ThinkFast: October 15, 2007
ThinkFast: October 15, 2007
Rupert Murdoch’s latest venture — the Fox Business Channel — launches today. His recent acquisition of the Dow Jones & Company is already proving fruitful. CNBC, the rival that Murdoch seeks to “conquer,” purchased advertising on two Dow Jones websites, but was informed last Tuesday that they would not run the day of Fox Business’s launch.
The U.S. military believes it has dealt “devastating and perhaps irreversible blows to al-Qaeda in Iraq” in recent months, leading some generals to advocate a “declaration of victory” over the group. “I think it would be premature at this point,” a senior intelligence official said of a victory declaration over AQI.
Condoleezza Rice is sticking up for Donald Rumsfeld in a battle with students and professors at Stanford University. “Universities ought to be places where all views are welcomed,” Rice told ABC News. “Stanford has always been a place that has been able to tolerate many different views.”
“As the chief federal trial judge in Manhattan, Michael Mukasey approved secret warrants allowing government roundups of Muslims in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks.” Confirmation hearings are set to begin on Wednesday, and detentions are likely to be a “hot topic.”
Yesterday, Rep. David Hobson (R-OH) announced that he will retire at the end of his term. Hobson is the 11th Republican House member to announce retirement ahead of the 2008 election.
On Friday, Justice Department officials indicated that they may hold “new hearings for some” Guantanamo Bay “detainees to decide whether they are being properly held.” Lawyers for detainees say the move may be “a ‘massive’ repeat of the military’s combatant-status hearings originally held in 2004 and 2005.”
A new study by the Women’s Campaign Forum finds that the number of top women aides on Capitol Hill is rising. The study found “that 23 percent of top Senate staffers and 31 percent of top aides in the House are women, compared with 16 percent of Senators who are women and 17 percent of House Members.”
The Food and Drug Administration is “moving with unprecedented speed to launch a drug research center to be paid for by companies it regulates.” Its goal is to “streamline and improve the development of drugs and medical devices, a goal long sought by regulators and the biggest players in the industry.”
And finally: On Saturday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice turned down the chance to “show off her ice-skating talents” during a visit to a rink in Russia. “There is this theory that ice skating is like riding a bicycle: you just get back on it, you immediately know how to do it,” she said. “I’m not going to take that chance — just in case it’s not true!” Rice was a competitive ice skater between the ages of 12 and 17, but hasn’t skated for the past 10 years.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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“declaration of victory”?? Would this be in the same genre as “Mission accomplished”?? If so, disregard it as total fiction.
You’ve got to be kidding me!
Propaganda run amok is more like it.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:11 am“The U.S. military believes it has dealt “devastating and perhaps irreversible blows to al-Qaeda in Iraq†in recent months, leading some generals to advocate a “declaration of victory†over the group.”
Oh goody! Can we go home now? Or do we need to find a new boogeyman to justify our occupation?
October 15th, 2007 at 9:12 amAll right! Everyone pack up; it’s time to go home now. right?RIGHT?!?!?!?!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:14 amIf the generals believe they’ve thumped AQII, we can then expect the pundits to stop yammering about “Al Qaeda” in Iraq, right? No more horsesh!t about how we’re defending the Iraqis from Al Qaedi, right?
Ha.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:16 amDECLARE VICTORY AND YANKEE GO HOME!!!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:16 amI don’t blame Condi for turning down the opportunity to skate — not because of the possibility that her skills are rusty, but because it’s obviously a no-win stunt. She probably remembers how her boss looked in a flight suit. Give the lady a couple of points for not falling for that trap.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:16 amThe U.S. military believes it has dealt “devastating and perhaps irreversible blows to al-Qaeda in Iraq†in recent months, leading some generals to advocate a “declaration of victory†over the group.
