COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Thursday, December 28, 2006

How Ford saw Bush.

Now I am sad. I made a mistake in my youth and I regret it.

When Gerry Ford ran against Jimmy Carter, I joined the ranks of many foolish Americans and exercised my right not to vote, or has I have come to realize, I was stupid.

I was half right but all wrong.

Over the years Jimmy Carter showed himself to be the classless little petulant sanctimonious twit that he is. My decision not to vote for him was correct.

Not voting for Gerry Ford was regrettable.

Bob Woodward at the Washington Post has published parts of an interview that the former president gave in July 2004.

Ford would not allow the interview to be published while he lived. In it he discussed the Bush decision to take the US into war with Iraq. Ford said, “"I don't think I would have gone to war," The Post article reports:

… "very strongly" disagreed with the current president's justifications for invading Iraq and said he would have pushed alternatives, such as sanctions, much more vigorously.

In the tape-recorded interview, Ford was critical not only of Bush but also of Vice President Cheney -- Ford's White House chief of staff -- and then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who served as Ford's chief of staff and then his Pentagon chief.

"Rumsfeld and Cheney and the president made a big mistake in justifying going into the war in Iraq. They put the emphasis on weapons of mass destruction," Ford said. "And now, I've never publicly said I thought they made a mistake, but I felt very strongly it was an error in how they should justify what they were going to do."

… Ford took issue with the notion of the United States entering a conflict in service of the idea of spreading democracy. "Well, I can understand the theory of wanting to free people," Ford said, referring to Bush's assertion that the United States has a "duty to free people." But the former president said he was skeptical "whether you can detach that from the obligation number one, of what's in our national interest." He added: "And I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."…

… Describing his own preferred policy toward Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Ford said he would not have gone to war, based on the publicly available information at the time, and would have worked harder to find an alternative. "I don't think, if I had been president, on the basis of the facts as I saw them publicly," he said, "I don't think I would have ordered the Iraq war. I would have maximized our effort through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer."…

It is a fascinating article. President Ford deserved more recognition for the man he was. He had common sense and was cautious and understood the nature of the office in which he was privileged to serve. He did not avoid making tough decisions and firing people that did not serve him well. I need not add comment about my increasing revulsion at some of the Presidents who have served after him. Read the Washington Post .


69 comments:

  1. In part, the article says;

    "In a four-hour conversation at his house in Beaver Creek, Colo., Ford "very strongly" disagreed with the current president's justifications for invading Iraq and said he would have pushed alternatives, such as sanctions, much more vigorously. In the tape-recorded interview, Ford was critical not only of Bush but also of Vice President Cheney -- Ford's White House chief of staff -- and then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who served as Ford's chief of staff and then his Pentagon chief."

    Can you hear that President Bush? President Ford's ghost is calling from history. We're there now - SO LET'S WIN IT!

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  2. ex-presidents are not just people.

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  4. For some years I have collected fine art. I have a very discriminating eye and have consistanly picked up some fine unrecognized pieces at bargain prices. I often go into galleries and leave quickly. That is not an indication that I am against art, just bad art.

    IMO, and I am an army of one, Iraq is a turkey. It was an idea based on a theory. The theory had two parts, military and political. You cannot separate the parts. The theory contains both elements. A quick military victory would lead to elections and democracy. The democracy would change the Middle East.

    That did not work. It is an automobile with a great engine and a bad paint job and severe body cancer. It is a junker.

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  5. Pimp my Ride!

    The trouble with Iraq is that there is nothing to trade it in on, it's a chassis up rebuild.

    Doubt if it'll make it to Barrett Jackson though.

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  6. The "Big Dogs" are all meeting in Crawford for another background briefing, it's been made clear that NO DECISIONS will be made, today.

    The stick figure presentation, cutting edge military thinking, employ the local "power elite" infrastructure. Call a Spade a Spade.

    The only other route is to depopulate Iraq, we chose not to take that Course. But this idea is revolutionary, amongst the Federals.

    To bad the Captain that drew it is dead, now. Another US KIA.

