We have much more pressing matters to attend to.

Yes, we do. And as your lot squandered their chance, its time for you to kindly step aside, shut up, and let those of us who are serious about matters clean up you mess.

The reason our previous strategies were not completely successful was due to massive support of the anti-Iraqi terrorists by the rogue governments in Syria and Iran.

Oh, dear. You should have quit while you were ahead.

Both those 'rogue governments' happen to be democratic republics, so we're hardly in a position to criticize their conduct. Also keep in mind Syria is majority Sunni, while Iran and Iraq are both majority Shia, soof course they're going to help their respective brethren stay alive, you damned idiot!

We should take Senator Lieberman's advice to heart and act upon it before it is too late.

It was 'too late' back in January 2004. Its been 'too late' since George W Bush took the Oath of Office for the first time.

Its far too late for you to expect to be taken seriously. My advice: give it up, shut up, and leave the discussion to the grown ups.

Be that as it may, I consider that prediction to be 75% fulfilled, with the current encouraging signs of progress in Anbar, Diyala and most of Baghdad.

And Operation Market-Garden (September 17 - 25, 1944) was "90% successful" according to Field Marshal Montgomery, even though it failed to achieve its stated objectives, cost 20,000 casualties (12,000 of them Allied dead or wounded), and arguably stretched the land war in Europe out into 1945.

But hey, it created a nice unsustainable salient into Holland, right?

This 'surge' is a tactical effort that has no hope of furthering the broader strategic objectives (at least the ones articulated this week by the White House) and fails to address the wider logistical hazards this occupation has faced since 2003.

You're an amateur, son. Leave this sort of discussion to the professionals, eh?

To be fair, Senator Bond is taking at least one (small and admittedly potentially equally damaging) step towards addressing the damage this occupation has done to our troops:

http://proctoringcongress.blogspot.com/2007/07/there-is-travesty-occurring-in-our.html

On the other hand, he's billing the current debate as "Retreat and Defeat" and is working to keep US troops in this meat-grinder:

http://bond.senate.gov/hottopics.cfm

Someone please explain to me how this piece of work ever got elected in the first place?

Which is just a lot of hot air and arrogant noise apropos of nothing.

If you're going to address Arne's point, or any of the rest of us for that matter, please speak to the rest of us and not at your reflection in the funhouse mirror.

To do otherwise is just...rude.

Truth, justice, and the American way.

Since when have you cared about any of those things?

And, I really enjoy illuminating the foibles of pompous jerks.

So why argue against perfectly legitimate criticisms of the White House and the Republican caucus? Or is it you simply aren't serious about these issues?

http://www.julescrittenden.com/2007/07/23/psycho-death-cult/

Crittenden's prize quote:

Technically, as a reader notes below, abusing a corpse in military as well as civilian life is a crime. In this case, I’d apply the legal principle of who cares?

This is what the "9/11 Generation" will be remembered as.

Shooter, RealName, and all their fellows must be so very proud.

Out here in the real world, war hasn't been formally declared as a function of Congress since 1945 (1941?). What other illusions are you laboring under?

That's right. So why don't quit with the whole "we are at war" meme?

Rhetorical question, btw.

This is utterly preposterous. While technically illegal, only a PC fanatic would harp about such things.

So I take it you don't object to US troops resorting to necrophilia, indulging in the 'occasional' bit of recreational mutilation, rape and/or murder?

On behalf of civilized people everywhere, let me say you and yours make me sick and ashamed to have to admit we're even the same species, never mind the same nationality.

This sort of stuff has been part of any war in history,

War is hell after all.

"It is well that war is so terrible — lest we should grow too fond of it." - Robert E Lee (unsourced)

"As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular." - Oscar Wilde, The Critic as Artist (1891)

Read:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/war-is-hell-by-digby-surprise-surprise.html

This is what the 9/11 Generation will be most marked by.

Gods forgive us.

It is completely true that conservatives set a high bar and sometimes fail to achieve it but it is sad to think that there are people out there who think the answer to imperfection is to set the bar so low that one can achieve it without trying.

I have no clue what the commentator was attempting to communicate.

There is a lot not to like about some of his ideas, but I trust that Bush is doing what he sincerely believes is best within the limits of the law.

If that were true, why does he retain the current AG, who is not a proven liar? Why has he directed his staff not to cooperate with Congressional oversight, particularly when there are serious legal questions involved?

Why is he directing members of his staff to openly break the law and refuse to comply with a Congressional subpoena?

Do us all a favor and put your money where your mouth is, shooter. Go enlist (provided the armed forces will even have you), to to Iraq, and let us know how long your convictions last.

It's already well-established that shooter is a liar. Why keep flogging a dead horse?

Its a guilty pleasure.