So we lose air2air, but get DeWreck back.

HuffPo wins that trade, methinks.

Back to the original topic. This Gates guy seems to want to do the right thing. Listening to him talk on C-SPAN 2 the other day, I think it was last Friday, he seemed so much more on the ball than Rummy. He answered every question directly and forcefully. No wavering no knit picking. Like the Anti-Rummy.

He just sounded concerned for the welfare of our military men and women. His posture, his tone, his choice of language all made him seem like he was operating on a level Rummy either couldn't perform on or just chose not to. Probably the latter of the two.

I'm not saying he's the answer. Obviously his own administration hasn't seen eye to eye with him on several topics from troop deployment to extended tours. He doesn't have the pull Rummy did. Even if he were at heart a guy who wanted to fundamentally change how this war is conducted, he'd never make any substantial progress before next January.

What in the hell are we going to do with these Americans that are afraid of their own shadows?
I'm in Oklahoma and I have a better chance of getting hit by a tornado than being attacked by the people these knuckle heads are scared shitless about. The last terrorist we had around here was Timothy McVeigh---a completely home grown variety of terrorist. These people need to grow up and learn how to talk to people that are different. They're being used and are complete tools. How much more of this insanity can we afford?

The Little Weed proclaims:

"My attitude is, if he didn't want to continue the drawdown, that's fine with me in order to make sure we succeed,"

How can one succeed (much less proceed) with an illegal war? The original premise for war was based upon LIES to Congress & the American people, REMEMBER? It's an inconvenient fact for those who love to kill, or are too stupid to manufacture rational, objective thought. Screw the innocent civilians, right? Unfortunately, most Americans have bought & subscribed to this obscene lie, & want to ignore the facts, but guess what? The rest of the world hasn't. The "Land of the free?" Gimme a break. We're in deep doo-doo folks, & it will take decades to extricate ourselves from it. Thanks to the little WEEDS, Bush/Cheney. May they burn in Hell.

"by the end of 2008"

Why not just come out and say facts will shamelessly be distorted more and more until the election? We'll be lucky if *any* truth slips out before then.

Whether we remain or withdraw troops (in part or in full), America's past actions against Iraq have paved the way for an easy 'haven'/excuse (as several have already pointed out) for terrorism in this region to gain necessary support. And, in addition to the loss of scores of civilians, as well as many military personnel, this is perhaps the worst possible outcome of such unnecessary, irresponsible war-action. We've put everyone in greater danger, when it comes to terrorism in this region. What a bunch of morons our leaders under Pres. Bush have been! So yes ~ I do agree with those who argue that America (& its involved allies, like Britian) have a major, ongoing responsibility to repair some of the damage we've done to & in Iraq. And, we should be doing this right now ... these people deserve to have their country & lives back (& intact, as much as possible).

Kelli

GW Bush, six years and one trillion dollars pissed away to get 2,000 al Qaeda.
Gw Bush a failure at birth, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

At 43, I seem to be about triple the age of the average poster here. I've tried to discuss the topic, but just get called "Fuhrer" or worse. I'm leaving in dissappointment that you guys aren't interested in discussion; just trying to out-bash Bush in the newest clever way.

It doesn't seem to matter to you what the article or subject is that you're posting about. So it's hard for me to get a coherent discussion. See ya!

.

""The surge has sucked all of the flexibility out of the system," Army Chief of Staff George Casey said in an interview this week. "And we need to find a way of getting back into balance."

__________­__________­__________­_

Using super intelligent multi level code breaking deciphering techniques the above message ended up being:

"Paul is Dead"

Thank god for modern technology!

.

Oh, and one more thing, 'BLANK' THE ARMY! For some reason, I just don't feel like I can say that enough...eerie...

So Robert Gates turns out to be a competent, level-headed Defense Secretary. Too bad he's deadlocked in the most incompetent administration in nearly a century. When Rummy was DS his word was F'N law. 'Course Rummy had a bit of that folksy ol' crazy that the Bushes really love. Nope, logic and long-term considerations play no part in this White House. I mean, who cares what happens when they leave, right? Not their problem.

I will be posting this on a regular basis without apology. The senate is soon to be considering the renewal of the FISA bill and Telecom Immunity.

Be without a doubt: the purpose of Telecom Immunity is to frustrate the discovery process implicit in the forty some lawsuits being lodged against the telecoms, thus shielding Bush from the evidence of his crimes that would inevitably come out

The list of villains in this is long and depressing. Jay Rockefeller is certainly the first among equals. Reid is rotten to the core. Feinstein is an embarrassment, and for some reason Sheldon Whitehouse is not on the side of the angels.

Meanwhile, all three of our candidates are strangely silent.

Dodd appears prepared top continue his fight, but he needs our help. And this likely will be back at the house, so you may need to turn your attention there soon.

A full and brilliant analysis of this is at Salon, Glen Greenwald at his best, and very current.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/01/17/telecoms/index.html

Very much worth your time. Please act.

AND, just in case anyone hasn't noticed, Afghanistan and the Taliban 6 years later is back to operating just like it did when the Russians were stuck in that shit hole. Now we're basically in the same shit sandwich with no end in sight. Read this excellent article by Sebastian Junger for Vanity Fair (Jan 2008) "Into the Valley of Death" about a platoon in the Korengal Valley

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/01/afghanistan200801

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Can anyone deny that bush's fiscal policy is a threat to National Security????????
And YES, Congress, you are complicit.