Good news of the day

[billvon 3,114]

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(CBS/AP) President Bush sought to rally Republican lawmakers around his Iraq plan Thursday, saying Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off" by assuming some political power.

He warned that violence is likely to worsen as that transfer approaches, and after it passes.

The president made the rare visit to Capitol Hill as lawmakers prepare to head to their home states for the Memorial Day holiday at the end of the month.

The presidential pep rally of sorts came as a . . . growing number of Republicans are expressing doubts about the policy in Iraq, reports CBS News Correspondent Bob Fuss.

"This has been a rough couple of months for the president, particularly on the issues of Iraq, and I think he was here to remind folks that we do have a policy and this policy is going to be tough. . . Things, as I think he commented, are very likely to get worse before they get better."

. . .

"He talked about 'time to take the training wheels off,'" said Rep. Deborah Pryce. "The Iraqi people have been in training, and now it's time for them to take the bike and go forward."
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oops, that was three years ago. But it's just as true today! Well, maybe a little less true.

[rehmwa 2]

That is good news.

Now let's see how both sides spin it to make the other side look bad and their side look good - to the extent that nothing gets accomplished.

I'm not cynical - just wait for the next few posts.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[kelpdiver 2]

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(CBS/AP) President Bush sought to rally Republican lawmakers around his Iraq plan Thursday, saying Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off" by assuming some political power.

too bad it's a unicycle.

[billvon 3,114]

>Now let's see how both sides spin it to make the other side look bad and
>their side look good - to the extent that nothing gets accomplished.

Already happened. Like I said, that was three years ago. Nothing's been accomplished.

[akarunway 1]

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(CBS/AP) President Bush sought to rally Republican lawmakers around his Iraq plan Thursday, saying Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off" by assuming some political power.

too bad it's a unicycle.

ROFLMAO. Good one. Thanks

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[airdvr 210]

Enlighten us with your alternative

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[billvon 3,114]

> Enlighten us with your alternative

1) Get our troops out of every part of Iraq except Baghdad. The Iraqis have had four years to get an army and police force together; the administration has been trumpeting their successes in self-policing. Time to take them at their word.

2) Send the extra troops two places. First, to Afghanistan, specifically the border of Pakistan. Destroy Al Qaeda's sanctuary there. They are our enemy; they're the ones who attacked us. Once they are destroyed, leave. If the Taliban want to come back - let the Afgani government decide that. It will be their decision.

3) Send the rest of our forces to Baghdad. Make it one big "green zone" so the government can get their work done. Restrict US involvement to policing that area. Ask the country for a referendum - and if they want us to leave there as well, we leave.

4) Talk to Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey etc about what they want to do about their borders with Iraq. If they want to expand there, let em. European colonists drew the borders in that area; perhaps it's time to let the people who live there redraw them. And if Iran wants to over-reach? Again, let them. Let the war they start grind their military down.

We end up with Al Qaeda wiped out, a city-state in Baghdad, and a redrawn map of the Middle East. Bush gets his "victory" in Baghdad, we eliminate our enemy, and we finally have an exit strategy - and the arabs and persians have a country _they_ are happy with.

[Royd 0]

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Send the extra troops two places. First, to Afghanistan, specifically the border of Pakistan. Destroy Al Qaeda's sanctuary there.

Didn't I just see on the news that a bunch of them are holed up in some refugee camp in Lebanon.

At least someone is starting to police their own.

[Royd 0]

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And if Iran wants to over-reach? Again, let them. Let the war they start grind their military down.

But what about the children?

[ryoder 1,590]

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(CBS/AP) President Bush sought to rally Republican lawmakers around his Iraq plan Thursday, saying Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off" by assuming some political power.

too bad it's a unicycle.

With a flat tire, and someone stole the spokes.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[mnealtx 0]

I could definitely support that... too bad Congress won't let Bush/the military do exactly that...

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[kallend 2,147]

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> Enlighten us with your alternative

1) Get our troops out of every part of Iraq except Baghdad. The Iraqis have had four years to get an army and police force together; the administration has been trumpeting their successes in self-policing. Time to take them at their word.

2) Send the extra troops two places. First, to Afghanistan, specifically the border of Pakistan. Destroy Al Qaeda's sanctuary there. They are our enemy; they're the ones who attacked us. Once they are destroyed, leave. If the Taliban want to come back - let the Afgani government decide that. It will be their decision.

3) Send the rest of our forces to Baghdad. Make it one big "green zone" so the government can get their work done. Restrict US involvement to policing that area. Ask the country for a referendum - and if they want us to leave there as well, we leave.

4) Talk to Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey etc about what they want to do about their borders with Iraq. If they want to expand there, let em. European colonists drew the borders in that area; perhaps it's time to let the people who live there redraw them. And if Iran wants to over-reach? Again, let them. Let the war they start grind their military down.

