I've often though that the USA was a little too nice when it came to killing bad guys. It seems that we always take a stance which comes back to bite us in the butt. It's part of our culture, the "Be Nice" mindset that people in this country seem to have.
The Iraqis, however, have a different culture. And now that they're in charge, things might just go a little differently.
Iraq will soon offer amnesty to insurgents so long as they haven't performed "atrocious acts" but the interim president is threatening to use a "very sharp sword" to fight guerrillas threatening the country's security.
"We are offering an amnesty definitely, for people who have not committed too many atrocious acts," Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer told The Financial Times on Monday. "Everybody except murderers, rapists and kidnappers."
OK, so quite a few people will get a chance to remain among the living. I don't know how they'll be able to tell the difference between a murderer and some guy who just likes to torture people, but that's their choice not mine.
Al-Yawer appealed to insurgents to accept the amnesty and lay down their weapons.
"This is your last chance, otherwise there will be the sword," he said.
Foreign and local insurgents have launched numerous attacks in Iraq in an effort to force U.S.-led coalition forces to leave and to thwart the country's postwar reconstruction. The attacks have killed scores of U.S. troops and hundreds of Iraqi civilians.
"Terrorism isn't just killing and blowing up bombs, whoever threatens the ordinary life of the people is a terrorist," al-Yawer told reporters Monday. "We have a very sharp sword ready for anyone who threatens the security of this country."
Now here is where I pause to chuckle for a bit. By and large, the "insurgents" that are fighting in Iraq are not Iraqi. They're Iranian, or Syrian, or Lebanese, or Palestinian. They aren't going to stop fighting or causing trouble, because a free and stable Iraq is what they're fighting AGAINST. Which means that the Iraqi government is going to be able to wipe them off the face of the earth without hesitation. These terrorists have three options: 1) Leave Iraq (which they can't do without admitting failure), 2) Stay in Iraq but stop fighting (which they can't do without admitting failure), and 3) Stay in Iraq, keep fighting, and die.
And I'm going to sit back and grin.
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once. - Robert A. Heinlein -
Monday, July 12, 2004
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Michael Muqtada al-Moore
Ouch.
Bush may be vulnerable to substantive criticism of his personal capabilities and his policies and motivation. There might be a rational and convincing argument to be made for voting for "anyone but Bush".
But we won't find out in 2004. Michael Moore has done more than any other single man to guarantee that. Someone on the left may voice such an argument, but he'll be drowned out by rabid LL jihadists as they stridently deliver a message tailor-made to alienate the broad electorate in style of presentation, in attitude, in substance, and in underlying message. Moore holds a locus of extreme political positions, and most Americans will consider at least one of them to be utterly odious. (For instance, Moore strongly favors gun control, but Americans actually own more guns per capita than do the citizens of any other nation.)
It is rare for a political faction to be blessed with an opponent who is so charismatic to his fanatical supporters, so repulsive to non-supporters, and so vulnerable to criticism and caricature. I can't think of a high-profile leftist I'd rather have "at the centre of things" than Michael Muqtada al-Moore.
And THAT is why I read den Beste
Bush may be vulnerable to substantive criticism of his personal capabilities and his policies and motivation. There might be a rational and convincing argument to be made for voting for "anyone but Bush".
But we won't find out in 2004. Michael Moore has done more than any other single man to guarantee that. Someone on the left may voice such an argument, but he'll be drowned out by rabid LL jihadists as they stridently deliver a message tailor-made to alienate the broad electorate in style of presentation, in attitude, in substance, and in underlying message. Moore holds a locus of extreme political positions, and most Americans will consider at least one of them to be utterly odious. (For instance, Moore strongly favors gun control, but Americans actually own more guns per capita than do the citizens of any other nation.)
It is rare for a political faction to be blessed with an opponent who is so charismatic to his fanatical supporters, so repulsive to non-supporters, and so vulnerable to criticism and caricature. I can't think of a high-profile leftist I'd rather have "at the centre of things" than Michael Muqtada al-Moore.
And THAT is why I read den Beste
Let's frogmarch him in handcuffs out the door!
Remember Joe Wilson? The guy who wanted Karl Rove frogmarched in handcuffs out of the White House?
Yeah, that guy. The poor little picked on Wilson, who's wife was "outed" (and then who had a nice photo spread!)
Turns out he's full of shit.
Wilson last year launched a public firestorm with his accusations that the administration had manipulated intelligence to build a case for war. He has said that his trip to Niger should have laid to rest any notion that Iraq sought uranium there and has said his findings were ignored by the White House.
Wilson's assertions -- both about what he found in Niger and what the Bush administration did with the information -- were undermined yesterday in a bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report.
The guy is a lying snake, willing to sell his country down the river in order to hurt the current administration. Gee, what a nice guy.
The report also said Wilson provided misleading information to The Washington Post last June. He said then that he concluded the Niger intelligence was based on documents that had clearly been forged because "the dates were wrong and the names were wrong."
