Category: Pending Pigeonholing

Salon.com has a teaser for its article The “Truth” About Iraq” claiming that right wing talk show hosts “are headed to the war zone to report what they already know: U.S. Troops are winning….”
The problem here is that we’re winning our way into a Vietnam-style exit; it’s not that our troops can’t defeat insurgents in open battle, it’s that we can’t (or won’t, in many cases) protect them from the tactics used by the insurgents, whether with enough armor or enough people. But I suppose they have to bring a straw man to the Green Zone, or it wouldn’t be right-wing radio.

From Salon.com | The blue dress of Baghdad

Now, can we talk of impeachment? The rueful admission by former chief U.S. weapons inspector David Kay that Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction or the means to create them at the time of the U.S. invasion confirms the fact that the Bush administration is complicit in arguably the greatest scandal in U.S. history. It’s only because the Republicans control both houses of Congress that we hear no calls for a broad-ranging investigation of the type that led to the discovery of Monica Lewinsky’s infamous blue dress.

Impeachement?

Surely you jest.

That, like taxes, is only for the little people, Democrats and other nonhuman enemies of the GOP.

From Judge Chooses San Mateo County as Site of Murder Trial:

By DEAN E. MURPHY

January 21, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20–Tourism officials in San Mateo County cheered wildly on Tuesday when a judge announced that the murder trial of Scott Peterson would be moved there.

Alas, for my republic, which has fallen so far as to cheer a murder trial for the money it brings!

From One Nation, Under Secularism By SUSAN JACOBY

“Today, many voters, of many religious beliefs, might well be receptive to a candidate who forthrightly declares that his vision of social justice will be determined by the ‘plain, physical facts of the case’ on humanity’s green and fragile earth. But that would take an inspirational leader who glories in the nation’s secular heritage and is not afraid to say so.”

As much as I would like to believe this, I think Ms. Jacoby overstates the case. Too many Americans fear the reprisals some, and probably most, Christians would hand out as a result of even supporting someone of faith who dared support secularism.

From The New York Times: Dispatches: The Military: Marines Plan to Use Velvet Glove More Than Iron Fist in Iraq:

“CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Dec. 10 � No force has a tougher reputation than the United States Marines. But the marines who are headed to Iraq this spring say they intend to avoid the get-tough tactics that have been used in recent weeks by Army units. “

More proof Marines are smarter than Army grunts. Of course, we have a lot more experience fighting “small wars” at the behest of the administration. One thing Marines pride themselves on is learning from mistakes and successes.

Lt. Gen. Conway sounds like one hell of a leader; so many in the military would have made noises like they were going to bring even more death and destruction, just to salvage ego and no matter what they had planned. To be willing to say, “We’re going to try and work with the Iraqis” is a good sign for the sucess of the operation, as is sending in the Marines generally.

One last thing: Conway is too classy to make this point, but one advantage the Marines will have is that everybody is expected to have basic infantry skills, including ambushing, responding to ambushes, patrolling and operating both personal and crew-served weapons.

From MARINE CORPS ORDER 1500.51A–MARINE BATTLE SKILLS TRAINING (MBST) PROGRAM

5. Policy

a. Every Marine regardless of MOS will be taught those

fundamental combat skills needed to survive and fight on today�s

battlefield. The references contain the tasks and standards

required of Marines (private – gunnery sergeant). Sustainment of

these skills is the responsibility of commanders at all levels.

b. Combat skills proficiency is an integral part of every

Marine�s performance of duty. Commanders will consider a Marine�s

combat skills proficiency when assigning proficiency marks and

writing fitness reports.

From “Returned to Life” by Bob Herbert in The New York Times: “As for the work that he and his students are doing: ‘Some people think it’s inspiring,’ the professor said. ‘I think it’s dismaying. Seniors in college should not be the last line of defense against an innocent person being executed.'”

Dismaying indeed. It’s not that I’m against executions entirely, but to kill 2-3 innocent people out of every 10 is simply unacceptable for a civilized society.

House panel: CIA�s report on Iraq shaky

Intelligence chief seeks inquiry into possible leak naming agent

DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES

WASHINGTON � The White House, laboring to build domestic and international support for its postwar efforts in Iraq, is facing renewed criticism about how it managed the intelligence that underpinned its case for the war.

The debate over the rationale….

There were ‘too many uncertainties’ in the outdated and inadequate information ….

At the same time, officials confirmed that Tenet had asked the Department of Justice to look into whether one or more administration officials had leaked information to news media disclosing the identity of a covert CIA agent. Tenet�s request was first reported by NBC News.”

I believe this is called “burying the lede,” but I suppose the nation’s most misnamed paper deserves some credit for the kicker.

The Miami Herald | 07/21/2003 | Issue of slavery can’t be `fixed’

Again, Mr. Pitts hit the racial nail square on the head. Again, he illuminates this discourse with a take on an issue I’ve never before seen.