The Iraq Study Group

[BayGBM]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111301058.html

The urgent issue of Iraq should be decided by the people we elected, not a commission. If we'd wanted James Baker to run the country, we'd have voted for him.


The need for this Iraq Study Group, also known as the Baker commission, (and everyone agrees there is a desperate need for it) underscores how incapable and unqualified the current leadership is.

This is the third time the Bush administration has sought the counsel of experts (twice before they gathered all previous living Secretaries of State and Defense) and in so doing highlighted their own lack of expertise and ability to execute.  Without supervision they have given us dead service men, maimed and wounded servicemen, and half a trillion dollars in debt . . .

This failed President has done the worst thing a leader could do: he has taken the country to a place where there are no good options.  Thank god, Baker and his commission members are still alive to bail us out of this mess.

[bigdumbbell]

amen

[Dos Equis]

This is a good thing.  I think the president should seek counsel from former presidents and cabinet members. 

[BayGBM]

This is a good thing.  I think the president should seek counsel from former presidents and cabinet members. 

I think the President should have a competent foreign policy team.  Alas, he doesn’t, which is why he has to intellectually outsource the Iraq problem.  If the results of their ineptitude weren’t so tragic this situation would be laughable: his foreign policy team has tried everything they can think of and is failing miserably!

Now, they need a commission to come up with ideas and bail them out. 

Talk about dysfunction.  “We want to be in power, but we have no idea what to do.” 

This mess has been brought to you by Cheney, Rummy, and Condi; the axis of idiots.

[Dos Equis]

I think the President should have a competent foreign policy team.  Alas, he doesn’t, which is why he has to intellectually outsource the Iraq problem.  If the results of their ineptitude weren’t so tragic this situation would be laughable: his foreign policy team has tried everything they can think of and is failing miserably!

Now, they need a commission to come up with ideas and bail them out. 

Talk about dysfunction.  “We want to be in power, but we have no idea what to do.” 

This mess has been brought to you by Cheney, Rummy, and Condi; the axis of idiots.

I don't think his team is incompetent.  They made a huge blunder in failing to effectively plan for the aftermath of the overthrow of Sadaam and the insurgent resilience.  They're trying to fix that blunder.  It is sort of a catch 22.  If Bush does nothing and "stays the course," he will be criticized.  If he takes steps to find an alternative solution, he is criticized.

And the biggest problem just resigned a few days ago.     

[240 is Back]

And the biggest problem just resigned a few days ago.    

hahahahahaha

dude you were on your knees with a bottle of lube for rummy a week ago.  suddenly he was the problem holding bush back from beign the legendary leader we all knew he was hahahahahaha...

hey, how many times have you fallen for the "i've got a volcano in Maui i'd like to sell you?" trick?  Shit, I bet you have a lockbox full of volcanic deeds and that's your retirement plan when the economy goes kaput! 

[BayGBM]

I don't think his team is incompetent.       

You are very forgiving. 

Even neocons Richard Perle and Kenneth Adelman characterize the Bush team as incompetent and “deadly dysfunctional.”  Tell us, would you hire this cast of characters?  I wouldn’t.  Where is Brent Scowcroft when we need him?

If you don’t think they are incompetent what letter grade would you give this foreign policy team A thru F?


http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2006/12/neocons200612

[Dos Equis]

You are very forgiving. 

Even neocons Richard Perle and Kenneth Adelman characterize the Bush team as incompetent and “deadly dysfunctional.”  Tell us, would you hire this cast of characters?  I wouldn’t.  Where is Brent Scowcroft when we need him?

If you don’t think they are incompetent what letter grade would you give this foreign policy team A thru F?


http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2006/12/neocons200612

I'd hire Powell and Rice in a heartbeat.  Cheney was much better as defense sec., but he's not incompetent.  Rumsfeld was as bad an appointment as Les Aspen. 

Bush is doing what most presidents and governors do.  Commissions are formed all the time to propose ideas.  Nothing new.  It's actually a sign of good leadership. 

[BayGBM]

Don’t you find it the least bit unsettling that necons who worked with or for the administration (Pearl was chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee and a former proponent of the Iraq war) describe the administration as incompetent?  David Frum who wrote the “axis of evil” speech says this situation must ultimately be blamed on "failure at the center"—starting with President Bush.  Something is wrong when Bush’s own people can see that, but you can’t.  Maybe it’s time to invest in some critical thinking skills.

Ah, well, I suppose some people will defend until the bitter end. 

We're still waiting for the letter grade... 

[Eyeball Chambers]

dude you were on your knees with a bottle of lube for rummy a week ago.

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA HHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAH AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH AHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH

[Dos Equis]

hahahahahaha

dude you were on your knees with a bottle of lube for rummy a week ago.  suddenly he was the problem holding bush back from beign the legendary leader we all knew he was hahahahahaha...

hey, how many times have you fallen for the "i've got a volcano in Maui i'd like to sell you?" trick?  Shit, I bet you have a lockbox full of volcanic deeds and that's your retirement plan when the economy goes kaput! 

Oh really?  Why don't you quote me on Rumsfeld?   

The active volcanoes are on the Big Island, not Maui.     But I am on Maui about once a month or so.  The Krispy Kreme donuts are very nice.
 

