Thursday, January 25, 2007
I've just switched over to the new Blogger format. I hope everyone likes it. And just in, on January 31st at Alterra on the Lake (Lake Drive on the Milwaukee lakefront) will be the first Blog-a-Palooza from 5pm till 9pm. It is sponsored by TV channel 6 www.myfoxmilwaukee.com for more information. I intend to be there nice and early. It should be a fun time for all. Anyone thinking about starting a blog, this may be the way to find out all about it. Meet other bloggers from around the area, learn some stuff and have fun. Perhaps I'll see you there.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Bush delivers the st
Bush delivers the state of the union message
President Bush delivered the state of the union message on TV tonight. He covered several different subjects including the Iraq war. Unfortunately he typically portrayed the war the same way he has from the beginning, basing most of his rhetoric on the well worn fear scenario. Guess what Mr. President, it is no longer working. I didn’t buy and I don’t think anyone else did either. What really got me, or should I say interested me was how Congress reacted and applauded. On one side were the Republicans standing up and applauding while the Democrats sat silent on the other side. Interesting to say the least.
Concluding the speech Democrats characterized Bush’s journey into Iraq to be reckless and ill thought out and that we should start searching for a way out. Rudy Giuliani has the opinion that the war will continue but he has doubts. He thinks that Bush’s plan should be given a chance to see how it will turn out. Mr. Giuliani a Republican presidential hopeful has taken the usual and expected viewpoint. Kerry said that we should step up the pressure to end the war. Others concurred that we need to set a timetable on Iraq. At this point in time no one knows what the vote will be in the Senate. I predict that the House will vote it down.
I would suggest that we keep our eyes on the action which will develop both in Congress and the House in the coming weeks. Hopefully both houses will be able to keep up the pressure to bring this ugly war reach a proper end. I disagree that there will be no victory. Only time will tell.
Your comments are always welcome. Click the comments below to post your view here.
President Bush delivered the state of the union message on TV tonight. He covered several different subjects including the Iraq war. Unfortunately he typically portrayed the war the same way he has from the beginning, basing most of his rhetoric on the well worn fear scenario. Guess what Mr. President, it is no longer working. I didn’t buy and I don’t think anyone else did either. What really got me, or should I say interested me was how Congress reacted and applauded. On one side were the Republicans standing up and applauding while the Democrats sat silent on the other side. Interesting to say the least.
Concluding the speech Democrats characterized Bush’s journey into Iraq to be reckless and ill thought out and that we should start searching for a way out. Rudy Giuliani has the opinion that the war will continue but he has doubts. He thinks that Bush’s plan should be given a chance to see how it will turn out. Mr. Giuliani a Republican presidential hopeful has taken the usual and expected viewpoint. Kerry said that we should step up the pressure to end the war. Others concurred that we need to set a timetable on Iraq. At this point in time no one knows what the vote will be in the Senate. I predict that the House will vote it down.
I would suggest that we keep our eyes on the action which will develop both in Congress and the House in the coming weeks. Hopefully both houses will be able to keep up the pressure to bring this ugly war reach a proper end. I disagree that there will be no victory. Only time will tell.
Your comments are always welcome. Click the comments below to post your view here.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
General May See Earl
General May See Early Success in Iraq My Ass
Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus wants to add 17,500 troops in and around Bagdad regardless of whether the Iraqi army units join the fight as planned. Well, like first of all the Iraqi troops are some of the most ill-trained, unmotivated and incompetent bunch we have ever had the misfortune to work with in the history of modern warfare. So his bright idea is to fight the war for them. Then what? Of course they will want us to stick around to make sure that the supposed peace we are supposed to accomplish in the next few months will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
Now let’s not forget the fact that there will be a Big increase in terrorist attacks in and around Bagdad and other areas of Iraq. I suspect that Bush will expect us to redistribute the troops at the same time keeping the peace in Bagdad to quell the uprisings (remember what I said about putting out fires in one place and another starting up somewhere else) elsewhere. In the meantime what happens in Bagdad? Once again we will be spread too thin and he will want to pour even more troops into the fray. One thing I can say for sure, that ain’t gonna happen. You can bank on that.
