Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > September > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIraq slips from U.S. control — and that’s good
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While America’s attention has understandably drawn inward with the presidential contest, events unfolding elsewhere are changing the landscape that will confront whoever takes office next January.
Some of the most profound changes have occurred in Iraq, where the surge has produced a real and unexpected success. And while it’s important to note that change, it’s also important to acknowledge the limits of what “success” in Iraq really means.
The surge has bought the Iraqis the time to create at least rudimentary institutions of power with which to control their country. It has created an opportunity for U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq with honor within the foreseeable future. And it has helped to give Iraq hope of a tenuous stability where little had existed.
Those are not by any means minor accomplishments, not when you consider the bleak prospects in Iraq two years ago. Credit for that improvement goes to Gen. David Petraeus, who helped conceive and implement the U.S. military’s counterinsurgency program; to Iraqis themselves, who helped pull their nation back from the abyss; and to President Bush, whose inherent stubbornness in this case led him to make a last-ditch gamble that paid off.
But as the surge ends, where does that leave us? With violence down, will democracy begin to take root in Iraq? Will the Iraqis become strong U.S. allies in the oil-rich region, allowing U.S. forces to remain to serve as a check on neighboring Iran?
Those were once the benchmarks of what advocates of the invasion would term victory, and the success of the surge has allowed some to cling to those goals still. But it ain’t gonna happen.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is publicly insisting that by 2011, all foreign troops will be removed from Iraqi soil. While that deadline is unlikely to be met, al-Maliki’s stance is a pretty strong indication of long-term trends.
It also indicates a newfound confidence among Iraqi officials in the ability of the Iraqi army to defend the nation, at least against internal enemies. And as the Iraqi army improves in both ability and confidence, U.S. military officials acknowledge now that it is no longer under American control.
While in one sense that is a great development, it means the Iraqi army is available for uses that contradict U.S. policy and interests, with little we can do about it.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that within five years and perhaps sooner, Iraq will have abandoned democracy in all but form and reverted to some type of dictatorship, with Kurdistan effectively operating as a separate nation.
Already, provincial elections scheduled to be held in October have been canceled, with July now mentioned as the next earliest date. The initial elections almost four years ago had been boycotted by Sunni voters, who are now eager to make their voice heard. But the Shiites and Kurds who control the current government are in no hurry, understanding that new elections might weaken their grip on power and all the financial benefits that power brings.
In fact, Maliki is trying to consolidate his power not through the ballot box but at gunpoint, increasingly using the Iraqi army as a political weapon. He used it against Shiite rivals in southern Iraq, and is now turning it against the Sons of Iraq, the Sunni groups organized, armed and paid by the U.S. military to reduce terrorism.
“What it looks like we are getting is a Maliki government that won’t behave itself and wants to crush the Sons of Iraq,” Stephen Biddle, a defense expert and former advisor to Petreaus, told the Los Angeles Times.
Those trends suggest that Iraq is already reverting to form, with a strongman likely to emerge who uses democracy much like Vladimir Putin uses it in Russia, as a front to disguise his authoritarianism.
Maliki is attempting to become that strongman, but if he doesn’t succeed, somebody else likely will.
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Comments
By K_Chub
September 1, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
What a terrible mess we have created and all or what? We throw out one dictator and nearly 5,000 U.S. death and $600 Billion later he is replaced by another dictator. We are so much weaker today because of this war while china is slowly but surely catching up to us and will soon pass us.
We really need Obama!
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this
If if and buts were candy and nuts, Jay kookman would weigh about half a ton:
Those were once the benchmarks of what advocates of the invasion would term victory, and the success of the surge has allowed some to cling to those goals still. But it ain’t gonna happen.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is publicly insisting that by 2011, all foreign troops will be removed from Iraqi soil. While that deadline is unlikely to be met, al-Maliki’s stance is a pretty strong indication of long-term trends.-Urinal/Jihad
How can a supposed political opinion writer know so little about politics?
Maliki fully understands that some of his citizens want sovereignty with no foreign troops on their soil, an all together welcome development if you ask me, and he is making an effort towards that end to appease them, which is a sure sign of democracy and not of a heavy handed dictatorship.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that within five years and perhaps sooner, Iraq will have abandoned democracy in all but form and reverted to some type of dictatorship, with Kurdistan effectively operating as a separate nation.-Urinal/Jihad
Yep, “global warming” in fifty years, Iraq henchmen in five.
Easy game to play.
