Can I go back to avoiding the daily news now?

I’m sure you’re being somewhat facetious but sometimes I wonder what the point of this blog is. Just what is it you’re trying to do here?

Iraq Extrication: The Main Necessity

To extricate one's arm from a toilet, it may be a necessity to first let go of the large shiny object you've wrapped your fist around.
I've been laughing for a day or so now.
The source of humor was the description of the Iraq situation from one of the usual 'inside' narcissistic bright minds. He said that figuring out the Iraq situation was like "playing three dimensional chess in the dark while you are being shot at." The broad stroke solution is actually as far less complex. (Go fish, perhaps.)
The actuality of how to deal with and accommodate or not accommodate the major parties' goals and motives in Iraq is logically inordinately simple.
A. America can neither stay in Iraq nor leave Iraq and have easy, cordial, aligned interests with any eventually arising central dominant force/government.*
B. If America semi 'stands down' behind a multinational force the chances for a settlement and a hopeful future for Iraq (and the region) brighten.
C. Alternatively, if America insists on a continuing presence they should henceforth implement a tri-part Iraq. Post establishment of same, the U.S. could implement massive aid to each faction and a return to the time honored foreign policy of "bribe-the-dictator."
The metaphor I prefer for the Iraqi quagmire is that America forcefully shoved its arm into a deeply murky toilet to retrieve a bright shiny object. To extricate itself it simply needs to unclasp its rigid grasp and withdrawal will proceed unencumbered by an occupier's interests.
This simple and logical opinion arrives at the same conclusion as that of the Iraq Study Group. Their advice was:
A. Inform the Iraqis et al that the U.S. will eventually disassemble their major bases in Iraq and leave. ("Let go of the shiny object!")
B. Form a multinational force (preferably with Arab country participation) to oversee security and policy making for Iraq. ("Take your arm out of the toilet.)
Craig Johnson

*(Should a reader want to test the underlying logic statements for A. above, the statements are:
U.S. plus sole Shia government equals non ending Sunni war.
U.S. plus dominant Shia central government equals non ending Sunni war.
U.S. plus Sunni government equals non ending Shia war and probable Iran incursion.
Shia plus Sunni government is only possible with fundamental U.S. stand down in arms and policy.)
What is the bright shiny object that the Bush/neocons hold so dear in Iraq?
Oil? Democracy? Arms for arms sake? Defeat is politically unthinkable. Israeli security?
Illumination would be helpful. No?
--cognitorex--

Keep doing what you do. I dont know what it is either, but, I like it.

Looks like the insurgency is back from its summer vacation.

The gates of hell just gave a little creak.

It will be interesting to read your list of deep and fundamental problems in Iraq. I agree that there are deep and fundamental problems, but my list is very short, and so it would be interesting to see what a moderate puts on such a list.

The Iraqis have a request for the surge: "Ask Bush to come here and spend one night in the 55 to 60 degree (celsius) summer heat," she said. "Would he do it? Could he do it? I don't think so."

[OT]: Consortium News chimes in on some additional, previously undisclosed FISA alterations delivered by the so-called "Protect America Act", more appropriately dubbed the "REJECT America [and all it once stood for] Act" :

New Spy Law Broader Than Thought
By Robert Parry

Before the Democratic-controlled Congress caved in on George W. Bush's warrantless-wiretapping powers, White House lawyers slipped in two provisions to give the President even more authority -- and less accountability -- than he claimed on his own. And the U.S. press corps largely missed that part of the story. ...

Apparently, we are in our last throes.

Fair enough, he emailed back, but the price of avoiding day-to-day news from Iraq is the inability to get ahead of the curve and spot emerging trends.

Kevin, unfortunately you have decided to look at things from the short-term perspective instead of the long term view. As General George Casey just said, he has no doubt freedom and democracy will grow and prosper in Iraq in ten years so long as we have the fortitude to stay the course and not cut and run in defeat.

Link

"General Casey also said it could take ten years for Iraq to fulfill its potential and become a prosperous, stable country. But he said he has never doubted that that can happen if the United States maintains its commitment."

Then Al, you should be volunteering to occupy the country, since you think it's such a swell idea. Suit the fuck up, chump.

The next president should demand a pleblecite to put the Iraqis on the spot -- either get with the program or lose our support.

I feel you. That's exactly why I don't read these sorts of reports all the time. Many times, it feels like there's no reason to do so, outside of a need to just confirm your notions of how fucked up things are. The downside--and this is something I've struggled with--is that it's harder to keep up with the big events that determine policy, or at least supposed to do so.

Definite last throes, imo.

Excuse me, but why should we spend another five and a half years spending a hundred times more a year than we do on our entire science program to help Iraq?

Why is Iraq more important than anything else we've stuck our shoe in?