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  7. Another fine American killed while attempting to install sewers in Ramadi.

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  8. This is the best news of the New Year, so far.
    MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Somali government troops rolled into Mogadishu unopposed Thursday, the prime minister said, hours after an Islamic movement that tried to establish a government based on the Quran abandoned the capital.

    The Islamic militia promised a last stand in southern Somalia.

    "We are in Mogadishu," Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Gedi said after meeting with local clan leaders to discuss the handover of the city. "We are coordinating our forces to take control of Mogadishu."

    Gedi was welcomed to the town of Afgoye on the outskirts of Mogadishu by dozens of traditional leaders from the capital and hundreds of government and Ethiopian troops who have been fighting for more than a week against the Islamic militia. The Islamic fighters had at one point taken over the capital and most of southern Somalia.

    The Islamic movement's retreat early Thursday, which its leaders called tactical, was followed by looting by clan militiamen, some of whom had been allied to the Islamists. It was a chilling reminder of the chaos that had once ruled Mogadishu.

    Gunfire could he heard in many parts of the city and witnesses said at least several people had been killed.

    Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi vowed to inflict total defeat on the Islamic movement and said he hoped the fighting would be over "in days, if not in a few weeks." ..."


    Read More
    There is more to read, indeed.

    Great news from Somalia
    The Mohammedans are in retreat, having abandoned Mogadishu.

    If the Ethiopians chase the Mohammedans into the southern redoubt perhaps there will be a decisive fight. Doubt if the the Courts are bunkered in depth, like HB north of the Blue Line.

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  9. Effective use of native troops, to an outstanding affect, so far.

    Hope the Ethiopians chase 'em down and kill 'em.

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  11. According to a story linked to at threatswatch, the real force multipliers for the Ethiopians are Hind gunships. Along with the will to use them. linked here

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  12. When I get older losing my hair,
    Many years from now.
    Will you still be sending me a valentine
    Birthday greetings bottle of wine.
    If I'd been out till quarter to three
    Would you lock the door,
    Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
    When I'm ninety-three.
    Sunday mornings go for a ride,
    Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
    Who could ask for more.
    Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
    When I'm ninety-three.
    Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
    Stating point of view
    Indicate precisely what you mean to say
    Yours sincerely, wasting away
    Give me your answer, fill in a form
    Mine for evermore
    Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
    When I'm ninety-three.

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  13. Unity of command this ain't.


    There is a strange disengagement from the history of our past wars and the leaders that have made the momentous and sometimes nerve-racking decisions that have led us to victory. The inconclusive, pseudo-military operations in Iraq are so evident, that military professionals and historians offer up alternative plans to substitute for the lack of purpose and passion in our wartime headquarters. While the analytical thoroughness and conclusions are sound, they will do little to alter the current situation.

    Victory the Old Fashion Way

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  14. As to Somalia, trish, I'd leave it to the Somali and the Ethiopians, they seem to be doing well enough, with limited involvement by US. Let's leave it that way, thank you very much.

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  15. The internet blogs have provided a huge positive with regard to trafficing in news,entertainment, etc. It has and I am sure will continue to have a very big impact.
    One easily seen lacuna in it's ubitquitious nature is what Walter Cronkite called "distortion by compression". Even within blogs there is a compelling drive to publish first and let hoi polloi filter.
    Here the challenge is that the filtering sometimes doesn't get done or is done poorly. Here is an example.
    There is a daily blizzard of positions,ideas,and criticisms on the ME. An attempt to "clarify" history as it is being made with no knowledge of what is really transpiring other than what is allowed to be known to the man on the street. Extrapolating from that conclusions are reached and positions solidified. There are no known intelligence facts known to the pundits, and the pundits are loathe to wait for any historical perspective. I mean this is the 21st century, who needs historical perspective in an age of instant communication?
    One still more often than not hears the mantra that WMD's were an excuse, did not exist, and therefore a giant hoax was perpetrated on the world and in particular the US citizenry. I have written previously, with heavy documentation about how Gr. Brit. France,Germany,Russian,China and other countries intelligence agencies said the were WMD's in Iraq.
    George Tenet told Congress and the President it was a "slam dunk" that they were there.
    Now the chorus of previously gung ho pundits and bloggers are wobbly at best and damn near hypothermic about what a mistake it all was.
    No historical perspective needed by them, just be the first one on the net with the most damning personal, ill informed critique of how it was all bad and never should have been handled the way it was.
    That's dime novel writing, not cogent,knowlegeable, historically based writing worthy of print or praise. But then that is one of the hallmarks of the Baby Bum Generation.

