Great to see you back on the thread. And profound point about Lieberman, old chap. Except that he was trying (and failing) to keep McCain from looking ridiculous, and not trying to keep him from advocating an attack on Iran. It's not AQ, but rather "Islamic Extremists" that Iran is training and sending back into Iraq. So we can attack them anyway, right Fibber?

I myself socialize with no one but Jews. Zionism is rampant in my household. For fun, I hide Mrs. Snoid's membership cards in The David Horowitz Freedom Center. And I have lots of fun! Anyway, at one such social occasion (a couple had forgotten to get a Jewish wedding in a Temple when they got married 30 years ago, so they were doing so now) a few months ago it was at the height of the Iran, Seymour Hersh, Israel Lobby mania and I took it upon myself to corner the left-leaning head of the Judaic Studies Dept. of a large local university and push him into betting me - my $20 against his $10 - that America would attack Iran before the end of Bush's term (I took yes). The point of the bet was my belief that the Neocons had gotten us into Iraq as a first step in the Transformation Of The Middle East into a More Israel-Friendly Neighborhood. Since they had now destroyed Iraq (good), but empowered Iran (very very bad), these real men (or at least those who did their dirty work) were going to Tehran real soon. Otherwise their whole gambit would have backfired.

Well, the bet's still on. The NIE made the bet look bad (or good, depending on how you look at it), but things are heating up again so who knows. If I lose, that means to me that the power of The Lobby is, indeed, limited. If I win, well, like they say - second only to the gun nuts.

...All this other squabbling over old rivalries is more worthless than a daytime soap opera, and it probably makes outside observers think we're kind of pathetic.

My thoughts exactly.

Aych mentions precious bodily fluids a lot. I assumed that he was just one of us evil ironists, but what if -- omigod -- what if he's actually General Ripper's SOCKPUPPET!?

(Enough with the thespian exertions for this evening. Time to retire. Until the morrow, then -- and flights of angels sing the lot of you wonderful dramatis personae to your rest.)

Which brings us back to Gen. Ripper and his concern about the threat to our "precious bodily fluids."

When I was a kid, I remember that the Air Force drove Buick staff cars, and the Army Chevies. I also remember my Dad's raised eyebrow every time he spotted one. Of course in those days, Curtis -- Peace Is Our Profession -- LeMay got the best of everything.

Oh I see. Well, as an Air Force vet, I did some close order drill here and there in the early days; but we didn't use the Army Field Manual naturally, because, uhmm ... we were flyboys!

Lots more glamour, doncha know.

And, there was a fair amount of droll in the Air Force, generally more than what was allowed in the Army.

The old designation for the field manual covering close order drill. Superseded, I think, but I'm from the Garand era myself, and wouldn't know without a Google.

What is FM 22- 5?

J'ai perdu mon élan, mon élan d'Amérique aussi.

No, this is not the moose we are looking for. Move along.

First of all, it is by no means clear that there are no links between Iran and AQ.

Nothing is for sure but it's pretty well established that Shia Iran really doesn't harbor pangs of love for Sunni based AlQaeda. In fact, Iran actually helped the US in pushing the Sunni Taliban from power in Afghanistan.

And yet it was Lieberman who whispered in McCain's ear urging him to downplay Iran's involvement with AQ. Strange way of warmongering!

Lieberman did no such thing. He corrected what McCain said about AlQaeda going into Iran for training and then returning to Iraq.

I've got cats with more brains than you. Cats!

First of all, it is by no means clear that there are no links between Iran and AQ.

McCain was traveling around the Middle East with his closest ally, warmonger Joe Lieberman -- who has already explicitly advocated an American military attack on Iran

And yet it was Lieberman who whispered in McCain's ear urging him to downplay Iran's involvement with AQ. Strange way of warmongering!

That song always chokes me up. Now I'll have to listen to it before I go to sleep, damn it.

If my pillow is moistened with tears, I blame Sir Noel -- and you.

Last fire before spring.

To liberate such energy, the years trapped in circles. If only my cremation smelled so sweet. If I could bring light and heat. The scent that jerks the city out of bed puts the country to sleep. So many differences making so little difference.

My axe now sleeps with winter clothes and I long for summer dresses and detente with the trees. Mostly summer dresses. And shade. And passion. It is going to be a hot summer.

I want to sleep underneath the Weeping Willow as it cries all night quietly.

Its tears all around me.

I'll sleep there so soundly until I'm allowed finally to wake and be happy again.

To wake and be happy again.

As Mr. Coward used to sing. "This sweet Memory, across the years, will come to me. Tho' my life may go a'wry, in my heart you'll ever lie, Just the Echo of a Sigh, Goodbye.

Off I go to bed, meditating on Blogging and identity. This whole sock-puppet thing makes me feel like I've been cleaved in twain. It's terrible, all my suits were made for a whole person!

Oh well, one must, as Anotole says, take some smooths with the rough.

And I must to bed, where my ever-unsatisfied (Gosh that Shooter's a perceptive fellow) wife awaits.

I can hear her sliding a clip into that little pearl-handled Beretta .25 she loves so much, (the very same gun!) and that means it's time for bed at Moosehall.

Good nite LWM, wherever and whoever you are. Someday, karma will repay you for whatever hoo-doo voodoo (that you do so well) you used to screw up Buckyl. My God forgive you, cause I can't. I've seen the wreck of a noble mind here oe'rthrown, and its got right in amongst me.

I don't know how you did it, LWM, but you might as well have hit him square in the temple with a sledge hammer, from what I've seen tonite.

Do you have the same fate in store for me, LWM. Please, don't make me end up like that, LWM, please. I'll do anything, but whatever you did to Buckyl, don't do it to me. It's devastating. You've turned his mind into a rutabaga!