Afghan document dump paints a discouraging picture
I’m on column duty for tomorrow’s newspaper, so I don’t have time to do the topic full justice. It’s already pretty clear, however, the release of more than 90,000 previously secret internal military documents about the war in Afghanistan is likely to echo through the national discussion for weeks if not months.
Based on what I’ve seen so far, the material documents in ground-level detail just how difficult it has been to make lasting progress in just about any endeavor in Afghanistan. Whatever small gain we make today is washed away tomorrow, with little sense that larger goals are within reach.
The Obama administration is understandably downplaying the relevance of the documents, as the Washington Post reports:
White House officials and their allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan sought Monday to play down the political and military impact of the unauthorized release of thousands of classified Afghan war documents, saying they portray a reality on the ground that is already largely known…..
Even as they sought to minimize their significance, senior administration officials acknowledged that they had been anxiously awaiting the long-rumored posting of the documents. “There is not a lot new here for those who have been following developments closely,” one U.S. official said Sunday.
Washington officials are also pointing out that the documents cover a time frame before President Obama’s decision to commit additional manpower and resources to the fight.
“These leaked reports pre-date our new strategy in Afghanistan and should not be used as a measure of success or a determining factor in our continued mission there,” according to Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “… since these reports were issued, Pakistan has significantly stepped up its fight against the Taliban, including efforts that led to the capture of the highest-ranking member of the Taliban since the start of the war.”
“The documents posted by Wikileaks reportedly cover a period of time from January 2004 to December 2009,” National Security Adviser James Jones responded. “On December 1, 2009, President Obama announced a new strategy with a substantial increase in resources for Afghanistan, and increased focus on al Qaeda and Taliban safe-havens in Pakistan, precisely because of the grave situation that had developed over several years.”
The problem is, there doesn’t seem to be much evidence that things have changed in any fundamental way since Dec. 1, 2009, and so far, the mundane if discouraging details contained in those 90,000 documents make a strong argument that they probably never will.
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481 comments Add your comment
popeye
July 26th, 2010
11:23 pm
“Have you ever heard of a man named Saul ?”
Yes Scout….Saul and me were buddies working high rise construction in NYC.
He alway brough the salami sandwiches from the deli down the street.
Mick
July 26th, 2010
11:24 pm
You mean like the irish and dogs need not apply? or any other irish put down, bothers me not a whit – I go my own way.
RW-(the original)
July 26th, 2010
11:24 pm
Mick,
I don’t think josef is being thin-skinned at all. He’s just being a teacher which is pretty reasonable since that’s his calling. On/off the reservation/plantation are all highly offensive statements to people who share the heritage of people that were the subjects of those statements when they were very real rather than what we think of as just figures of speech.
popeye
July 26th, 2010
11:26 pm
Josef @ 11:15 I apologized. What more can I do?
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:27 pm
RW
For the record, when we were living in the Pacific Northwest, Unmentionable was denied a promotion and it was quite clear it was because he was an Indian. When he dared to speak out, he was told to “go back to the reservation.” It hits him like a slap in the face…
Fred
July 26th, 2010
11:27 pm
Mick
July 26th, 2010
10:41 pm
Poison gas was used in ww2, most nations outlawed or disavowed using it. Still, having such a weapon not a sufficient reason to invade a sovereign country.
++++++++++
I don’t see how that statement can be refuted, but I’m sure when I read further, someone has. We are NOT the world’s policemen.
Call me unenlightened or whatever you want to call me, but as long as we have starving kids in America, I gives a DAMN about starving kids in Africa, or Honduras. As long as we have poor people in America I gives a DAMN about poor people in other countries. As long as we have sick people in America who can’t afford treatment, I gives a DAMN about sick people in other Countries. I could go on, but I think I made my point.
Dang I can’t get caught up on this blog tonight. I’m perpetually 20 minutes behind……..
Del
July 26th, 2010
11:28 pm
josef,
No, I can’t speak for Scout but I’m pretty sure he believes as I do. I believe in the Old and New Testament. Though I believe in scripture as the inerrant word of God, I don’t presume Gods will, so I would never, could I ever assume any ones after deaths acceptance or non-acceptance into God’s Kingdom. I only believe what’s right for me and my right to teach my children accordingly.
