February 03, 2014

Report: John Kerry Says Obama's Syria Policy Is Failing
— DrewM

Senators briefed by Secretary of State John Kerry say his private remarks are at odds with the administration's public statements about the status of the US' policy on Syria.

The most surprising thing about this is we apparently have a policy on Syria. That whatever it is isn't working is not a surprise.

“[Kerry] acknowledged that the chemical weapons [plan] is being slow rolled, the Russians continue to supply arms, we are at a point now where we are going to have to change our strategy,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, who attended Kerry's briefing with lawmakers on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. “He openly talked about supporting arming the rebels. He openly talked about forming a coalition against al Qaeda because it’s a direct threat.”

KerryÂ’s private remarks were a stark departure from the public message he and other top Obama administration officials repeatedly have given in public. Shortly after the meeting ended, Sens. Graham and John McCain described the meeting to The Daily Beast, The Washington Post, and Bloomberg View. Given newly-released intelligence on the growing al Qaeda presence in Syria, as well as shocking new evidence of Syrian human rights atrocities, the senators said they agreed with Kerry that the time had come for the United States to drastically alter its approach to the Syrian civil war.

Let's be honest, the US lost any leverage it might have had when it failed to follow through on retaliatory attacks against the Assad regime following the use of chemical weapons.

And you know what? That's ok.

Had the US attacked Syria last summer we wouldn't have leverage as much as a giant mess that would have involved either attacking and not removing Assad or the attacks would have been the start of an ever more robust effort to remove Assad.

Either way, it would have been a bigger mess only with US finger prints all over it.

Yes, the humanitarian toll of the Syrian civil war is immense. The toll of every war is beyond what people should have to endure. The fact is, some wars have to be fought to the bitter end. The question before us is should the US be involved in that fighting? To me, the answer is clearly no. We should do whatever we cant to help Assad and al Qaeda groups continue to bleed each other dry. Then you can call me when they are both dead or too exhausted to continue. Once that's been accomplished we can talk about helping the Syrian people get back on their feet. Until that time, it's their fight to win or lose.

Posted by: DrewM at 01:40 PM | Comments (310)
Post contains 454 words, total size 3 kb.

1 "She was asking for it-- she has a clitoris!"
http://preview.tinyurl.com/mpeywew

Posted by: Euthyphro T Jones at February 03, 2014 12:01 PM (1/4XQ)

2 This is all bullshit, you realize? This is all a coordinated farce by the obama White House. They are hell bent on disposing Assad and installing the Muslim Brotherhood.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 12:02 PM (51dat)

3 When I hear the words "Kerry" and "Syria," I get a raging migraine and want to strangle things.

Posted by: zombie at February 03, 2014 01:40 PM (+cx5n)

4 has anyone looked at this picture Eutholypto keeps posting in threads? Is it obscene? Should I stop him?

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 01:41 PM (/FnUH)

5 Solution: Strap Kerry to the underside of an AC-130, fly over Syria, and then squeeze his face. The sheer volume of botox that cascades out onto the populace will paralyze the country for months.

Posted by: zombie at February 03, 2014 01:44 PM (+cx5n)

6 "Report: John Kerry Says Obama's Syria Policy Is Failing" Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 01:44 PM (bb5+k)

7
Obama's first term:  Fundamentally F*ck up the US

Obama's second term:  Fundamentally F*ck up the rest of the world.

Posted by: Wodeshed at February 03, 2014 01:44 PM (vTBuV)

8 We can call it The Botox Truce Technique.

Posted by: zombie at February 03, 2014 01:44 PM (+cx5n)

9 has anyone looked at this picture Eutholypto keeps posting in threads? Is it obscene? Should I stop him? It is a link to an article about Muslims and rape. Not obscene, at least in the way I think you mean.

Posted by: Grey Fox at February 03, 2014 01:45 PM (92wnP)

10 Report: John Kerry Says Obama's Syria Policy Is Failing The only surprise is that the Senators required a briefing for something they all knew would fail anyway.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 01:45 PM (yz6yg)

11 You know, if you are a really stupid politician, you will end up in a quagmire like Syria. To paraphrase John Kerry from an earlier day.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at February 03, 2014 01:45 PM (RFeQD)

12 "And you know what? That's ok." It's OK, except that we communicated very clearly just how desperate we were not to get involved militarily. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't thrilled at the prospect myself. But what did we think would happen when we cut a deal for them to do something they don't want to do, and there is no damned Or Else?

Posted by: JPS at February 03, 2014 01:45 PM (U1Sp/)

13
4

It's a legit link to a Daniel Greenfield piece on FrontPageMag.

Posted by: Wodeshed at February 03, 2014 01:46 PM (vTBuV)

14 Wow. This could endanger all our vital national interests in Syria.

Posted by: --- at February 03, 2014 01:46 PM (MMC8r)

15 Christianization is the only real solution. Both pragmatically and morally.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 01:46 PM (4YooD)

16 Grey Fox, oh okay, thank you. i get suspicious when I see link-bait-looking stuff being spammed.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 01:46 PM (/FnUH)

17 Obama's Syria policy failing?  Send in Jamie Casino!

Posted by: Havedash at February 03, 2014 01:46 PM (G1XMn)

18 It's a woman with a bloodied face.  Islam is obscene but that wasn't your question.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at February 03, 2014 01:46 PM (DL2i+)

19 Affirmative Action has Consequences.

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (7Yh/w)

20 Kerry is not saying that. Kerry is saying we tried to work with Assad and our efforts have failed, therefore we must take bold action for regime change, which was our plan all along. All bullshit.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (51dat)

21 Finally, this blog is focusing on the important things.

Posted by: blaster at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (4+AaH)

22 I could do a better job!

Posted by: Hank Kimble at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (Ph479)

23 Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? What are our interests in this mess? If we don't know the answers to those questions then we shouldn't butt our noses into the fight...

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (B/3gr)

24 Obama's first term: Fundamentally F*ck up the US

Obama's second term: Fundamentally F*ck up the rest of the world.

--

I'd call him President Schleprock, but I think fubaring America and the world is his intention.

Posted by: Lady in Black at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (Oa7B2)

25 What the whole Middle East needs is a good Motox treatment.

Posted by: zombie at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (+cx5n)

26 Let's be honest, the US lost any leverage it might have had when it failed to follow through on retaliatory attacks against the Assad regime following the use of chemical weapons.

The use of chemical weapons via rockets that were too small to have the range to be used by Assad's troops, whose positions were known? That use of chemical weapons?

Not arguing with Drew, as Assad used gas on other occasions, but the one that triggered the military strike talk turned out not to have been him.

Yes, I think that was a UN or some other worthless international group that made that finding.

But Kerry thinks the global test is the overriding factor in US foreign policy, so I',m going to go with it.

Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 01:47 PM (hO9ad)

27 Once that's been accomplished we can talk about helping the Syrian people get back on their feet. Until that time, it's their fight to win or lose. Posted by: DrewM. at 05:40 PM I think what holds back human advancement in many cultures across the globe is the acceptance of bad memes. I think it is the ideas and principles of America at the founding that caused this nation to advance and prosper, and if our land had been settled by people with the ideas and culture of Syria, it would be the same sort of hellhole that Syria now is.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 01:48 PM (bb5+k)

28 Did Kerry mention Obamacare?

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 01:48 PM (Hx5uv)

29 Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 01:48 PM (4YooD)

30 When you don't study you end up with a Foreign Policy written by UB490.

Posted by: John Kerry at February 03, 2014 01:48 PM (7Yh/w)

31 The US should just hire Jamie Casino to sue Syria.

Posted by: blaster at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (4+AaH)

32 UB40...Where did that fucking 9 come from?

Posted by: John Kerry at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (7Yh/w)

33 Shorter Kerry:

"We meant for that to happen".

Posted by: Vortex Lovera at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (wtvvX)

34 "Had the US attacked Syria last summer we wouldn't have leverage as much as a giant mess that would have involved either attacking and not removing Assad..." I got this.

Posted by: Irritable Colon Powell at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (1Y+hH)

35 Putin smiles. He's got those little tiny balls clamped in his hand.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (7Bo+h)

36 4 has anyone looked at this picture Eutholypto keeps posting in threads? Is it obscene? Should I stop him? Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:41 PM (/FnUH) It is a story and picture regarding a woman who was raped and beaten by Muslim immigrants in Europe, and no, you shouldn't stop him.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (bb5+k)

37 Well it's not like Syria is an ally...like Iran.

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (IAa7O)

38 Halp me (Jahn Kerri). I'm stuck in Seereya.

Posted by: --- at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (MMC8r)

39 But if the policy is to intentionally act as "malefactors," that might, in fact, make the Arabs "butt hurt."

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 01:49 PM (4YooD)

40

Its still my opinion that  Assad  did not use chemical weapons  and that  it  was a ploy by the opposition to get the US and the other western countries involved. 

 

Luckily we did not take the bait. 

Posted by: polynikes at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (m2CN7)

41 If only we had a military presence in an adjacent country, a place to project air power and land power. If only. A price paid in blood by brave and decent American soldiers, to pacify Iraq, and then President Historic First - Long View - Global Apologist decides not to conclude a real Status of Forces Agreement. And piss it all away.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (RFeQD)

42 Kerry is saying we tried to work with Assad and our efforts have failed, therefore we must take bold action for regime change, which was our plan all along. - How can you ask someone to be the last man to die for a mistake?

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (Hx5uv)

43 ...and MUMR blames the atheists. Who saw that coming?

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (7Yh/w)

44 At the very least, it's not very nice. And it is, in fact, prone to actually radicalizing them.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (4YooD)

45 This isn't about helping the Syrians; it's about helping the Muslim Brotherhood. You wanna help the Syrians? Keep the Muslim Brotherhood away from Syria. Syrians are better off with Assad.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (51dat)

46 Not obscene.  Muslim Rape Culture article.  I don't know why he would be beating this Hobby Horse.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (jucos)

47 Failing, yes; but we get a participation trophy.

Posted by: teh Wind at February 03, 2014 01:50 PM (b+5vQ)

48 Well surprise ,surprise Syria worked out just as good as Libya,Egypt,Iran and Iraq under this regime... Who saw that coming?