Check out the Duh Report from earlier today on what it takes to be a goony anti American propagandist.
It takes nothing.
Just predict the worst possible outcome but then give yourself, oh, let’s say a five or ten year cushion so you don’t immediately look like an idiot.
In fact, Maliki is trying to consolidate his power not through the ballot box but at gunpoint, increasingly using the Iraqi army as a political weapon. He used it against Shiite rivals in southern Iraq, and is now turning it against the Sons of Iraq, the Sunni groups organized, armed and paid by the U.S. military to reduce terrorism.-Urinal/Jihad
So Maliki was a tool of Iran for not attacking the Mehdi Army and now he is a tool of Iran for attacking the Mehdi Army.
Do tell us Jay, how many armed bands of militiamen do most advanced democracies have roaming their streets?
Especially after the battle has been won.
What a mealy mouthed little sellout of the efforts of our brave soldier’s in Iraq this really is.
The most powerful, richest and caring nation in the world is incompetent in defeat and victory, right kookman?
We just can’t get anything right, can we?
So typical.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
So who do you believe, a brave trooper on the ground or some kook in Atlanta?:
“In the last year, we’ve had more than 130,000 Iraqis join the various forms of security forces,” he said. “At the individual level, the individual Soldier or policeman understands what risks he’s facing. And he continues to serve, and despite the risk continues to serve, in support of his country, and really in support and in defense of his family.”
That determination extends to Iraq’s leadership, the general explained.
“At the national level, … there has been a significant demonstration of courage by the government of Iraq - willing to take on all of its enemies, regardless of ethnicity or religious sect. And that, in itself, has generated more confidence in the security forces and the government,” Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan said.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
So who do you believe, the government of Iraq or some kook in Atlanta?:
An economic conference was held on Wednesday, August 20, for the seven northern Iraqi provinces. Attendees included Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, deputy Iraqi Prime Minister Rafh al-Isawi, several ministers of the Baghdad and Kurdistan Region governments, the governors of seven provinces, and several members of Iraqi Parliament.
The head of Suleimaniya province’s council said his province successfully spent their annual budget on necessary projects and fairly distributed the budget to the province’s towns and sub-districts.
Yeah, there’s “no” cooperation with the Kurds, uh-huh.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
So who do you believe, the Iraqis or some kook in Atlanta:
Today in Iraq we have a unique opportunity. There is fertile ground for a democratic and federal state to emerge so that we can serve our people and reconstruct our country. A country that has long suffered from a totalitarian regime that brought war and destruction to Iraq. We are one of the new states in the world in many respects. But at the same time we should be careful not to make the error of assuming that history started the day Iraq was liberated.
We in Iraq – Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and all other constituencies – have experienced tragedies, hardship, and difficult times. This is why we are now trying to build a new Iraq, so that those sad days will not be repeated, and so that we can secure a bright future for the people of Iraq. Therefore we should watch our steps carefully so as not to allow that history to be repeated or the mistakes of the past to resurface.
Since the liberation of Iraq, in cooperation with the Coalition forces and friends of our people, efforts continue to establish a democratic, federal, transparent and active system in Iraq, a civilised system that will be aligned with modern norms. The manner in which federalism is to be enacted was agreed upon by Iraqi parties so that authority would never be accumulated by a central government and decisions would not be made unilaterally. Sharing power in Iraq is necessary so that all the people throughout Iraq can participate, will not be deprived of their rights or wishes, and will not be far from the decision-making process. And that is why any decision or law should respect the rights of the people and also the authority and wishes of the regions and governorates.
By Taxpayer
September 1, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
Good morning, Jay. Another good article that clearly hits home with most people. By the way, where is Andy from? Atlanta?
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
kook would be the operative word here, Taxpayer.
Besides which I hail from the same corrupt city as Fake Temple Pilot does, Chicago.
See, it is possible to have political differences, same as the Iraqis do, and still live together in one nation.
After all, we do not have the blue state “breakaway” region of Moronica, do we?
By Mike
September 1, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Gee, when the surge was announced, Bookman wrote:
”..It is a futile gesture, a vain attempt to salvage what is already lost…”
Where is Bookman’s admission that he was personally so wrong? Partisan liberal hacks always gripe about Bush’s inability to admit mistakes. It is pathtetic (but expected) that these same partisan hacks refuse to acknowledge their own errors.
