The Chinese add this stuff all the time to their food. Ish.
Archive for April, 2007
Iran has let Iraq know that stirring up sectarian violence in Iraq is serving only the interests of the “occupiers”.
Not al-Qaeda. Not the disenfranchised. The “occupiers”.
Not to worry, all this violence has left “future prospect for occupiers is very gloomy”.
So, let me get this right. We are stirring up the violence because it’s good for our position which is currently very gloomy because of the violence.
Let me give you a couple quotes:
According to the Public Relations Department of the Expediency Council, at the meeting Rafsanjani said that ethnic and religious differences in Iraq would serve the interests of aliens and occupiers, adding that the occupiers, by stirring up sectarian violence, try to justify their presence in Iraq.
Ok, so
Highlighting Iraq’s internal problems such as rampant insecurity, shortage of fuel, lack of education, sanitary and housing, he briefed Rafsanjani on latest development in the country and underlined that the future prospect for occupiers is very gloomy.
ROFL This is that “logic” that Ahmadijinad is so fond of talking about.
In Germany they are working hard to try to save a glacier from melting in the Alps.
Admirable eh? It’s expensive but we must save the planet from changing. No matter what the cost.
Come to find out they are attempting to save a small portion of the glacier that is used for skiers and that tourists like to come look at.
So a) wouldn’t friction on a ski slope cause more melting of snow? and b) isn’t the basic premise for not doing more to reduce emissions etc because it would cost industry too much? And now they are spending money to save an industry that actually contributes to global warming through all the unnecessary travel used to get to these places where you can then flip snow up into the air which then…..it just goes on……..
ps just to be clear……..reducing everyone’s reliance on the middle east and Venezuela is a good thing. This just cracked me up this morning.
Out of Afghanistan. Infant mortality is down compared to Taliban days. (still bad, but down)
Ouf ot Iraq. See the picture at the bottom of this post. It’s beautiful. Go ahead and read the post from Omar about what’s going on there now, but the mural is lovely and hence under “good news”.
Out of Iran. How long can these guys last doing things like this?
Iranian police have warned barbers not to give men Western hairstyles or use make up on them.
The move is part of an unusually fierce crackdown on what is known locally as bad hijab, or un-Islamic clothing, that this year is also targeting men.
So in thinking, about all that’s been going on lately…….
Reid, Pelosi, Petraeus, The Vote, The Surge, the wanting the President to say more…..it’s hitting me and as a Joe Lieberman Democrat I believe I’m the one to say it………….
Most of us, including General Petraeus are seeing some progress with the surge. We probably all saw progress in 2005. Then there was the mosque hit. BUT we saw progress in the immediate aftermath. There was no big bloodbath as we all held our breaths.
But then we seemed to relax and that’s when things were hitting the fan. And not adjusting to it.
It wasn’t until the election last November that President Bush decided to do a number of things.
I was sad to see Rumsfeld let go in such a way, but it was a first step in changing things. Then came the surge, and Gates and Petraeus and the new plan and the implied threat to Maliki. These things weren’t formulated until Bush was pressed up against a wall. (as far as I can tell!)
What would have happened without a Democrat win? Anything? Worse things?
What does this mean in terms of today?
Harry Reid has said the war is lost. That went out to the enemy and it was wrong and it sucks and the troops get to pay for it. It may also lead to complacency in the enemy who may start to believe that Bush is not still in charge. (He is. And he will be until 2009.)
Pelosi et all voted for withdrawal starting October 1. When the surge works, that may (or may not) be a good time to start drawing troops down a bit. In the meantime, Bush will hold the line.
Gates went and put some numbers up for Maliki. We continue to be called “occupiers” by Iraq’s neighbors, but Maliki knows we are needed right now. Gates must have delivered some sort of message along the lines of “the American people are on their last nerve. Get with it and get some things done!” Would that have happened without Pelosi and Reid talking like the jackasses they are?
I don’t know.
And Petraeus. In Bush’s speech the other day, the good one in Michigan, he mentioned the change in how the command is working with Petraeus. And how it didn’t work before. Is a year and a half a normal amount of time to let a plan wither and die? I don’t know. But were there indications that Bush was thinking of making changes before November 2006? I didn’t see them. And he says himself it was only 3 months ago that he ordered a review.
Three months ago, my administration completed an extensive review of that very question. I ordered major changes to our strategy in Iraq. And to lead this new strategy, I named General David Petraeus, an expert who wrote the Army’s new manual on counterinsurgency warfare.This new strategy is fundamentally different from the previous strategy.
So today – on a weekend when no one in their right mind is reading blogs – I write on this and give a small, small amount of thanks to the Democrats for being shortsighted, appeasing, cut and runners who care for nothing more than their own political power.
Because of them, there was a change in course which I am feeling very hopeful about (while knowing anything can happen in war). Because of the them the Republicans had to eat a little crow in their humble pie and that’s always a good thing.
While DC is “abuzz” about everything and everything else and the rest of the things, here in the hinterland I’m seeing things maybe work out for the best in the big picture even though some Democrats are saying idiotic things that bring comfort to the enemy and leave our troops wondering “What the f***?”
They, the Dems, aren’t to be forgiven (and Omar is happy to give them hell) for these indiscretions nor are we to look the other way. But without them would these recent changes have taken place this year? I’m thinking not.
So, tip one up today and just don’t mention it to anyone on Monday!