Posted by: hello, it's me also a creep-assed cracka.. at February 03, 2014 01:51 PM (9+ccr)

49 After the meeting Lurch was seen tossing his huntin' license through the White House fence.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 03, 2014 01:51 PM (8ZskC)

50 Hey, this thing is right on our doorstep.  Maybe we should do something.

Right after we codify the rules for the proper shape and size of red cabbage authorized for sale in urban areas more than fifty miles from salt water. 

Posted by: The European Union at February 03, 2014 01:51 PM (Q9qpj)

51 40 Its still my opinion that Assad did not use chemical weapons and that it was a ploy by the opposition to get the US and the other western countries involved. Luckily we did not take the bait. Posted by: polynikes at February 03, 2014 05:50 PM (m2CN7) This is my thinking as well.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (bb5+k)

52 The whole Obama (HE'S REALLY NOT A MUSLIM, YOU GUYS!!!!) Foreign Policy has been about deposing secular regimes and handing them over to the MuzBros.

Posted by: --- at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (MMC8r)

53 Oh holy gawd damn-- what kind of game are they playing?

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (RJMhd)

54 >>Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying.


"Other people" who want to kill "me" dying is not something I'm going to get super broken up about, no.

Posted by: kartoffel at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (07vvi)

55 >>>Report: John Kerry Says Obama's Syria Policy Is Failing

In other news, scientists definitively determine the chemical oxidane held at 20 deg C and at 1 ATM of pressure to possess the attribute "wet"

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (0q2P7)

56 The Middle East: The Obamacare of foreign affairs.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (8ZskC)

57 Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 05:48 PM (4YooD)


Is that so?

Posted by: Joshua on the edge of the Bekaa valley with popcorn at February 03, 2014 01:52 PM (hO9ad)

58 What Would Khalidi Do?

Posted by: Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine at February 03, 2014 01:53 PM (7Yh/w)

59 I cannot think of a single thing in Syria worth a single drop of American blood.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 03, 2014 01:53 PM (60Vyp)

60 No matter what the US does, no matter what administration, the Arabs will hate us. It sucks to be them but it has to be someone else's fault because the Arabs are the best of people, Allah said so. Thus, Jooos! And 'Mericans.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 01:54 PM (7Bo+h)

61 ...and MUMR blames the atheists. --- Well, I was gonna blame Jamie Casino. Or women.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at February 03, 2014 01:54 PM (GmTxn)

62 If they call themselves Al Qaeda then they're enemies of the United States.

Posted by: Chris Balsz at February 03, 2014 01:54 PM (5xmd7)

63 48 Well surprise ,surprise Syria worked out just as good as Libya,Egypt,Iran and Iraq under this regime... Who saw that coming? Posted by: hello, it's me also a creep-assed cracka.. at February 03, 2014 05:51 PM (9+ccr) Anyone who didn't realize that Barack Obama would be a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure back in early 2008 simply wasn't paying attention.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 01:54 PM (bb5+k)

64 Who gives a shit what Graham and McShitty say?  They want us in yet another useless fking war that we don't need. Piss on them.  The only wrong with Obama policy is he is giving aid to one side.  There are no good guys there.


We need to stay completely out of it.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 03, 2014 01:54 PM (T2V/1)

65 "Given newly-released intelligence on the growing al Qaeda presence in Syria, as well as shocking new evidence of Syrian human rights atrocities, the senators said they agreed with Kerry that the time had come for the United States to drastically alter its approach to the Syrian civil war."

So, what... let's help Al Qaeda even more? Isn't that where McCain and Graham last left us, convinced that their leading expert (who wasn't credentialed or expert and was actually a paid agent of sorts) could guide us through the quagmire while actual anti-American terrorists posed with said politicians for photos?

Here's an idea: Let's keep staying out of there. Maybe try that for a while. And let's get representation that actually recognizes an enemy when it sees one.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 03, 2014 01:54 PM (eHIJJ)

66 "52 The whole Obama (HE'S REALLY NOT A MUSLIM, YOU GUYS!!!!) Foreign Policy has been about deposing secular regimes and handing them over to the MuzBros. Posted by: --- at February 03, 2014 05:52 PM (MMC8r)" Obama said he would side with the Muslims, by which he meant Sunnis, and he has. One promise which he has kept.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 01:55 PM (4YooD)

67 And Al-Qaeda isn't exactly on the run.

Posted by: John Kerry at February 03, 2014 01:55 PM (Aif/5)

68 Its still my opinion that Assad did not use chemical weapons and that it was a ploy by the opposition to get the US and the other western countries involved.

I'm actually leaning towards own goal by Al Qaeda, given how many videos of guys blowing themselves up trying to set IEDs are floating around.

Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 01:55 PM (hO9ad)

69 "Anyone who didn't realize that Barack Obama would be a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure back in early 2008 simply wasn't paying attention.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 05:54 PM (bb5+k)"

Say what?


Posted by: Colin Powell at February 03, 2014 01:55 PM (Q9qpj)

70 I cannot think of a single thing in Syria worth a single drop of American blood.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 03, 2014 05:53 PM (60Vyp)

 

especially if its for Al Queda,  the Muslim Brotherhood  and their supporters that that blood would be helping.    They  are not even the enemy of my enemy.   They are just the enemy. 

Posted by: polynikes at February 03, 2014 01:55 PM (m2CN7)

71 What happened to the Iran nuke negotiations that are proven to be totally bogus? What happened to the Israel-PLO 'peace' talks from a two weeks ago? Why are we back on Syria? obama's State Dept, at first blush is in disarray. But a closer examination reveals that it has an agenda to just fuck up everything as long as it's anti-Israel and anti-Western security and pro-Muslim Brotherhood.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 01:55 PM (51dat)

72 Al Queda (bad guys) are fighting Iran ( bad guys) backed Syria. Stay the f*ck out of it. We have no friends in this fight.

Posted by: seamrog at February 03, 2014 01:56 PM (yNJwa)

73 35Putin smiles. He's got those little tiny balls clamped in his hand.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 05:49 PM (7Bo+h)

 

 

I was wondering where those went. They're supposed to be in my purse at all times.

Posted by: Michelle Obama at February 03, 2014 01:56 PM (5iuEW)

74 King CACA - Everthing Obama touches turns to shit

Posted by: The Jackhole at February 03, 2014 01:56 PM (nTgAI)

Posted by: Colin Powell at February 03, 2014 01:56 PM (Q9qpj)

76 There must be an offensive American Youtube video that we can blame this clusterfuck on.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 03, 2014 01:56 PM (8ZskC)

77 >>>Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying. i had to post Drew's "real thread" so you could post this? Couldn't you have posted that in the other one? I'm a little annoyed. Not a lot. But here's why I'm a little annoyed. First of all, I am trying to space out posts because I am not well today and do not wish to post much. But MUMR said he wanted a "real post," so I posted drew's, ahead of when I would have liked. I wanted to save it for 6. But this continues to be a thing: People *insist* the first post must ALWAYS be a real politics post so they can post there. And because that's the only thing they're interested in commenting on. And so I do and this is the same sort of thing MUMR says in a bunch of other posts. Please stop insisting that the top post MUST be political just because that's the only thing you, as an individual, care about. Other people care about other things. I care about other things myself. You will have to let this go.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 01:56 PM (/FnUH)

78 What is this --dual track read between the multiple lines "smart diplomacy"?

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 01:57 PM (RJMhd)

79 4 has anyone looked at this picture Eutholypto keeps posting in threads?

Is it obscene? Should I stop him?

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:41 PM (/FnUH)


I haven't seen it.  What thread is it in?

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 03, 2014 01:58 PM (T2V/1)

80 Kerry's itchy because he hasn't completely fucked over another country since 1972.

Posted by: --- at February 03, 2014 01:58 PM (MMC8r)

81 I don't mean to call out MUMR as much as I did. He was polite in his comment. He gave me an emoticon. And I guess this was Three Non-Political posts in a row. Okay, I guess he has a point. Okay, I guess I was wrong. Still... I am unwell, you know. I am posting to keep the blog updated, so that it's not just one post for six hours. Please cut me some kind of break.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 01:58 PM (/FnUH)

82 Oh man I bet te MFM will report the shit out of this!

Posted by: blaster at February 03, 2014 01:58 PM (4+AaH)

83 'we are at a point now where we are going to have to change our strategy'

what strategy?  He's kidding, right?

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (x3YFz)

84 Other people care about other things. I care about other things myself. You will have to let this go. I agree. Sometimes I like to step back from "politics" and just laugh.... Speaking of laughing and totally OT/ but did you all see the picture of Obama throwing the football? Hilarious...

Posted by: hello, it's me also a creep-assed cracka.. at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (9+ccr)

85 76 There must be an offensive American Youtube video that we can blame this clusterfuck on. Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 03, 2014 05:56 PM (8ZskC) ********** That Casino ad.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (RJMhd)

86 I'll tell you what's obscene, Ace. The price I can get you on a new desktop computer!

Posted by: George Costanza at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (7Yh/w)

87 Please cut me some kind of break. Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:58 PM (/FnUH) I'd rather just send you a bottle of Bourbon. Valu-Rite chaser would be on you though.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (yz6yg)

88 This is all a coordinated farce by the obama White House. They are hell bent on disposing Assad and installing the Muslim Brotherhood.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 04:02 PM (51dat)

 

 

Yeah - that worked out so well for them in Egypt, didn't it?

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX (@Teresa_Koch) at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (PZ6/M)

89 Well surprise ,surprise Syria worked out just as good as Libya,Egypt,Iran and Iraq under this regime... Who saw that coming? - Did you see that article about Tunisia? They have political scandal that has forced a cabinet member to resign because many years ago her flight stopped at an Israeli airport. She never left the airport but she got Jew cooties on her so she must go. http://tinyurl.com/l3c9btn

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (Hx5uv)

90


All that comes to mind is Bibi saying, "I'm pretty sure I told you you were screwing this up.  In so many words..."

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (BZAd3)

91 "54 >>Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying. "Other people" who want to kill "me" dying is not something I'm going to get super broken up about, no. Posted by: kartoffel at February 03, 2014 05:52 PM (07vvi)" Not everything is about emotions.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 01:59 PM (4YooD)

92

Ace, I hope you feel better soon.

 

{{{{Ace}}}}

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:00 PM (IAa7O)

93

82Oh man I bet te MFM will report the shit out of this!

