I've got to join the parade of people commenting that it wasn't Georgia that the Bushies pushed into a showdown with Russia. The Bushies pushed Putin into action as a favor to sword-rattler McCain, so he can show off his military chops. As for the fate of the country and people of Georgia, Dickie and Georgie could not care less.
(Also posted on Fraywatch, slate.com.)
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13 August 2008
11 August 2008
Hitchens' good news from Baghdad
<<< From Slate.com:
Iraq’s budget surplus scandal
WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME HEARING GOOD NEWS FROM BAGHDAD?
By Christopher Hitchens
Updated Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at 6:53 AM ET
So, yes, major combat operations appear to be over, and to that extent one can belatedly say, "Mission accomplished." If there is any Iraqi nostalgia for the old party and the old army, it is remarkably well-concealed. Iraq no longer plays deceptive games with weapons of mass destruction or plays host to international terrorist groups. It is no longer subject to sanctions that punish its people and enrich its rulers. Its religious and ethnic minorities—together a majority—are no longer treated like disposable trash. Its most bitter internal argument is about the timing of the next provincial and national elections. Surely it is those who opposed every step of this emancipation, rather than those who advocated it, who should be asked to explain and justify themselves. >>>
OK, Hitch, here goes.
Emancipating sovereign countries is not why I pay federal taxes. Making life better for people in foreign nations is not the business of the U.S. government. While I’m just so thrilled that things finally seem to be going so well in Iraq, I will not ignore the fact that King George II and Dickie C. lied their way into invading and occupying a sovereign country.
Just for starters, their lies produced:
The bleeding U.S. economy and bankrupt federal treasury
The depleted U.S. military (multiple thousands of mutilated or dead Americans and their broken families)
Murder, rape and other crimes by Blackwater, under the protection of the U.S. government, on foreign soil
Gutting the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
Torture and other war crimes
Death by electrocution of U.S. military personnel in the war zone, caused by the greed and incompetence of the U.S. megagobble for whom Cheney shills
Government-sponsored assault on American liberties
Castration of the U.S. Department of Justice
When England's North American Colonies wanted freedom from greedy rulers, the colonists started it. Yes, European powers hostile to England helped out, but we started it. France didn't decide to rescue us from a despot. And Holland didn't make illegal contracts for tobacco plants.
It’s so nice that Iraq’s “religious and ethnic minorities—together a majority—are no longer treated like disposable trash.” That honor has been transferred to the people of the USA.
By the way, Christopher, I usually agree with much of what you say, other than Iraq. But how does an affirmed atheist such as you cope with being named for Christ?
-30-
Iraq’s budget surplus scandal
WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME HEARING GOOD NEWS FROM BAGHDAD?
By Christopher Hitchens
Updated Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, at 6:53 AM ET
So, yes, major combat operations appear to be over, and to that extent one can belatedly say, "Mission accomplished." If there is any Iraqi nostalgia for the old party and the old army, it is remarkably well-concealed. Iraq no longer plays deceptive games with weapons of mass destruction or plays host to international terrorist groups. It is no longer subject to sanctions that punish its people and enrich its rulers. Its religious and ethnic minorities—together a majority—are no longer treated like disposable trash. Its most bitter internal argument is about the timing of the next provincial and national elections. Surely it is those who opposed every step of this emancipation, rather than those who advocated it, who should be asked to explain and justify themselves. >>>
OK, Hitch, here goes.
Emancipating sovereign countries is not why I pay federal taxes. Making life better for people in foreign nations is not the business of the U.S. government. While I’m just so thrilled that things finally seem to be going so well in Iraq, I will not ignore the fact that King George II and Dickie C. lied their way into invading and occupying a sovereign country.
Just for starters, their lies produced:
The bleeding U.S. economy and bankrupt federal treasury
The depleted U.S. military (multiple thousands of mutilated or dead Americans and their broken families)
Murder, rape and other crimes by Blackwater, under the protection of the U.S. government, on foreign soil
Gutting the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
Torture and other war crimes
Death by electrocution of U.S. military personnel in the war zone, caused by the greed and incompetence of the U.S. megagobble for whom Cheney shills
Government-sponsored assault on American liberties
Castration of the U.S. Department of Justice
When England's North American Colonies wanted freedom from greedy rulers, the colonists started it. Yes, European powers hostile to England helped out, but we started it. France didn't decide to rescue us from a despot. And Holland didn't make illegal contracts for tobacco plants.
It’s so nice that Iraq’s “religious and ethnic minorities—together a majority—are no longer treated like disposable trash.” That honor has been transferred to the people of the USA.
By the way, Christopher, I usually agree with much of what you say, other than Iraq. But how does an affirmed atheist such as you cope with being named for Christ?
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