Big Effin' Mess
 

Thank you.

Kos, MNF ... You make a lot of assumptions about what "our" "chosen venues" are. If you think we do the burning pentagrams in our front yards every week, let me clear that one up right now. That's only every other Thursday.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Thank you.

Well, HEY, muthafucka! You've come back to break the 30 post threshhold with posts of love and camaraderie! Welcome baaaaack.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Well, I've googled (the news search gave me "Your search - "level 1 readiness" iraqi army - did not match any documents") and I can't find any definitive answer. The web search brought up the stories from late September, which talked about the number dropping from 3 to 1 (like this one from the Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092902085.html

• The number of Iraqi army battalions that can fight insurgents without U.S. and coalition help has dropped from three to one, top U.S. generals told Congress yesterday, adding that the security situation in Iraq is too uncertain to predict large-scale American troop withdrawals anytime soon.

One might think that the website of the Multi-National Security Transition Command http://www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil/facts_troops.htm might have such information, but they don't.

Here's what they do have (and I checked their news releases in the press center, which have stories like "Iraqi troops discover two roadside bombs" but nothing on how many units are at level 1 readiness):

• Iraqi Army
  
  Iraqi Army soldiers negotiate a standard eight-weeks of basic training including basic soldiering skills instruction in weapons marksmanship, individual tactics, physical training, drill and ceremony, and soldier discipline.
  
  Units negotiate advanced courses in Infantry tactics, heavy weapons, land navigation, and other operational training both before and after joining units in the field. In addition, training courses focus on Iraqi noncommissioned officers, while officers receive relevant combined arms education in the new Staff College, formed with NATO advice and support.
  
  The Iraqi Army will ultimately be comprised of 113 combat battalions: 91 Infantry battalions, 12 special Iraqi Intervention Force battalions, five mechanized Infantry battalions, four tank battalions, and one special-duty security battalion. Nine Motor Transportation Regiments, three mechanized combat service support battalions, and 10 base support units will sustain the Iraqi Army forces.
  
  The bulk of the force has been in the fight since prior to the 30 January 2005 elections, with the remainder of the units coming on-line through 2005 and into 2006.

To be fair, level 1 readiness is a high standard, as noted by General Casey when he spoke to Congress.

Big Effin' Mess
 

A simple yes or no would suffice.

Big Effin' Mess
 

The Bush Administration house organ? That's your source? I'll start reading that when you start citing to Josh Marshall.

I did not know there was a Monday Night Football web site.

Snark, snark, snark. What are you, twelve? What's next? Nanny-nanny-boo-boo?

Big Effin' Mess
 

That was you with the Slate article, wasn't it?

Assumptions based on clues can be meaningful. For instance, I bet I would be accurate if I guessed you've not visited the MNF site before today.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Ah, yes. A fivefold improvement in readiness is indeed a positive development, and I cheer it. From what to what is a different analysis, I suppose, but the improvement is positive, I agree.

Good night and farewell, sweet sock.

Big Effin' Mess
 

That's the thing. There's a lot of career-minded individuals parked safely in desks in the Pentagon spending more time sucking up than actually defending our country, and they come out with this language that is as incomprehensible as anything out of any other govmint agency. What does "in the lead" mean? Can I get an idea of how much US support is encompassed by "varying levels of US support" ? I'd love an impartial source of information about how things really are on the ground in Iraq right now, and the direction that things are going. There's too many people out there with axes to grind that have nothing to do with security in Iraq. All I can tell for sure is that the US casualty rate doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Big Effin' Mess
 

No, no, I'm Bilmore. Ty is the one with the dreadlocks and the cane, standing over by the tofu machine.

Big Effin' Mess
 

MNF = Monday Night Football? It's Tuesday.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Funny, I've read the weekly reports and the analyses, and the numbers and terms are fairly straightforward. But, I suppose that, compared to having to say "wow, yeah, we're actually doing a lot better over there than I thought", this "but english is so hard!" response is a lot easier and more palatable.

Nanny nanny boo boo!

Big Effin' Mess
 

I subscribe for the pictures.

Frankly, you'd have to explain the acronym to me.

