Anyone else notice the chlorine attacks fell close to the anniversary of Halabja?

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/18714.htm

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I think I have my answer: Agent Provocateur. Now the only question is, '86 or '96? I'm going with the latter.

Does it matter? When a poster's information sources are so skewed, what purpose in responding other than to say what you were looking for an excuse to say anyway?

Originally Posted by mattzs

Anyone else notice the chlorine attacks fell close to the anniversary of Halabja?

No. I didn't. I did note the latest round of chemical attacks are attributed to Al Qaida attacking Sunni tribal leaders who are cooperating with the central government. While I half expect most any faction to attack most any other, this one is a bit unusual, or at least less covered in the media.

Originally Posted by Bob Butler 54

No. I didn't. I did note the latest round of chemical attacks are attributed to Al Qaida attacking Sunni tribal leaders who are cooperating with the central government. While I half expect most any faction to attack most any other, this one is a bit unusual, or at least less covered in the media.

If it is Al Qaida, they have more than worn out their welcome. The insurgents will take care of what the government cannot.

Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon

I think I have my answer: Agent Provocateur.

Originally Posted by Bob Butler 54

Does it matter? When a poster's information sources are so skewed, what purpose in responding other than to say what you were looking for an excuse to say anyway?

Alright, Alright you got me. Yes I Have been posting outragous and implausible statements to deliberately get a reaction from everyone. Everything I've posted on the "seven pillars of Iraq thread" is deliberately skewed info. I proposed courses of action that any sane individual would have rejected outright, and posted conspiratorial nonsense deliberately. Often I would outright make up things to post. When I picked sources to post I purposely selected lunatic fringe sites such as worldnutdaily and newprophecy. Take newprophecy for example: If one actually looked through the site, they could clearly see that this mccellan guy is a complete kook, whose 'predictions' are either paranoic delusions or outright falsified. Keep in Mind however that there is an significant element (mostly on the far-right) that actually believes Sites such as the ones whose links I've been posting.

Originally Posted by Cynic Hero '86

Alright, Alright you got me. Yes I Have been posting outragous and implausible statements to deliberately get a reaction from everyone.

Even supposing that you are now telling the truth, a couple of questions:

1) Do you think the time you have all caused us to collectively waste responding to your phantasmic nutcase has produced positive results? If so, name them.

2) Would you like to state your actual positions, or would you rather just go ahead and change your name to live down your shame?

Originally Posted by catfishncod

Even supposing that you are now telling the truth, a couple of questions:

1) Do you think the time you have all caused us to collectively waste responding to your phantasmic nutcase has produced positive results? If so, name them.

2) Would you like to state your actual positions, or would you rather just go ahead and change your name to live down your shame?

1) No Not really? My posts on the Iraq thread is starting to limit my ability to post elsewhere. Worldnutdaily and newnut makes fox news look moderate. I was attempting to pose as an fringe extremist in order to get a laugh.

2) My actual political positions are as follows: I am anti-iraq war but do see the need to extricate ourselves with a semblense of honor to avoid emboldening possible enemies. I visited the politicalcompass site and taken their politics tests on several occassions, i consistently score as authoritarian-leftist. I am a believer in fiscal responsibility. I am for limited pro-choice (i.e women should be allowed to abort but should be encouraged to have their kids, a comphrensive state adoption should be created for those who can't afford such kids). I am for curbing the strength of multinational corporations such as halliburton, and for lower our fuel dependence on the middle east by research on alternative fuel sources. I am a believer in israeli-palestinian dialogue and in dialogue with moderate elements in iran. I do believe in improving relations with the islamic world, and I realize the important cultural contribution of the muslim world.

Keep in mind that if the religious right ever gained control of this country what was shown on worldnutdaily and newprophecy would be cited by the government as the official party line.

See, I know he was just pulling our legs...

Man, I learned a lot from this experience

Well, I admire all of you who hung in there with CH '86 long after I had given up.

