Blogcritics Comments on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Comment by Andy Marsh on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 07:42:57 EDT

I know in Egypt they have a beer called Stella, but I promise, it doesn't look or taste like the Stella Artois that you can get in the states. It always came in a colored bottle, green or brown, and I found out why the first time I poured it in a mug. I honestly think I now know where those companies that used to advertise in the backs of comic books went...they now add sea monkeys to Egyptian beer! And they got pissed when I complained about the shit that was literally swimming in my beer! And Condor, it's good to know that the fine art of making blige wine is still alive and well! It ain't teh best tasting stuff in teh world, but damn, it's got a kick!

Comment by Surfer on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 07:30:44 EDT

They actually have pretty good beer in Iraq. Amstel used to be the favoured drop, and was brewed in Baghdad, but I think there's a local drop called I think Ferida.

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 18:44:19 EDT

They get beer in Iraq? Bahrain perhaps. Friends tell me they drink non-alcoholic beer (yeeeech). When I was on ships tooling around the Caroline islands and the Marshall's it was not unheard of to put a batch of pruno under the main diesels for curin' and around the first port-o-call it was broken out on the industrial pier along with the guitars. Dylan was sung terribly and the pruno was just as bad.

Comment by Dan Miller on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 21:00:40 EDT

Actually, the announcement over the PA system sounded like "free beer;" they all got there and signed up for it. Boy, were they surprised when the found out what had actually happened. Dan

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 20:22:28 EDT

"any thoughts on who they are all voting for is just projection on your parts" - From #72 El B If they are voting absentee in Florida, perhaps those sacks of mail will once again become misplaced or "lost"....

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 20:18:19 EDT

I was referring to #67 and the link to the Jerusalem Post article entitled -- Security and Defense: Not leaving the nuclear threat up in the air. Written by YAAKOV KATZ... With a quote from #71... I think I made the right connection. Perhaps I should have made that clear.

Comment by Clavos on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 17:43:49 EDT

"Dan, your comment is exactly what the article was referring to." Might have something to do with Dan having written the article...

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 17:08:50 EDT

"History seems to demonstrate, over and over again, that the best way to prevent war is to be ready for it and to take those steps which can prevent it or at least keep it from causing more harm than necessary. Preparation obviously entails having some pretty solid and detailed contingency plans, and I hope that they are either ready or far along in preparation". - Dan Miller Dan, your comment is exactly what the article was referring to. Planning. Readiness planning is necessary for all contingencies... down to escaping your household during a fire. Readiness planning also falls in line with situational awareness. I read a paper on profiling a while back, which tied in both readiness planning and situational awareness, I wish I could pinpoint the source. Good reading. I might add the book I am currently reading entitled "War of Numbers" by Sam Adams with an intro by Col. David Hackworth. The value added here is that without good, truthful intel the planning stage is skewed. The book tells the tale of Vietnam and Westmoreland's dumbing down the stats on NVA/VC troop strength. The order of battle was off because General Westmoreland demonstrated a shrinking number of NVA/VC by striking off all support personnel from villages etc... Which were indeed parts of the total order of battle (OD). Yet when body counts were concerned the numbers were added back in (i.e. they counted all casualties). Looked good on paper, right? Right... until Tet in '68, then the truth raised its ugly head. Front line officers and troops didn't understand where the numbers of insurgents were coming from. And many troops lost their lives due to insufficient levels of preparedness. Sam Adams is an intel hero... he was banging on doors all over DC, which ultimately led to Westmoreland filing a defamation lawsuit after a documentary was aired on CBS in the early '80's (it aired during a Steve Martin special and received very little attention).. The lawsuit was dropped when it was learned that documentation existed proving that the Westmoreland staff at MACV, under orders were told to cook the books. Great book, which drove home the value of good intel, good planning, and correct situational awareness. These three underpinnings of readiness/plans are essential for viable and conditional responses to crisis. Didn't Hussein suffer from years of overstating his power base? The Iraqi government under Hussein boasted on their abilities and their weapon systems that brought a cascade of force barreling down upon them. Was Hussein's spokesman during the initial battle lying... or grossly misinformed? No one could believe the audacity of the ad hoc press conferences being held as troops closed in on Baghdad. In my opinion, even top officials of Hussein administration were duped. Amazing!