You wanted this war. Why do I have to pay for it? And endure it? And my friends fight and die in it?

So minion, you are cool with the 1500-2000 Americans that will be sacrificed to this fuck-up over the next 17 months?

...Why do I have to pay for it? And endure it? And my friends fight and die in it?
Posted by: Crissa on August 14, 2007 at 7:28 PM | PERMALINK

Relax Crissa. You don't have to pay for it. The Chinese are paying. Or maybe your children. Don't worry about it, anyway, our economy will grow so fast from all the freedom flying around, it will be like nothing.

And if your heroic friends fight and die in it, well, they must have heroically volunteered. Yay for them! Their sacrifice will have not been in vain.

"General Casey also said it could take ten years for Iraq to fulfill its potential and become a prosperous, stable country. But he said he has never doubted that that can happen if the United States maintains its commitment."

Well, you fucking chickenshit coward Al, get your skanky butt over there and help out.

Otherwise, shut the fuck up, you cowardly piece of shit.

The success of this terrorist operation is the clearest sign yet that The Surge™ is working. These dead-enders wouldn't have tried something like this unless the insurgency was in its last throes. Their days are numbered, and it's only a matter of time before President Bush can declare "Mission Accomplished" to a grateful world, and an even more grateful Free Iraq.

Muslims are lunatics, the religion only survives through fear and intimidation.
Posted by: Mat on August 14, 2007 at 8:00 PM | PERMALINK

Much like Free Market Fundamentalism.

We need to raise taxes to support the war. If you support the war, you get the tax increase.

Since only the Repukeliscum support the war, we use the voter registration rolls to determine who is taxed.

Lucy

I don't think we have much choice... if Josh Marshall and Jon Chait and Kevin Drum hadn't gotten us into this war, we wouldn't be worrying what would happen if we leave.

"Definite last throes, imo."

Then why did I read a headline yesterday that, to paraphrase, went something like this:

"Democratic Candidates Say US Will Be In Iraq For A Long Time"

I read the article and it appears that only Richardson and Kucinich want to GET OUT NOW. All the others back a smaller but continued US military presence which would stay for years.

I’m sure you’re being somewhat facetious but sometimes I wonder what the point of this blog is.

The point of this blog is to discuss events in the context of American politics, with some cats thrown in here and there for comic relief. :-)

But if you don't like it, you can go somewhere else. No one's stopping you, least of all me.

Since only the Repukeliscum support the war, we use the voter registration rolls to determine who is taxed.

I like it. And while we're at it, we can tax only Democrats for things like single-payer health care and the other entitlements. Do the numbers and see how that will work out.

Here's a simple question for the Decider:

How are we supposed to "win" in Iraq, when the majority of Iraqis want us to leave?

It's a fair and fundamental question with a lot of implications.

Muslims are lunatics, the religion only survives through fear and intimidation.

Yeah, they must be lunatics to be resisting the invasion and military occupation of their country.

Yeah, what lunatics those guys are not to have knelt down and kissed our feet after we shocked and awed them, and told them to "bring it on."

Is that the surge in Iraq or the orchestrated surge of illegal aliens for the North American Union?

It's all about ameros. Follow the amero trail to Halliburton and the oil companies.

The next president should demand a pleblecite to put the Iraqis on the spot -- either get with the program or lose our support.

In other words, be good little colonials and jump the way we want (especially with that oil law!) or else you can't be our colony anymore. Uh-huh.

As far as the whole rest of the world is concerned, the mess ain't the fault of the average Iraqi. The average yiiiihhhaaah-ing American (yo, yo let's go kick some sand-nigger butt) has a lot more to answer for. The average France, Germany and Canada-disparaging American. The average American that allowed into office a government that ignored Gen. Shinseki's 300,000 and (here the finger points oh so strongly) ignored their duty under international law (Rumsfeld's "things happen"; Rice's "birthing pangs") to provide security following their deposing of Saddam Hussein and his thugs (but made sure the oil ministry was the one site well-guarded) and then hired incompetent but ideolgically-pure young Republican pups to oversee the aftermath. So no, you don't get to pass YOUR fuck-ups onto others, least of all the victims. This is primarily AMERICA'S FAULT. AMERICA is primarily to BLAME. NOT primarily THE IRAQIS. You do not get to walk away from this. Culture of responsibility - my ass!!!!!

My humble opinion.

I check it out every once in a while. Emerging trends:

http://icasualties.org/oif/US_chart.aspx
http://icasualties.org/oif/woundedchart.aspx
http://icasualties.org/oif_a/CasualtyTrends.htm

I wish they'd quit calling it the "surge."

It was an escalation. No amount of PR changes that.

