re: Big But Sighting

[CDR Salamander]

I can see a lot more "Big But Sightings" over the next few months. Maybe we can give it a name or descriptive phrase. Hmmmm.

How about, "Jennifer Love Hewitt showed up again today."

You could use it in such places as, "Did you see Jennifer Love Hewitt on Meet the Press?" or "James Webb threw Jennifer Love Hewitt all over Mike Wallace."

Just an idea.

Big But Sighting

[Greyhawk]

aka Re: first Murtha...

I share your enthusiasm for the trend,

BUT...

Immediately prior to denigrating the achievement of the troops over the past few months, Webb offers the requisite preface to any such attack..."I don’t want to take anything away from the performance of the United States military" - which seems to be the magic phrase for members of one particular political party that apparently protects them from any potential backlash from doing it anyhow. You can see the BIG BUT coming like a slow-motion train wreck, because these days such a claim is like a piercing siren with twelve flashing lights warning that the speaker is going to do exactly that.

Of course, most politicians are a bit too astute to offer the actual word

"but"

immediately following the utterance of the magic phrase of ultimate protection, but this time it was there in the flesh.

I don’t want to take anything away from the performance of the United States military tactically when they’ve been put into a situation.

But

there are a lot of other pieces to this, and al-Anbar is a classic example.

Well, yes, we have people in Iraq who are on our side, and are working with us to a common goal. I think Michael Totten's quote from a Fallujah resident offers the best counterpoint to Webb (or others of his persuasion):

"Security is good now because the coalition, Iraqi Army, and Iraqi police all work together," said an Iraqi fruit stand owner. "One hand does not clap."

And it honestly disturbs me that a guy like Webb probably can't read that quote without feeling a bit of dismay.

Numerous factors contributed to our military success here, the surge and the awakening movement are two of the most significant. Neither would have succeeded without the other, and yes, the awakening movement came first*. I'm not sure exactly why acknowledging that would be seen as slighting the accomplishment of the Americans here - but Webb seems to feel very strongly that it does.

Feh - let's cut out the bull shit. That's the very point he's trying to make. Short version: Iraq is less violent now than last summer, but this isn't due to efforts of US troops. US troops were given a job that was too tough for them by our political opponents who also failed to give them training and equipment. We don't want to deny credit to the troops for that drop in violence (in fact deep down we actually know we're being complete assholes) but we must or else the foundation of our position erodes to nothing.

And oh, by the way, bring the troops home.

*****

*You can spare yourself from sounding ignorant on this particular topic if you read this and this (scroll to "Close Air Support..." entry) before making any comments on the subject.

Panic Mongering

[Soldier's Dad]

via AP

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a statewide emergency. Helicopter rescues were being launched for stranded hikers and some homeowners trapped by flooding, state emergency management officials said.

Mudslides halted north-south Amtrak passenger train service between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Wind gusts of more than 100 mph were reported along the Oregon coast, with the highest reading at 129 mph at Bay City, the Weather Service said. Gusts hit 81 mph at Hoquiam, Wash., it said.

For the last four hours...I have been sitting on my deck...enjoying the unseaonably warm tempatures. A bit of rain has been coming down...but outside of that...life in the Pacific NorthWest has been grand today. But you know...we are having RAIN in Seattle...and it isn't even the weekend.