"Committee staff asked how the former ambassador could have come to the conclusion that the 'dates were wrong and the names were wrong' when he had never seen the CIA reports and had no knowledge of what names and dates were in the reports," the Senate panel said. Wilson told the panel he may have been confused and may have "misspoken" to reporters. The documents -- purported sales agreements between Niger and Iraq -- were not in U.S. hands until eight months after Wilson made his trip to Niger.
Wilson's reports to the CIA added to the evidence that Iraq may have tried to buy uranium in Niger, although officials at the State Department remained highly skeptical, the report said.
Wilson said that a former prime minister of Niger, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, was unaware of any sales contract with Iraq, but said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him, insisting that he meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss "expanding commercial relations" between Niger and Iraq -- which Mayaki interpreted to mean they wanted to discuss yellowcake sales. A report CIA officials drafted after debriefing Wilson said that "although the meeting took place, Mayaki let the matter drop due to UN sanctions on Iraq."
According to the former Niger mining minister, Wilson told his CIA contacts, Iraq tried to buy 400 tons of uranium in 1998. (all emphasis mine)
Hang him high, boys. Rope, tree, asshat. Some assembly required.
Hat tip to DANEgerus.
Yeah, that guy. The poor little picked on Wilson, who's wife was "outed" (and then who had a nice photo spread!)
Turns out he's full of shit.
Wilson last year launched a public firestorm with his accusations that the administration had manipulated intelligence to build a case for war. He has said that his trip to Niger should have laid to rest any notion that Iraq sought uranium there and has said his findings were ignored by the White House.
Wilson's assertions -- both about what he found in Niger and what the Bush administration did with the information -- were undermined yesterday in a bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report.
The guy is a lying snake, willing to sell his country down the river in order to hurt the current administration. Gee, what a nice guy.
The report also said Wilson provided misleading information to The Washington Post last June. He said then that he concluded the Niger intelligence was based on documents that had clearly been forged because "the dates were wrong and the names were wrong."
"Committee staff asked how the former ambassador could have come to the conclusion that the 'dates were wrong and the names were wrong' when he had never seen the CIA reports and had no knowledge of what names and dates were in the reports," the Senate panel said. Wilson told the panel he may have been confused and may have "misspoken" to reporters. The documents -- purported sales agreements between Niger and Iraq -- were not in U.S. hands until eight months after Wilson made his trip to Niger.
Wilson's reports to the CIA added to the evidence that Iraq may have tried to buy uranium in Niger, although officials at the State Department remained highly skeptical, the report said.
Wilson said that a former prime minister of Niger, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, was unaware of any sales contract with Iraq, but said that in June 1999 a businessman approached him, insisting that he meet with an Iraqi delegation to discuss "expanding commercial relations" between Niger and Iraq -- which Mayaki interpreted to mean they wanted to discuss yellowcake sales. A report CIA officials drafted after debriefing Wilson said that "although the meeting took place, Mayaki let the matter drop due to UN sanctions on Iraq."
According to the former Niger mining minister, Wilson told his CIA contacts, Iraq tried to buy 400 tons of uranium in 1998. (all emphasis mine)
Hang him high, boys. Rope, tree, asshat. Some assembly required.
Hat tip to DANEgerus.
More crap from Seattle
Actually, from Bainbridge Island, but the attitude is the same from Olympia to Seattle.
Think about the Seattle area -- Bainbridge Island to be exact -- and you think scenic views and liberal-minded tolerance.
At least the killer views are still there.
The bucolic island's deep reputation for civility got a gut check this week during the annual Grand Old Fourth of July celebration.
That's when Jason Gilson, a 23-year-old military veteran who served in Iraq, marched in the local event. He wore his medals with pride and carried a sign that said "Veterans for Bush."
Walking the parade route with his mom, younger siblings and politically conservative friends, Jason heard words from the crowd that felt like a thousand daggers to the heart.
"Baby killer!"
"Murderer!"
"Boooo!"
I've had a few people ask my why I haven't blogged on this sooner, since the incident happened in my neck of the woods. My answer?
It's nothing unusual for the Seattle area. This is typical. Bringing this up would just be yet another example of the bullshit that this area regularly produces. I've got a neighbor who's truck and house have both been vandalized because of the visible "Bush/Cheney" stickers and signs. And to top it all off, the guy has a sign in his window that states "I'm a Proud Friend of Israel" sitting in his window. He was flying a 101st Airborn flag in his yard for quite a while. The guy has balls of brass. But the reactions he's getting are not out of the norm. The vandalism, that's normal. Trying putting a Bush/Cheney sticker on your car and then parking it anywhere near Capitol Hill. You won't have any windows left. My neighbor has had paint poured over the signs on his house, which of course means that the paint was also poured on his house.
Yeah, really nice people around here, really "tolerant", really "inclusive". Bullshit. This is the average attitude for the Loony Left here in the Pacific Northwest. King County is by and large a one party system, unless you count the Communist party, Socialist party and the Green party, who do get quite a large chunk of votes. Would you like to see a statue of Lenin? I can show you where a Seattle neighborhood has proudly put one on display. Jim McDermott represents Seattle in the US House of Representatives. Lest we forget, Baghdad Jim is one of those proud congresscritters who A) Went to Baghdad before the war and proclaimed Saddam Hussein more trustworthy than George Bush, B) Is a registered member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and C) Has advanced more loony conspiracy theories than almost any one else in Congress. And oh by the way, the last time he was up for re-election he got 71% of the vote. That was AFTER we went to Baghdad and gave Saddam a blowjob on international TV.
