What chaps my a$$ is that Pres. Bush didn't see fit to make a dramatic change until after he got "a thumpin'" in the 2006 election. The initial invasion of Afganistan was a far more closely run deal than most people remember -- in my opinion. Iraq was a much taller order, and to be truly effective, we needed to make it look easy so that f'd up nations like Iran would be ashaking in their boots. Instead, the long, failing pascification phase played into their hands... until now. Bush actually seems to be coming into his own these days. He looks old and tired and wise, and nothing like the petty arrogance of the early years. Good for him and good for us. Better late than never.
Hog,
You might want to edit your last post. Our "initial failure" was the part where we took over the entire country in a matter of days causing the likes of Khaddafi to holler no mas. It was what might be called the middle phase or the pacification phase where we struggled. Either way, George Bush is a leading contender for the Strange New Respect Award.
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“Scientists are people who build the Brooklyn Bridge and then buy it.” Wm. F. Buckley, Jr.
But Obama and vp elect, always lashes out at the Repubs with the comment, " But they have not stated an agenda or what their positions are."
I have yet to actually hear a solid plan from the Democratic elect-tee, of what changes they actually plan on making. I find this almost hypocrisy (sorry there SmackDaddy - you had it all spelled wrong before - but appreciate your patronage of Dictionary.com).
I think Mark Twain had it right in some of his written works (I paraphrase) that politicians are like frogs - the only difference is the level of bellowing because no one actually knows what they are bellowing about...but the loudest one gets the right to passage and the other has to defend...
Obama states he will change healthcare but no plan as of yet.
Obama states he will end the war in Iraq - but then backtracks and states the surge was successful and that it may take time..
Obama states change but the last I checked the penny is worth more molten down than it is as change...
Does anyone actualy know what what changes he plans to make - I don't care about his position as that is a two faced - doubled sided attempt at sayng you have industrial velcro and it will stick but not responsible when it fails...
It would seem, that given Senator Obama's inability to come up with anything more than community organizing and running a political campaign as accomplishments, that one would have to question his commitment to anything more than advancing his political career.
His legislative experience shows nothing of significance being accomplished, nor is there any paper trail of scholarship attached to his time as a Professor of Law at the University of Chicago. In point of fact, it is hard to discuss his record, because he has done little that is noteworthy.
His desire to be President would seem to be very similar to that of an employee of a company who wanted to be CEO, simply because he showed up for work.
Add in (as I did earlier in the thread) that he talks about changing the country, as compared to McCain talking about changing Washington. For myself, I think our problems are in Washington, not in you and me.
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John
Ontario 32 - Aria
Free, is the heart, that lives not, in fear.
Full, is the spirit, that thinks not, of falling.
True, is the soul, that hesitates not, to give.
Alive, is the one, that believes, in love. JCP
Here's a pretty clear reading of the surge and Woodward's view of it. I'd like to think that it parallels what I posted earlier. Woodward on the Surge
Indeed, FWIW how much of the Anbar Awakening was caused by the knowledge that the U.S. was indeed going to do the hard thing and be there to support them?
Factor that it and the surge has a much larger effect than most pundits would give it.
Factor out the surge and ask yourself if you were the average mullah on the street would you be asking your people to stand up to the savagery and violence if the US was pulling out?
Hell no.
Bush has a lot of problems, ordering the surge wasn't one of them. Wanting and doing what it takes to be a winner and not a defeatist isn't one of them.
Meanwhile our boy Obama in order to win would be reading the law and seeing what he could do to throw out the ballots of his opponent.
One can not read the MSM without being aware of adjectives. For instance, a GOP jab at the Dems is an attack. One by the Dems is hard-hitting. I guess though when you whine about partisanship all the time, it helps to be partisan.
__________________
John
Ontario 32 - Aria
Free, is the heart, that lives not, in fear.
Full, is the spirit, that thinks not, of falling.
True, is the soul, that hesitates not, to give.
Alive, is the one, that believes, in love. JCP
I just heard on the news ( fox ) that they are planning a surge for Afganistan.
__________________ S/V Scheherazade
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I had a dream, I was sailing, I was happy, I was even smiling. Then I looked down and saw that I was on a multi-hull and woke up suddenly in a cold sweat.
It's been my understanding that they always intended to up troop strength as the drew down in Iraq. It won't though be a surge in the sense of the strategy, as the situation is different in Afghanistan, particularly vis-a-vis Pakistan.
Haven't read the article, but I did see one headline saying 8,000 more troops would be drawn down from Iraq.
__________________
John
Ontario 32 - Aria
Free, is the heart, that lives not, in fear.
Full, is the spirit, that thinks not, of falling.
True, is the soul, that hesitates not, to give.
Alive, is the one, that believes, in love. JCP
