Letters to the Editor
Jim White
Published Letters: 1089 Editor's Choice: 15
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Actually, pooter's point was a little different
[Read the article: The president's escalating war rhetoric on Iran]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The great thing about having a big stick is that one only needs to use it once for credibility. You folks certainly think the threat is real, I imagine Iran does as well.
I'm breaking the rule of not feeding the troll because he is making a point that must be listened to and then very thoroughly refuted because it is simply and demonstrably false.
His point is that "hysteria" regarding a possible invasion of Iran is all that is needed to assure their good behavior at this point. That is, the "big stick" we only had to use once was our invasion of Iraq and rapid overthrow of Saddam's regime.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, Glenn points out precisely how that approach had the opportunity to work in April 2003. Faced with the stark realization that in just a few short days, the US had routed an army Iran had only fought to a stand-off in ten long years of war, the Iranians quickly approached with an offer to cooperate on all fronts.
Bush, in his infinite wisdom, essentially responded "and the horse you rode in on, too" as he attacked the Swiss diplomat who transmitted the offer.
Nope, the "big stick" moment occurred over three years ago and was rebuffed entirely. We, and the Iranians, can only believe that Bush wants one thing, and that is war.
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Inspired typo of the day
[Read the article: The president's escalating war rhetoric on Iran]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]From kelly o:
I know Halliburton gets to make gross profits and that is a scared thing...
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Staffers had enough?
[Read the article: Three for 18]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I find it refreshing that this draft report was leaked to the WaPo and AP so that it can be compared to the final version once it is released. Providing a paper trail for the manipulation the Bushies will put it through will be very helpful.
Further encouragement comes from the AP story on this same topic. There, an internal White House memo responding to the GAO report also has been leaked. Is this the beginning of a steady stream of Washington insiders at administrative levels finally getting fed up with having professionally prepared work products massaged by political hacks before they are released to the public? Release of the early drafts in leak form is the perfect route for exposing the political treachery.
An interesting quote appears in the AP story:
At the Pentagon, spokesman Geoff Morrell previewed the administration's response to the GAO report, comparing it unfavorably to the July findings.
"The standard the GAO has set is far more stringent," he told reporters. "Some might argue it's impossible to meet."
It would be interesting to dig out some of the stories from January, when the surge plan was announced and incorporated into the funding bill. I am sure the benchmarks were hailed then as easily achievable minimum standards against which to judge progress. The GAO "impossible" standard is a simple yes or no on whether the benchmark has been met.
Clearly, if the benchmarks agreed upon in January are impossible to meet, our presence in Iraq is meaningless and should be brought to an end immediately.
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@Retired Military Patriot
[Read the article: The president's escalating war rhetoric on Iran]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks for the link to the article on the rights of soldiers speaking up. That is an encouraging piece. However, I have been unable to find any information following up on the status of Jeremy Murphy, who sustained a bullet wound to the head between the drafting and publishing of the "Seven Soldiers" op-ed. Although the UCMJ protects the rights of these soldiers, as you and I have discussed previously, we urge the press to follow the status of each of these seven, especially Sergeant Murphy, as events unfold in the next few months.
Further speculation: is it possible to file of FOI request to see if an incident report was generated regarding Murphy's shooting?
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@Phoenix Woman and lukeness
[Read the article: Forcing Larry Craig's resignation while embracing David Vitter]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]When confronted with this complete moral bankruptcy of the "Family Values" group, I am reminded of the writings of Robin Meyers. An excerpt or two from a famous speech he delivered at the University of Oklahoma in late 2004:
-- When you use hatred of homosexuals as a wedge issue to turn out
record numbers of evangelical voters, and use the Constitution as a tool of discrimination, you are doing something immoral.
/snip/
This country is bankrupt. The war is morally bankrupt. The claim of this administration to be Christian is bankrupt. And the only people who can turn things around are people like you--young people who are just beginning to wake up to what is happening to them. It's your country to take back. It's your faith to take back. It's your future to take back.
Don't be afraid to speak out. Don't back down when your friends begin to tell you that the cause is righteous and that the flag should be wrapped around the cross, while the rest of us keep our mouths shut.
Real Christians take chances for peace. So do real Jews, and real Muslims, and real Hindus, and real Buddhists--so do all the faith traditions of the world at their heart believe one thing: life is precious. Every human being is precious. Arrogance is the opposite of faith. Greed is the opposite of charity. And believing that one has never made a mistake is the mark of a deluded man, not a man of faith.
So yes, you are right. Although the press may present the "Family Values" group as representing all of morality, and thus, organized religion, there are many people of faith who think otherwise.
Link: http://www.voicesforpeace.com/talkshop/peace/messages/524.html
Also see http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0787984469 for a description of his book Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister's Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, Your Future.