Iraq for Sale
August 26th, 2008
The U.S. wants a relatively loose agreement that allows us to keep troops in Iraq.
But the prime minister is under intense political pressure to take a hard line against the Americans, even as his government engages in the back-and-forth of negotiations. Graffiti can be seen on the walls in Shiite districts of Baghdad saying, “Iraq for sale: See Maliki.”
To further prove his independance, Malaki is getting ready to sign a big oil deal with China. Russia is probably next. We spend $2 Trillion on what Greenspan called “a war for oil”, and our global rivals get half the oil. We continue to live in this illusion that our military power gains us some global mercantile advantage.
Uncle Sucker.
The ranch in Crawford being energy efficient is a good thing. But then it’s pretty easy for the rich to pay for that kind of upgrade to properties. What America needs is to spend about what has been spent so far on the Iraq war on alternative energy, energy efficiency, and all that for US citizens. I think that two or three trillion would have been much better spent at home where it would do good for centuries rather than rotting, rusting, and decaying with death and destruction in the desert right now. That money spent in Iraq has NOT been an investment in our future; it’s been pissed into the hot sand. It’s red ink. It’s gone. No more of that, please. Time to actually invest in our future, not spend our kids’ future.
The ranch in Crawford being energy efficient is a good thing. But then it’s pretty easy for the rich to pay for that kind of upgrade to properties. What America needs is to spend about what has been spent so far on the Iraq war on alternative energy, energy efficiency, and all that for US citizens. I think that two or three trillion would have been much better spent at home where it would do good for centuries rather than rotting, rusting, and decaying with death and destruction in the desert right now. That money spent in Iraq has NOT been an investment in our future; it’s been pissed into the hot sand. It’s red ink. It’s gone. No more of that, please. Time to actually invest in our future, not spend our kids’ future.
Rick, Alex, Fentex- As you can see, I’ve decided to let Morgan back in. I just had a check up and My blood pressure is in good shape. I just hope he brings something original to the discussion and acts like a civilized adult instead of a spoiled teenager.
Rick, Alex, Fentex- As you can see, I’ve decided to let Morgan back in. I just had a check up and My blood pressure is in good shape. I just hope he brings something original to the discussion and acts like a civilized adult instead of a spoiled teenager.
I couldn’t agree more, Rick. My guess is offline, you’d find so does Laura Bush, but short of poisoning her husband, she can only improve her part of the desert. So I hold her up as a good example so others might do the same. Once they share that goal, then they will look for ways to get that done. Then they will look for others with the same values.
In my 54 years, I’ve never found a way to force some one else to value what I value except to show by example what that value provides in return for what I give up.
I couldn’t agree more, Rick. My guess is offline, you’d find so does Laura Bush, but short of poisoning her husband, she can only improve her part of the desert. So I hold her up as a good example so others might do the same. Once they share that goal, then they will look for ways to get that done. Then they will look for others with the same values.
In my 54 years, I’ve never found a way to force some one else to value what I value except to show by example what that value provides in return for what I give up.
Yes Morgan’s back, and I notice that he’s right “on message”.
Really Morgan, think about doing one post where you make a menu of all your memes and number them. Then you could just reply with a simple #4 (which would equal “You whiney oldsters don’t have a clue.”)
Hummm, now that I think about it, that wouldn’t work. No caps for numbers. Oh well, it was a thought.
Yes Morgan’s back, and I notice that he’s right “on message”.
Really Morgan, think about doing one post where you make a menu of all your memes and number them. Then you could just reply with a simple #4 (which would equal “You whiney oldsters don’t have a clue.”)
Hummm, now that I think about it, that wouldn’t work. No caps for numbers. Oh well, it was a thought.
Rachel: I will read that work. I have not yet to this point. However, my point is, even the British Nobel economist in his estimate of $3 Trillion if we stopped and got out completely last December, is incorrect. My reasoning behind this point is that we do not know the true costs yet, and I do not believe we will until Iraq is in our rear-view mirror for several months, and the number-crunchers get a crack at the totality of the data. That said, your point is not lost on me, and I have some reading to do.