BTW: Turns out Biden had 5 deferments, same as Cheney. Wonder if the partisan hacks that have been attacking Cheney for this will also criticize Biden. Can’t wait to see Tucker and Bookman call Biden a “chickenhawk” for actively supporting the wars, yet never served himself.
I’ll start holding my breath.
By Mike
September 1, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
“By K_Chub
September 1, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
What a terrible mess we have created and all or what? We throw out one dictator and nearly 5,000 U.S. deaths”
Actually it is 4,150. But hey, you can’t be a liberal without grossly exagerating to suit your partisan views. Why not just say nearly 20,000 casualties, next time? Your dishonest hyperbole might fool someone who can’t think for themselves. Bookman does it every day.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
Jay:
You are not far off in your ananlysis but here is the sad truth.
Countries that control/supply/send the insurgents are waiting to see what happens in our election.
If Obama wins, they will lay low, wait for the troops to be withdrawn and then make their move to topple the government. If McCain wins, the insurgency will be renewed with new intensity immediately.
The bottom line is that five years after the last American combat troops leave, we will be back to square one. Remember, in Vietnam it only took three years.
By Taxpayer
September 1, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
The reality of this war in Iraq is that it has cost the lives of thousands of Americans and thousands of innocent Iraqis and hundreds of billions of dollars and for what. The world is not free of terrorists. Iraq is not a stable democracy. Communist China now has access to Iraqi oil fields and US troops will be there to protect them while they drill. We don’t have hundreds of billions of dollars left to continue this war and we don’t have thousands of Americans left to send off into battle. We don’t even have the money needed to care for the tens of thousands of wounded US soldiers who have come back home only to find a foreclosure sign in front of their house that’s now worth half of what it was a year ago. I want no more of this and I will not vote for another Republican in November.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
To Taxpayer:
I will not vote for Obama/Biden for many other reasons but I hear you. This was a real bumble from the “get go” tactically and strategically. I cannot disagree with your analysis.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
By “The Corporal” September 1, 2008 9:10 AM The bottom line is that five years after the last American combat troops leave, we will be back to square one. Remember, in Vietnam it only took three years.
Private: The South Vietnamese fought successfully to defend their country up to the very day that the dhimmocrat controlled surrender monkey Congress in America cut off military aid.
Check out your history junior and learn.
Or you could just watch it happen all over again if Fake Temple Pilot gets elected.<—————-
Word.
These libs are frightened and confused by victory, see today’s column, and are itching for a good old fashioned defeat, hahahaha.
Maggots.
By Mike
September 1, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
“By Taxpayer I want no more of this and I will not vote for another Republican in November.”
You? Wow, it really says something when a non-partisan independant like Taxpayer won’t vote Republican ;)
By Mike
September 1, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Biden on Meet the Press in 2002, discussing Saddam Hussein: “He’s a long term threat and a short term threat to our national security… “We have no choice but to eliminate the threat. This is a guy who is an extreme danger to the world.”
Biden on Meet the Press in 2002: “Saddam must be dislodged from his weapons or dislodged from power.”
Biden on Meet the Press in 2007, on Hussein’s WMDs: “Well, the point is, it turned out they didn’t, but everyone in the world thought he had them. The weapons inspectors said he had them. He catalogued — they catalogued them. This was not some, some Cheney, you know, pipe dream. This was, in fact, catalogued.”
Biden, on Obama’s Iraq plan in August 2007: “I don’t want [my son] going [to Iraq],” Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said from the campaign trail Wednesday, according to a report on Radio Iowa. “But I tell you what, I don’t want my grandson or my granddaughters going back in 15 years and so how we leave makes a big difference.” Biden criticized Democratic rivals such as Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama who have voted against Iraq funding bills to try to pressure President Bush to end the war. “There’s no political point worth my son’s life,” Biden said, according to Radio Iowa. “There’s no political point worth anybody’s life out there. None.”
Biden on Meet the Press, April 29, 2007: “The threat [Saddam Hussein] presented was that, if Saddam was left unfettered, which I said during that period, for the next five years with sanctions lifted and billions of dollars into his coffers, then I believed he had the ability to acquire a tactical nuclear weapon — not by building it, by purchasing it. I also believed he was a threat in that he was — every single solitary U.N. resolution which he agreed to abide by, which was the equivalent of a peace agreement at the United Nations, after he got out of — after we kicked him out of Kuwait, he was violating. Now, the rules of the road either mean something or they don’t. The international community says “We’re going to enforce the sanctions we placed” or not. And what was the international community doing? The international community was weakening. They were pulling away.”
