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“‘Tell the American people we need the U.S. Army here‘“

Ever Chimpy McSurgeDivider’s obedient mouthpiece, Bill Ardolino of INDC Journal posts a so-called “interview” with the Iraqi Army “soldiers” he “worked with” in Fallujah.  And—surprise, surprise!—these “soldiers” (Ardolino calls them “Jundi,” the pretentious twit) claim to desire a continued US Army presence in Iraq in order to help stabilize the security situation.

…Uh huh.  Like we didn’t see that bit of CIA manipulation coming, you scaly-flanked war salmon. 

Sorry, pal.  But if Jack Murtha—a WAR VETERAN!—tells me that a bunch of ungrateful swarthies wearing porn mustaches caked with chick pea are in need of some tough love, well then I, for one, am all for packing up the humvees and moving our boys to Okinawa for some spicy tuna, eel, and the kind of happy ending that only Asian women in kimonos can provide.

And no “interview” by some upstream-swimming slaughter apologist is going to change that.

Christ.  You must think we Americans haven’t been paying attention or something.  HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD OF KEITH OLBERMANN, YOU BABY-KILLER-BY-PROXY?

100 Replies to ““‘Tell the American people we need the U.S. Army here‘“”

  1. Rob says:

    My god I missed you while you were gone, Jeff.

    Don’t ever leave us again…

  2. Bill D. Cat says:

    Top ten reasons why the end of March will suck .

    1. See post above .

    ………….

  3. Vercingetorix says:

    Whoa, it’s all a great big joke, you proto-fascist hater-Nazi reichwingnuts, huh?

    J.Murtha served his country in Bush’s kill-army like six decades ago; his moral authority is unimpeachable.

    Btw, if you want to support the war effort, just go to Go.Amry.mil, and kill for KKKrist, you fascists.

    Of course, the “Iraqi” Shiite death squads you call the “Iraqi” army will say Bushito and his Jesus-bothering christofascists should stay in Iraq; its full of the Baath party that Reagan supported during the Iran-Iraq war! Who sold them chemical weapons? The US, of course.

    Read a book, people. Maybe do a 3 ounce curl to move the mouse to LooseChange.com and learn about the neo-zio-con nazi movement and its undemocratic process in lieing us to war!

  4. Bill D. Cat says:

    Sorry, pal.  But if Jack Murtha—a WAR VETERAN!—tells me that a bunch of ungrateful swarthies wearing porn mustaches caked with chick pea are in need of some tough love, well, then I, for one, am all for packing up the humvees and moving our boys to Okinawa for some spicy tuna, eel, and the kind of happy ending that only Asian women in kimonos can provide.

    Fucking gold ……..

  5. lee says:

    Wait…

    I’ve been informed by various steves that the only people still supporting the war, besides Bush/Cheney, was we losers at PW.

    I specifically remember stevexx saying the Iraqs don’t want us there.

    Something ain’t right…

  6. Charlie says:

    Great job, Jeff. Is this why the nutroots hate you so much?

  7. Mark says:

    Best. Ever. Jeff. (well, until tomorrow anyway!)

  8. Major John says:

    scaly-flanked war salmon

    Hall of Fame.

  9. Bill D. Cat says:

    Is this why the nutroots hate you so much?

    Yes .

  10. Velociman says:

    Ha ha ha! Poor Bill. Ever the bridesmaid.

  11. cranky-d says:

    Whoa, it’s all a great big joke, you proto-fascist hater-Nazi reichwingnuts, huh?

    Mmmm, that was some good-tasting crazy right there.

    It’s even better with chocolate sauce, but then again, what isn’t?

  12. Bill D. Cat says:

    V-boy ,

    Nice web site , next time you talk to pop , tell him to use a full rubber .

  13. Jeff Goldstein says:

    Velociman’s site is one of my favorites.  He’s a brilliant writer. 

    And he ain’t no troll, I can tell you that much.

  14. cranky-d says:

    I think Velociman was referring to Ardolino, not you BDC.

  15. Bill D. Cat says:

    Any time the rubber hits the road all that’s left is a skid mark .

