ThinkFast: August 27, 2007
ThinkFast: August 27, 2007
“Child fighters, once a rare presence on Iraq’s battlefields, are playing a significant and growing role in kidnappings, killings and roadside bombings in the country, U.S. military officials say. Boys, some as young as 11, now outnumber foreign fighters at U.S. detention camps in Iraq.”
In his first major foreign policy address, French President Nicholas Sarkozy called for a timetable to withdraw foreign troops from Iraq. “The Iraq tragedy cannot leave us indifferent. France was, thanks to Jacques Chirac, and remains hostile to this war,” said Sarkozy.
After first claiming he did not want Congress to set a timetable, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) suggested on Sunday that he may support Democratic legislation ordering a withdrawal. “I’m going to have to evaluate it,” Warner said. “I’m going to have to evaluate it,” Warner said. “I don’t say that as a threat, but I say that is an option we all have to consider.”
“A sniper killed a Shiite pilgrim on a Baghdad bridge Monday while another was killed and six injured in other attacks as tens of thousands of faithful made their way to the southern city of Karbala for a major religious commemoration.”
While the number of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans “working for the government all equal or exceed the corresponding percentages in the civilian workforce,” Latinos continue to be underrepresented. Latinos make up just 7.6 percent of the federal workforce, compared with 12.8 percent of the civilian labor force.
In order to make up for recruiting slumps in the past few months, the Army is offering new recruits a $20,000 “quick ship” bonus to leave for basic combat training by the end of September. More than “90 percent of the Army’s new recruits since late July” have accepted the offer.
A new U.N. report finds that in 2007, Afghanistan “produced record levels of opium” for the second straight year.” Gains were “led by a staggering 45 percent increase in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province.”
Yesterday, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin said that President Bush “has failed to live up to the promises he made to rebuild the city” and “plans to bring that up with the president when Bush arrives in the city on Wednesday.”
And finally: The “Eternal General” resigns. Despite widespread public and congressional dissatisfaction with Alberto Gonzales in the past few months, President Bush has refused to let go of his friend from Texas. On May 5, Bush said, “I’m honored to be here with the eternal general of the United States, mi amigo Alberto Gonzales.” According to Fox News, Bush has now “grudgingly” accepted his amigo’s resignation.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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"Latinos make up just 7.6 percent of the federal workforce, compared with 12.8 percent of the civilian labor force."
With the example set by out-going AG Gonzales, I hope that latinos that enter the federal workforce do NOT make the same egregious errors in supporting extremist neo-con policies over the US Constitution and the freedoms on which America has been founded.
Eventually, Pres. Bush will be relegated to the ash-bin of history as one of (if not THE) worst Presidents to have been foisted on America by the SCOTUS.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:11 amWhile the number of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans “working for the government all equal or exceed the corresponding percentages in the civilian workforce,†Latinos continue to be underrepresented. Latinos make up just 7.6 percent of the federal workforce, compared with 12.8 percent of the civilian labor force.
So do they want to take away the extra jobs from the African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and European Americans and give them to Latinos to balance it all out?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:15 am"Warner said. “I don’t say that as a threat, but I say that is an option we all have to consider.â€
Warner must be getting worried about his re-election chances. Anyone want to bet that when the pedal hits the metal, he will vote with Bush anyway? He doesn't strike me as someone with a lot of backbone.
I'm hoping that the Blue Dog Democrats got enough of a thumping when they went home this month to do the right thing when they get back to Washington.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:19 am"Child fighters...are playing a significant and growing role in kidnappings, killings and roadside bombings in the country, U.S. military officials say."
How is this playing with the "family values" party?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:20 am"So do they want to take away the extra jobs from the African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and European Americans and give them to Latinos to balance it all out?
Comment by squegeeboo"
How about they take them away from the white workforce which, if they had bothered to list the numbers, is a very large percentage of the government work force.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:20 am20k Quick Ship bonus!!!!! I doubt that is so we can staff undermanned nuclear submarines. NO, it is for the recruitment of cannon fodder for this STUPID A** war. Let Bush and friends go fight. I LOVE AMERICA and I am a VETRAN. I support the troops not the current FAILED political policy of the BUSH administration. GET US OUT OF IRAQ!
BTW, Where is OSAMA, same place as Bushes brain, in hiding...
August 27th, 2007 at 9:21 am"Child fighters, once a rare presence on Iraq's battlefields...."
Hell is for children.
Heckovajob.Georgey. What a way to bring up the next generation with them thar good ole family values and hating America.
Will someone tell me how a terrorist attack benefits Republicans?
THEY ARE CAUSING THE HATRED.
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August 27th, 2007 at 9:21 amA new U.N. report finds that in 2007, Afghanistan “produced record levels of opium†for the second straight year.†Gains were “led by a staggering 45 percent increase in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province.â€
Wasn't the one good thing the "old" Taliban did was getting rid of all the opium? Now they've embraced it? Or have they embraced it only as long as it funds their re-insurgency? And who's buying it all--are we going to have another bunch of herion-addicted troops coming home after this war too?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:22 ambilbogaggins
How about they take them away from the white workforce which, if they had bothered to list the numbers, is a very large percentage of the government work force.
Well they can't be that much larger of a % than they are for the private sector. If every group besides Latinos is either equally or over-represented, and Latinos are only under-represented by 5%ish, that doesn't leave that many jobs to steal from other racial demographics.