Biden to the Brookings Institution in 2005: “We can call it quits and withdraw from Iraq. I think that would be a gigantic mistake. Or we can set a deadline for pulling out, which I fear will only encourage our enemies to wait us out — equally a mistake.”
Analyzing the surge on Meet the Press, September 9, 2007: “I mean, the truth of the matter is that, that the — America’s — this administration’s policy and the surge are a failure, and that the surge, which was supposed to stop sectarian violence and — long enough to give political reconciliation, there’s been no political reconciliation… The reality is that, although there has been some mild progress on the security front, there is, in fact, no, no real security in Baghdad and/or in Anbar province, where I was, dealing with the most serious problem, sectarian violence. Sectarian violence is as strong and as solid and as serious a problem as it was before the surge started.”
Biden in October of 2002: “We must be clear with the American people that we are committing to Iraq for the long haul; not just the day after, but the decade after.”
On Meet the Press, January 7, 2007, assessing the proposal of a surge of troops to Iraq: “If he surges another 20, 30, or whatever number he’s going to, into Baghdad, it’ll be a tragic mistake, in my view, but, as a practical matter, there’s no way to say, ‘Mr. President, stop.’”
On Meet the Press, November 27, 2005: “Unless we fundamentally change the rotation dates and fundamentally change how many members of the National Guard we’re calling up, it’ll be virtually impossible to maintain 150,000 folks this year.” (The number of troops in Iraq peaked at 162,000 in August 2007, during the surge.)
By Dusty
September 1, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Oh well, I excuse Bookman today. He’s down in the dumps. It is not the surge in Iraq that has him quibbling, it is the surge in Republican vigor. He got a proverbial right to the jaw and still lies on the canvas. Mrs. Palin is powerful.
AJD/DNC Management has given us good information. I, too, prefer the accurate information from a General in Iraq.
Bookman has never had an impartial view of combat and has run from it in any way possible. He is a liberal throughout with the moaning, groaning and running. He has plenty of company at AJC with Luckovich picturing the whole retreat and rot view he’d like for America.
Sooo..cheer up Bookman. It’s Labor Day and New Orleans is ready and Republicans are ready and Iraq is getting itself ready too. Even Obama is getting ready…for his graceful defeat. Everything is going to be A/OK…you’ll see.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
To AJC/DNC Management:
Several Points:
1) I was there to help make that history. Were you?
2) There is an excellent article in the current issue of Vietnam Magazine that refutes your aid argument. I quote: “The argument that they ran out of supplies is not true. They did not run out of guns or bullets or anything else. They still had $5 million worth of war material when the war was over.”
3) If after all of that time, all of that aid, all of that training and with a military as big and even better equipped than North Vietnam; if the South Vietnamese couldn’t hold their own then they simply gave up the will to fight for their own democracy.
4) The same thing will happen in Iraq in less than five years.
You make my point!
By Hurricane Goose Step
September 1, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
That’s right, Corporal, Vietnam is just like Iraq.
Moron.
I thought I told you to stop selling your stinking war. Just fade away, McWanker.
What a clod.
The issue in Iraq is that the 10K year old civil war will never be over. That’s why you dont invade Iraq.
Sure, they’ll all have a nice caucus and share power and wealth like nice little girl scouts.
Morons.
You people amuse me. You are all clowns stuffed in a little car for my amusement.
A VW. Like the one Heetler invented. You’re Nazi blitzclowns.
bwa
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Thanks for your honorable service, private.
I know that the left disapproves, but not very many young children were allowed on the battlefields of Vietnam, I did not join the military until several years after it was over, and no, I did not pull a Biden either.
Congress places a $1 billion ceiling on military aid to South Vietnam for fiscal year 1974. This figure was trimmed further to $700 million by August 11. Military aid to South Vietnam in fiscal year 1973 was $2.8 billion; in 1975 it would be cut to $300 million. Once aid was cut, it took the North Vietnamese only 55 days to defeat the South Vietnamese forces when they launched their final offensive in 1975.
Does anybody here besides private really believe that the Soviets cut their aid to the North Vietnamese?
19 Jun 73 The U.S. Congress (surrender monkey democrats) passes the Case-Church Amendment which forbids any further U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia, effective August 15, 1973. The veto-proof vote is 278-124 in the House and 64-26 in the Senate. The Amendment paves the way for North Vietnam to wage yet another invasion of the South, this time without fear of U.S. bombing.