RW-(the original)
July 26th, 2010
11:30 pm
josef,
When the IDF wanted to board the ships trying to break the blockade not so long ago they were told to go back to Auschwitz. Far too many on your side of the political scale took the side of the travel advisors.
DebbieDoRight Esq.
July 26th, 2010
11:31 pm
josef what about Pam’s breasts?
Antonio Banderas WOW!!! Good choice!!
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:31 pm
popeye
What can you do? Resolve not to do it again and let anyone else you hear use it know, Apply the lesson of Ms. Sherrod…
Mick
July 26th, 2010
11:32 pm
Fred
I gives a damn too but war is a whole other issue.
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:33 pm
DDR
Nanh. but I’ll take the pecs of Mark Spitz in his prime! (And, yes, even at his age Unmentionable STILL has them…I hate him!)
wendy
July 26th, 2010
11:33 pm
Jo,
So sticks and stones break your bones but eternal damnation is a esoteric hand-job….
RW-(the original)
July 26th, 2010
11:35 pm
josef what about Pam’s breasts?
I say we stage an insurrection this Friday and hijack Frustrated DJ Night with an all body parts night. Most of the video clips will have some kind of music in the background so we won’t be completely off topic.
Mick
July 26th, 2010
11:36 pm
wendy @ 11:33
I am definately offended by that last remark.
Fred
July 26th, 2010
11:37 pm
wendy
July 26th, 2010
10:57 pm
joseph,
your ok with scout’s homophobia in the name of his religion, if someone uses their religion to justify anti-semitism will you give them a big blog squeezy as well…
+++++++
LOL now THAT is an interesting (and fair) questions. Talk about push boundaries. I’ve done a little pushing boundaries myself and gotten a mixed reaction from people. Some will see and admit to their hypocrisy and some will deny it. An even fewer number will sit back and think.
Myself? I can’t WAIT to see the reply to this question……… But on a personal level, there are some things where I just say, hypocrisy or not, that is what I think/feel and I’m not changing it. There are few issues that I have to answer that, and so far, none of them have come up on this blog while I’ve read it.
popeye
July 26th, 2010
11:38 pm
Josef
I hate discrimination as much as you do.
If you didn’t know I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, Or.) and maybe I was naive or???? Never really witnessed any discrimination until I was sent to Ft. Rucker Ala. and witnessed what was going on in Enterprise, Daleville, Dothan and a few other communities close to the base. To me it was a total wake up call to how fellow americans regardless of their skin color could be treated.
So I’m sorry that “unmentionable” had a lousy experience. That generally is not the northwest way!
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:39 pm
RW
And far too many on this side were not outraged…but, then, our original tour guides had their left wing, too…
Del…
And that is why I can respect you…you do not presuppose to be in the business of what is G-d’s arena…I, too, have my belief’s which I pass on to mine…and if I want you to respect mine, then I have to respect yours…and THAT is the lesson I wanted my own kids to learn…
Scout
July 26th, 2010
11:39 pm
popeye:
Well, you might want to research the Saul I am talking about. He spent a career as a special prosecutor going around his part of the district putting Christians in jail and some to their death.
Funny thing though, he would up becoming the greatest Christian missionary the world has ever known …………. Paul.
“The bigger they are ……… the harder they fall !”
Scout
July 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
Josef:
Have you ever read the Book of Romans just as a literary work?
Scout
July 26th, 2010
11:45 pm
“And Jesus said, I must ascend to the Father now but whatever you do, don’t tell anyone about Me and PLEASE do not go into other parts of the world trying to spread the Gospel of eternal life. Just keep it secret. Don’t wear your Chrisitanity on your sleve or you might offend someone. If others don’t know the truth of My word ……. just leave them in darkness. The Devil likes that. You have eternal life ……. why share it with anyone else?”
False Doctrine Chapter 5:6&7
Mick
July 26th, 2010
11:47 pm
scout
I find proverbs to be the coolest, “he who exalts himself shall be humbled, he who humbles himself shall be exalted” great words indeed.
Fred
July 26th, 2010
11:48 pm
Scout
July 26th, 2010
11:14 pm
Well, at least everyone is thinking of me tonight.
A real friend speaks the truth.
+++++++
I was thinking of you at 3:52 PM this afternoon in my post scout. I spoke the truth. Am i a friend? I STILL think that video you chose to post with your shirty comment was distasteful. I hesitate to use the word racist because I hate the way that word is over used. If you commented on that post, I seem to have missed it…………..