[Dos Equis]

Don’t you find it the least bit unsettling that necons who worked with or for the administration (Pearl was chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee and a former proponent of the Iraq war) describe the administration as incompetent?  David Frum who wrote the “axis of evil” speech says this situation must ultimately be blamed on "failure at the center"—starting with President Bush.  Something is wrong when Bush’s own people can see that, but you can’t.  Maybe it’s time to invest in some critical thinking skills.

Ah, well, I suppose some people will defend until the bitter end. 

We're still waiting for the letter grade... 

Doesn't bother me one bit.  Some of Bush's "people" have criticized him?  Stop the presses.  Whomever holds office is attacked, sometimes by his own people.  Conservatives thought Clinton was da debil.  I recall a "documentary" that even accused Clinton of murder.  I'm sure 240 owns that one. 

But the point of this thread was that the forming of a commission is an admission of failure.  That's not true.  Commissions, panels, ad hoc committees, etc. are very common. 

[240 is Back]

hahahahahaha you won't rank Bush A thru F.  Just like you refused to say whether or not you'd support a second 911 investigation if there was proof Bush knew about the attacks and did nothing!

Beach Bum is scared of his own shadow.

[Dos Equis]

hahahahahaha you won't rank Bush A thru F.  Just like you refused to say whether or not you'd support a second 911 investigation if there was proof Bush knew about the attacks and did nothing!

Beach Bum is scared of his own shadow.

I tell you what 240, you find the numerous quotes by me supporting Rumsfeld, and I'll give Bush a grade.

You need to put a smile on man.  You have too much invested in this conspiracy stuff.  Are you happy?   

[240 is Back]

I tell you what 240, you find the numerous quotes by me supporting Rumsfeld, and I'll give Bush a grade.

You need to put a smile on man.  You have too much invested in this conspiracy stuff.  Are you happy?   

of course i'm happy.  I'm joining in the blind, fuck-with-people style instead of using evidence and examples.  Most people here would throw a handwritten 911 Inside JOb letter in the fireplace and refuse to look at a mountain of evidence on the real reasons we're in iraq, so I thought I'd just have fun here like everyone else.   

Beachy, are you saying you were critical of Rummy BEFORE he left?  Okay, then which members of the Bush staff are you critical of now?  (Hint: Your answer will be none )

[Dos Equis]

of course i'm happy.  I'm joining in the blind, f**k-with-people style instead of using evidence and examples.  Most people here would throw a handwritten 911 Inside JOb letter in the fireplace and refuse to look at a mountain of evidence on the real reasons we're in iraq, so I thought I'd just have fun here like everyone else.   

Beachy, are you saying you were critical of Rummy BEFORE he left?  Okay, then which members of the Bush staff are you critical of now?  (Hint: Your answer will be none )

I don't know you, but you sure don't sound happy.  You've got about 10 conspiracies in the hopper.  This appears to be your life.  Lighten up and enjoy yourself.  Make more babies.  Do volunteer work.  Save your pennies and visit Hawaii.          

[240 is Back]

nah, I hear hawaii is full of irrational people who bury their head in the sand

I'm trying to hit the higher levels of Maslow, ya know?  I do the fmaily thing every day. But I take a little time each day for political activism, to spread what I believe to be important truths that others are scared of, or just haven't seen yet. 

My "10 conspiracies in the hopper" are ten lies which you have swallowed (although I don't know that I have ten).  You do nothing to improve society but insult people trying to help.

[Eyeball Chambers]

Sheeple are Americas biggest threat. 

[Dos Equis]

Talk about the pot . . . .    Dude you call folks names every single day on this board.  It doesn't help get your point across at all.  

And yes, I do make fun of you.  I'm trying to stop.  Because you take this stuff so seriously, my ridicule is sort of mean.  I'm working on it.  But it ain't easy!  

[BayGBM]

hahahahahaha you won't rank Bush A thru F. 

'nuff said. 

[Dos Equis]

'nuff said. 

I

[240 is Back]

I

aahahahaha

no balls.

[Colossus_500]

And the biggest problem just resigned a few days ago.     

Amen! 

[240 is Back]

Um, if Rumsfeld was the biggest problem, why did Bush and Cheney let him keep his job for 6 years?

If I hire an idiot employee, he is an idiot the first day.  But every day I keep him on staff - even when his actions kill thousands and the world keeps telling me how bad a job he's doing - well, those days are my own fault.

To crap on Rummy after bush backed him for so long is a pussy move.

[BayGBM]

Much like Bush... you appear immune to facts.  

When Condi is warned by Clark, Clinton, the FBI, and others & gets memos entitled "Bin Laden Determined to strike in the US" and fails to connect the dots...
When the secretary of Defense loses the confidence of nearly all the generals and is forced out...
When Colin Powell calls his appearance at the UN the low point of his career...
When assistant secretary of defense under Reagan, & Iraq war hawk, Richard Pearl calls the administration incompetent...
When David Frum says this situation must ultimately be blamed on "failure at the center"—starting with President Bush...
When you have to call in every living former secretary of defense and state (twice) for advice and counsel...
When you have to form a Baker commission because your foreign policy team has taken you a place with no good options...

there is only one grade to give: F