The Blog at Johnhouston's, also known as Below the Fold...
This is Version 2.0 and a work in progress.
Here you'll find, in plain-spoken language; opinions (mine), flat-out facts and solutions as I see them. All in an easy to read format.
A Spade is a Spade here and no sugar is allowed nor used.
The folks in Iraq, the folks that Belong in Iraq who play the game of soccer, Football to those not within the borders of the United States, have Proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the populous of Iraq CAN work together in harmony and celebrate together in harmony.
So, if the three religious factions can come together in a game, why cannot they come together in everyday life and work within themselves to produce a harmonious country, et al?
Perhaps the unified victory of the Iraqi soccer team is just the spark that is needed in their homeland to stir the emotions of Iraqi citizens and lay the groundwork for many great changes for all concerned.
Hopefully this will be a beautiful thing to watch.
My hearty congratulations to the Iraqi soccer team. You've won more than just a game.
The New York Times is reporting (today:7/27/07) that G.W. Bush and company has made plans to sell American developed arms to the Saudi!
The very THOUGHT of such an arms deal... Scares the hell out of me!
Were not Saudi born and taught men the ones who decided to use American airplanes as missiles? Did we, the United States, sell the Taliban (Usama Bin Laden and Company) arms when they were deemed "Freedom Fighters"?
It's also pretty much common knowledge the Saudi schools teach their children to "Hate the Americans" from the very first day of school?
It's also a fairly well known fact the Saudi government hasn't been all that much help in Iraq or for that matter, the promotion of peaceful ideals in the Middle East. Personally, I think it's a damn big stretch of the imagination to call Saudi Arabia (and a great many of their neighbors)... Friends.
The Times article did say there were some "United States officials who contend that the Saudis are playing a counterproductive role in Iraq". At lease SOMEONE remembers!
This would also be a GREAT time to write both your Senators and Congressmen a very plainly worded letter or drop them a postcard to express your opposition or displeasure! Postcards are cheap and they get read along the way... Super!
This is just a horribly bad idea and there is no way to put enough lipstick on this pig to make it palatable!
Link to story: New York Times
Today (07/24/2007) in a televised speech by President George W. Bush at Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston Air Force Base) the President made yet another effort to defend his policies in Iraq and the Middle East; and has left me wondering again... Fuming again... Still. Frankly, from the information that's available I find it incredible that our troops can or are able to maintain any semblance of hope of actually seeing a "good end" in Iraq. In Spite of personal goodwill trips and appearances at military installations.
Within the speech he clearly points out... Rather, reiterates that our war in Iraq is aimed at al Qaeda to which I again say, Bull Shit! True, that is where our efforts Should be (the annihilation of al Qaeda) aimed but, it is very plain to see that al Qaeda is not the only enemy we have in Iraq.
It's also very plain to see that our troops are being hamstrung by goody-two-shoe, politically correct diplomacy efforts fueled by an enormous group of greedy war-machine vendors, politicians with personal agendas and an Iraqi general populous that flat doesn't have the inclination or backbone to fend for itself. We are clearly in the middle of, and fighting within a sectarian Shia - Suni civil war for which there is absolutely no way to "win". At this moment I honestly think "fighting al Qaeda" is simply an excuse to be there or Bush's justification for being in Iraq.
Mr. Bush also clearly pointed out, again reiterating, in his speech that al Qaeda did not originate in Iraq nor is Iraq their "Home" nor are the al Qaeda leaders in Iraq... Iraqis. DOH! Why are our "friends", those where al Qaeda DOES call home or use as "Home" in the middle east not being hammered by our war machine?!
Musharraf in Pakistan and the "Royal Family" in Saudi Arabia... How about Jordan? Turkey? Iraq itself?! Well, I would hardly call these people our friends. True friends at any rate. Although not considered a "friend", let's not forget Iran! Apparently G.W. doesn't have a "back-view" mirror handy or he could see the knives embedded in the back of the United States.
Once again I say, "Define the target and give our troops permission to actually fight to win this war! Quit Pussy-Footing around, get the hell out of the way and let them do what you charged them to do, then bring 'em home. And if you're not going to allow the troops to do their jobs: Bring them home Now! We've got LOTS of folks trying to break-in Here that need stopping."
It's pretty plain to see that Iraq’s Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites don't play well with each other so, let's treat them like little children and give each a corner to sit in... For time everlasting; with Baghdad as a "neutral zone".
I read somewhere (IraqSlogger.com I think) where Sen. Joseph Biden had proposed something along this line but, I could be wrong. Nevertheless, I've thought this action would be MUCH more viable from the get-go and frankly, I don't see it being any worse than what's in place now.
For that matter... What's in place?
Like it or not, the United States and our allies are now Nation Builders and unlike Bosnia, here's a second chance to "get it right". Perhaps, just perhaps all the lives lost will not have been in vain if we can actually pull off some type of "lasting peace" and prevent more sectarian bloodshed: This may be the answer. At least if the "corners" are well defined it may be easier to police the borders.
The way I see things, if the three factions each have their own teat to suck on, they'll suckle their own and stop killin' US and their neighbors. My fear at this point is that the Iraqi people just like killing each other and they don't know HOW to stop... Hell, it seems to have become an Iraqi "pastime" and WE are the Net In The Middle! It's time to pack up the net and come to the house.
Links: IraqSlogger.com
Wednesday, July 18, 2007, the Associated Press reported that President Bush created a new faction within our government named the Import Safety Working Group. Their goal... err, intended purpose is to guarantee the safety of food and other products shipped into the United States and to improve U.S. policing of those imports.