Besides, I covered the 'white workforce' in my original post "African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and European Americans"
August 27th, 2007 at 9:24 am"In order to make up for recruiting slumps in the past few months, the Army is offering new recruits a $20,000 “quick ship†bonus to leave for basic combat training by the end of September."
Gotta get them new soldiers signed up so that we can maintain the escalation. The Bush administration needs more cannon fodder, hurry on down to your local recruiter to collect your $20,000 reward.
Is this $20,000 on top of the current $30,000 or so that they are offering new recruits? I wonder how they are doing on their recruiting these days now that the potential new recruits know that the government isn't going to follow through on those educational and medical benefits they have been promising the troops.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:24 am3732 4 troops killed today
August 27th, 2007 at 9:26 am"While the number of African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans “working for the government all equal or exceed the corresponding percentages in the civilian workforce,†Latinos continue to be underrepresented. Latinos make up just 7.6 percent of the federal workforce, compared with 12.8 percent of the civilian labor force."
"And that percentage within the federal workforce has dropped again, now that Alberto Gonzales, a member of the Latino community, has resigned as Attorney General. Continuing pressure from political enemies, including liberals and "Democratic" congressman, forced the move by Gonzales Friday.
Democrats have long suppressed Latinos, and other minorities, from government jobs, championing "Jim Crow" style laws and racial segregation in the United States during the last two centuries.
Gonzales holds the honor of being the first Latino to hold a high office within the cabinet of the President of the United States, and has been a very visible member of the Latino community.
George W. Bush, a firm proponent of racial equality, has nominated many racial minorities to high posts within his presidency, only to be critisized for his choices by political enemies, including liberals, "progressives", and members of the Democrat party."
August 27th, 2007 at 9:27 am"Yesterday, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin said that President Bush “has failed to live up to the promises he made to rebuild the city†and “plans to bring that up with the president when Bush arrives in the city on Wednesday.â€
And all the people who will be there to protest the fact that Bush has failed to keep his promise to New Orleans residents, will be confined to the Superdome for their protest demonstration, according to the White House handbook. Can't have Bush seeing the faces of the people that he is screwing, can we?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:27 amGood for the French calling for a withdrawal
lets put french fries back on the menu
August 27th, 2007 at 9:28 am3732 > 4 troops killed today
August 27th, 2007 at 9:28 amTobey Tall
Good for the French calling for a withdrawal
To be fair, when was the last time the French didn't call for withdrawal in one form or another?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:29 amCAPTION
Well, atleast the 2nd. amendment is alive and well in Iraq.

August 27th, 2007 at 9:33 am#8 ~ Afghanistan: US' largest drug factory since 2002.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:34 amhttp://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/26/1035504923676.html
"Latinos make up just 7.6 percent of the federal workforce..."
It is all due of King Geotge the Dumb's policy to privatize the civil service along with his immigration program.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:34 amsquegeeboo - I squeezed that in , because It shows that the Conservative French President is not like a republican party alternative ( as they were trying to say)
August 27th, 2007 at 9:35 amCountdown to Bush replacing Gonzales with a recess appointment 10...9...8...7...6...5.
Bush promised the Democrats that if Gonzales resigned, he would not make a recess appointment. And they appear to have bought his lie. Fool me once.....
August 27th, 2007 at 9:35 am20K for a quick ship, and a lifetime of nervous twitches, nightmares and PTSD.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:35 amSounds like a great deal.
#3 bilbogaggins
August 27th, 2007 at 9:36 amWarner is 80 years old. If he runs again, he will be 86 at the end.
I think he blows a lot of smoke these days, perhaps trying to shake up Bush&Co, but in the end, he will vote with/for Bush&Co.
I believe he is sincere in his support of the military, but I also think he is a loyal repugnican and he will leave his post with his partisanship in tact.
George W. Bush, a firm proponent of racial equality, has nominated many racial minorities to high posts within his presidency, only to be critisized for his choices by political enemies, including liberals, “progressivesâ€, and members of the Democrat party.â€
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 27, 2007 @ 9:27 am
There is a BIG difference in nominating incompetnet mpeople, no matter what their race is. Dubya's first priority is: "Will they cover my ass and not let me get impeached or will they make sure my butt-hole buddies get all their money". That is actually discrimination against competent, honest nominations and gives any minority he chooses a black eye.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:37 amA new U.N. report finds that in 2007, Afghanistan “produced record levels of opium†for the second straight year.â€
You're doing one heck of a job there, Bushie.
Got Osama yet?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:39 amMisleading headline
A new U.N. report finds that in 2007, Afghanistan “produced record levels of opium†for the second straight year.†Gains were “led by a staggering 45 percent increase in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province.â€
Taliban gone, opium returns
Taliban banned production.
Opium production under the Taliban fell to only 185 tonnes during 2001.
The Northern Alliance had their name changed from mudjahedeen - so as to seem more acceptable for the invasion
Mudjahedeen are the Opium culprits , sponsored by the USA
August 27th, 2007 at 9:39 am“Yesterday, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin said that President Bush “has failed to live up to the promises he made to rebuild the city†and “plans to bring that up with the president when Bush arrives in the city on Wednesday.â€
"Yet Mayor Nagin, who failed the city of New Orleans so miseraby during the Hurricane Katrina debable, has steadfastly refused to acknowledge his own extreme incompetence during Katrina and it's aftermath.
Yet Nagin has managed to fool a few people. Managing to get himself re-elected by the quite smaller electorate of whom New Orleans is currently populated.
It would appear living in a city which remains below sea-level, and expecting human beings to be able to thwart nature's forces, accounts for the anomoly.
