Most US troops want out of Iraq


President Bush's stay-the-course rhetoric isn't playing well with American soldiers. A recent Zogby poll shows that 72 percent of American troops currently in Iraq want a complete pullout within a year or less.
The survey of 944 troops, conducted in Iraq between Jan. 18 and Feb. 14, said that only 23 percent of servicemembers thought U.S. forces should stay “as long as they are needed.”

Of the 72 percent, 22 percent said troops should leave within the next six months, and 29 percent said they should withdraw “immediately.” Twenty-one percent said the U.S. military presence should end within a year; 5 percent weren’t sure.
In addition, 42 percent of those surveyed are unsure of their mission, and 85 percent say the war is retaliation for Saddam’s role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. and chairman of the Victory in Iraq Caucus, said “...whatever the poll results say, the bottom line is these are troops who will continue their mission, because they would rather fight the enemy overseas than at home.”

Does anybody still believe that line?
1.3.06 15:58


A now a word for Mohammed, peace be upon him


My right-wing, Christianist, pro-war friends love to remind me that Mohammed was a pedophile, and then gleefully quote the Koran, a book they've never read, by way of Little Green Snotballs, to make their point. Every winger knows the story of how Mohammed married a nine-year-old. By 21st century American standards, that seems downright creepy. But it turns out, and I'm not making this up, Mohammed was not an American! Lawrence of Cyberia dumbs it down for the Freepers:
1. Arab society in 7th century was organized on the basis of the extended family, clan or tribe.

2. An individual's membership of the tribe was through the male head of the household, ie your husband
or father.

3. The tribe was an important structure in maintaining social order. If someone victimized you, your tribe would stand up for you. If someone killed you, your tribe would take revenge.

4. Tribal revenge might sound barbaric to 21st century American ears, just as "an eye for an eye" does in the code of Hammurabi or in the Hebrew scriptures/Old Testament. But these measures were actually progressive in their day. The purpose of "an eye for an eye" was not to give an excuse for taking out someone's eye, but to limit the retribution that an injured party could claim against an offender, so that tribal vendettas would not develop and escalate. Similarly, tribal revenge was not an excuse to commit violence, but a deterrent to stop it happened in the first place, by warning a would-be offender that his actions would have consequences.

5. Seventh century Arabia was marked by tribal warfare, so it's difficult to know what to make of the accusation that Muhammad was a "warlord". How do you think people lived in tribal societies in times of war? Check out your Jewish or Christian scriptures and reacquaint yourself with the history of the Hebrew kingdoms. In half a millenium of tribal kings, from Saul to Zedekiah, precious few of them would escape the title "warlord". It's part of living in a time of war, not a character defect.

6. Until the mid-20th century, the primary casualties of war were those who fought it, i.e. young adult males.

7. Referring back to point 2, above, the loss of young adult males to warfare in 7th-century Arabia had the effect of cutting loose from tribal protection the widows and orphans whose affiliation to the tribe had been through the deceased male head of the family.

8. There were ways to regraft vulnerable, unattached people back into the tribal structure. A man who could afford to support someone else's son might formally adopt him into his tribe. A man who could afford to support more than one wife could bring widows and orphaned girls under the protection of his clan through marriage. The function of such marriages was not sex but social stability; you did not have marital relations with a pre-pubescent "bride".

9. So, while a perfectly normal nuclear family in the 21st century United States might comprise husband plus wife plus 1.7 children, a perfectly normal 7th century Arabian nuclear family might instead comprise a husband and a wife (or wives) with whom he had children; plus a number of previously-widowed and previously-orphaned wives with whom he did not.

10. Which, coincidentally, was what Muhammad?s nuclear family looked like.
9.3.06 19:39


Hard core baptist babe seeks turnip for companionship/brain transplant


This has to be seen to be believed. A contestant on America's Next Top Model is apparently unaware that the fashion industry is run by gay people:
I don't like gay people. I don't like Muslims. I don't like abortions. I don't like anything liberal. But, other than that-I really like to get along with people...
"Danny" was booted off the show before she goosestepped down the runway, and has returned to her regular job of gassing stray puppies at the animal shelter.
12.3.06 17:30


Crybaby Frist


Wisconsin's gift to the Republic, Sen. Russ Feingold, says he will introduce a vote to censure President George Bush his authorization of warrantless wiretaps. Sen. Bill Frist, (R-Jesusland), says that's not fair:
He is flat wrong. He is dead wrong. And as I was listening to it, I was hoping deep inside that that the leadership in Iran and other people who have the U.S. not in their best interest are not listening because of the terrible signal it sends.
Yes, we don't want the Islamofascist whackjobs to think we are a nation of laws, with long-held democratic beliefs worth fighting for.
13.3.06 01:58


Did Brian Williams say that?


Did I hear that right? Brian Williams, in Friday night's NBC Nightly News broadcast, said President Bush's approval ratings of 37% match Bill Clinton's lowest job rating during his Presidency. That's is flat out wrong. Not even close. Clinton rarely dipped below 50%, even during Fellatiogate. Bush would kill for the Big Dog's numbers, if he hasn't already.

I get a kick out of watching Bush defend his abysmal poll ratings, which is essentially to blame the public's lack of support on his own willingness to take unpopular stands. Stands like illegal wiretapping, his administration's lackluster reponse to the worst natural disaster in American history, and incompetent war leadership. Even Limbaugh says Iraq is a disaster. Give it up, George.
13.3.06 02:21


Straw men


President Bush, at Kansas State University:
I knew right after September the 11th, though, that the attacks would begin to fade in people's memory. I mean, who wants to constantly go through life thinking that you're going to get hit again? Who wants to kind of re-live those days in your memory? As a matter of fact, I asked the American people to go on about your life. But given the fact that it's human nature to forget, or try to put in the past, put the pain in the past, I want to assure you and our fellow Americans I'm not going to put it in the past. The threat to the United States is forefront in my mind. I knew that at times people would say, you know, it may be an isolated incident, let's just don't worry about it. Well, for me it's not an isolated incident. I understand there is still an enemy which lurks out there.
Have you ever heard anyone say that 9/11 was no big deal? Other than the French?

201K does a hilarious send up of the whole mess.
16.3.06 00:51


Hoo boy, now we're in trouble!


From The Borowitz Report:

IRAQIS ANGRY THAT U.S. FORGOT ANNIVERSARY OF WAR

Shiites, Sunnis Enraged Over Absence of Flowers

Iraqi citizens, already furious at the United States for a host of issues, are now miffed that the U.S. apparently forgot the third anniversary of the war there, sources said today.

Across the war-torn nation, Iraqis expressed a range of emotions from dismay to outright anger at the U.S. for failing to recognize the anniversary of the March 2003 invasion.

And while Sunnis and Shiites have found little to agree about as sectarian violence has surged in recent weeks, they both seemed in accord about one thing today: the United States should have at least sent flowers.

“A third anniversary is a big deal, and it should have been marked with a tasteful bouquet,” said Tikrit resident Hassan El-Medfaai, 47. “Apparently, this anniversary means a lot more to us than it does to them.”
Does chocolate go stale after three years?
20.3.06 17:37


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