  16. Gray says:

    No way.  I took Vercingetorix’ post as total satire.

    It’s not his fault that some filthy lefties actually sound like that!

    It’s not teh crazee, it’s teh funnee!

    Y’all gotta get your sarcasm detectors fixed….

    TW:  It’s like level37 satire and you guys are like on level35.

  17. Bill D. Cat says:

    Oops ….I think ….

  18. cranky-d says:

    The funny is crazy, and the crazy, funny.

    And yes, I recognized the source as a regular.

  19. alphie says:

    That is some good stuff.

    I’d have been interested in hearing their opinion of al-Sadr, or Iran or Israel for that matter.

    Maybe next time.

  20. Bill D. Cat says:

    ….oops I’m sure …..

  21. wishbone says:

    Top ten reasons why the end of March will suck.

    On a totally selfish tangent–I’ll be off to Baghdad later this spring.  Jeff, it’s this kind of stuff that will make the time away from family a little more bearable.

    I’m still trying to figure out a way to fit the armadillo in my carry on…do you think he’ll pass as a Yorkie with terminal mange?

  22. cynn says:

    I read an interesting article in Vanity Fair today concerning some nutcase named Pat Dollard.  Now, I can’t speak for the average Iraqi, since I haven’t actually been over there disrupting military operations, but I can say that there are some Americans who should not be allowed anywhere near Iraq.

    And would you please stop gumming Murtha like big drooling babies cutting your first tooth?  He’s trying to be helpful.

  23. Good Lt says:

    Verc?!

    Bitchin’!

  24. wishbone says:

    And would you please stop gumming Murtha like big drooling babies cutting your first tooth?  He’s trying to be helpful.

    I sincerely hope that was a joke, cynn.

  25. guinsPen says:

    That is some good stuff.

    I’d have been interested in hearing their opinion of mile-high earthen berms or maybe what they wanted on the half-a-trillion dollars worth of hot dogs we’re shoving down their throats.

    Maybe next time.

  26. cynn says:

    Wishbone, it was slightly offhanded.  I’ve begun to think he’s kind of lost touch and support—kind of like a water-carrier with a hole in his bucket.  But I wish you’d lay off nonetheless.

  27. wishbone says:

    But I wish you’d lay off nonetheless.

    Uh, cynn–perhaps the majority party should not place him front and center.  Perhaps he would be more at home in, say, Okinawa.

  28. Jeff Goldstein says:

    Is Cynn actually advocating that we ignore the guy who will be responsible for authoring the slow bleed policy—and who is actually so out of touch that he admitted to it.

    Uh, I think I’ll pass on the Cynn Plan.

  29. Mark says:

    But I wish you’d lay off nonetheless.

    Cynn, his rambling half-assed recommendations that he wishes to pass off as well thought out ideas, if ever implemented, are going get troops killed in greater numbers first, too many Iraqis killed in the bloodbath that follows second, and us, right here, third.

    I see no reason why any sane person would “lay off” on the doddering old fool.

  30. lee says:

    I think I’ll pass on the Cynn Plan.

    But, but…

    We all come to this blog so we can talk about what cynn wants to talk about!

  31. Jeff Goldstein says:

    I want to talk about scaly-flanked war salmon. 

    And ponies.

  32. lee says:

    Maybe we should ship a billion dollars worth of ponies to Iraq.

    I mean, how could anybody be unhappy in a country hip deep in ponies?

  33. wishbone says:

    I mean, how could anybody be unhappy in a country hip deep in ponies?

    Midgets.

  34. Velociman says:

    I was funning with Ardolino, for the record. Just a joke.

  35. wishbone says:

    And hurdlers.  No landing area.

    Ditto pole vaulters.

  36. cranky-d says:

    Don’t forget about the people who have to shovel the pony poop.  They won’t be happy at all.

  37. lee says:

    Midgets.

    Well, yeah.

    But really, how happy is a midget ever going to be?

  38. steve ex-expat says:

    I would imagine that the Iraqi Army would love to have U.S. troops stay indefinitely.  Is that fact supposed to suggest that things are going well in Iraq and we are winning?  It would seem to suggest the opposite.