Posted by: blaster at February 03, 2014 05:58 PM (4+AaH)

 

 

John Kerry? Never heard of him.

Posted by: Charlie Gibson at February 03, 2014 02:00 PM (5iuEW)

94 "Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying."

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:56 PM (/FnUH)

Before you move on to other things, could you explain what that quotation means?

Because it makes no sense at all.

Is it a code?

Because I have the platinum membership and I didn't get a decoder ring!


Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:00 PM (QFxY5)

95 Posted by: Colin Powell at February 03, 2014 05:55 PM (Q9qpj) I firmly believe that Colin Powell's support of Barack Obama is nothing but blatant tribalism. I think that is the root of much of Obama's support. Obama has no qualifications discernible by me to suggest he is useful for anything.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:00 PM (bb5+k)

96 So Obama's Syria policy is failing...  Pretty much like his U.S. policy then.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at February 03, 2014 02:00 PM (BZAd3)

97 i guess I just feel like MUMR's comment was kind of off-topic anyway and since he planned, I guess, to go off-topic anyway... oh, nevermind. I should have posted drew's post after the 2nd non-political one. However, I thought that ad was just so good that if I didn't get it up on this site fast, people would be talking about it in the thread anyway.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 02:00 PM (/FnUH)

98
Please cut me some kind of break.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:58 PM (/FnUH)

Aww... shit, man.

After 9 years of this?  You get all the leeway and time you need.  I'll post gourds (yes... spelled it correctly) outside the door and we'll flog anyone who tries to get in.


Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (x3YFz)

99 Hope you get feeling better Ace. Do not ligt up the stogie.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (RJMhd)

100 I haven't seen it. What thread is it in? - Among others, here post #1.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (Hx5uv)

101 Obama has no qualifications discernible by me to suggest he is useful for anything. He can fill out a March Madness bracket. WellÂ….OKÂ….he can use a Sharpie.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (yz6yg)

102 Please cut me some kind of break.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:58 PM (/FnUH)


Can you post a thread with a cosplay babe?

Posted by: Methos, reknowned wiseass at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (hO9ad)

103 Get yourself some Matzo Ball Soup, Ace.

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (7Yh/w)

104 Ace, we like shiny shit. We're easily entertained. Make it easy on yourself. Post shiny boobehs.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 02:01 PM (7Bo+h)

105 "57 Atheism convinces people that there's automatically something to be gained by "other people" murdering each other and/or dying. Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 05:48 PM (4YooD) Is that so? Posted by: Joshua on the edge of the Bekaa valley with popcorn at February 03, 2014 05:52 PM (hO9ad)" It is so, and your puerile quip changes nothing. You might also want to get around to reading the New Testament at some point. Later, all. God bless. :-)

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 02:02 PM (4YooD)

106 how's the Poop Magazine going, Ace? Ace, you remember that WordPress blog you created (w/pics and everything) about some lowlife Lefty hack? That was pretty damn good. Is it still around? It was exactly the kind of guerilla-counter attacks we need, is why I'm mentioning it.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:02 PM (51dat)

107 97 i guess I just feel like MUMR's comment was kind of off-topic anyway and since he planned, I guess, to go off-topic anyway... oh, nevermind. I should have posted drew's post after the 2nd non-political one. However, I thought that ad was just so good that if I didn't get it up on this site fast, people would be talking about it in the thread anyway. Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 06:00 PM (/FnUH) ********** Yep--I did it--probably while you were typing that.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:02 PM (RJMhd)

108 >>>Post shiny boobehs. wish i could.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 02:02 PM (/FnUH)

109 What is to be gained by the US if we intervene? And how do we intervene? Doing what to whom? Assad and his regime were complicit in killing the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, fomenting civil war there, allowing Jihadis to pass through Syria to attack both Iraqis and Americans. And his opposition is militant Sunnis, likely allied to either Al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, or some such connected groups. Financed by our friends in the KSA. This is the shape of the phrase "Let it burn". The US spent a fortune in treasure and irreplaceable young men to try and create a peace in Iraq, while most of fucking Europe threw bricks at us.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (RFeQD)

110 DrewM., you're wrong -- sorry, but just wrong. Not hitting Assad signaled with the greatest clarity that the US has no problems with Iran's intentions and behavior -- and not just in that immediate region, but pretty much anywhere. Since that point in time, it's been abundantly clear that only Israel has the stones to what it takes for the sake of what are just as much America's interests as they are Israel's. Iran is happy to fight the Great Satan and the Little Satan to the last drop of Hizballah blood. And Obama is happy to let Jewish blood flow either in Israeli police actions against Hizballah, and perhaps against Iran, as a perverse form of negotiating leverage against the latter -- or he's just as happy to let Jewish blood flow as a consequence of not having ally Israel's back against both of these actors when (not if) they launch their onslaught. Either way, to Obama, a Middle East that is rendered Judenrein will feature that attribute as a feature and not a bug. So yeah, thanks for the smart observations there.

Posted by: RamonAllones at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (AcoH1)

111 Okay, I guess I was wrong.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:58 PM (/FnUH)

Um....

Ace: sole proprietor and final arbiter of AOSHQ.

It's axiomatic that you can't be wrong; it's your blog.

And not for nothing, the blog was rather interesting today. Did you notice how many comments on the book thread?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (QFxY5)

112 Post shiny boobehs. Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 06:01 PM (7Bo+h) Whaddya mean "shiny"? Cause if it's "metallic" shiny, meh. If it's oil wrestling shiny, well thenÂ…carry on.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (yz6yg)

113 What exactly do I have to lose by the deaths of my enemies, MUMR? What would this country have to gain by any sort of intervention there?

Posted by: kartoffel at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (07vvi)

114 >>>Ace, you remember that WordPress blog you created (w/pics and everything) about some lowlife Lefty hack? That was pretty damn good. Is it still around? huh? I have no idea what you're talking about. I never had a wordpress blog in my life.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (/FnUH)

115 Kerry will likely deny the comments were made.

Posted by: steevy at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (zqvg6)

116 Putin smiles. He's got those little tiny balls clamped in his hand.Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 05:49 PM (7Bo+h)I was wondering where those went. They're supposed to be in my purse at all times. - Either that or she rolling them in her hand like Captain Queeg.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 02:03 PM (Hx5uv)

117 He can fill out a March Madness bracket.

WellÂ….OKÂ….he can use a Sharpie.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 06:01 PM (yz6yg)

 

I was about to say  he is not very good at the bracket either.   Its embarrasing that the POTUS  cannot spell Syracuse. 

Posted by: polynikes at February 03, 2014 02:04 PM (m2CN7)

118 >>>And not for nothing, the blog was rather interesting today. Did you notice how many comments on the book thread? i did, as I joined in for most of it.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 02:04 PM (/FnUH)

119 Posted by: RamonAllones at February 03, 2014 06:03 PM (AcoH1)

Both sides are wrong.  You do understand that, yes?

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:05 PM (x3YFz)

120 Bannion, it's coconut oil. Goes without saying.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 02:06 PM (7Bo+h)

121 Before you move on to other things could you explain what that quotation means? ---- Here, I'll try my decoder ring. What I'm getting is "MUMR hates atheists and/or likes to stir shit" It could also be "Eat More Kaboom", though. Hard to tell.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at February 03, 2014 02:06 PM (W6sIv)

122 Ace, think back for a moment. This was about 5 years ago. Maybe it wasn't wordpress. But some really obnoxious turd on the Left prompted you to make a mock blog about him.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:06 PM (51dat)

123 Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at February 03, 2014 06:02 PM (4YooD) Normally like and generally agree with your posts, but I really didn't see the point of stirring up that turmoil unless it was relevant to the topic of discussion.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:06 PM (bb5+k)

124 >>>Okay, I guess I was wrong.
Please cut me some kind of break.

Aww shucks. Get some sleep sick one.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at February 03, 2014 02:07 PM (0q2P7)

125 Both sides are wrong. You do understand that, yes?

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:05 PM (x3YFz)

And to the extent possible with careful application of American influence (if there is any left) and lucre, we should keep the conflict going to kill the maximum number of jihadists on both sides.

Cut-throat? Sure, but in this world we need to be.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:07 PM (QFxY5)

126 >>Please cut me some kind of break. Go take a break. I think we can survive for a day or so while you are sick.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 03, 2014 02:07 PM (g1DWB)

127 It is so, and your puerile quip changes nothing. You might also want to get around to reading the New Testament at some point.

With no offense intended to our Jewish friends, actual Christians hold the Old Testament God and the New Testament God to be the same. That they are different, allowing the Old Testament to be discarded was an apostacy we drummed out a long time ago.

Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 02:07 PM (hO9ad)

128 Maybe 7 years ago.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:07 PM (51dat)

129 ( . Y . )

Posted by: Y-not on the phone posting boobies at February 03, 2014 02:08 PM (HL9N8)

130 @77 -- I'm a Catholic and I have no problem with my enemies destroying each other. I fail to find anything in the New Testament regarding political science other than "render to Caesar."

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at February 03, 2014 02:08 PM (Ec6wH)

131 Y-not is a giver.

Posted by: Jenny Hates Her Phone at February 03, 2014 02:08 PM (W6sIv)

132 125 Exactly,perpetuate the conflict for as long as possible.

Posted by: steevy at February 03, 2014 02:08 PM (zqvg6)

133 going to kill the maximum number of jihadists on both sides.

Cut-throat? Sure, but in this world we need to be.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 06:07 PM (QFxY5)

All for that! 

Problem is when you get down into the weeds there's innocent women and children and even innocent men that lose their lives due to 7th century thinking.

Savages.  Fkn savages.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:09 PM (x3YFz)

134 i did, as I joined in for most of it.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 06:04 PM (/FnUH)

I realize that, and I think the large number was an expression of pent-up desire to talk about interesting, non-political stuff.

It was great.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:09 PM (QFxY5)

135 John Kerry Says Obama's Syria Policy Is Failing Then he hit the bong a second time and treated us all to an a cappella rendition of 'Closer To The Heart', by Rush.

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 02:09 PM (7Yh/w)

136

129 ( . Y . ) 

 

--------

 

((( . Y . )))

 

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:09 PM (IAa7O)

137 4  Is it obscene? Should I stop him?

