Bush Administration Hypes ‘Timeline’ For Iraq, Policy Stays The Course
Bush Administration Hypes ‘Timeline’ For Iraq, Policy Stays The Course
The American public wants a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. In response, the Bush administration has started throwing around terms like “timeline” and “timetable.” Watch some excerpts from today’s press conference with the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Gen. George W. Casey Jr.:
Unfortunately, this rhetoric is not accompanied by any change in strategy. The Iraqis have agreed to a 12-18 month “timeline” to control violence in Iraq. But if they don’t meet the benchmarks they’ve agreed to, there are no consequences. The “timeline” is disconnected from a drawdown of U.S. troops.
Casey noted, “I said a year or so ago that if the conditions on the ground continued the way they were going, that I thought we’d have fairly substantial reductions in coalition forces.” That plan was thrown out in “early July.”
Casey made it clear that if the latest effort to get the Iraqis to assume more responsibility doesn’t work out, he’s ready to reinvent the wheel again. This is the same approach the Bush administration has been pursuing for more than three years. Staying the course provides very little incentive for Iraqis to assume control of their own security problems.
Transcript:
KHALILZAD: Success in Iraq is possible and can be achieved on a realistic timetable. Iraqi leaders must step up to achieve key political and security milestones on which they have agreed.
[Snip]
KHALILZAD: Iraqi leaders have agreed to a timeline for making the hard decision needed to resolve these issues.
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89 Responses to “Bush Administration Hypes ‘Timeline’ For Iraq, Policy Stays The Course”
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October 24th, 2006 at 10:26 amHey freepers, are you sick of having your tax money thrown down this rat hole yet? How about getting duped by “your” preznit & his advisors–does that make you feel all warm & tingly?
October 24th, 2006 at 10:26 amBush has NO timeline to depart Iraq, but notice how at least 18 months slip in > lol. Iraq occupation will continue as long as Bush is president, so he must be impeached to remove the troops from Iraq!
October 24th, 2006 at 10:28 amRepubicans are kidding right…this is a joke…right
The same people who called decorated veteran John Murtha a COWARD for proposing a time line one year and 600 military deaths ago is now calling for a timetable…???
Hypocracy is too kind a term to describe the blatant electoral posturing these DO NOTHING - SAY ANYTHING Republicans have become
October 24th, 2006 at 10:28 amAnd if you don’t meet those benchmarks I SWEAR TO GOD we won’t do anything.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:30 amDoes anyone actually believe that the Repubs will follow through on their campaign promises? Tell the people what they want to hear and then screw em after the election by doing the opposite.
9-11 commission follow-up after the 2004 elections? Did that happen? Nope. How’s that education / enviromental president thing coming?
I’m just amazed that they waited this long to start lying about it… It makes it that much more unbelievable.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:30 amIraqi leaders have agreed to a timeline for making the hard decision needed to resolve these issues
October 24th, 2006 at 10:30 amTranslation:
Iraqi leaders haven’t got a clue how to tell their constiuent militias the bad news that they have to appear to be cooperating with the government when the PM says, play nice!
Maliki is on his way out, the CIA is interviewing army generals to see who they are going to replace Al with.
They need to change the course and start adding more troops in Iraq ASAP.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:33 amI agree with Roger_Roger. More troops. From the beginning.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:37 amEvery thing stay’s the same except the casualty count and word changes…..The present regime run by cheney/ rove/rice/ rummy and the out front dumbass speaker bush will not change untill there term’s are up, they are voted out or impeached……Blessings All
October 24th, 2006 at 10:39 amRoger_AssKiss_Roger
So the Army can count on you heading down today and signing up? The army is hurting!! They’ve raised their recruitment age, lowered their standards (so you can get in now easily). Aas long as you don’t admit male penises turn you on!
How do more troops help? So we have more sick whackos raping and killing innocent women, children? So the Iraqi’s who DO NOT WANT US THERE NOW, become even more pissed that we have EVEN MORE people?