  39. cynn says:

    I think John Murtha is put out as the face because he was prescient in his initial misgivings, and first took up the cudgels.  But while he means well, the idea of a measured withdrawal was garbled and mishandled.  Okinawa?  If the Dems are smart, they will slide someone in who can repurpose the message to give it a more future-positive patina, and not a slam-on-the-brakes scare.  Poorly done, really.

  40. alphie says:

    We could talk about Maliki’s handling today of the rape case.

    Adrian Cronauer: You are in more dire need of a pony than any Iraqi man in history, Nouri.

  41. Bill D. Cat says:

    V-man ,

    That was on me , bad timing I suppose . As far as

    scaly-flanked war salmon

    , if you knew you were going to die after your first piece , you’d be a war salmon too .

  42. cranky-d says:

    We could talk about Maliki’s handling today of the rape case.

    Hey, here’s a thought.  How about not going off topic unless you can bring on some funny.

  43. wishbone says:

    I specifically remember stevexx saying the Iraqs don’t want us there.

    Ta-da!!!!

    What does lee win, Johnnie?  IT’S A NEW CAR!!!!

    Not really, but stevie, we can predict you with much more accuracy than a tree hugger can Atlantic hurricanes.  Like the tides and taxes, you can be counted upon to say “See–we’re losing with every news item.”

    I say, see–our troops are everywhere so we haven’t lost a damn thing.  The only way we lose is to quit.  Now run along, stevie, before I make you explain how benign enriching urnanium 235 to 97% is again.

  44. Kirk says:

    Yes, be kind to poor old Jack Murtha.  He has always been so polite and understanding.

    Golden Rule and all that.

  45. wishbone says:

    We could talk about Maliki’s handling today of the rape case.

    Because all rape allegations are true, alphie.

    Oops–I think that furrow has been plowed.  Thoroughly.

  46. steve ex-expat says:

    Wishbone,

    Do you think that an Iraqi Army that is supposedly being trained to fight against whatever factions of the insurgency exist today is representative of the Iraqi people?

  47. Gray says:

    Is that fact supposed to suggest that things are going well in Iraq and we are winning?  It would seem to suggest the opposite.

    Hey, it’s not the Iraqi Army’s fault that your dad taught you to swim by throwing you into the middle of the country club pool.

    We are trying to avoid that mistake with the Iraqi Army and Police.

    Look at what it did to you: it made you a simpering puss who can’t even take pride in the accomplishments and, yes, victories of your own country.

  48. cranky-d says:

    Hey, here’s another thought.  Rather than trying to be socratic and failing mightily, why not just state your position clearly from the get-go.  It would save a lot of time.

    Plus, it’s so much less annoying.

  49. lee says:

    Stevexx,

    Probably they are more represenitive of the Iraqi people than the green party represents the American people.

  50. Jeff Goldstein says:

    Amen, cranky-d.  Somebody at some point told Stevexx that the Socratic method made him seem “inquisitive.”

    But he’s worn it so thin that his ass shows through.  And really, nobody here much wants to see that, I daresay.

  51. steve ex-expat says:

    Gray and cranky-d,

    It would be more constructive to try and make an actual point.  Mine was clear, by the way.  The fact that the Iraqi Army currently being trained by the U.S. Army to get in the middle of a civil war doesn’t want us to leave is unsurprising, because we are losing there and they cannot even defeat the insurgency with our help. The implication of the post is that that should be a reason to stay.  That makes very little sense as an argument to me, but feel free to explain it to me.

  52. steve ex-expat says:

    lee,

    I bet it’s close on that, but I doubt I would convince many of you to get behind Bush’s impeachment because the Green Party supports it.

  53. steve ex-expat says:

    Jeff,

    I remember when you used to try and respond to my posts with facts.  I guess that didn’t work out well for you, so is this the best you can do?