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:48 pm
popeye
Being blond and green eyed (Hitler’s Aryan dream child!) with rare exception I had a pleasant time in the Northwest and so did he overall. It IS the only place I was ever attacked as a Jew on the street by a stranger…and the anti-Indian sentiment was rampant…he did take the advice and went back to the reservation to listen to his fellow savages perceptions on the Northwestern brand of racism…
RW
Yeah! Let’s do that this Friday! Sounds like fun…
wendy
That’s about the size of it…I have no idea of what happens when we croak and neither does anyone else, but I know full well what happens in the earthly sphere…
popeye
July 26th, 2010
11:49 pm
Scout…..Dude,
Are we talking Saul Spicoli here…. That dude has been stoned since the 3rd grade. What words
of wisdom could he possibly offer me?
Scout
July 26th, 2010
11:51 pm
Fred:
Sometimes the truth hurts.
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:52 pm
Scout
I have a problem with the Epistles…now as literature, I must admire the style…
Mick
Rather fond of Proverbs myself…
But, have to say, Ecclesiasticus is still my favorite and the King James translation is really (forgive me, Rabbi) is better than the original…there is a theory that this was the work of Shakespeare and I can believe it…
Fred
July 26th, 2010
11:52 pm
josef nix
July 26th, 2010
11:22 pm
mick and popeye
Think about it a minute…what do you think “off the reservation” sounds like to somebody who has spent a lifetime fighting the feather growing savage stereotype?
+++++++++
If someone is fighting THAT stereotype, then they are a loser. No one in the last 100 years has given a damn about an Indian as a “race” other than Indians still trying to live in the early 1800’s. THOSE people need to stay “on the reservation” and suck off the Gov’t tit for as long as they can. No one else gives a damn.
Mick
July 26th, 2010
11:53 pm
popeye
I knew spicoli too, mr hand was his favorite teacher, which is what he eventually became. Best stoner teacher ever..shows great movies too in class.
RW-(the original)
July 26th, 2010
11:54 pm
Yeah! Let’s do that this Friday!
It’s on! I suspect it might be heavy on Robert Plant though.
/Note to self: Start dubbing Gina Gershon into some music vids….
popeye
July 26th, 2010
11:54 pm
Josef
Are you Sh*tting me …. You were attacked in Portland as a jew. Where at?
I’m tired of apologizing tonight so I’ll just say give it another try…Like you did with Scout.
Mick
July 26th, 2010
11:56 pm
Fred
You are the loser….think the palestinians have a beef? Try having a whole continent or two ripped from your hands, millions of lives lost and a whole culture shredded. You don’t need a reservation, there is an asylum waiting for you.
Scout
July 26th, 2010
11:56 pm
josef:
but have you read Romans?
Mick
July 27th, 2010
12:01 am
Oh well, another day another devalued dollar. Time to hit the sack and get ready for another day of living yeah, yeah. The possibilities are endless and I like my chances. Hasta la vista, baby.
wendy
July 27th, 2010
12:03 am
Jo,
You must kick-ass at dodge-ball…
Scout
July 27th, 2010
12:03 am
popeye:
none.
“For the Spirit of God will not always strive with a man”
Translation: You can wait too long ……………
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:07 am
FRED
You’re not an Indian…the point I was trying to make and I think you missed it is that even when you think you have “made it,” you get hit with it and it all comes tumbling out of the repressed recesses of the cultural weltanschauung…you obviously have some hostilities toward Indians…take a look at why and where…it’s out of keeping with your earlier statments about reaching an understanding…
popeye
Not Portland. Seattle, also in Bellingham and in Vancouver, BC…my magen david was visible…I was cautioned to keep it covered when I asked my fellow MOTS and was told that no, it’s not common and most people here are not like that, but there are those who are and they can be violent…
squaw
July 27th, 2010
12:10 am
Scout,
The blue pill will resolve your riddle.
