I'm so pissed I can hardly think straight. CNN is reporting that a new US government classified report says that Al Qaeda, that campy little Middle East Haters Club for Men, is now as strong as it was at the time of the attacks on New York and Washington D.C..
In other words our Commander in Chief has failed (like that's a big surprise, nothing he has done has ended in success). In the last seven years we've wasted so much money, allowed our lives and freedoms to be disrupted but more importantly we have lost way, way, way too many good men and women in this "fight on terrorism" and yet none of it has resulted in an over-all positive gain. And to think that our last president was impeached because he lied about cheating on his wife just makes our current president's performance even more absurd.
I hope all of you who voted for Shrub are happy. I hope you are getting what you wanted, whatever the hell that may be.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
Well, what I wanted was pictures of Bushy-poo, beatified.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
I'll say it one more time: Nader.
And he's invited our Prime Minister, Howard, to join him in that failure - our guy's about as smart as yours.
You wouldn't actually think that were possible.
I think this goes way beyond the obvious and begs two questions. 1.) If we know this to be true about Al Qaeda, why has nothing been done? 2.) Is not the real reason for this warning we get in varying degrees every summer to shift focus from Iraq? Or the "untruthful" Attorney General? Or the feckless Scooter Libby? Or any *number* of unbelievable actions of this administration? Fear trumps everything, doesn't it?
If there's any doubt that this is no longer America, take a look at this and get a hint of what we really need to be afraid of.
Where's the coverage on this? Oh, wait--I guess it's the wrong kind of fear.
Here Here! I feel the same way.
90% of what we (the general public) know is all spin anyways.
It's absurd to honestly think that we or anyone outside of the even the most basic government security clearance know anything thats even close to resembeling fact on what is going on in Iraq (or anywhere else).
Some facts are misconstrued one way, and other another. Some in favor of Prezbo Bush and his gaggle of gal pals and others against.
But that does not mean our opinion does not matter.
We can always judge the end result which are dead bodies in Iraq, a fleeting sense of freedom/security and rising gas prices.
But -- overall the economy is fair and life in general is "alright" If we can kick our dependency on oil and become a little more solitary and worry about concerns inside the us who knows life may even get better.
One thing i cant stand is bleeding heart liberals and republicans complaining about the situation while they cruise around the streets of America in their SUV getting 6mpg eating Big Mac's while tossing the styrofoam container out the window.
Asshattery.
** Steps off his soapbox **
If you're going to be honest about it, Clinton wasn't impeached for cheating on his wife, he was impeached because he committed perjury; which last time I checked is a crime.
ZIiiingaahh..
Amen. This is ridiculous.
Makes me want to start my own damn country.
> If you're going to be honest about it, Clinton wasn't impeached for cheating on his wife, he was impeached because he committed perjury; which last time I checked is a crime.
That's what I said. And you're right it is a crime. A serious crime. But that I know of thoundsands of people didn't die because of it. Clinton got what he deserved but Bush will never suffer the consequences of his actions.
Your response to this fact, if true, is not rational. Number one, if Al Quaeda is stronger, that does not necessarily indicate failure.
Number two, Al Quaeda "the base" itself doesn't even exist as a real organization. It's a generic name for a group of loosely affiliated, decentralized terrorist and militant organizations.
Number three, for political purposes, Al Quaeda must be perceived as a real threat, so this actually benefits the administration and they will no doubt celebrate this fact.
Your outrage is almost certainly based on noble emotions, however I think it is folly to have such strong feelings with such little insight. No one can know what is really happening.
Bush is a laissez-faire administrator of questionable effectiveness, however your disgust and bitterness is based more on personal emotion and perspective than a desire to see the ambiguity of this reality.
With you all the way here Greg. Whenever I see a car around Greensboro with a "Bush/Cheney 04" bumper sticker, I always think to myself "How'd that work out for ya buddy?" The sad part is that we all lost in that election.
> Clinton got what he deserved but Bush will never suffer the consequences of his actions.
Which makes his tomfoolery even more difficult to accept.
