flip floppers - Kerry, Biden, Reid and Hagel

We have a bunch of flip floppers. Could it be integrity instead of political hackery? Remember, they all love the troops. Yeah, right.

The effrontery of their lies is mind boggling.

Kerry
In 2004, he told NBC's Tim Russert some things
he believes "very deeply." "Number one, we cannot fail," Mr. Kerry said. "I've
said that many times. And if it requires more troops in order to create the
stability that eliminates the chaos, that can provide the groundwork for other
countries, that's what we have to do."

"We don't have enough troops in
Iraq," Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, said in 2005.

Biden
In June 2005, he said, "There's not enough
force on the ground now to mount a real counterinsurgency." "They're going to
need a surge of forces," he said in another interview.

By last week, Mr. Biden had reversed his war strategy. "The president and
others who support the surge have it exactly backwards," he told reporters.

Reid
"If it is for a surge -- that is, two or three
months and it's part of a program to get us out of there as indicated by this
time next year -- then sure I'll go along with it," said the Nevada Democrat who
voted for the war in 2002. "If the commanders on the ground said this was just
for a short period of time, we'll go along with that."

After Mr. Bush laid out his plan to increase troops, the Democratic leader
flatly rejected it. "The surge is a bad idea," Mr. Reid said on CNN's "Late
Edition."

Hagel
A veteran of the Vietnam War, he
also warned his colleagues that an Iraq war would be a long, tough slog. "This
is just the beginning," he said. "The risks should not be understated, miscast
or misunderstood. Ours is a path of both peril and opportunity with many detours
and no shortcuts."

And Mr. Hagel warned them against sowing seeds of division with hot
rhetoric.

"America -- including the Congress -- and the world, must speak with one
voice about Iraqi disarmament, as it must continue to do so in the war on
terrorism," he said. "Because the stakes are so high, America must be careful
with her rhetoric and mindful of how others perceive her intentions."


Mr. Hagel co-authored the resolution with Mr. Biden rebuking Mr. Bush and
his "escalation" plan.

January 31

1971 - The Winter Soldier Investigation, organized by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War to publicize war crimes and atrocities by Americans and allies in Vietnam, begin in Detroit, Michigan.

January 30

Communist forces in South Vietnam begin the Tet Offensive by launching surprise attacks against South Vietnamese provincial capitals. 1968

NBC story on Iraq Troops

Excellent piece.

McCain + Clinton = Vodka

2 people give 1 reason not to trust 2 candidates.

or

The Look of Love.

Nick Sanyal

For Jane

Charles Wilson

DC protesters are beneath contempt

Mixed message between signs.

Same scum.

Same haters.

Same defeatists.

Spoiled brats.

10 myths about Iraq

I was pointed to this site by 7.62mm Justice

January 28, 2007:
Top 10 Myths of the Iraq War.

In no particular order. There are more, but ten is a manageable
number.

1-No Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Several hundred chemical
weapons were found, and Saddam had all his WMD scientists and technicians ready.
Just end the sanctions and add money, and the weapons would be back in
production within a year. At the time of the invasion, all intelligence
agencies, world-wide, believed Saddam still had a functioning WMD program.
Saddam had shut them down because of the cost, but created the illusion that the
program was still operating in order to fool the Iranians. The Iranians wanted
revenge on Saddam because of the Iraq invasion of Iran in 1980, and the eight
year war that followed.

2-The 2003 Invasion was Illegal. Only according to some in the UN. By
that standard, the invasion of Kosovo and bombing of Serbia in 1999 was also
illegal. Saddam was already at war with the U.S. and Britain, because Iraq had
not carried out the terms of the 1991 ceasefire, and was trying to shoot down
coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone.

3-Sanctions were working. The sanctions worked for Saddam, not for
Iraq. Saddam used the sanctions as an excuse to punish the Shia majority for
their 1991 uprising, and help prevent a new one. The "Oil For Food" program was
corrupted with the help of bribed UN officials, and mass media outlets that
believed Iraqi propaganda. Saddam was waiting out the sanctions, and bribing
France, Russia and China, with promises of oil contracts and debt repayments, to
convince the UN to lift the sanctions.