Others in the United States, when asked the question why people would re-elect a mayor who proved himself so incompetent during the hurricane disaster, while at the same time choose to still live in a city which is below sea level, answer: "Those folks in New Orleans must be gluttons for punishment."
August 27th, 2007 at 9:39 amIf we give new recruits more and more money for signing up, at what point do they become mercenaries?
By seducing with money and lowering standards, we are attempting to staff our excellent armed forces with people who can't get a job anywhere else. This tends to perpetuate the myth that soldiering is a job that "anyone can do" -- which anyone who has ever served can tell you isn't true. By treating the troops as cannon fodder (fill the slots with warm bodies -- we don't care who), and by making it the last resort for the poor and uneducated, we cheapen the honor of the military as a worthwhile career. It would be a grave injustice for us to look upon military service as a mark of a "loser" who couldn't do anything else.
There was once a time when honorable military service looked good on a resume. I would hate to see that downgraded to such a point that people will hide their military service from future employers to avoid looking like a loser -- when they are anything but.
Stop exploiting the poor. If the war we're fighting isn't a cause righteous enough that people line up to sign up, then perhaps we need to re-examine what we're fighting for.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:42 am"..are we going to have another bunch of herion-addicted troops coming home after this war too?
Comment by Menehune — August 27, 2007 @ 9:22 am"
Yet another slander of the military by you fine "progressives".
Shall I send this to the troops so they may know whom they are fighting for? It ought to boost morale, eh? Or at least get even more of them to vote Republican.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:46 amHow about they take them away from the white workforce which, if they had bothered to list the numbers, is a very large percentage of the government work force.
Comment by bilbogaggins — August 27, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Yes, the "white work force" is a very large % of the government work force. It is also a very large % of the US population.
I would be interested in seeing the numbers of applications for each group and the qualifications of the jobs applied for. Then see if there is a disproportionate number of Latinos applications v/ the number actually hired.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:48 am“The Iraq tragedy cannot leave us indifferent. France was, thanks to Jacques Chirac, and remains hostile to this war,†said French President Nicholas Sarkozy. He just sucker punched Bush. ROFLMAO...
August 27th, 2007 at 9:51 ammmm...another day and no trace of Osama.
Guess thats ok.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:52 amhacker bob
I would be interested in seeing the numbers of applications for each group and the qualifications of the jobs applied for. Then see if there is a disproportionate number of Latinos applications v/ the number actually hired.
Bah, that sounds somewhat rational and well though out, (although I'd add qualified to that bit about applications) why ruin the fun?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:53 amShall I send this to the troops so they may know whom they are fighting for? It ought to boost morale, eh? Or at least get even more of them to vote Republican.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
PLease do. While you are writing please mention how you feel that they should be kept there for "as long as it takes" to get the "job" done and to c"complete the mission". Tell tham that you appreciate how they handle driving out everyday waiting for an IED to go off any minute and return to base without changing anything in the country. Then having to do it all over again the next day. Thank them for protecting our freedom over there so they don't have to do it over here while you are sipping lemonade with the AC on typing away. I am sure they would appreciate that.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:53 am"Others in the United States, when asked the question why people would re-elect a mayor who proved himself so incompetent during the hurricane disaster, while at the same time choose to still live in a city which is below sea level, answer: “Those folks in New Orleans must be gluttons for punishment.â€
Comment by O. Bigfoot "
What "others"? Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Faux Noise? Another "some people said" straw man argument.
Yet Mayor Nagin, who failed the city of New Orleans so miseraby during the Hurricane Katrina
I love the way you started this paragraph with a quotation mark (even though you forgot the closing quotation mark) was an attempt to make it appear that this was a quote of someone other than yourself. Since Mayor Nagin was re-elected, obviously a majority of the people still living in New Orleans don't think he failed them miserably (correct spelling).
The fact that Mayor Nagin was re-elected, considering the fact that most of the poor people were no longer living in New Orleans, says a lot about what a good job he did for the city. There were a lot of middle-class and rich people (who mostly did not lose their homes) who voted for Nagin again.
Bigfootinmouth - your strawman arguments and your "some people said" arguments do nothing but make you look like the fool that you are.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:53 am'According to Fox News, Bush has now “grudgingly†accepted his amigo’s resignation.'
So, because Gonzales is of Hispanic descent, he is to be referred to as "amigo?"
Borderline racist there, TP.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:53 amBuchanan is arguing that child insurgents are proof we're winning.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:55 amComment by Exley — August 27, 2007 @ 9:53 am
It's only racist if a Republican says it.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:55 amWasn’t the one good thing the “old†Taliban did was getting rid of all the opium? Now they’ve embraced it? Or have they embraced it only as long as it funds their re-insurgency? And who’s buying it all–are we going to have another bunch of herion-addicted troops coming home after this war too?
Comment by Menehune — August 27, 2007 @ 9:22 am
They embraced it before 2001 as well. They banned production of it in Afghanistan because they were trying to drive up the global price by lowering supply.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:56 amSo, because Gonzales is of Hispanic descent, he is to be referred to as “amigo?â€
Borderline racist there, TP.
Comment by Exley — August 27, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Hispanic isn't a race.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:57 amBorderline racist there, TP.
Comment by Exley
Bush said, “I’m honored to be here with the eternal general of the United States, mi amigo Alberto Gonzales.â€
Are you calling our President racist? How un-American of you. Looks like disExleyia broke lockstep.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:57 amThey embraced it before 2001 as well. They banned production of it in Afghanistan because they were trying to drive up the global price by lowering supply.