Yeah right. It’s highly doubtful there have ever been “al Qaeda” in Iraq. One has to wonder how our military knew anyone was “al Qaeda”? Did they wear a button? Perhaps they wore an armband. More likely our military started calling certain insurgent groups “al Qaeda” so that they could bring the boogy man to Iraq. Now that the boogy man isn’t of any use to them, they declare victory over them.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:16 amI wonder if there’s another banner over there saying “Victory”??
October 15th, 2007 at 9:16 amBilbo: We should know them by the odor of their breath I guess?? This is a bogus and patently absurd statement they are making, once again.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:17 amRice was a competitive ice skater
Wow, what can’t she do.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:18 amMore Bush spin….More whoring MSM propaganda. Don’t believe a word of it. Close your ears…..lalalalalaalalalalala.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:18 amThe Food and Drug Administration is “moving with unprecedented speed to launch a drug research center to be paid for by companies it regulates.â€
And the name of this organization will be Fox’n'Weasel Henhouse Guard Services.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:19 amSqueege: Since ice skating requires something new for the feet, I’m sure Rice got into all of the accoutrements of that sport. Whether she ever ventured out onto the ice is another story entirely. But she sure has the footwear to prove it!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:19 amRe: Condoleezza Rice is sticking up for Donald Rumsfled in a battle with students and professors at Stanford University. “Universities ought to be places where all views are welcomed,†Rice told ABC News. “Stanford has always been a place that has been able to tolerate many different views.â€
Hey, Condi! You first. Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and eliminate the free speech zones that corral people of different viewpoints miles from your hero Bush.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:20 amMissmolly: Fantastic! Great and appropriate moniker for another worthless agency who is not doing their job to protect the american people. Is it the car talk guys who have already copyrighted “Dewey Cheetum and Howe”??
October 15th, 2007 at 9:20 amCondoleezza Rice is sticking up for Donald Rumsfled in a battle with students and professors at Stanford University. “Universities ought to be places where all views are welcomed,†Rice told ABC News.
You know Condi, Universities welcome different views. They just don’t welcome lies.
Rice, who says she hopes to return eventually to Stanford after she leaves the state department, has a different view.
Condi, I expect you may have the same welcome at Stanford as Donald Rumsfield. Perhaps you should rethink your next career.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:21 amMaybe “Taketheir, Money & Runn”??
October 15th, 2007 at 9:21 am“Hobson is the 11th Republican House member to announce retirement ahead of the 2008 election.”
And another one bites the dust. Methinks a number of Repubs are looking with a certain degree of horror at the prospect of campaigning for re-election on their record of support for this criminal administration.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:22 amThis is getting comical. Condi’s sticking up for Rummy who already has a docket of war crimes being amassed by the Germans. Just heard that the Red Cross has a docket of war crimes being drafted up against Bush, Cheney, Gonzo and Condi. Soon they will realize that supporting another criminal and their activities results in “aiding and abetting”. They really are not very intelligent.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:23 amMichael Mukasey approved secret warrants allowing government roundups of Muslims in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks.†Confirmation hearings are set to begin on Wednesday, and detentions are likely to be a “hot topic.â€
‘hot topic’ — wanna bet. this congress won’t even defend the friggin constitution; there’s no way in hell they will defend muslims caught up in the 9/11 hysteria.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:24 amWhat I’m wondering is just how many of the “Fab Twelve” will be “outed” for criminal activity by some of their cohorts who are blabbing like Abramoff, Cunningham, DeLay, etc.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:24 am“As the chief federal trial judge in Manhattan, Michael Mukasey approved secret warrants allowing government roundups of Muslims in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks.â€
That alone should disqualify him as AG. We certainly don’t need another AG who thinks it is fine to do things in secret. It’s time we bring our government back into the sunlight. The mold is becoming a real problem.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:24 am“Universities ought to be places where all views are welcomed”
Unlike the conference rooms of the White House. No dissenting views allowed there.
Thanks for the brilliant insight, Dr. Rice!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:25 amYesterday, Rep. David Hobson (R-OH) announced that he will retire at the end of his term. Hobson is the 11th Republican House member to announce retirement ahead of the 2008 election.