4-Overthrowing Saddam Only Helped Iran. Of course, and this was
supposed to make Iran more approachable and open to negotiations. With the Iraqi
"threat" gone, it was believed that Iran might lose its radical ways and behave.
Iran got worse as a supporter of terrorism and developer of WMD. Irans clerical
dictatorship did not want a democracy next door. The ancient struggle between
the Iranians and Arabs was brought to the surface, and the UN became more active
in dealing with problems caused by pro-terrorist government of Iran. As a result
of this, the Iranian police state has faced more internal dissent. From inside
Iran, Iraq does not look like an Iranian victory.

5-The Invasion Was a Failure. Saddam's police state was overthrown and
a democracy established, which was the objective of the operation. Peace did not
ensue because Saddam's supporters, the Sunni Arab minority, were not willing to
deal with majority rule, and war crimes trials. A terror campaign followed. Few
expected the Sunni Arabs to be so stupid. There's a lesson to be learned
there.

6-The Invasion Helped Al Qaeda. Compared to what? Al Qaeda was a
growing movement before 2003, and before 2001. But after the Iraq invasion, and
especially the Sunni Arab terrorism, al Qaeda fell in popularity throughout the
Moslem world. Arab countries cracked down on al Qaeda operations more than ever
before. Without the Iraq invasion, al Qaeda would still have safe havens all
over the Arab world.

7-Iraq Is In A State of Civil War. Then so was Britain when the IRA was
active, and so is Spain today because ETA is still active. Both IRA and ETA are
terrorist organizations based on ethnic identity. India also has tribal
separatist rebels who are quite active. That's not considered a civil war. This
is all about partisans playing with labels for political ends, not accurately
describing a terror campaign.

8-Iraqis Were Better Off Under Saddam. Most Iraqis disagree. Check
election results and opinion polls. Reporters tend to ask Iraqi Sunni Arabs this
question, but they were the only ones who benefited from Saddams rule.

9-The Iraq War Caused Islamic Terrorism to Increase in Europe. The
Moslem unrest in Europe was there before 2001, and 2003. Interviews of Islamic
radicals in Europe reveals that the hatred is not motivated by Iraq, but by
daily encounters with hostile natives. Blaming Islamic terrorism on Iraq is
another attempt to avoid dealing with a homegrown problem.

10- The War in Iraq is Lost. By what measure? Saddam and his Baath
party are out of power. There is a democratically elected government. Part of
the Sunni Arab minority continues to support terror attacks, in an attempt to
restore the Sunni Arab dictatorship. In response, extremist Shia Arabs formed
vigilante death squads to expel all Sunni Arabs. Given the history of democracy
in the Middle East, Iraq is working through its problems. Otherwise, one is to
believe that the Arabs are incapable of democracy and only a tyrant like Saddam
can make Iraqi "work." If democracy were easy, the Arab states would all have
it. There are problems, and solutions have to be found and implemented. That
takes time, but Americans have, since the 18th century, grown weary of wars
after three years. If the war goes on longer, the politicians have to scramble
to survive the bad press and opinion polls. Opposition politicians take
advantage of the situation, but this has nothing to do with Iraq, and everything
to do with local politics in the United States.

If Iraq is lost, it is being lost here in America and is being lost by Liberals and the media, but I repeat myself.

Iran loves patriots Kerry and Pelosi

From Little Green Footballs

They say that we must have an open debate about Iraq and the Middle East. Thus, all of their statements are just part of the debate.

They are liars.

They know they are liars.

Kerry, Pelosi, Schumer, Murtha, Hagel, et al are, in my opinion, guilty of subverting not just our troops, but our mission in Iraq and the global War on Terror.

This is not "politics as usual" nor is it patriotic. My argument is not political. It is my belief that these people, at the very least, put their own careers ahead of the safety of our country. If they are so stupid that they do not understand what they are doing, then they should be removed from office. That they cherry pick their Iraq "experts" and that they don't even make the effort to speak to a wide range of military leaders serving in Iraq must be planned, thus their statements of wanting an open debate is disingenuous.

The enemy's headlines speaks volumes. The man who would be President and our current Speaker of the House are either ignorant, stupid or treasonous.

