Firstly, let me say, I suspect I have a fair idea what you can’t mention, but I don’t know as you haven’t mentioned it. Other than not a lot of new strategies being apparent to the naked eye, I am concerned by this:

The United States will take appropriate steps to punish any groups or states who back terrorist attacks against our interests

So what happens to the States who back terrorists who work for our interests?

Are they given the the highest commendation, rewards for gallantry? There’s something wrong here and I think you know what it is. This is the problem as it has been and needs to be stopped for the healing process to begin. NO TERRORISTS FOR OR AGAINST.

Then I read further and at least the message on AlQaeda is coming clean “Al Qaeda has become a convenient shorthand to describe Islamic extremists of all types”, except in my opinion that’s what AlQaeda always was. I am not, nor ever have, suggesting that there are not some extremely dangerous and destructive organisations, who are against the United States. It also should be said that I am of the opinion that it is not beyond the realms of imagination that elements might impose a “means justifies the end” strategy (as we say in the Bali bombings – where 100+ locals were murdered, including [by all accounts] devout muslims).

But I am sure the root of the problem is terrorism and that includes American sponsored campaigns.

By the same token it is not up to the United States to determine how Iraq’s or any other state’s government should be structured. In fact, one of the worst and most dangerously damaging “mistakes” the United States has made was to impose on Iraq a political system based on sectarian and ethnic identity. Of course, this was based largely on the ignorant assumption that Iraqi consists of Shi’ites, Sunnis, and Kurds who have historically detested each other and didn’t want to be together – a historically incorrect, if very popular, assumption.

See ya Dan!!!

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,95496,00.html

Joe Galloway, Gen. Paul van Ripper, military.com.

Close the Straits of Hormuz? Maybe with the hulks of the American fleet.

Why is this not discussed? What are we doing?

Of course, Petraeus et al. would never let reality stand in the way of their self aggrandizement.

Along with everyone I join with a giant/micro sigh of relief with sane news potentially re Iran, but only for a moment.

And I must say it still saddens me to think congress critters will not let go of Iraq, especially Iraqi oil control.

Dennis Kucinich just sounds better and better each day to me with his proposal of US exit and bringing in the international (peacekeeping) community etc. That would actually have a chance of being helpful. As others mentioned we are the problem and should never be trusted or relied upon to lead through solutions in this situation without wreaking much more conflict than could occur otherwise, imvho.

After all, the long term defense expenditures (now at 3/4 trillion per yr.) will be congressionally justified by our continued involvement.. training, policing, maintaining and manning bases could instead go an awful long way towards our real short and long term energy/security/reducing deficit needs.

Do I smell something burning?
No wait, it’s Dan having a meltdown!

Several individuals from the ISI [al Qaeda's "Islamic State of Iraq"] are responsible for killing commanders and fighters from our brigades in the Diyala province….They have killed them and mutilated their bodies. To make things worse, they dug up their bodies from the graves, further mutilated them, beheaded them, and showed them off from their vehicles while driving through the towns. [The ISI] even killed our men’s wives and children.
It is getting harder and harder for al Qaeda to obscure the fact that its ranks consist largely of homicidal psychopaths This tends to dampen popular support.

It’s also noteworthy that the Iraqi Jihad Union remains committed to insurgency and jihad, but its leaders don’t think their struggle is going well. Their communique says:

Despite the current harsh realities of the jihad in Iraq–where the hypocrites and traitors to our path have joined in the Crusader offensive–there are nonetheless still people out there who continue operating in the battlefield while, knowingly or unknowingly, ignoring this crisis.
And again:

What is happening out in the field is indeed a disaster….
So the jihadists are facing “harsh realities” including the defection of large numbers of their countrymen who are joining in the current “offensive,” with the result that the insurgency is in a state of “crisis” and “disaster.” Quick, someone tell the Democrats.

(See ya later, stupes.)

Insanely stupid ?..or
Stupidly insane?

How to Make a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich:

• Using a knife, spread a generous layer of peanut butter on one slice of bread [of your choice]
• Clean your knife with a paper towel or soap and water, so that the peanut butter and jelly won’t mix in the containers
• Spread jelly or jam on the other slice of bread. Use slightly less jelly than peanut butter.
• Put the two slices of bread together facing each other. Cut the sandwich in half either diagonally or horizontally, so that it’s easier to eat.

You may want to vary your choice of jams, jellies and breads. Or even try sliced banana, honey, raisins, dried or fresh apple slices, unsweetened flaked coconut, bacon or any combination of the above as an alternative to jelly or in addition to jelly.

The Germans had the coordinates of every landing zone at Normandy inputted to everything from small arms to light machine guns to heavy artillery. If Ike had really cared about the troops, he would have called off D-Day.

The Nips had hundreds of Kamikaze pilots ready to launch suicide flights against the U.S. fleet. If Nimitz had really cared about the troops, he would have called off the invasionof Okinawa.

Good God–is someone paying you people to be stupid?

Zogby rules…