Oh, this is really getting good. Do you suppose this one is coming close to being indited or perhaps he just sees the handwriting on the wall. Ohio is rapidly becoming purple, and closer to blue.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:26 am#19 Linda:
Absolutely!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:27 amLinda: I fear that your statment will come to fruition and, once again, these spineless democrats will trash our constitution and the will of the people.
Register Independent if you’ve “had enough”. I did and it’s been the most liberating thing I’ve done for myself in a long, long time.
Reg. Indy’s are now at 36% which is rivaling the Reg. Dems at 38%…leaving the Reg. Repukes at around 26%, the true minority.
You’d think that some of the more savvy Dems would recognize that if they did things right, they’d pick up a significant percentage of the Reg. I’s, wouldn’t you? And since most of the I’s are in synchrony with the democratic mindset, it would raise their percentage to 74% which has tremendous power.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:27 amOn Friday, Justice Department officials indicated that they may hold “new hearings for some†Guantanamo Bay “detainees to decide whether they are being properly held.â€
And the answer, once again, will be “we can do anything we want to do because we no longer have to follow the laws of our land”.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:27 amLinda and Cupcake: I think we can see that handwriting on the wall.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:28 am… a drug research center to be paid for by companies it regulates…
October 15th, 2007 at 9:28 amAnd the Bush Administration announces things like this with a straight face — because no one questions their actions. Hiring a research firm owned by those who manufacture drugs to regulate those drugs.
Convoluted — just like the whole damned administration.
Yes, Bilbo – they’ve disregarded EVERY law, treaty, and International Act this country has signed. But one has to wonder why they are being permitted to get away with it at this point. That’s the real conundrum.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:29 am#27 That’s Bush’s concept of “accountability” and “checks and balances”….hiring the very ones impacted adversely by the situation so they can find a way to “steal more money from the people”.
It’s the MO of a criminal.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:30 amRice was a competitive ice skater
Wow, what can’t she do.
Comment by Squegeeboo — October 15, 2007 @ 9:18 am
UM, BE A SUCCESSFUL SECRETARY OF STATE?!??!!??
October 15th, 2007 at 9:30 amVeritas:
Yeah, the more things change, the more they remain the same. I envision a good number of Dems salivating at the thought of having all the power W stole as their own.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:31 amRegister Independent if you’ve “had enoughâ€. I did and it’s been the most liberating thing I’ve done for myself in a long, long time.
Comment by Veritas — October 15, 2007 @ 9:27 am
I would do that, except here in North Carolina that would keep me from voting in the primaries next year. While that isn’t terribly important for the office of President (the Dem nominee will be decided long before our state votes), it will be important as we decide which Democrat will run against Elizabeth Dole for the Senate.
Which state do you live in? Do indies get to vote in primaries there? Maybe I could move…
October 15th, 2007 at 9:34 amwhiteyfresh
UM, BE A SUCCESSFUL SECRETARY OF STATE?!??!!??
Well, it only took 21 posts, but some one finally picked up what I was laying down. To bad it had to be an all caps post, with pointless punctuation.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:36 amBut one has to wonder why they are being permitted to get away with it at this point. That’s the real conundrum.
Comment by Veritas
That’s what I don’t understand, either. When the Democratically controlled Congress has 70% of the American public behind them, why do they not take the initiative and do the right thing. I deeply fear it is because they want the powers Bush has grabbed for themselves. Then what are we going to do? Where are we going to turn? I won’t support the Democrat’s misuse of power any more than I will support the Republican’s misuse of power. But that’s the different between a Democrat and a Republican. Democrats protest when something is wrong no matter what party did the wrong whereas Republicans only protest what Democrats do. It would be so much easier if Democrats were Lemmings like the Republicans. But, that’s why I’m a Democrat, it’s messy but at least it’s honest.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:37 am34: Not to worry, Squegee, I knew exactly what you meant. ;)
October 15th, 2007 at 9:40 am35: “I deeply fear it is because they want the powers Bush has grabbed for themselves.”