You think I'm surprised at this soldier being slandered and insulted? Nope. I'm surprised he wasn't pelted with rotten fruit as well. But seeing as this was a 4th of July parade, I'm sure the rotten fruit was already thrown at the color guard up front. They ran out long before this soldier came along.
If those folks on Bainbridge had cheered when that soldier walked by, I'd have blogged on it. It would have been newsworthy. But lies, slander, insults, vandalism, hatred, and violence from the Loony Left in Seattle?
That's normal.
Think about the Seattle area -- Bainbridge Island to be exact -- and you think scenic views and liberal-minded tolerance.
At least the killer views are still there.
The bucolic island's deep reputation for civility got a gut check this week during the annual Grand Old Fourth of July celebration.
That's when Jason Gilson, a 23-year-old military veteran who served in Iraq, marched in the local event. He wore his medals with pride and carried a sign that said "Veterans for Bush."
Walking the parade route with his mom, younger siblings and politically conservative friends, Jason heard words from the crowd that felt like a thousand daggers to the heart.
"Baby killer!"
"Murderer!"
"Boooo!"
I've had a few people ask my why I haven't blogged on this sooner, since the incident happened in my neck of the woods. My answer?
It's nothing unusual for the Seattle area. This is typical. Bringing this up would just be yet another example of the bullshit that this area regularly produces. I've got a neighbor who's truck and house have both been vandalized because of the visible "Bush/Cheney" stickers and signs. And to top it all off, the guy has a sign in his window that states "I'm a Proud Friend of Israel" sitting in his window. He was flying a 101st Airborn flag in his yard for quite a while. The guy has balls of brass. But the reactions he's getting are not out of the norm. The vandalism, that's normal. Trying putting a Bush/Cheney sticker on your car and then parking it anywhere near Capitol Hill. You won't have any windows left. My neighbor has had paint poured over the signs on his house, which of course means that the paint was also poured on his house.
Yeah, really nice people around here, really "tolerant", really "inclusive". Bullshit. This is the average attitude for the Loony Left here in the Pacific Northwest. King County is by and large a one party system, unless you count the Communist party, Socialist party and the Green party, who do get quite a large chunk of votes. Would you like to see a statue of Lenin? I can show you where a Seattle neighborhood has proudly put one on display. Jim McDermott represents Seattle in the US House of Representatives. Lest we forget, Baghdad Jim is one of those proud congresscritters who A) Went to Baghdad before the war and proclaimed Saddam Hussein more trustworthy than George Bush, B) Is a registered member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and C) Has advanced more loony conspiracy theories than almost any one else in Congress. And oh by the way, the last time he was up for re-election he got 71% of the vote. That was AFTER we went to Baghdad and gave Saddam a blowjob on international TV.
You think I'm surprised at this soldier being slandered and insulted? Nope. I'm surprised he wasn't pelted with rotten fruit as well. But seeing as this was a 4th of July parade, I'm sure the rotten fruit was already thrown at the color guard up front. They ran out long before this soldier came along.
If those folks on Bainbridge had cheered when that soldier walked by, I'd have blogged on it. It would have been newsworthy. But lies, slander, insults, vandalism, hatred, and violence from the Loony Left in Seattle?
That's normal.
Weekend Update
It's been a pretty good weekend so far. The girlfriend and I continued our work on refinishing the chair, until we were interrupted by a thunderstorm that blew in suddenly. Typical Seattle weather; if you don't like it, wait five minutes and it'll change. Still, we managed to get all the varnish off the disassembled pieces. Unfortunately I had to use such a coarse grit to remove the crud, we're having to sand each piece two or three more times in order to smooth it out before we stain it. It's slow going, but it'll be worth it.
Took the new camera out for a spin downtown last night. I bought a cable shutter release, and toyed around with holding the shutter open to see how it works. Hopefully I'll have some cool pictures, but if not I can chalk it up to a learning experience. I'm using a tripod that my father bought in the 1960's, and gave to me a few months ago. I just think that's kinda cool. The girlfriend and I made a date out of it, had a nice dinner, and then we walked around for a few hours.
It's getting harder and harder to find a restaurant that allows cigar smoking in this town. I'd like to be able to sit back, fire up a good stogie and have a glass of scotch after dinner. That seems to be fading away in Seattle. If there's any businessmen reading, here's an idea for you to run with: Start up a restaurant where you can smoke a good cigar, and you don't have to hide in some little room to do so. It'll be a hit, trust me. Market yourself to the smokers, place ads in cigar magazines, put up ads in all the smokeshops. You'll be rich. With all the BS that cigar smokers have gone through in this state, we'd welcome a place that looks at us like decent customers. Seriously, you're talking about people who will spend $10-$15 for a single good cigar, do you think we're gonna skimp on the dinner that we have right before we smoke it? Hell no.