>Number one, if Al Quaeda is stronger, that does not necessarily indicate failure.
No, but it points out how futile the 'war on terror - in Iraq' is given it's done jack sh*t other than kill good people (on both sides). The country is already in the throws of a civil war, Bush can't hope to expect victory. Mean while, people keep right on dying.
Nothing really excuses the 'asleep at the wheel' situation, or the pointlessness of fighting a war that doesn't exist.
Sure, modern terrorism is the epitome of 'decentralised networking' which gives it something of an edge, but that is made all the worse whilst the 'war on terror' wastes resources elsewhere in futility.
> Bush is a laissez-faire administrator of questionable effectiveness, however your disgust and bitterness is based more on personal emotion and perspective than a desire to see the ambiguity of this reality.
Funny, I thought we had a few more decades before the Vulcans landed on Earth.
Greg,
>Bush will never suffer the consequences of his actions.
It sure looks like GW has been smart enough to cover his butt in case someone trys to hold him accountable for crimes of the past or future.
http://wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php
Very interesting!
You need not be bitter Greg, at least not for these specific reasons, but perhaps more so for tangential ones. Those being that there is no such thing as Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is a ghost. The best way I can describe it, in a few short sentences here, is that Al Qaeda is a boogeyman, not an organization.
As a boogeyman, Al Qaeda thrives; the carelessness, violence and torture with which the US administration has handled the middle-east situation (a difficult task to succeed in by anyone, but still) has resulted in an increase of shattered families, an increase in alienated individuals with nothing left but hatred for the great satan in the west which destroyed their homes and killed and/or tortured their loved ones. Net effect: more people with nothing left in their lives but hate. More people willing to dedicate their lives to the hatred of America and its allies.
But as an organization; Al Qaeda exists not. Probably never did to any substantial degree. Al Qaeda should most accurately be thought of as the same thing as "jihad". An idea; a goal or path which different unconnected individuals and groups choose to pursue, often for similar reasons. But there is no organization such as Al Qaeda, it has no leaders, and it cannot be killed with violence or bombs, certainly not with torture or random incarcerations.
Not that I am agreeing with Pres. Bush's actions in the least, but the stuff we've accomplished in Iraq is amazing and notable. Problem is, the media doesn't cover the good things we've done over there, like save peoples' (Iraqi) lives from the 'Al Qaida'.
>Number two, Al Quaeda "the base" itself doesn't even exist as a real organization. It's a generic name for a group of loosely affiliated, decentralized terrorist and militant organizations.
This is completely true; Al Qaida, for all intensive purposes in Iraq, is nothing more than the local groups and tribes attacking Americans and Iraqis that are working with us on a constant basis.
They recruit kids (10 - 15 yr olds) by promising them money and fame; probably 25% of these kids they recruit are mentally handicapped. The statement that 'Al Qaida' may be the largest since 9/11, but believe me when I say that we are working wonders over there.
Iraq != Al Qaeda.
It's that simple.
To those of you frustrated with the Bush-Cheney administration, and the failure of our elected representatives to hold them accountable for their words and deeds, I invite you to consider writing your congressmen and asking them to support H.Res. 333.
House Resolution 333 was introduced in April 2007 and has since then acquired 14 cosponsors. It calls for the impeachment of Richard B. Cheney in order to hold him accountable for his actions as vice president.
H.Res. 333 is a strategic step in impeaching, or at a minimum holding accountable, President Bush. Some make the accusation that impeach is a partisan tool. Fortunately, impeachment was intended by the authors of the Constitution to as a check on abuse.
Clinton perjured himself, and faced impeachment. Bush-Cheney has done much worse and our elected representatives need to hear your opinion on the subject. Please write your rep and share your views.
Be an active citizen. Consider impeachment.
The priorities of our government are so upside down. They're more worried about whether gay people can share insurance with their partners than seeking real justice.
intensive purposes = intents and purposes
> It's absurd to honestly think that we or anyone outside of the even the most basic government security clearance know anything thats even close to resembling fact on what is going on in Iraq (or anywhere else).
