Ghost of BiB

I simply enjoy busting your balls on occassion, for no other reason than just to do it. This time it didn't require reading 3 pages of arguments, so I took an easy shot. Party Hack. Also was an op to toss a rock at Debbie. Two birds with one post.

Works well for tactics, though. Doesn't it? You'll see clips and soundbites in 2008, trust me.

Stopped by. Looked like an ant hill kicked open.

You got a lot to learn about people.

New Hampshire? GOP tricks? Try again, Counsellor. Damn, Mickey. Anytime you get something balanced going you screw up and turn into Buckey. There's barely 9,000 people in NH anyway? Maybe you should move to Washington and follow Governorships. Party Hack. You and Debbie. Geeze.

Agreed. Man, this is like hiding in the methadone clinic to get out of the rain. Just a few more weeks, people...we've gone this long. We will have football soon. Football hasn't left us. Soothing football will be there.

Hey, I don't think it's any secret me and Stojan don't like each other, but I remember a thread a while back where we were all talking about buying cheap flowers for Valentine's Day. Geico Steve might understand a little more about treating a woman nice more than you might think. Steve, hope you had a good time outside of the movie. I think you might have a lot of hidden gentleman in you that you're board rep won't allow. Good women appreciate someone who has manners, and knows what's important on a date.

I go with her. What do you want to do? I work with a navy commander who is a bar member in California. He's an intelligence guy. He's a called up reservist. A lot of the skills he's picked up as a practicing attorney have been helpfull personally in the field, but in the qualifications part no one cares. What do you ultimately want to do? I'll defer back to DC Girl.

Isn't that one of AD's theme songs?

But not all of them have played 3 levels of football.

I wish it were that cut and dried. IMO, Jihad is the motivating factor for suicidal terrorism. Otherwise, it could be a sin. Key word-Jihad. This is not viewed solely as a resistance to a foreign occupation and unless the author just didn't have time to explain, I feel he's off base maybe not in the ideological, but the strategic causes. It is a holy war called against perceived enemies of Islam. Within Iraq, a lot of the ideological lines have been blurred. This, in the long run is going to work against them. It is a contradictory doctrine. You have jihadists embracing the very operational goals, methods and tactics that they are supposedly fighting against. This particular Jihad, instigated initially through Bin Laden's '95 Fatwa was based on the idea of declaring war on the US (infidels) with a goal of removing foreign influence from the holy lands (primarily Saudi Arabia). This conflict has gone well beyond that. I think the author is taking either a simplistic, or dated view. Bin Laden and his associates have essentially never lost. They removed a superpower from Afghanistan (with a heck of a lot of help, but they take the credit) and the only other superpower (us) they have pretty well pushed around like a scrappy kid getting the better of the playground bully. This in no small way has given the a realistic hope for establishing the Caliphate. As we have discussed over the last few years, and I think we agree, that is the current goal of the "affiliated radical islamic terrorist organizations" (another half hour to explain that one). They have been emboldened. Bin Laden (rightfully) figured he could definitely provoke an actual response out of the US by the 9/11 attacks, he was quite surprised he hadn't gotten one before then. What he did do was underestimate the response he got. So, the jihad army he had spent years forming was essentially chewed up in Afghanistan. They do not feel beaten in the least. They are smart, and learn fast (even though they still do some really dumb stuff). Now, through our invasion and occupation of Iraq, they have a "secular" cause to fold into the primary jihadist mission. Their strategy reflects accordingly. Certain other islamic terror groups have aligned with AQ and have basically been chartered, much like franchises, to create mayhem within their own spheres and venues. AQ Central primarily provides funding and other logistical support for approved schemes (not necessarilly actual attacks, more like blanket venues - targets). Anyway, now you have the jihad guys piggybacking on what some would have you believe is Iraqi nationalism (if you watch our TV) and using that to muddy the water in order to convince highly impressionable young people to strap on semtex vests or drive C-4 audis. Purpose? Create havoc and prevent organization in Iraq. All one has to do is read this board to know what it is doing in so far as American public opinion. The pen is mightier than the sword, is it not? This is a barfight, a brawl. Invading Iraq was a hell of a lot easier than invading Iran. Plus, there weren't any justifications for it, much less "UN resolutions". Pulling out of Iraq will keep American soldiers from getting killed in Iraq. That will make everyone in the here and now happy. No one likes to see it, but it would be very shortsighted. The people who have declared themselves our enemies have no intention of ever stopping their war against America, as long as we are strong they will always have our shadow on their shoulder. You have people planning attacks on our soil as we write, and if we were to pull out of Iraq tomorrow, it wouldn't change a thing in that regard. The best hope for the fragmented jihad alliance is with Iran, and with a strong US presence in the region, even if it's through a proxy like a new Iraq it will be very difficult for the "Caliphate" to gain steam. If you think the idea of a Pan-Islamic state is a boogieman, look at the idea of the European Union. The kingpin to the region is Saudi Arabia. Yes, oil is a big part of it. Not just our economy, but the world economy depends on it. That's why we did Gulf One. Now, the enemies are from within, not without. Walking away from this fight now, would make us look truly beaten. Our regional allies would either capitulate or moderate to the "new" islamic view. We would be attacked on our own soil with little recourse as far as retaliation. The balance of power in the world would shift to the guys on the big beach. Once they can dictate how we should live, then maybe the bombs will stop. I regret that this is more complicated than this, and hard to put into a message board post. But, this is essentially the gist of what's up, and what's at stake.

Yes.

Chick Filet rules.

I'm waiting for one of our fellow posters that are so rabidly anti-war with the "Bush lied" mantra to explain to us why this is a good thing.

OK, I'll play.... If he's working in Alexandria, I don't know if it's a great plan to have to cross the river twice a day. Takes away all the back road options.

Well hell, why don't we just send him to PGC and be done with it?

Well, I'm sure this whole thread is turning into a lot of help. Like anywhere else, there are good spots within bad spots and bad spots within good spots. I go back to doing some research, and making a trip to see for yourself. I live in Olde Towne on the south side renting for $1450 a month. 2 BR/2BA with a finished basement. Too small for you, but deals are doable. Not easy to find, but can be done if you take the time to look.

Ask him... ......

I was to the point where I didn't care if they started Barney the Purple Dinosaur this year. At least he'd be different than what we've seen time after time after time. It's time to move on.

It could be time for the early prediction thread. Have to head to work, now though. Quick answer is anything from 8-8 to 10-6, depending on who loses the 3 point games.

It's really going to boil down to what you want - what your personal preferences are, and a lot of that will be centered on your commute. I'd rather be closer in and not have a 40 minutes - hour each way driving. Bill knows the Quantico area well, some of us know Alexandria/DC. If you are thinking about coming down, it probably wouldn't hurt to come here for a couple-three days and look the area over to get your own feel. Were it me, unless the housing costs are that radically different, I'd be closer to the city, especially if the gas prices don't straighten out soon. Saving 200 on rent could be more than lost in the fuel tank.

By helicopter. Like Bill said, depends a lot on timing...and accidents. As a recruiter, you have to be reliable about your time. It's not unusual at all to get trapped in traffic.

You are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?

Yeah, just who the hell does she think she is, anyway?

Hey, it's early. Still in my first cup of coffee. Isn't it amazing how two people can have exactly the same thought?