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:11 am
popeye
YOU don’t owe me an apology…it wasn’t you who did it…but, yes, I do understand the feeling when the place you know, love and call your own shows its bad side to the outlander…
wendy
Nope don’t kick ass at dodgeball…but do swing a mean baseball bat, prefer a switchblade and am not a half-bad shot..six older brothers and a hillside of cousins, been brawling since I popped out of the womb…oh, yeah, and have been known to crack a beer bottle upside a bar and go to tangle…
Scout
July 27th, 2010
12:13 am
Jay:
I believe their is a handle posted here @ 12:10am that needs to go:
“Squaw is an English language loan-word, used as a noun or adjective, whose present meaning is an indigenous woman of North America. It is derived from the eastern Algonquian morpheme meaning “woman” that appears in numerous Algonquian dialects variously spelled squa, skwa, esqua, sqeh, skwe, que, kwa, ikwe, etc. The term has been CONSIDERED OFFENSIVE since the late 20th century if not earlier.
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:14 am
Scout
Yes, I have read Romans and I’m not up for it tonight, but I WILL later discuss the translation of certain passages, the Greek to the Latin to the King James to the more contemporary translations…
Scout
July 27th, 2010
12:14 am
josef:
You seem to know a lot about Native American culture. What are your views on the use of the word “squaw” ?
Scout
July 27th, 2010
12:16 am
josef:
I wasn’t talking about chapter one but chapters much later in the book regarding Judaism/Christianity.
By the way …………. we have translations now direct from the Greek.
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:19 am
Scout—
Late 20th Century if not earlier? Well, I can testify from personal experience that it was considered offensive as early as the MID 20th. I made the mistake of calling my full-blood Chickasaw Aunt Sis by that term. She knocked me halfway across the room. Then Mama wore my behind out. Granny switched me. Granddaddy tore into my b*tt and then assigned me a series of readings from the secular and the Biblical—the story of Ruth to be precise…
Scout
July 27th, 2010
12:21 am
josef:
That’s what I thought. Maybe Jay will scratch that poster’s handle.
Fred
July 27th, 2010
12:22 am
And to think. Someone on one of these blogs asked me once if I would speak out if someone said or did something blatantly racist in my presence. I don’t think I EVER have to answer that question again here.
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:24 am
Scout
Ah! Again, my mind won’t go there in the mood I’m in at present, but rest assured, it is something I do have an interest in and would love to discuss with you in a late night session…let me take a raincheck for right now, please…
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
12:26 am
“Well, you might want to research the Saul I am talking about. He spent a career as a special prosecutor going around his part of the district putting Christians in jail and some to their death. Funny thing though, he would up becoming the greatest Christian missionary the world has ever known …………. Paul.”
Scout–A common misconception regarding Saul/Paul is that he changed his name to reflect his new-found faith in Christianity. The truth, as far as I know, is that the “name change” never occurred. Saul and Paul are the same name in two different languages. Here’s a link which explains it:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9301qq.asp
Fred
July 27th, 2010
12:26 am
Jonix? Are you sure of that? i have NEVER stated my “ethnic’ background on this blog. i’m an American and that’s all you need to know. That’s all ANYONE needs to know. In the end, that’s all that matters.
Get over yourself. EVERYONE experiences ‘racism.” Jewish is not a race, it’s a religion. Christians are persecuted daily in our modern day society. It’s no big deal. It comes with the territory.
LOL I see someone reported my LAST comment. It’s “awaiting moderation.” That’s two on one blog. People who speak the unvarnished truth are persecuted one could say……….
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:29 am
Scout
Don’t count on Jay taking this one on…after all it is spelled with a lower case “c” and Sister Cynthia has already decreed that “gypsy” with a lower case “c” is not racist! And he has said that Indian things aren’t considered that important around here… Actually, though, the sarcastic aside, I do think he would be offended as well…it is kinda obvious…besides, he’s on overtime today, his day job is putting its demands on him so we can have this space…
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
12:31 am
From the referenced link above:
“Adopting his Roman name was typical of Paul’s missionary style. His method was to put people at their ease and to approach them with his message in a language and style they could relate to. We should take a cue from Paul as we engage in apologetics work. No, we don’t need to adopt new names, but we should accommodate ourselves to our audiences (and we mean here audiences as small as one person). We want to speak to people in their own styles, so far as we can, and we want to address their particular concerns. We don’t want to raise people’s hackles before we even have a chance to raise issues.”
This concept also applies to the Biblical mention of “Speaking in tongues”–This passage indicates that the given sermon was translated into the various languages of the audience members. It does NOT refer to the speaking of gibberish in the way that the Pentecostals believe.
