1 I saw that show on History Channel, and was riveted. I was mad they kept going to commercials, as I was eager to find out the resolution of the action. You mentioned some tactical errors. This is one thing which makes me crazy about the condemnation of the OIF leadership: strategic and tactical errors always occur, in every conflict. Always. It is impossible to perfectly foresee conditions. Also, the enemy always adapts. Some commander, can't remember who, famously said: "The plan never survives the first shots." It looks, now, upon seeing the success of the surge, as if Rumsfeld and his generals stayed too long with their "small footprint + maintain stability" strategy. Patreus proactive counterinsurgency strategy is, so far, massively successful. But, consider: Rumsfeld and his generals were determined to leave us in a strategically flexible position, at all times, and they did that. They tried the small footprint, it didn't work very well. But, to me, it looks as if they held down overall American casualties, and they left us with the strategic flexibility to now implement the surge. It looks as if Rumsfeld and his generals did a mediocre job, at best. Yet they still did a professional job. They were not "incompetent". Many generals in history have done worse, with more disastrous results. Even, for instance, in WWII, where some of Adm. Bull Halsey's decisions bordered on actually incompetent - yet he is still considered -even by me, a fine and skilled and honorable naval commander. Stuff happens. Foreseeing the future is impossible. On third and three, should you run or pass? After the play fails, all fans know, in their hearts, that the coach made an incompetent playcall.

2 I originally meant to lift the truncated quote, but thought a little more might be digestible in this hour. "...Let the man of learning, the man of lettered leisure, beware of that queer and cheap temptation to pose to himself and to others as a cynic, as the man who has outgrown emotions and beliefs, the man to whom good and evil are as one. The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer. There are many men who feel a kind of twister pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt. There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is great and lofty, whether in achievement or in that noble effort which, even if it fails, comes to second achievement. A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticise work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life's realities - all these are marks, not as the possessor would fain to think, of superiority but of weakness. They mark the men unfit to bear their part painfully in the stern strife of living, who seek, in the affection of contempt for the achievements of others, to hide from others and from themselves in their own weakness. The rôle is easy; there is none easier, save only the rôle of the man who sneers alike at both criticism and performance. It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength. It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who 'but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier.'" -TR

3 OK, Cas, that's just two paragraphs, but two of the longest I've seen in years. Still, full of truths. Who can disagree except for the butthead who just does it for attention?

4 I only wrote one sentence. TR wrote the rest, better yet, know where he delivered it? To the French, mwahahahaha.

5 OT: But looks like Straw finally got his life-size George Michael poster!

6 Thanks for reminding me how much I love TR, Casca.

7 Thanks, Radical Redneck. I shall immediately gouge my own eyes out with fish hooks. Hopefully, your intended target will be compelled to do the same.

1 So, the Italians were the prostitutes?

2 Prostitutes, huh? I wonder how that affected the crew's discipline.

1 I never saw that one coming. What a surprise...a pleasant one, nonetheless.

2 Only one person at a time is "The President". Every other former occupant of that position is "Ex-President" or "former President". So, when you asked the question, it was obviously a trick question, because "The President" is not that fool Carter. Better hope the bar Examiners are more careful about their questions...

3 "...the virtues of open diplomacy and moral principles as a substitute for what he contends was the often secretive and sometimes amoral Realpolitik of the Nixon-Ford-Kissinger years." The man was, is, and at this point, probably always will be the definition of a fucking idiot. What was accomplished in those amoral years? Well there was this war in Vietnam, that the left didn't want to win, but didn't want Nixon to get the credit for ending. There was also the opening of Russia with Glasnost, and that Red China thing, all of which created a world where the possibilities of nuclear war became more remote. Jimmy on the other hand, deposed the Shah, and gave us the mullahs. I propose that wherever he opens his mouth in front of a microphone, he be driven from the place with wet towels! The man is a disaster.