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:41 PM (/FnUH)


OK I checked it.  Nothing obscene that I see.  The news is sad though that supposed western nations can put up with this shit.



What will happen in the long term is just like the London Hooligans burning the streets. Soon people will get tired of it and the committees of vigilance will start decorating the trees and light poles with Muzzies hanging from nooses.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 03, 2014 02:10 PM (T2V/1)

138 I have a theory that MUMR is actually an alien race attempting to figure out how blogging works. The posts are computer generated since the aliens don't have a firm grasp on the language or human logic.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 03, 2014 02:10 PM (oFCZn)

139 Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:09 PM (x3YFz)

Unfortunately, those people are going to be hurt regardless. It is incumbent upon us to balance the hurt so that both sides suffer equally.

But the suffering will occur, and nothing on earth can stop it.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:11 PM (QFxY5)

140 interesting... Is this John Kerry setting himself up to run for President? For any political future, he needs to distance himself from the Obama Policies... which will be run against (just as Obama ran against Bush twice). Which is one reason why I think he is pushing the whole Palestinian issue with Israel... he wants to be able to hold up a 'win'... (even though its actually a surrender).

Posted by: Hollyweird Producer at February 03, 2014 02:11 PM (84gbM)

141 Here, I'll try my decoder ring. - I'll take a crack at it. He believes that Christianity requires one to abhor the loss of human life even where it might be convenient for us, or at least to not rejoice in it.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 02:11 PM (Hx5uv)

142 ((( . Y . ))) ---- I'm not sure what's going on there, wheatie...but I think I like it.

Posted by: Jenny Feels Confused but Excited Somehow at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (W6sIv)

143

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 03, 2014 06:10 PM (oFCZn)

 

yes sometimes the aliens hit it just about right and get a lucid comment in and then  bam!  back to the disjointed computer type comment structure.   Its confusing as hell.   

 

Quit probing us Mr. Alien !!

Posted by: polynikes at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (m2CN7)

144 Not hitting Assad signaled with the greatest clarity that the US has no problems with Iran's intentions and behavior -- and not just in that immediate region, but pretty much anywhere.

I disagree. Everyone already knew Obama had no intention of opposing Iran in any significant way. The non-strike just proved the rest of us aren't going to follow Obama, McCain, and their ilk on a war of ego.

Which is a problem, but that problem can only be solved by electing responsible/respected people to office in the first place.

Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (hO9ad)

145 Regardless of what you think the policy should be--it is never good to be unclear about your intentions. That is a huge mistake.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (RJMhd)

146 @138 Dack Think about that, minus the alien part. There's a possible explanation.

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (P6QsQ)

147 With no offense intended to our Jewish friends, actual Christians hold the Old Testament God and the New Testament God to be the same.

Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 06:07 PM (hO9ad)

We taught you well!


Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (QFxY5)

148 141 That's true but I'm a really bad Christian.

Posted by: steevy at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (zqvg6)

149 Posted by: Vic at February 03, 2014 06:10 PM (T2V/1) Thought it was Odd that Ace would ask us rather than look himself. The thought occurs to me that he played a mild deception to highlight the point of the article.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:12 PM (bb5+k)

150 "..treated us all to an a cappella rendition of 'Closer To The Heart', by Rush." Garrett, that's just wrong. Getty Lee is bad enough. ***ducks***

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 02:13 PM (7Bo+h)

151

142 ((( . Y . )))

 

----

 

I'm not sure what's going on there, wheatie...but I think I like it.

 

--------

 

Jiggling.

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (IAa7O)

152 Hey, remember when Assad's kid was mocking Obama? We need some more of that shit.

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (7Yh/w)

153 He believes that Christianity requires one to abhor the loss of human life even where it might be convenient for us, or at least to not rejoice in it. Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 06:11 PM (Hx5uv) Very diplomatic way to put it.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (bb5+k)

154
The world must rid itself of this islam scourge.

If they do it to each other, so much the better.




Posted by: Guy Mohawk at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (n0DEs)

155 With a military that is being downsized, the role of "policeman of the world" needs to be rethought. The only "ally" we have in the Mideast is Israel. We owe the Syrians nothing.

Posted by: seamrog at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (yNJwa)

156 Are you Syrias?

Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (aDwsi)

157 Totally OT but finally weighing in on the Super Bowl. Just the National Anthem: Renee Fleming was fantastic. However, *none* of the Youtube videos I've found has the full flyover included at the conclusion. It was fucking awesome; even Peyton Manning, who has probably stood through at least 100 flyovers in his college and pro careers, looked up when the Apaches flew over like "WTF?!?!" and yet I cannot seem to be able to re-live that with Youtube.

Posted by: logprof at February 03, 2014 02:14 PM (X3GkB)

158 If you thought Geddy's singing was bad in the old days,you should hear him now.But damn ,can they play.

Posted by: steevy at February 03, 2014 02:15 PM (zqvg6)

159 Shake it. , wheatie!!! We need a tassels emoticon for our boobies.

Posted by: Y-not on the phone posting boobies at February 03, 2014 02:15 PM (HL9N8)

160 Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 06:11 PM (Hx5uv)

Oooh. you're good.

You have young children don't you? or maybe union employees?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:15 PM (QFxY5)

161 We need a tassels emoticon for our boobies. Posted by: Y-not on the phone posting boobies at February 03, 2014 06:15 PM (HL9N Pasties?

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (oFCZn)

162 139 Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:09 PM (x3YFz)

Unfortunately, those people are going to be hurt regardless. It is incumbent upon us to balance the hurt so that both sides suffer equally.

But the suffering will occur, and nothing on earth can stop it.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 06:11 PM (QFxY5)

I may come across as some redneck cowboy RWNJ, but every loss affects me.  A sparrow hits my window and I race outside and hold it until it dies and weep.  It's what I'm made of.

When I see "30 dead in terror bombing" it tears my heart out.

My gaze instantly flicks to those responsible, then I see red.

If I can't stop it then I'll be damn sure to make a difference somewhere.

I wasn't created to stand around scratching myself.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (x3YFz)

163 119 tangonine Try not to patronize me, mmm'kaaayyy? Of course both sides are wrong, but only Assad's side is Iran-sponsored, and Iran is the greater menace -- not just regionally but globally. Israel could *easily* contain an Al-Qaeda-run Syria. *Easily.* On the other hand, again, the US not smacking the shit out of Assad sent as clear a signal as any that the Obama Administration's strategy vis-a-vis Iran is simply to roll over, apologize for God-knows-what injustices that Valerie Jarrett deems urgently requiring apology, and look the other way as the mullahs deploy their nuclear-equipped ICBMs. Doing nothing was not an option. The US did not have to do anything *in* the fight -- it had to do something *to* the fight. And it failed. Enjoy these last pre-EMP days, folks.

Posted by: RamonAllones at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (AcoH1)

164 b..b...bbbut, the Adults are in charge !!1!!!1!!!!

Posted by: My 2cents. at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (vHlQ5)

165 145 Regardless of what you think the policy should be--it is never good to be unclear about your intentions. That is a huge mistake. Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 06:12 PM (RJMhd) Do you mean that Saddam got unclear signals from our Ambassador regarding Kuwait? How could that cause any problems?

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (bb5+k)

166 Vampire Academy looks SyFy channel level stupid.Gabriel Byrne must have needed a paycheck really bad.

Posted by: steevy at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (zqvg6)

167 If Rush were an instrumental band I would watch them all night.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 02:16 PM (7Bo+h)

168 I think Kerry would read those lyrics straight off the prompter if someone would type them in there.

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 02:17 PM (7Yh/w)

169
There's something to be said for dropping ammo to both sides and letting both sides fight to the last man.

But with Choomy and Horseface involved, it'll be something like "lets give both sides suitcase nukes, just to keep things fair". The smoking hole that was Manhattan would be totes coincidental.


Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 03, 2014 02:17 PM (TIIx5)

170

((( • ))(( • )))

 

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:17 PM (IAa7O)

171 When I first started "lurking" here the general policy that was policed fairly well was to stay on topic unless it was an open thread.  That gradually morphed into "until it got to be > 100 comments, then 50, and now we are post anything any time.  I think that should stop in the non-open threads.


Ace tried to get back into a two thread arrangement where you posted the non-applicable stuff in an open thread below but some people are just hardheaded.


That didn't last a week.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at February 03, 2014 02:17 PM (T2V/1)

172 Regardless of what you think the policy should be--it is never good to be unclear about your intentions. That is a huge mistake. ----------------- So, willy-nilly sketching of red lines, and using the word 'period' may not be a good idea? Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Barky at February 03, 2014 02:17 PM (aDwsi)

173 Jiggling ---- Oh! It looked like the hug thing people do on the internets. I thought you might've been sending creepy internet hugs to Y-not and her boobehs. But jiggling is nice, too.

Posted by: Jenny Feels Confused but Excited Somehow at February 03, 2014 02:18 PM (W6sIv)

174 Try not to patronize me, mmm'kaaayyy?


Posted by: RamonAllones at February 03, 2014 06:16 PM (AcoH1)

You read too much into it because of some, evidently, insecure part of you.

butthurt, much?

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:18 PM (x3YFz)

175

(  º )( ° )

 

[jumping]

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:19 PM (IAa7O)

176 Okay, you convinced me. Let's send Getty Lee to Syria.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at February 03, 2014 02:19 PM (7Bo+h)

177 Well I'll admit that I think it is unfair to gloss over the relationship between Syria and an Iran run by religious fundamentalists who want a nuclear weapon capability and who would also be perhaps immune to the more rational deterrents.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:19 PM (RJMhd)

178 Whoa! Hold on a second their horse face. You run of that department that does all that foreign stuff. So you do all the talking and thing go south so now it's my fault! I don't think so.

Posted by: President Big Boy Pants at February 03, 2014 02:20 PM (mETGQ)

179 >>>I'm a Catholic and I have no problem with my enemies destroying each other. I fail to find anything in the New Testament regarding political science other than "render to Caesar."

Seeing global political opponents weaken each other is a good thing. Watching human beings getting killed for it is bad, even if they don't like you, even if they want to kill you, and that is what the Church teaches.

Matt 5:43-48

Posted by: MikeTheMoose Laughing Maniacally While Throwing Matches. at February 03, 2014 02:20 PM (0q2P7)

180 I'll take a crack at it. He believes that Christianity requires one to abhor the loss of human life even where it might be convenient for us, or at least to not rejoice in it.

