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Thread: Seven Pillars Of Iraq - Page 8







Post#176 at 03-18-2007 09:49 AM by mattzs [at joined Mar 2007 #posts 201]
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Anyone else notice the chlorine attacks fell close to the anniversary of Halabja?

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/18714.htm
Dori: The terrorist has demanded a million dollars, a private jet and an end to the Star Wars program.
Sledge Hammer: Yeah, three movies was enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irp8C...related&search=







Post#177 at 03-18-2007 11:49 AM by Bob Butler 54 [at Cove Hold, Carver, MA joined Jul 2001 #posts 6,431]
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Quote Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon View Post
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?







Post#178 at 03-18-2007 11:57 AM by Bob Butler 54 [at Cove Hold, Carver, MA joined Jul 2001 #posts 6,431]
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Quote Originally Posted by mattzs View Post
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.







Post#179 at 03-18-2007 12:04 PM by mattzs [at joined Mar 2007 #posts 201]
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03-18-2007, 12:04 PM #179
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Quote Originally Posted by Bob Butler 54 View Post
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.
Dori: The terrorist has demanded a million dollars, a private jet and an end to the Star Wars program.
Sledge Hammer: Yeah, three movies was enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irp8C...related&search=







Post#180 at 03-18-2007 02:30 PM by Cynic Hero '86 [at Upstate New York joined Jul 2006 #posts 1,285]
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Quote Originally Posted by Marx & Lennon View Post
I think I have my answer: Agent Provocateur.
Quote Originally Posted by Bob Butler 54 View Post
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.
Last edited by Cynic Hero '86; 03-18-2007 at 02:47 PM.







Post#181 at 03-18-2007 03:46 PM by catfishncod [at The People's Republic of Cambridge & Possum Town, MS joined Apr 2005 #posts 984]
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Quote Originally Posted by Cynic Hero '86 View Post
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?
'81, 30/70 X/Millie, trying to live in both Red and Blue America... "Catfish 'n Cod"







Post#182 at 03-18-2007 04:20 PM by Cynic Hero '86 [at Upstate New York joined Jul 2006 #posts 1,285]
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Quote Originally Posted by catfishncod View Post
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.
Last edited by Cynic Hero '86; 03-18-2007 at 09:40 PM.







Post#183 at 03-18-2007 09:36 PM by Cynic Hero '86 [at Upstate New York joined Jul 2006 #posts 1,285]
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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.







Post#184 at 03-18-2007 11:03 PM by Odin [at Moorhead, MN, USA joined Sep 2006 #posts 14,442]
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See, I know he was just pulling our legs...
To recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less.

-Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man under Socialism







Post#185 at 03-18-2007 11:14 PM by Matt1989 [at joined Sep 2005 #posts 3,018]
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Talking

Man, I learned a lot from this experience







Post#186 at 03-19-2007 11:50 AM by Child of Socrates [at Cybrarian from America's Dairyland, 1961 cohort joined Sep 2001 #posts 14,092]
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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.







Post#187 at 03-19-2007 02:01 PM by catfishncod [at The People's Republic of Cambridge & Possum Town, MS joined Apr 2005 #posts 984]
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Quote Originally Posted by Cynic Hero '86 View Post
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.
'81, 30/70 X/Millie, trying to live in both Red and Blue America... "Catfish 'n Cod"







Post#188 at 03-19-2007 02:25 PM by Marx & Lennon [at '47 cohort still lost in Falwelland joined Sep 2001 #posts 16,709]
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Quote Originally Posted by catfishncod View Post
... 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.
Marx: Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.
Lennon: You either get tired fighting for peace, or you die.







Post#189 at 03-19-2007 05:57 PM by asdf [at joined Mar 2007 #posts 14]
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Quote Originally Posted by Cynic Hero '86 View Post
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!!








Post#190 at 03-22-2007 11:24 AM by Bob Butler 54 [at Cove Hold, Carver, MA joined Jul 2001 #posts 6,431]
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Inspector General Details Failures of Iraq Reconstruction

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.
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