I cannot tell a lie

Retired Gen. George Washington Criticizes Bush's Handling Of Iraq War

I just like the picture of George Washington talking to Tim Russert on "Meet the Press." There is also one of him being interviewed by Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

Universal universities

I spotted this on The News Hole...

THEY KNOW FROM LOSS More than 200 University professors in Iraq have been killed in the past few years, never mind the number of students, making the banner hung at Baghdad Technology University that much more poignant. "We, the students of Technology University, denounce the attack at Virginia Tech. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims who faced a situation as bad as Iraq's universities do. The sanctity of campuses must be protected around the world."

Happy Reunion

Maybe it's because I have a son this age, or maybe it's because I'm a big softie, but I admit I got a little choked up when I saw this story from KING 5 in Seattle...

Surge

Besides the call for 20,000 more troops, here's what we an look forward to in President Bush's speech tonight according to NBC's Kelly O'Donnell on The Daily Nightly...

Advisors say the president will in effect say "I get it." He will take responsibility and acknowledge that past attempts to secure Baghdad have failed and he will explain how and why he expects different results this time. Advisors referred to the president as being in "education and explanation mode." Advisors say the president will strongly reject any suggestion that this is a so called last ditch effort, as many critics assert.

How the reports stack up

I found this photo of reports from various Washington commissions on The Daily Nightly.

On the left, obviously, is today's report from the Iraq Study Group. It's about a half-inch thick. That's followed by the 9/11 Commission's report, which is an inch and a half. Just slightly larger, at two inches, is the Tower report on the Iran-Contra scandal.

Anyone care to guess what the massive nine-inch volume on the right is?

No points for you if you cheat and use the link above to find the answer!

E-mail from Iraq

Everyone should read this e-mail to the CBS Evening News from the father of soldier serving in Iraq.

The times, they are a changin'

George W. Bush has really let down so many people who were once on board with him.

I was convinced invading Iraq was the right thing to do at the time. I was pleased he was re-elected in 2004 (although I still don't think Kerry would've been good). But now we all know better and it's clear his "stay the course" (non) policy has cost his party control of Congress (Katrina sure didn't help either).

Nice job, George.

Let's look at the Sweeney-Gillibrand race (which is not my district). Sweeney didn't lose because of allegations of domestic abuse. That may have been the final nail in his coffin, but Gillibrand never should have been in striking distance in the first place. And she wouldn't have been if it weren't for the war.

The war is a mess and it motivated the Democrats like never before. They saw an opportunity and poured money into races that otherwise would have been no contest (like New York's 20th district). George Bush cost Sweeney his seat (although Sweeney certainly didn't help matters). And that was the case all over the country.

Now the Democrats have the House and could still wind up with the Senate. How will things change? Here's an excerpt from today's editorial in The Daily News...

The people's sentiment is crystal-clear on the war. They simply want out of the conflict - if there is a way to get out. But there isn't...

...But the bring-the-troops-home-now bunch has largely been marginalized; reasonable souls understand full well that this war, however disagreeable it is - and it sure is - cannot just be walked away from. For now, the anti-war fervor of this newly reconstituted Congress runs smack into the ugly reality that giving up the fight in Iraq will leave behind only catastrophe.

Which means soldiering on with a President, now decidedly lacking in political capital, while hoping for the best.

I'm sure there will be much flaming in comments. So let 'em rip, you guys...

John Kerry's poor simpleton soldiers

The "uneducated" fighting men and women of America are reaching out their hero from Massachusetts...

Blame Canada

"South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, while speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in Scotland, said they have it on good authority the Marines guarding Saddam Hussein have been making him watch their movie "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut."

In a subplot to the hysterical 1999 movie, Saddam dies and goes to Hell where he engages in a homosexual relationship with Satan.

War...Good God y'all

I guess I should chime in with a more detailed response to the war discussion started by ADK Mom yesterday. I fear that I’m coming across as sounding like some kind of warmonger—and nothing could be further from the truth.

First, I direct you to the message Aaron left in comments. For two guys with a reputation for having opposite opinions on many topics, we find ourselves in agreement once again (at least in principle).

Do I like war? No! I pray my children will go through their lives without ever having to experience it. Are peaceful resolutions preferable? Of course.

But I acknowledge that is not always possible and that some things are worth fighting for. The American Revolution was worth it (see also Marc’s comments). Stopping Hitler was worth it. And I believe going into Afghanistan in 2001 was the right thing to do.

Iraq is a whole other breed of cat. Although I was onboard in the beginning, those I’ve discussed the subject with know that I freely admit now it was a colossal mistake. While I may disagree with some of you loyal readers on theories behind the reasons for the war, we’re on the same page in thinking that it was wrong to begin with and has been handled wrong so far.

I stop short before joining the cry for immediate withdrawal. Now that we’ve created this mess, I think it would be wrong to just leave. I know you can’t publicize the “exit strategy” without tipping our hand. But I’d just like to know that there is an exit strategy—because right now I don’t believe there is one.

That’s all I have to say on this topic for now. Now let’s move on to lighter things…

Chillin' in the desert

If you’ve spent any amount of time on the Internet in the last five months, then odds are you’ve stumbled across SNL’s “Lazy Sunday” video (or one of the 5,000 spoofs of it). If, by chance, you haven’t seen it yet (and it’s worth a watch) you can find it here.

Anyway, as mentioned, there are a gazillion spoofs of the video (yes, I counted). But this one is great. A couple of soldiers in Iraq grabbed a camera and a computer and put this together for their friends and family back home—and now their Internet celebrities.

I give you: “Lazy Ramadi”…