Fred
July 27th, 2010
12:32 am
Mick: There never has been a “nation of Palestine.” They didn’t have a damn thing ripped from their hands. Read some history. When they nation of Israel was re-created they BEGGED the “Palestinians” to stay. Oh no, they left because the Arhabs were going to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. That didn’t quite happen did it? So how did the Jordanians treat the “palestinians” when they tried the same crap they tried with Israel? The Jordanians slaughtered 10’s of 1000’s of them and evicted them. I don’t see you talking about THAT. But you wouldn’t would you? It’s truth and it doesn’t fit in with your pathetic political agenda or your pathetic education.
Learn more before you speak.
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
12:35 am
“LOL I see someone reported my LAST comment. It’s “awaiting moderation.” That’s two on one blog. People who speak the unvarnished truth are persecuted one could say……….”
Fred–FYI, it is a machine which puts comments into moderation, not a person. There is no reporting by anyone. Maybe it’s YOU who needs to get over yourself. Your comment about Christians being “persecuted” is laughable, at least as applies to the US.
Scout
July 27th, 2010
12:35 am
josef:
No problem ……….. I’m calling it quits now myself.
Bruno:
You may be right on that one but the important thing is his LIFE was changed.
TAPS !
“And so he bowed”
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:36 am
Fred
No, I’m not sure and after posting that I realized I should have said, “I assume.” And I don’t think you can find any place that I have used the term race in relation to Jewish. That’s one of my BIG issues…religion? Sort of, but ethnic would be more appropriate since many of the tribe are not at all religious but identify strongly as Jews.
Are you relatively new here? The reason I ask is that I frequently express objection to Christian and Muslim (or any other faith) bashing…
And rest assured, it was not I who “reported” a comment. I’m a firm believer in free speech and protest any time anyone is banned, even though I acknowledge that is Jay’s decision.
Fred
July 27th, 2010
12:40 am
Really Bruno? Do I need cite the cases where someone living their Christian values is thrown out of a college for “insensitivity” because they speak out against homosexuality or abortion? There isn’t enough room on this bog for that. I’m not saying I agree or disagree with their position, but it happens daily. Open your eyes a little, it’s not like it’s exactly hidden. I speak about it the same way I would with any other “group.”
BTW I can see the posts that are “awaiting moderation” are they invisible to the rest of the bloggers? I really don’t know how the AJC handles this…………
squaw
July 27th, 2010
12:44 am
scout/joseph,
Goodnight Kemo Sabe’s…
Fred
July 27th, 2010
12:44 am
Just damn. I could have been playing Crysis for the last hour or so that I was wasting on this blog. Somebody shoot me………
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
12:49 am
FRED
The awaiting moderation…no, we can’t see them…there are certain combinations of letters which will throw it into moderation…it’s something of a game hereabouts trying to get past the Blue Nosed B*tch Moderator… for the longest time we were wondering why the word ridic*lous would trip it…then we discovered thas She was bilingual and didn’t like the combination c*u*l*o…Jay tries to keep up with it…so don’t take it too personal just yet BTW I learned that lesson the hard way after getting my feathers in a ruff early on…
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
12:50 am
“Really Bruno? Do I need cite the cases where someone living their Christian values is thrown out of a college for “insensitivity” because they speak out against homosexuality or abortion?”
Fred–Speaking out against those whom you disagree with is not necessarily a “Christian value”. There is a big difference between “righteousness” and “self-righteousness”. Do you know the difference??
To be fair, a young woman WAS recently reprimanded at college for speaking out against homosexuality. In her case, however, she was trying to get a degree in counseling. Because modern psychology does not label homosexuality as “deviant behavior”, her views were considered to be incompatible with professional standards.
“BTW I can see the posts that are “awaiting moderation” are they invisible to the rest of the bloggers? I really don’t know how the AJC handles this…………”
Yes, you can see the comments, but others can’t. It’s a byproduct of how blogs are electronically processed.
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
12:54 am
“Are you relatively new here? The reason I ask is that I frequently express objection to Christian and Muslim (or any other faith) bashing…”
At least I’m an “equal-opportunity” basher, josef. I put all mythology in the same category.