Posted by: WalrusRex at February 03, 2014 06:11 PM (Hx5uv)

pretty much it.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:20 PM (x3YFz)

181 I wasn't created to stand around scratching myself.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:16 PM (x3YFz)

Even with a robust military at the height of its powers we would not be able to stop the killing in Syria. Those tribal animosities have been tamped down for two generations, and now they are emerging, with the additional problem of Islamists trying to take control.

I understand your point, and it is a fine one, but nothing can be done.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:21 PM (QFxY5)

182

I've never heard of a Secretary of State dropping a dime on his President before, telling a group of Senators in a formal setting that his boss's policy is an utter failure. I'm no fan of Obama or his policies, but a foolish Secretary of State is bad for the country.

 

I read recently where Kerry still--still!--has presidential aspirations. Distancing himself from foreign policy disasters by undermining his boss may seem like a good idea now but maybe not so much a few years from now, when even a lame duck President Obama, with an entire bloc of the Democratic coalition firmly behind him forever, starts looking for a little payback.

Posted by: troyriser at February 03, 2014 02:21 PM (gNlvW)

183 sooth, i have no memory of it. oh wait-- was I goofing on his basset hounds or something like that? I might have been goofing on a guy called "TBogg." Fuzziest memory I've ever had. I don't know if I'm remembering that or creating a false memory based upon your suggestion.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 02:21 PM (/FnUH)

184

uh oh...those nipples didn't match.

Do over:

 

( ° )( ° )

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:21 PM (IAa7O)

185 Smack Assad for what? Assad didn't start the upheaval, the Muslim Brotherhood (a.k.a. the rebels) did.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:21 PM (51dat)

186 Do you mean that Saddam got unclear signals from our Ambassador regarding Kuwait? How could that cause any problems? Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 06:16 PM (bb5+k) ******** Exactly. When Liberals refer to "Smart Diplomacy" they usually mean lying, obfuscation and/or bluffing. That's a very dangerous game.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:21 PM (RJMhd)

187 Enjoy these last pre-EMP days, folks.

If anyone in Iran reads this blog, they'd probably target Yellowstone instead.

Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 02:22 PM (hO9ad)

188 yeah the Tbogg thing with pics of dogs! that's it for something you slapped together in a jif, it was good

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:23 PM (51dat)

189 The time to get involved in Syria was early in the conflict, before the AQ types gained a foothold.

But that would've required Obama making an actual decision in a time frame measured in days instead of months.

Now it's lose-lose all around.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 03, 2014 02:23 PM (SY2Kh)

190 I think you later felt bad about it even though the guy was a premium douche.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:24 PM (51dat)

191
I understand your point, and it is a fine one, but nothing can be done.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 06:21 PM (QFxY5)

Yup.  Ain't any fixin' it.  But it's still a shame and a tragedy.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:24 PM (x3YFz)

192 On the other hand, again, the US not smacking the shit out of Assad sent as clear a signal as any that the Obama Administration's strategy vis-a-vis Iran is simply to roll over, apologize for God-knows-what injustices that Valerie Jarrett deems urgently requiring apology, and look the other way as the mullahs deploy their nuclear-equipped ICBMs. *********** It's also set go some weird ripple effects with Saudi Arabia and others in the Middle East balance equation... The law of unintended consequences.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:24 PM (RJMhd)

193 Just the National Anthem: Renee Fleming was fantastic. However, *none* of the Youtube videos I've found has the full flyover included at the conclusion. It was fucking awesome; even Peyton Manning, who has probably stood through at least 100 flyovers in his college and pro careers, looked up when the Apaches flew over like "WTF?!?!" and yet I cannot seem to be able to re-live that with Youtube. Posted by: logprof at February 03, 2014 06:14 PM (X3GkB) Some videos of it here but not from Fox....people's own videos. http://tinyurl.com/n6ykg46

Posted by: [/i][/b][/u][/s] Tami at February 03, 2014 02:25 PM (bCEmE)

194 >>>Ace tried to get back into a two thread arrangement where you posted the non-applicable stuff in an open thread below but some people are just hardheaded. That didn't last a week. ... no it did-- it still persists. People are routinely posting the Second Thread for political stuff. I thought it was understood that I don't care what you post and that anything goes as far as OT. I created that rule to protect posts' like the Gaming Thread, Book Thread, Astronomy Thread. Here's the thing: I don't care much about OT stuff because I post 60 times a week or whatever. The only time I try to keep people on topic is if I've written something I've invested time in. You know, I have an ego. When I write a long piece, I'd like actual feedback and discussion. But even then, after 100 posts, I don't care if people go off OT. If people don't know this, as a general rule, all of my posts are really Open Threads -- again, unless you see it's a big post I've invested time in (high word count, mostly my words, not just links and excerpts). The sort of posts I just dash off in ten minutes-- I do not give a shit about going OT at all. Not at all. I guess MUMR didn't understand that. In the fun/human interests posts I did, I really didn't care if anyone went OT. I usually don't. I really don't. Again, when you write 60 posts a week, you're not really married to most of them. It's the 1-2 posts a week where it looks like I really tried and wrote a bunch of stuff where i care at all, and I only care then until the 100 comment mark.

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 02:26 PM (/FnUH)

195 The Syrian conflict might be the closest the muzz can get to a reformation of islam. Who wins ? Sunni or Shia ? Is it wrong to hope both lose ?

Posted by: seamrog at February 03, 2014 02:26 PM (yNJwa)

196 What seems to be getting overlooked in the discussion of Syria is that allowing al Qaeda to gain a foothold had given them a strategic location to regain large sections of western Iraq. Doing nothing has not been as benign as allowing our enemies to destroy each other.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 03, 2014 02:26 PM (g1DWB)

197 even Peyton Manning, who has probably stood through at least 100 flyovers in his college and pro careers, looked up when the Apaches flew over like "WTF?!?!" and yet I cannot seem to be able to re-live that with Youtube.

Posted by: logprof at February 03, 2014 06:14 PM (X3GkB)

It didn't match the WTF!?! look on his face when the ball was snapped over his head on the first play.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at February 03, 2014 02:26 PM (SY2Kh)

198 Eh, I stand by my translation.

Posted by: Jenny Likes Her Decoder Ring at February 03, 2014 02:27 PM (W6sIv)

199 187 Enjoy these last pre-EMP days, folks. If anyone in Iran reads this blog, they'd probably target Yellowstone instead. Posted by: Methos at February 03, 2014 06:22 PM (hO9ad) ******** Na--just the Saudi oil fields which would send China into economic collapse within a month or--less. Who knows? *whistles off *

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:27 PM (RJMhd)

200 MUMR reminds me of Mum-Ra. I used to work with some guys we gave He-Man names to. One of them we called Filth-Or and the other was Lie-Or. Obama makes a pretty good Lie-Or himself.

Posted by: Tom Servo at February 03, 2014 02:27 PM (8Fa5Z)

201 I understand your point, and it is a fine one, but nothing can be done. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 06:21 PM (QFxY5) the only thing that could be done.... won't... Drill here... and in Russia... and create a Greater energy partnership and security arrangement with RUSSIA... Lowering worldwide oil prices through production would dry up the money which is fueling this whole mess... Then... just sit back and watch them self destruct... until they can behave like adults.

Posted by: Hollyweird Producer at February 03, 2014 02:27 PM (84gbM)

202 We WANT to have sex with your little boys, but you do not let them go out at night. And it's not really sex, it is a holy expression of love. And we mean holy, not wholly. It's just the tongue and the tip. Really. Trust us! Besides your women are all whores, like Bactrian Camels - two humps you know. Now excuse me, I have to go throw acid in a nun's face, cash my latest check from your fine Islamic Hashassin President, and watch some man on billy goat snuff religious celebrations on Al Jizzme TV... DIE AMERICAN SATAN! Also, could you send some more of that Kraft Mac & Cheese? We find it ideal to wash our feet in, before spooning it into the billy goat's anus, for post religious observance snack...

Posted by: Any Given Muslim at February 03, 2014 02:28 PM (vHRtU)

203 Syrian Christian Leaders Call On U.S. To End Support For Anti-Assad Rebels


http://tinyurl.com/mwguck8

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 02:28 PM (P6QsQ)

204 Not to be devil's advocate, but does shit for brains Kerry really understand anything other than porking a ketchup bottle?

Posted by: dogfish at February 03, 2014 02:29 PM (nsOJa)

205 We can't mention John Kerry without mentioning the Secretariat of State joke...

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at February 03, 2014 02:30 PM (pginn)

206 204 Not to be devil's advocate, but does shit for brains Kerry really understand anything other than porking a ketchup bottle? Posted by: dogfish at February 03, 2014 06:29 PM (nsOJa) He's a botox shot and a couple of neck bolts away from looking like Frankenstein's monster.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 03, 2014 02:30 PM (oFCZn)

207 Again, when you write 60 posts a week, you're not really married to most of them. --------- Hell's bells, I'm not even engaged to mine.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 03, 2014 02:30 PM (aDwsi)

208 Lowering worldwide oil prices through production would dry up the money which is fueling this whole mess...

Then... just sit back and watch them self destruct... until they can behave like adults.

Posted by: Hollyweird Producer at February 03, 2014 06:27 PM (84gbM)

sounds good on paper, but when you get down into the wickets and the politics, it isn't quite that simple.

This is a war. You understand that, right? 

I don't mean to be demeaning,or insult your intelligence or anything like that but these things get very complicated very fast.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:31 PM (x3YFz)

209 When you don't practice your backswing you end up in the sand trap.

Posted by: John Kerry at February 03, 2014 02:31 PM (7Yh/w)

210 You read too much into it because of some, evidently, insecure part of you. butthurt, much? Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:18 PM (x3YFz) ************ You are not volleying back well.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:31 PM (RJMhd)

211 I was drawn to his craggy good looks and also I'm an Addam's Family fan from way back.

Posted by: Teresa Heinz at February 03, 2014 02:32 PM (oFCZn)

212 OT: Steroid Use Much Higher Among Gay and Bi Teen Boys http://preview.tinyurl.com/lp32fy9 Odd articles with some interesting numbers. But it seems to be deliberately avoiding addressing some obvious issues with the 'why's' of the story.