Oh, has our media covered this?

kOs kiDDies defend Carry

John F. Kerry is quoted as saying:

"When we walk away from global warming, Kyoto, when we are irresponsibly slow in moving toward AIDS in Africa, when we don't advance and live up to our own rhetoric and standards, we set a terrible message of duplicity and hypocrisy. So we have a crisis of confidence in the Middle East — in the world, really. I've
never seen our country as isolated, as much as a sort of international pariah
for a number of reasons as it is today."

kOs kiDDie KingOneEye writes:

Lookout! Incoming! It has already started. This morning Fox News' Brain
Wilson (recently promoted to VP and Washington bureau chief) asked
Democratic "strategist", Bob Beckel, if John Kerry should be calling the U.
S. an international pariah (Beckel bought the premise). The headline on Foxnews.com is: "Kerry Blasts Foreign Policy, Says U.S. Has Become 'International Pariah.'"

Never mind the fact that that is neither what Kerry said, nor the
obvious intent of his comments. And forget that both surveys of international
leaders and populations affirm the accuracy of Kerry's statement. Fox (the
only cable news channel that does not bring you the usual left wing bias), will find this just too juicy a morsel to exploit and too easy to misrepresent. So be prepared for the Fox-led onslaught condemning these unpatriotic remarks that embolden the terrorists.

Not what he said?

Not what he intended?

This is a fake quote, but an accurate statement? (KingOneEye is Dan Rather?)

Another joke? (Not Kerry. What Kerry said.)

FOX is misrepresenting?

Where is my nuance and rhetoric translator?

Ah, "screw'um. Kerry is now an official nobody.

Isn't this the way it is supposed to work?

"The police didn't just take people with deportation orders, they took anybody
... guys who were just hanging out in the street and even from a Jack in the Box
restaurant ... and now people are afraid to go out," he added.

People who break the law are supposed to fear the consequences. Even those dining or "just hanging out" at Jack in the Box.

Wilfred Thesiger
Iraq

Mountain landscape at Ruwunduz. Iraq, 1950

Matt Damon says the Bush twins should be drafted

If Matt Damon was half as smart and half as forgetful as Jason Bourne, he'd bitch slap his own stupid ass.

: الكاميرا الخفية - Bloody Comedy

This is terrorist comedy. It has some graphic imagery, so be warned.

It also shows how pitiful our enemy is.

Kate O'Beirne

Ms. O'Beirne is right on with this piece

Guts?!

The Senate has unanimously confirmed General Petraeus to take command
of U.S. forces in Iraq to implement the new mission in Baghdad with the help of
additional forces. Rather than back a non-binding resolution of
disaproval, why didn't the gutsy Senators, like Chuck Hagel, who are riding the
surf of public opinion opposed to the troop surge and taking on a president with
approval ratings at the freezing level vote aginst General Petraeus'
confirmation? Their convictions hold that he has endorsed a wholly
unjustified escalation and will be leading troops on a futile
mission. They want a role in the conduct of the war and with the need
to win Senate confirmation of Gen. Petraeus the Constitution has given them
one, but they have taken a pass. Because Gen. Petraeus is an
experienced, credentialed, credible advocate of the new strategy, Senators
have no interest in tangling with him. When you're playing at being a
military strategist you sure don't want to go up against the real thing, so
better to have an unpopular commander-in-chief be the face of the new mission
rather than the veteran general who will be in command.

I really like Peggy Noonan

, but this drivel is beyond me. It is so far out in left field that I would not believe Ms. Noonan wrote it except she put her name on it. Hagel isn't an opportunist back stabber, he has "guts".

But there was Mr. Kerry, liberated by the death of a dream and for once
quite human as he tried to tell it the way he actually saw it. Took the mock
right out of me. Good for him, and for Mr. Hagel. I wonder if we are seeing
the start of a new seriousness.

Et tu Bruta?

You're a pro and I am not, but what hogwash.

Elizabeth Taylor wants Hillary Clinton

The star of "There's One Born Every Minute" (1942) thinks Hillary is just a gem and should be elected President.

Roles in such classics as "The Big Hangover" (1950), "The Girl Who Had Everything" (1953), "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" (1966), and "These Old Broads" (2001) has broadened her depth of what the "little people" need. How nice.