That’s exactly what I said earlier in the thread. And I agree completely with your assessment of the typical Democrat versus the typical Republican. It’s why we’re always at a tactical disadvantage against the right.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:42 amThe Food and Drug Administration is “moving with unprecedented speed to launch a drug research center to be paid for by companies it regulates.â€
Enough said.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:43 ambut was informed last Tuesday that they would not run the day of Fox Business’s launch.
I seem to remember something called ‘restraint of trade’… Hmmm.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:46 amI would do that, except here in North Carolina that would keep me from voting in the primaries next year. missmolly
Hi missmolly. I live in Oregon. It’s very easy to change your party affiliation. I did it on-line. I plan on switching back to Democrat before the primary and then after the primary, back to Independent. I agree with veritas, it is very liberating.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:47 amleading some generals to advocate a “declaration of victory†over the group
Yes, we should declare victory and immediately withdraw all troops.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:47 amUniversities ought to be places where all views are welcomed,†Rice told ABC News. “
Views, yes.
Scumbag war criminals, maybe not.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:48 amI seem to remember something called ‘restraint of trade’… Hmmm.
Comment by RUCerious — October 15, 2007 @ 9:46 am
You still remember when the USA was a free country.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:51 ambilbobaggins
Enough said.
And how many more will now die, due to not having any heart device at all?
As long as they represent the full truth up front, why not leave it up to the patient, while still working on making the product better.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:51 amWhich state do you live in? Do indies get to vote in primaries there? Maybe I could move…
Comment by missmolly
In Minnesota, there is no party registration, per se. And you can vote in the primary as long as you stay within one party (any one party) all through the ballot.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:59 amYesterday, Rep. David Hobson (R-OH) announced that he will retire at the end of his term. Hobson is the 11th Republican House member to announce retirement ahead of the 2008 election.
Remember that the Republican machine is very well honed. I think this is part of the new plan to win more votes in the elections ahead. If they have new faces, not afiliated with the Bush and Iraq mess, they might garner more votes. haven’t we all been saying, “Vote out the incumbants”? They get that is what we want, so they are going to make sure they still get their votes. Not a good thing.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:02 amWhat did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Lindsey Graham, yesterday, CNN (this via Crooks and Liars):
Would anyone care (trolls? Hello?) to enlighten us just where this reconciliation is occurring and why the White House hasn’t been putting it front and center?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:06 amRice was a competitive ice skater between the ages of 12 and 17, but hasn’t skated for the past 10 years…
I disagree. Rice has been skating on thin ice for 7 years. As NSA Director she didn’t even know wtf her job was. She knows even less about diplomacy and being Sec/State.
She’s taking credit now for the N Korea talks when it was actually Bill Richardson working hard behind the scenes. Of course, they can’t give him credit; he’s a Democrat.
I’ve seen diplomats, and Condi, you’re no diplomat.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:07 amYeah right. It’s highly doubtful there have ever been “al Qaeda†in Iraq. One has to wonder how our military knew anyone was “al Qaeda� Did they wear a button? Perhaps they wore an armband. More likely our military started calling certain insurgent groups “al Qaeda†so that they could bring the boogy man to Iraq. Now that the boogy man isn’t of any use to them, they declare victory over them.
Comment by bilbobaggins — October 15, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Dude, I have wondered the very same thing.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:10 amAs long as they represent the full truth up front, why not leave it up to the patient, while still working on making the product better.
Comment by Squegeeboo
Squeegee, the ever dreamer.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:11 amMissmolly: Fantastic! Great and appropriate moniker for another worthless agency who is not doing their job to protect the american people. Is it the car talk guys who have already copyrighted “Dewey Cheetum and Howe�?