To the extent that you care, my daily media diet these days seems to revolve around:

WaPo
LA Times
The Economist
Slate
ESPN.com
The Defamer
Wonkette
InstaPundit
Andrew Sullivan
The Cunning Realist
Buzz Machine
TPM Cafe
DemocracyArsenal.org
and whereever those links seem to take me.

From my limited exposure, Kos gives me indigestion, and I feel I glean enough from your and Hank's posts about DU to get the gist without even going there.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Sounds like Philly in the 70s.

Big Effin' Mess
 

I go to nfl.com, but just to read Easterbrook.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Perhaps you missed the part where I said "impartial" sources. When you cite to the Bush Administration house organ, and Centcom's PR office*, well, I'm surprised if you haven't booked your 2006 family vacation in Basra yet!

I assume MNF = MultiNational Forces. If not, please advise what the hell you refer to by your casual oh-so-in the know acronym.

Big Effin' Mess
 

I read LGF and RedState.org, but, I admit, only for the comedic value.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Frank? I had no idea he was into the NFL.

Big Effin' Mess
 

No, his brother Gregg.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Wait. so when terrorists blow up the recruit lines they are just killing other terrorists? So the bombings are good?

Were you notme?

Ann Coulter
 

I don’t know about absurd, but it was quite clear and transparent, unlike the doubletalk you Dems are famous for.

Calling for “immediate troop withdrawal” (“We're done in Iraq and we should pull out in mid-December”) is the same as “having a feeling that we should start trying (not try, but START trying) to extricate troops from Iraq”?. Right, okay then.

You guys got caught with your pants down and are pissed. You want to pander to the unwashed, peacenik, uneducated, anti-war masses with your “get out of Iraq rhetoric” but don’t want to get called on it on the Senate Floor, where the company is more washed and educated (and politically important). Knock it off with the “we’re only saying we should get out of Iraq when it makes sense” bullshit. Cause Repubs are saying that too. You guys have called for everything from “immediate withdrawal” to imposition of a 6 month time frame, with no wiggle room. The “6 more months only” rhetoric reached its peak back in the summer of 2004. Which means some in your party would have had the troops home well before the Constitution was put in place and would have pulled them out no matter how smart it was to pull out from a strategic standpoint. (And don’t forget, some of you schnooks actually voted for immediate withdrawal. Suckas)

Trying to have it both ways is always going to cause embarrassment when you are forced to put your money where your mouth is, and rectify your panderings with your “official” position. Take Kerry. The guy gave the thumbs up to attack Iraq but then wanted to be perceived (in anti-war circles only) as the “candidate against going to war”. When asked whether he voted to go to war or not, a yes or no answer was in order. Instead he had his mouthpieces explain, “what Kerry voted for was to hold Saddam Hussein accountable”. Really? Must have been a close vote, with all those people against accountability and all. How about a resolution requiring accountability for all statements concerning the war. I’m for that.

Shit or get off the pot. Thottam did. He wants all troops out of Iraq now and aint scared to say so. You can find him giving an “update” on Iraq, followed by highly accountable “drumming music” at the Liquid Cube Coffee House at Cal State Northridge. Have a blast.

Big Effin' Mess
 

You didn't know that? We're in a war - a war that has almost completely occupied the national discourse for years - and you come here to participate in debate about it - and you didn't know THAT? THAT'S your standard for "oh-so-in-the-know"? Good gawd . . . . Ya'all are right. We need to withdraw now. Think France'll take us back?

;)

Big Effin' Mess
 

No, apparently he's into the CA7, but back in the day he was into the CIA, the CFL, and CBGBs on the weekends. IIRC, he donates occasionally to MSF AKA DWB, NTTAWWT, npi, STP.

Ann Coulter
 

And if you travel to meet him check in to your hotel and leave your bags BEFORE you go see him. Mug cannot be trusted with underwear.

http://www.sacredcowburgers.com/paro...difference.jpg


Penske-style post!TM

Big Effin' Mess
 

Whaa-iffff.

Man, I felt the breeze half a continent away.

Big Effin' Mess
 

no, it was garland flower hats, cupcakes and smiles.
http://www.warriorsfortruth.com/imag...-Relations.jpg
http://www.natehoward.com/iraqb/phot...irlsvert72.jpg

http://cache.boston.com/news/package.../032703/24.jpg

Big Effin' Mess
 

How's Micronesia doing?

Big Effin' Mess
 

Notice the smiley?