4 Kasha, It is not surprising that you genuflect for the dubious accomplishments of a man who’s name and dark countenance has been, until the current occupant of the WH grabbed the feedbag of slime, synonymous with deceit and malfeasance, anti-Semitism, racism and many other less pleasant attributes and deride a man who has acted impeccably throughout his career, never a whiff of scandal, always championing the high moral ground. The Shah was a corrupt despot and Israel will settle for nothing less than separate but unequal. Today I was reading an account of the firing of general Lavelle in 1972 and the Nixon-Kissmonkey-Laid statements about the event transcribed from the tapes. They are pissed at Laird for firing Lavelle when he (Laird) knew full well that “protective reaction” was to be used as the excuse for bombing targets in the North other than SAM sites that turned on their radar. Lavelle was hung out to dry for following the orders contained in the wink rather than the explicit paperwork and the winker (although more often referred to as the wanker), Nixon, was furious.

5 Hey Casca, did you hear something? I swear I thought I heard something. Nope, I guess not, Sorry about the OSU bit; I couldn't resist. I actually spit out my coffee when I read Annie's post. Florida's team is going en masse to the NBA, but USC just got the Numero Uno pick for next year. This year was your chance...

6 Mata is a good coach. I'm just glad that we have a respectable program now. Conley is an incredible talent, overshadowed by the big man Oden. They'll probably do the smart thing, and take the money, and be gone next year. Who can blame them?

7 Straw, At this point in your career, I'm rarely surprised at your silly statements and distortion of reality. Jimmy Carter is a miserable failure. He's a disgusting, amoral, self-righteous idiot. The day he meets Jesus will be a great day for mankind. The moron is unworthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as Nixon, who despite some obvious personal failings accomplished more in his career than that jackass Jimmy Carter did or ever will. "The Shah was a corrupt despot and Israel will settle for nothing less than separate but unequal." Yeah, the Iranian people (and the American and Israeli people were much better off with him gone.) My God, are you that dumb!? Jimmy Carter is as much responsible for the current mess with Islamo-fascism as anybody walking the planet. Your commment about Israel, however, was even more dumb. How is it possible that this German-American can know more about and care more about your own people than somebody in tribe? I have Jewish friends that would spit on you, Straw, for such inane rambling. The very people who would like to see every Jew dead get to vote in Israel. Ruminate on that while you sit around feeling sorry for the barbarians. Get a life and clue, pal. Better yet, try going to Israel sometime and meeting your people, and experiencing what life is like knowing you are surrounded by sub-humans whose entire existence revolves around destroying you and yours.

8 Straw is this the same naive Carter who has been bowing before the altar of dictators for decades and thinks they're all perfectly rational people? Is this the same vicious Carter that rips his country at home and abroad? If you're going to defend a Democrat President, fine. Pick Roosevelt. Pick Kennedy. Carter?

9 Blu, Calm down fella, wipe the foam off your lip, take a drink of water and listen. I am dedicated to the survival of Israel, be they my tribe or not. (you should only know how many Jews And Israelis I have as friends and business associates). But I am not going to get sucked into your foaming at the mouth rambles about the sub-human peoples that surround them and agree that a policy of keeping a heel in their necks is the only way to control a very difficult situation. No matter how long you keep your heel there you will someday have to or want to relax and try to live your life. Unfortunately the damage done through oppression cannot be undone by simply getting them to say uncle. The poverty and oppressive conditions in Gaza and the west bank are appalling. The population explosion in these territories is causing great pressure and the anger and resentment grows year by year. The numbers that want to sacrifice everything to the cause increases daily. Explosives are the limiting factor, not those willing to serve Allah. I do not expect nor do I want the Palestinians to enter Israel and participate in running the country. No vote and no citizenship. But, short of trucking 2 million people out into the desert and shooting them, (which on may days, I am sad to say, I think is a good idea) I cannot think of a solution that does not include giving up territory and resources. Can you? I don't pretend to know exactly how this might be configured but I do know that the application of military might coupled with indefinite containment is not a solution. Maybe I don't remember the events of 1979 too well, but why would you lay Khomenei's accent at the feet of Jimmy Carter? Corrupt royal families are not my cup of tea but neither are Islamic Republics.

10 Want to watch a Jew's eyebrows go up and his eyes squint? Just start saying any version of "Some of my best friends are Jews". We all know what's coming next...

11 Shelly, But when you are one it's different.