Breaking News . . . Taliban Captures several Afghan Villages.

My heart breaks for them.

And meanwhile W continues saber-rattling at Iran because I guess things are going so swimmingly in Afghanistan and Iraq that we can open up a third front.

This news coming on the heels of the botched US bombing of the Pakistani army last week. Makes you wonder who the hell is in charge of our military. Oh, yeah.....the Commander in Chief.

That's the worst part Paul . . . the the plans for an Iranian assualt were "leaked" out some time ago . . . a contingency plan for . . . you know . . . "in case" it's needed. It'll likely be a mostly areal assault. How many war fronts do you figure this economy can face? Right now they're talking even on the GOP side of impeaching IF he attacks Iran. I'M still wondering why the hell we have to wait for THAT before we do something lawful . . . like prosecute these war criminals.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

There was world support for the actions in Afghanistan. Too bad the US did not focus there. It is a country with a rich past that deserves a rich future ... instead it is being allowed to waver. Hamad Karzai is a brave man for taking this on.

There still is NATO support . . . just not the requisite military support from the US due to the Iraqi sideshow of illegal occupation.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Good grief! If we go into Iran we are going to be facing an uphill battle. Persians are nothing like Iraquis, I know ~ I was married to one.

I had a very good Persian friend named Tohid and they are different . . . but what's the chance George "Which way is the middle east?" Bush has ANY clue about that?

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

i don't really care if iraq, afghan or iran terrorists are trying to kill me. who cares?

I have NO idea what you're trying to say. (Loosen the mask)! :P

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Oh dear.

I hope congress doesn't let the numbnuts in chief to attack Iran and if he does he must be impeached immediately.

Yeah like that will ever happen.(impeachment)

I truly believe prosecution MUST happen. This is either a nation of laws or it is not.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

The problem with Afghanistan is that history has very clearly showed that (a) no foreign power has ever been able to hold it, and (b) no native Afghan ruler has even been able to maintain a very long or stable dominance. Afghanistan is basically a patchwork of feuding tribes who snipe at each other and then run and hide in the mountains. There really is no "nationality" there. In effect "Afghanistan" is a word on paper that describes no real entity. You think bin Laden might be hiding up in the mountains? Bribe a couple of clan chiefs to assassinate him. Because no army, foreign or native, has ever been able to successfully penetrate those mountains. The only way the British and the Russians ever had any influence in the 19th Century was to bribe individual warlords to assassinate each other. Their armies failed miserably. The British finally gave up in 1919. The Russians tried one more time in the '80s before finally packing up and going home in 1992. And now we've put ourselves there and dragged NATO with us. Did everybody in the Bush administration flunk high school history?????

As for Dubya, Uncle Dick, Wolfie, and the rest and their war crimes... Hey, I've got the rope, just find me some convenient lampposts!

Roy . . . excellent summation. In fact, it proves that Booshie should have gone in, taken out the camps, picked up Osama Bin Fogotten and left. We had ALL the support in the world for that!

Jim . . . it's reached the point that due to his sneering disregard for anyone else that even if a leader wanted to support him, he'd pay a price for that at home in his own country. We don't see his lapdog, Blair anymore, do we?

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Roy has an excellent point. I always try to snag Afghanistan when playing Risk because I can hold it with just an army or two against a horde...

Sorry, the whole FUBAR our fearless leader has made in the middle east brings me to tears if I think about it.

LoL! Steph plays Risk! Uber-Geek! :P

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Like me being an Uber-geek is news. Hello, Doyle! Where have you been?

I thought there was a Risk game happening here. I guess not
*grems wanders away*

Wow. What a surprise. Thanks Doyle.

"Hello, Doyle! Where have you been? "

Shhhh. Playing computer RISK.

Welcome Ron!

George . . . get help.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

It would surprise me if we did something besides shooting ourselves in the foot.

Today it looks like the taliban are planning a big offensive.

Is bush prepared?

There is always a first time.(sure there is)

Ann . . . I'd be surprised to see a single, wise, foreign policy decision.

"Is bush prepared?"
He's probably clearing brush at the ranch in Crawford. :P

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

It all begs the question however of what exactly a President Obama will do come January...what can he change given his promises to Iraq and the logistical/financial problems of heavier US involvement in Afghanistan.

So far he seems caught between his promises to Americans of beefing up Afghanistan, to Iraqis of not pulling out of there, to Americans to continue the 35K manpower increase for the Army/Marines, to Americans to also cut defense spending...its an entangling web he's weaving for himself.


"Obama, Afghanistan, and 2009"
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977375719&nav=MyGather

"It all begs the question however of what exactly a President Obama will do come January..."

What all? What are you talking about and how does it relate to Taliban advances and a lack of response because we're over extended in Iraq?

I'm not too cool on advertising your stuff on my strings, but as it's done , it's done. Your anti-Obama comment is intriguing, but what viable alternative IS there? The GOP is dead for at least a decade since most people aren't pro-war, pro-torture, pro-Booshie . . . or anti-American. I guess the only thing that remains to be seen is how President Obama handles these things and goes about cleaning up after the most criminal group in U.S. history. While we watch that, we can also watch the remnants of the GOP turn on each other as an amusing side show before they implode and hope they end up like the Whig and Federalist parties did.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~