“Petraeus will require his troops to operate and live among the population, hoping to safeguard security and economic gains for neighborhoods cleared of violence” He wants to do what? Put our troops in amongst the Iraqi people (let me remind you that we don’t know who are our friends and who are our enemies) putting them in harms way or in an even more dangerous position than they are now. I’ll tell you this, if it were up to me, that idea will never happen, not in a million years. Not only does it put our troops in danger, it also puts innocent people needlessly in danger too.
Another thing I don’t feel good about is the fact that the general is going to try to micro-manage the war personally by visiting the troops where they fight and telling them what he wants them to do. The best bosses I have ever had never micro-managed, they found that when they delegated they got more done. Nobody likes a nosy boss leaning over their shoulder watching their every movement. I know I don’t. I don’t think it is good for morale either.
Of course I’m only a little voice from Middle America. My personal opinion is that it is not going to work and that we should quit while we’re ahead. This is getting worse by the minute. The shit is going to hit the fan. I’m going to say I told you so. Just wait.
What do you think?
Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus wants to add 17,500 troops in and around Bagdad regardless of whether the Iraqi army units join the fight as planned. Well, like first of all the Iraqi troops are some of the most ill-trained, unmotivated and incompetent bunch we have ever had the misfortune to work with in the history of modern warfare. So his bright idea is to fight the war for them. Then what? Of course they will want us to stick around to make sure that the supposed peace we are supposed to accomplish in the next few months will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
Now let’s not forget the fact that there will be a Big increase in terrorist attacks in and around Bagdad and other areas of Iraq. I suspect that Bush will expect us to redistribute the troops at the same time keeping the peace in Bagdad to quell the uprisings (remember what I said about putting out fires in one place and another starting up somewhere else) elsewhere. In the meantime what happens in Bagdad? Once again we will be spread too thin and he will want to pour even more troops into the fray. One thing I can say for sure, that ain’t gonna happen. You can bank on that.
“Petraeus will require his troops to operate and live among the population, hoping to safeguard security and economic gains for neighborhoods cleared of violence” He wants to do what? Put our troops in amongst the Iraqi people (let me remind you that we don’t know who are our friends and who are our enemies) putting them in harms way or in an even more dangerous position than they are now. I’ll tell you this, if it were up to me, that idea will never happen, not in a million years. Not only does it put our troops in danger, it also puts innocent people needlessly in danger too.
Another thing I don’t feel good about is the fact that the general is going to try to micro-manage the war personally by visiting the troops where they fight and telling them what he wants them to do. The best bosses I have ever had never micro-managed, they found that when they delegated they got more done. Nobody likes a nosy boss leaning over their shoulder watching their every movement. I know I don’t. I don’t think it is good for morale either.
Of course I’m only a little voice from Middle America. My personal opinion is that it is not going to work and that we should quit while we’re ahead. This is getting worse by the minute. The shit is going to hit the fan. I’m going to say I told you so. Just wait.
What do you think?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
US Unit Patrolling B
U.S. Unit Patrolling Baghdad Sees Flaws in Bush Strategy - washingtonpost.com
Are we really going to win in Iraq?
Sorry it took so long to past here but I have been following the news both on the TV and in the newspapers. President Bush wants to send 20,000 more troops into Iraq to try to stabilize only a small portion of the country. I knew about some of this before it hit the news because someone I know quite well was just called up. It wasn’t until Bush announced that he planned to increase the troops did I realize what he had in mind.
A night ago I spent several hours glued to the TV and the Military channel watching a reporter’s view of one of the companies in Fallujah going door to door looking for insurgents and contraband, munitions and guns that may be hidden in Iraqi households. Anyone who was fortunate to watch should have become acutely aware of the incredible poverty, lack of education and outright fear these people have for the killing and murder that is going on around them all the time. Most are hesitant to say the least even to speak to our soldiers. They feign ignorance or talk in circles (described as circle talk) rather than answer questions. Their unwillingness to do anything to defend themselves or others is overwhelmingly obvious to the casual observer.