7 more days for this conference that Andisworld has organized.
And I am lucky enough to get to go! I won’t be liveblogging it because I just don’t think that fast and prefer listening, but I’ll let you all know how it goes! Or maybe I’ll see you there!
The one that’s going to be vetoed and then we will be waiting for another route for Congress to take to get their way during President Bush’s term. Yeah, that one.
Conveniently for us lazy/late bloggers out here Mudville Gazette takes a look at General Petraeus’s talking points yesterday and then clarifies the positions of the Democrats, the Republicans and General Petraeus.
Go read him!
I swear the NYTimes puts out the BEST polls of all time!
Do you remember back in March when they polled people and found out that most people wanted to see nationalized health care and that they’d be willing to have their taxes raised by $500/year in order to fund it? I am still laughing about that one.
Well yesterday a new poll came out from the NYTimes concerning global warming. (ht Tim Blair) Most people think that we have to do something about global warming!!
But those same most people are not willing to see gasoline prices increase by $1, nor are they willing to drill in Alaska or increase nuclear power plants. And somehow these same people think that Democrats are more willing to magically make all the research work cheaply for solar/wind energy because Republicans are in the hip pockets of the oil companies. And while not exactly the same people, some of the people are not even willing to share private aircraft when going across the country to meet at the same place with their co-workers!
Never fear though because those same people while being unwilling for self regulation with higher priced gas are willing to regulate those who make the vehicles.
Although respondents split almost evenly on whether Washington can effectively address global warming, they almost unanimously (92 percent to 6 percent) supported requiring automobile manufacturers to make more fuel-efficient cars.
I laugh at the poll. I am fine with doing what it takes to decrease dependance on foreign lands. In anything.
It’s the poll that gets me.
I want health care, and I’m willing to personally pay $1.50/day for it.
I want no more global warming, and I’m willing for you to pay for it.
Or then there was the Drudge story out of the Wall Street Journal yesterday about scientists who want to engineer a way to control the weather to stop global warming. How on earth are they going to determine which part of global warming is sun caused, human caused, normal climate change caused or whatever to determine which part of the world deserves balmy temperatures vs dry/hot vs just bad weather? Is it possible that maybe they could do something with the climate so the poor Bangledeshan’s can get good weather and we take on a bit of their flooding for them? Wouldn’t that be more fair than leaving things as it is?
What a world!
I swear the NYTimes puts out the BEST polls of all time!
Do you remember back in March when they polled people and found out that most people wanted to see nationalized health care and that they’d be willing to have their taxes raised by $500/year in order to fund it? I am still laughing about that one.
Well yesterday a new poll came out from the NYTimes concerning global warming. (ht Tim Blair) Most people think that we have to do something about global warming!!
But those same most people are not willing to see gasoline prices increase by $1, nor are they willing to drill in Alaska or increase nuclear power plants. And somehow these same people think that Democrats are more willing to magically make all the research work cheaply for solar/wind energy because Republicans are in the hip pockets of the oil companies. And while not exactly the same people, some of the people are not even willing to share private aircraft when going across the country to meet at the same place with their co-workers!
Never fear though because those same people while being unwilling for self regulation with higher priced gas are willing to regulate those who make the vehicles.
Although respondents split almost evenly on whether Washington can effectively address global warming, they almost unanimously (92 percent to 6 percent) supported requiring automobile manufacturers to make more fuel-efficient cars.
I laugh at the poll. I am fine with doing what it takes to decrease dependance on foreign lands. In anything.
It’s the poll that gets me.
I want health care, and I’m willing to personally pay $1.50/day for it.
I want no more global warming, and I’m willing for you to pay for it.
Or then there was the Drudge story out of the Wall Street Journal yesterday about scientists who want to engineer a way to control the weather to stop global warming. How on earth are they going to determine which part of global warming is sun caused, human caused, normal climate change caused or whatever to determine which part of the world deserves balmy temperatures vs dry/hot vs just bad weather? Is it possible that maybe they could do something with the climate so the poor Bangledeshan’s can get good weather and we take on a bit of their flooding for them? Wouldn’t that be more fair than leaving things as it is?
What a world!
Just some links today as I’m running late.
Senator Lieberman voices his opinion in the Washington Post. Favorite bit:
Even as the American political center falters, the Iraqi political center is holding. In the aftermath of last week’s attacks, there were no large-scale reprisals by Shiite militias — as undoubtedly would have occurred last year. Despite the violence, Iraq’s leadership continues to make slow but visible progress toward compromise and reconciliation.But if tomorrow Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds were to achieve the “political solution” we all hope for, the threat of al-Qaeda in Iraq would not vanish.
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You’ll also want to read David Broder’s piece from the post to keep up with the ’sphere, but read it via Michelle Malkin where she adds in what a todo this has caused on the left.
……………………………
Captain Ed notes the election in Syria problems. Sam commented yesterday on my post regarding Somalia and noted that we are always backing some corrupt group or another. It seems to me most of them are corrupt. I mean, read this on Somalia and tell me what the answer is? They want stability. Sharia make equal that for men, but not for half the population. What exactly is the answer to the question “What do you want us to do? Since you seem to think we can fix everything?” (that question goes to those who keep blaming the US for the problems over there. Over there being everywhere we’re getting blamed!)
……………………..
And OPFOR has this post which I haven’t read yet, but it sounds good. This is Counterterrorism, Senator
