Ghost of BiB

I think he said it quite well.

I think it's safe to say that's pretty much what we all thought, Lori.

There's a long way to go, but overall the sign ARE actually pretty good. Syria is an issue, but rhetoric aside is coming around. A few years ago, nuclear war between India and Pakistan was a distinct possibility. Things are quieting down in the Sudan. For the first time in collective memory, there are actually some inroads being made in Africa. Iran will find itself contained, and really won't be that big of a problem unless they want to be. You best believe they are quietly under their breath blessing GW Bush for making that SH thorn in their side go away. Things really aren't as bad as they seem.

I fully agree that "insurgency" is a bad word. I think it comes down to whos bodies we are talking about. The AQ minded folk are playing two games. Attacking non-believer forces and disrupting any kind of organization that will get in the way of a fundamentalist Islamic takeover. The targeting of civilians to me, once again IMO is a sure sign that their strategy is failing. The Sunni resistance was for the most part going after the government and Shia institutions. Zarqawi is going after just about everybody, in the hopes of creating fear and uncertainty. In so many words, the insurgency from that level is failing. But, it doesn't look like it in terms of body parts in the streets. We looked at Iraq as an opportunity for another moderate Muslim state. They look at it in terms of another rung towards the top of the Caliphate ladder. They're losing the fight - but this isn't happening quickly. The level of killing may be the same or even greater, but that doesn't necessarily reflect the success or failure of strategic goals this early in the game. As was mentioned before, there are still a lot of folks wandering Bosnia.

Just my opinion, but in much the same manner that there are different fights going on from the Iraqi/insurgent side - we are prosecuting more than one fight. There is assisting the Iraqi government (which is still in diapers, doesn't even have a constitution yet) and their security forces (same) with establishing both forces and security to handle their own issues. Part of that is whatever talks were going on with the sunni insurgents. Say what you will, but some negotiation is going to have to take place to meld them into the system. I draw a loose parallel with Palestine. They have a moderate faction willing to work things out - but a militant element that just can't be reckoned with. The other fight, and once again IMO the larger issue is in combating and defeating the other elements, most notably the Zarqawi organization. This fight for the most part just happens to be on Iraqi soil, and in my mind has very little to do with the Iraqi situation overall (although I'm sure they find it pretty annoying). "Joe Sunni the recently disenfranchised pissed off guy" is generally not that big a threat to OUR national security. Some of these other characters are, and at least are confined to an area where we can go after them. I think a large portion of our ground forces have this task more in mind than policing Iraq. You are watching a visible part of the global war on terror in action. It just happens to be in Iraq. Also, no one knows how to run a supported operation like the U.S. Going back to the Iraqi stability thing for a moment, they might be getting their stuff together with police and National Guard, but it's still primarily our C4I, recon, aviation and logistical support that's leading the show. It will take years to get them to the level where they can support those kinds of services themselves. Afghanistan is/was a different situation. Not much urban area, not much in the way of population centers to control and often just about impossible terrain. One can do it with less resources. I think, if you see some real successes against the outside terrorist operations you will begin to see a reduction in US involvement. The terrorist guys are pretty well stuck, now. Although they came in under the pretext of helping the insurgency, the Sunnis are pretty well tired of their crap. There are probably still quite a few middle management Baath/Sadaam people tied up with them (they were all along, but hey - didn't fit the news mantra in 2003) but through attrition and splintering these ties are weakening in so far as anything with the "insurgency" goes. The non-military efforts in that direction are just as important as putting steel on target. Hopefully, it will all come together sooner than later. A terrible measure of success is when things start blowing up in places like Dubai or Bahrain. That means the bad guys are giving up on engaging in Iraq, and are heading for secondary targets. I haven't kept up with this too closely over the last few months, but that's my take. Anyone else feel free to jump in.

Semantics. Try telling that to my Grandmother. Poland has been around a long time, it's just that everyone else has owned it at one time or another.

I thought they were the season ticket holders.

That's not really cheese.

They were actually in their early 40's when they first came in. Just never been able to find the exit.

So now your dissing Poland? Bigot.

I never much cared for Romanowski.

I don't have time. There's some really hot looking Brownies in the candy aisle.

With or without GPS?

It's going on, just not in the same manner.

(Shakes head)

I figured them for the Orlando team. They'll make up for the Los Angeles dolphins.

I say Los Angeles over Orlando Who's with me?

That's why I always sit in the smoking section.

God, can September really be that far off?

They speak cantonese in the south. They are going to get us in the pocketbook, anyway.

Time to work on the neighbors.

Mark's channelling again.

Now now, Dan. Bill says it's bad, so it's bad. He's ALWAYS right, you know.

Seems as though he has a lot of issues period. Cookie

We'll get it done. I'm going to be spending a lot more time downtown. Maybe I should bring a friend?