Jon, thanks for the kind words. The French Connection is one of my faves, and I have nowhere NEAR that level of presence. But I appreciate the comment either way. Love the blog, and even when lurking, I have been following with continued interest. Despite your detractor, I think that your ideas deserve some sunshine and more play than they likely receive at present. The great sadness of reality is that this is exactly the type of discussion that *should* be going on all over this country right now. Listen to some of our great Presidential orators of the past, and listen to examples of (what passes for) the current crop of pols and pundits and one can see a clear line of distinction. From “the better angels of our nature” to “how to win an argument with a liberal while wielding a baseball bat”. There are cultural reverberations here that are becoming increasingly apparent. (Yes, I followed those posts too, and agree.)
Alex: I agree with the ironic question you pose, but I would ask that you reflect that when the UN did investigations into Saddam’s oil-for-food program, they found both France and Russia skirting the rules and outside the International law/agreement that was in place. Ironic perhaps, but certainly not without recent historical precedent.
Len: I have been following your comments as well, and it certainly appears that you have been thinking about things. I look forward to more of your observations and opinions. We need more well-reasoned and enlightened discourse.
Fentex: While I share some of your sentiment, the concept of collective punishment is on its face immoral. I too believe that there should be a reckoning, but I truly believe that the spirit of the American People is a noble one. I use as an example the private donations total for the recent tsunami victims a few moons ago. I think the total was well-over $2 billion dollars. Initially, Shrubya was going to send them $40 million dollars. So, my point is, the reckoning is due, but the tragedy of the reality is that those most responsible, who most earned their punishment will be the last to ever be held accountable.
To us all: Thank you for the continued discussion. If nothing else, I take great joy from this site in that there *ARE* people out there having these discussions, and if nothing else, we few will filter out into the rest of society and at least give these insights and observations some air-time, even if we have no broadcasting ability beyond our personal conversations and debates.
- Zhirem
Rachel: I will read that work. I have not yet to this point. However, my point is, even the British Nobel economist in his estimate of $3 Trillion if we stopped and got out completely last December, is incorrect. My reasoning behind this point is that we do not know the true costs yet, and I do not believe we will until Iraq is in our rear-view mirror for several months, and the number-crunchers get a crack at the totality of the data. That said, your point is not lost on me, and I have some reading to do.
Jon, thanks for the kind words. The French Connection is one of my faves, and I have nowhere NEAR that level of presence. But I appreciate the comment either way. Love the blog, and even when lurking, I have been following with continued interest. Despite your detractor, I think that your ideas deserve some sunshine and more play than they likely receive at present. The great sadness of reality is that this is exactly the type of discussion that *should* be going on all over this country right now. Listen to some of our great Presidential orators of the past, and listen to examples of (what passes for) the current crop of pols and pundits and one can see a clear line of distinction. From “the better angels of our nature” to “how to win an argument with a liberal while wielding a baseball bat”. There are cultural reverberations here that are becoming increasingly apparent. (Yes, I followed those posts too, and agree.)
Alex: I agree with the ironic question you pose, but I would ask that you reflect that when the UN did investigations into Saddam’s oil-for-food program, they found both France and Russia skirting the rules and outside the International law/agreement that was in place. Ironic perhaps, but certainly not without recent historical precedent.
Len: I have been following your comments as well, and it certainly appears that you have been thinking about things. I look forward to more of your observations and opinions. We need more well-reasoned and enlightened discourse.
Fentex: While I share some of your sentiment, the concept of collective punishment is on its face immoral. I too believe that there should be a reckoning, but I truly believe that the spirit of the American People is a noble one. I use as an example the private donations total for the recent tsunami victims a few moons ago. I think the total was well-over $2 billion dollars. Initially, Shrubya was going to send them $40 million dollars. So, my point is, the reckoning is due, but the tragedy of the reality is that those most responsible, who most earned their punishment will be the last to ever be held accountable.
To us all: Thank you for the continued discussion. If nothing else, I take great joy from this site in that there *ARE* people out there having these discussions, and if nothing else, we few will filter out into the rest of society and at least give these insights and observations some air-time, even if we have no broadcasting ability beyond our personal conversations and debates.
- Zhirem