The Daily Whim
A Photo Gallery With An Attitude
Newly Declassified Documents Show Bush Administration Looked For Excuse To Start War In Iraq In Nov. 2001
“Now, with the help of a Freedom of Information Act request, the National Security Archive has obtained a newly declassified document that details talking points that emerged from a meeting between Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and CENTCOM Commander General Tommy Franks in November 2001. The talking points mainly revolve around the logistical planning for a war in Iraq. They detail the ‘decapitation’ of the Iraqi government by U.S. forces and make regime change the goal. Interestingly, they already mention U.S. forces ‘coming out of Afghanistan’ to join the invasion of Iraq. Yet the most alarming part of the document is a bullet point titled, ‘How start?’ (which is a discussion that actually appears after the planning of the entire war).”
Posted 8:45PM, Sep 23 2010 in Iraq ·
The true cost of the Iraq war: $3 trillion and beyond
“This was the first time in American history that the government cut taxes as it went to war. The result: a war completely funded by borrowing. U.S. debt soared from $6.4 trillion in March 2003 to $10 trillion in 2008 (before the financial crisis); at least a quarter of that increase is directly attributable to the war. And that doesn’t include future health care and disability payments for veterans, which will add another half-trillion dollars to the debt. As a result of two costly wars funded by debt, our fiscal house was in dismal shape even before the financial crisis — and those fiscal woes compounded the downturn.”
Posted 9:05PM, Sep 07 2010 in Iraq · Politics
“Sincere, intellectually vigorous, honest, patriotic Americans say that was the dumbest thing we ever did, to go to Iraq. And I will not disagree one bit.” Gen. James Mattis
Posted 11:21AM, Jul 27 2010 in Iraq ·
Thu. Sep 13, 2007
Mostly Busy With A Chance Of Disconnection
Goodness, what a week. So far. My working week was barely one hour old on Monday when the pipe through which my money flows clogged up tight. Long story short, Ma Bell screwed up my phone line (and therefore, my DSL) in ways I did not even know were possible.
Yes, I know, as my dear wife has reminded me, “they’re ATT now.” But I think you mean, “they’re not BellSouth Mobility, they’re not Cingular, they’re not BellSouth, they’re ATT ... again.” Like some monster from The Terminator, the Phone Entity that the government busted up about three decades ago is now beginning to glom back together into One Beast. And that beast, that bee-yotch, will always be Ma Bell to me.
Fri. Aug 24, 2007
Brady Was A Hack
Andrew Sullivan has a post that says, in its entirety, “Whatever happened to the current generation of Matthew Bradys? Missing in action.”
Mon. Jul 30, 2007
Reality Has No Politics
I alluded recently to a desire to write about Iraq, one that was squelched. But if there’s such a thing as “fog of war,” there is also a “fog of talk about war.”
Though there’s been some “mind changing” there’s still a lot of people so invested in their position on the war that rational argument left the building some time ago (that goes for the “pro” and the “con”), leaving a harsh fog. Plus some sticky smelly stuff on the ground that you can’t see because of the fog, and that’s just as well. Then throw in a wide open presidential campaign with more candidates than I have appendages. Mix in one President who has the ear of 28% of the country, and you have a recipe for talking about the war without really talking about the war.
I’d like to try and strip away the fog and sweep away the crap.
Mon. May 28, 2007
Not Just Another Holiday
I hope you’ve had a nice holiday weekend. We’ve been to a wedding and a barbeque, and otherwise generally relaxed. And that generates a twinge of guilt in me.
Because it’s not such a relaxing time for many families, like the Worthington and Ardron families here in Georgia:
Wed. Mar 14, 2007
Cheney Is Not Always Wrong
It’s become popular for pundits to say that Dick Cheney has literally gotten everything wrong. Wrong about Saddam and the certainty of WMD. Wrong about how we would be welcomed as liberators. Wrong about how the insurgency was in its last throes. Just plain wrong for so long he’s become a reverse barometer.
Tue. Feb 27, 2007
Afghanistan and Iraq: Unsafe for VP's
Two events in two days provide a window on the level of control we’ve “wrought” in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They’re not even safe for Vice Presidents:
Iraq’s Shiite vice president narrowly escaped assassination Monday as a blast ripped through a government meeting hall just hours after it was searched by U.S. teams with bomb-sniffing dogs.
Mon. Jan 15, 2007
Surges, Hearts, and Minds
I had someone mention that they were kind of surprised I’d written nothing about Iraq and the President’s planned surge announced in his speech last Wednesday. What’s to say that I haven’t long ago? So these feel like somewhat obligatory remarks, but I suppose we do know a couple of things we didn’t before. There’s even a timetable of sorts.
Thu. Nov 09, 2006
Rummy Rolls Into The Sunset
With blogger headlines like “Olberman and Bin Laden Are Celebrating” and “America Rolls Over To Al-Qaeda,” it seems clear there are portions of the rant-o-sphere that still have more fighter in them than, um, unifier. How about President Bush?