CH, I look forward to some posts that genuinely reflect your point of view.

Originally Posted by Cynic Hero '86

Keep in mind that if the religious right ever gained control of this country what was shown on worldnutdaily and newprophecy would be cited by the government as the official party line.

As opposed to the material from "Curveball", a Iraqi defector labeled as a habitual liar by the CIA and State Department, yet whose unverified and kooky rants wound up being proclaimed as gospel truth by the then-United States Secretary of State (who is now mad as hell about being lied to) in front of the United Nations Security Council. Nutcases' reports ARE being cited as official government poverty lines, and the degree to which they are reflects the degree of infiltration of the US government by Platonists who cannot be convinced of the incorrect nature of their pure ideas.

Condi Rice, God help us, is trying to stop the war with Iran in the same way Powell tried to stop the war in Iraq. Whether we attack depends in no small part on the looking-glass warfare between Condi and Cheney. Fortunately, Condi doesn't have to fight Rumsfeld too -- Gates is working on ripping his minions out of the DoD. The Walter Reed scandal is a byproduct of Gates' efforts; there are more such revelations to come. The nuts can't mold reality for everyone, but they sure can mold reality for the single most cocooned individual on the planet outside mental hospitals. You know the fellow well; his name is George...

Given time and pressure, the mullahs will remove Ahmedinejad and end the nuclear attack threat. It should then be possible to make a deal with Iran that at least gives everyone breathing room. In the longer term, Iran's population overwhelmingly wants peace and alliance with America. If the nuts' desire for Armageddon can be diverted onto another target, the mullahs will wither on the vine. Once Iran is no longer an American enemy, nuclear weapons will be seen as less of a problem. Our main concern re:nukes is that no one unstable get their hands on them. Ahmedinejad strikes me as unstable. So do the religious right of the United States.

Originally Posted by catfishncod

... Our main concern re:nukes is that no one unstable get their hands on them. Ahmadinejad strikes me as unstable. So do the religious right of the United States.

Anytime religion gets in bed with political power, the result is dangerous. I found it profoundly comforting that Kevin Phillips, who shares little of my political philosophy, was the one to write a book entitle American Theocracy.

I was happy to see proof that rational thought is not restricted to one group of thinking humans. Now, all we have to do is deal with those in the less rational category.

Originally Posted by Cynic Hero '86

Alright, Alright you got me. Yes I Have been posting outragous and implausible statements to deliberately get a reaction from everyone. Everything I've posted on the "seven pillars of Iraq thread" is deliberately skewed info. I proposed courses of action that any sane individual would have rejected outright, and posted conspiratorial nonsense deliberately. Often I would outright make up things to post. When I picked sources to post I purposely selected lunatic fringe sites such as worldnutdaily and newprophecy. Take newprophecy for example: If one actually looked through the site, they could clearly see that this mccellan guy is a complete kook, whose 'predictions' are either paranoic delusions or outright falsified. Keep in Mind however that there is an significant element (mostly on the far-right) that actually believes Sites such as the ones whose links I've been posting.

Hallelujah!!

The Washington Post reports on another lessons learned report on how the Iraq Reconstruction got messed up. For discussion purposes...

The report makes nine recommendations, including one for legislation to organize departments and agencies involved in postwar operations along the lines of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act, which integrated the service branches, strengthened the joint staff and eliminated operational overlap. The report suggested a similar process to meld reconstruction planning and execution by the State and Defense departments and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Other recommendations include improving contracting and procurement guidelines, involving people who are familiar with a region, using local contractors and vendors, better planning of short- and long-term reconstruction programs, and establishing guidelines on the length of tours for those working on reconstruction projects.

Half of me is looking at this saying, "Yep, common sense, it has to be done." The other half is saying, "Great, another bureaucracy. We'll have the Department of Defense and the Department of State reporting to the Department of Reconstruction."

Sure thing, the way they did it last time didn't work.