Operation Enduring Soldier

Inspiration: This post on Tpmcafe about Bush's numbers slipping on Iraq.

Between 9/11, lingering optimism after the rapid success in Afghanistan, a decade of steady demonization of Saddam, toadies twisting the Intel community until it squeezed out some dubious fig-leaves etc. it shouldn't be surprising the public enthusiastically supported Iraq and maintained that support through the very early stages. I think what's happening is the accumulated failure on almost all fronts by the Admin. in Iraq (and PR gaffes like Gitmo) is starting to outweigh the President's platitudes and the natural idealism of the American people. Doing something correctly is one thing, a real leader is someone who decides on the right thing to do.

I'm not an expert on Iraq, but it's clear that our troops can't keep the security situation under control there, and barring some major sea change in Sunni popular opinion against the insurgents or an influx of competent allied troops, won't be stabilizing it very soon. What does that suggest for policy going forward then? Well, we can stay and train more Iraqi army units, which will probably be strong enough to control the area in a year or five. The price would be a couple thousand more U.S. dead, many more billions of dollars, continued short shrift of the real threats elsewhere, more pumping the bellows of Muslim hatred towards the U.S.

Or we could cut and run, strategically withdraw, whatever. We save blood and treasure, our standing might or might not improve with Arab countries, and the jihadists get to declare victory over the invader. Likely a civil war, I don't know who would win, but I'd like to think the Shiites wouldn't lay down and let the Sunni lord it over them again. "Hey, we've got guns now". After the fighting you're either going to get an "American blessed" Islamic Republic or another Sunni junta, pick your poison. Mr. Kristol and Co. tried to hasten along with military force a cultural shift that happened in the West centuries ago, it's still unclear whether it catches hold. I'm skeptical, but I hope it does. My sad prediction is that the folks who are pressing for withdrawal won't get one by next year (unless pressure on military manpower becomes great enough to threaten a draft) and that the price of a stable Iraq will continue to be borne on the backs of American soldiers for many years. I would have liked to see some attempt at effective containment and gradual reform of these states, not this overestimation of the ability of force to solve complex problems and the continuous bad judgements of this civilian leadership. New Meme: Competence Matters.

Premature Endorsement

Things are looking good for Hillary Clinton these days. Polls are coming out which show decent support among voters, she's progressing steadily in her effort to stake moderate positions on issues like defense and foreign policy. She undoubtedly has strong support from core Democratic voters. Will any of that be enough? Who knows. I'm not sure America is ready for a woman or minority to be president. The only way I'd 100% run Hillary is if Repub ran Rice (I doubt it folks).

Let me go ahead and endorse (even though he might not run) who I think would be the best choice for POTUS as the field is now known to me. Wesley Clark. General Clark has what it takes to win, not only in traditional liberal areas but in the red hinterlands so few other candidates have a hope of reaching. The General has the right ideas on domestic policy (that is to say Dem positions, but with enough independence he could throw some suprise proposals and compromises in if he wanted to). Folksy and intelligent, Clark has the magic spark Clinton had with the added bonus of a distinguished military career, and Clark would fight tooth and nail to defend his record, not be hamstrung by a gaggle of Swift Scamsters. National security cred is an ultra-valuable commodity for post 9-11 politicians, so is being from the South or Midwest. I'd have loved to see Clark on the stage opposite Bush, his command presence relaying to voters he was the right man to lead the "War on Terror", while he made Bush look like more of an idiot than Kerry did.

My gut tells me Clark is the one, trust the gut I always say. It's what most voters do.

Further thought: Clark is just the most obvious example of the mold of candidate I think would be successful. McCain is in here, and I'd take him if Clark weren't available.

Googling all the way to the Bank

New word out about Google starting up another one of it's friendly "tracking" services, this one keeping up with and showing you up to years of searches you've conducted. The appeal of Google was always barebones search speed and accuracy with no bullshit and no distractions from that ideal. Way to go Google. You're trying to make another Windows, with something for everyone and every feature under the sun. You think your product is so widespread and valuable that people won't switch if given another viable option? If somebody picks up the torch and builds a service where Google (and Google's philosophy) was 3 years ago I'm gone.