Comment by Veritas — October 15, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Not sure about the car talk guys, but I do think that was the name of the law firm that the Three Stooges owned in one of their episodes.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:14 amThe Food and Drug Administration is “moving with unprecedented speed to launch a drug research center to be paid for by companies it regulates.†Its goal is to “streamline and improve the development of drugs and medical devices, a goal long sought by regulators and the biggest players in the industry.â€
Now it won’t be until we have another thalidomide-like incident (nausea medicine for pregnant women that gave babies awful birth defects) before we can get rid of this horrendous idea.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:16 amThis is getting comical. Condi’s sticking up for Rummy who already has a docket of war crimes being amassed by the Germans. Just heard that the Red Cross has a docket of war crimes being drafted up against Bush, Cheney, Gonzo and Condi. Soon they will realize that supporting another criminal and their activities results in “aiding and abettingâ€. They really are not very intelligent.
Comment by Veritas — October 15, 2007 @ 9:23 am
War crimes against members of the American government.
And the rightwingers insist that this country is still loved the world over.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:16 amI must give credit to ThinkProgress where credit is due. In the past, it has been reluctant to print any of the good news that is coming out of Iraq lest the Democrats lose some political advantage….But today ThinkProgress admirably relayed the The Washington Post article that reports that we are making tremendous military advances against Al Qaeda in Iraq and that the surge has helped bring about a near crippling blow against AQI…By giving that information, TP has gone a long way to admitting that the surge has indeed been a success to this point.
The key now is not to let up…Keep up the pressure on Al Qaeda in Iraq and destroy it as a force in that nation. Once that happens, our troops can leave.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:19 amDoes Condi also stick up for the right of Liberals to speak on college campuses ?????
And as the military analysts have held all along that Al Q wasn’t the problem in Iraq, how did the surge route them ? And all of a sudden I might add – is there some bill stalled in Congress regarding Iraq ?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:24 amJuan C.
Squeegee, the ever dreamer.
Once I dreamed that I wasn’t living in an emerging Fascist society. Thank god I woke up from that one. It was so scary having so much freedom again.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:25 amComment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:19 am
As Mr. Baggins has pointed out, how do you pick out the insurgents (Iraqis who want American forces out of their country) from the terrorists (al Qaeda)?
Say troops shoot at 10 armed guys hiding behind a wall and kill them How do you know which group they belong to? Do they have ID? Do they have “al Qaeda Member of the Month Club” cards in their wallets?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:28 amMore good news out of Iraq:
Better Numbers — The evidence of a drop in violence in Iraq is becoming hard to dispute.
Sunday, October 14, 2007; B06
The Washington Post
“NEWS COVERAGE and debate about Iraq during the past couple of weeks have centered on the alleged abuses of private security firms like Blackwater USA. Getting such firms into a legal regime is vital, as we’ve said. But meanwhile, some seemingly important facts about the main subject of discussion last month — whether there has been a decrease in violence in Iraq — have gotten relatively little attention. A congressional study and several news stories in September questioned reports by the U.S. military that casualties were down. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), challenging the testimony of Gen. David H. Petraeus, asserted that “civilian deaths have risen” during this year’s surge of American forces.
A month later, there isn’t much room for such debate, at least about the latest figures. In September, Iraqi civilian deaths were down 52 percent from August and 77 percent from September 2006, according to the Web site icasualties.org…
This doesn’t necessarily mean the war is being won. U.S. military commanders have said that no reduction in violence will be sustainable unless Iraqis reach political solutions — and there has been little progress on that front. Nevertheless, it’s looking more and more as though those in and outside of Congress who last month were assailing Gen. Petraeus’s credibility and insisting that there was no letup in Iraq’s bloodshed were — to put it simply — wrong.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/13/AR2007101301071_pf.html
October 15th, 2007 at 10:30 amThe key now is not to let up…Keep up the pressure on Al Qaeda in Iraq and destroy it as a force in that nation. Once that happens, our troops can leave.