Try to keep in perspective that the information made publicly available is often not the whole of the story. Our leaders make decisions based not on information appearing in the Times or on the six o'clock news, but rather, information you will most likely never see. And, if you've ever seen such information, you'd understand the enormously difficult task our nations leaders are presented with.
Note: When I say "you/you'd/etc" I mean that as the general readership of this blog. No fingers pointed here.
The Bush Administration: Making the rest of the world hate America since 2001.
Mission accomplished indeed.
Agreed Josh, Was kinda my point.
But we can still have an opinion.
> Iraq != Al Qaeda.
Mike, stop using fuzzy math.
[I could be a little late on this, but I like the new header. überdope.]
Al Qaida is not our enemy, poverty and hunger is. As long as either exist there will be discontent and a breeding ground for religious extremism. Bush is along for the ride, with his advisers doing the hard thinking. His strength (if any) is from his cabinet. It is presumptuous to think that any one president could have done anything about this situation, and I feel that any other candidates would have been worse at the job than our current has. Yes its a batch of sour pickles, but its a damn better batch than anyone else could have made.
Now, without being on the ground and in place where these things are going on. It is foolhardy to assume what the news or anything joe schmoe on the street sais is fact. CNN is out to make money, if its sensational they will air it for views. Better to shoot first as questions/beg forgiveness later. (In their eyes.)
Bitter? Pissed? Now? I am so desensitized to the ineptitude and outright evil of this administration that it doesn't make me pissed at all. It makes me overwhelmed and saddened that our populous never demands better.
We play into the game of having to be on one side or the other, Republican or Democrat that it makes people who are defined by their political affiliations handicapped. Some Republicans can't say they are against this war because that would make them gay lovers and abortionists because they actually may cross the divide on one issue.
It was hard for me to cross the divide and think what the President was trying to do with immigration seemed like a good idea. "But I'm a Democrat, I can't agree with the President or people will think I support the Iraq money grab." Or having to defend Clinton when he did something wrong and not really wanting to defend him.
The way the politicians play us in this country to divide us is working so well. We can't criticize our own or celebrate the other and that leads us down a road of division and paralysis - not a very good combination.
>>The way the politicians play us in this country to divide us is working so well. We can't criticize our own or celebrate the other and that leads us down a road of division and paralysis - not a very good combination.
I strongly agree!
> Bitter? Pissed? Now? I am so desensitized to the ineptitude and outright evil of this administration that it doesn't make me pissed at all. It makes me overwhelmed and saddened that our populous never demands better.
Jim, I've been feeling that way for the last two years and for a while it was convienent to put my disgust on coast but as we have an election coming up and a likely withdrawl from Iraq, I don't see that it's going to get better for any of us any time soon. It's time to rage against the machine (plus it makes for good banter).
"Problem is, the media doesn't cover the good things we've done over there"
The problem is people that believe the problem is the media 'not covering the good things'.
I'm not against war, but in this particular case, the best solution is for the U.S. to pull back and let Iraq destroy itself. A country has to purpose to change if it wants to get better. Poverty and Hunger is not the enemy. It's selfish people that have an extremely misguided cause in their mind and hearts that have absolutely no regard for respect of humanity.
Göring: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece?
Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.
Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only [[the Congress can declare wars.
Göring: Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.
Oh Yeah - it worked.
And "[insert terrorists name here] are getting even stronger" will just work again.
>A country has to purpose to change if it wants to get better.
This is the thing, US, UK, Australian and other troops are stuck in the middle of a religious and civil war. The country is, eventually, going to have it out to sort out who runs in.
All Saddam did was stall the inevitable by wiping out those who were a threat. There is a power vacuum and that won't be resolved by Bush telling everyone to calm the hell down and watch his tee-off shot on round 9.
If 'war-on-terror' is the order of the day, the best weapon is to reject fear and stand as one against it, not make rule and law and war because of the fear of it.
1/20/09. Bring it on.