  54. Ric Locke says:

    SteveXX, the answer to your question is “it depends”. If, like you, a person sees all Iraqis as kill-crazed jihadists differing only by the flavor of their rants—i.e., is a flaming bigot—then no, an Iraqi army hunting down mad bombers isn’t representative. Those of us approaching the issue from a slightly more nuanced viewpoint may think differently.

    I haven’t had much respect for psychologists since bonking the wife of the Family Counselor back in the day, and you aren’t adding much to the patina. I’ll admit to a limited sample, but so far the rule for me is that you wouldn’t be a psychologist if you weren’t nutty as a nest of squirrels to start with.

    You aren’t gonna get to castrate your abusive father, and projecting your needs onto the rest of us just makes you a tool in the hands of cynics. Go work out your fantasies elsewhere, eh?

    Regards,

    Ric

    tw: respect35. Jeff, if the AI’s back on track things might be looking up.

  55. lee says:

    Nah, I doubt it’s even close.

  56. steve ex-expat says:

    If, like you, a person sees all Iraqis as kill-crazed jihadists differing only by the flavor of their rants—i.e., is a flaming bigot

    Ric,

    If you really had a point to make, you wouldn’t have to start out with something silly like that.

  57. cynn says:

    Look, this is the same rehashing of the mirror-on-mirror argumentation that has been going on for quite a while.  It’s been a bad couple weeks for me because, without the slightest sense of irony, the Democrats are advancing this urgent Iraq resolution crap, fully well knowing it would be bogged down and go nowhere!  I’m pretty much done with both parties.

  58. Gray says:

    The fact that the Iraqi Army currently being trained by the U.S. Army to get in the middle of a civil war doesn’t want us to leave is unsurprising, because we are losing there and they cannot even defeat the insurgency with our help.

    I don’t see that we are losing there, by any military or economic measure, but then again, I’m not a simpering Bay Area puss.

    The implication of the post is that that should be a reason to stay.  That makes very little sense as an argument to me, but feel free to explain it to me.

    We decapitated their government (literally, Ha!) and now we are partnered with them to build the post-war stability they want.

    I don’t see anything wrong with that, but as I said, I’m not a simpering bay area puss with a personal problem masquerading as a political view.

  59. steve ex-expat says:

    Twenty minutes and no one even tried to do anything but insult me.  Not a single substantive point.  I’m going to declare victory again.  You guys have really lost your touch.  Until next time.

  60. cynn says:

    Wow, Gray, snappy retort.

  61. cynn says:

    And yea steve, timely retreat.

  62. Gray says:

    Twenty minutes and no one even tried to do anything but insult me.  Not a single substantive point.  I’m going to declare victory again. 

    Oh, man!  This thread is a keeper!  I smell burning Birkenstocks and goatee!

    If they want our training and assistance, it’s bad.  If they don’t want our training and assistance, it’s bad.  If we kill Al Qaeda it’s bad.  If Al Qaeda kills us, it’s bad.

    Now where is that dumbass alpee?

  63. Pupster says:

    Victory is YOURS, SteveXX!  RUN AWAY!

  64. Gray says:

    Wow, Gray, snappy retort.

    He was inconsiderate of others’ viewpoints.

  65. lee says:

    Stevexx,

    Your point, if I may, is that it doesn’t matter what anyone says, we lost Iraq, and any Iraqi that doesn’t share your point of view is in-authentic, and non-representive.

    Same point you make every time you comment.

    Why should anyone continue to bother treating you seriously, and give you the same facts you have been given a hundred times before?

    Tell ya what. Just fuck off, and I’ll be able to predict your point in your absense.

  66. cjd says:

    “I’m going to declare victory again.”

    Funny, stevexxx, I figured you’d be able to identify with the Iraqis a little more, since your concept of victory is so similar to the Arab concept.  You know, like the great Egyptian “victory” of 1973 they keep carping on about.

  67. Jeff Goldstein says:

    Jeff,

    I remember when you used to try and respond to my posts with facts.  I guess that didn’t work out well for you, so is this the best you can do?

    It didn’t work out well because you are teflon to the the fatty meat of fact.

    You have no points to offer, Stevexx.  I know you think you do, but that simply doesn’t make it so.