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Hold on there. Not according to the Bush administration. You also must have political reconciliation and the Iraqis must “stand up” (i.e. be able to take over security from the U.S. troops).
Maybe you can tell us where the political reconciliation is occurring, per Lindsey Graham.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:31 amAt a time when the FDA’s reputation has been battered by perceptions that it is lax on some safety issues and too cozy with drug makers, consumer advocates say the loosely defined partnership increases the agency’s vulnerability to industry clout despite its promise of groundbreaking success.
boy, i’ll say…
remember the ever present, continuous commercials for ZELNORM, for
“irritable bowel syndrome”? damn, i hated those commercials… writing on people’s stomachs… well, those stupid commercials are gone – because the drug was taken off the market because of serious side effects… lots of lawsuits, etc… probably a perfect example of “rush to market”…
the FDA is a joke these days… a deadly joke…
October 15th, 2007 at 10:33 am.
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Like our government, does icasualties.org dismiss certain types of death, such as being shot in the forehead, or do they count ALL deaths?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:34 am“Keep up the pressure on Al Qaeda in Iraq and destroy it as a force in that nation. Once that happens, our troops can leave.”
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Foreign insurgents (and the administration and MSM media refer to all of those in Iraq as “Al Qaeda” whether they are or aren’t) are responsible for about 2% – 5% of the violence over there, depending on whose estimate you believe.
Are you saying that we are over there only to focus on this small slice of the violence? And if we eradicate that, Bush will take us out of there even with a civil war raging? This would be great news if it actually happened!
Pardon my skepticism, but I suspect that there will always be an “Al Qaeda” there. If not, Bushco will invent some other boogeyman.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am“that 23 percent of top Senate staffers and 31 percent of top aides in the House are women, compared with 16 percent of Senators who are women and 17 percent of House Members.â€
doesn’t make sense linking to a subscription site, TP…
is there any indication as to which party most of these women
October 15th, 2007 at 10:38 amare working for?
would i be out of line to think it is democratic reps?
anyone know?
.
“In September, Iraqi civilian deaths were down 52 percent from August and 77 percent from September 2006″
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:30 am
I would hope that civilian deaths are down — since more and more civilians are fleeing the country, there are fewer of them left to kill. However, it’s kind of hard to tell, since the various ways the casualties are counted are such that the resulting data are completely spurious.
Maybe that’s the way we “win” this war — just chase everybody out of the country. Then take the oil.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:41 amMissmolly,
“Are you saying that we are over there only to focus on this small slice of the violence? And if we eradicate that, Bush will take us out of there even with a civil war raging?”
I would certainly hope so….My support for our continued presence in Iraq extends only as far as fighting Al Qaeda. If AQI is crippled or destroyed, then I would support a significant U.S. downsizing (and more troops in Afghanistan).
October 15th, 2007 at 10:42 amWell, if Exley supports a troop drawdown, Washington will be forced to act, for who or what can withstand the mighty influence of Exley? Speak out, Oh Exley, and worlds will tremble!
October 15th, 2007 at 10:55 amBack in the real world, Al Qaeda in Iraq isn’t so much the problem as is the ethnic cleansing and internecine warfare that is likely to explode when U.S. troops are removed from their position as the rubber bumpers between Iraq’s murderous political and religious parties. Iraqis are renowned as the Middle East’s greatest xenophobes, and one they’re not able to kill U.S. forces, the Iraqis will take care of AQ tout suite.
I would certainly hope so….My support for our continued presence in Iraq extends only as far as fighting Al Qaeda. If AQI is crippled or destroyed, then I would support a significant U.S. downsizing (and more troops in Afghanistan).
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Yes, but how do you know? How can you say with certainty that you have definitely rid Iraq of al Qaeda? McClatchy News Service once estimated the total number of insurgents at around 30,000, with as much as 10% of the number being actual “terrorists” (meaning al Qaeda and perhaps other groups).