When something doesn’t work, keep doing it and expect different results.
Roger your comments are really stupid, why don’t you go away?
October 24th, 2006 at 10:43 amWhen will Bush propose “peace with honor” and offer to hold peace talks in Paris? Kissenger would still be will to go and do his foot dragging act again so the war can drag on another 10 years.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:44 amWhat if they had an Iraqi Civil War and we all came home?
Where would Cheney and Rummy get their Halliburton Christmas bonus?
Does a timeline still mean Stay the Course?
Just a few points to ponder.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:44 am8 and 9. What would more troops do that 300,000 Iraqi troops haven’t? Yeah, hindsight is a great thing THAP. It doesn’t do sqwat for anyone now but we should have put more troops in at the beginning. Didn’t ahd can’t change that.
What is your end objective then RR? Do you really think Democracy would spring from this? Tell us all what you know about the differences of Shia and Sunni. Let us all know how they would gladly embrace Democracy even though the concept is as foreign to them as military objectives are to you.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:46 amRoger, There are only 2 ready combat brigades available, where do we get the rest of the troops? Are in in favor of a draft?
October 24th, 2006 at 10:48 amBeep You have reached the post of RogerRoger. I am unavailable, making a bunch of money in the good ole U.S. of A. At the beep, send more troops to Afghanistan and Iraq and send troops to attack North Korea and Iran. Beep
***sarcasm off***
October 24th, 2006 at 10:49 amRoger_Roger
Do you have a major investment position in the body bag market? Just wondering.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:54 am#5 the threat is that if they do not meet the timeline we will stay, that is the negative consequence. However if they do meet the timelines our action will be that we will stay. We will stay no matter what because that was always the PNAC plan. It’s also why GWB says we will not leave while he is president.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:56 am#11,
I am retired from the miltary. I served my time, have you?
October 24th, 2006 at 10:56 amI guess this is another example of how incompetant the Democrats are. Please tell CNN to use this in their upcoming “Two Left Feet” depiction of the Democratic party. Oh, I wish i could find something to use against the GOP, but they are just perfect. Damn, this liberal media!
(If you don’t understand sarcasm, you really won’t get this)
October 24th, 2006 at 11:01 amRR, then you more than most understand the enormous logistical implications in putting more troops into Iraq. Do you hold the same opinion for Afghanistan? Are you expressing this opinion of yours to your congress person? Are you actively calling for a draft? Are you demanding that the tax cuts stop so we can pay for this military build up?
I have also served and don’t come close to seeing your side.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:03 amRoger_Roger,
October 24th, 2006 at 11:06 amDo you think troops levels have been the reason for so many problems? Do you subscribe to this Gypsy style strategy of take/release/retake?
When America pulls out will the GOP blame the left?
I’m being serious.
Roger, There are only 2 ready combat brigades available, where do we get the rest of the troops? Are in in favor of a draft?
Comment by goose1 — October 24, 2006 @ 10:48 am
Roger_Roger draft doger. Retierment means nothing in this illegal occupation. You should be getting your re-enlistment papers any day.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:08 amRoger_Roger,
I was a wounded combat veteran of the last great US fiasco (Vietnam) and find the resemblance to this latest cluster-f**k to be eerie!
Only difference is this one has even less adult supervision!
Who’da thunk??
October 24th, 2006 at 11:12 amWhere was the stop loss program when Roger retired?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:13 amKinda like needing the lions when Daryll shows up.
Over the course of SEVERAL years, many Progs have practiced “Selective Hearing”. They have missed the Administration and Pentagon noting “when Iraqi’s stand up - we’ll stand down”. (Pssst….THAT’s “Repub-code” for leaving Iraq when we can.) Naturally, with progressive love, light and fairness guiding many here, they wish to telegraph to our enemies EXACT time-lines. What’s next - sending them troop movements?? I realize “helping the under-dog” is a guiding principle, but when the “under-dog” is our nations enemy, you’re going a BIT too far….