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  16. To my way of thinking the national interest of the United States is our security and survival. If the President of the United States thought there was a remote chance that Iraq had a nuclear weapon, and that they would possibly use it, he had on obligation to stop that. The chemical and biological weapon idea was always a canard. There never was any evidence of an "immediate" threat. It was a hypothetical and I was personally supportive of the venture assuming that they had credible evidence and intelligence.

    When they realized that was no longer the case, the President had no business risking US human and military assets on a theory of Arab Democracy. He has an ongoing obligation to secure the military assets for a potential threat from any and all sources.

    Has he done that? Has the President been a prudent steward of the treasure, political and military capital of the the United Staes of America. That is what he in entrusted with. It has nothing to do with wether you like him or hate him. That is his job.

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  17. It was about complying with UN Resolutions. Unless the Law is just eyewash for alternate realities.
    The Ultimate wink and nod.

    The Congress decided that Saddam was in violation of numerous UN Resolutions and voted that the US would force compliance, by removing Saddam and supporting the emergance of a democratic government.

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  18. On This page you can listen to the President in his own words

    President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat
    Remarks by the President on Iraq
    Cincinnati Museum Center - Cincinnati Union Terminal
    Cincinnati, Ohio

    8:02 P.M. EDT

    THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you for that very gracious and warm Cincinnati welcome. I'm honored to be here tonight; I appreciate you all coming.

    Tonight I want to take a few minutes to discuss a grave threat to peace, and America's determination to lead the world in confronting that threat.

    The threat comes from Iraq. It arises directly from the Iraqi regime's own actions -- its history of aggression, and its drive toward an arsenal of terror. Eleven years ago, as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf War, the Iraqi regime was required to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, to cease all development of such weapons, and to stop all support for terrorist groups. The Iraqi regime has violated all of those obligations. It possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons. It has given shelter and support to terrorism, and practices terror against its own people. The entire world has witnessed Iraq's eleven-year history of defiance, deception and bad faith."

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  19. Not what I wanted, per se, trish. Just what the Congress debated and approved:
    "... Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688, and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949;

    Whereas Congress in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) has authorized the President "to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677";

    Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1)," that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and "constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region," and that Congress, "supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688";

    Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

    Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to "work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge" posed by Iraq and to "work for the necessary resolutions," while also making clear that "the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable"; ..."


    That's the Law.

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  20. from the same link..."The evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Saddam Hussein has held numerous meetings with Iraqi nuclear scientists, a group he calls his "nuclear mujahideen" -- his nuclear holy warriors. Satellite photographs reveal that Iraq is rebuilding facilities at sites that have been part of its nuclear program in the past. Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

    If the Iraqi regime is able to produce, buy, or steal an amount of highly enriched uranium a little larger than a single softball, it could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year. And if we allow that to happen, a terrible line would be crossed. Saddam Hussein would be in a position to blackmail anyone who opposes his aggression. He would be in a position to dominate the Middle East. He would be in a position to threaten America. And Saddam Hussein would be in a position to pass nuclear technology to terrorists."

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  21. At the end of the same speec, Bush has this to say:

    ..."Iraq is a land rich in culture, resources, and talent. Freed from the weight of oppression, Iraq's people will be able to share in the progress and prosperity of our time. If military action is necessary, the United States and our allies will help the Iraqi people rebuild their economy, and create the institutions of liberty in a unified Iraq at peace with its neighbors."
    _____________________________________
    He is saying that if military action is necessary because of the weapons a consequence will be the US will help Iraq. That is not the same thing as saying that is the reason and the mission.