All in all, it's been a relaxing weekend. If I see anything that gets my heartrate up, I'll post it.
Took the new camera out for a spin downtown last night. I bought a cable shutter release, and toyed around with holding the shutter open to see how it works. Hopefully I'll have some cool pictures, but if not I can chalk it up to a learning experience. I'm using a tripod that my father bought in the 1960's, and gave to me a few months ago. I just think that's kinda cool. The girlfriend and I made a date out of it, had a nice dinner, and then we walked around for a few hours.
It's getting harder and harder to find a restaurant that allows cigar smoking in this town. I'd like to be able to sit back, fire up a good stogie and have a glass of scotch after dinner. That seems to be fading away in Seattle. If there's any businessmen reading, here's an idea for you to run with: Start up a restaurant where you can smoke a good cigar, and you don't have to hide in some little room to do so. It'll be a hit, trust me. Market yourself to the smokers, place ads in cigar magazines, put up ads in all the smokeshops. You'll be rich. With all the BS that cigar smokers have gone through in this state, we'd welcome a place that looks at us like decent customers. Seriously, you're talking about people who will spend $10-$15 for a single good cigar, do you think we're gonna skimp on the dinner that we have right before we smoke it? Hell no.
All in all, it's been a relaxing weekend. If I see anything that gets my heartrate up, I'll post it.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Trolls Confirm They Have No Life
The new shit, same as the old shit - it seems our trolls, not content with being banned from this blog, have decided to go shit elsewhere, using my name.
Oh Yay.
So, for anyone who's had some idiot crap in their comments, check the IP's. The trolls are using proxy IP's, especially from overseas. 202.57.70.*, 218.185.66.* and 202.96.161.* (Pacific Rim/Australia), 148.244.150.*, 200.13.168.* (Latin America/Caribbean), 165.247.31.* (Earthlink), 217.127.70.* and 80.32.92.* (The Netherlands), and 198.188.134.* (California University Network) are just a few of the IP's that I've banned from this site. Also, email me and let me know what IP they're using.
The last time this happened, I met some pretty cool people. I'm interested in seeing who shows up this time.
Oh Yay.
So, for anyone who's had some idiot crap in their comments, check the IP's. The trolls are using proxy IP's, especially from overseas. 202.57.70.*, 218.185.66.* and 202.96.161.* (Pacific Rim/Australia), 148.244.150.*, 200.13.168.* (Latin America/Caribbean), 165.247.31.* (Earthlink), 217.127.70.* and 80.32.92.* (The Netherlands), and 198.188.134.* (California University Network) are just a few of the IP's that I've banned from this site. Also, email me and let me know what IP they're using.
The last time this happened, I met some pretty cool people. I'm interested in seeing who shows up this time.
Yawn
There's nothing so boring as being threatened by a troll. I just checked my email and found this from our pal, Michael Ross of Portland Oregon.
David, I never had any interest in you until the past couple of days.
You will get to know me better in the near future.
I promise.
What are you going to do to me, Michael? Bleed on me? What's more, sending threatening emails isn't the smartest thing in the world to do. Thanks for giving me even more evidence against you though.
And let's do some deductive reasoning, shall we? I get spammed by a troll. I take the troll's IPs, and I go to other sites who have been hit by a troll to compare IPs. We compare IP numbers, and they're the same. Hmmmmm.... So we take those IP numbers to other websites and have the owners compare them. Yep, they check out. Gee golly gosh, I wonder why?
So someone does some digging, and finds a name, address, and phone number. (That would be yours, Mike) It's not enough to just post it up, I needed some confirmation. And I got it, trust me. So there are three logical paths that I could take.
1) My troll is Michael Ross.
2) My troll is part of some troll collective who all use the same IP numbers (a definite possiblity, as proven yesterday.)
3) My troll isn't Michael Ross, but uses the exact same IP numbers in an effort to implicate Michael Ross. (Least likely)
Now, let's put aside the fact that all three points would be moot if our pal Michael Ross wasn't a fuckwitted troll who repeatedly spams websites, uses proxy IPs to get around bans, and makes an ass of himself everywhere he goes. Let's put aside the fact that our pal Micheal Ross has made enemies in several different time zones, all of whom would like to see him go away. And let's put aside the fact that all the information on Michael Ross is public information that anyone can find if they want to. We're going to work on assumption Number 3, just to give our troll a break.
I've told you this twice before, Micheal, and this is the third and last time. If you're not the troll, as you so claim, PROVE IT. Otherwise, go the fuck away and shut up. Because all I've gotten from you is hot air and bullshit, and I was tired of it days ago. Prove that you're not the troll, and I will apologise and remove your information. I'll even put up a big post that says "MICHAEL ROSS IS NOT THE TROLL". Just prove it. If you're such a big, bad computer boy, it should be simple.
Or, you could just GO THE FUCK AWAY. Because as long as you are hanging around, I'm going to assume that you really really like me, and want to be contacted by all my readers. Got it?
David, I never had any interest in you until the past couple of days.
You will get to know me better in the near future.
I promise.
What are you going to do to me, Michael? Bleed on me? What's more, sending threatening emails isn't the smartest thing in the world to do. Thanks for giving me even more evidence against you though.
