» Breaking News
Attorney General Mukasey Collapses, Rushed To Hospital
Paris Hilton Breaks Up With Benji Madden
Auto CEOs Took Private Jets To Beg Congress For Billions
Summit Studios Sees Dollar Signs For “Twilight” Movie
Gay Marriage Ban Going To CA Supreme Court



This Thing Is A Mess

No Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support

The only Iraqi battalion capable of fighting without U.S. support has been downgraded to a level requiring them to fight with American troops backing them up, the Pentagon said Friday.

The battalion, made up of 700 to 800 Iraqi Army soldiers, has repeatedly been offered by the U.S. as an example of the growing independence of the Iraqi military.

The competence of the Iraqi military has been cited as a key factor in when U.S. troops will be able to return home.

So far in the month of February, 46 Americans have been killed in Iraq. What the hell are we doing there?

32 Responses to “This Thing Is A Mess”


  1. Gravatar Icon 1 Frank_D

    Let’s see: Before I go to the link…

    MSNBC

    a left - wing

    CNN

    The Washington Post

    source: a retired officer or unnamed Pentagon official

    Now let’s go see:

    CNN - check

    unnamed Pentagon official - check

    I’m two for two

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 Frank_D

    Why is it liberals always have non - military ways to spend the military’s money, as if it were a superfluous item in the US Budget?

  3. Gravatar Icon 3 sgb

    We are spending money that could be used for Katrina survivors … This is sheer insanity!

  4. Gravatar Icon 4 frameone

    “Why is it liberals always have non - military ways to spend the military s money?”

    Stupider and stupider.

  5. Gravatar Icon 5 Frank_D

    after MSNBC, should have been, “a left - wing blog”

  6. Gravatar Icon 6 Oliver Willis

    I know, Frank, you only read Cult-approved news outlets who will report our glorious leader’s progress in the new Holy Land.

  7. Gravatar Icon 7 Frank_D

    Oliver, your comment glossed over this:

    According to the congressionally mandated Iraq security report released Friday, there are 53 Iraqi battalions at level two status, up from 36 in October. There are 45 battalions at level three, according to the report.

    And Xinhua reported this, which was left entirely out of the CNN story
    “in Friday’s report, which was submitted to the U.S. Congress for assessing the situation in Iraq, the Pentagon also claimed that the insurgency is losing strength, becoming less effective in its attacks, and failing to “undermine the development of an Iraqi democracy.”

    But what the hell, “fair and balanced” in your book is only a slogan FOX news lies about.

  8. Gravatar Icon 8 frameone

    The military’s money, Frank? The military’s money? WTF are you talking about?

  9. Gravatar Icon 9 Frank_D

    Perhaps you can answer that question, and eliminate the need for my response, which you will ignore, anyway…

  10. Gravatar Icon 10 Frank_D

    Excuse me, Oliver, but that is exactly what you did.

    Response to frameone’s insult (with no substantive response to my comment) F*ck you…

    About forty or so years ago, when I was a rip - roaring drunk, hanging around in bars (I haven’t had a drink in twenty years — your last drink was, what, 10 minutes ago?), that’s how I responded to people who addressed me like you do. We can certainly return to “those thrilling days of yesteryear,” if you wish.

    Or, you can grow up.

  11. Gravatar Icon 11 bananafishbones

    Frank, I desparately hope the bit Xinhua reports is factual. I tried Googling the quote you provided with no luck–please will you link?

  12. Gravatar Icon 12 bananafishbones

    Sorry, found it.

  13. Gravatar Icon 13 Frank_D

    I think I can explain your “Tasmanian Devil” routine. You’re horrified at my usage of the construction “the military’s money,” aren’t you?

    It’s the “people’s money,” isn’t it, frameone? (Although how, exactly, the “people’s money” found its way to the U.S. Treasury, and came under the purview and control of 535 men and women, is a mystery you might be able to solve for me)

    Setting that aside, I skipped a step or two in the journey of the money from the people to the military. It’s called the Budget. A certain amount of money is allocated to various agencies, and their operations, each year, around Sep 30, I believe.

    Among these allocations, the Congress, in their wisdom, has voted each and every year for money to be allocated to the Defense Department, and thence to military operations.

    In view of the fact that there are many other allocations to many other agencies for many other operations, I was expressing my dismay at the liberals’ persistence in desiring to spend the military’s allocation on non - military activities.

    Despite the fact that you still think I am an idiot and / or moron, I hope the answer satisfies you in some small way. Perhaps you can reply in a reasonable way, this time (what could it hurt?), or not respond at all {preferred}.

  14. Gravatar Icon 14 frameone

    Frank, the military is not entitled to a set amount of money such that if it gets less you can consider it “using the military’s money” for something else. The money we’re blowing in Iraq isn’t money that the military would have received and been entitled to spend on something else anyway. That money could just as well be going to Katrina relief, schools, roads, health care, etc. etc. It is not the military’s money.

  15. Gravatar Icon 15 Frank_D

    Not to mention:

    Iraqi Forces ‘Stepped Up’ Following Sectarian Violence, Official Says

    Iraqis Take Security Lead in Wake of Mosque Bombing

    I’m not a cockeyed optimist. Neither am I a cynic.

    I just want to believe that the good guys will win.

  16. Gravatar Icon 16 Frank_D

    Well, it sure isn’t New Orleans’ money…

  17. Gravatar Icon 17 frameone

    Ya, Frank, your right. It isn’t New Orleans’ money. I forgot that conservatives no longer believe in the common good.