    And—though this may come as a shock to you—you aren’t “entitled” to serious engagement just because you squeeze out a little rhetorical turd and then arrange it in a nice neat pile in the middle of a thread.

  68. Ric Locke says:

    Cynn, maybe now that SteveXX has gone elsewhere to whack off to his revenge fantasies, perhaps we can in fact discuss it.

    I do understand where you’re coming from, but, first, “laying off Murtha” is not in the cards. The man’s a clever and adroit politico in the smoke-filled-room milieu; he is simply out of his depth in anything more transparent, and getting a little senile to boot. Cutting them off at the knees, followed by massive support of the very best prosthetics, is not “supporting the troops” no matter how rapidly you spin it.

    As for supporting parties, details count. The Democrats got in primarily on the “culture of corruption” idea, and then when faced with actually implementing their ideas discovered that there were too many IOUs, and too many nice comfortable bizjets on tap for junkets, out there to actually do anything about corruption. It therefore became necessary to wave their hands frantically to distract attention from shady land deals and ice-cold cash, and fortunately for them the nutroots were ready with another issue. The American people don’t support the war very strongly, but they aren’t nearly as opposed to it as Pelosi, et. al., would like you to think they are, and to the extent people in general have figured out what Murtha & Co. are driving at they’re against it—witness yourself.

    I have reached the point where I’m ready to say, have at it. Let’s have hearings and nonbinding resolutions; any day a Democrat fails to introduce one, a Republican should. Let there be impeachment. Let there be circuses in unlimited number.

    A line from one of my favorite science fiction novels summarizes it: “This government cannot govern. It cannot even oppress.” It is becoming more and more obvious that all but a minuscule and totally influence-free number of those yahoos have no idea of how to do anything but run for office; actually performing the duties of the office is as far beyond them as Jeff’s allusions to contemporary pop culture are beyond me. Therefore let them be occupied full time with silliness and nonproductive beclownment. The bureaucrats who will step up to the plate will screw things up, too, but a little more slowly, because at least they know what the fuck they’re doing.

    Regards,

    Ric

  69. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    I’m going to declare victory again.

    Declare to your little hearts content, it still doesn’t make it true.  Just like your declaring defeat in Iraq…..

  70. Scott Crawford says:

    I want to talk about scaly-flanked war salmon.

    And ponies.

    What about pie?!

    Ric,

    If you really had a point to make, you wouldn’t have to start out with something silly like that.

    Ric, in a battle of wits, is fighting an unarmed man.

  71. Gray says:

    Cynn:

    Look, this is the same rehashing of the mirror-on-mirror argumentation that has been going on for quite a while.

    But it’s not mirror-on-mirror.  The guys on this thread on the side of the Iraqis, the side of the administration, the side against the democrats have first-hand knowledge of what is going on, they have skin-in-the-game as they say if it goes bad.

    The filthy leftists who are against the common Iraqis, against the administration and for chaos have what as knowledge?  NYT editorials?  Democrat speeches?  Glory days of Vietnam protesting?

    I mean, christ!:

    The old lefties protesting the war based on third-hand knowledge protested Vietnam based on third-hand knowledge.  They don’t know a goddamned thing about warfare.  They don’t know a goddamned thing about Iraqi citizens and their attitudes and desires, just that protesting Vietnam was fun when they were dope-smoking kids.

    You sound young and not stupid:

    Why would you get sucked in by the weird old geezers TiVo-ing their misspent youth while they enjoy a retirement you pay for in higher taxes, higher housing costs, and more economic regulation?

    The Steve XX’s and all the other old lefty baby-boomers have never been right about anything, they have always hated their country and we can never fight another war until they come to grips with their cowardice during Vietnam.

  72. cranky-d says:

    It would be more constructive to try and make an actual point.  Mine was clear, by the way.

    I made a very clear point.  I suggested that stating your opinion rather than asking a question (the asking of which is not a position statement, but rather the eliciting of someone else’s possible position) would be a good way to go.  And a less annoying one. 

    Crystal clear, IMO.

  73. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    Ric, in a battle of wits, is fighting an unarmed man.