And let's do some deductive reasoning, shall we? I get spammed by a troll. I take the troll's IPs, and I go to other sites who have been hit by a troll to compare IPs. We compare IP numbers, and they're the same. Hmmmmm.... So we take those IP numbers to other websites and have the owners compare them. Yep, they check out. Gee golly gosh, I wonder why?
So someone does some digging, and finds a name, address, and phone number. (That would be yours, Mike) It's not enough to just post it up, I needed some confirmation. And I got it, trust me. So there are three logical paths that I could take.
1) My troll is Michael Ross.
2) My troll is part of some troll collective who all use the same IP numbers (a definite possiblity, as proven yesterday.)
3) My troll isn't Michael Ross, but uses the exact same IP numbers in an effort to implicate Michael Ross. (Least likely)
Now, let's put aside the fact that all three points would be moot if our pal Michael Ross wasn't a fuckwitted troll who repeatedly spams websites, uses proxy IPs to get around bans, and makes an ass of himself everywhere he goes. Let's put aside the fact that our pal Micheal Ross has made enemies in several different time zones, all of whom would like to see him go away. And let's put aside the fact that all the information on Michael Ross is public information that anyone can find if they want to. We're going to work on assumption Number 3, just to give our troll a break.
I've told you this twice before, Micheal, and this is the third and last time. If you're not the troll, as you so claim, PROVE IT. Otherwise, go the fuck away and shut up. Because all I've gotten from you is hot air and bullshit, and I was tired of it days ago. Prove that you're not the troll, and I will apologise and remove your information. I'll even put up a big post that says "MICHAEL ROSS IS NOT THE TROLL". Just prove it. If you're such a big, bad computer boy, it should be simple.
Or, you could just GO THE FUCK AWAY. Because as long as you are hanging around, I'm going to assume that you really really like me, and want to be contacted by all my readers. Got it?
Friday, July 09, 2004
Unbelievable
'Cause it's one, two, threeSimply, utterly unbelievable.
What're those briefings for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn.
You know I fought in Vietnam.
Another "I wish I'd written that" blog post.
Screw David Letterman. Screw Tina Fey and her cutesy attitude and smart ass glasses on SNL Update. Screw the New York Times and their insular editorial page. Screw Michael Moore and all those who value his "contribution to the debate". Screw Jon Stewart and his smarter than thou hipster attitude.
Screw all the news anchors, and especially Jennings and Rather. Screw CNN for paying dictators to let them stay in country all those years for the right to broadcast propaganda, just to win ratings wars and therefore charge their advertisers more money - congratulations! I'm sure it was well worth it. Did you happen to get any quotes from folks just before they were castrated, or had their arms broken, or were fed feet first into shredders? Now THAT would've been entertaining, eh what!
And that's just one tiny part. The whole thing rocks.
Screw all the news anchors, and especially Jennings and Rather. Screw CNN for paying dictators to let them stay in country all those years for the right to broadcast propaganda, just to win ratings wars and therefore charge their advertisers more money - congratulations! I'm sure it was well worth it. Did you happen to get any quotes from folks just before they were castrated, or had their arms broken, or were fed feet first into shredders? Now THAT would've been entertaining, eh what!
And that's just one tiny part. The whole thing rocks.
The Council Has Spoken
This week's winners in the Watcher of Weasel's Council are INDC Interviews "Military Families Speak Out" - Part Two by INDC Journal, and Small Party and Great Hopes by Iraq the Model. You can find all the results here.
Iraq: How are we doin?...
I am convinced that with today's Democratic party and today's biased media, we could have never won any of our previous wars. We would have given up on the Civil War before Gettysburg and we would have surrendered to the Japanese immediately after Bataan. This column puts our trials and tribulations in Iraq into perspective. It's a great read.
We are now 16 months into the Iraq war. At a similar stage in earlier American wars, how were our forces faring?
Well, at about this point in the French and Indian Wars, George Washington had been defeated and forced to surrender at Fort Necessity (he was released after being disarmed), and then disastrously beaten in a fight where his unit of 1,400 men took 900 casualties and ended up running away. (Washington himself was not injured but had two horses shot from under him, and took four bullets through his coat.)
Washington's next experience of war, in the American Revolution, began with equal tribulation. Sixteen months into his command, the American army was suffering through a series of traumatic defeats. They'd lost every single battle since the Declaration of Independence, and had depleted 90 percent of their military strength in heavy fighting. Most of the remaining soldiers declared they were going to go home when their enlistments expired, and in many parts of the new nation citizens were pledging fresh oaths of allegiance to the tyrant King George.
Sixteen months into the Civil War, a permanent breakaway of the southern states looked like imminent reality. The Union army that marched on Richmond had been beaten with tens of thousands of casualties. Robert E. Lee had launched an invasion of the north, and Washington, D.C. was on the brink of being overrun.