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
1:05 am
Bruno
I wouldn’t put you in the category of basher…you say what you do with respect and civilly..and make sure you come in Friday night prepared to hijack the blog with songs about body parts!
josef nix
July 27th, 2010
1:10 am
Okay—outta here…Grandbaby has GOT to be put down!!! W-a-a-a-y too much chocolate…
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
1:11 am
“I wouldn’t put you in the category of basher…you say what you do with respect and civilly”
Not always–I definitely have my moments of ugliness.
“and make sure you come in Friday night prepared to hijack the blog with songs about body parts!”
I’ll pass on that, buddy. I like my idea of an Originals night better.
C U soon, friend.
Fred
July 27th, 2010
1:38 am
Bruno, I speak English as if it were my mother tongue. I don’t appreciate you picking and choosing which parts of my post to quote and then pretending that the part you edit holds the meaning I was trying to convey. Save that crap for the mindless. Either speak on the WHOLE post or just post a disclaimer that you are doing a Briebart edit job. Is the truth that hard for you to deal with? In your edit job, you edited out the part where I said
“I’m not saying I agree or disagree with their position, but it happens daily.”
If you were the “free thinker” you portray yourself to be I wouldn’t have to point that out. But in reality, you aren’t. You apparently have a particular problem with the Christian religion so they are fair game to you. I could be mistaken, but I don’t think I have said what faith (if any) I follow on this blog. For all you and jonix know, i am a gay indian jew. i might even be a Muslim following the peaceful way of Islam. Then again, I may be an atheist (which is a religion of itself by definition). Who knows? I don’t think I have said. So YOU are making assumptions.
As far Speaking out against those whom you disagree with is not necessarily a “Christian value” is concerned, you are correct, but in THIS Country only Christians are ridiculed and chastised for it. One might even go as far as saying “persecuted” for it.
You might worship cats and sacrifice a stray dog at every full moon by the doctrine of your religion. In todays society that’s cool. but be a Christian who opposes abortion or the gay lifestyle and you just need to be shot. I see it happen on THIS blog, not to mention in real life. To say you haven’t means one of two things to me, either you are stupid or you are a liar.”Traditional Christian Values” don’t mix with today’s American society and Christians who stick by their views are persecuted. Can you say Miss California and the miss USA (or Miss America, who knows which insipid pageant it was) and NOT agree? She was HAMMERED because of what she believe and she answered a question honestly. Whether or not she lived up to the values she stated is immaterial. She was denied because of what she believed in. Had that been a Muslin or a Jew speaking out for THEIR beliefs, it would have been okay with that Perez Hilton. But like you, he can’t resist a chance to bash a Christian and it’s ok in this society.
Oh well. It is what it is even if you hypocrites won’t acknowledge your hypocrisy………….
Bruno
July 27th, 2010
4:05 am
Fred–I’m not sure why I’m wasting my time responding to your BS, but here goes:
(1) “I don’t appreciate you picking and choosing which parts of my post to quote and then pretending that the part you edit holds the meaning I was trying to convey.”
Your 1:38 post, for example, contains several hundred words. No one can reasonably comment on the whole of the text. That’s the reality of the blog world. If you don’t like, it, I suggest you find a different forum to air your “brilliant” ideas.
(2) “You apparently have a particular problem with the Christian religion so they are fair game to you. I could be mistaken, but I don’t think I have said what faith (if any) I follow on this blog.”
You made a pitch about what you perceive to be regular “persecution” of Christians in this country, and I responded in the context of your quote. Nothing more and nothing less. If you care to discuss the “persecution” that Hindus or Muslims believe they face, I will respond in that context as well. It was YOU who chose a Christian framework for your claims, not me, so ultimately you are complaining about your own behavior. To be honest, I don’t give a rat’s ass which mythology you choose to align yourself with.
“in THIS Country only Christians are ridiculed and chastised for it. One might even go as far as saying “persecuted” for it.”
And that is the biggest bunch of crap I’ve heard in a long time. Political candidates are almost forced to declare their allegiance to some Christian church or another. Government money has been regularly spent through the years promoting Christian prayer and Christian displays such as Nativity scenes and Easter celebrations. To not acknowledge the overwhelming bias in favor of Christianity in this country reveals either a tremendous myopia on your part, or more likely serious mental illness.
“Oh well. It is what it is even if you hypocrites won’t acknowledge your hypocrisy………….”
