Not like that�s any new news, but here is just the latest example of bubble that Mr. Bush lives in does not serves neither him nor the public well.
The Associated Press ran this story on 1 October 2005:
quote:WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday he is encouraged by the increasing size and capability of the Iraqi security forces, touting progress on a key measure for when U.S. troops can come home.
However, that seems to be a direct contradiction to what his top generals told Congress just two days before.
The Washington Post ran this story on 30 September 2005.
quote:Decline in Iraqi Troops' Readiness Cited Generals Tell Lawmakers They Cannot Predict When U.S. Forces Can Withdraw
The number of Iraqi army battalions that can fight insurgents without U.S. and coalition help has dropped from three to one, top U.S. generals told Congress yesterday, adding that the security situation in Iraq is too uncertain to predict large-scale American troop withdrawals anytime soon.
Gen. George W. Casey Jr., who oversees U.S. forces in Iraq, said there are fewer Iraqi battalions at "Level 1" readiness than there were a few months ago. Although Casey said the number of troops and overall readiness of Iraqi security forces have steadily increased in recent months, and that there has not been a "step backwards," both Republican and Democratic senators expressed deep concern that the United States is not making enough progress against a resilient insurgency
Back to the Associated Press story:
quote:On Friday, Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Sunni Arab opposition to Iraq's draft constitution has increased the potential for instability and called into question U.S. hopes for substantial troop cuts next spring
It was the second time this week that Casey rolled back his July prediction that "fairly substantial" troop withdrawals could begin next spring.
On Wednesday, he told Congress that only one Iraqi army battalion was ready to go into combat without U.S. support, down from three estimated a few months ago. He argued, though, that the Iraqi army is getting stronger, with more than 30 Iraqi battalions deemed capable of leading combat operation against insurgents, albeit with U.S. help.
Bush said more than 100 Iraqi battalions are operating throughout the country. "Our commanders report that the Iraqi forces are serving with increasing effectiveness," he told radio listeners.
So, there are more Iraqi troops under arms. There are however, fewer Iraqi troops capable of handling the insurgents by without support from United States troops than there were a few months ago.
All in all, those seem like dubious conditions to hail the readiness of the Iraqi military to the American public.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
The fact is that Bush makes feel-good headlines with his lies and his general's viewpoints are reported several pages back in the newspapers -and not at all on T.V. After all, what could career military guys know about combat readiness that our Commander In Chief does not?
So most good little sheep beieve what is repeated over and over by CNN/FOX/local stations due to rote memorization, an unwillingness to face the unpleasant fact that we're doing a half-assed job in Iraq and general apathy.
After all, it takes effort to find the truth when the "news" is determined by the political viewpoints of the producer/publisher/sponsor.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Someone pointed out to me that maybe he isn't merely incompotent, but actually just evil. This person was my mother.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
You mom was tragicly incorrect- I can (sorta) respect an evil genius.
I think Bush has (unintentionally) allied himself with smart, greedy, evil fuckers that make all his imporntant decisions for him.
Republican politicians in other words.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Gross incompetence can have a subtle charm at some levels (ever watch The Office?). These levels do not and should not include the highest eschelons and in fact the very office of leadership for a superpower. At a certain point ignorance (real or pretended), especially when combined with arrogance and actual power, becomes malevolence. Becomes evil.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
(cough)United Nations(cough)
Disclaimer: That was a joke. The United Nations is a competant organization that helps millions each year and all those reports of corruption, political favors for dictators and not assisting victims untill genocide has been confirmed by every major news network should be overlooked in favor of the good works the U.N. does. Really.
Posted by Timo (Member # 245) on :
Besides, you glossed over the "actual power" part, which doesn't really fit.
Timo Saloniemi
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Ignorance is strength.
Posted by tricky (Member # 1402) on :
War is peace. Brown is the new black.
With the isolationist/self interest policy of the US, can the rest of us vote to evict them off planet? No more star trek, Stargate filmed in Canada, what have the Americans done for us? (thanks for the assitance in the war, better late than never)
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
"That was a joke. Really."
I'm laughing. Really.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Well, you're laughing more than the Sudanese refugees anyway.
The U.N. brokered cease fire that stopped most of the killing took a whole week to hammer out. ....After more than a year of innocents being slaughtered by government forces while no one did anything (including the U.S., of course).
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Right, because the situation in Darfur having gotten as bad as it was before the 2004 cease-fire had absolutely nothing to do with the UN's principal military contributor(s) sitting around debating the meaning of the word "genocide" or with the US and the Sudan government forming a "close intelligence partnership" and the latter increasing its cooperation in the War on Terrah despite itself being on Bushco's list of state sponsors of terrorism and Powell's senate declaration OR with the US' constant refusal to try war criminals at the international criminal court deadlocking the Security Council, had it?