Comment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 9:56 am
and you have proof of this, right?
August 27th, 2007 at 9:59 amComment by Exley — August 27, 2007 @ 9:53 am
It’s only racist if a Republican says it.
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 9:55 am
....and that would have been Dubya, who referred to Gonzalez as "mi amigo"
August 27th, 2007 at 9:59 amso, just to satisfy my curiousity, who exactly is "borderline racist"?
Hispanic is the language...not the race.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:01 amHispanic isn’t a race.
Comment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 9:57 am
Then how come on applications when they ask for a racial category, they list "Hispanic/Latino"?
August 27th, 2007 at 10:01 amOops...My mistake. I didn't see that Bush used the "mi amigo" line and that TP was just mocking Bush's phraseology.
My apologies to ThinkProgress.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:01 amoh, sorry. it was already said.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:01 amComment by bilbogaggins — August 27, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Notice how fast Dubya responded to the bridge disaster in Minneapolis but took 3 days to do ANYTHING in NOLA (other than go to San Diego to play air guitar with a country singer), when there was ample warning BEFORE the hurricane hit. Now that would be a good case for racist behavior on the part of the Repug BushCo Klowns.
All you need to know is to see that picture of him looking out the wiondow of AF1 as if he was sightseeing, no sense of regret, no concern, just "Look at all that water" as he winged back to DC after a "hard week cuttin't brush in Crawford".
Even Bigfoot would have a hard time arguing that action as not being racist, or at least economically based.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:02 amand you have proof of this, right?
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 9:59 am
http://opioids.com/afghanistan/index.html
August 27th, 2007 at 10:02 amGeorge W. Bush, a firm proponent of racial equality, has nominated many racial minorities to high posts within his presidency, only to be critisized for his choices by political enemies, including liberals, “progressivesâ€, and members of the Democrat party.â€
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 27, 2007 @ 9:27 amShall I send this to the troops so they may know whom they are fighting for? It ought to boost morale, eh? Or at least get even more of them to vote Republican.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 27, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Why don't you take it to them personally, coward? In the meantime, look at the way Bush has treated the incompetent boobs he's hired, from Rod The Clod Education Clown to Condi-liar the shoe-shopper, and Abu Gonzales, promoter of torture and spying on citizens. He has set back the civil rights of minorities in this country by 100 years by finding the bottom-of-the-barrel each and every time out, and has put dual Israeli-American citizens in sensitive, top-secret government roles. Why do you continue to support the friends of Al Qaeda? Oh, wait a minute, i know why; you hate Americans and the Constitution.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:03 amThen how come on applications when they ask for a racial category, they list “Hispanic/Latino�
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:01 am
You're welcome to ask the people who make the applications. However, Hispanic is not a race. It's a linguistic/cultural conglomerate including people of all races.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:03 am"so, just to satisfy my curiousity, who exactly is “borderline racist�
Comment by DRxJ — August 27, 2007 @ 9:59 am"
So, speaking to someone is a direct conversation using one of their own languages is "borderline racist"?
Now you tell me this after I wasted all that time in Arabic classes....
August 27th, 2007 at 10:03 amExley, you do realize that when " " are used it's quoting someone. To report what the president said in and of it self is not racist. It does show the disregard our president has for the english language but TP is saying he's racist.
If you see racism in those words you should look deeper at the president.
It always enjoyable to read a post like yours that asks a question and then assume what the answer is so you can be offended.
I suspect you don't want answers.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:04 amCuz they are wrong, Bob.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:04 amAmerican Indian or Native Americans is the correct ethnic classification.
Oops…My mistake. I didn’t see that Bush used the “mi amigo†line and that TP was just mocking Bush’s phraseology.
Comment by Exley
But now that the President did it, it's ok right?
August 27th, 2007 at 10:06 am#52 HiB,
See posting #45. I admitted I misread the passage and was wrong and apologized to TP.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:07 amSo, speaking to someone is a direct conversation using one of their own languages is “borderline racist�
Comment by hacker bob
Maybe Im confused but you implied that TP did a racist comment just after Exley´s mistake.
Now you are defending Pres Bush remarks after you were against them?
August 27th, 2007 at 10:07 amhttp://opioids.com/afghanistan/index.html
Comment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Frm your link:
"Western diplomats in Pakistan have suggested the Taliban is simply trying to drive up the price of opium they have stockpiled."
So, if I suggest that you have monkies flying out of your butt, does that make it true. This is speculation, not proof.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:09 amSo, speaking to someone is a direct conversation using one of their own languages is “borderline racist�
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:03 am
Summary:
Exley calls TP borderline racist for stating "mi amigo", which was actually a Bush quote.
You responded by posting sarcastically that it's racist only if a republican says it.
I point out that Bush said it, and was interested in learning what was really "borderline".
Exley apologizes for not reading the whole text.
End of story, I thought.
Are you still on Oxycontin???? Heh!
and I do know a couple of Arabic phrases, but they would be considered "sexist", not racist!
August 27th, 2007 at 10:09 amAmerican Indian or Native Americans is the correct ethnic classification.