I wish the current Bush administration had rousted out facts about the cultures of Iraq. They would only have needed incursions into libraries and informational web sites, and councils with uncorrupted persons having personal knowledge of Iraq, its history, and its cultures.

Kevin; "Can I go back to avoiding the daily news now?"

Why, soit'n'ly!

K-Fed's suing Britney for primary custody of their two children. How's that for a start?

snicker-snack "The average yiiiihhhaaah-ing American (yo, yo let's go kick some sand-nigger butt) has a lot more to answer for."

I believe the proper term used in polite society is "Camel Jockey" ...

....is the inability to get ahead of the curve and spot emerging trends.

Friedman units are certainly a trend.

minion - What did you do in the war?

So, this Kevin fella ADMITS to ignoring the surge when it is working, and only finds time to post about it the day we have one setback?! Crikey indeed.

I'm actually a bit surprised.. I thought the Bush Administration put ex-Baathist Sunni insurgents on its payroll. Of course, the strategy is flawed in that the US is aligning itself with the insurgency that's attack the Shiite government that is officially supported by the Bush admin, but you'd think paying the insurgents would at least decrease their attacks until Petraeus' report

Can we please retire the phrase "the facts on the ground" now? The phrase is fucking meaningless. Are "the facts on the ground" capable of unshitting this bed? If not, then who really gives a fuck what "the facts on the ground" are on any given day?

It makes little difference if "the surge" succeeds or not.

It is like a doctor treating someone for extremely high blood pressure. Say after 4 years of it's going up and up and up he finally tries a larger drug dose and and maybe a bit of a different drug and gets it down from say 200/140 to 170/120, what difference does it make if the patient has cancer? Cancer that is left largely untreated and is probably largely untreatable. What difference does it make?

This executive branch has used our treasury and tax dollars, our troops have been pawns, as those schemers from PNAC--Project for a New American Century--succeeded with military coercion in occupying Iraq and getting a foothold in the Middle East. The goal has always been to ensure private businesses money making opportunities. It is imperialism for capital gain, for control of resources, serving corporate interests. Any google search will show this fact.
As we know, Michael Moore included a segment in Fareinheit 911 where companies were filmed at a meeting with administration representatives on opportunities to profit in Iraq prior to the occupation.
Remniscent of England colonizing nations, the proliferation of the Bush Doctrine, developed years ago by Cheney, Wolfowitz, Libby, Perle et al, is pure imperial ambition. Outlined and available all along, just not widely circulated and understood by the American public, who are too busy in their daily lives to give a damn.
The war was a bill of goods sold after the attack on the world trade center. We all know this.
And the horrific violence in Iraq likely represents the rebellion towards the Bush Doctrine. Sadly, Americans seem to shake off aversion to Iraqi casualties.

This war and occupation is based on LIES.

We are killing civilians, as we do not know who the enemy is or how to identify them.

With every civilian we kill, we are creating a new potential terrorist among their survivors.

This war is a lie. END IT TODAY!!!!!

MY HEAD HURTS!!! I don't know how you keep doing it every day...just reading the blogs, listening to the news, watching the revolving sensationalism on TV is like being caught in a REALLY BAD version of Groundhog Day (is there a good version?). I'm so glad I'm nearer the end of my days than the beginning as I fear the destruction to America by Bush and THE GANG will be ongoing for generations.

Yes, come back when they bag a V-22 Osprey.

Baghdad and the abduction of several Oil Ministry officials, including a deputy oil minister - a deputy oil minister or THE deputy minister??

ExxonMobil's "give us 70% of your profits" oil contract is getting closer to NEVER being signed.

Big oil should really thank Bush and Dick for all the lack of hard work and non-think on the job.
Those two tried so very hard to make sure every Mideast citizen knew exactly how much Bushism really cared about sharing oil/energy with Iraqis.

I mean, Bush can send out the war czar to preach draft, and sent out Gen. Petraeus in September to tell American how wonderful the surge is going:

Iraq Toll Exceeds 200 as Suicide Bombers Target Kurdish Sect
Bloomberg - 57 minutes ago
By Robin Stringer Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The death toll from coordinated suicide bombings in northern Iraq rose to more than 200, the deadliest in the country since November and the worst attack on a Kurdish sect that has been targeted in the sectarian ...
Four-pronged suicide attack kills 175 in Times Online
Yazidi: ancient sect caught up in Iraq turmoil Khaleej Times
ABC News - RTE.ie - People's Daily Online - Forbes
all 728 news articles »

It going to be real hard sell.

I don't know why big oil banks on these two anymore - I bet Nancy Pelosi could do a better job of protecting "our vital national interest" than those two loser can undo in another months time.

Anyway, where were those Blackwater guards? Did they NOT think the current Iraqi deputy minister was being generous enough to Big Oil? Why not give 80% or 100% of Iraqi oil profit to ExxonMobil???

