In a few months, at Carrhae, his army was over-extended, deceived, betrayed, demoralized, exhausted, surrounded and annihilated. The Parthians executed Crassus by pouring molten gold down his throat, “to satisfy his appetite for wealth.”

To me, there are too many parallels between the Roman adventure in Mesopotamia, and that of the United States. My definition of success is simple: “Don’t be like Crassus.”

Comment by dbadass — July 26, 2007 @ 1:01 pm

Then allow me, the sources are The Preznit (and by that I mean Cheney), Tony Blowjob er I mean Snowjob and Faux Noise. Not necessarily in that order.

Hey I totally agree with you but your level of discourse is too advanced and it is apparently interferring with 20wordsorless’s ability to site the sources I have requested.

You’re a bigger man than I. The comparison rings true, but I have no sympathy for those who willingly mentally cripple themselves..this guy chooses not to think deeply, and he comes here spouting his fauz news talking points, he deserves the abuse he gets

Don’t play dumb. You’re well aware of how you conduct yourself.

Yes, I am, your histrionics notwithstanding.

I’d admonish you not to “play dumb”, but what would be the point?

Just as I thought—the concept of integrity and humility are indeed lost on you.

Not the concepts, just your attempts to claim those attributes as yours in a pathetic and transparent attempt to gain the moral high ground. You’re not fooling anybody (except perhaps yourself).

it’s no wonder you expect me be dishonest and decietful.

I expect you to be dishonest and deceitful because that’s been your observed behavior to date.

Less is less moron.

How eloquent. So, if sectarian violence were to decrease at all…even by a number of one less casualty a year, you’re prepared to tout that as “success in Iraq”?

I’m not looking for an “exact number”, but I am looking for something a bit more definitive than “less is less moron”. Sorry.

From the radicals that seek to swoop in after we withdraw—seeking to use Iraq as they see fit.

I wouldn’t worry about that…the radicals already in place there will insure that we’ll be the only ones to be able to “use Iraq as we see fit”.

Right… there’s absolutely no difference between the terrorism and extremism in America than that occurring in Iraq. Brilliant argument there…

I was being a bit flip with that statement, but once again, predictably, you’ve missed the point entirely. I guess it was too much for you to understand. Again, sorry.

I’m honored. Now it’s your turn—how do you define success in Iraq?

Actually, no, it’s not “my turn”, as I never claimed that anything resembling “success” was possible at this point. I did have a definition of success in Iraq, but that was back in 2002, and your beloved Chimperor didn’t bother to listen to those of us who shouted ourselves hoarse about the consequences of such an ill-conceived invasion…not surprising, since the plan wasn’t ever about “success” anyway.

That’s what makes this whole stupid argument so tragic. The administration never intended us to be “successful”. They intended for us to have a permanent military presence in the M.E., and so far, everything’s right on track.

Comment by 20wordsorless — July 26, 2007 @ 12:11 pm

Sorry to be a bother. I really am a patient man. Thing is I have to leave for work soon. Thanking you in advance for your timely response.

So with this facts and the numbers are in…80 percent of the American belief has spoken out. Bush must go. It is now the time for Democrats to rule the chambers of power in government.

This 80% is a great multitude and indeed a majority of them has this sympathy and sense of peace in their hearts and minds… I am one of them. Even tough I am here in the Philippines I am one of them, a peace advocate.

The solution for this war was not as blurred as it seems, it is on the day that the troops and the government decided to went it Iraq. This were the words of Senator Barack Obama that I remembered.

So there is nothing to doubt and surprised for this true! and an “Acceptable Reality”.

They arent “swooping in” after we leave, moron.. they are already running iraq..they were elected “democractically”…why do you think that we helped saddam gas these guys 20 years ago? Because we didnt want the pro-iranian Shia gaining power in Iraq..and now they are…

so.. why DO you think we helped saddam gas these same people 20 years ago, anyway?