Posted by: --- at February 03, 2014 02:33 PM (MMC8r)

213 Damn it another intelligent commenter chased off.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:34 PM (RJMhd)

214 But it seems to be deliberately avoiding addressing some obvious issues with the 'why's' of the story. Small balls are easier to tuck?

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 02:34 PM (7Yh/w)

215 I'm no fan of Obama or his policies, but a foolish Secretary of State is bad for the country. Posted by: troyriser at February 03, 2014 06:21 PM (gNlvW) It's a consequence of Obama. I have little confidence in the competence of ANYONE Obama has selected to be part of his government. Idiocy is the norm for this lot.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:34 PM (bb5+k)

216 Damn it another intelligent commenter chased off.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 06:34 PM (RJMhd)


------------


Who got chased off?

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 02:34 PM (P6QsQ)

217 ollyweird Producer at February 03, 2014 06:27 PM (84gbM)

Working on this 0 profanity thing.  /sigh

It's tough work.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:35 PM (x3YFz)

218

201...Drill here... and in Russia... and create a Greater energy partnership and security arrangement with RUSSIA...

 

Lowering worldwide oil prices through production would dry up the money which is fueling this whole mess...

 

Then... just sit back and watch them self destruct... until they can behave like adults.

 

Posted by: Hollyweird Producer at February 03, 2014 06:27 PM (84gbM) 

 

------------

 

Totally agree on 'increased production' and let the Mideast do what they will to themselves.

 

We didn't used to care about what was going on over there...until we became dependent on their oil.

It started out being "Cheap Foreign Oil"...but it isn't cheap anymore.

 

However, it will always cost more to produce oil here because of the EPA regulations and employment costs.

But we *can* become energy independent.

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:35 PM (IAa7O)

219 Yup. Ain't any fixin' it. But it's still a shame and a tragedy. Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:24 PM (x3YFz) Hell, we may be in similar dire straits not too far in the future ourselves. We can't even fix the mess we have here.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:36 PM (bb5+k)

220 ((( . Y . ))) Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 06:09 PM (IAa7O) Is that a first person report right there?

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:37 PM (yz6yg)

221 As long as muslims are killing other muslims and not non-muslims, it's all good.

Posted by: feralcat at February 03, 2014 02:38 PM (cY9nU)

222 Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:31 PM (x3YFz) Actually... as a Strategy? it is pretty simple. The Middle East cannot feed itself. Without large amounts of oil money coming in... the House of Saud Falls (which is not a bad thing IMO)... along with a host of other regimes in the area. When it comes down to the choice between feeding the people... and foreign adventurism... eventually the People will force them to dial back on economic aid to Terrorists. Without that aid (lots of which still comes from Saud)... Terrorism itself becomes less of a threat. The problem with the Middle East currently... is that they Believe that they are our Equals... that they can prevail... When the reality is that the only way they can even feed themselves is with our help. Dry up the oil money... which is propping up the economies there... and they will be much less of a threat to the world... Now.... how do you do that??? There are two countries with VAST energy reserves... AND problems with Jihadists.... the US and Russia... The Enemy of my Enemy may not be a Friend... but he can be an Allie....

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 03, 2014 02:38 PM (84gbM)

223 I don't like the two post format.... posting and requiring all non topic comments to be in the below thread...it sucks to leave a "live" thread to go check out a not so live thread... I like this kind of chaos post that we got going on right here..... I'm able to follow the post quite well thank you very much..... we got the Syria stuff going on and we got the alien MUMR stuff going on and we got bouncing boobies ( my personal favorite) going on..... all is normal here at the HQ. Carry on.

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at February 03, 2014 02:39 PM (B/3gr)

224

220 ((( . Y . ))) 

 

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 06:09 PM (IAa7O)

 

 Is that a first person report right there?

 

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 06:37 PM (yz6yg) 

 

--------

 

Maaaybe.

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 02:40 PM (IAa7O)

225 Maaaybe. Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 06:40 PM (IAa7O) I knew you would say EXACTLY that. Scary.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:40 PM (yz6yg)

226 4 has anyone looked at this picture Eutholypto keeps posting in threads?

Is it obscene? Should I stop him?

Posted by: ace at February 03, 2014 05:41 PM (/FnUH)


I personally don't think it is obscene.  I just get tired of folks posting and re-posting the same stuff in every freaking thread.

Posted by: jem at February 03, 2014 02:41 PM (fM4kr)

227 He's a botox shot and a couple of neck bolts away from looking like Frankenstein's monster.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 03, 2014 06:30 PM (oFCZn)



That lantern jawed pile of shit got hit so fucking hard by the ugly stick that I have no idea what he thought he was getting for Lovey's money during the last "procedure".

Posted by: Captain Hate at February 03, 2014 02:41 PM (zjT4v)

228 TOP. MEN.

Posted by: The Poster Formerly Known as Mr. Barky at February 03, 2014 02:41 PM (OPzNA)

229 >>We didn't used to care about what was going on over there...until we became dependent on their oil. It started out being "Cheap Foreign Oil"...but it isn't cheapanymore. We've been carrying for a long, long time. We just haven't had a consist and in many cases sane policy.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 03, 2014 02:42 PM (g1DWB)

230 Posted by: jem at February 03, 2014 06:41 PM (fM4kr) Except Allen G's SCOAMT post, that goes everwhere

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (tablet) at February 03, 2014 02:42 PM (a8eFL)

231 Part of the issue here is that when you have a problem, you have to analyze the problem, come up with a set of solutions, decide on one, and then go about carrying it out. When it comes to Syria, as part of our national policy, we seem to have skipped or backtracked on a lot of those steps. Say what you will about President Bush, but he at least had a multilayered plan (Regime change, followed by nation building) and resolved to carry it through. You may think he was wrong, but at least he had the balls to make a call. President Obama, meanwhile, seems to have approached this sloppily, decided what to do sloppily, and then waffled when it came time to carry it out. The sad thing is, I do not think there is much we could do, as a nation, that could improve the situation. We send in the red cross and protect them to try to care for the refugees and those innocents hurt in the fighting. Aside from that, there is not much we could have done to "help." What we did was the worst of all worlds in that we increased Putin status as a powerbroker, diminished our own, and destabilized the situation further by introducing even more uncertainty. Not our finest hour.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 02:43 PM (TGgNi)

232 221 As long as muslims are killing other muslims and not non-muslims, it's all good. ================ Except that is not what is happening. Google "Syrian Christians" and you will see countless reports of hundreds of Chrisotians being murdered in their homes and in their churches. Some are even being executed via crucifixion. The Syrian Christian community is in danger of being annihilated, according to some clergy there.

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 02:43 PM (P6QsQ)

233 Israel could *easily* contain an Al-Qaeda-run Syria. *Easily.*

"contain" either has some other meaning or you just don't know wtf you're typing about.  AQ is inherently un-containable, it's 100%er irhabist splitter madmen.  Fortunately they're idiots too so they can be lured to all kinds of Islamic fun spots and drone zapped.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at February 03, 2014 02:44 PM (DL2i+)

234 Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 06:43 PM (P6QsQ) Yeah, about that. Obama and Kerry don't give a shit.

Posted by: garrett at February 03, 2014 02:44 PM (7Yh/w)

235 Actually... as a Strategy? it is pretty simple.


Posted by: Romeo13 at February 03, 2014 06:38 PM (84gbM)

It's not simple.  At all.  Unless you understand the dynamics of regional conflict that goes back thousands of years, it's tough to get a grip on.

Throw into that mix radicals and you have a stew of politics that makes what we see in the US between democrats and republicans look like chutes and ladders.

I'm no expert.  I've read maybe 200/300 books on middle eastern and asian warfare, culture and history, and the more I read, the more I know how much I have exactly 0 clue about.

You can't do this in broad strokes.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:45 PM (x3YFz)

236 Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 06:43 PM (P6QsQ) I think saying it's "Good" is a bad idea. War is never good. Saying "us getting involved won't make it better" is a fact of the world.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (tablet) at February 03, 2014 02:45 PM (a8eFL)

237

(º )( ° )

[jumping]

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 06:19 PM (IAa7O)


Some free medical advice: I'd get that one on the left checked out.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at February 03, 2014 02:45 PM (8ZskC)

238 @234 garrett I know. Tragically, I know they don't care one little bit.

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 02:45 PM (P6QsQ)

239 Drill here... and in Russia... and create a Greater energy partnership and security arrangement with RUSSIA... Lowering worldwide oil prices through production would dry up the money which is fueling this whole mess... Then... just sit back and watch them self destruct... until they can behave like adults. Posted by: Hollyweird Producer at February 03, 2014 06:27 PM (84gbM) Exactly right. I have taken my very own personal steps along similar lines to defund the middle east. Been converting everything I have to run on Compressed Natural gas. It's 82 cents per gallon for me. Less Gasoline I use, the more for someone else. We need to crash the Arab oil money and that will dry up the terrorism and seriously weaken our Islamic enemies.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:45 PM (bb5+k)

240 China's dependence is everyone's problem.

Posted by: Teleprompter Feed Crew at February 03, 2014 02:47 PM (RJMhd)

241 Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 06:43 PM (P6QsQ)

Everything ok today from the doc?  Been thinking of you all day.  Didn't scroll up, so not sure if you posted an update.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:47 PM (x3YFz)

242 Tbogg was some loser from Firedoglake who "wished Michelle Malkin would die in Iraq." So Ace, in the days before Twitter, responded with Acebogg. See link in name.

Posted by: Soothsayer at February 03, 2014 02:47 PM (TNRdP)

243 Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 06:43 PM (P6QsQ)


And the people perpetrating that are the same ones we're supporting. John McCain's buddies.

Posted by: kartoffel at February 03, 2014 02:47 PM (07vvi)

244 You apostate woman-fuckers fail to understand that my religion requires me to deposit my seed in your grandson. And grandfather. Only your prejudice and discrimination stand in the way of Paradise on Earth. H8ters. Now you say you will play both sides off against the middle? HAHAHA, fools! There is no 'both sides.' You indulge in Western infidel linear thinking. All of my enemies belong to me. All of my allies belong to them. All of none of the meta-us belongs to Allah. Parse that, woman fucker!