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  23. When the President of the United States asks the US to go to war, citizens should be able to expect his words should say what he means and he should mean what he says. I accept nothing less and neither should you.

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  24. "Several American military and intelligence sources have informed us that the Ethiopians are not taking 'foreign' prisoners on the battlefield - al-Qaeda fighters are being summarily executed."

    Somalia

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  25. re: Somalia

    Where are the pictures? I want pictures! Screw the notification of next of kin.

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  26. Trish,
    If you were in receipt of the intelligence the President had, a good deal of which he had his Secretary of State display to the UN,what would you have done?
    You must keep in mind that this intel is coming from ALL sources foreign and domestic.
    If you had ignored it and Saddam used any of them on the US or an ally Johnny Cochran could have not kept you from a lynch mob.
    You have with crystal clarity proved my entire assertion that the blog has it's writers who are willing to write without any historical perspective or first hand sources. Just their own rabid rewrite of the immediate time. With that you still can't get it correct, such that your ribald prose is substitued for what we do know as fact.
    This type of scurrilous cant is the quintessence of bad research leading to bad writing and impuissant, incorrect "history"
    That is your ignorance and ignomy.

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  27. Trish at 2:48:22

    "The decisive intel all had the same sources, habu. The same shit running through the system years on end. And over and over again we demanded that Iraq prove the non-existence of that which we "knew" to exist."
    Trish, this is a statement you can not support in any fashion. The first sentence is remarkable in it's incredulity. You YOU YOU would have to have first hand knowledge of what all the intel sources I sited had, and I say here without eqivocation that YOU did not. The remainder of the satement is just so much filler.
    Nations that do share intel closely. such as the US and Gr. Brit do not disclose their sources and methods to one another. Within the US Intel community the same holds true.
    You badly overplayed that hand and got thumped and trumped.

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  28. We're all for lawmakers from both parties coming together to work out their differences and avoid gridlock.

    But such bipartisan camaraderie should not be carried out behind closed doors. Unfortunately, that is what the U.S. Senate plans to do when it convenes next month.


    Upcoming Bipartisan Caucus

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  29. While Greenspan went along reluctantly with the WIN buttons, he was more successful in pushing other ideas such as getting Ford to seek tax cuts in 1975 as a way of boosting growth and helping end the 1973-75 recession.

    "Jerry Ford was the most decent man I ever encountered in public life," Greenspan said in a statement after Ford‘s death this week. "It was a great privilege to work for him. I will miss him."


    Buttons Remembered

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  30. re: Somalia

    Word is the Islamic warriors are begging to be sent to Gitmo. (Catherine, that last was a shameless lie, in the entirety.)

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  31. Begging to be sent to Gitmo? WTF? Why on earth would they want to be sent to a gulag? Quick! Get the ACLU to convince them they're much better off in Somalia hiding from Ethiopians.

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  32. Trish,
    Perhaps this will help in understanding the dimensions of the situation faced by the President.
    Iraq, not known for it's veracity submitted a Weapons Declaration Report in 2002 that was subsequently confirmed by the countries mentioned.
    In the area of nerve and bio precusors her is a breakdown delivered to Iraq in TONS.
    TOTAL ....... 17,602
    SINGAPORE.... 4515
    NETHERLANDS...4261
    EQYPT ........2400
    INDIA ........2343
    GERMANY.......1027
    INDIA.........2292-EXOMET PLASTICS
    uNIT.ARAB EM..4500 TONS OF VX,SARIN AND MUSTARD GAS PRECURSORS.

    The German Co. Karl Kobe built a chemical weapons plant for Iraq which was diguised as a pesticide plant.

    In 2002 Iraq's 11,000-page report to the UN Security Council listed 150 foreign companies that supported Saddam Hussein's WMD program.

