tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post116665198217257115..comments2024-03-29T06:35:11.321-04:00Comments on The Elephant Bar: The ShipwreckDeuce ☂http://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166717247468936302006-12-21T11:07:00.000-05:002006-12-21T11:07:00.000-05:00Desert rat wrote, "In the US, English is the langu...Desert rat wrote, "In the US, English is the language and the Founders and their vision are the basis of the historical myth."<BR/><BR/><I>The British Empire ruled 1/4 of the world by the summer of 1914, and the global adoption of the essentially American internet has ensured that English has become the de facto lingua franca ::grin::. Even in France, the language of commerce is English, to the dismay of the likes of Chirac. But during this crossover period, there might be people whose lives are in danger because they cannot communicate in English. Let things take their course as the world adopts English universally, but don't forget grandma and grandpa, brought over here from the Old Country to spend their golden years with their immigrant kids and unable to speak in anything but their native tongue.</I>Teresitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05528002521904908827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166716690940286802006-12-21T10:58:00.000-05:002006-12-21T10:58:00.000-05:00geoffgo said, "Unfortunately, when we do get a pol...geoffgo said, "Unfortunately, when we do get a politico who'se glib and literate, with a commanding presence, the press calls him a war-monger, cowboy, movie-actor. (see RWR)"<BR/><BR/><I>And those designations, anathema to libs, were worn as a badge of honor by the irreplacable Gipper.</I>Teresitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05528002521904908827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166715315077375942006-12-21T10:35:00.000-05:002006-12-21T10:35:00.000-05:00Whit,Unfortunately, when we do get a politico who'...Whit,<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, when we do get a politico who'se glib and literate, with a commanding presence, the press calls him a war-monger, cowboy, movie-actor. (see RWR)geoffgohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03532894676338374545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166714767722946692006-12-21T10:26:00.000-05:002006-12-21T10:26:00.000-05:00The diversity and illiteracy of the US is mindbogg...The diversity and illiteracy of the US is mindboggling.<BR/><BR/>So ever more the importance of integrating the disparate parts into the whole. Through language and shared mythical history.<BR/>In the US, English is the language and the Founders and their vision are the basis of the historical myth.<BR/>As both are discounted the Republic suffers.desert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166712753048266842006-12-21T09:52:00.000-05:002006-12-21T09:52:00.000-05:00Doug said, "The Seattle paper had instructions on ...Doug said, "The Seattle paper had instructions on the front page in SIX languages explaining to people that more of them would die if they continued running generators and using bbq's indoors while the electricity is out."<BR/><BR/><I>There are 1000 victims of CO poisoning in the aftermath of this storm, and dozens have died. If that page saved one life, it was worth doing.</I>Teresitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05528002521904908827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166698804675522422006-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:002006-12-21T06:00:00.000-05:00good threadgood threadDeuce ☂https://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166698724498064782006-12-21T05:58:00.000-05:002006-12-21T05:58:00.000-05:00The Seattle paper had instructions on the front pa...The Seattle paper had instructions on the front page in SIX languages explaining to people that more of them would die if they continued running generators and using bbq's indoors while the electricity is out.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770268554450465514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166685411772172562006-12-21T02:16:00.000-05:002006-12-21T02:16:00.000-05:00Confronting the Wahhabis But King Abdullah and the...<A HREF="http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=121906A" REL="nofollow"> <STRONG>Confronting the Wahhabis</STRONG> </A><BR/><BR/>But King Abdullah and the overwhelming Saudi majority, who want to live in a normal country, are opposed by the Wahhabi-line faction in the royal family. The pro-Wahhabi clique is led by three individuals: Prince Sultan Ibn Abd al-Aziz, minister of defense; Prince Bandar, predecessor of Turki as ambassador to Washington; and Sultan's brother, Prince Nayef. Nayef is notorious for having been the first prominent figure in the Muslim world to try to blame the atrocities of September 11, 2001 on Israel. He is deeply feared both inside and outside Saudi Arabia for his extremism.<BR/><BR/>Saudi sources indicate that King Abdullah is assembling his forces for a decisive confrontation with the reactionaries. Part of the Wahhabi-line strategy is to depict a U.S. leadership in conflict with King Abdullah, to undermine the monarch's credibility. That is why different versions of a meeting between U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and King Abdullah, late last month, circulate in the MSM and the blogosphere.<BR/><BR/><STRONG>According to credible reports, Cheney urged Abdullah to stiffen action against Saudi-Wahhabi involvement in the Iraqi bloodletting. According to unreliable gadflies, King Abdullah commanded Cheney's presence, to demand that the U.S. immediately attack Iran. But the claim that King Abdullah summoned and berated Cheney does not ring true. King Abdullah is too polite, and Cheney does not take such orders, according to those who know both men.</STRONG><BR/><BR/>Many leading clerics and intellectuals among Sunni Muslims indicate that King Abdullah has effectively told the Wahhabis that they will no longer receive official subsidies, and must end their violent jihad around the world. The greatest impact of this development may be seen in Iraq, but Wahhabis everywhere have begun to worry about their future. <BR/><BR/>In a totalitarian system like Wahhabism, the weakest links snap first. And the beginning of the end for them may now be visible in the Muslim Balkans...Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770268554450465514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166681653452492422006-12-21T01:14:00.000-05:002006-12-21T01:14:00.000-05:00It is a built-in assumption of the Kagan plan: Tak...It is a built-in assumption of the Kagan plan: Take care of Anbar and Iraq takes care of itself. But Anbar will never be enough, just like Baghdad will never be enough. You can do it as a prelude to leaving, not to staying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166680027201138192006-12-21T00:47:00.000-05:002006-12-21T00:47:00.000-05:00Yes, rufus.It sounds like a dream script for anoth...Yes, <B>rufus</B>.