Comment by bliffle on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 16:18:15 EDT

Condor would do better to put better words into his own mouth rather than trying to put poor words into others mouths.

Comment by Cannonshop on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 15:12:53 EDT

Zedd: You're right about it not being about Liberals or Conservatives-based on McCain's record in the Senate, I think only a handfull of Democrats are more Liberal, (I swear I think the only reason he's not the Democratic candidate, is that ya gotta be a Republican to win in Arizona) and he's certainly drunk deep of the Global Warming Kool-Aid. "...This is about a single man who wants the coolest job in the world. This guy is pulling out all of the stops. He is putting EVERYTHING out there that will buy him votes..." Is TRUE about BOTH candidates-or anyone else who's ever run for the office. Sure, McCain probably used his POW experience (and the fame it generated) to win elections in the past-just like whatsizname, the guy who played "Gofer" on the Love Boat used HIS to win higher office, or Reagan used HIS non-politics fame to win the California Governorship or the Presidency, or Obama writing some nice bestselling books before announcing his candidacy. the difference between, say, McCain and Kerry, though-(and it IS a difference) is that McCain actually accomplished things in the Senate (McCain-Feingold, a law I despise, but it was written and it passed), and he's got a platform. Referencing back in time for a moment, if Kerry'd had a Platform, and a record of doing things other than telling PX-Ranger stories and calling his subordinates war-criminals or worse, he would've had 2004 in the bag-he was running against a president that had record lows in approval ratings during a war that was being protested daily. Obama's got the same problem Kerry had, but from a different source- and he's also crippled by having no record of...well... ANYTHING accomplished beyond getting Elected, and writing a nice, puffy, autobiography filled with the right buzzwords and phrases (and likely ghostwritten by an uncredited pro.) ALL Barak Obama has going for him on a national level, is a beautiful speaking voice and a stack of questionable friends he's proven all-too willing to throw under the bus to save his own skin. That latter trait is generally viewed as a "Downside", Zedd. In short, we can look at McCain's work in the Senate, we can look at his time in the Military, and do both honestly, and have some idea what we'd get with Johnny in the White House. Obama?? Not-so-much, and looking honestly, the few things we CAN look at to evaluate him as an Executive, as a Friend, and as a man says he's probably NOT the man one should trust with the silver suitcase full of launch codes, and probably NOT the sort of guy that can make an enemy negotiate in good faith either through charm, or fear. Given the U.S. has enemies that it does, 'Charm' would have to be some SERIOUS mojo, as in 'supernatural', where the "fear" factor probably applies more to the FRIENDS of the U.S. where Obama's concerned, than its enemies. On the Domestic front, Barak Obama has ZERO he can point at and say "I fixed this, I wrote a law and got it passed to address that, I made The Other Thing happen". The Projects in Chicago are still the Projects, Illinois hasn't improved thanks to Obama's term in their Legislative level. Obama in the Senate only voted ONCE, and has neither sponsored, nor co=sponsored a single bill that's been passed. All he's done, is get into the office, have a couple books written, and run for the Presidency... oh, and he's a handsome young man of the right racial background to make American Libs swoon-which is enough to beat Hillary "baggagegirl" Clinton, but may not be enough to beat an opponent who's actually got some substance and DOESN'T have eight years of repeated scandals to overcome.

Comment by El Bicho on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 15:02:51 EDT

Comment 4. You guys read a lot into a press release that is short on details. No doubt there are many that believe in the mission, but considering there's not a single quote from any of the enlistees and there's no mention of what incentives there are for enlisting as opposed to being re-upped under the stop-loss measures, any thoughts on who they are all voting for is just projection on your parts.