Although we have some of the most high tech equipment available, we still are unable to stop or curtail the bombings and roadside killings that have become an everyday occurrence. Every village is still hostile to our forces, not just Bagdad. It is a never ending battle. As one soldier put it ‘we put down one area and another pops up’ it is a no win situation.
OK so let me get this straight. Bush wants to send in 20,000 more troops to quell the violence in primarily Bagdad and one other city. So what about the rest of Iraq? If we stop the violence in Bagdad, and this other city, what then? Is this supposed to calm the rest of the nation? I don’t think so. Another thing, what are we going to do about the borders where the insurgents are pouring in? There is no way we can stop this because the terrain is way too rugged to be able to deploy troops or even watch over to any great extent. Let’s face it, they don’t want us there.
Is this troop increase really going to work? Personally I think it is going to be one colossal failure. It is failing now. Can it get any worse? I don’t think it could, but I do think that it won’t get any better either. It will keep on keeping on until congress finally decides to end it.
My suggestion is to give Bush’s plan three months. If it hasn’t shown a significant improvement, then we need to implement a plan to leave. I really hate to be redundant, but this is a war we cannot win. The sooner we accept that fact the better. I have no doubt that there will be a civil war in Iraq and that Iran will try to invade and try to take the country over. There is so much chaos wht the outcome of these events will be is anyone’s guess. Will it be worse or better? We won’t know that until the dust settles.
Are we really going to win in Iraq?
Sorry it took so long to past here but I have been following the news both on the TV and in the newspapers. President Bush wants to send 20,000 more troops into Iraq to try to stabilize only a small portion of the country. I knew about some of this before it hit the news because someone I know quite well was just called up. It wasn’t until Bush announced that he planned to increase the troops did I realize what he had in mind.
A night ago I spent several hours glued to the TV and the Military channel watching a reporter’s view of one of the companies in Fallujah going door to door looking for insurgents and contraband, munitions and guns that may be hidden in Iraqi households. Anyone who was fortunate to watch should have become acutely aware of the incredible poverty, lack of education and outright fear these people have for the killing and murder that is going on around them all the time. Most are hesitant to say the least even to speak to our soldiers. They feign ignorance or talk in circles (described as circle talk) rather than answer questions. Their unwillingness to do anything to defend themselves or others is overwhelmingly obvious to the casual observer.
Although we have some of the most high tech equipment available, we still are unable to stop or curtail the bombings and roadside killings that have become an everyday occurrence. Every village is still hostile to our forces, not just Bagdad. It is a never ending battle. As one soldier put it ‘we put down one area and another pops up’ it is a no win situation.
OK so let me get this straight. Bush wants to send in 20,000 more troops to quell the violence in primarily Bagdad and one other city. So what about the rest of Iraq? If we stop the violence in Bagdad, and this other city, what then? Is this supposed to calm the rest of the nation? I don’t think so. Another thing, what are we going to do about the borders where the insurgents are pouring in? There is no way we can stop this because the terrain is way too rugged to be able to deploy troops or even watch over to any great extent. Let’s face it, they don’t want us there.
Is this troop increase really going to work? Personally I think it is going to be one colossal failure. It is failing now. Can it get any worse? I don’t think it could, but I do think that it won’t get any better either. It will keep on keeping on until congress finally decides to end it.
My suggestion is to give Bush’s plan three months. If it hasn’t shown a significant improvement, then we need to implement a plan to leave. I really hate to be redundant, but this is a war we cannot win. The sooner we accept that fact the better. I have no doubt that there will be a civil war in Iraq and that Iran will try to invade and try to take the country over. There is so much chaos wht the outcome of these events will be is anyone’s guess. Will it be worse or better? We won’t know that until the dust settles.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Here we go again wit
Here we go again with the War in Iraq
War Could Last Years, Commander Says - New York Times
We have a new commander overseeing the troops in Iraq. Has this guy been studying the history of the Iraq war? Lt. General Raymond T. Odierno says that it might take another two to three years to get the upper hand in Iraq. How insightful. No shit Sherlock, who clued you? Or did you come to that conclusion all by yourself? Where in heavens name is the President getting these people from? So far he has chosen some of the dumbest people on earth to run his battles. Either that or they have fallen for his incessant rhetoric hook line and sinker. When if ever is reality going to sink in?