22 Sep 73 South Vietnamese troops assault NVA near Pleiku.
Sep 74 The U.S. Congress appropriates only $700 million for South Vietnam. This leaves the South Vietnamese Army under-funded and results in a decline of military readiness and morale.
Oct 74 Vietnam decides to launch an invasion of South Vietnam in 1975.
The Fall of Saigon - April 30
Do we need to show you pictures of the most modern Soviet military hardware knocking down the gates of the US embassy?
I do not know what Koolaid you been drinking private but I do know you swallowed all of it.
By Taxpayer
September 1, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Ah. yes, the VW. If only America had embraced the VW…we would not have these concerns about fuel prices today if we were driving VWs, the original VW, that is. Those things would actually run on stale gas. Too bad America runs on stale politics and stale politicians. We need some really fresh air. I might be convinced to vote Obama/Palin or even Palin/Obama if they would agree to stop fighting wars that we cannot win and to get rid of all corrupt politicians. Just think of the taxpayer dollar that would be saved.
By TW
September 1, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Congrats to the Bush admin for effectively using our tax money to pay for quiet in Iraq until we get ourselves a an adult president who can figure out how to clean up the mess.
Someone please give the Bush admin their political pre-K diplomas.
Is McSame really selling umbrellas with his name on them?
By Dusty
September 1, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Taxpayer,@11:52 Yeah, America’s stale politics. Stop fighting THOSE wars.
Yes, indeed, cut and run and sweet talk killer dictators and everything is going to be AOK.
Better be assured that your enemies are also cut’n’runners like you. Seems to me Islamic terrorists are not going to be best friends to America. 9/11 was not the best overture to friendship I’ve seen. But maybe YOU think so.
Meanwhile, I am off to celebrate our delightful Labor Day in freedom. Don’t cry too much over how we stay free. Terrorists might be encouraged.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
A weakened Hurricane Gustav crashed Monday into the flood-prone but nearly deserted coast of Louisiana, making landfall west of New Orleans as a Category 2 storm. Water was splashing over some floodwalls, but city officials were optimistic the levees protecting the city would hold.
al-Gitmo: Do not, I say again, do not turn around and come back yet.
The moron media is giving us an exact replay of Katrina, where they pronounced no damage from the storm and lured everyone back to the city, causing thousands of people to be killed when the levees started failing, do they never learn?
Listen to Bushie this time and stay the hell out.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
To AJC/DNC Management:
You miss the entire point “non-combatant”……
Of Course Congress cut their aid (and a Democrat Congress will cut Iraq’s aid given enough time) but **the point is the South Vietnamese LOST the war in the 1975 North Vietnamese invasion LONG before the stockpile of already given aid ran out (accounting even for blackmarket corruption) because they lost the will to fight for their own freedom. They had just as big an Army, a bigger Air Force and Navy and were in defensive positions which gives you the edge everytime !!! On paper they should have stopped the N.V. cold.
“The Corporal” India Company 3rd Bn, 4th Marines 1967-68
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
private: Please be advised that this is not Jay kookman that you are dealing with now and that it would be a real wise decision for you to break contact and abandon this engagement like the democrats abandoned South Vietnam.
As a minor preview of what will befall you should you choose to ignore this warning, do you even realize who’s side your on now?
For reasons that escape historical justification, even after America’s military withdrawal the Left continued to try to bring down the incipient South Vietnamese democracy. Future White House aide Harold Ickes and others at “Project Pursestrings”—assisted at one point by an ambitious young Bill Clinton—worked to cut off all congressional funding intended to help the South Vietnamese defend themselves. The Indochina Peace Coalition, run by David Dellinger and headlined by Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden, coordinated closely with Hanoi throughout 1973 and 1974, and barnstormed across America’s campuses, rallying students to the supposed evils of the South Vietnamese government. Congressional allies repeatedly added amendments to spending bills to end U.S. support of Vietnamese anti-Communists, precluding even air strikes to help South Vietnamese soldiers under attack by North Vietnamese units that were assisted by Soviet-bloc forces.
Scram, junior.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Obama’s birth, his mother was only eighteen
Yes, let’s trash the Obama family too while we are at it.