Oh, wait, of course, the UN's corrupt.
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
You know it really, really, really says something if the sci-fi forums folks think you're disconnected from reality....
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I'm not exempting anyone from blame, bt the U.N.'s purpose is to at least try to resolve such conflicts nad if they had done that a year prior, a lot of people could have skipped that whole getting killed thing.
I'm pissed that the US did not get involved because we're trying to paint a arab-friendly picture while we flail around in Iraq/Afghanistan.
Stupid reason to let whole villages get slaughtered while we sit quietly by.
As to trying criminals before the World Court- that would be the same court with a 15 year maximum sentence for Genocide and no death penalty. Yeah, that's justice allright. Biljana Plavsic got eleven whole years for her admitted role in the deaths of two million people.
Shit, they'd probably give Bin Laden probation. Posted by tricky (Member # 1402) on :
Personally don't agree with death penalty, people tend to be remembered by thier fans in thier prime. Plus it's wrong
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
quote:Originally posted by tricky: Plus it's wrong
WIN!
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
And, er, something something Nazis something! The End.
Posted by Daryus Aden (Member # 12) on :
Yes, indeed. A stunning and indept analysis of the current geo-politik.
Hey, does George have to face any type of question time on a regular basis in your dysfunctional parlimentary system (tee-hee) or does someone else do all the talking for him?
I'd love to see him actually have to answer questions off the cuff.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
You're in luck.
Mr. Bush wield held a press conference on 4 October 2005.
You can watch here as Mr. Bush wields his mighty rhetorical power as our lapdog press nips at his heels.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Now watch this drive!
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
quote:You can watch here as Mr. Bush wields his mighty rhetorical power as our lapdog press nips at his heels.
'nips, eh?
That was beautiful. From 132 battalions to 1 to 80. This guy should get his own sitcom.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Well, someone's gotta be laughing.
The grim reaper, probably.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I don't see why. He's probably being forced to work much longer hours.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Probably had to take on extra help. Or even outsource, awarding the contract to Halliburton, of course.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
No-bid, closed door contract with certain humanitarian restrictions waived for the sake of alacrity.
Posted by Daryus Aden (Member # 12) on :
Ok I've watched the press conference. I am blown away. An intellect without peer. A man truly worthy of the title of Lord of the West. Ar Pharazon the Golden.
Posted by Tora Ziyal (Member # 53) on :
I saw a broadcast of Tony Blair speaking at a Labour Party thing last week. That was the first time I really heard him speak, and even though I didn't understand half the issues, I was like, man, can we have HIM for president instead?
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Yeah...I think the approval rating of both leaders would improve if they just switched places.
Well, okay, the Brits are smarter than to agree to that trade.
Posted by TheWoozle (Member # 929) on :
quote:
quote:WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday he is encouraged by the increasing size and capability of the Iraqi security forces, touting progress on a key measure for when U.S. troops can come home.
quote:The number of Iraqi army battalions that can fight insurgents without U.S. and coalition help has dropped from three to one, top U.S. generals told Congress yesterday, adding that the security situation in Iraq is too uncertain to predict large-scale American troop withdrawals anytime soon.
Apparently, the clarification is that while the overall quality of the Iraqi army is doubtful, there is a single battalion that can work without being under the American thumb.
What's more troubling is the fact that they're starting to make noises that Iran is the source of some terrorist support, with evidence. Second-hand evidence, but Bush didn't even need that to destabilize Iraq.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Daryus:
quote:A man truly worthy of the title of Lord of the West. Ar Pharazon the Golden.
Yes, Bush should have turned Saddam over to the Iraqis instead of shipping him straight into Washington to gloat over him and try and pick his brain. Bad news written all over it.
I hear the Al Qaida are multiplying in beastfashion again, in their caves. They have big, black saracens among them as well now. Swarthy and terrible, they bite the necks of yankees, drink their blood and literally rip the iPods from their bodies.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nim: Yes, Bush should have turned Saddam over to the Iraqis instead of shipping him straight into Washington to gloat over him and try and pick his brain. Bad news written all over it.
??? I'm confused as to why you're saying this. Saddam was never shipped to Washington, and he was turned over to the Iraqis not long after his capture.
B.J.
Posted by Not Invented Here (Member # 1606) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tora Ziyal: I saw a broadcast of Tony Blair speaking at a Labour Party thing last week. That was the first time I really heard him speak, and even though I didn't understand half the issues, I was like, man, can we have HIM for president instead?