October 24th, 2006 at 11:14 am#23 - Rog may be too old to go to the front. I think he’s destined for strategic planning. He got his Risk board out again yesterday.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:15 amNo Roger, I would refuse to serve in this stupid “illegal occupation”.
And I’m not the one saying send more troops..
Why don’t you join up with Blackwater or one of those companies, then ya can kill ya some Iraqi’s?
Fool.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:17 amPresident Bush is sort of like the Fount of Bad Plans. Mistake to go in, mistake to disband the army, mistake to allow looting, mistake not to Federalize Iraq when the US has some pull with the Shias. The only possible reason for staying is to prevent a blood bath but as things turn out the US presence is inciting a blood bath. I think Bush’s whole plan all along has been to ‘just win’. Bush is sticking to that ‘plan’.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:20 am21,
I actually called for a draft yesterday on this site!! I also called for an end to all social secuirty and medicaid so we can pay for this war and not continue to slide into bankrupty from those 2 entitlement programs. Those 2 programs alone add almost 3 trillion in debt to the federal government. They cost us much more per year then the Iraq war. So, yes I am calling for an end to dumb spending. I’ll even go so far as to ask for a tax increase on top of ending Social Secuirty and Mediaid.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:21 amEnd SS?
What would happen to all of the disabled vets that need SS benefits?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:24 amThere you go again, Flighty far righty. It’s the far right that continually throws out the talking points without substance. You may want to blindly follow this missleader but the rest of the country is waking up. There is no plan only slogans. There was no real plan to deal with Iraq after the fall of Saddam. Nothing. You can shove that helping the underdog crap whence it came from.
Nations enemy? If that’s truly your thought then why haven’t you been sounding the panic gong for a draft and being that ever vigilent conservative I’m sure you don’t want to push those astronomical costs onto future generations so you’ll be demanding the repeal of all tax cuts so we can go fight this glorious battle for__________ (fill in the blank because Captain Can’t Decide keeps changing it).
I know you get a tingle by jumping in here and, by all means don’t stop. But your asinine posts are showing just how blind you are.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:27 amHere’s a question for you, Roger. Do you think the Republicans will do anything differently if they remain in control of congress? Don’t vote for the same guy and expect things to be done differently.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:27 amBushies Iraq plan is about as successful as his “No Child’s Behind Left Undone” program and has the same chance for success. Were they both were run by the Karl and the Foley?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:28 amRoger, now you’re really talking stupid. Sounds like class warfare, in which you’ll lose. Cuz there are more people without, than those with.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:29 amAnd they’ll simply come kill you while you sleep for your food. Much like the Iraqi war, you people never think of the circumstances.
Why do they think , it will be different this time ? samo samo . the Iraqis will assume full responsabily , when we totally leave , not sooner .
October 24th, 2006 at 11:30 am#31 - Roger(times 2), I can understand why you want to send more military to Iraq & Afghanistan: Pres. Bush’s plan has failed miserably, so send more people!
Where, praytell, will we get more soldiers to send? Will you tell the 8,000 amputees to get back in uniform? How about allow gays to serve? Why not reduce the enlistment age from 18 to 16? Why not increase the enlistment age from 40 to 60? Why not make everyone on welfare enlist?
Seriously, Roger, what is your plan to drum up more soldiers to send to war? I’m curious on how you expect thousands of trained solders to appear out of thin (or fat) air overnight?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:30 am#31-Roger,
Did you call to an end to military pensions as well? Heck, why spend money on saving and benefitting lives when you can blow your wad on killing and destroying?
Roger, you are either the most stupid person to roam the earth or the most morally bankrupt. Probably a bit of both.
By the way, why don’t you “un-retire”? If the cause is so noble and demands human sacrifices, are you afraid to take the call?
Peace.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:30 amNeither the vast easy money nor others’ blood moves Bush off-center from his “vision.” It’s just a matter of presentation, of PowerPointing, it all to the idiotic public with the collective attention span of a gnat. Who ever said we were “staying the course?” Who Who Who. What was Kristoff’s number in the commie NYT today? Oh yeah, $6,300 a SECOND PER TAXPAYER IS BEING SPENT in Iraq. Absurd.