Whiff back atcha, bear.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Somehow, I'm more comfortable with numbers...

http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/USfatalities.gif

Big Effin' Mess
 

D'oh!

Ann Coulter
 

I haven't called for an immediate withdrawal or for a strict timeframe. Quit ascribing to me opinions that I haven't expressed. If you can't be bothered to actually read my posts and respond to what I am saying, then shut the fuck up or put me on ignore. I'm not your stalking horse or anybody else's, so fuck off.

Murtha also did not call for a full troop withdrawal. He called for a phaseout, beginning in December.

Furthermore, the Republican response, as exemplified by Hastert, Cheney, Frist, McClellan, and Jean Who-the Fuck was not to respond that the Administration was working on an orderly plan for withdrawal, but instead to call Murtha a coward and a liar.

I'm personally willing to stand by what I say. And I'm willing to listen to anything anyone else has to say that is actually substantive and responsive. Take as your examples Bilmore and Club.

You and your vague, misdirected attacks on "the Democrats" as if I speak for them or them for me can join Penske and Hank in the shitcan of people more interested in calling names and flinging feces at shadows on the wall.

I'm tired of you and your kindred spirits. If you aren't willing to engage one-on-one and actually try to advance understanding and raise the level of dialogue, then stay the fuck out of my face.

Ann Coulter
 

Apology is in order.

I have been very good since Penske left. I even commented substantively several times in the past few days. (the Penske-style posts don't count against me)

Ann Coulter
 

Not only do the Penske-Style posts count against you, they count double since Penske acknowledged at the end that he was sick and couldn't stop himself.

Ann Coulter
 

say you go to a psychic, and the psychic channels Himmler- you would charge the psychic with war crimes?

Ann Coulter
 

Or place him in charge of detainees. If I were channeling W, I mean.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Cite. From where did you hear these predictions. All I remember is them saying it was going to be difficult and you could not put a schedule on these things.

Big Effin' Mess
 

Depends on who the "them" is Spanky.

Such predictions came from Richard Perle and certain members of his wing of the neocons. Achmed Chalabi was another source for such predictions, which were credulously repeated and reported by some in the MSM -- including (I think) Judy Miller at the NYT.

S_A_M

eta: For example, here is a link to a transcript of a Seminar on Iraq at the National Press Club in D.C. on March 17, 2003. The speakers included many members of the Iraqi exile community and Perle.

http://www.benadorassociates.com/article/664

One of the speakers began his response to the first question -- which was about VP Cheney's statement on March 16, 2003 that the Iraqi people would greet U.S. forces as "liberators" -- thusly:

"I most certainly do agree with that. As I told the President on January 10th, I think they will be greeted with sweets and flowers in the first months and simply have very, very little doubts that that is the case. . . ."

I expect you can unearth similar items.

Ann Coulter
 

Has he traveled overseas to meet with jihadist groups?

S_A_M

Big Effin' Mess
 

This is from an editorial, but it should be easy enough for you to look up the actual quotes:

I heard the Vice President say that the war would be over in "weeks rather than months."

I heard Donald Rumsfeld say: "It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months."

I heard Donald Rumsfeld say there was "no question" that American troops would be "welcomed": "Go back to Afghanistan, the people were in the streets playing music, cheering, flying kites, and doing all the things that the Taliban and the al-Qaeda would not let them do."

I heard the Vice President say: "The Middle East expert Professor Fouad Ajami predicts that after liberation the streets in Basra and Baghdad are 'sure to erupt in joy.' Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of jihad. Moderates throughout the region would take heart. And our ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be enhanced."

I heard the Vice President say: "I really do believe we will be greeted as liberators."

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0416-20.htm

Ann Coulter
 

Do we need to do an exorcism? Try eating nothing but bacon for a week and see if it passes.

Big Effin' Mess
 

You know, I finally tired of continually citing the pre-invasion Bush speech transcript in which he stated repeatedly that this was not going to be quick, and that it would take a long, hard effort, and that he wanted everyone to know this up front and not be pushing for easy and fast solutions.

Still, even now, people magically "remember" him saying it would be a walk in the park.

At some point, you simply tire of the disingenuousness. It's no longer debate. It's "no, your bedtime has always been nine, and I'm not going to tell you again."