How do you know when you’ve eliminated those 3000 individuals, and what’s to say that they are not being replenished seeing as how the borders are unprotected?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:56 amMy support for our continued presence in Iraq extends only as far as fighting Al Qaeda. If AQI is crippled or destroyed, then I would support a significant U.S. downsizing (and more troops in Afghanistan).
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Of course, AQ in Iraq never existed before our invasion, so maybe if we leave, it will also go away. Just took us 3800 US troops lives, 600,000 Iraqi lives and 3/4 Trillion of our dollars to get there. Now THAT is what I would call a successful BushCo mission! And I suppose you continue to support these A$$Klowns, right?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:56 amA guy shoots you on the street. He has no ID, no fingerprints on file, and he refuses to talk. He is not in any criminal database in the U.S.
Is he American?
Has he shot people before?
Is he unemployed?
Is he a Methodist? Catholic? Baptist?
Where does he live?
Is he married? Any children? Brothers? Sisters?
How…do…you…know?
October 15th, 2007 at 10:59 amWell…be back soon. Drew Carey’s first day on The Price Is Right is today.
Gonna check it out.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:00 ami have a request/favor to ask of you all…
i’ve been avoiding my local democratic meetings because the local politics here, for me, is somewhat akin to banging my head against a brick wall… very red, and redneck… when it comes to the nationals, anyway… the dems do well locally…
but my interest is the national scene, because if we become a dictatorship, the locals won’t much matter… not?
anyway, a dem friend i hadn’t scene in months came by and wanted to get me back into it… seems a group of dems have formed their own group of PRO-LIFE DEMS… we really can’t afford to splinter the party here either…
so, i will probably be visiting their next meeting to check it out… i would like to read a short “letter†to them while there, to try and make them realize that their movement is self-defeating…
my idea is this: “while the pro-life/anti choice values voters have been devoting their energy and attention to those issues, the republicans since reagan, have been very busy _____ â€
and follow up with a list of the most obvious and damaging of things that have happened because the “values voters†elected the people who have done many things EXCEPT reverse roe v wade…
know what i mean?
i’m hoping you guys can help, ’cause my brain is not in a creative mode these days… but i really want to tell these people how their little mutiny is damaging their own self-interests…
any ideas and feedback would be most welcome…
October 15th, 2007 at 11:03 ami’m gone for most of the day… will check later…
thanks, in advance…
must read:
Only a US Withdrawal Will Stop Al Qaeda in Iraq
By Raed Jarrar and Joshua Holland *
AlterNet October 5, 2007
One of the last justifications for continuing the U.S. occupation of Iraq despite overwhelming opposition from Iraqis, Americans and the rest of humanity has come down to this: U.S. forces must remain in order to battle “al Qaeda in Iraq.” Like so many of the arguments presented in the United States, the idea is not only intellectually bankrupt, it’s also the 180-degree opposite of reality. The truth of the matter is that only the presence of U.S. forces allows the group called “al Qaeda in Iraq” (AQI) to survive and function, and setting a timetable for the occupation to end is the best way to beat them. You won’t hear that perspective in Washington, but according to Iraqis with whom we spoke, it is the conventional wisdom in much of the country.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:11 am[...]
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/withdraw/2007/1005alqaedastop.htm
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The war on terror… The power of the president… A constitutional crisis… Watch “Cheney’s Law” on air and online beginning Tuesday, October 16
FRONTLINE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLz5Ja_pius&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Ffiredoglake%2Ecom%2F%3Cbr%20/%3E
October 15th, 2007 at 11:13 am.
comment by Exlax @ 10:19 am
Keep dreamin’ as you smoke your hookah.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:15 amThis doesn’t necessarily mean the war is being won. U.S. military commanders have said that no reduction in violence will be sustainable unless Iraqis reach political solutions — and there has been little progress on that front.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2007/ 10/ 13/ AR2007101301071_pf.html
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 10:30 am
there are the real facts, Exley; your interpretation is, as usual, wrong to the point of being criminal. Al Qaeda is suported by Bush/Cheney, having been created by Reagan/Bush in the first place. US forces in iraq strengthen al Qaeda, by killing thousands of iraqis who would fight against Al Qaeda. On top of that, neither the highly-politicized Bushco propaganda arm of the military nor the rightwing Washington Post has any credibility on war reporting. But y8ou keep swigging that wingnut koolaid, and clap hard, or Tinquaedabell will die!