<BR/><BR/>It sounds like a dream script for another war junkie Hollywood blockbuster movie - explosions, gunfire, bombing and strafing runs. <BR/><BR/>It also sounds like a very bad plan.Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17688001023588334672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166679432914312422006-12-21T00:37:00.000-05:002006-12-21T00:37:00.000-05:00Stalingrad on the Tigris?The paper urges a "surge"...<A HREF="http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2006/12/stalingrad_on_t.html" REL="nofollow">Stalingrad on the Tigris?</A><BR/><BR/><I>The paper urges a "surge" of many thousands more US troops into Baghdad beginning in March, 2007 for one more grand roll of the iron dice. The concept seems to be based on the notion that Shia militias exist because of Sunni violence against them rather than as expressions of a Shia drive to political dominance in Iraq. Based on that belief the authors seem to believe that if the additional US and Iraqi forces to be employed in the Capital area defeat (destroy?) the Sunni insurgent groups, then the Shia militia armies will "wither away" from a lack of need. I do not think that belief is justified.<BR/><BR/>[...] One of the "implied" tasks to be accomplished by the "surged" force would be to disarm the Mahdi's Army and the other Shia militias. The authors seem unclear as to whether or not the militias will fight to avoid being disarmed. In my judgment it will be impossible to conduct an enlarged anti-insurgent campaign in Baghdad without engaging the Mahdi militia. They think that they "own" the place and will not be quiescent.<BR/><BR/>[...] This concept is a recipe for a grand and climactic battle of attrition between US and Iraqi forces on one side and the some combination of Sunni and Shia forces on the other. The Sunnis and Shia would not necessarily "ally" themselves to each other, but a general co-belligerence against our people would be bad enough.<BR/><BR/>President Bush may well accept the essence of this concept. He wants to redeem his "freedom agenda," restore momentum to his plans and in his mind this might "clear up" Iraq so that he could move on to Iran.<BR/><BR/>The carnage implicit in this concept would be appalling. The authors have much to say about the consequences of defeat in Iraq, but, I wonder if they have contemplated what it would be like to fail in their climactic battle and still be required by '43 to stay in Iraq.</I><BR/><BR/>Totally different.Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17688001023588334672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166679196197505152006-12-21T00:33:00.000-05:002006-12-21T00:33:00.000-05:00No, the two plans are not at all the same.No, the two plans are not at all the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166679073394463312006-12-21T00:31:00.001-05:002006-12-21T00:31:00.001-05:00And you are counting on them winning in an all-is-...And you are counting on them winning in an all-is-fair game.<BR/><BR/>I think it does not go without saying that they will. It seems to me a dangerous, or poor, longer-term, out-of-hand assumption. Thats all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166678760830022642006-12-21T00:26:00.000-05:002006-12-21T00:26:00.000-05:00trish says...Again, that was me, rufus.Daughters c...trish says...<BR/><BR/>Again, that was me, rufus.<BR/><BR/>Daughters computer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166678515990675792006-12-21T00:21:00.000-05:002006-12-21T00:21:00.000-05:00Rufus,Re: Iraqi Army can fight off any insurgent a...Rufus,<BR/><BR/>Re: Iraqi Army can fight off any insurgent attack<BR/><BR/>In a piece he wrote last year (or maybe the year before) Kagen had a really good, concise line: The insurgents are now fighting a "pure" terror war.<BR/><BR/>Two can play at that game, yesiree, but there is not a guaranteed winner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166676636895086852006-12-20T23:50:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:50:00.000-05:00We've already made considerable progress in the me...We've already made considerable progress in the medals department.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166676511418915812006-12-20T23:48:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:48:00.000-05:00What is on the other side of the winning line? Med...What is on the other side of the winning line? <BR/><BR/>Medals and naptime for everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166675494048336842006-12-20T23:31:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:31:00.000-05:00What's on the other side of the winning line? Your...What's on the other side of the winning line? Your memo mention that? <BR/><BR/>Or is it "widely" known already?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166675003114747462006-12-20T23:23:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:23:00.000-05:00Ahhhh, no.The memo stating that we are not winning...Ahhhh, no.<BR/><BR/>The memo stating that we are not winning.<BR/><BR/>Sorry if I was not clear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166674757738517002006-12-20T23:19:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:19:00.000-05:00Now what cryptic thing is that supposed to mean? T...Now what cryptic thing is that supposed to mean? The memo? You're not about to bring up Downing Street are you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166674555704855202006-12-20T23:15:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:15:00.000-05:00Apparently, anonymous @ 11:10, the President got t...Apparently, anonymous @ 11:10, the President got the memo.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166674252722936512006-12-20T23:10:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:10:00.000-05:00Well, shit, Anonymous, they kicked ours by saying ...Well, shit, Anonymous, they kicked ours by <I>saying they did</I> and by <B>you</B> believing them!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166674057935499312006-12-20T23:07:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:07:00.000-05:00Well, shit, Doug, how have they managed to kick ou...Well, shit, Doug, how have they managed to kick ours?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166673939029842502006-12-20T23:05:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:05:00.000-05:00You might say we did the post war deal about as ba...You might say we did the post war deal about as badly as anyone with a brain could conceive.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770268554450465514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166673821278355802006-12-20T23:03:00.000-05:002006-12-20T23:03:00.000-05:00Question for Trish, and whoever else brought it up...Question for Trish, and whoever else brought it up:<BR/>Exactly how are the Sunnis going to kick the Shia's ass?Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16770268554450465514noreply@blogger.com