Posted by: Any Given Muslim at February 03, 2014 02:48 PM (vHRtU)

245 @241 tangonine Yep, still got a few miles left to go on this old chassis. Thanks for asking.

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 02:48 PM (P6QsQ)

246 "contain"

Posted by: DaveA at February 03, 2014 06:44 PM (DL2i+)

Contain: enter into national conflict, immediately creating a regional conflict that draws literally every Muslim country on earth into the fray, thereby escalating what was a nasty but limited war into a large, uncontrollable and potentially existentially destructive mess that might very well go nuclear.

I think this is the definition you are looking for.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:48 PM (QFxY5)

247 I'm no expert. I've read maybe 200/300 books on middle eastern and asian warfare, culture and history, and the more I read, the more I know how much I have exactly 0 clue about. You can't do this in broad strokes. Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:45 PM (x3YFz While I was sitting in a lovely 135 degree Baghdad summer, I was Amazon's best customer. Read everything there is to read about the ME and Arab culture. Lewis, de Atkine, Said, you name it. I became convinced that the only solution to "the Islamic problem" is to let them live in the seventh century as they would like. I'm pretty sure we have a way to accommodate that desire in 28 minutes - give to take.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:49 PM (yz6yg)

248 140 Is this John Kerry setting himself up to run for President? How else to destroy Hillary than start admitting everything she touched is now crap? Waiting for the iBenghazi information to finally appear.

Posted by: NeverEvermore at February 03, 2014 02:49 PM (dd5lM)

249 Yep, still got a few miles left to go on this old chassis. Thanks for asking.

Posted by: grammie winger at February 03, 2014 06:48 PM (P6QsQ)

Good to know.  More prayers to follow.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:49 PM (x3YFz)

250 President Obama, meanwhile, seems to have approached this sloppily, decided what to do sloppily, and then waffled when it came time to carry it out. Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 06:43 PM (TGgNi) You mean he followed all of his previous conduct throughout his life.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 02:50 PM (bb5+k)

251 Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 06:43 PM (TGgNi) As Libertarian.... why are we involved at all... even in a Humanitarian roll. We cannot solve their problems... they must solve them themselves... and anything we do to alleviate the Pain those problems cause, just allows those problems to go unaddressed. If'n it was President Romeo13? Foreign Aid would be dependent on their instituting a US type Bill of Rights... with Freedom of Speech, Press, and Religion, as the absolute base minimum to get a dime from us... and we would MONITOR it... REWARD them for correct action.... do not just give foreign aid to failed States by taking care of their people for them.... But it goes back to the idea of a Government by and for the People.... or not.... Are the PEOPLE responsible for their Government? WW2 and earlier... we said yes.... and strangely... that was when we actually used to win wars and solve problems...

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 03, 2014 02:50 PM (84gbM)

252 230 Posted by: jem at February 03, 2014 06:41 PM (fM4kr)

Except Allen G's SCOAMT post, that goes everwhere

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (tablet) at February 03, 2014 06:42 PM (a8eFL)


Absolutely! Agree. 

It's just some people seem to get obsessed with posting the same link over and over and over again.  Kinda old and fed up with that.  That is all.

Posted by: jem at February 03, 2014 02:50 PM (fM4kr)

253 I became convinced that the only solution to "the Islamic problem" is to let them live in the seventh century as they would like. ---------------------- The paranoid remnants of a decayed society.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 03, 2014 02:50 PM (aDwsi)

254 I'm pretty sure we have a way to accommodate that desire in 28 minutes - give to take.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 06:49 PM (yz6yg)

LOL ISWYDT

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:51 PM (x3YFz)

255 I don't mean to be demeaning,or insult your intelligence or anything like that but these things get very complicated very fast.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:31 PM (x3YFz)

 

Read Ulysses Grant's memoirs. It's an amazing book. You can practically get inside Grant's head as he remembers the great battles of his past. Sherman, no slouch when it came to either strategy or tactics, envied Grant's ability to grasp the big picture and reduce it to its essentials, to get to the heart of the matter, to know at a glance what's important and what isn't, what to do and what not to do, usually in a matter of minutes. It's an amazing (and extremely rare) gift.

 

I bring it up because I have seen no evidence anyone in high places in our government has a big picture strategic grasp of anything.  Not one. And it frightens me since it means they really don't know what they're doing. They're just reacting.

Posted by: troyriser at February 03, 2014 02:51 PM (gNlvW)

256 We should do whatever we cant

This is, by accident, exactly what I've recommended for Syria since the rebellion started.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 03, 2014 02:52 PM (30eLQ)

257 The paranoid remnants of a decayed society. You can't reason with someone who is not reasonable. Although Raphael Patai has supposedly been "discredited" - his take on Arab psychology rings true to my experience. Pick up a copy of The Arab Mind

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:53 PM (yz6yg)

258 Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 06:49 PM (yz6yg)

My grandfather could have told you that for a lot less postage.

[Mounted policeman for the British in the Arab villages of Palestine]

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:53 PM (QFxY5)

259 Well, except for the "doing" part.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 03, 2014 02:53 PM (30eLQ)

260 Waiting for the Benghazi information to finally appear. Posted by: NeverEvermore ------------- That's already been looked into, hearings held, there's nothing there. It's just Faux News.

Posted by: Barky at February 03, 2014 02:53 PM (aDwsi)

261 What we did was the worst of all worlds

Except for letting the JEF butt-fumble US into the fight.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at February 03, 2014 02:53 PM (DL2i+)

262 NowÂ….let's get back to talking about wheatie's boobehs...

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:55 PM (yz6yg)

263 Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 06:45 PM (x3YFz) No.... it is simple once you realize that it is NOT up to us to solve their problems. It is up to us to not allow THEIR problems to affect us. An outside power cannot fix this... its Tribal, Ethnic, and Religious... all wrapped up in a crappy place that currently has too much money. Hell... some of these problems go all the way back to pre Rome... we aint going to fix it... NOR should we TRY.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 03, 2014 02:56 PM (84gbM)

264 They're just reacting.

Posted by: troyriser at February 03, 2014 06:51 PM (gNlvW)

Ronald Reagan was told by everyone in government that we could not bankrupt the Soviets by expanding our military and challenging them with Strategic Defense.

He smiled and did it anyway, and he, the Pope, Walesa and a few others freed hundreds of million people.

That's the kind of thinking we need, but all we have are the people who said it wouldn't work.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:56 PM (QFxY5)

265 I'm pretty sure we have a way to accommodate that desire in 28 minutes - give to take.

At a certain $/gallon we can use lead lined gas tanks.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at February 03, 2014 02:56 PM (DL2i+)

266 And it frightens me since it means they really don't know what they're doing. They're just reacting. Posted by: troyriser ------- Oh, I think they have 'ideas', it's just that it isn't possible to implement their ideas via any rational plan, nor do their 'ideas' result in the betterment of the Republic.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 03, 2014 02:57 PM (aDwsi)

267 wheatie's boobehs...

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 06:55 PM (yz6yg)

They're quite nice [in my mind's eye].

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 02:57 PM (QFxY5)

268 261 That was my "Inserted even more uncertainty into the situation" meant. Completely agree.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 02:57 PM (TGgNi)

269

255...I have seen no evidence anyone in high places in our government has a big picture strategic grasp of anything. Not one. And it frightens me since it means they really don't know what they're doing. They're just reacting.

 

Posted by: troyriser at February 03, 2014 06:51 PM (gNlvW)

 

---------

 

I know exactly what I'm doing. 

 

I just can't admit that that's what I'm doing.

 

 

 

Posted by: Barqy Al Clusterfuq at February 03, 2014 02:58 PM (IAa7O)

270 They're quite nice [in my mind's eye]. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 06:57 PM (QFxY5) I like to think of them as "sweet orbs of heaven" [in my mind's eye].

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 02:58 PM (yz6yg)

271 You have to understand, and I know you do, that most mooselimbs are mooslimbs by coercion. 

They don't get a choice.

Part of me just wants to nuke half the planet to stop the spread of the infection, the other half can't.

Fk this human stuff.  Humans suck.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 02:59 PM (x3YFz)

272 Unexpectedly! /yeah right

Posted by: Gmac-Pondering the coming implosion, and hoping its 404care at February 03, 2014 02:59 PM (baiNQ)

273 266 Our leaders seem to be playing this like a grand strategy video game. "Let's see what happens when we do THIS..." Except you cannot go back and reload a save when something does not work.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 02:59 PM (TGgNi)

274 A couple questions regarding abandoning the region. 1) What do we do when Israel decides that if it is going to be left to it's own devises decides to strike which will undoubtedly ignite a regional war? 2) The Suez Canal is the transit point for about 8% of the world's goods everyday. What do we do when the Canal falls into the hands of crazies or becomes a war zone? 3) We might leave the region, our single biggest strategic opponent, Russia, is not. They view oil and gas as a strategic weapon. They are already a large supplier to the EU and every time we cede power in the region they jump in to partner with countries like Iran. How do we keep any pressure on the crazy mullahs in Iran if Russia no longer has to be coy about their support for these nuts?

Posted by: JackStraw at February 03, 2014 03:01 PM (g1DWB)

275 Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 06:59 PM (TGgNi)

At first glance that seems like a facile and childish analysis, until I realize that all of the evidence points to exactly that kind of thinking.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 03, 2014 03:02 PM (QFxY5)

276 You have to understand, and I know you do, that most mooselimbs are mooslimbs by coercion. And you can argue that about most sub-optimal political situations. Yet what is it about the Western mind, and not the Arab mind, that finally causes society - even if it takes a couple hundred years - to finally say, "Fuck this, we're going to live our lives the way we want to? Arabs are incapable of this? They can't throw off the yolk that binds them? I used to think that too. It's horseshit. It's the "soft bigotry of low expectations" In the 21st century, they're stuck where they are, because as a society, they want to be.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 03:02 PM (yz6yg)

277 269 255...I have seen no evidence anyone in high places in our government has a big picture strategic grasp of anything. Not one. And it frightens me since it means they really don't know what they're doing. They're just reacting.

Posted by: troyriser at February 03, 2014 06:51 PM (gNlvW)

Oh, your first instinct is exactly correct.

You will not find a larger collection of self-absorbed nitwits that have exactly zero clue than in DC.  All 3 letter agencies, staff, workers. 
If you see it, you'll hug your kids twice more every night.