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Not all Hispanics are Native American. Among my Hispanic friends are Cubans of Spanish descent, Dominicans of West African descent, Venezuelans of Korean descent, and Bolivians of Syrian descent.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:09 am,b>IRAQ OIL LAW REFUSES TO BE BORN
As deadline after deadline and benchmark after benchmark passes and with all the pressure imposed by the IMF, the US Administration, the US oil lobby and International Oil Companies (IOCs) on the Iraqi government, the oil law, against all the odds, refuses to be born
http://www.priceofoil.org/
August 27th, 2007 at 10:10 amI admitted I misread the passage and was wrong and apologized to TP.
Comment by Exley
Still the question remains unanswered.
Pres Bush made a racist remark or didnt, according to you?
My opinion is that he did not. Using a word from another language, does not classify as racism.
What do you think?
August 27th, 2007 at 10:10 amThis is speculation, not proof.
Comment by hacker bob
Maybe it should say WMDs so you can believe it.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:12 amThe eternal general gets his sixth star, his retirement star.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:14 amNo doubt the medal of FreeDumb is soon to be rewarded.
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:07 am
No, I am demonstrating how quick people are to scream "racist" whether they are Republican or Democrat. There is nothing in Bush's statement OR in the TPs post that was racist in the least.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:14 amAre you still on Oxycontin???? Heh!
Comment by DRxJ — August 27, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Oxicodone:-)
August 27th, 2007 at 10:16 amYet another slander of the military by you fine “progressivesâ€.
Shall I send this to the troops so they may know whom they are fighting for? It ought to boost morale, eh? Or at least get even more of them to vote Republican.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 27, 2007 @ 9:46 am
Why is it I only hear the word "slander" tossed around by you wingnuts? Was there some memo circulated amongst you recently directing you to use that word as much as possible whenever you had no meaningful rebuttal?
Menehune wasn't slandering the troops, or even criticizing the troops. Furthermore, the troops who might be reading this are smart enough to realize that.
Menehune's post was a criticism of American tolerance for Afghanistan's cash crop and the potential damage it can do. And I agree. With heroin that abundant and available, and with customers needed, I would imagine that some of our soldiers will fall victim to it. And that's a shame.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:16 amCertainly is a hot button, isn't it Bobbo?
August 27th, 2007 at 10:16 amOops…My mistake. I didn’t see that Bush used the “mi amigo†line and that TP was just mocking Bush’s phraseology.
Comment by Exley
TP was mocking Bush's phrase "Eternal General".
Sorry, I do not see anything racist at all about that.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:16 amMaybe it should say WMDs so you can believe it.
Comment by Juan C
I think that smackdown left a mark on ole' hacker.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:17 amThere is nothing in Bush’s statement OR in the TPs post that was racist in the least.
Comment by hacker bob
You might wanna talk with Exley about that. He was the only one implying, and you later, that the word amigo was a racist remark.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:18 amMaybe it should say WMDs so you can believe it.
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Actually, at the time were were told repeatedly buy politicians of both parties that Intelligence from several nations had proof, not speculation.
I see you made it through the hurricane ok.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:18 amMy opinion is that he did not. Using a word from another language, does not classify as racism.
What do you think?
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:10 am
أظن أن أنت سوي لكن هذا رايي Ùقط. Øتى - هاكر بوب اØمق. هذا لم راي بسببها معلومة
August 27th, 2007 at 10:18 amMenehune’s post was a criticism of American tolerance for Afghanistan’s cash crop and the potential damage it can do. And I agree. With heroin that abundant and available, and with customers needed, I would imagine that some of our soldiers will fall victim to it. And that’s a shame.
Comment by missmolly — August 27, 2007 @ 10:16 am
Just like in Vietnam, when our Air America pilots were flying Heroin out of SE Asia to bribe certain generals into fighting on our side. That was no urban legend, I saw it happening.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:19 amThere is nothing in Bush’s statement OR in the TPs post that was racist in the least.
Comment by hacker bob
Then why did you defend Exley's remark that TP was making a racist statement? I think you are confusing even yourself.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:19 amLOOKS LIKE NO OIL FOR YOU GUYS
It is international law which states that the occupying forces have no right to impose laws which reflect their interests only, and do not reflect the interests of the occupied people and that such laws are null and void if any future elected Iraqi parliament declares them to be so
August 27th, 2007 at 10:21 amI think that smackdown left a mark on ole’ hacker.
Comment by dlet
He is a good, tough guy, he will be fine. :)
August 27th, 2007 at 10:21 am#61, Juan C,
Bush and Gonzales are colleagues and friends. I don't know how they speak to eachother or refer to eachother. Both speak Spanish....Maybe they refer to eachother as "amigo."
There is a difference between two friends referring to eachother as "amigo" or "paisan" as terms of affection and a third-party using an ethnic term as a means of belittling the other person.
It's all about intent.
But, as I said, I see that TP did not pick the term "amigo" out of thin air to belittle Gonzalez. They were quoting Bush. Ergo, my apology.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:23 amI see you made it through the hurricane ok.
Comment by hacker bob
Zoo told me about your worries. Thanks, pal.
I just wrapped myself tightly to a palm and waited. Heh.
I wasnt even close. We are 400 km from the Gulf. Just a few rains.
Toasterhead: I guess you mispelled the last one. Heh. (I dont have a clue of what you wrote)
August 27th, 2007 at 10:25 am"I love the way you started this paragraph with a quotation mark (even though you forgot the closing quotation mark) was an attempt to make it appear that this was a quote of someone other than yourself. Since Mayor Nagin was re-elected, obviously a majority of the people still living in New Orleans don’t think he failed them miserably (correct spelling).