    Let me ask you something, Frank. I live in California. I’ll bet you anything that California contributes a hell of a lot more money to federal revenues than whatever state you live in. Next time there’s a natural disaster in your neck of the woods maybe California can demand that none of our money goes to help you and your neighbors. Maybe you should just have to rely on whatever shitty ass state revenues you can muster to get by. The same goes for Florida the next time hurricanes cause billions of dollars in damage. Afterall, we need all our money in case of a big earthquake.

  18. Gravatar Icon 18 mr.curmudgeon

    I’d vote to end red state welfare in a second. Cut those motherfuckers off from farm subsidies, etc… I’ve worked hard and earned more than enough to import anything I’d need that a blue state couldn’t provide.

    Let them rot in the backwards backwoods bacchanal of bigotry and bestiality. They are a anchor-weight on America, dragging us down a pre-enlightenment vortex, positioned smack dab in the center of the country.

  19. Gravatar Icon 19 Frank_D

    frameone: I have a better idea. Start a movement to get Californians their money back. And, by the way, I live in NYS. we probably get less back than we send, and we might even send more money to DC than CA does.

    Now you’re insulting my state?

    (Or will you find some circuitously manipulative way to blame it on me — again. You are the joke)

    You are, without a doubt, a king - sized, world class a**hole

  20. Gravatar Icon 20 frameone

    “Start a movement to get Californians their money back.”

    Good to know that it’s everyone for themselves in your America, Frank.

  21. Gravatar Icon 21 Frank_D

    Incidentally, up until 1916, I believe, the United States lived together in a circumstance where no personal income was extorted and shipped to Wash, D.C. From 1865 - 1916, there was 0% inflation. I repeat, 0% inflation. It has never happened since the institution of the income tax.
    Coincidence? I think not.

  22. Gravatar Icon 22 Frank_D

    I quote: “Next time there s a natural disaster in your neck of the woods maybe California can demand that none of our money goes to help you and your neighbors.”
    Good to know that it s everyone for themselves in your America, frameone.

  23. Gravatar Icon 23 Frank_D

    very smart, mr. curmudgeon: You could watch Masterpiece Theater on PBS, until you starved to death.

    I’m sure the people in the red states would love to take you up on that deal.

    I, however, live in a blue state, and I’m not giving up three squares a day, so I can see “Piss Christ” and “Elephant Dung Mary.”

  24. Gravatar Icon 24 frameone

    “Good to know that it s everyone for themselves in your America, frameone.”

    Stupider and stupider.

  25. Gravatar Icon 25 JK

    Man…this particular thread should be about the civil war going on in Iraq and the fact that we’re beared the brunt of the burden in terms of sacrifice for absolutely no foreseeble benefit either short term, or long-term.

    Instead, it’s about Frank.

    Frank…go to Google…type in “Guns vs. Butter.” Hit that little grey button below that says “Google Search.”

    Even in Australia, they argue over Guns Vs. Butter. Go there, live there, and find out.

    JK

  26. Gravatar Icon 26 Frank_D

    STOP IT! Can’t you just leave a comment? WTF is the matter with you? Jeebus, man, you are fixated on me…

    And no BS about how I deserve it. You’re a barbarian.

    Again, F*ck you! That’s what you deserve…

  27. Gravatar Icon 27 Frank_D

    JK: What is it with you aand Australia?
    If you had exiled me to Italy, I might have considered obeying your command, but, Australia?
    Please, O Master! Don’t send me to Australia!

  28. Gravatar Icon 28 sooperedd

    I wonder what the Iraqi Invasion apologists will be saying 5 or 10 years from now if we are still in this sh*t storm.

  29. Gravatar Icon 29 Frank_D

    The original comment, to which I responded (and which you conveniently. lost sight of your rabid attempt to “get to me,” was “We are spending money that could be used for Katrina survivors”.

    While you are right that the money spent in Iraq is over and above the Military’ annual budget, our hapless liberal friend could have asked that some other agency’s money be used. He called also have asked that it be used for another purpose. So, I will grant you that you are about 25% right.

    As for inane sputtering, no one sputters inanely like you, Paulie. Your comments run the gamut from histrionic to totally over the top.

  30. Gravatar Icon 30 frameone

    “Jeebus, man, you are fixated on me& ”

    Frank, you’re a living example of a particular strain of right wing boneheadedness that I do indeed find absolutely fascinating. Your inane, sputtering attempts to defend your positions in the face of undeniable facts — “Well, it sure isn t New Orleans money& ” — is just the hilarious icing on the cake.

  31. Gravatar Icon 31 factcheck

    In the previous post, we see how Frank never resorts to personal attacks.

  32. Gravatar Icon 32 Frank_D

    Why in the world do you call yourself “factcheck” when so little of what you post is factual?

    I have never said that I don’t respond to personal attacks. I have said, truthfully (factually?) that I only respond to personal attacks with personal attacks.

    If you took an additional 5 seconds to read frameone’s comment above mine, you would see that that is where the idea of “inane sputtering” originated.

    There was someone else I asked to go check and see where I initiated a personal attack, not a retaliatory one, and he still hasn’t returned.

    Wanna go help him out?

Leave a Reply





Disclaimer

The views on this site are mine and mine alone, they do not reflect the views of my employer, Media Matters for America

Privacy Policy