Comments on: Going Out With a Bang http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:20:08 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: texanna http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1362201 texanna Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:38:14 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1362201 <p>Wouldn’t it be great if the Bushies were all tied up during these last months with defending themselves against criminal prosecution and/or impeachment proceedings? Maybe, as Spkr. Pelosi says so often, there is no political plus in the impeachment issue, but certainly it could be better for the country to give those idle hands something to do other than the Devil’s work.</p> Wouldn’t it be great if the Bushies were all tied up during these last months with defending themselves against criminal prosecution and/or impeachment proceedings? Maybe, as Spkr. Pelosi says so often, there is no political plus in the impeachment issue, but certainly it could be better for the country to give those idle hands something to do other than the Devil’s work.

]]> By: BooRadley http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361466 BooRadley Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:41:29 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361466 <p>Great line, thank you.</p> Great line, thank you.

]]> By: jnardo http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361408 jnardo Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:14:52 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361408 <p>In <strong><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/" rel="nofollow">Bush’s War</a></strong> [Part 2, Chapter 4] there’s a segment called <strong>Bremmer’s Next Edict: Dissolve the Iraqi Army</strong> [”<strong>And then there is the issue of taking on Moqtada al-Sadr</strong>”]. It’s talking about the coming of Paul Bremer and the appointment of General Sanchez to his first major military command in the Spring of 2003. Apparently these two were mostly oil and water, but they did agree on one thing - Moqtada al-Sadr was one very dangerous cookie. Bremer wanted to take him on, and pushed Washington hard. Sanchez had the operation to fight al-Sadr ready to go. Rice and Rumsfeld just never got around to acting. They said it ”worried” them. It’s worth watching in light of recent developments…</p> In Bush’s War [Part 2, Chapter 4] there’s a segment called Bremmer’s Next Edict: Dissolve the Iraqi Army [”And then there is the issue of taking on Moqtada al-Sadr”]. It’s talking about the coming of Paul Bremer and the appointment of General Sanchez to his first major military command in the Spring of 2003. Apparently these two were mostly oil and water, but they did agree on one thing – Moqtada al-Sadr was one very dangerous cookie. Bremer wanted to take him on, and pushed Washington hard. Sanchez had the operation to fight al-Sadr ready to go. Rice and Rumsfeld just never got around to acting. They said it ”worried” them. It’s worth watching in light of recent developments…

]]> By: glitterscale http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361334 glitterscale Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:32:03 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361334 <p>Bush thought he would be the “Hero of the Western World”! The only problem is the crossbar of the “H” got slanted and now he is just “Nero of the Western World”!</p> Bush thought he would be the “Hero of the Western World”! The only problem is the crossbar of the “H” got slanted and now he is just “Nero of the Western World”!

]]> By: Synoia http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361079 Synoia Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:12:22 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1361079 <p>Yes…</p> <p>Q: What’s the biggest US embassy in the world?<br /> A: The biggest US target in the world.</p> <p>Civil Engineers build targets<br /> Mechanical Engineers build weapons.</p> Yes…

Q: What’s the biggest US embassy in the world?
A: The biggest US target in the world.

Civil Engineers build targets
Mechanical Engineers build weapons.

]]> By: bobschacht http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360989 bobschacht Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:17:05 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360989 <blockquote><p>The idea that Sadr was some hierachic, centralized leader of all components in Sadr City and elsewhere was likely flawed from the get-go. Sadr represents a spiritual leader whose role is much like Sistani’s. He can offer advice and prestige and a religious justification for actions…but he is unlikely to be the on the ground strategist or tactician. In addition, apparently many of these so-called “splinter groups” have established fairly sophisticated communications systems between each other so they can coordinate their activities.</p></blockquote> <p>GorillaGuides was making this point yesterday– The true rallying personality of the Mahdi Army is not Moqtada Al Sadr, but his dead Dad. Junior is not fully in control. I think the point of the “truce” was to enable the Moqtada to use what he’s good at (talking), while restraining activities that he’s not so good at (fighting, which is the strength of his field generals). Part of the story of the escalating tensions of recent days may be that his generals are getting tired of talking and want to establish “facts on the ground” more favorable to themselves.</p> <p>Bob in HI</p>

The idea that Sadr was some hierachic, centralized leader of all components in Sadr City and elsewhere was likely flawed from the get-go. Sadr represents a spiritual leader whose role is much like Sistani’s. He can offer advice and prestige and a religious justification for actions…but he is unlikely to be the on the ground strategist or tactician. In addition, apparently many of these so-called “splinter groups” have established fairly sophisticated communications systems between each other so they can coordinate their activities.

GorillaGuides was making this point yesterday– The true rallying personality of the Mahdi Army is not Moqtada Al Sadr, but his dead Dad. Junior is not fully in control. I think the point of the “truce” was to enable the Moqtada to use what he’s good at (talking), while restraining activities that he’s not so good at (fighting, which is the strength of his field generals). Part of the story of the escalating tensions of recent days may be that his generals are getting tired of talking and want to establish “facts on the ground” more favorable to themselves.

Bob in HI

]]> By: DWBartoo http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360985 DWBartoo Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:14:03 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360985 <p>Actually, Raven, I appreciate your company very much right now, because I can say these things to you, through my tears, and know that you understand. Thank you for being here.</p> Actually, Raven, I appreciate your company very much right now, because I can say these things to you, through my tears, and know that you understand. Thank you for being here.

]]> By: DWBartoo http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360978 DWBartoo Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:05:36 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360978 <p>Did you feel better in saying it?</p> <p>What then, was the point?</p> <p>Truth?</p> <p>I’ll give you that, if you wish.</p> <p>But its iteration struck me as a sad rationalization, a cop-out,<br /> a pathetic justification for our own hubris.</p> <p>But, as I said, disgust, despair and shame own my soul at the moment and I invite you to go next thread if you haven’t already, that you may know (hell I already do know that you know, better than most, I just think your own guilt, which you deserve no more than anyone else, sticks in your craw and weeps out at times) the truth of this moment, a ‘truth’ with a name, and once, with a life and bright hopes.</p> <p>Brother, I’ve no swagger nor any ‘lip’, I’m crying, weeping with shame, and my youngest daughter has asked me ‘why?’.</p> <p>What shall I tell her? For, in truth, this world is now hers, and I am just a guest who has not behaved very well …</p> Did you feel better in saying it?

What then, was the point?

Truth?

I’ll give you that, if you wish.

But its iteration struck me as a sad rationalization, a cop-out,
a pathetic justification for our own hubris.

But, as I said, disgust, despair and shame own my soul at the moment and I invite you to go next thread if you haven’t already, that you may know (hell I already do know that you know, better than most, I just think your own guilt, which you deserve no more than anyone else, sticks in your craw and weeps out at times) the truth of this moment, a ‘truth’ with a name, and once, with a life and bright hopes.

Brother, I’ve no swagger nor any ‘lip’, I’m crying, weeping with shame, and my youngest daughter has asked me ‘why?’.

What shall I tell her? For, in truth, this world is now hers, and I am just a guest who has not behaved very well …

]]> By: JamesJoyce http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360963 JamesJoyce Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:57:58 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360963 <p>historical linkage……..</p> historical linkage……..

]]> By: Raven http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360960 Raven Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:53:38 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/03/27/going-out-with-a-bang/#comment-1360960 <p>Under the influence in the sense of relying on them for material, we forced him into that camp as early as Versailles.</p> Under the influence in the sense of relying on them for material, we forced him into that camp as early as Versailles.

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