Comment by Dan Miller on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 14:57:11 EDT

Condor, All good and valid points, I think. I was trying to respond to what I considered an inane suggestion, as briefly and in as equally inane a way, as I could. No one in his right mind "cheers" for war. Nor does anyone in his right mind "cheer" for hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or measles epidemics. Those things happen, and lots of bad stuff results. Every time. History seems to demonstrate, over and over again, that the best way to prevent war is to be ready for it and to take those steps which can prevent it or at least keep it from causing more harm than necessary. Preparation obviously entails having some pretty solid and detailed contingency plans, and I hope that they are either ready or far along in preparation. Has the point of war been reached or nearly so with Iran? I don't know. It does seem as though the train is accelerating in that direction and that it may be impossible to halt it. If there is to be a war, it seems best to fight it when, where and how we chose, rather than to leave those matters within the sole discretion of Iran. Dan

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 14:29:45 EDT

One can cheer for war, one can hide their heads in the sand, or one can remain prepared and vigilant. With war being deeply ingrained in the human species, what would you do? What is a natural reaction? Fight? Flight? Succumb? Why limit the discussion to just war, why not add violent crime in there for good measure. Someone breaks down your door with the intent on robbing you and leaving no witnesses. What then? Die? Is it natures way to want to just die? That doesn't say much towards the theory that a species adapts and overcomes or withers away. Adapting and overcoming includes defensive behaviours, or offensive behaviours depending on the level of threat. Why does a surviving species react with violence? I'm guessing that it has something to do with survival of the species, procreation and all of that. Is war natural? It might be. Does that make it good. I would guess not. But... if one group desires to overwhelm another and the other can defend themselves then, and only then, is war countermanded. It takes energy and will to do that. Nationally, do we (the U.S.) have the will? Individually does Bliffle have the will? I know I do, I must, it's ingrained. Just as I will defend my family and life. Property is insurable if a crime is committed. If in war your property is taken from you, you just loose it. Is that what you are referring to Bliffle, just give up life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness if war broke out? How can one wish for war or hope for war? It almost seems unavoidable given that humanity is part of the equation. Humanity being a species, who like other species (according to theory) share many traits. I contend that war is an innate behaviour. I think Bastiate's "The Law" explains the condition in a way that is easy to fathom and, why law is required to counteract the naturally occuring needs to steal and war. It comes from the human need to take the easy way out. Labor is painful, just steal it, then you save yourself a bit of pain. War has a much the same motivation, unless of course you are defending your right to survive and procreate, then labor is necessary.

Comment by Dan Miller on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 10:10:44 EDT

Sounds like you're cheering for war. Nope. Dan

Comment by bliffle on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 09:28:23 EDT

Sounds like you're cheering for war. Let's see, got to bomb Irans nuke facilities, but got to do it soon before they get those Russian air defense missiles and before those wobbly Obama folk can get into office. When? Next month?

Comment by Dan Miller on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 08:30:38 EDT

Condor, We share the same concern about appointments to the Supreme Court. How does Madam Justice Clinton strike you? Or Mr. Chief Justice and Madam Justice Clinton? Or vice-versa? We talk about Senator McCain's age,and it does worry me; but I assume (haven't bothered to do the math) that if he were somehow appointed to the Court, it would lower the average age. Yet those guys get to remain in office, no matter what, until they go to that happy lawyerland in the sky. And, yes, Senator McCain has claimed underdog status; so, as I seem to recall, did Senator Obama not too long ago. Both were correct. A lot can happen between now and the general election. If things heat up in Iran, as they well may, there can quite a lot of change to believe in. Dan

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 06:42:10 EDT

"It would be a refreshing testament to Obama if he gets it right." Or, perhaps, to Senator McCain if he gets it right." - Dan Miller Thanks Dan for adding the other half of the equation. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the press report that McCain has made statements to the effect that he considered himself the underdog? If, (IF) McCain is indeed making those types of statements, outloud, in public, or even to the bathroom mirror, then internally he is digesting the notion and subconsciencly adopting that mindset. Note the (IF). Will a surrendering or defeatist mindset will prevail over the outward man. The more I think about this election, the more I believe that it is not a contest for the Chief Executive position, but for the Supreme Court appointments which are coming due. W's appointments kept the 2nd amendment intact, by 1 vote. For that I thank him. What does the future hold in store? That is the concern I have.

Comment by Condor on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 06:23:40 EDT

Influence? Hah! Every candidate I have listened to in the past has never made it through the media sanctification (which is a subject unto itself). I go for those candidates that understand (in thought and deed) the preamble of our Constitution.