The fact that Mayor Nagin was re-elected, considering the fact that most of the poor people were no longer living in New Orleans, says a lot about what a good job he did for the city. There were a lot of middle-class and rich people (who mostly did not lose their homes) who voted for Nagin again.
Bigfootinmouth - your strawman arguments and your “some people said†arguments do nothing but make you look like the fool that you are.
Comment by bilbogaggins — August 27, 2007 @ 9:53 am"
I didn't forget any quotations. The first paragraph was from the TP article, and was enquoted. The next four parapraphs were written by me, and properly quotated.
I don't know if you've ever been to New Orleans. I have lived there. The political boundaries are really quite small. Bordered on one side by the Mississippi River and Lake Borgne, on the other, Lake Ponchartrain. To the west is Jefferson Parish. Much of Orleans Parish is relatively unpopulated bayou.
Over the last few decades, most of what you call the "middle-class" and "rich people", have moved to Jefferson Parish, or across the river to the cities of Gretna, Harvey, Marrero, etc. and are unable to vote in Orleans Parish elections. Yet Marrero, Harvey and Gretna suffered from the hurricane, and it's aftermath, as well.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:26 amComment by Exley
Took you a while but you finally came up with an excuse. You are slowing down a little? Are you ok?
August 27th, 2007 at 10:26 amتواستيرهياد يعتقد لي معتوه؟ اذا لم يأت من المءخره ، سأكون المتضرر.
Then why did you defend Exley’s remark that TP was making a racist statement? I think you are confusing even yourself.
Comment by dlet — August 27, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Actually, I was playing both side. I felt "trollish" for a moment. It passed.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:28 amToasterhead: I guess you mispelled the last one. Heh. (I dont have a clue of what you wrote)
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:25 am
It's a test to see if hacker bob's time spent in Arabic classes was a waste or not. :D
(And mine, for that matter. I'm sure I screwed up the grammar a few times...)
August 27th, 2007 at 10:28 amActually, at the time were were told repeatedly buy politicians of both parties that Intelligence from several nations had proof, not speculation.
Comment by hacker bob
Here is a hint for future "concerns" that you may have about a country´s WMDS:
If the US attacks or invades, no. They dont have WMDs.
If the US threats but there is no direct attack, they have WMDs.
It is really simple, and it is about common sense.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:28 amActually, I was playing both side. I felt “trollish†for a moment. It passed.
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Yeah, I had a feeling you were just playin' devil's advocate, just to see what kinda rise you would get from the bloggers.
Sort of like a daryll post!
BTW Oxycodone is generic for Oxycontin, only Oxycontin has a longer delivery system!
August 27th, 2007 at 10:30 am"Toasterhead: I guess you mispelled the last one. Heh. (I dont have a clue of what you wrote)
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:25 am"
He wrote that he thinks me foolish. I believe tha the also stated that this is this only Arabic phrase he knows, but I could have mis-translated. I am rusty.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:30 am#80 Dlet,
Haven't had my first cup of coffee yet....
August 27th, 2007 at 10:30 amIt’s a test to see if hacker bob’s time spent in Arabic classes was a waste or not. :D
(And mine, for that matter. I’m sure I screwed up the grammar a few times…)
Comment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 10:28 am
According to the wingnuts, a Democrat in the White House in 2009 will mean the country falls to a Caliphate in 2010, so the Arabic can't be a waste. You'll be able to communicate with our new masters.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:32 amComment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 10:28 am
The classes I took mostly focused on the spoken language, not the script.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:32 amgummitch: thanks for the laugh.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:34 amBTW Oxycodone is generic for Oxycontin, only Oxycontin has a longer delivery system!
Comment by DRxJ — August 27, 2007 @ 10:30 am
either way....I am still "using" occasionally.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:34 amso the Arabic can’t be a waste. You’ll be able to communicate with our new masters.
Comment by gummitch — August 27, 2007 @ 10:32 am
Here is an Arabic word I learned (my apologies in advance for trying to translate it by letters, and not verbally)
Mah-nuke
August 27th, 2007 at 10:36 am(Translation: Fckface! Generally referred to Mr.Pee)
He wrote that he thinks me foolish. I believe tha the also stated that this is this only Arabic phrase he knows, but I could have mis-translated. I am rusty.
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Pretty much. I'm rusty, too. :\
The classes I took mostly focused on the spoken language, not the script.
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:32 am
That's good, actually. Which dialect? I've only been studying MSA, so when I'm done I'll be able to read newspapers and watch al-Jazeera but not hold a conversation with anyone.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:38 amComment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 10:38 am
It has only been Iraqi Arabic. A class called "SLAC" (Survival Level Arabic Course). The rest I have tried to learn on my own. I may be able to talk to someone, but can hardly read a street sign.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:44 amtoaster ~ kudos.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:48 amMy neice tried to take arabic for some reason in her Frosh year at the U, and flunked out miserably. Hard stuff.
All I know is that in Arabic you dont write vocals...
August 27th, 2007 at 10:51 amIt has only been Iraqi Arabic. A class called “SLAC†(Survival Level Arabic Course). The rest I have tried to learn on my own. I may be able to talk to someone, but can hardly read a street sign.
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Nice - only the second most incomprehensible dialect (after Moroccan). Good luck!