We end up with Al Qaeda wiped out, a city-state in Baghdad, and a redrawn map of the Middle East. Bush gets his "victory" in Baghdad, we eliminate our enemy, and we finally have an exit strategy - and the arabs and persians have a country _they_ are happy with.

It will be far easier to build a time machine, go back to Feb 2002, and cancel the invasion.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,114]

>too bad Congress won't let Bush/the military do exactly that...

?? Bush has made it clear than ANYTHING other than unconditional funding of open-ended war in Iraq, with no planned exit date or change in strategy, is unacceptable. He has been most adamant on the subject. Indeed, his administration would refer to the date we consolidate in Baghdad as the "surrender date" - as it has before.

I fear it will take another two years for us to get a commander in chief smart enough to change failure into as much success as we can get out of the current mess.

[willard 0]

The invasion was 3/03. Just thought I'd point that out.

Of course, you could go back to 2/02 if you want and give yourself an extra 13 months to do something.

[kallend 2,147]

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The invasion was 3/03. Just thought I'd point that out.

Of course, you could go back to 2/02 if you want and give yourself an extra 13 months to do something.

When did the "bad intel" propaganda begin?

When did Cheney start pushing the "Atta in Prague" myth?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[willard 0]

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The invasion was 3/03. Just thought I'd point that out.

Of course, you could go back to 2/02 if you want and give yourself an extra 13 months to do something.

When did the "bad intel" propaganda begin?

When did Cheney start pushing the "Atta in Prague" myth?

I don't know, when?
Hey, I was just pointing out the invasion was March of 2003. If you want to hop in your time machine and go back to Feb. 2002 then have at it. In fact, I believe I stated in my original reply that you could do that if you wanted to give yourself some more time. I couldn't care less what your reasoning behind it is and didn't bring that into question. Chill out.

[NCclimber 0]

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When did Cheney start pushing the "Atta in Prague" myth?

I think it was right after it was presented to him as fact.

Why not go back to August 2001? Or are you okay with the events of 9/11/01?

[kallend 2,147]

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When did Cheney start pushing the "Atta in Prague" myth?

I think it was right after it was presented to him as fact.

"Facts are important and should be checked before drawing conclusions."

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[NCclimber 0]

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When did Cheney start pushing the "Atta in Prague" myth?

I think it was right after it was presented to him as fact.

"Facts are important and should be checked before drawing conclusions."

What is your point?

That Cheney's 2001 statements about "Atta in Prague" should have been investigated more thoroughly before going public?

Or are you going with "he knew he was lying about it back in 2001, even though there is no evidence of him doing so"?

Edited to add: I noticed you only responded to part of my post, ignoring "Why not go back to August 2001?"

Hmm.

[kallend 2,147]

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When did Cheney start pushing the "Atta in Prague" myth?

I think it was right after it was presented to him as fact.

"Facts are important and should be checked before drawing conclusions."

What is your point?

That Cheney's 2001 statements about "Atta in Prague" should have been investigated more thoroughly before going public?

Or are you going with "he knew he was lying about it back in 2001, even though there is no evidence of him doing so"?

Edited to add: I noticed you only responded to part of my post, ignoring "Why not go back to August 2001?"

Hmm.

Why not go back to 1914 and prevent the assassination of the Archduke? With a time machine, you have time to do ALL of these things!

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[narcimund 0]

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Why not go back to 1914 and prevent the assassination of the Archduke? With a time machine, you have time to do ALL of these things!

How dare you only fix the iraq war instead of 9/11! Fix everything!

I stubbed my toe on my bedframe really bad when I was 8. It hurt and I cried for an hour! So while you're fixing the past, could you go back and put some padding around that bare metal for me?

Thanks! (I hope this helps ncclimber feel better that you're going to take care of ALL the horrors of the past, you selfish man you!)

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[NCclimber 0]

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Why not go back to 1914 and prevent the assassination of the Archduke? With a time machine, you have time to do ALL of these things!

It's your time machine. I guess you can do what you want.

Still, it's interesting that you thought to use it for avoiding the Iraq War, instead of avoiding this current mess, altogether.

[narcimund 0]

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Still, it's interesting that you thought to use it for avoiding the Iraq War, instead of avoiding this current mess, altogether.

I can think of a more effective way to avoid "this current mess" but you'd have to go another year back in time to 2000.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[NCclimber 0]

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I stubbed my toe on my bedframe really bad when I was 8. It hurt and I cried for an hour!

An hour? Why am I not surprised?

[narcimund 0]

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An hour? Why am I not surprised?

Ooo. That's quite a gotcha to insult an 8 year old boy who got hurt. You should be proud.

First Class Citizen Twice Over