    It goes on and on...so Trish, where did it all go?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_War

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  33. Unconfirmed reports indicate that WMD materials are hidden in mobile facilities. An unnamed Iraqi defector details this action in an interview in Amman:

    As is well known, on the contrary, these are materials that are easy to transport and that are not even excessively cumbersome. That is exactly where the military apparatuses' and intelligence services' trick lies: namely, in making these devices invisible by constantly moving them around on tanker trucks that travel either under escort or being trailed at a distance.

    German intelligence reported that WMD laboratories are hidden in trucks that appear completely normal on the outside.


    WMD's

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  34. It's the holiday season and of course that means that the annual pilgrammage, the Hajj, is beginning.

    It's a bit like the running of the bulls in Pamploma. The Calgary Stampede morphed into a real life(or death) Mohammadian Stampede.
    Last year, 360 people were trampled to death (this never happens at the Vatican, even when hundreds of thousands showed up for the Pope John Paul II vigil and funeral). The year before, it was 250 (never happens at Lourdes). 1990 was a banner year, when 1426 pilgrims were killed.
    So with the Hajj in full mojo and the Somalians kicking the al Queda it's shaping up to be a pretty good end to '06.
    Now if we could just drop one itty bitty nukey right on the Ka'ba, well it would be sweet.

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  35. Allen,
    We're rapidly running out of year but to both you and Whit, thank you.
    It takes very special people to run one of these sites, ( I imagine, never having the courage and certainly not possessing the personality to do it), but from the very well written, timely threads topics to the Unbelieveable graphics it's a wonderful place to learn.
    If you are giving out a top ten best and worst list I would like to nominate Rufus for his outstanding informative posts on alternate fuels. In that area I was a dodo and now I have enough knowledge to nod my head, and utter an oh yeah.
    Anyway, the best to both you men for being undertanding and informative hosts.
    Habu and PossumTater

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  36. Steve over at ThreatWatch writes in part of the Ethiopian victory over ICU/alQueda

    "But the most important lesson that Western observers - Americans in particular - must clearly understand is that the decisive factor is no more complex than a matter of will."
    Amen bro.

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  37. Hey ya'll,

    What happened to Buddy Larson? I see he still posts at BC. Was there a falling out that I missed?

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  38. NEW ORLEANS -- Seven police officers were indicted Thursday on murder or attempted murder charges in a pair of shootings on a bridge that left two people dead during the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

    The district attorney portrayed the officers as trigger happy.

    "We cannot allow our police officers to shoot and kill our citizens without justification like rabid dogs," District Attorney Eddie Jordan said.

    The shootings took place under murky circumstances six days after the storm and became one of the most widely cited examples of the anarchy that descended after Katrina.

    Two young men were killed and four people wounded on the Danziger Bridge, which spans the Industrial Canal.

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  39. habu1,

    While I am flattered, your praise for this wonderful site is rightly directed to Deuce and Whit. Without you, though, it would lack that certain acerbic quality we have all come to know and love.

    All the best!

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  40. re: buddy larsen

    I caught a post of his on the Emmilou thread at Maggie's Farm. As usual, it was the best of Buddy.

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  41. And I can speak for both Whit and myself and say that without your input, feedback crticism and thought provoking comments it would have been lights out a long time ago. I also miss buddy larsen. Tell him to stop and say hello.

    This is not my blog or whit's but a congenial place to be un-congenial when necessary. It is a joint effort and I value all of your participation.

    Back to business.

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  42. Yes, thank you 2164th and Whit. I learn so much both here and at BC. I am sincerely grateful.

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  43. It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Buddy Larsen, an American Internet Icon.

    In an age of crotch-shots and snuff films, Buddy Larsen needed no frontal nudity nor shaky-cam beheadings to spread his informational self, like a bat out of Aristides loquacious hell.

    He could pontificate with the pontiffs and jive with the jive turkeys; he was many things to many men. There was refinement and gravitas in his poetic waxing about the finer points of chaw and he would never begrudge a man who was too poor to afford an effete spittoon. He could speak of monetary policy and romance, of patriotism and showtunes. If he was a robot, he would pass the Turing Test in the most delightful colors!

