, Secret energy commission meetings, completely grounding our obseravtion drone fleet while it was armed with missiles, alienating Jim Jeffords etc… there was very little coming out of Washington about terrorism for those first 8 months. Any attempt to say there was is an outright lie, and an blatent attempt at revisionist history. Which of course republicans claim to hate, but we all know by now that what they usually claim to abhor they really are embracing.
September 26th, 2006 at 10:52 am#10 – Mr T is not American. If memory serves he is a Scot. Many (I can think of at least 3 without trying) are not American who post here. Sometimes the perspective beoynd the ‘electronic Berlin wall’ is useful, sometimes it is not. Today seems to be a ‘not’ day.
September 26th, 2006 at 10:53 amNavy Vet, I get 2 CNN stations…One of them has Beck on it and I watched a bit of him the other day…Thought I was on a reich winged christian program so turned him off…
Blessings to you and Thank You for you’re service to our country….
September 26th, 2006 at 10:53 am“The Earth’s temperature “has climbed to levels not seen in thousands of years” Ok I will believe this if someone can tell me the temperature was in the Houston area on July 7, 1006.
September 26th, 2006 at 11:24 amOff topic, sorry…..While our service men and women are dieing in an unjust war, condom rice is defending the dictator and spreading lies on her own testamony, bull shit him self is probably picking his nose and kissing saudi asses our senate is into flowering speeches about the passing of the “death tax”……Crap, when will we get our country back……Blessings…Peace….
September 26th, 2006 at 11:31 am“The Earth’s temperature “has climbed to levels not seen in thousands of years†Ok I will believe this if someone can tell me the temperature was in the Houston area on July 7, 1006.
Comment by Retired+Republican+Soldier — September 26, 2006 @
Would you really? I doubt it. You are a global warming denier. It doesn’t matter what evidence is presented. You are a global warming denier. That says it all.
September 26th, 2006 at 11:35 am#25 – if you knew what you were talking about, you would know that what you asked is impossible to know. Otherwise your question is a dishonest one. However, given that I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on your honesty, I would point you to the science of temperature modelling through the study of gases in ice cores. You are retired, so you will therefore have plenty of time to read the science. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_core
September 26th, 2006 at 11:41 amBBC News has learned the latest data shows CO2 levels now stand at 381 parts per million (ppm) 100ppm above the pre-industrial average
I think roughly when CO2 levels reach 500 ppm its irreversible
Thats one reason my house runs on green energy already
America is 5 % of the worlds population , emmitting 25% of the worlds greenhouse gases and burning up 25% of the worlds oil reserves
time for a change
Everyone who posts negative remarks about this fact is selfish person who has personal problems
September 26th, 2006 at 11:45 amy’know, tobey… we really appreciate some of your links and information because we know that usa media is mostly nothing…
September 26th, 2006 at 12:08 pmbut when you come on here with disparaging personal remarks, all self-righteous and sanctimonious, it pretty much backfires…
it’s really early in the day, and you’ve already crossed the line with your comment to tompaine… i hope you’re done… please…
…
The American people don’t pay much attention to their country’s enemies. It may be, of course, that Americans don’t want to survive as a country or as individuals. It should be admitted that the success of those who hate America is due to American decadence. In addition, there may be a contradiction between national survival and liberty. But this contradiction has never led to the suppression of the country’s instinct for national survival until now. This instinct has evaporated in recent decades, replaced with stylish attitudes that borrow from the grab bag of old communist propaganda, newfangled political correctness and a false sense of personal invulnerability.
J.R. Nyquist
September 26th, 2006 at 12:37 pm[...] From Think Progress. This is huge. [...]
September 26th, 2006 at 12:49 pmImagine Chavez coming to New York, speaking at the United Nations then driving to a rally of American supporters. Imagine Chavez coming to this country, calling the American president “the Devil,†predicting the country’s fall, rallying the “poor nations†to his war banner, cheering a Jihad against Washington by using Arab words, openly standing with the terrorists before the world. Does America notice its enemy to the south? A minority will notice, but the country itself pays little heed. When bin Laden declared war on America hardly anyone noticed. When Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the U.S. for secretly fueling Chechen terrorism after the Beslan tragedy, hardly anyone noticed.
J.R. Nyquist
September 26th, 2006 at 1:06 pm[...] Think Progress [...]
September 26th, 2006 at 5:23 pmNavy Vet #20
Glenn Beck (a real live wuss) and his ilke are aiding the terrorists. Al Qaeda loves these guys who spread the fear for them. I personally think Al Qaeda are lousy at killing, but good at creating fear… with the help of morons in the media literally selling the fear to morons in the public.
FACT: Americans have a better chance of being killed by lightning than by terrorists.
September 27th, 2006 at 4:37 am