Sixteen months into U.S. involvement in World War II, the Japanese had taken control of all of the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Our British allies had suffered the most catastrophic defeat in their history when they lost 130,000 fighting men in Singapore. The Japanese had just as thumpingly ejected the U.S. from the Philippines, and were actually in their tenth month of occupying American soil in Alaska. It would take 1,000 American dead (far more than our total losses in Iraq to date) merely to eject the enemy from this Aleutian Island foothold over the course of a few days in the seventeenth month of the war.
At month 16 of the war in Europe, meanwhile, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Yugoslavia, and other countries had all been lost. German submarines were in the process of wiping out Atlantic shipping. And death camps like Treblinka had been opened and were in the process of killing millions. By the end of that year, 40 percent of the world's Jews, for instance, would be dead.
We are now 16 months into the Iraq war. At a similar stage in earlier American wars, how were our forces faring?
Well, at about this point in the French and Indian Wars, George Washington had been defeated and forced to surrender at Fort Necessity (he was released after being disarmed), and then disastrously beaten in a fight where his unit of 1,400 men took 900 casualties and ended up running away. (Washington himself was not injured but had two horses shot from under him, and took four bullets through his coat.)
Washington's next experience of war, in the American Revolution, began with equal tribulation. Sixteen months into his command, the American army was suffering through a series of traumatic defeats. They'd lost every single battle since the Declaration of Independence, and had depleted 90 percent of their military strength in heavy fighting. Most of the remaining soldiers declared they were going to go home when their enlistments expired, and in many parts of the new nation citizens were pledging fresh oaths of allegiance to the tyrant King George.
Sixteen months into the Civil War, a permanent breakaway of the southern states looked like imminent reality. The Union army that marched on Richmond had been beaten with tens of thousands of casualties. Robert E. Lee had launched an invasion of the north, and Washington, D.C. was on the brink of being overrun.
Sixteen months into U.S. involvement in World War II, the Japanese had taken control of all of the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Our British allies had suffered the most catastrophic defeat in their history when they lost 130,000 fighting men in Singapore. The Japanese had just as thumpingly ejected the U.S. from the Philippines, and were actually in their tenth month of occupying American soil in Alaska. It would take 1,000 American dead (far more than our total losses in Iraq to date) merely to eject the enemy from this Aleutian Island foothold over the course of a few days in the seventeenth month of the war.
At month 16 of the war in Europe, meanwhile, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Greece, Yugoslavia, and other countries had all been lost. German submarines were in the process of wiping out Atlantic shipping. And death camps like Treblinka had been opened and were in the process of killing millions. By the end of that year, 40 percent of the world's Jews, for instance, would be dead.
Light posting day
Today is yet another day where I'm running the moment I get out of bed, so don't expect too much from me. Between meetings, appointments, errands, and dealing with the girlfriend I won't be seeing much of this ol' computer.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing saga of "Mike Ross is a dipshit", he's sent out multiple emails claiming that it wasn't him that was trolling around. Boo freaking hoo, Mike. You've been such an asshole on so many sites that until you give me definitive proof, you're the only asswipe who fits the bill. Deal with it. If you can't handle your past coming up and biting you in the ass, maybe you should look at your past and make a few changes in your currant behavior. Now shut the fuck up and go away.
However, it's always nice when I get people forwarding emails with you admitting that you use proxy IPs and enjoy spamming people. And in that very same email, we have a few links that might be of interest to various people. Let's see, we have the Troll Lounge, where trolls like to brag about where they've been. Attached to the Troll Lounge is this site, Drunken Monkey Blogging, which has a blogroll that the trolls use. Included in all of this is instructions on how to troll, how to use Proxy IP's, and a list of IPs that you can use in order to spam other sites.
Just how fucking worthless are these people? I mean, their big thrill in life comes from annoying people from behind a computer screen. I can't think of anything more chickenshit and cowardly. People like Mike, or "Robert McClellan" are nothing more that slimy little fuckstains on the bedsheets of humanity, and here I see that they actually enjoy it! "Yay, look at me, I'm such a fucking worm that if people ever actually met me in real life, I'd get the living shit pounded out of me! I have enemies in four different time zones! Yay, I'm fucking worthless! Ain't it great!"
I got two words: Mentally deficient. In any case, if they're dumb enough to put this info in an email, I'm going to use it. So I'll be sitting down tonight and firing off a few letters to quite a few people.
As for mikelx and Bobby McFuckstain, just ignore them. The moment I see their comments, I'm either going to alter it, or delete it. Whatever you do don't respond, because I don't want to get the mental picture of these pimply-faced dipwads, sitting in their tighty-whities in their parent's basement with the kleenex and a jar of vasaline, giggling while they type one handed.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing saga of "Mike Ross is a dipshit", he's sent out multiple emails claiming that it wasn't him that was trolling around. Boo freaking hoo, Mike. You've been such an asshole on so many sites that until you give me definitive proof, you're the only asswipe who fits the bill. Deal with it. If you can't handle your past coming up and biting you in the ass, maybe you should look at your past and make a few changes in your currant behavior. Now shut the fuck up and go away.