Kevin Drum: "A friend asked me recently why I didn't post much about the surge."

Maybe because as one of the original cheerleaders IN FAVOR of invading Iraq, you have zero credibility on the topic? Kevin, there are some facts that your energetic team of comment monitors and censors can't make go away simply by deleting reader posts you find uncomfortable. Your initial support for the Iraq War is one of them.

fourlegsgood sez: "I wish they'd quit calling it the 'surge.'

It was an escalation. No amount of PR changes that."

EXACTLY, fourlegs. An ESCALATION. Of military forces. In an OCCUPATION. Of a foreign country without the consent of its populace. An occupation intended to continue until the oil revenue sharing law (anointing Exxon/Mobil, BP/Amoco and Royal Dutch Shell to exploit Iraq'a oil fields at twice the customary international profit rates) is a done deal. There it is. U.S. treasury squandered, lives and health of our military sacrificed, for private corporate gain. And yes, that's one of the definitions of a fascist state, where national and corporate interests merge.

[trolling deleted]

minion - What did you do in the war?

By God, he cheerfully urged others to die needlessly while typing away on his keyboard in his mother's basement - that's what!

The people bombed were Cheney's ideal:
by Lawrence F. Kaplan
Post date 10.31.06 | Issue date 11.06.06
……These ancient people, who number in the thousands and consider themselves neither Christian nor Muslim, cherish their occupiers. Yezidi party leader Waad Hamed Modo greets me in a Sinjar courtyard with his own testimonial. "I met recently with Sunnis in Baghdad," he says. "They told me, 'You Yezidi are collaborators.' I said to them, 'That's right--we are collaborators.'" Colonel Sean MacFarland, commander of the First Armored Division's First Brigade Combat Team (1-1 AD) says that Sinjar "feels like Paris in 1944." Parents and children line the streets when U.S. patrols pass by, while Yezidi clerics pray for the welfare of U.S. forces. More even than Paris, in fact, Sinjar feels like Iraq as Dick Cheney predicted it would be…

Not that it did them any good. Bush I betrayed the Kurds and Shia after Gulf I; Bush II is bound and determined to outdo his daddy.

I like it. And while we're at it, we can tax only Democrats for things like single-payer health care and the other entitlements. Do the numbers and see how that will work out.

Hey I think that's a great idea. If the Republicans pay for the war, only they should be allowed to participate in it. If the Democrats pay for single payer health care, medicare, and social security, only they should be able to participate in it. It sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Expertise is helpful to a journalist, but it is not the most crucial factor for improving our press corps, not by a long shot (exhibit A: WMD "expert" Judith Miller).

Except for a few specialized subjects (examples: science and military reporting and, yes, baseball writing, but not politics or “policy�), expertise can be obtained fairly quickly on the job by someone with the following 6 qualities. I believe these are most essential in a good journalist, and though most of them are quite obvious, they seem to be in short supply in the modern American press corps (particularly our national political reporters):

1. Broad general knowledge (as an editor, I'd rather hire someone with a liberal arts degree than a journalism degree).
2. Profound skepticism, particularly about pronouncements by the powerful. (A good journalist should always assume he/she is being lied to. By everyone.)
3. Unconventional intelligence (i.e., an outside-the-box thinker). Great journalism requires someone who can formulate the questions most people don't think to ask, and who can see a story where most of his/her colleagues don’t. A hundred great reporters could have a written “Fast Food Nation,� but only Eric Schlosser saw the story that was staring us all in the face.
4. Fearlessness: a willingness to be ostracized, criticized and treated as an outsider or, in this age of endless war, to be accused of being insufficiently patriotic. There is an old-school newspaper notion that you've done a really good job when you've pissed off someone important (by getting it right), and I'd like to see that come back into vogue. Quickly.
5. Comfortable at being an outsider: A a good journalist can’t be a member of "the club" or "the elite," as so many in our Washington press corps seem to be. Preserving access can NEVER be more important that getting the story; once you cross that line, you are not longer a journalist.
6. Champion of the "little guy.� The storytelling of a good journalist shouldn't be from the president's or the general's or the CEO's point of view (see #6), but from the lowly voter's, the grunt's, the facory line worker's. That's what made the muckrakers great a century ago, and the tradition has been sustained by reporters like Seymour Hersh in more recent times.

"...the U.S. military reported the deaths of nine Americans in three separate incidents, including the crash of twin-rotor Chinook helicopter. The Chinook went down in Anbar province Tuesday during a 'routine post-maintenance check flight,' killing five service members, the military said."

Is it SOP to load 5 people in a helicopter to make sure it can fly after maintenence?

If so, that would suggest one reason why we aren't doing so well over there.

Or, "the military" could be lying to us. But what are the odds of that?