    I Love this site not only for Jeffs work but for the commenters as well.  Ric brings his A game every time.

    What about pie?!

    I don’t think ponies like pie……

  74. cranky-d says:

    Oh, and I’m oh so sorry for not hitting the refresh fast enough for little steviexx.  I was busy doing computer phone tech support for my sister.

  75. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    Glory days of Vietnam protesting?

    I am starting to think that is a huge motivation for the Dems right now.  They remember all the teenage angst they felt as they burned the flag in protest of Vietnam.  They look back at those times and in their mind they think of them as the good old days.  They truly believe it was the best of times here in the US. 

    Not D-day, not the fall of the Berlin Wall or actually winning WWII…….no, its protesting the freakin Vietnam war and forcing our limp dicked pols in Washington to cut and run.

    I need a drink…….

  76. steve says:

    Okay, we have anecdotal evidence that Iraqi soldiers want us to stay.

    We also have declarations from Maliki that he wants us to stay.

    Aren’t there polls indicating that something like 70% of the Iraqis want us to leave?  Links would be appreciated.

    At any rate, we’re not leaving.  That should be obvious.  At least, not until late next year.

    More to the point I’d like some ideas about how to maintain this site.  I don’t want to start a problem, if we’re not supposed to talk about that further.

  77. Scott Crawford says:

    I don’t think ponies like pie…

    It’s not so much about the liking of it, as the expectation of it. wink

  78. Gray says:

    They look back at those times and in their mind they think of them as the good old days.  They truly believe it was the best of times here in the US. 

    Yep.  Think about it:  They are retiring and have plenty of time and money on their hands just like when they were in college.

    They are by far the largest generational cohort alive, so they have an echo chamber effect.

    If you doubt it, look at the war protests:  It’s all saggy old moonbats with dog-chewed-on-it hair cuts and effeminate men like Steve XX with short hair and ball-tickler bath-house moustaches.

    They are just horrible and they outnumber everyone by a fluke of history.

  79. White says:

    I don’t see anything wrong with that, but as I said, I’m not a simpering bay area puss with a personal problem masquerading as a political view.

    No, you’re a simpering puss from somewhere else who likes to play tough guy on the intenet.  Which is so much worse.

  80. Defense Guy says:

    Exhibit A of why I will miss teh Goldstein should he choose to stop fighting the power.

  81. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    I’d like some ideas about how to maintain this site.

    The place could use a good sweeping……and somebody needs to pick up the dillo poo.

  82. lee says:

    steve, you’re the one quoting numbers, why don’t you find a link?

  83. tachyonsnuggy says:

    I do understand where you’re coming from, but, first, “laying off Murtha” is not in the cards. The man’s a clever and adroit politico in the smoke-filled-room milieu; he is simply out of his depth in anything more transparent, and getting a little senile to boot.

    Emphasis mine.

    I don’t see any evidence for the bolded portion.  At all.  I don’t think that a “clever and adroit politico” would be beclowned out of a majority leader position like he was.

    Murtha is what I would call a “hack” if he had that whole competent, workmanlike thing going for him.  Which he doesn’t.

  84. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    No, you’re a simpering puss from somewhere else who likes to play tough guy on the intenet.  Which is so much worse.

    White do you live in a glass house by chance?

  85. Gray says:

    No, you’re a simpering puss from somewhere else who likes to play tough guy on the intenet.  Which is so much worse.

    Hahahaha!

    Why did that particular phrase, “simpering puss from the Bay Area”, set you off?  It seems an unlikely thing to offend someone’s sense of rectitude.  I think I’ve called him worse….

    Why did that bother you?  Hmmmmm?

    TW:  In english12 please, not simpering puss whining or foot stamping.

  86. cranky-d says:

    Just before a skunk decides to spray, it stamps its little feet as a warning.

    Be careful out there on the internets…

  87. alphie says:

    The dirty hippies wove a spell and bewitched American voters?

    I think you guys better chart a course back to reality if you want to have a chance in 2008.

    The Iraq war is not popular and we’re gettin’ out.