However, it's always nice when I get people forwarding emails with you admitting that you use proxy IPs and enjoy spamming people. And in that very same email, we have a few links that might be of interest to various people. Let's see, we have the Troll Lounge, where trolls like to brag about where they've been. Attached to the Troll Lounge is this site, Drunken Monkey Blogging, which has a blogroll that the trolls use. Included in all of this is instructions on how to troll, how to use Proxy IP's, and a list of IPs that you can use in order to spam other sites.
Just how fucking worthless are these people? I mean, their big thrill in life comes from annoying people from behind a computer screen. I can't think of anything more chickenshit and cowardly. People like Mike, or "Robert McClellan" are nothing more that slimy little fuckstains on the bedsheets of humanity, and here I see that they actually enjoy it! "Yay, look at me, I'm such a fucking worm that if people ever actually met me in real life, I'd get the living shit pounded out of me! I have enemies in four different time zones! Yay, I'm fucking worthless! Ain't it great!"
I got two words: Mentally deficient. In any case, if they're dumb enough to put this info in an email, I'm going to use it. So I'll be sitting down tonight and firing off a few letters to quite a few people.
As for mikelx and Bobby McFuckstain, just ignore them. The moment I see their comments, I'm either going to alter it, or delete it. Whatever you do don't respond, because I don't want to get the mental picture of these pimply-faced dipwads, sitting in their tighty-whities in their parent's basement with the kleenex and a jar of vasaline, giggling while they type one handed.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Nader got ya down? Call up your Lawyers and Have him Removed!
That's the plan of the power mad Donks of the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Democrats could be participating in a "mini-Watergate" effort to get Ralph Nader out of the presidential picture, the consumer advocate charged Thursday.
You Donks just keep telling yourselves what champions of "the little guy" your leaders are. Why let reality get in the way of your self image.
"They're hiring lawyers to go up to technicalities in places like Arizona, they infiltrated our political convention," Nader, an independent candidate for president, told FOX News on Thursday. "I spoke to John Kerry and said 'you'd better look into it because it could be a mini-Watergate, possibly."
Nader said he hasn't yet heard back from the Democratic senator from Massachusetts, who is hoping to oust President Bush from the White House in the November elections.
"This is pretty serious, when you try to lock the civil liberties of American just to get on the ballot so people can vote for the candidate of their choice," Nader continued.
Nader was denied a spot on the Arizona ballot and last Friday again accused the Democrats and Kerry of engaging in political "dirty tricks."
Just hours before the developments in Arizona, Nader complained that the Democratic Party has "stepped up its obstruction tendencies" in challenging his ballot access. The consumer advocate said he had called the Kerry campaign three times last Thursday, asking to chat with the candidate.
"We have to get a clarification if they're going to engage in dirty tricks," Nader told reporters at a news conference to criticize multinational corporations.
The Kerry campaign dismissed Nader's complaints, arguing that Democrats were following the rules when they legally challenged Nader's signatures to get on the ballot. "These are rules that have been on the books for years and they ought to be followed," said Chad Clanton, who added that the Massachusetts senator would be happy to talk to Nader.
In Arizona, supporters of Nader abandoned their effort to get the independent candidate on the presidential ballot after Democrats challenged the validity of thousands of signatures.
Nader's campaign had submitted more than 22,000 signatures to Arizona election officials June 9 -- far more than the 14,694 valid signatures required by state law to compete against President Bush and Kerry.
"They really erect all kinds of barriers blocking voices and choices," Nader told FOX News of such alleged Democratic acts.
Although he's no fan of Republicans, the GOP "don't whine and carp like the Democrats," Nader said, adding that 10 times more Democrats "deserted the party" and voted for Bush in 2000 than voted for him.
You Donks just keep telling yourselves what champions of "the little guy" your leaders are. Why let reality get in the way of your self image.
Hideaway guns
Kim du Toit has up an essay about concealable pistols that is of course worth checking out, if you're looking for something small but deadly. As for me, if I can't carry my 1911 (which happens in the summer when you can't wear the clothes to conceal it), then I carry my .38 revolver. It's small enough that a loose t-shirt will cover it, and my girlfriend can carry it in her purse.
And .38 Special wadcutters to ungodly things to human flesh.
And .38 Special wadcutters to ungodly things to human flesh.
Can we hit them now?
Seriously, can we finally just drop a MOAB on their ass?
WASHINGTON — American and Iraqi joint patrols, along with U.S. Special Operations teams, captured two men with explosives in Baghdad on Monday who identified themselves as Iranian intelligence officers, FOX News has confirmed.
Senior officials said it was previously believed that Iran had officers inside Iraq stirring up violence, but this is the first time that self-proclaimed Iranian intelligence agents have been captured within the country.
They're dicking around with UN Inspectors about their nuke facilities, they're sending men into Iraq, they're holding British sailors hostage, at what point do we finally hear President Bush say "The bombing begins in five minutes"? The more that Bush dicks around with Iran, the less his support base will support him! This is a direct attack on Iraq and America, and we can't just sit here and let it slide!
Unless we want to be seen as wishy-washy and weak. Which I'm starting to wonder about. Bush needs to get off his ass and show some leadership. He's sat back while Kerry (and now Edwards) have taken shot after shot at him. He's sat back while Donks have petitioned the FRIGGING UN to come observe our elections. Lack of action is not a strength, Mr. President. It's time you got up and moved.