By 2thousand33
September 1, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Bookman continues the illusins of McCain by erroneously claiming success of the surge. This of course can be defined from many different perspectives, however there is only one that is relevant. The U.S. invaded the people of Iraq on known false intelligence, a pretext of WMD's they knew did not exist, yet consciously decided to enter into a war the world views as illegal. The surge does not matter! As a result thousands of soldiers are dead, and no one will ever know the civilian death toll. The surge does not matter! Iraq has been continuously bombed since 1991. There is probably no other place on earth that has suffered more military assault. It is, essentially in ruins and will take 20-50 years of reconstruction and aid that the people will not likely receive. The surge does not matter!By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
McCain has to transcend: A president of his own party who was decisively tuned out by the public after his botched response to Hurricane Katrina.- Rich Lowry
This pis-ses me off, a supposed right winger immersed in goony left wing propaganda.
Notice how I no longer subscribe to you, National Review, perhaps you should evaluate why you continue to come up so lame.
Since when has it become the Federal Government’s freaking job to rescue morons from their own foolishness?
Is this the form of limited government that you “conservatives” espouse?
Should I, responsible citizen of the United States, cancel the insurance policy I have on my home and automobiles and take to whining and moaning when the next unfortunate incident befalls me, a.k.a. New Orleans?
Do you morons even realize how much the environmental terrorists have interfered with the rebuilding and strengthening of the levees, even after Katrina hit?
Buh bye, Mr. Lowry.
By Midori
September 1, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
I thought the freaks only came out at night??????
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
The sun has reached a milestone not seen for nearly 100 years: an entire month has passed without a single visible sunspot being noted.
In the past 1000 years, three previous such events — the Dalton, Maunder, and Spörer Minimums, have all led to rapid cooling. On was large enough to be called a “mini ice age”. For a society dependent on agriculture, cold is more damaging than heat. The growing season shortens, yields drop, and the occurrence of crop-destroying frosts increases.
Bwahahahahahahahahaha, remember, I said it first.
Want to buy your SUV back, sucker?
Bwahahahaha.
By Hurricane Goose Step
September 1, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
I’m voting 4 McCain. Sarah Putin looks like Angelina Jolie. All America needed was a pretty face. At least that’s what her daughter’s lover thought.
‘muff said.
McCangelina 08: Two hockey moms for the price of one.
By Carnac the magnificent
September 1, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Carnac, the Magnificent will devine the answer to the sealed question: (camera to Carnac holding the sealed envelope to his temple)….. “Sarah Palin, Britney Palin, and John McCain”.
(Camera to Carnac opening the envelope and reading aloud the question)…. “Name two hockey moms and a puck.”
. . . I really am the best, aren’t I?
McCain/Palin 08: Two hockey moms and a puck.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
I have to give it to Barak Obama, just this once:
“I have said before and I will repeat again: People’s families are off limits,” Obama said. “And people’s children are especially off-limits. This shouldn’t be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin’s performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. So I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18 and how a family deals with issues and teenage children, that shouldn’t be a topic of our politics.”
Kudos, my man.
By Taxpayer
September 1, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Dusty, your message is so stale, you could use it to produce penicillin. I’ll bet you are just as stale yourself. Now, get up off your buttocks and get over to Iraq and start defending those communist China oil wells like the rest of our US troops will be doing.
By Carnac the magnificent
September 1, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Sarah Palin’s daughter is preggers? Gee, I guess the RNC didn’t do a very good job of “cherry-picking” veep candidates.
that one was my wife’s
By Carnac the magnificent
September 1, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
A: Sarah Palin, her daughter, and John McCain
Q: Name two hockey moms and a puck
By Dusty
September 1, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Dear Taxpayer 3:42
Sounds like you are getting a little testy because Iraq is getting stronger every day. I know you wanted them to go kaput so you could blame Bush but it is not to be.
You will have to put the white flags away because our troops are coming home as progress appears. But you can still cry with Bookman who writes that it is all just slipping away. Yes, it is. Just like George W. Bush intended. He had no intention for any American to stay in Iraq.
Chinese oil wells? The Iraqis will take over any guard duty. Has your Japanese made car run out of gas yet? Oh, you have a Korean one? German? Swedish?
Sorry, bub, but I said it first. YOU ARE GETTING STALE with the same ol’ “I’m afraid of everything”.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
Isn’t it curious that in 36 years, Biden’s never even been mentioned for Majority Leader, or even for Majority Whip?
By Dusty
September 1, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
POFO..
When you have to explain a joke it is NO GOOD, just like your last dozen or so.
By Butt Geyser
September 1, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
If only life were the Xanadu dusty sees, eh?
