Here is an article from Slate about the decisions... http://slate.msn.com/id/2103112/ Mr. Carter has a good take on the situation. IG

This is one of the news stories today: “The United States has credible intelligence from multiple sources that the al-Qaida terror network is determined to “hit the United States hard” in the coming months in a strike that could be linked to events such as a coming international economic summit and the summer political conventions.” Now, I realize that they want to keep us informed, but are they really telling us anything that we do not know? I mean, I have basically been expecting anot...

From Thw Slate: http://slate.msn.com/id/2100933/ IG

OK, I have seen part of the testimony and read the transcript of Rumsfeld. And it strikes me that one of the main things he is sorry about is that the pictures got out in the first place. He poke of procedures and investigations and controls. He talked of the information technology of today and anyone with a digital camera. He also mentioned how Congress and the President was “blind-sided” by the news report. So here is my question. Assume that the Rumsfeld investigation all went accordin...

OK, we went into Iraq to get Saddam and other secondary reasons. Cool. In order to do this we had to destroy a lot of the Iraqi landscape and infrastructure, which we are now in the process of repairing and rebuilding. Understood. We will be in Iraq for a long time. Also, we are in control of a majority of Iraq. Terrorists, armed US resistance set up shop in Fallujah. The US could not truly retake the city without massive loss of civilian life. We could not (to paraphrase Aliens: “Lea...

Now, I have been hearing, quite correctly that the members of our armed forces in Iraq are deserving of respect and admiration due to the sacrifices they are making for our health and security. I also know that weather you are for or against our involvement that this respect should be shown. I also know that a good number of our soldiers are being killed in the line of duty in Iraq and that while the number is small compared to our losses in previous wars and police actions, it is sti...

On watching Dr. Rice’s testimony and the testimony of others about what was missed, unseen, or misinterpreted, I am reminded of another event in our past: On January 27, 1967, three astronauts, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, Lt. Col. Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee, entered their Apollo One capsule, which sat on the launch pad for a “plugs-out” test. It is basically a test to see if the capsule could operate on its own. It was a routine test, done several times before. The astronauts wou...

It’s bad now. It’s going to get worse. The smaller Iraqi groups are getting bolder and more organized. Nothing unites like a common enemy. And that leaves me with three general questions: First: Did we have a contingent exit strategy? Did it include flexibility or at least the contemplation that there were people sympathetic to those who orchestrated 9-11 who might like the idea of continuing the struggle “up close”? Or did we think it was going to be Italy after the Germans left. Secon...

This may not make it on the network news, but this is worth reading: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4676016/?GT1=3256 I do not know how old he is, but he is "retired". IG

Ralph Nader is running for president of the United States. Let me repeat that. Ralph Nader is running for president of the United States. Again. I am not sure, but how many states did he carry in the last election? Wasn’t it ZERO !!!! Does he believe that the republicans are going to drop their SITTING PRESIDENT in the middle of several armed conflicts and rally to his banner? So, he must be relying on the Democrats. But he’s not a spoiler. Oh, no. He’s got ideas. Ideas that ...

OK, we saw Janet's breast but no nipple. Question: Why the frig are we surprised !? The show was put on by MTV. Have you seen the videos? How they dress? How the women look in the "dresses" at the Grammy's? I mean come on! I have no problem with the attire if that is what you want to wear. And I know that the vids are selling an image. Now, I am all for artistic expression, and the nude body is a beautiful thing that has impired great works of art, song and literature, but if you are pr...

I was thinking, by listening to the radio stations and the religious stations I get an idea of what they want. The question I have is if we return to the "christian values" this nation was supposedly founded upon, how will the new leaders deal with the "jewish values", "muslim values" and the other relions that currently co-exist in our society. Yes, I know it is not a completely peaceful co-existence, but do you think it would be better with leaders who think you are an ungodly abomination? ...

I listen to the radio too much. A few religious right stations. I have too many questions about the "other side" that have no real answers, or that people do not want to discuss, or can't discuss without getting angry or insulting, or resorting to rhetoric. Was there ever a grand plan? If there was a plan, I do not know if it was a good one. It might have been at the start. But things happen, things change, undocumented features pop up. If this is still the plan, a project review is defi...

So, after we move up our evacuation timetable and get the flock out of dodge (for pete's sake, do not use choppers) and the various Iraqis and their well armed political parties (they may not have WMD, but they do have WAD, weapons of adequate destruction) hold their "elections", how long before there are minor dissagreements with the results? Question, when we do leave and Iraq returns to the tenets of its faith, how quickly will women's rights vaporize? I'm betting 12:01 am, November 3rd...

Well, this is definately a mistake. He's such a stable force in the world. Calm, cool, typical family man. Ward Cleaver for the 21st century. Coforable around people. Just enjoying standing out on the balcony with his child. Taking his children to the zoo. Typical family values kind of guy. A straight shooter. Never two-faced. No alterations to this father's image. Papa Walton has come down from the mountain and has been arrested by the police. Jalbert