Gentlemen we are in a war we can not win. When are you going to wake up and smell the coffee? Yes the American people are frustrated and fed up with this continuing horse shit. Bush had us go in with guns blazing. Shock and Awe, his terms not mine. It was a Shock to the American people how incredibly stupid this tactic was. Then it was Aw Shit, we did it this time. I’d like to use a more colorful expression than this but I will be a little more tactful than I’d like to be.
So Mr. Bush’s new grandiose tactic is to pour more troops into Iraq to quell all that unrest that many think is the beginning of civil war but won’t admit. Now let me get this straight, several years from now we are supposed to get the upper hand at which time the dumbest president in history will be out of office. Then what? We start to pull our troops out and then what will happen? As soon as we leave, all Hell is going to break loose, that’s what. And he thinks he will come out of this smelling like a Rose? Give me a break.
What I hope is that the new congress doesn’t wind up being a bunch of Chicken-
Shit cowards and step up to the plate and force this stupidity to come to an end. Let’s let this Bully President know that we are sick and tired of all his bull headed shenanigans and force an end to this awful war once and for all.
Another thought you might want to process. What were they thinking when they hung Saddam? Wasn’t it supposed to be secret? No photos or videos were to be taken but they allowed someone with a cell phone to take pictures. My question is why didn’t they search these people and confiscate anything that could take pictures including cell phones? If they saw someone holding up a cell phone taking a picture, why didn’t they grab the phone and delete the picture? Who was in charge of security and why hasn’t he been prosecuted? I can’t believe that they could have allowed that to happen. After all it was an American facility they used even if it was a Iraqi hanging, we could have insisted on certain security procedures. For this there is no excuse. It is just another example of the incompetence of the military.
Ain’t that the truth?
War Could Last Years, Commander Says - New York Times
We have a new commander overseeing the troops in Iraq. Has this guy been studying the history of the Iraq war? Lt. General Raymond T. Odierno says that it might take another two to three years to get the upper hand in Iraq. How insightful. No shit Sherlock, who clued you? Or did you come to that conclusion all by yourself? Where in heavens name is the President getting these people from? So far he has chosen some of the dumbest people on earth to run his battles. Either that or they have fallen for his incessant rhetoric hook line and sinker. When if ever is reality going to sink in?
Gentlemen we are in a war we can not win. When are you going to wake up and smell the coffee? Yes the American people are frustrated and fed up with this continuing horse shit. Bush had us go in with guns blazing. Shock and Awe, his terms not mine. It was a Shock to the American people how incredibly stupid this tactic was. Then it was Aw Shit, we did it this time. I’d like to use a more colorful expression than this but I will be a little more tactful than I’d like to be.
So Mr. Bush’s new grandiose tactic is to pour more troops into Iraq to quell all that unrest that many think is the beginning of civil war but won’t admit. Now let me get this straight, several years from now we are supposed to get the upper hand at which time the dumbest president in history will be out of office. Then what? We start to pull our troops out and then what will happen? As soon as we leave, all Hell is going to break loose, that’s what. And he thinks he will come out of this smelling like a Rose? Give me a break.
What I hope is that the new congress doesn’t wind up being a bunch of Chicken-
Shit cowards and step up to the plate and force this stupidity to come to an end. Let’s let this Bully President know that we are sick and tired of all his bull headed shenanigans and force an end to this awful war once and for all.
Another thought you might want to process. What were they thinking when they hung Saddam? Wasn’t it supposed to be secret? No photos or videos were to be taken but they allowed someone with a cell phone to take pictures. My question is why didn’t they search these people and confiscate anything that could take pictures including cell phones? If they saw someone holding up a cell phone taking a picture, why didn’t they grab the phone and delete the picture? Who was in charge of security and why hasn’t he been prosecuted? I can’t believe that they could have allowed that to happen. After all it was an American facility they used even if it was a Iraqi hanging, we could have insisted on certain security procedures. For this there is no excuse. It is just another example of the incompetence of the military.
Ain’t that the truth?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)