Bush needs to address the world in emergency session at the dreaded UN. He needs to tell the harsh truth: We are staying in the region, in Iraq, to insure a stable flow of sweet crude. And we shall manage the both the process and the product FOR THEIR BENEFIT so long as Halliburton and the rest of the corporate “warriors” can lop, say, 15 off the top.
No truth; no deal.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:36 am#30 Rogx2 is right he did. Just think of the brilliance. President Rog ends medicaid and social security tomorrow, freeing up tens of millions of aging Grans and Granddads who are now forced to work to be able to buy medicine and food. So President Rogx2 build munitions factories all over Florida and Arizona to build cluster bombs, MK77 phosphorus bombs and depleted uranium shells (after all, half of the Grans have already had the big C so what’s the problem?)
With the economy firmly on a war footing and yellow elephants all over America apologizing to Canadian immigration officials, President Rog can then annex Austria, occupy the Sudetenland, threaten Poland…..altogether now.. ‘Oh Fatherland Fatherland, show us the sign….’
October 24th, 2006 at 11:40 amRR, you were also shown that SS is funded by employers and not the Gov’t but that didn’t stop you from your digital diahrea.
And Flighty far Righty. Show me the plan. Show me the logistics. I don’t hold the whole timeline scenario as the cure all. I just want to know what the hell is going on there.
It’s been a cluster f*ck since before Garner was in charge and there has been billions pissed away. I don’t give a sh*t if you throw your money away but I hold this govt. accountable for the money and lives they have thrown to the wind.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:45 amLook, I served in the ROTC for a semester in college, but I had too quit because I have bad feet. So, I served. How about you Dumb-o-crats?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:46 amExcellent article in today’s news by Robert H. Reid (AP). Explaining in great detail how the governmental system we imposed on Iraq is a great part of the problem. It’s very structure rewards sectarian pols to the point where this should have been forseen as the logical outcome from the beginning.
Of course, no one could have predicted that installing a proportional system in a sectarian culture would have resulted in Sunnis being disenfranchised and Shiia being freed up to roam the streets at will killing and torturing.
Remember, one of the key tenets of a democratic system is the belief that a minority always has the potential, if the populace is disaffected enough, to be returned to power in the majority.
Roger and friends, explain how that scenario is possible in Iraq?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:48 amBesides, now I’m supporting the troops from home, right here behind my keyboard. I mean, someone has to shoot down all of you Communists!
October 24th, 2006 at 11:48 amRoger_Roger and Mighty Rightie,
Are you 2 really Ann Coultergeist in drag? Wait Wait… or is it the other way around? HMMMMMMM
October 24th, 2006 at 11:48 amThis is all election hyperbole. http://polibuzz.blogspot.com/ 2006/ 10/ iraq-timeline-announced-any-impact-on.html
October 24th, 2006 at 11:49 amThe BA just wants to save the dying GOPers who need change in Iraq in order to win in November. After 11/7, the same-old same-old will be back in Iraq.
40 TerrytheTurtle
Wouldn’t it be more efficient for President RogerRoger to sign up all those former Social Security recipients into the military, so they’d be employed AND he’d have his military to attack the world? What a boon for those seniors - free clothing, food, and a place to live (OK, only for a while, but they’re…you know…old anyway, so it would probably work out well for them).
October 24th, 2006 at 11:50 amWow so W. is cutting and running?
October 24th, 2006 at 11:53 amLook, I served in the ROTC for a semester in college, but I had too quit because I have bad feet. So, I served. How about you Dumb-o-crats?
Comment by Roger_Roger
ROTFLMAO!! RogerRoger has led us to believe he was actually in the military and “served for seven months”, not ROTC where he trained. And here’s some news, RogerRoger, it’s not only your feet that are bad.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:54 amTP Readers–
Did you all notice how SMOOOOTH Tony Snow-job handled this latest W Morphing? He is really good!!!