Needless to say the Food and Drug Administration isn't capable of accomplishing the task of making certain the food we all eat is safe but, I truly fail to see where an "Import Safety Working Group" is going to do any better.
To me, Bush's action is simply a shift of responsibilities to another agency that will probably take 60 days, or more just to "Find Itself"! Then, literally years to actually implement. Then, in the end, that new agency won't be able to check or prevent any more "defective product" into the United States than the F.D.A has or is able to do at this time. What a @#$%ing waste!
Tony Snow (White House Press Secretary) says Bush's formation of the Import Safety Working Group is NOT a slap at China's shoddy shit. Bull Shit, Tony! The current presidential "Concern" is a knee-jerk reaction by the president to VERY recent imports from China that far exceed the "shoddy" state, entering the "Lethal" category! Simply to show the shallow thinking general public that he's actually "Doing Something".
We (The U.S.A) already have the necessary "agency" in place: The Food and Drug Administration. All they need is the manpower and means to actually Do Their Freekin' Jobs! The only added extras we need is some Teeth to put some honest to goodness HURT into the countries that are supplying the crap and some genuine... GENUINE penalties for the businesses that are importing the goods. An Immigration Policy for Food and Food Stuffs!
Here's a suggestion for penalties.
Well, like I said, these are suggestions but, I think you get the idea. Quit pussy-footin' around and hit these guys where it hurts: The Bank Balance.
Who knows, since there are fewer ports to police than the thousands of miles of borders, the F.D.A. might actually be able to enforce that immigration policy! Lord knows the government can't handle borders!
George, you're givin' us Texans a bad name! Pull your head out of your ass!
President Bush insisted that al Qaeda was not as strong now as they were prior to September 11,2001. Prove it George! Bring us the head of Osama on a Pike and stop being a pussy-footed politically correct warrior in Iraq.
I hate to sound as stubborn as a Missouri Mule but, I just don't see the current situation as "better" in Iraq or anywhere else for that matter. On all outward appearances al Qaeda seems to have grown and strengthened.
If the insurgents are hiding in a Sacred Mosque... It's a building then, NOT a mosque: Level it! If a neighborhood is overrun with insurgents, it's no longer a neighborhood: It's an encampment with a large spineless support staff. Level it! Let it be known that If the folks of a neighborhood can't fight 'em off with pots 'n pans and the help of their own Iraqi forces the neighborhood will disappear and they should move out of the way: QUICKLY!... Within Hours!
Concerning Osama bin Laden. The general consensus seems to be that Osama bin Laden is holed up (Caved-Up?) in Pakistan which leads me to ask: If Musharraf (Pres. Pakistan) is such a Friend of the United States, why on Earth have they not been more cooperative in the Search for Osama? Why are the allied forces not scouring the mountains of Pakistan. This day and age I find it increasingly difficult to believe that Osama (...Anyone) can or could hide anywhere.
And, at the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I honestly think our military commanders have a pretty damned good idea as to where Osama is and they're being prevented from cutting off the head of the al Qaeda Snake for some bureaucratic reason. There doesn't seem to be much of a problem in getting to the number two or third person in charge! Our failure in this area reeks of misinformation, corruptness or ineptness.
Bush also pointed to al Qaeda training facilities in Syria and Iran. What the hell are you waiting on!? If you're waiting for an invitation from either of those countries to eliminate those facilities or if you're waiting on those countries to take care of the problem... It's just not going to happen! The United States doesn't have any more respect to lose so, give each of those countries a sample of "Shock 'n Awe"! Don't forget to tell the folks in charge in Iran, "You're NEXT" and your buddy Putin that if he so much as wrinkles an eyebrow, we'll shove a Texas sized prickly pear up his ass.
In lay terms... $#it or get off the pot and bring our troops HOME!
The Associated Press is reporting that Turkey has amassed 140,000 troops near the northern Iraq border... A stone's throw from the only truly Bright Spot in Iraq: The Kurds.
The Kurds of northern Iraq have long been the only folks in that part of the world that truly understand and WANT a peaceful co-existence in their country. The other two factions in Iraq would do themselves proud to follow the Kurds' example!
However, the Turks have been silently(?) waiting for years for an opportunity to have their way with the Kurds. IF... IF the troop numbers are correct, that's almost as many troops as the United States has in Iraq. No way will we be capable of lending a helping hand to the north while at the same time maintain a useful(?) presence to the south.
Let's get one thing straight: I think the downfall of Saddam was fit and proper. Fighting a Religious War is NOT. And a Religious War is exactly what is now taking place in Iraq.
The general populous of southern Iraq, the Shias and Sunnies, do not seem capable; either mentally, physically or idealogically of governing themselves in a peaceful co-existence and Lord knows one cannot change a 2000+ year "habit" in a matter of a few years: By brute force or otherwise.
That said... Move the troops to the north and let the Shia factions and the Sunni factions take care of their own business the best way they know how... By brutally murdering each other! The "world court of the just" will find that neither bunch is actually more "Godly" than the other and neither can be trusted.
Diplomacy with the Turks? Of course, a strong bit of rhetoric would first be in order but, emphasized with a well placed Cruise Missile to put a period on the statement: "Don't even THINK of warring with the Kurds".
I like the idea of "...Speak softly but, carry a Big Stick" and loathe having to tell someone something more than once simply because they "didn't believe the sincerity".
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