Bookworm wont let us tell dusty what we really think of her, and you know what? I’m glad. He/she’s not worth it.
ButtGeyser knows the truth about the Dust-miser.
By Butt Geyser
September 1, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
A: Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin, and John McCain
Q: Name two hockey moms and a puck
By Butt Geyser
September 1, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
The phrase “hockey mom” is a new one on me. I’ve heard of soccor moms, but never hockey mom.
I’ve heard of stage mothers. I’ve heard of step mothers. I also happen to have stolen a copy of Sarah Palin’s speech she’s giving at the GOP convention.
“My dirty pillows, I mean, my fellow americans, let me tell you about myself: I was homeschooled but it was a student exchange program, so I spent my entire middle school years on the Concorde. I did my post humous, post partum doctoral work on the in-vitro, pre-natal implications of lifetime achievement awards. My mother was deaf, so I spent most of my summers lip reading holler back girls. I schooed myself in the different ways to fake “en passant” in chess games. I developed a fail safe method for cheating at hop scotch. This served me well at PTA meetings. I was molested at age 18 by a mime and have been faking all my orgasms ever since. I once snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when I simultaneously gave the international sign of surrender and then crossed the international date line. I could go on and on about snatching things, but now it’s John McCain’s turn.”
John? John? JOHN!!
zzzzz
By Taxpayer
September 1, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
Sorry, Dusty. I said “stale politicians” first and you just copied me. So there. Nah, Nah, Nah. This is fun. So, how does it feel to know that you have sent your family members off to fight in Iraq just so they can tell us to bug off even though Bush thought he was going to have us stay there forever. How does it feel to know that our troops died to make way for the communist Chinese to move in and start drilling for oil. Guess what, India, Vietnam and Indonesia could be next to get in on the Iraqi oil and US troops will still be there to make sure all those countries can safely drill for that oil. How does it feel to know that the Iraqis are well on their way to tossing democracy out on its head. Poor Dusty and her loser Republicans. They just can’t get anything right. Even all their harping over drilling for oil in the Gulf to help lower gas prices. Now her loser Republicans have to face the fact that every time a hurricane heads for the Gulf, oil and gas prices just go up again. Just imagine what would happen if there were even more oil wells out there. Poor Dusty and her Loser Republicans. But, don’t take it personal, Dusty, and get all testy on me. After all, I have not even started to talk about the really bad things that the loser Republicans have done.
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
The McCain campaign plans on making an assault on Barack Obama’s strength as a change agent. And challenge, what the McCain campaign will describe as, Obama’s weak or non-existent attacks on corruption within the Democratic party and other institutions throughout his career.
I’m Obama Bin Biden and I don’t approve this message, bwa.
Blowhard/ Gasbag 08.
Not.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
To AJC/DNC Management:
You are entitled to your opinion but like so many you are just an “armchair general” who has never “seen the elephant”.
The South Vietnamese had everything they ever needed to defeat the NVA. The corruption in their military, poor tactical leadership, an unwillingness to fight (they were even allowed to take their families to the front) and their panic in 1975 resulted in their defeat. They have no one to blame but themselves. Remember those helicopter pilots who instead of strafing the enemy landed on U.S. carriers?
The South Vietnamese flag was a field of yellow with three vertical red stripes representing their three main regions. We in the infantry always said it should have been red with three yellow stripes !
Rock on ………………….
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Sigh:
In FY 1973, we provided $2.27 billion to the SV govt. In FY 1974, the amount was cut to $1.01 billion. In FY 1975, the administration asked for $1.485 billion and Congress slashed the request to $700 million. These severe cuts in funding emboldened the enemy. General Deng, NV Chief of Staff: “The reduction of U.S. aid made it impossible for the puppet troops to carry out their combat plans and build up their forces…Nguyen van Thieu was then forced to fight a poor man’s war. Enemy firepower had decreased by nearly 60 percent because of bomb and ammunition shortages. Its mobility was also reduced by half due to lack of aircraft, vehicles and fuel”. The North Vietnamese violated the January 1973 agreement, and when they saw our weakness, i.e., our lack of commitment to funding Vietnamization, they attacked. With severe shortages in bullets and materiel, South Vietnamese military morale was shot to hell prior to the NV invasion, especially with inflation growing by 330 percent from Jan-1971 to Sep-1974.