October 24th, 2006 at 11:57 amStop ridiculing me. I don’t like the name calling. I’m here for some insightful and intelligent debate, and all you moonbat asshats do is call me names.
October 24th, 2006 at 11:58 amWhere’s Dick Cheney hiding out these days? Three weeks ago he said we were doing great in Iraqi. Maybe George Bushe’s daughters should sign up for a tour of duty. Also Dicks daughter. If you really think we should “stay the course”! I realize it’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, but this group in the White House has done what no terrist group could have done without them. Motivate,organize and unit terrists all over the world while our President has his chest pumpted out. If you ran a company like this everyone would have been fired long, long ago.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:00 pmThe idiot convention continues
October 24th, 2006 at 12:01 pmBesides, now I’m supporting the troops from home, right here behind my keyboard. I mean, someone has to shoot down all of you Communists!
Comment by Roger_Roger
You are a terrible marksman. I told you, it was more than your feet that are bad.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:02 pm#48 - Great Scott, you are right! I’ll bet half of them can find their way around Korea already.
BTW I think Rogx2s handle has been hijacked….its not nice - stop it, whoever you are.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:04 pmStop ridiculing me. I don’t like the name calling. I’m here for some insightful and intelligent debate, and all you moonbat asshats do is call me names.
Comment by Roger_Roger
INCOMING!! RETREAT, RETREAT!!!
October 24th, 2006 at 12:05 pmLaura Bush Admits George’s Nocturnal Woes
He keeps waking up and shouting, like someone is pointing a finger and accusing him of something,†said Mrs. Bush.
“What does he shout?†It used to be “stay the course†but now it’s almost always,â€
“I did not have sex with that country!â€
October 24th, 2006 at 12:05 pmRoger, you poor jerk, is someone hijacking your name, or are those posts actually yours???
October 24th, 2006 at 12:06 pmRoger, we promise to stop making fun of you once you are gone..
PUSSBOY
October 24th, 2006 at 12:07 pmPLC, personally I think he asks for what he gets.
If TP is too lame to have user registration, and Roger wants to come hang out with the enemy he gets what he gets.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:10 pmYou may think I’m a racist, homophobic jerk, but I’m YOUR racist, homophobic jerk!
October 24th, 2006 at 12:10 pmCaption Contest:
Negroponte: “Mr Vice President, you’ll have to find another secure, undisclosed location, we need to use this for our press conference”
October 24th, 2006 at 12:10 pm#51 - Roger, didn’t mean to ridicule, and if I did I apologize.
Now, how are you plannin on producing more trained troops to send to war? Serious question.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:11 pmAmazing how Dubya can look us in the eye and give us the Dry Drunk truth about NEVER saying he wanted to “stay the course”.
Guess if he says it, it must be so…. as he would NEVER tell a lie, right?
Only ones with a lower IQ then his are those who still believe anything that Repug Terrorist Group Grope of his in DC says.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:11 pmSorry that’s:
Khalizad: “Mr Vice President, you’ll have to find another secure, undisclosed location, we need to use this for our press conferenceâ€
October 24th, 2006 at 12:12 pmTT- your first one was more accurate. Negroponte is hiding behind the Iraqi flag behind the ambassador…
October 24th, 2006 at 12:16 pmLook, I served in the ROTC for a semester in college, but I had too quit because I have bad feet. So, I served. How about you Dumb-o-crats?
Comment by Roger_Roger
ROTFLMAO!! RogerRoger has led us to believe he was actually in the military and “served for seven monthsâ€, not ROTC where he trained. And here’s some news, RogerRoger, it’s not only your feet that are bad.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) — October 24, 2006 @ 11:54 am
Maybe he has a colloidal cyst too…
I have not served in the military. I have discussed this with friends in the military. They understand that I have chosen to defend my rights by using them. They are defending the rights of others by giving them up. You should all realize that enlisting means you become ‘property’ of the US govt and as such do not have the same rights as civvies…
More troops is not the answer. More troops with planning and competent leadership maybe. Just pouring gas on the fire is not a good idea.
