double-whammy

[rone]

"I would welcome it being declassified," [Richard Clarke] said. "But not just a little line here and there -- let's declassify all six hours of my testimony."

---

John Kerry cited a Bible verse Sunday to criticize leaders who have "faith but has no deeds," prompting President Bush's [...] campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt [to say that] Kerry's comment "was beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse and a sad exploitation of Scripture for a political attack." [thanks to doctroid]

---

Is it just me, or can you feel the stress coming out of the White House these days?

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Good thing [invasion] isn't the primary, or even the only, tool we're using, then.

So what else are we using? Flooding the Iraqi market with consumables?

I disagree with that assessment quite thoroughly, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see how it turns out.

I hope you can show me how that isn't going to happen, because it looks likelier every day (that is, i don't want an assurance, i'm just wondering what is inspiring optimism in you).

[palecur.livejournal.com]

i'm just wondering what is inspiring optimism in you

I read the draft Constitution, and a couple of analyses of that, taking into account how it plays the tribal factions off against each other in a fashion reminiscent of the 3-way tug of war between the branches of the US government, back when we still had separation of powers early last century. I read the reports of people who have been in Iraq, or are still there. Transnationals are making plans to open businesses. Unemployment has dropped by half (from an unbelievably shitty 60% to a still amazingly shitty 30%, but hey, half). There's a notable influx of expats from abroad, and by 'abroad' I mean 'the US.' Women who have held jobs and driven their own damn cars and walked down a mall in a miniskirt are going back there, with their kids and Playstations and Linkin Park CDs. It's not going to turn into Way, Way East Oregon overnight, but the reports I see from the field do lead me to the conclusion that the average Iraqi dude wants a job, dinner, and a little folding money, not to put the Taliban in charge.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

That doesn't strike me as enough. I doubt the average Iranian dude wants anything different than the average Iraqi dude, and yet we have the people in charge considering someone like Khatami as their version of Dennis Kucinich. Unless something happens to calm down the Shi'ite nuts, Iraq is gonna blow in the next year or two. That's gratitude for ya...

[palecur.livejournal.com]

Iran is not going to blow in the next year or two. Iran is blowing right now. Riots in northern Iran (http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/world/Viewdet.asp?ID=2164&cat=a). They are sick, sick and tired. They're getting ready to throw the mullahs out on their ear.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Only took `em 25 years...