Quote of the day: You can't slip anything past Chimpy the Prez (even as Nancy P makes a slick choice to chair the House Intelligence Committee)
>
Three parked car bombs exploded in central Baghdad today."I recognize that the recent violence in Iraq has been unsettling."
--President Bush, back in Washington after his whirlwind tour of the Baltics, on his weekly radio broadcast this morning
"We need to do more," our Chimpy also said, "and we need to do it faster. By helping Iraq's elected leaders get the Iraqi forces they need, we will help Iraq's democratic government become more effective in fighting the terrorists and other violent extremists, and in providing security and stability, particularly in Baghdad."
Right, chief.
Elsewhere in the news--let's say, in the reality-based sector--note is being taken of the fact that incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's choice to chair the Intelligence Committee, "affable" (as he seems doomed to be described) Texas Rep. Silvestre Reyes (left), a Vietnam vet and former Border Patrol officer, voted from the start against authorizing war with Iraq and for all his affability has also been outspoken in challenging administration policy on such issues as military tribunals and NSA domestic surveillance--things he's going to be in a position to have quite a lot to say about as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.Pelosi has taken a lot of heat for bypassing her fellow Californian, aggressively "centrist" Jane Harman (far from DWT's favorite Democrat), for the Intelligence chairmanship, then also cold-shouldering supposedly too-liberal as well as ethically challenged Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings, who happens to be African-American. (Harman maintained her controlling-bitch standing by breaking the news of the choice of Reyes before Pelosi had a chance to, which is not how these things are supposed to be done.)
posted by KenInNY @ 9:46 AM
4 comments
|
Reddit
4 Comments:
Great news! This guy even looks like he means business.
From a perspective far far from American shores-- I sincerely wish everytime Chimpy used the word "democracy" he would get a sharpp and hideously painful jolt of electricity. The damage he is doing the word is nothing short of sinful.
The idea that Pelosi would get so much as a hint of a negative response to not wanting Jane "I am best Republican in the Democratic Party" Harman to be in charge of anything is absurd.
There are good points in your article. I would like to supplement them with some information:
I am a 2 tour Vietnam Veteran who recently retired after 36 years of working in the Defense Industrial Complex on many of the weapons systems being used by our forces as we speak.
If you are interested in a view of the inside of the Pentagon procurement process from Vietnam to Iraq please check the posting at my blog entitled, “Odyssey of Armementsâ€
http://www.rosecoveredglasses.blogspot.com
The Pentagon is a giant,incredibly complex establishment,budgeted in excess of $500B per year. The Rumsfelds, the Adminisitrations and the Congressmen come and go but the real machinery of policy and procurement keeps grinding away, presenting the politicos who arrive with detail and alternatives slanted to perpetuate itself.
How can any newcomer, be he a President, a Congressman or even the Sec. Def. to be - Mr. Gates- understand such complexity, particulary if heretofore he has not had the clearance to get the full details?
Answer- he can’t. Therefor he accepts the alternatives provided by the career establishment that never goes away and he hopes he makes the right choices. Or he is influenced by a lobbyist or two representing companies in his district or special interest groups.
From a practical standpoint, policy and war decisions are made far below the levels of the talking heads who take the heat or the credit for the results.
This situation is unfortunate but it is ablsolute fact. Take it from one who has been to war and worked in the establishment.
This giant policy making and war machine will eventually come apart and have to be put back together to operate smaller, leaner and on less fuel. But that won’t happen unitil it hits a brick wall at high speed.
We will then have to run a Volkswagon instead of a Caddy and get along somehow. We better start practicing now and get off our high horse. Our golden aura in the world is beginning to dull from arrogance.
Post a Comment
<< Home