Do not mistake my tolerance, patience, and compassion for weakness. You underestimate my willingness to fight for my beliefs at your peril. I own a shotgun and will exercise my 2nd amendment rights as needed.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:22 pmand all you moonbat asshats do is call me names.
comment by Roger_Roger
Here’s two more names for you.
Kettle.
Pot.
Try practicing what you preach.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:24 pmsomeone has to shoot down all of you Communists!
Comment by Roger_Roger
…and even more namecalling.
Wow. RR, you do realize that your own arguments work against you, right?
I don’t even NEED to call you a name. You’ve labelled yourself.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:26 pmCaption Contest:
Khalizad: “Hey isn’t that Mark Foley?”
Casey: “That’s ‘need-to-know’ information only sir, I can neither confirm nor deny that”
October 24th, 2006 at 12:39 pm#19
then that would make you ready and able. we can save a little money for not having to train you. retired folks make it even better. been there done that so have at it again. sounds fair doesn’t it.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:52 pmcollege repugs on my campus are hosting a “truth about Iraq” meeting tonight with a republican soldier. the flyer is the saddest part. an american soldier is sitting with an iraqi kid helping him read on a backdrop of a huge american flag. Sickening! Like the republicans are the only people on the whole earth that really know whats going on in Iraq. Not those soldiers that think the mission is bunk or that pesky liberal media. Sorry, a couple of repainted schools on the other side of the world is not worth the life of nearly 3000 american soldiers. How can they still cling to that sinking ship?
October 24th, 2006 at 12:57 pmhey, just my $0.02 here, but I think the last few Roger_Roger posts were namejacked.
October 24th, 2006 at 12:59 pm#72 call your local recruiting office and invite them to the meeting.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:28 pmThat ain’t RogerRoger.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:45 pmIf those were not RogerRoger posts, then my apologies to the real RogerRoger for that last several of mine. And my disgust to the hijacker.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:48 pmChanging a slogan does not change the reality of the debacle in Iraq. Bush is still staying the corpse, no matter what his administration may choose to call it.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:57 pmI seem to be hearing them say lately that they are “betraying the Corps”
October 24th, 2006 at 2:28 pmthe americans troops are happy to die for this lying prick.
October 24th, 2006 at 2:33 pmTake it easy on Roger. His ideas have great potential. Just think how fast the war would end as soon as he presented them.
October 24th, 2006 at 2:37 pmThings must be getting so bad even they can see it. In the past they always said ’six months’ to do whatever their latest scheme was, now it’s eighteen months. How many more people (Iraqui and American) will die in the next year and a half?
October 24th, 2006 at 3:55 pmTo all those who comment here on thinkprogress, please consider discontinuing the banter back and forth: I came here looking for some commentary and what I found was just a lot of interplay; please exercise some self policing and post only once. Thank you.
October 24th, 2006 at 5:32 pmThings must be getting so bad even they can see it.
Comment by powkat #82
powkat,
That press conference was nothing more than the criminal Bushite junta exercising its modus operandi…
…taking a Democrat(ic) idea…
…and making it seem like a REPULSIVESCUM one…
…”creating reality”…
October 24th, 2006 at 6:07 pmAs a matter of fact Bush has never been ’stay the course’. Yes, Bush has said ’stay the course’ numerous times but the list of course adjustments Bush has made is endless, all inept. Why inept? Bush is fighting the Forces of Evil rather than adressing a nation of Sunni, Kurds and Shia with little experience of democracy great antagonism toward each other, a country with history. Unfortunately for Bush and the US one has to make contact with reality before one is able to do Good.
October 24th, 2006 at 7:57 pm[…] More […]
October 25th, 2006 at 10:04 amSorry, we f—ked up your country so badly. But, you’re going go have to get your s**t together soon.
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Interesting - because that is the same thing I found out last Thursday.
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I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read.
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Please keep these excellent posts coming.
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