March 1975 saw Hanoi make its next seriously aggressive move. In the preceding two years, North Vietnam’s army patiently moved into the South enormous quantities of Soviet artillery, surface-to-air missiles, and armored vehicles, along with 100,000 fresh troops. The Paris accords allowed more than 80,000 North Vietnamese regular troops to remain in the South, and their numbers had already increased to more than 200,000.
Yawn.
Blow some more Jane.
By Midori
September 1, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Juneau
a republican failure
By Taxpayer
September 1, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
[By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican National Convention delegates have adopted a platform that is at odds with certain nominee John McCain on abortion rights.
The nonbinding document calls for an outright ban on abortion. It doesn’t include exceptions allowing abortion in cases of rape, incest or where a mother’s life would be in danger. Those exceptions all are favored by McCain. The platform approved during Monday’s truncated opening convention session also highlights a difference between McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She opposes abortion in all cases.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080901/aponelpr/cvngopconventionbusiness2;ylt=AkPoHEAXs9DgEmAD.Sy29NRh24cA)
McCain has this one partially right but the Republican Party and Palin just plain have it wrong. I pity all the women out there if these idiots get any more power.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this
To AJC/DNC:
You keep barking up that money tree.
No amount of money will make a soldier or an Army fight. The South Vietnamese Army (with the exception of a few small elite units) wouldn’t fight. The French at the start of WWII had the largest, best equipped Army in the world. They wouldn’t fight.
“Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea.” Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
private: I can tell you were a jarhead, your tenacity is commendable but your judgment is sorely lacking.
I quoted the North Vietnamese Army Chief of Staff who watched with his own two eyes as the ARVN withered on the vine without any more American aid, while his army built up with all the latest Soviet military hardware.
Point #2- I stood on the line, bozo.
Capiche, Misses Fonda?
By AJC/DNC Management
September 1, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
To whit:
For two years the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) successfully defended South Vietnam. Eventually, as materiel dwindled and they were not resupplied by the United States, their success against the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) faltered.
In 1975 the communists of North Vietnam launched an offensive in the South, which became known as the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The ARVN unsuccessfully attempted a defense and a counterattack. It had few remaining operational tanks and artillery pieces, as well as a shortage of spare parts, and ammunition. The NVA had a vastly greater supply of new equipment and ammunition.
Thieu requested aid from U.S. President Gerald Ford, but the U.S. Senate would not release extra money to provide aid to South Vietnam, and had already passed laws to prevent further involvement in Vietnam.
By "The Corporal"
September 1, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
To AJC/DNC:
It really is sad that you don’t grasp what happened over there.
1) I know you have heard the phrase never get involved in a land war in Asia!
Well, that’s exactly what happened and worse the borders could not be controlled. If Laos and Cambodia had been the “Sea of Thailand” we wouldn’t even be having this discussion. Why? The Korean DMZ is about 250 miles wide and the 2nd Infantry Division still helps to hold it. The Vietnam DMZ was 53 miles wide and had there been ocean on the western side the 1st Air Cav. (or some unit) would still be there.
2) Col. Harry G. Summers (author of the failure in Vietnam book “On Strategy”, once stated to a Vietnamese Colonel, “You know you never defeated us on the battlefield.” The North Vietnamese colonel pondered this remark a moment. “That may be so”, he replied, “but it is also irrelevant.”
3) No amount of American involvement or aid to South Vietnam would have won that war. The American people didn’t have the will and the South Vietnamese didn’t have the fight.
4) Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
By Glenn
September 1, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
Who mentioned July as the next possible election date?
By Glenn
September 1, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
Who mentioned July as the next possible election date?
By Ben
September 2, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
The US military needs to get out of Iraq and slink back into Kuwait or Saudi Arabia where it forces are needed and wanted, in order to keep the Emir and King Fahd in power.
It will never be welcome in Iraq. It is an unwanted occupying force that if it were in the US, it wouldn’t be tolerated.
By BDAtlanta
September 2, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
To: By “The Corporal” September 1, 2008 9:10 AM
Do you think this stuff up yourself?
Bushco/Republicans are the best recruiting tool terrorists have ever had. If Republican’s lose office, terrorists lose sources of funding as well as all those angry new recruits.
By "The Corporal"
September 2, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
To BDAtlanta:
Sorry sir. You have it backwards. If the Dems. get in the terrorist have no fear of being harassed other than token operations now and then. They will have four years to fund, regroup, recruit and be ready to attack again.
Trust me there are things the Bush Administration has been doing to keep these people off balance that you will never read about.