Comment by Zedd on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 23:50:01 EDT

Dan, I've REALLY liked McCain for a long time. For all of the reasons that you've noted and more. I appreciate practical solutions and don't understand ideologues. I've stated before that I am disappointed at just how much conceding that he has done in order to get to this point in the race. I am disappointed at his fawning over the Christian right among others. He is now Baptist (eye roll). I am disappointed at his position on the war. It is lacking clarity and completion which smacks of political play. Its as if he is saying just enough to make the foggy headed (image drunk) types in his party happy.

Comment by bliffle on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 23:33:20 EDT

Condor, If you have any influence could you please get McCain and his coterie to stop talking about Vietnam. "One thing I have noticed over the years is that people who were really in the thick of battle, don't really share the tales of war"

Comment by Zedd on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 23:30:48 EDT

Connonshop, You cant be that naive. This is not about Liberals or Conservatives. This is about a single man who wants the coolest job in the world. This guy is pulling out all of the stops. He is putting EVERYTHING out there that will buy him votes. Some people get all woozy about military experience so he is using it. Plain and simple. I haven't heard the press core discussing his military service that much. I have however heard him bring it up on a regular basis over the past 10yrs.

Comment by Zedd on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 23:21:05 EDT

Clavos, Not sure if I am pontificating. Just saying that I don't think that the troops of this war are the BEST equipped at making decisions about the validity or "winability" of this war. I am not saying that this war is different or that these soldiers are trained any differently. I'm guessing you know that and are just arguing for the sake of it. You being in Vietnam doesn't make you understand all military situations either, as much as I admire your efforts in that war. If military experience were the criterion for having valid opinions on all things military, we wouldn't have diverse views from former vets. A guy who served next to you in war may very well have a different view from you on this very topic. I agree that those who would never, ever serve or send their children to the battle field should not be so willing to send people to war. Having a spouse who was a marine I know that many of his fellow devil dogs were waaaaaay off when it came to political matters. They were so brain washed and had no real clue as to how our government operates. They had no idea just how much we (they) were actually protecting the interests of the wealthy and NOT protecting "freedom". It was rather sad and embarrassing to behold all of the revelry over manufactured ideals. They were so sincere.

Comment by Cannonshop on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:19:52 EDT

Doc, My apologies-I was still just waking up when I went through the posts this morning, and a bit blurry. Zedd: It wasn't McCain that brought up his POW experiences first, it's a press corps that treats it like his only defining moment, and probably a professional PR machine that thinks it's a good contrasting trait compared to the last two Vietnam vets who ran for the white house. (Gore, and Kerry). Face it, the Boomers are still the biggest demographic, and in terms of political power, they're still the most important and powerful demographic. Add in that the American Left can't resist constantly comparing the current (war? Police Action?) Conflict to THAT one (up to and including trying to organize sixties style protests, retreading Sixties and Seventies era Rhetoric, and lionizing deserters and other BF'er scum), McCain's experience as a Vet becomes rather more relevant taken in the tone of today's political climate than it would have been, oh...in 1996, when we did NOT have rehashed antiwar rhetoric and sixties radicals trying to reanimate the "movement" to screw up another generation. (hell, we had a Dem. Congresscritter trying to revive the Draft in '05 to invent another cassus belli to protest...)

Comment by Clavos on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:19:11 EDT

"I was making a distinction between the war that you mentioned and this one. If 30% of the people in Iraq were there by force and not as volunteers, the sentiments of the soldiers WOULD be different." The only "sentiment," as you put it, anyone in a war has is universal and timeless, whether the it's the Peloponnesian War or Iraq: get the job done while trying to stay alive. Under those circumstances draftees are indistinguishable from anyone else. You really have no idea of what you are pontificating about, Zedd. None.

Comment by Dan Miller on Neither a White Uniform Nor a Black Skin a President Makes

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 20:54:23 EDT

Condor, "It would be a refreshing testament to Obama if he gets it right." Or, perhaps, to Senator McCain if he gets it right. The Fat Lady (pardon my non PC choice of phrase) ain't sung yet. Dan