Fri. Nov 03, 2006
Failure Has Many Fathers
In recent weeks, there’s been a lot of people who’ve decided that the situation in Iraq has deteriorated so much that it’s [1] too late to do anything but find some way out, [2] time for one last ditch effort even with the knowledge it may not work, or [3] possible we need to not “stay the course” quite so much as we have been.
To rational people and those whose reason isn’t entirely overwhelmed by partisanship, the truth has been stark for some time. But some seem to be just coming around to it recently. Notable sorts, like Ralph Peters. And poor Ralph seems to have a real hard time completely letting go. It’s a little Jekyll and Hyde-ish.
Wed. Oct 25, 2006
Iraq Rant #496
Number 496 in a 3.5 year old series.
Report of degrading situation in Iraq. Statement from Bush administration that the strategy is stay the course victory. Leak from an official “in the know” that there is reason to be far more concerned than the White House appears to be. Speech by Dick Cheney blaming the problems in Iraq on the media and Democrats sapping our soldiers will and morale. Rumsfeld is quoted saying “goodness me.” Press conference by the President with a frustrated expression as though he’s talking at idiots who just don’t get it, no matter how many times he explains it the same way. Predictable, repetitive, and uninspiring retort from Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and/or Howard Dean.
Mon. Jun 06, 2005
Georgia's 48th in Iraq
At a time when the media is flayed for this and that, especially when it comes to Iraq, I thought I’d point out some coverage that I’ve found interesting (though it does require registration, or BugMeNot). Georgia National Guard’s 48th Brigade has recently arrived in Iraq, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution has so far done a creditable job in telling the story. And it’s a story of our neighbors.
Tue. Feb 01, 2005
PhotoTerrorists Strike Again
It’s almost like a scene from the movie Wag The Dog that was left on the cutting room floor. Because it was too unbelievable, even in a comedy. But when it comes to absurdity, the movies have nothing on real life.
Sun. Jan 30, 2005
A First Step
There have been many who are quite concerned about the reaction in the West to the election in Iraq, like Michael Ignatieff … I guess I made it pretty clear those reactions bothered me as well, but today isn’t a day for that.
Fri. Jan 28, 2005
No Democracy Like Our Democracy
I should have seen this coming, but I didn’t, and thus my spleen overfloweth. There’s a fresh new democracy brewing, of an as yet unknown flavor. It ought to be curiously exciting to all who cherish freedom. But leave it to the “experts” from one of the world’s oldest democracies to crap all over it, perhaps even endanger those who fight for it, and/or claim credit where nearly none is due.
It comes from both sides of the aisle, but I can only deal with one at a time, so you’ll need to read the whole thing to get your full dose of partisan enjoyment mixed with some crow (Yeah, at this point I’d move on, too, if I were you).
Tue. Jan 25, 2005
A Landslide for Hope
A few weeks back, I wrote about the latest missive from Osama bin Laden, in which he labeled Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as a “henchman” engaging in “blatant apostasy,” and declared “everyone who participates in this election will be considered infidels.” Since then, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, proud murderer of hundreds of Iraqis, has released more tapes on behalf of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
One look at who is trying to keep Iraqis from voting, as well as the actions and rhetoric they are using to try and do so, ought to tell any thinking human all they need to know. If it was just rhetoric, then you might say al-Zarqawi is the Alan Keyes of Iraq, attempting to win with odd invective and outrageous statements. But as we see daily, it isn’t just rhetoric. It’s car bombs and assassinations.
If it was just rhetoric, he’d be losing, in a big way.
Tue. Jan 11, 2005
Troops, Present and Past
There’s more heavily laden discussion over the subject of troop numbers in Iraq. Some people are talking in the past tense. Others are responding in the present tense.
Tue. Dec 28, 2004
Al Qaeda in Iraq
Osama bin Laden has gotten quite verbose on us of late, and has supposedly released yet another audio tape. And this one hugs the murderous Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi to his breast like a mother does an infant.
ELSEWHERE:
facebook, twitter, flickr, del.icio.us
FEEDS:
One Big Feed, Text Only, Photos Only, @dailywhimOLD ARCHIVES:
Articles, Photos, Links, Quotes, Road Trips, Downloads, 1996 OlympicsRecent Comments
- Bobby Long (Embarrassed by Georgia Secessionists & Bandwagon Patriots)
It was the other side talking secession back when W was reelected …
- John (A Day For Accounting, 2012)
Another happy birthday to you, Reid!
- Jan (11 Years On)
May I never tire of reading this story. I still get too verklempt …
- Reid (I'd like my old well-worn & familiar internet back, please.)
BTW, Dave Winer has a few thoughts on this topic: “While I’m on …
- Paul Scheele (I'd like my old well-worn & familiar internet back, please.)
Yep, I’m there with you on recent Gmail changes, even though I’ve …
- Reid (I'd like my old well-worn & familiar internet back, please.)
Hello, Paul! I’m not trying to put anyone out of a job. …
ReidStott.com
by Reid Stott
A decade of web design experience. Two decades of photography experience. All available to you, and your project. View my portfolio online, then let's talk about your needs.ReidStott.com