Move to Canada, plenty of room up here.
Josh:
>They recruit kids (10 - 15 yr olds) by promising them money and fame; probably 25% of these kids they recruit are mentally handicapped.
where does that information come from? never heard of 25% of terrorists being mentally disabled....
although come to think of it. it kind of makes sense considering the incredible sloppiness of recent failed attacks here in London
"Al Qaeda" does not exist. To start to understand how our world works, watch the 3-part series of BBC documentaries called "The Power of Nightmares". They're all on Google Video.
Looking at the article you quoted, Greg, I think there is some room for interpretation.
Al Qaeda is the strongest it has been since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks...
Technically, that means it was still stronger then than it is now. Not that I am trying to make a molehill out of a mountain, but the media does tend to intentionally botch stats up with carefully worded language for the sake of a good news story.
Either way, I seriously doubt that there is any accurate way to measure this sort of thing. 9/11 only took a handful of people to execute, so unlike a traditional army, conducting a head count is not going to give you any relevant information as to their strength.
Nothing Good is easy.
Sure we can all stand here and say that this action was wrong-headed and beat our chests saying that we were right all the way back from the beginning, but folks we have a larger problem right now, and no, it's not called 'terrorism' it's called responsibility.
Should we pull out of this country right now, we will have started a REAL civil war, complete with REAL ethnic cleansing, mass graves and all manner of atrocities well beyond what was seen in abu Garib.
Look at the news. We are not causing the violence and aside from the roadside bomb score that the news folks put up, all of this violence is Iraqi vs. Iraqi. Think about how much worse it would be if there wasn't an American force in there right now.
I think people also forget how Saddam used to keep things quiet: a ViseGrip® on the media and vicious violence, a la Stalin.
I am sure that all of you out there, just as I, feel a great sickness when the subject of the Iraq war is even mentioned. How would you feel when your clamoring for withdrawal causes perhaps millions of deaths? What will you say when they show Baghdad burning and people being executed en mass and bulldozers covering bodies because we quit when things lasted too long?
This my friends, is the cost of nation-building. It is by no means cheap for anyone, but if you can see it through the rewards will be well worth it. Want a case in point? Japan, Yugoslavia. Germany. Want a case for pulling out early? Vietnam, Somalia.
When you look at the fall of Yugoslavia, irrespective of the oval office, you can see the same sorts of issues, only there the UN stayed the course and didn't leave when the going got tough or the TV too tough to handle.
Think about all the things (including countries) that wouldn't be here if people gave up when things took too long or got too hard.
P.S.
Another interesting thought for all you out there: This whole mess was actually born a little less than 100 years ago, when the League of Nations and the UK smushed three different factions into a single country. There has been fighting since.
P.P.S.
The world hated us long before GW was born and will continue hating us well past his and our deaths. Just as we will learn to hate the people who steal away the 'superpower' badge from us.
Stick to web design.
Maybe I'd take your suggestion to heart if you had the courage to own your words, then again I could care less. And since you wouldn't leave a real name and address I've taken the liberty to assign ownership for you.
You know you really shouldn't do that, Greg. I know it's your blog and all, but that's a violation of someone's privacy. Exposing someone's name and exposing their IP is a world of difference. You know who this is, so hopefully you'll take it to heart.
I completely agree with this post. Majority of the public thinks this way but is afraid to stand up and wake up.
> that's a violation of someone's privacy.
According to whom?
> According to whom?
Well since you don't have a privacy policy, according to no one. But I think it's a reasonable expectation and just part of being a responsible netizen.
.......................__ ............
.......
........................| |...........
................... __\||/____......
.\\...............|'-|--| .\\....\.....
..\ \_...........|--|---|..\\ ....\....
../ L \____,/-------\___\___\
.|LOL|-------------O----- ----,\..
..\ L /______,---''-----------, /...
../ /.............\_________ ,/....
.//.............____//___ __\\__/.
I tripped on my lollerskates...
ROLFCOPTER!
Well, at least you're not bitter anymore. ;)