October 15th, 2007 at 11:17 amIs this the Exley bashin’ thread? Let me give him a whack:
“A month later, there isn’t much room for such debate, at least about the latest figures. In September, Iraqi civilian deaths were down 52 percent from August and 77 percent from September 2006, according to the Web site icasualties.org…”
Nope, not much room to debate that the ethnic cleansing is nearly complete. That’s why the numbers are down – but I suspect ‘ol Ex knew that already – but he’s addicted to telling half-truths, so it’s no big surprise when he does it yet again.
October 15th, 2007 at 11:31 amYou folks just can’t bring yourself to admit that you were wrong…The surge is working.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:10 pmRupert Murdock is an AZZHOLE! That’s right Rupert I said it.
October 15th, 2007 at 12:24 pmYet more good news out of Iraq:
Shiite Leader Makes Reconciliatory Gesture, Visits Sunni Anbar Province
Sunday , October 14, 2007
Associated Press
In a major reconciliatory gesture, a leader from Iraq’s largest Shiite party paid a rare visit Sunday to the Sunni Anbar province, where he delivered a message of unity to tribal sheiks who have staged a U.S.-backed revolt against Al Qaeda militants in their region.
The visit by Ammar al-Hakim, son and heir apparent of Iraq’s top Shiite politician, provided the latest evidence that key Iraqi politicians may be working toward national reconciliation independently from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government, which has faced criticism for doing little to iron out differences between the country’s Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis….
Al-Hakim’s visit to Anbar is a landmark event given the sectarian tensions that have bedeviled Iraqi politics since the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-led regime. Violence between Shiites and Sunnis, much of which is blamed on militias linked to major Shiite parties as well as Sunni insurgents, has claimed thousands of lives in the past two years alone.
October 15th, 2007 at 1:02 pmPlease help.
http://www.hopeingrace.com/
October 15th, 2007 at 1:09 pmUniversities ARE places where all views are welcomed, just not AGREED upon. When did disagreement equate to intolerance?
THEY: I think Donald Rumsfeld was great.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:51 pmSELF: I totally intolerate with you.
You folks just can’t bring yourself to admit that you were wrong…The surge is working.
Comment by Exley — October 15, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
What about identifying a terrorist from an insurgent? You have no clue what it means to “win” the war on terror, a war that even George Bush claims cannot be won in the conventional way.
The surge had two…TWO…TWO goals: (1) reduce the violence so that (2) political reconciliation could take place. The former is questionable. The latter has not occurred. We’ve been told “wait 6 more months” for 3 years now. We were told to give the surge until September and not pass judgment.
And no, Exley, “may be working towards reconciliation” as noted in your post at 1:02pm is not the same as “reconciliation is a success.”
OK then. We’ve waited another 6 months. September has come and gone. There is no political reconciliation. In the middle of the surge, the Iraqi government took a vacation. The Bush administration has decided to quit expecting reconciliation, and has changed the goal of the surge to that of only offering additional security.
The…surge…has…failed.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:52 pm“Yet more good news out of Iraq:”
Comment by Exley
And what will the Iraqi government do when the Turks invade the Kurdish areas? Do ‘ya think they’ll allow it, given the fact that a Turkish invasion will expose just how factionalized and weak the Iraqi government is? Let’s see you smear some lip-gloss on this pregnant sow…
October 15th, 2007 at 9:29 pmHey Exley!
Experts Doubt Drop In Violence in Iraq; Military Statistics Called Into Question.
More here.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:03 pm