You are either dangerously insane or dangerously clever.
Tony Blair is disliked by a large amount of the British public now, as we've finally woken up to the fact that he is a snake in, well, snake's clothing. The Labour government has a lot of dodgy dealings going on behind the scenes, just the same as the Republicans. Blair is just a better looking, more eloquent puppet than Dubya.
If you want him because you think he'd make a good President, you are sorely mistaken. If you want him because he does a much better job than Dubya of pulling the wool over the sheep's eyes, then by all means, PLEASE TAKE HIM!
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Tony Blair has done the unthinkable - made us nostalgic for the Major era. I nearly cried for joy when Rory Bremner did his John Major voice a while back, and also when Private Eye did a one-off resurrection of The Secret Diary of SIR John Major KCMG aged. . ..
I've no illusions though. I know the Conservatives would be just as bad if not worse. But at least they're honest about what they want. They want to be in government to amass as much power, wealth and prestige for themselves and their cronies as they can, and if we're very lucky we'll be thrown the odd scrap.
Meanwhile, Blair and New Labour have gone about amassing as much power, prestige and wealth for themselves and their cronies as they can, all the while making it out like we're in this great partnership together. The Tories want to take us out of Europe - well, at this stage I'm almost in favour of it, it'd be better than this limbo we're stuck in, fartarseing around while Brown applies his five economic tests. Blair's established Britain as the lapdog of a bunch of Chritsian fundamentalist nutjobs whose primary interest in the Middle East is making sure that everything's nice and tidy in the Holy Land when Judgement Day comes (especially all that nasty messy oil that's just lying around the place).
Fucking cocksucker, he'll do a guest voice on The Simpsons but he won't go to pay his respects to British citizens who are dead because of him.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
This increase in swearing is really playing havok with my work web filter. Tsk.
Labour still have done good things, overall. Economy and jobswise the country is much better off. The NHS is mildly screwed, but at this stage it always will be. That massive injection of money that it was recently given only helped to repair some of the damage caused by years of Tory neglect. And it's still far better than not having one at all.
I suppose the main difference between Blair and Bush is that Tony actually seems to understand what he's saying, whereas George would be reduced to a gibbering moron (or more so) if his scriptwriters were shot. And while Blair does have some unpleasant right-wing leanings, I really can't see him doing as bad a job of Bush at running America if he had to. For starters, he seems to lack the "let poor black people die in hurricanes" aspect to his personality.
In any event, Lee is only making clearly insane comments about being nostalgic for Major because he's now extremely old, and all old people get right-wing when they realise that everyone younger than them is an uncouth ruffian who doesn't deserve anything and anyway university was a lot harder when I went and we had respect for people damnit.
(And finally, Blair may be disliked by a large proportion of the British public, but the Tories are so incompetent that they've given us 5 leaders to hate in the same amount of time. You think it's worrying that you're nostalgic for Major? I'm getting nostalgic for William fucking Hague.)
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I want Chretien back.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam: For starters, he seems to lack the "let poor black people die in hurricanes" aspect to his personality.
This is actually a fantasy- you need to remove the word "black" from that statement for it to be accurate. I've not seen or read anything to suggest Bush is at all racist- certainly Colin Powell does not think so.
The whole "bush does not care about black people" was a one-off line from some black comic trying to boost his name recognition by going down there for a few days "to help" -meaning to provide the networks with familliar faces so we would not have to see real people's opinions on TV- and it sure worked. Then we saw those shitbags Mayor Nagin and his chief of police (since resigned and made a scapegoat) go on Oprah to decree how awful the government response was (point fingers away from their own obvious inepitude) and how babies were being raped, children had their throats cut and there was a freezer full of bodies at the Superdome.
All of which turned out to be not only completely false, but no records of it being reported to police, FEMA or anyone else could be established.
Bush is indeed a shifty fucktard, but there are those willing to stoop far below even his level to attack him.
I wonder how badly relations between Britan and the US would deterorate if either country elected a leader that could be trusted and was not in bed with Christian fundies....
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
There are remarkably few correct details in your post.
I guess that sounds harsher than I intended, but still.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
B.J:
quote:??? I'm confused as to why you're saying this. Saddam was never shipped to Washington, and he was turned over to the Iraqis not long after his capture.
Ah yes indeed, read this. Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
Since I'm not one to click unfamiliar links at work, do you suppose you could give me the rundown on what that says?