I’m not sure what the source of the chip on your shoulder is, but you need to look in the mirror once in a while.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
6:05 am
SPQR: “so, when south east asians give up the canine cuisine, their lives may have value to me. Until then, o.o% value.”
Oh so it’s okay to eat a pig or a cow, but NOT a dog?
Indians don’t eat cows. Cows are considered “holy” to them and those that have them name them and consider them to be part of their family. Since there are MORE Indians compared to North Americans… why would THEY be wrong and WE be right when it comes to what is considered food VS. a pet here in our society?
I rescue dogs…in fact I’m on the board of directors of a large rescue group… I have many dogs I saved here in my home… but I still don’t see how we get to define what OUR culture deems as food vs. pet as the ONLY choice one has.
I Report :-) You Whine :-( mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
July 27th, 2010
6:33 am
When President Obama comes to Atlanta on Monday, Roy Barnes will not be at his side. The Democratic nominee for governor is scheduled to be campaigning that day among the good people of South Georgia, which puts as much distance as possible between himself and the president. -kookman, Urinal
Is Roy Barnes a racist?
Just askin…
Bud Wiser
July 27th, 2010
6:50 am
CNN) — City council members in the small California town of Bell — where outrage over high salaries forced three officials to resign last week — voted Monday night to slash their pay.
And the mayor, who last week defended the salaries, said he would forgo a salary altogether and would not seek reelection.
But the move was not enough to appease angry residents who demanded that the council members step down.
“You all need to go to jail,” a self-described underpaid teacher said at a contentious meeting Monday night. “Shame on you. All of you.”
When Councilwoman Teresa Jacobo said she will slash her salary but hold on to office, the crowd booed loudly and repeatedly…
The city council voted to reduce its pay to that of what one councilman, Lorenzo Veles, was being paid: $8,076 a year.
Most of the other council members made nearly 10 times as much.
The Bell salaries have provoked statewide anger at a time when California is grappling with a near $20 billion budget deficit.
The median annual income of Bell — which counted about 36,000 residents in the 2000 census — is less than $35,000.
Said the mayor in a statement: “We must restore Bell’s pride in our city and that requires a full, transparent, and deliberate review of the city’s actions.”
Not covered by lame stream state run media…..
Does that “transparency” bs ring any bells, at least among the living with actual functional brains?
Bud Wiser
July 27th, 2010
6:55 am
NPR reports that in the city of Bell, California three city administrators agreed to resign after residents expressed outrage over their salaries. City Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo earns $787,637 a year, which twice the salary of the President of the United States.
The former administrators will not receive severance packages but they will collect pension benefits.
Mr. Rizzo will collect $650,000 a year making him the highest-paid beneficiary in the state’s pension system.
What is interesting is how they got their pay raises. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Bell City Council exempted themselves from state salary limits when they placed “Measure A” on the ballot in 2005 to change the city to “charter status” in a special election that only attracted 400 voters. Since passage, salaries for council members, who serve part-time, shot up by 50 percent to at least $96,996 a year.
The reason for the sudden switch was a state law passed in 2005 that limited the salaries of council members in “general law” cities. A law that itself was prompted by outrage over the pay of officials in South Gate, California.
Even more interesting is that Measure A didn’t bypass salary limits for serving on city councils. Instead, it gets around the salary limit imposed on boards and commissions. The City Council members receive $150 a month for council service, and $7,873.25 a month for serving on the Planning Commission, Surplus Property Authority, and the Solid Waste Recyling Authority.
How did Bell’s Council get its salaries? By fiscal evasion.
Duh.
Taking cues from the criminals in the WH and their stooges.
Bud Wiser
July 27th, 2010
6:55 am
Oh well, at least LeBron got his legally.
Bud Wiser
July 27th, 2010
7:01 am
(Reuters) – A municipal manager in California who makes nearly $800,000 a year working for a small, poor city could draw pension payments exceeding $30 million in retirement, according to an activist who has been calling for an overhaul of the state’s public pension system…
“This guy will be our first seven-figure retiree,” said Marcia Fritz, who heads the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility, (a)group (that)has played a leading role in publicizing the issue of California’s public pension liabilities.