We're led by tweenies and sociopaths.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 03:02 PM (x3YFz)

278 Hot Dog on a Stick declared bankruptcy; I blame Al Quaida. Is not halal. Fatwa on all the fried things.

Oh an cannot even deal with the incompetant hubris of a thing that is Kerry.


Posted by: LizLem at February 03, 2014 03:03 PM (BF+2f)

279 >>You have to understand, and I know you do, that most mooselimbs are mooslimbs by coercion.

Then why don't the ones flooding into the West give it up? At least the males who are less likely to be killed by their families?

Posted by: kartoffel at February 03, 2014 03:04 PM (07vvi)

280 It's horseshit.

It's the "soft bigotry of low expectations" In the 21st century, they're stuck where they are, because as a society, they want to be.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 07:02 PM (yz6yg)

the soft bigotry of low expectations doesn't carry with it the business end of an AK-47 or beheading.

You and I agree on most things, vast majority of things.

Just give this one a little more thought.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 03:05 PM (x3YFz)

281 278 Hot Dog on a Stick declared bankruptcy; I blame Al Quaida. Is not halal. Fatwa on all the fried things. Oh an cannot even deal with the incompetant hubris of a thing that is Kerry. Posted by: LizLem at February 03, 2014 07:03 PM (BF+2f) I was distracted and thought that said hot dog on a dick. Now what were you saying?

Posted by: Barney Frank at February 03, 2014 03:06 PM (oFCZn)

282 the soft bigotry of low expectations doesn't carry with it the business end of an AK-47 or beheading. You're right. For the Scots and the Celts and the Picts it was a broadsword, not an AK-47. Beheading was still the "in" thing then though.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 03:06 PM (yz6yg)

283 Then why don't the ones flooding into the West give it up? At least the males who are less likely to be killed by their families?

Posted by: kartoffel at February 03, 2014 07:04 PM (07vvi)

Told you it was a tough problem, and never claimed to have the answer.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 03:06 PM (x3YFz)

284 The world is in the hands of Liberal democrat senators. Let that sink in. nobama, pantsuit, lurch, et al. we're screwed.

Posted by: seamrog at February 03, 2014 03:06 PM (yNJwa)

285 275 Yeah, creepy, isn't it? That is all I can come up with because it seems like they treat this stuff as having no real effect in the "real world."

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 03:06 PM (TGgNi)

286 Posted by: JackStraw at February 03, 2014 07:01 PM (g1DWB) The whole strategy is based on Putin's enlightened self interest. Help him sell Oil and Gas to Europe... that's what he wants to do anyway.... And on Israel??? How come we have US troops defending Every Pissant country in the Region... EXCEPT Israel??? Throw a couple of heavy Divisions in there... permanent bases with logistics... to keep a toe hold in the region... Make it so the rest of the Mid East understands that to attack Israel you would HAVE to attack US troops... Hell... we've got something like 600 troops in EGYPT! Yet none with our Allie?

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 03, 2014 03:07 PM (84gbM)

287 nood, suckers...

Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 03, 2014 03:07 PM (aDwsi)

288 It's the "soft bigotry of low expectations"

... and the idealistic tools who thought up that smarmy, well-poisoning meme gifted the nation with No Child Left Behind and very nearly amnesty.

Overseas, it's their job to fix their countries. If they can't then they can't. It is simply not our problem; unless they make it our problem, in which case we're within our rights to give them BIGGER problems.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 03, 2014 03:07 PM (30eLQ)

289 Hey!  I said no pictures while I'm loading these sacks of cash...er, I mean laundry... on my yacht.

Posted by: John Kerry at February 03, 2014 03:07 PM (wAQA5)

290 Just coincidentally, Iran's big revolutionary guys says publicly that Iran has covert ops inside the US to attack targets already picked out, already planned out, just waiting for an excuse.

Posted by: Trojan Honey Glans at February 03, 2014 03:07 PM (/Xu/k)

291 Lol. Nice link Soothsayer @242... Acebogg! I likey the old AceofSpades logo..... we need to bring that back for a couple weeks.... retro is in baby!

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at February 03, 2014 03:08 PM (B/3gr)

292 Nood

Posted by: wheatie at February 03, 2014 03:08 PM (IAa7O)

293 Hell... we've got something like 600 troops in EGYPT! Yet none with our Allie? You're not talking about the MFO battalion, are you? That unit isn't exactly "helping" Egypt in any way. That's not it's purpose.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 03:09 PM (yz6yg)

294 We're led by tweenies and sociopaths. Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 07:02 PM (x3YFz) Saw an article on Instapundit the other day which argued that this generation lacks maturity and is effectively at a juvenile level of behavior as compared with previous generations. This thinking seems accurate to me.

Posted by: D-Lamp at February 03, 2014 03:09 PM (bb5+k)

295 New topic above.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at February 03, 2014 03:09 PM (TGgNi)

296 Overseas, it's their job to fix their countries. If they can't then they can't. It is simply not our problem; unless they make it our problem, in which case we're within our rights to give them BIGGER problems. I'm with you. With a minor caveatÂ… I WOULD help those who share our values and have a track record of doing so - when, and only when, it's in our direct interest to do so.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 03:10 PM (yz6yg)

297 If they can't then they can't. It is simply not our problem; unless they make it our problem, in which case we're within our rights to give them BIGGER problems.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 03, 2014 07:07 PM (30eLQ)

I never said I wanted to fix their problems, just pointing out that I'm empathetic toward the loss of innocent life.

It's a cold, dark, unwelcome universe we live in.  Life is precious.  Can't find it beyond this globe for light years.

I just give a shit.

Posted by: tangonine at February 03, 2014 03:11 PM (x3YFz)

298 That unit isn't exactly "helping" Egypt in any way. That's not it's purpose. Posted by: Sean Bannion at February 03, 2014 07:09 PM (yz6yg) Point is that we have a lot of troops scattered all over the place... which could be used to protect our actual allies... like Israel.

Posted by: Romeo13 at February 03, 2014 03:11 PM (84gbM)

299 There are many advantages to the Male Muslim to support and dedicate themselves to Islam.

As with Liberals, first it's easier than going counter to what they are taught. And they are taught from a very young age. Their schools amount to the equivalent of a seminary. It's the main argument for Obama to be a Muslim at heart. He was raised and taught at the critical age to be a Muslim.

It is easier to support a political and religious regime that exalts the male and subjugates the female. Much less confusion, conflict and guilt.

And finally, since they have no proof otherwise, they are promised paradise upon death if they expend their lives to the spread of Islam. As most of their lives are not very fulfilling nor pleasant experiences then death as a martyr for Islam is not necessarily a bad thing, even a simple paradise is inviting and who knows, it may be true.

It's a DEATH CULT. They are taught from a young age to obey their religious teachers in all things. They have a book which spells out the major points for them and they see the rest of world as evil, self destructive and disdainful towards them and their 7th century religion. They also have clear and deserving enemies.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (13th Level SoCon) at February 03, 2014 03:12 PM (LSDdO)

300 ((( . Y . )))
Trampoline.

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 03, 2014 03:13 PM (LLfr9)

301 "We should do whatever we can to help Assad and al Qaeda groups continue to bleed each other dry."

See also: IRAN-IRAQ WAR.

One of those situations where it's a pity that they can't both lose.

Play them off one another to get as close to a mutual Pyrrhic victory as possible.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 03, 2014 03:16 PM (gqT4g)

302 Pick up a copy of The Arab Mind
Is it a pamphlet?

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at February 03, 2014 03:19 PM (LLfr9)

303 How else to destroy Hillary than start admitting everything she touched is now crap? Waiting for the iBenghazi information to finally appear.

Posted by: NeverEvermore at February 03, 2014 06:49 PM (dd5lM)



If anybody in the party of stoopid had a functioning cortex, they'd be pointing out that, even aside from Benghazi, during Rodham's four year happy hour as SoS there was not one fucking success story as far as improving relations with a single country except perhaps Mexico for buying all those Coronas.

Posted by: Captain Hate at February 03, 2014 03:19 PM (zjT4v)

304 tangonine: "Fk this human stuff. Humans suck."

Costanza: "People."

Seinfeld: "They're the worst."

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at February 03, 2014 03:20 PM (eHIJJ)

305 Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (13th Level SoCon) at February 03, 2014 07:12 PM (LSDdO)

You reminded me...in the doc Ivory Tower, there is a girl that they interviewed who went to college not just for education but to "find herself" spiritually...and of course the religion she finds is Islam. They film a scene of her and her fellow Muslim students praying to Mecca. She is obviously very outspoken, very lib, very smug about how cool she is. Yes she and her Muslim sisters seemed to have no prob, when kneeling to Mecca, KNEELING BEHIND THE MALE CLASSMATES. Obvious segregation of the sexes, possible subjugation of the women. Yet she is fine with this. Cognitive Dissonance, what is it.

Posted by: LizLem at February 03, 2014 03:20 PM (BF+2f)

306 Pick up a copy of The Arab Mind Is it a pamphlet? ISWYDT

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/s][/u][/b] at February 03, 2014 03:24 PM (yz6yg)

307 The Rs should do the same thing the Ds did with Iraq - demand an end to the suffering of innocents then abandon the war once the shooting starts.

Posted by: East Bay Jay at February 03, 2014 03:53 PM (7v8o1)

308 80 Kerry's itchy because he hasn't completely fucked over another country since 1972. Well, there were the POW families in '91 but that was more of a grope...

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at February 03, 2014 04:59 PM (XO6WW)

309 Amen. Their problem. No more foreign adventures until someone is dumb enough to poke us with a stick again.

Posted by: and irresolute at February 03, 2014 05:33 PM (RqHWH)

310 I have a solution.

Air-dropped crates of RPG rounds. Indistinguishable from each other. Every fourth one set to detonate in the launcher on firing. Let them figure it out by trial and error.

As for Iran--do they still have only one major refinery? What happens to a petroleum refinery when a large match, say, MOAB sized, is struck in the fumes?

Fornicate diplomacy. Fornicate half measures. End this before it becomes an existential threat. As for the embedded teams the Revolutionary Guard may or may not have here, let them know the twelfth imam might need a glass cutter to get out of his well if they get froggy.

Posted by: Xenophon at February 04, 2014 06:48 AM (JNMaY)

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