B.J.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
It appears to be a Tolkein encyclopedia reference to one Ar-Pharaz�n, who was "twenty-fifth and last King of N�menor. He assailed Mordor and brought Sauron back to N�menor as a hostage, but Sauron seduced him, and persuaded him to sail on Valinor itself. As punishment for this act, the island of N�menor sank beneath the waves of the Great Sea." So, um, yay!
Posted by Daryus Aden (Member # 12) on :
BJ: basically, Ar Pharazon turned into Saurons puppet and was convinced he could take over the world, which destroyed his own society in the process.
Sound like anyone you know?
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Actually, Ar Pharazon was getting old along with the majority of Numenoreans and became preoccupied with ways to extend his already long life span and longed for the eternal life provided in Valinor. Sauron basicly enticed him to do what he already had set his heart on anyway.
Flip Wilson had it right.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Not that I know what possible leverage Saddam could find in order to pour honey in Bush's ear. So would Sauron in this case be Cheney? Or Putin?
Theory: If Guy Fawkes had finished his mission to complete success, ie a new catholic head of state had been installed (instead of catholics being treated even worse after Fawkes), would perhaps the "puritan" future colonizers of America not have been born? I'm just wool-gathering here, I'm not anti-US.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Changing history in such a fashion leads to such a temporal mechanics head-ache that it's not even worth thinking about!
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
That's why they pay me the big bucks.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
So the question then becomes - if Nim goes back in time and kills his own grandfather, can we all watch?
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
I think you're all disconnected from reality!
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Theory: If Guy Fawkes had finished his mission to complete success, ie a new catholic head of state had been installed (instead of catholics being treated even worse after Fawkes), would perhaps the 'puritan' future colonizers of America not have been born? I'm just wool-gathering here, I'm not anti-US."
Presumably, you're thinking of the Mayflower colonists (alias "the Pilgrims"). They weren't really as important as people think.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Sort of like the British Military.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sol System: There are remarkably few correct details in your post.
I guess that sounds harsher than I intended, but still.
Please elaborate, oh wise one.
quote:Originally posted by Lee: So the question then becomes - if Nim goes back in time and kills his own grandfather, can we all watch?
That could turn into one of those temporal paradox things where Nim is his own grandfather, and since it could not be as amusing as when they did it on Futurama, lets skip it.
Nim, stop looking at your gamndma that way!
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Please elaborate, oh wise one."
Well, starting with the most easily verifiable, Kanye West is a rapper, not a comic...
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
"Roswell That Ends Well." Best episode title EVAR.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
TSN brote:
quote:Well, starting with the most easily verifiable, Kanye West is a rapper, not a comic...
I love that(those) website(s). Especially the Dueling Farts.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Adam West is the man now, dog?
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN:
"Please elaborate, oh wise one."
Well, starting with the most easily verifiable, Kanye West is a rapper, not a comic...
Yeah, I caught that after the fact too (I never heard of him prior to his remarks, so...) The rest is on the money though- it's sad that a lot of people now think Bush is racist: there's even a rap song sampling the whole "bush does not care about black people" line.
As I mentioned, I think it's more that he does not care about poor people (or at least does not have sympathy for the working class).
Meh. Everyone in government sucks. Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
It sure is unfair to judge the President by his actions (or lack thereof).
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
None of his actions speak of racism though- gross uncaring, favoritism, cronyism, fingerpointing, back-room dealing, political backstabbing, lies, misleading the public, getting us into an un-needed war, favoring big business over people, destroying a quarter century of environmental protections, and allowing a terrorist to escape justice by offering him asylum in the U.S.... but not racism.
So, you see, he's really a great President after all. Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: So, you see, he's really a great President after all.
You should never say that under any circumstances.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
?
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
?
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
?
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
?
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
I think you're broken.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
I am.
You want to fix it?
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Well that was surreal. Now to go have a hamburger eat me.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jay the Obscure: I am.
You want to fix it?
A desperate plea for help.
I call a Flarite Intervention! Nim, you bring the handcuffs, Liam, we'll need a videocamera, a stuffed armidillo and most of season six of DS9, Sol you get the cattle prod and I'll bing the Thorazine and Oxycodone.
...and plastic sheets.
Dont worry Jay: you're in good hands.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Plastic sheets and a South African diplomat, then we're sitting pretty.
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
It doesn't sound like I'd be sitting at all.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Well, we coud get one of those vietnamese swing chairs.....you're not allergic to latex are you, Jay?
Posted by Daryus Aden (Member # 12) on :
Its like the old surrealist joke.
How many people does it take to change a lightblub? . . . Badgers
*Pausing for comprehension to dawn* [Insert laughter here]
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
![[Wink]](wink.gif)