Captian Ed seems to have more faith than I do right now:
Assuming this checks out -- a big assumption -- expect to see missiles flying at known nuclear sites within days in retaliation for preparing attacks on American soldiers, unless the Iranian mullahs offer a complete withdrawal of all forces on the Iran/Iraq border and renounce any further efforts to undermine Iraqi sovereignty.
We'll see what happens.
WASHINGTON — American and Iraqi joint patrols, along with U.S. Special Operations teams, captured two men with explosives in Baghdad on Monday who identified themselves as Iranian intelligence officers, FOX News has confirmed.
Senior officials said it was previously believed that Iran had officers inside Iraq stirring up violence, but this is the first time that self-proclaimed Iranian intelligence agents have been captured within the country.
They're dicking around with UN Inspectors about their nuke facilities, they're sending men into Iraq, they're holding British sailors hostage, at what point do we finally hear President Bush say "The bombing begins in five minutes"? The more that Bush dicks around with Iran, the less his support base will support him! This is a direct attack on Iraq and America, and we can't just sit here and let it slide!
Unless we want to be seen as wishy-washy and weak. Which I'm starting to wonder about. Bush needs to get off his ass and show some leadership. He's sat back while Kerry (and now Edwards) have taken shot after shot at him. He's sat back while Donks have petitioned the FRIGGING UN to come observe our elections. Lack of action is not a strength, Mr. President. It's time you got up and moved.
Captian Ed seems to have more faith than I do right now:
Assuming this checks out -- a big assumption -- expect to see missiles flying at known nuclear sites within days in retaliation for preparing attacks on American soldiers, unless the Iranian mullahs offer a complete withdrawal of all forces on the Iran/Iraq border and renounce any further efforts to undermine Iraqi sovereignty.
We'll see what happens.
Reader Mail
A reader sent me this story, which I had seen around, but didn't quite know what to say about it.
WASHINGTON – The United Nations has turned down a controversial request by nine members of the U.S. Congress to assign international observers to the U.S. presidential election in November.
The request came in the form of a letter drafted by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, and signed by eight other members of the House.
All the signers are Democrats, by the way. Why am I not surprised?
However, the UN (showing a remarkable presence of thought) turned them down. Which is a good thing, because if I had seen any damn blue helmets at my polling place on election day, I'd have gotten my guns. So would a lot of other people I know.
By the way, if any of these congresscritters are from your state, I'd suggest getting rid of them at the first opportunity.
Besides Johnson, the other representatives signing the letter to Annan – all Democrats – were Julia Carson of Indiana; Jerrold Nadler, Edolphus Towns, Joseph Crowley and Carolyn B. Maloney, all of New York; Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Corrine Brown of Florida, Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Michael M. Honda of California.
I was actually astonished that my local lunatic, Jim McDermott, wasn't on this list. Thanks for the email, AC.
WASHINGTON – The United Nations has turned down a controversial request by nine members of the U.S. Congress to assign international observers to the U.S. presidential election in November.
The request came in the form of a letter drafted by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, and signed by eight other members of the House.
All the signers are Democrats, by the way. Why am I not surprised?
However, the UN (showing a remarkable presence of thought) turned them down. Which is a good thing, because if I had seen any damn blue helmets at my polling place on election day, I'd have gotten my guns. So would a lot of other people I know.
By the way, if any of these congresscritters are from your state, I'd suggest getting rid of them at the first opportunity.
Besides Johnson, the other representatives signing the letter to Annan – all Democrats – were Julia Carson of Indiana; Jerrold Nadler, Edolphus Towns, Joseph Crowley and Carolyn B. Maloney, all of New York; Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Corrine Brown of Florida, Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Michael M. Honda of California.
I was actually astonished that my local lunatic, Jim McDermott, wasn't on this list. Thanks for the email, AC.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Errrrr....
...ever had sex with a white yet dreadlocked environmentalist ho?
Yes?
Not in front of an audience numbering a few thousand, I'd wager.
Not Safe For Work
Yes?
Not in front of an audience numbering a few thousand, I'd wager.
Not Safe For Work
Hooooo, Boy!
Mike of Cold Fury is on a roll, and the result is one big ranty goodness. I'm thinking that he sat down to type out a small entry, and ended up with one of the best summations I've seen lately.
RTWT, as they say.
RTWT, as they say.
Attention All Parents
Print out this essay from Dok Russia and give it to your kids. Or read it to them while they're in the crib. It can't be repeated too much.
So, to those young girls on the cusp of womanhood, take this advice for what it is worth:
Be virtuous, and find yourselves a dragonslayer. I am not saying be a prude.
Virtue retains it value better than either virginity or popularity.
Virtue is what cannot be savaged by the years, as beauty can.
Virtue is desired by those worth desiring.
So, to those young girls on the cusp of womanhood, take this advice for what it is worth:
Be virtuous, and find yourselves a dragonslayer. I am not saying be a prude.
Virtue retains it value better than either virginity or popularity.
Virtue is what cannot be savaged by the years, as beauty can.
Virtue is desired by those worth desiring.
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