Oh, the Children

What will we tell the children? First, tell them to be quiet around grown folks and to wipe their noses.

Then, let them play outside in the sun for long periods of time with friends and teach them to say please and thank you when they want or get something.

Let them play video games as they grow to stimulate their intellects and encourage reading as early as practical. When they're old enough to understand it tell them that what they believe in is up to them and not to ever believe what someone tells them without asking questions. Answer their questions. Teach your kids to be thinkers and they will grow up to be thinkers. Expose children to every opportunity and let them choose what to do, don't force them. Be a parent your kids will look back on with respect and love.

That came off a little preachy, but I look at my childhood with warmth because these things helped me and intend to do them when I eventually procreate.

The Supernatural

Personally I think it's all bullshit. Every bit. Religious experiences, revelations, monster sightings, ghost stories, creepy events. I think every bit of it is something conjured up in the mind of a frightened, confused, or dishonest individual as an attempt to explain what they can't understand.

Mmmm



My, Condi sure is one hot little number in that outfit. Gimme some of your lovin' Condi, please!


An Unfortunate Discovery

I've discovered a surprisingly unpleasant phenomenon, that is, how disconcerting it is to laugh while pissing. In the murky past I must have done so before, but this time the sensation occured to me that something vital in my wang was going to rupture or malfunction as I pissed. Not to mention how the flow was interrupted by involuntary convulsions of the pelvic area resulting in poor aim. Consider yourself warned.

Medieval Justice

The BBC notes that an Iranian girl got 100 lashes for having sex outside of wedlock recently. The theocracy's usual response in such cases is "Tehran rejects the criticism as propaganda." This barbarism is part of what lets Americans rest easy when their armies invade Muslim countries. Certain nations really are still in the Middle Ages, even though their people have cell phones and wear Nikes. While our leaders may think we have inexhaustible resources to carry on a great project of civilizing the world thru conquest, grim reality will hit sooner or later.

And if the neocon plan really was simply to invade, stabilize, egress and then hope for the best... Wait, they couldn't be that daft could they?

Now They're Pacifists

Some bitches have no sense of scope. Crowds in Germany are protesting the so-called warmongering of President Bush. One limpwrist says "We had our Hitler, now you have yours." The article I saw (now down) states the protest was twice as large as expected. I think the protest size predictors are intentionally lowballing initial expectations for dramatic effect.

There's a difference between a war of aggression to secure political advantage, valuable resources, and a testing ground for next generation weapons, and a bid for empire based on the theory of racial supremecy. Get a clue, Germany.

Pushing Back

Bullmoose says that Democrats need to fight the Republicans for the hearts of Joe and Jane America. He's right. Living in the South, I can testify that many around here have been hoodwinked by the Repubs into thinking Dems are the party of athiests, the anti-god party, as well as soft on crime and defense. This is not acceptable. It's going to take a long time and persistent effort to undo the damage done to Dems in the South among average voters, and it should begin now by recruting energetic candidates willing and able to challenge Repubs on these issues.

I'm convinced that trying to play the edges and scrape electoral votes together is not a viable long-term strategy, it's time to reform parts of the platform. Democrats can't simply pretend all the victories of the Right over the past few years are the result of Rovian manipulation or bad messengers. Mainstream America I believe doesn't want a Moorish worker utopia or a Santorumesque homophobic playground for the rich, it wants equality and social fairness on one hand, national pride and law and order on the other. This country is not drifting to the left, and to stay in the game Dems must face up to it and change tact to co-opt Republican issues so as to win back the South/Southwest and thereby the nation. Talking heads will react to policy shifts with "If I want a Republican I'll vote for the real thing", "They're flip-flopping!" but mainstream American thought isn't molded by television talking heads, and electoral benefits back in the provinces will slowly be reaped. Push them back in the center, turning the flanks is not going to work on this one.

Constructing

Blogger template work is frustrating me, but Haloscan commentary and blogrollage capabilities are in the works.

Beginnings

The time has come to throw caution to the wind. Using humor, ridicule, sober common sense, and perhaps a few unexpected insights I will carve out my own fief in the Blogdom. So let it be written. So let it be done.