    God, welcome Buddy Larsen into heaven, and let his energy recouple into the Internet through divine bandwidth, unbeholden to physical constants.

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  44. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  45. Only buddy knows for sure

    and he's not tellin'

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  46. Oak Leaf lays out a case for a larger military that has garnered too little attention. He seems to think the administration may be moving in a direction that will do even more harm to an already overextended force structure.

    What Do You Do? (Reserve Forces & SW Asia)

    As usual, the question must be asked, “Is anyone thinking more than a day ahead?”

    Oh, add this to my post from yesterday speaking to “combat fatigue” and the US has some serious work ahead.

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  47. If they were thinking more than a day ahead, how would we know?

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  48. Buddy The Gray has passed.

    Buddy The White was last seen about the Horn of Africa, atop of horse made of light. He is riding south, blinding scepter aloft, to Kismayo!

    While Woman Catholic wanders about Rivendell in search of immortal T&A.

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  49. aspergersgentleman,

    The regular Army would have six additonal brigades, at a minimum, and the reserve forces would not be 80% ineffective. Admittedly, a day more or less could be involved.

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  50. Buddy,
    If, in the infinite bandwidth you get this message click your mike twice.
    PossumTater also promises you can refresh yourself with some of this....(not workplace approved)

    YUM YUM

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  51. Woah!

    I don't know why your babe links often result in 403 forbidden pages being served to me, but I went to Sheik Babe Road or w/e and lo and behold, thats some stuff that'll make me look bad to real life ladies in the coffee house. I find myself in a family place at the moment.

    Its a paradox though - families wouldn't exist without those wonderful ladies - well, not those ladies in particular I suppose...

    But yeah, I'd echo rufus' sentiments just from the mainpage, lol.

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  52. Heidi Klum is a regular baby factory - she's got two down and is working on her third. Said pregnancy was easy, if I recall.

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  53. Come to think of it, Sonia's got 2 "beautiful daughters."

    What a thing that would be...

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  54. Speaking of war crimes, war criminals, and untimely guttering:

    Saddam Counting the Minutes

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  55. "There's nothing like stopping the weapons flow to Israel to show the Saudis that the United States means business,"

    Between Wars, U.S. Toughening Up on Israel

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  56. Thanks to whit and deuce for being such great hosts. I've been warmly welcomed into the EB and it has served as an invaluable asset for me to learn more from all of you.

    allen, rufus, doug, habu1, dr, I've spent quite a while simply reading most of your insights and personally, it gives me inspiration to learn more from you guys. This year has been a real eye-opener for me when I ventured and found this place.

    It has been my pleasure, and will continue to be so. A happy new year to one and all! (now bring out the margueritas)

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  57. Plus rollin' the Mohammedans back in Somalia, as you often say, that is HUGE!

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  58. Let's just have a great big ole group hug, or not.

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  59. rufus,

    But much less a mess today with 3,000 jihadis killed and 5,000 wounded according to Ethiopian estimates. AND, there were no reported "arrests". Now, that is sweet.

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  60. Well, we won't have Saddam Hussein to kick around much longer. Historically speaking, there is no case of a politician rebounding from death.

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  61. 'Course, it's also said we should not ridicule the Albino, but some of them fellars are plumb nasty. You'd think kindness was bleached away with the pigment.

    Powder showed everyone that sometimes the Gods disguise themselves as the Albino to test us. So next time, hold your tongue, that pale person may have complete command over the elements.

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  62. It should be noted, however, that Albinos are covered with Woman Catholic's favorite vellus hair.

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  63. Anyone heard any good knock knock hajj jokes?

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  64. Knock. Knock.
    Who's there?
    Hajj.
    Hajj, who?
    Hajj she doin?

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  65. go to "peace on earth and good will to all" there is less comments to scroll through.

    And if we can't have our tropical retreat then this title would be more suitable. hope to see you there. (naked)

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  66. where are you. I miss talking to you.

    oh I get it. fuck me and leave me. wam bam thank you mame, out the door I go.

    I'll check back in a bit. I hope to get to talk to you tonight.

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