  88. cranky-d says:

    Sometimes the jokes just seem to write themselves, you know?

  89. SteveG says:

    My scaly flanked war salmon is off to spawn in some pristine headwaters….

  90. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    The Iraq war is not popular and we’re gettin’ out.

    I love it!  They all seem to live in the same reality.  All they have to do is declare it so and *POOF* it’s true. YEA!

  91. Vercingetorix says:

    When the steves stop circle jerking their own premises, could someone politely ask them what piece of real estate does aQ-in-Iraq or the Mahdi army own nowadays, cuz, hey, there’s alot of pie out there, but none for the pony-less [reactionary fascist] “insurgents”?

    Thanks!!!

  92. SweepTheLegJohnny says:

    Alphie?  Will you declare me debt free please?

  93. steve says:

    Yeah, OK, if no one is going to help me out, I will look for the polls. A little.

    Alphie: Look, the reason we aren’t getting out now is that EVERYONE in the political establishment realizes that the fallout from a failed state in Iraq (should we leave) will be enormous.  So even those pols who think the war was a mistake—I’d estimate a majority—don’t want to do that.  That is why it isn’t going to happen “right now.” It may well be under way by the election.  Elections tend to concentrate the minds of politicians.

  94. Scott Crawford says:

    reality

    (Insert obligatory Princess Bride reference here.)

    Sometimes the jokes just seem to write themselves, you know?

    Heh.®

  95. Gray says:

    The dirty hippies wove a spell and bewitched American voters?

    No, alpee.  Right now, because of a fluke of demographics, a great many American voters ARE dirty hippies.

    When you throw in their younger useful idiots like you, you have a thin majority.

  96. Vercingetorix says:

    The Iraq war is not popular and we’re gettin’ out.

    Alphie, kind of like your life-partner, Herb, without even the benefit of a fairhanded reach around?

    It’s okay to cry, sweetie. He did you wrong. There, there.

  97. alphie says:

    Looks like the Brits are gonna beat us to the exit.

    Are the Mongolians still there?

  98. Ric Locke says:

    tachyonsnuggy, you clearly need to take a few days off and actually visit Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Look around. Talk to the people. Go downtown and have a hot dog at one of the world’s worst hot dog vendors. Drive around the area.

    There’s a multimillion-dollar airport terminal for a market that supports four flights a day, and would have none if they didn’t need to ferry politicos around. There’s a gigantic medical research facility, not attached to a hospital, just tucked away in a shopping center behind a sign that looks like a chiropractor’s. There are more blandly-named or TLAd defense contractors with elaborate campuses back in the woods than you can actually find. There’s a humonguous Reserve Engineer company, an aviation company, and an Air Force squadron, all of whose members hate the guy’s guts but vote for him because they’ve got what amounts to a blank check for equipment, facilities, and training expenses. And, as his supporters will brag and his enemies ruefully admit, if it weren’t for John Murtha the place would be a decaying pit in the Rust Belt with an unemployment rate above 20% and an average age of around fifty.

    In the smoke-filled-room, log-rolling, pork-barreling, back-scratching, mutual-fellatio version of politics, John Murtha is a genius, a Master Craftsman. It’s just that his skills are becoming obsolescent in an age of somewhat greater transparency. Much of his posturing is an attempt to implement the “no such thing as bad publicity” idea, to keep his name before the public as influential and important, because if he ever loses the ability to bring home the bacon he won’t be able to get elected to run Animal Control.

    Regards,

    Ric

  99. lee says:

    steve, it would be helpfull to know what time frame that 70% is talking about too.

    I don’t think anybody wants us to be there forever.

    I’m betting a much smaller percentage want us to leave now

  100. steve says:

    Here are a couple of polling roundups. 

    It is clear that the American people are fed up with this war by clear and consistent majorities.  It is also however clear that the American people do not endorse cutting funding.  That means we stay.  For the time being.

    The second link is for Iraqi polls, but I don’t know how trustworthy they are, and second, we wouldn’t be leaving even if they wanted us to go.

    http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

    http://www.iraqanalysis.org/info/55

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