January 26

1565 - Battle of Talikota, fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Islamic sultanates of the Deccan, leads to the subjugation, and eventual destruction of the last Hindu kingdom in India, and the consolidation of Islamic rule over much of the Indian subcontinent.

Wikipedia

Bukka Raya I, reportedly advised by Rich Ard Cheney, was blamed for the rise of the numbers of Islamic fighters for his, and his brother's, illogical belief in defending their people. Another adviser, Jon Kena DE Cari III, blamed Cheney for the defeat stating that they could have all lived in death together citing his own ambitions as proof.

A message to the weak of heart

Via Right Angle Blog. Go read this great site.

Ken Blackwell's latest column on Townhall.com:

On Keeping Perspective and Beginning Again
By Ken Blackwell
Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Although Los Angeles Dodgers’ center fielder Willie Davis was widely
considered the fastest man in baseball throughout the 1960s and 70s, he is
perhaps more often remembered for a remark he made following game two of the
1966 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. In the fifth inning Davis
committed three errors on two consecutive plays. L.A. lost the game 8 to 4 and
was swept in the series. When asked about his less than stellar performance,
Davis dryly remarked, “It ain’t my life, and it ain’t my wife, so why worry?”
Even more important than his amazing speed, Davis had extraordinary perspective.

More than once since the release of the November 7, 2006 general election
results, I’ve given some thought to Mr. Davis’ quip. I have been elected to city
council and Mayor of my hometown of Cincinnati. I was three times elected to
statewide office, first as State Treasurer, then twice as Secretary of State.
Voters from my political party decisively choose me to be their standard bearer
in the race for Ohio Governor. When the votes were counted in the general
election, however, this time I and other uncompromising conservatives did not
come out on top. But beyond personal disappointment there is perspective (a la
Willie Davis). And beyond such perspective there is an ironic, yet undeniable
sense of accomplishment for many of us.

I have spent thousands of hours over the past several years traveling on
Ohio’s highways, city streets, and country roads, to virtually every
municipality and township in the state. I have talked with literally millions of
Ohio citizens about the sanctity of human life and the sacredness of marriage.
We discussed second amendment issues, the importance of demanding fiscal
restraint on our state and local budgets, tax relief, and viable plans to revive
Ohio’s economy that would offer our children opportunity to live, work and raise
their own families.

For all the effort over many years, I along with others of like mind, were
able to help shape the discussion at Ohio’s statehouse, courthouses, and city
and township halls. These efforts resulted in some remarkable victories – like
Ohio’s Constitutional Marriage Protection Amendment, the establishment of a
statutory state government spending cap, the reduction of the sales tax rate and
the defeat of expanded state-sponsored gambling. We raised more than $12 million
from non-traditional sources and identified more than 1.4 million individuals
who pledged themselves to be civic-minded forces for change.

While the results of the 2006 election represent a temporary set back to me
and other conservatives who labored to advance our cause like U.S. Senator Rick
Santorum, if we become too focused on the vote tally alone we risk missing out
on the fruits of the struggle. In fact, we did good work for causes that were
worth our time and efforts. And as a consequence, not only did we leave our
respective communities better than we found them, but we are personally improved
and better prepared for the next battle.

I think about the considerable personal and political setbacks endured by
Abraham Lincoln before he ascended to the presidency. The death of a child,
unsuccessful business endeavors and several election losses shaped his
perspective but did not dampen his resolve.

Lincoln understood that life is about struggle – wins and losses. He
refused to be defined by defeat because he was driven by hope and a belief that
we can improve the human condition.

I like what Elie Wiesel wrote: “When He created man, God gave him a
secret—and that secret was not how to begin, but how to begin again. It is not
given to man to begin; that privilege is God’s alone. But it is given to man to
begin again—and he does so every time he chooses to defy death and side with the
living.”

Our conservative causes are just as true and worth fighting for as they
were on November 6 (the day before the election). So, we must keep perspective,
and continue. We must encourage others to also remain engaged in the struggle –
to be a force for living change. In more than thirty years of pubic service one
thing I have learned is that the only way a cause is truly lost is if the army
is scattered and resolved to defeat.

As citizens united in conservative principles, we are called to unite and
to be a force for change. We are not defeated. Indeed, there is still work to
do.

Ken Blackwell is the former Secretary of State of Ohio.