Ghost of BiB

I'd do her.

I hate to prod the bear, but I don't think there should be any more 9/11 payouts. People die, tragically, every day. It's definitely a feel good thing but the truth is, Americans have died through terrorism before that, and are likely to again. Who's running the telethon for the next one? If Stone makes a movie, people watch it and whoever makes money, it's their money. Public opinion might force a contribution to something, but it's business. Anyone who feels strongly can voice their opinion by not watching it.

Right now Bin Laden is operationally impotent. AQ and the franchises are well aware of that. As was mentioned, he IS still an ideological figurehead. Keeping him out of the public eye, whether by killing him or trying him, harms him more than us. He can make all the speeches he wants, but he's basically old news to anyone in the terror guy chain of command. Bin Laden didn't plan the 9/11 attacks, anyway. He was "chief of state", giving approvals and encouragement - but the actual planner is dead. He still says "Yea, Verily" on occassion to keep the masses pumped - but can't do much else. He can and does give general strategic direction, but their strategy is pretty easy. Any number of several could do it. To kill him now, by that I mean a full court press to go after him, would do much more harm than good in the overall scheme of things.

Let's call it a hunch.

Oh, I thought we were talking about the explosion at the Hormel plant.

I'd be a lot more concerned about Zarqawi.

Don't misjudge "Operations Other Than War". That phrase frameworks his PDD56, which was the first document that actually tried to codify an interagency military/political approach to solving a problem (in this case, Bosnia). Flawed, but a start. You probably don't want me on my interagency cooperation bandwagon, though.

I still say I don't get it. I still can't find the gain. People DO say some dumb stuff, though.

No. Unless you ask NBF.

1. That was an accident. 2. I said LARGE civilian populations. 3. Nobody's noticed yet, anyway.

Wow. That's almost enough to buy a house in the DC area!

I'm thinking in terms of "the new war" where you have small targets intermingled with delicate infrastructure and possibly large civilian populations.

They recruiting sous chefs?

You're boxed and you know it.

Define "it's own people"?

My thoughts too. Growth industry.

Remember that statement should there be a "Homeland Defense" type of requirement someday. Nothing like carpet bombing West Seneca, Junction City, Chico or Tallahassee.

At least SOMEONE is doing their homework. The best way to end a war is not to have one in the first place, and still get your way.

We don't?

American Imperialism. In about half the countries on earth, they would have been shot down in the streets. Hey, CTM. Here's another use for "non-lethal" energy directed weapons. Hard to attack shoe stores when you're blinded and your skin feels like fire.

I hope everyone weathered Dennis well, and you aren't in the middle of the big mess from last year. Looks like it might be a LONG season. I miss living on the coast, but I don't miss that crap.

Stay away from my new DELL...

Actually, that's not entirely correct. There are excellent applications where you have bad guys mixed in with innocents, or hostages.

Off subject...but has anyone flown a flight where they show a pilot's eye view of takeoff and landing? ANA (777's) has a nose mounted camera that you can flick to a channel on and see what's in front of the plane. I've always wondered if that was that great an idea. What would happen if you change the channel and see nothing but water? Landing in Hong Kong can be adventurous on a good day.

Limited run.