From the radicals that seek to swoop in after we withdraw—seeking to use Iraq as they see fit.

Comment by 20wordsorless — July 26, 2007 @ 12:34 pm

What you mean the Saudis?

I’m a patient man

oh yes, obviously a very important guy, we hadnt even heard his name before he was captured.,.

you think hes as important this Al-Queda “leader” (who never actually existed, and who was allegedly killed twice)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/profiles/abu_omar_al-baghdadi.htm
?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq19jul19,0,886772.story?coll=la-home-center

heres another “Al-queda type” guy who was allegedly killed twice..
http://www.revereradio.net/e107/news.php?item.534.6

you ever, ever wonder, if maybe, just maybe these guys are lying to you about who and what they capture, for propganda purposes?

So demanding that you provide a definition of your nebulous term “success in Iraq” is now ‘verbal bullying’?

Don’t play dumb. You’re well aware of how you conduct yourself.

Let’s see…blah blah integrity (that’s a laugh), blah blah humility (spare me), blah blah succumb…

Just as I thought—the concept of integrity and humility are indeed lost on you. it’s no wonder you expect me be dishonest and decietful.

So, just more stability and less sectarian violence, huh? How much more and how much less? You’re being rather vague here…

Less is less moron. How much less crime would you like to see in our major cities vs. how much of that is realistic? How does one give an exact number in these situations?

As for a nation that will be able to defend itself…defend itself from what?

From the radicals that seek to swoop in after we withdraw—seeking to use Iraq as they see fit.

As for its citizens no longer tolerating extremism and terrorism, that’s an awfully tall order, seeing as how we tolerate them here…

Right… there’s absolutely no difference between the terrorism and extremism in America than that occurring in Iraq. Brilliant argument there…

Despite all that, thank you for your definition, vague though it was. I’m cutting and pasting it for future reference.

I’m honored. Now it’s your turn—how do you define success in Iraq?

Your attempt to set up a missile “shield” in Poland and Czech republic ostensibly to “protect” Europe from attack by cave dwellers in Tora Bora shows how determined the US is to attain full spectrum dominance so that it doesn’t have to pay the market price for oil and other resources.

Iraqi anti-occupation fighters are freedom-fighters for the entire world.

He’s probably going to give us some drivel about “the sunnis are turning against al-queda” or some garbage like that…

if he pulls that one out, let me pre-emptively say:
A) the evidence of this is largely anectdotal, and we have seen very little proof that this is anything but propagand…for all we know they could be
taking our guns and laughing at us.. many probably are..

B) FOreign Jihadis like AQI only make up about 5 percent of the insurgents in Iraq.. these foreign guys are hyped as being the cause of everything, but in truth, they are a small part..Even american military have admitted that the biggest threat to stability in iraq is not from foreign jihadis, its from Shiite death squads.. you know, thes ones we “liberated” from saddam..

C) Just because the some Sunnis dont like Al-Queda doesnt mean they have “rejected extremism” or that they suddently want to make peace with the Shia death squads..they are taking our weapons and in return all we get is a promise they will use them on Al-Queda and not us…esentially we are simply giving a little more firepower to one side of a convuluted, complicated civil war

Comment by 20wordsorless — July 26, 2007 @ 12:11 pm

Saudi Arabia accounted for 94 jihadists, or 61 percent of the sample. Of the 94 Saudis, 61 originated in the region of Najd, known as the heart-land of the militant Wahhabis sect;

Syria accounted for 16 (10 per-cent);

Iraq itself accounted for only 13 (8 per-cent);

Kuwait accounted for 11 (7 percent);

The remainder included small numbers from Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Algeria, Morocco (of which one was a resident in Spain), Yemen, Tunisia, the Palestinian territories (only 1), Dubai, and Sudan. The Sudanese was living in Saudi Arabia before he went to die in Iraq.

Here is the link: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/4/4/132643.shtml