I recommend Al Kitaab fii Ta'alum al Arabiya for learning MSA - the one with the DVDs. It'll definitely help with the grammar and script.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:53 amThanks for that Exley. I was hoping the statement was beneath you.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:53 amThe US administration recognized that a US-led military coup d’etat would not result in any laws being recognized as legitimate by the international community if parliament were to be dissolved. They therefore moved to a new policy, which involved direct interference with the political process in Iraq through their more reliable allies to reorganize the political alliance on which the government relied in order to achieve their goals. They finally succeeded in achieving the establishment of such a front, which was called the “The front of the moderates†on August 15, between the two main Kurdish parties (KDP and PUK), two of the Shiite parties (the SCIRI and Al-Dawa party — the Al-Maliki wing is called the “External organizationâ€), with negotiations still ongoing to persuade the Islamic Party/Accord front — the main Sunni party — to join this new alliance.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:56 amComment by toasterhead — August 27, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Thanks for the tip. I'll look into it.
Maybe you are not quite the المءخره I thought.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:57 amAll I know is that in Arabic you dont write vocals…
Comment by Juan C — August 27, 2007 @ 10:51 am
Somewhat - you write long vowels but not short ones. However, these unwritten short vowels can change the meaning. It gets really frustrating when you're trying to read something - you have to know how to pronounce the word to know exactly what it means, but you have to know what it means to know how to pronounce the word.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:00 amThanks for the tip. I’ll look into it.
Maybe you are not quite the المءخره I thought.
Comment by hacker bob — August 27, 2007 @ 10:57 am
وأنت لا اØمق - كنت التنكيت Ùقط
August 27th, 2007 at 11:03 amre: heroin abuse by us troops in nam
>Yet another slander of the military by you fine “progressivesâ€.
Its not "slander" its reality you inbred wh1tetrash hick. We helped sell opium for black ops, and a huge amount of it ended up getting sold to our own troops....
estimates from reliable sources has proven that as many as 1/4 of our soldiers had done smack in nam.
http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/brush/American-drug-use-vietnam.htm
"Heroin was used by an estimated 15-20 percent of the GIs in the Mekong Delta under the command of Army Major General John Cushman. In mid-1971 Cushman ordered a crackdown. "
To Bigtwat, reality is an insult to our troops
August 27th, 2007 at 11:04 amIf it goes in, cool. If not, oh well.
Two Years ago today, Hurricane Katrina was taking aim at the Gulf Coast. A Category 3 storm already, it was obvious that this could be a big event, the Big Storm that Louisiana dreaded every year. Governor Blanco sent a letter to President Bush, requesting a Federal disaster area declaration, and several Louisiana parishes announced mandatory and voluntary evacuations. Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans ordered a voluntary evacuation of New Orleans, with a note that within 30 hours of landfall, the evacuation would become mandatory.
Let history record that with 2 days remaining, Governor Blanco made the request to the Federal Government to declare a federal disaster area. But history will also show that Blanco's victory in securing federal disaster area designations would be for naught. Over the next three days, $531 million would be spent in bombs, missiles and bullets in Iraq. Imagine how New Orleans may look today if $531 million was spent in repairing it.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:05 amÙهمت. لم أكن المتضرر.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:06 amhbobbo and toasterhead, if youse guys don't stop it, I'll have to go get my secret arabaic decoder ring!
August 27th, 2007 at 11:06 amComment by RUCerious — August 27, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Jealous? or just dumbfounded?
August 27th, 2007 at 11:08 amRUCerious
hbobbo and toasterhead, if youse guys don’t stop it, I’ll have to go get my secret arabaic decoder ring!
Mine just tells me to drink more Ovaltine
August 27th, 2007 at 11:08 amMine just tells me to drink more Ovaltine
Comment by squegeeboo — August 27, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Ofaltine, actually - there's no "v" in Arabic.
There's also no "p." How they manage without the voiceless bilabial plosive is beyond me!
August 27th, 2007 at 11:12 ami heard glenn greenwald talk about this on sam's show yesterday...
It's easy for soldiers to score heroin in Afghanistan
Simultaneously stressed and bored, U.S. soldiers are turning to the widely available drug for a quick escape.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/08/07/afghan_heroin/
August 27th, 2007 at 11:13 am.
اذهب بسلام. جرب العجول.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:15 amObama develops plan for Gulf Coast restoration
August 26, 2007
WASHINGTON -- On the cusp of the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Senator Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois, will present a plan today aimed at hastening the rebuilding of New Orleans and restructuring how the federal government responds to future catastrophes in America.
The Gulf Coast restoration, said Obama, a candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, has been weighed down by red tape that has kept billions of dollars from reaching Louisiana communities. As president, he said, he would streamline the bureaucracy, strengthen law enforcement to curb a rise in crime, and immediately close the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet to restore wetlands to protect against storms.
August 27th, 2007 at 11:28 am[...]
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/26/obama_develops_plan_for_gulf_coast_restoration/
.
2008: Candidates on Katrina
August 27th, 2007 at 11:30 amBy Michael Falcone
This week marks the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and several of the presidential candidates are traveling to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the site of the hurricane’s devastation, to focus on the unfinished business of recovery and restoration.
[...]
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/2008-candidates-on-katrina/
.
اذهب بسلام. جرب العجول.
Hey, this is fun!

August 27th, 2007 at 11:39 amجميل باردا ، هاه؟
August 27th, 2007 at 11:50 amChild fighters…are playing a significant and growing role in kidnappings, killings and roadside bombings in the country, U.S. military officials say.â€
How is this playing with the “family values†party?
------------------------------------------------------------
Great! They model there families after the Palestinians.
Let's strapped some C4 to a 5 year old kid. Anything for Allah!
