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Saturday, Nov 7, 2009
zenwick
Published Letters: 239 Editor's Choice: 2
I believe Moore mischaracterizes the Bush Administration's position on withdrawal from Iraq. They seem to believe that setting a date would postpone insurgent violence until after the withdrawal, not necessarily increase it.
I don't think it's any mystery why Iranians are less inclined to favor the bombing of innocent civilians than Americans are. It's because in both cases, the respondents are assuming it's the Americans who will be doing the bombing. A little collateral damage is justifiable, when you're trying to prevent a smoking gun in the shape of a mushroom cloud; unless you're on the receiving end, that is.
Sorry, folks, but this was played correctly by the Dems. If they were to defund the war or set a short timetable, they would become the proud owners of the coming catastrophe in the Near East, just in time to keep the Republicans in office next November. Is that what you folks want to happen? It would be the worst of all possible worlds.
Whatever the stated rationale, ban the darn things. I don't want my loved ones killed by some idiot who feels free to run unguarded red lights. Why would anyone pay 450 bucks for such a gadget, unless they intended to use it to run red lights? I'm sure the Chicago alderman must have been taken out of context, and revenue was just a subsidiary reason for banning the devices.
I have a pal who is a 911 conspiracy theorist, who thinks that the US Government blew up the World Trade Center and Pentagon as an excuse for stealing oilfields in the Middle East. I think that's daft. It's just not possible to organize such a thing. On the other hand, it's pretty clear that if Dick Cheney had thought such a thing possible, and judged that there would be at least a short-term benefit, then it most likely would have been tried. There is obviously no limit to the man's expediency and dictatorial leanings.
"[I]t is easier for Olmert to throw up his hands and say that it is impossible at present to negotiate with the Palestinians", for the simple reason that it is impossible at present to negotiate with the Palestinians. With whom does one negotiate? Hamas won't, and doesn't accept the results of any previous negotiations. Any agreements reached between Israel and Fatah will just serve to delegitimize Fatah in the eyes of the Palestinian street. There is no way to make forward progress.
I wish (and I'm sure all Israelis wish) there was any truth in your rhetoric. So, enlighten us, if you have anything to say. You write: "Hamas would change its rejectionist position if a satisfactory agreement could be consummated". Give us an example of an agreement that would satisfy Hamas, and leave Israel in existence as a homeland for Jews. There is no such thing, and you know it.
On the contrary, I think Israel's parliamentary system is one of its great strengths. They have a real democracy, rather than our two-party system. They'll never get stuck with a George W Bush and a Dick Tater Cheney for six and a half years (and counting) based on a dead heat in a backwater state.
Interesting that Krongard refers to Afghanistan as "absolutely textbook-perfect", in terms of cooperation. The story I keep hearing is that Rumsfeld prevented the military from sealing off the Pakistan border at Tora Bora, letting bin Laden escape, because CIA were in charge there rather than DOD. This might have been a good point on which to follow up. Why is Krongard talking to the press now, anyway?
Old news, buddy. Do you work for Diebold, or are you recently arrived from Mars?
... but I don't follow the logic. Gonzo can't go under the bus because Congress would hold up his successor's nomination? I don't see how that explains anything. That would just hang the continuing chaos at Justice on the Democrats.
I would think that Powell's priority at this late date would be to do what he can to put the Army right again, after years of abuse by the chickenhawks. My guess that whatever comes out of his mouth will be whatever Petraeus and other senior active-duty generals can't say themselves.
KayWWW is exactly right. Every regime employs hired guns who know how to manipulate public opinion. The difference here is the total absence of adult supervision. Most people used to understand that differences of opinion make America strong and great, but our current administration (as well as the oddly-named Mr. Hitlery, above) fail to grasp that fact, to our terrible detriment.
Several weeks ago, you guys pointed to an LA Times article which claimed that the "Petraeus Report...would actually be written by the White House...."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pullback15aug15,0,4840766.st
ory?page=2&coll=la-home-center
Has anyone asked Petraeus about this? Or has it since been discredited?
Joan, please explain how we got into this situation in the first place. I remember that in 2005, the Gang-Of-14 compromise prevented Democrats from filibustering Bush's far right-wing judicial nominees, and they were confirmed on party-line simple-majority votes. Now, with the Democrats supposedly in power, a simple majority isn't sufficient. How does this make any sense?
Hey, the Chimp sez it's not just terrorists we detain, question and (ahem) don't torture; it's extremists, too! Like all those nasty Democrats who want us to lose in Iraq, for instance. Aren't they extremists? Rush and Sean certainly think so.
I'm just as disgusted with the Bush League as anyone else, but this whole scenario doesn't scan. I'm sure SITE deals in classified information all the time, and this - obviously - was not put into that category. If they wanted to protect it, they should have classified it. Or maybe the game here was to see who the blabbermouths are, at the top of the political echelon.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The Maine fight was supposed to be the dress rehearsal for repealing California's Prop. 8 -- but gay marriage lost
Once one obtains Seriousness credentials in the Washington media, they are irrevocable no matter one's conduct.
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