Currently, a former employee of the nearby South L.A.-area city of Vernon is California’s top public pensioner, pulling in just under $510,000 a year, according to a top-ten list compiled from public record searches by Fritz’s group.
If Rizzo leaves his job, which irate residents of Bell are demanding, he could draw $884,692 in his first year of retirement, according to her calculations.
At age 62, when Rizzo could also begin receiving Social Security payments, his annual pension would rise to $976,771, topping $1 million two years later. If he lives to age 83, his annual payout would rise to $1.48 million.
Dimwittocrats probably, with their hands in the till ala Dodd, Barney Fwank, Rangel, Jefferson, etc, etc.
November 10.
Bud Wiser
July 27th, 2010
7:06 am
A defiant Bell City Council defended the hefty compensation awarded to City Manager Robert Rizzo and two other officials just hours after the three agreed to resign amid a public outcry.
In the city’s first formal statement on the salary issue, Bell released a letter from Mayor Oscar Hernandez in which he praised Rizzo’s service to the city and said his nearly $800,000 annual salary was justified.
“Unlike the skewed view of the facts, the Los Angeles Times presented to advance the paper’s own agenda, a look at the big picture of city compensation shows that salaries of the City Manager and other top city staff have been in line with similar positions over the period of their tenure,” Hernandez said in the letter.
Skewed…..<i.skewed?
How many ways can you SKEW $800,000? And it was “justified”?
This mayor is delusional. He must have thought he had an entire constituency of publicly ‘educated’ morons, much like the leftists that drool on Jay’s finely tailored suits.
Again, taking cue from the Sap In Chief and his ignorant thieving cabinet and congress.
Bud Wiser
July 27th, 2010
7:09 am
Bell is a city in Los Angeles County, California. The population was 36,664 in the 2000 census. Bell is located on the west bank of the Los Angeles River and is a suburb of the city of Los Angeles. At 2.5 square miles, it is number thirteen in the twenty-five smallest cities in area in the United States with population of at least 25,000.
City residents voted to become a charter city in a special municipal election on November 29, 2005. Fewer than 400 voters turned out for that special election.
Obviously the mayor was correct in one sense….his constituency WAS ignorant, and like in 2008, you get what you don’t vote for, and suffer the catastrophic consequences.
Normal
July 27th, 2010
7:10 am
Happy Tuesday everyone….
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/07/26/funny-pictures-come-out-nao/
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:10 am
“Not covered by lame stream state run media…..”
um. you just quoted articles from CNN, NPR, the LATimes and Reuters news wire.
do you bother to read what you write?
USinUK
July 27th, 2010
7:12 am
g’morning, Normal! so, are you fully recovered?
this is the one that made me laugh this morning: http://icanhascheezburger.com/2010/07/26/funny-pictures-landing-on-him/
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
7:34 am
“Not covered by lame stream state run media…..”
um. you just quoted articles from CNN, NPR, the LATimes and Reuters news wire.
do you bother to read what you write?”
Must be a high octane “Bloody Mary” morning… or maybe just starting working on that case of cold “Budweiser” early this AM.
Saul Good
July 27th, 2010
7:40 am
“This mayor is delusional. He must have thought he had an entire constituency of publicly ‘educated’ morons, much like the leftists that drool on Jay’s finely tailored suits.”
Oh and I guess that would make you a FINE representative for private schooling?
Finely tailored suits? Damn…I had no idea Jay made so much working at the AJC. Maybe he makes $800,000 a year like Robert Rizzo did. I bet they have the best catered lunches daily there at the AJC as well…
K…time for that morning run…
stands for decibels
July 27th, 2010
8:12 am
just for the record….
Not covered by lame stream state run media…..
I heard about this last week on NPR. All Things Considered. Prime afternoon-drive time.
David S
July 27th, 2010
1:18 pm
Afghanistan is and has always been the “graveyard of empires.” It will be the graveyard of the American empire too. Ron Paul advised the congress to embrace the constitutional option of Letters of Marque and Reprisal to allow congress to raise up a force to go and capture those responsible for 9-11. Instead congress unconstitutionally handed over their power to declare war and gave Bush the green light to invade this sovereign nation with our military forces. Time and time again Ron Paul has been shown to be spot on, yet he gets nothing but ridicule and scorn from the GOP and the talking heads in the media.
We will be leaving Afghanistan sooner or later, as a bankrupt empire.