August 27th, 2007 at 11:52 amيخون لك ، الخيانه يخون
August 27th, 2007 at 12:05 pmI don’t know if you’ve ever been to New Orleans. I have lived there. The political boundaries are really quite small. Bordered on one side by the Mississippi River and Lake Borgne, on the other, Lake Ponchartrain. To the west is Jefferson Parish. Much of Orleans Parish is relatively unpopulated bayou.
Over the last few decades, most of what you call the “middle-class†and “rich peopleâ€, have moved to Jefferson Parish, or across the river to the cities of Gretna, Harvey, Marrero, etc. and are unable to vote in Orleans Parish elections. Yet Marrero, Harvey and Gretna suffered from the hurricane, and it’s aftermath, as well.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — August 27, 2007 @ 10:26 am
I'm intrigued. When you say, "I've lived there." Where exactly do you mean?
As far as the "rich people" and the "middle class" living in Jefferson Parish: Most of the white middle class left for Metairie decades ago. There is a lot of very old money still living in the University section and Garden District. Most of Lakeview is still white middle class. You might have not noticed the black middle class living in the 7th Ward, Gentilly and New Orleans East.
What suffering did the West Bank experience? I am not aware of it. My sister in Algiers lost her potted plants because no one watered them while she was evacuated. She had a little shed in the backyard that was blown down, but she stood it up again.
There were a lot of middle-class and rich people (who mostly did not lose their homes) who voted for Nagin again.
Comment by bilbogaggins — August 27, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Living in Lakeview, a good many "middle class" people, some of them upper middle class, lost their homes in Katrina. Most of the very wealthy are safely cloistered in "The Sliver."
August 27th, 2007 at 12:09 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082401209.html
Reckless Abandonment
August 27th, 2007 at 12:51 pmBy Douglas Brinkley
The Washington Post
Sunday 26 August 2007
Over the past two years since Hurricane Katrina, I've seen waves of hardworking volunteers from nonprofits, faith-based groups and college campuses descend on New Orleans, full of compassion and hope.
They arrive in the city's Ninth Ward to painstakingly gut houses one by one. Their jaws drop as they wander around afflicted zones, gazing at the towering mounds of debris and uprooted infrastructure.
After weeks of grueling labor, they realize that they are running in place, toiling in a surreal vacuum.
"Why don’t you take it to them personally, coward? In the meantime, look at the way Bush has treated the incompetent boobs he’s hired, from Rod The Clod Education Clown to Condi-liar the shoe-shopper, and Abu Gonzales, promoter of torture and spying on citizens. He has set back the civil rights of minorities in this country by 100 years by finding the bottom-of-the-barrel each and every time out, and has put dual Israeli-American citizens in sensitive, top-secret government roles. Why do you continue to support the friends of Al Qaeda? Oh, wait a minute, i know why; you hate Americans and the Constitution.
Comment by ronjazz — August 27, 2007 @ 10:03 am"
Tell you what, I'll take the message to the troops personally, if you take a class in writing coherent posts, k?
Oh, wait...to write a coherent post, you need to have coherent thoughts......never mind then.
August 27th, 2007 at 2:37 pm"Reckless Abandonment
By Douglas Brinkley
The Washington Post
Sunday 26 August 2007
Over the past two years since Hurricane Katrina, I’ve seen waves of hardworking volunteers from nonprofits, faith-based groups and college campuses descend on New Orleans, full of compassion and hope.
They arrive in the city’s Ninth Ward to painstakingly gut houses one by one. Their jaws drop as they wander around afflicted zones, gazing at the towering mounds of debris and uprooted infrastructure.
After weeks of grueling labor, they realize that they are running in place, toiling in a surreal vacuum."
Comment by Bienville — August 27, 2007 @ 12:51 pm"
And where is Mayor Nagin through all this? Governor Blanco? I guess they have better things to do?
At least Edwin Edward knew which pockets to pad in order to get things done.
August 27th, 2007 at 2:43 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — August 27, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
At least Edwin Edward knew which pockets to pad in order to get things done.
Edwin Edwards is in prison, he knew so well which pockets to pad. New Orleans and Louisiana will NEVER get the respect they deserve from the politicians they elect or from the nation at large until they stop rewarding the sideshow antics of the likes of Edwards and Nagin.
And where is Mayor Nagin through all this? Governor Blanco? I guess they have better things to do?
This attitude has always puzzled me. Do I correctly deduce that you think it's OK for George Bush and the Federal government to keep screwing the people of New Orleans and Louisiana as long as they are also being screwed by the local government. Isn't it the value of a multi-tiered government that each tier can compensate for the shortcomings of another, or of all the others? In this case, New Orleans and Louisiana were quite overwhelmed by the scale of Katrina, not to mention crippled by its effects - the only agent with resources capable of meeting the demands of this crisis is the United States of America.
It is Douglas Brinkley's opinion piece to which I linked. I did not endorse it, I won't defend it. I linked it for the benefit of those who might not read it otherwise. I suggest you might check with Mr. Brinkley for why he went after only Bush and the federal government.
I will agree with Mr. Brinkley's on this point: Mr. Bush repeatedly promises to "do everything it takes," or similar rhetoric, but then, he drags his feet and fails to deliver. If he would either do as he promises, or promise nothing, he would at least be a man of his word, and we all would know how to act.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:08 pmAre these kids presenting the flowers and candy that we were promised.
They must be some exotic middle eastern flowers.
jack jett
August 27th, 2007 at 7:22 pmhttp://www.YabbaDabbaHubbaDo.com