Commentator Fareed Zakaria (in photo) supported military intervention in Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein, but he has been very critical of how it’s been executed. Yet he says in an op-ed piece in The Washington Post, “for all my misgivings about the way the administration has handled this policy, I’ve never been able to join the antiwar crowd. Nor am I convinced that Iraq is a hopeless cause that should be abandoned.”
Why hasn’t he given up hope? Zakaria explains: “Partly it’s because I have been to Iraq, met the people who are engaged in the struggle to build their country and cannot bring myself to abandon them. Iraq has no Nelson Mandelas, but many of its leaders have shown remarkable patience, courage and statesmanship. . . . There is no doubt that the costs of the invasion have far outweighed the benefits. But in the long view of history, will that always be true? If, after all this chaos, a new and different kind of Iraqi politics emerges, it will make a difference in the region.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/23
- okobserver on Open thread 11/23
- Heckler on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/23
- Daniel on Too many exemptions
- BobChi on Let immigrants run
- Heckler on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
44 Comments
Thank God! Somebody that I can completely agree with. I feel the exact same way he does.
Talk about timing, I’ve been ranting about this in the other thread.
Thanks for giving me backup.
:)
Yes well can we get Zacaria and Joe Williams to pay personally the price in blood and treasure for their vision?
Cause I aint seeing it.
All I can add is “Amen”.
Unfortunately, I fear his hope and trust are misplaced. Perhaps if we had some competant leadership we might salvage this fiasco but definitely NOT with the bunch running the show right now.
So much for the “liberal” media, hehe.
Zakaria puts his finger on the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, the idea that “If, after all this chaos, a new and different kind of Iraqi politics emerges, it will make a difference in the region.”
It has less to do with “our word or honor is at stake” and “I’ve been there, I can’t turn my back on ‘these’ people” and far more to do with “this is what the US gets out of the deal: increased nationial security.”
One real problem with Zakaria’s and the president’s argument is that we all have a heckuva problem predicting the very long run. Islamofascism may very well collapse due to a very similar inherent immorality (identified by the president and many in his administration) at the source of its governing power that existed at the root of the USSR (communism).
The President’s on the record saying that Islamofascism is immoral, and like communism it can’t govern without very heavy subsidization no matter how totalitarian it becomes.
If we Americans were to do our part in cutting off funding to terrorists by cutting our demand for oil, and then sell that technology to the rest of the world, isn’t it just as likely we’d accomplish the same ends but end up richer for it? (in dollars and future talent lost in the form of young Americans – and Iraqis – dying now in Iraq).
Idealism that’s not tempered with strong practicality is worse than useless.
Yes it would be nice if we didn’t have to use oil products to power our transportation devices. There are different engines and carburators and stuff like that to better use gas. You can find plans for sale for a few however the patents for the majority are still privately held by the big oil companies. They have bribed, stolen, killed and used devious plans for their nefarious purposes. Several of the inventors suddenly had change of hearts when blackmailed/threatened about keeping the patents or going patent free. One inventor (maybe more but I know definately of one) was found dead under highly suspicious circumstances when he refused to sell out to big oil.
I’m not all oh my the government is out to get me but I know that big business isn’t always on the up and up.
Easy for Zakaria to say, he, like Bush isn’t doing the killing, dying, and bleeding.
I think Operation Iraqi Freedom had more to do with Operation Desert Storm than helping the poor defenseless Iraqis.However since we’re already over there we might as well help all that we can. My cousin and a good friend of mine were over there. (they’re back safe, thank God!) From their stories the people are glad we’re there no matter what our initial motives. They’ve heard horror stories and seen terrible things but there is hope from the people. Sometimes hope gets us (as people in general) thru some very difficult times and helps us get to better places because we beleive we can. Maybe we can help spread that hope by our military presence.
Easy for Zakaria to say, he, like Bush isn’t doing the killing, dying, and bleeding.
Julie,Could you provide links to what you are suggesting? I am curious about it.
There’s a sad little law on the books..not the legal books, but the science books, called the second law of thermodynamics. It sets an upper limit on the thermal efficiencies of even the cleverest, most well-designed engines and engine components you can think of. For the modern Otto cycle engine, that limit is about 30% max. That means only 30% of the heat given to the engine at high temperature (when the fuel mixture) explodes could possibly converted to useful work. And remember, this is for the ideal engine…a real engine can only convert maybe 20% of the heat to work. All the specialty doo-dads, add-ons, fuel treatments, etc. won’t change this basic law of nature. If you want to travel farther on a gallon of gas, then you need to make the car smaller and lighter, operate it at higher engine temperatures (much higher), and keep the thing in perfect running order.
“From their stories the people are glad we’re there . . . ”
Hmmm, why did the Iraqis VOTE for people who vowed to get America out as soon as possible?
Why do polls show that except for Kurds who have their own militia and have been autonomous for years, the rest of Iraq wants America out now?
What you’re using is “anecdotal evidence,” like the people who take cod liver oil and hair grows on their head.
That’s not real evidence.
Right, thanks Brian.
That’s a pernicious urban myth that never seems to die–big oil bought technologies that could give us infinite gas mileage.
Even the Japanese and Germans were bound by big oil’s long tentacles? I don’t think so.
A few technological advances have been hypothesized (that I’m sure you know better than I) like using a massive flywheel that converts kinetic energy from braking to potential energy and back again for acceleration, but the practical applications are very difficult for ordinary automobiles.
I’m frankly amazed that we have hybrid vehicles finally available. The internal combustion engine hasn’t really changed much in 100 years, nor can it, apparently.
That’s correct PL,
The flywheel and all the rest only help you approach the maximum upper limit of 30%. The rest of that thermal energy is thrown out the tailpipe of your car as a consequence of the second law thermodynamics. You might be able to use a little more of that heat if you bought one of those cookers that attaches to the end of your tailpipe and circulates the hot gases around the meal you put in there before leaving work for home (the food and gases don’t touch), but that’s about it…run a small car and cook dinner as you drive.
The internal combustion engine is pretty inefficient. I know we can do better. With the exception of electronics and a few modification since the inception of the engine, the technology is well over 100 years old and we are still using it.
Electric motors just hasn’t got to the point of replacement. We are expermenting with different fuels, but I guess that is about it with hydrogen as the promise for a better future.
Walker-
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a37a5dbf25204.html
This is a site about the big oil keeping the technology from the consumerMy hubby is the one who thoroughly researched the option but I have checked it out too.If you use a search engine and type in — high mileage carburator — it will come up with links.
Just want to comment. I said the same thing that ProudLib said. I’ll give you the dibs for saying it first. I just didn’t read your post before I submitted mine.
Just hike the price of gas to what other countries pay, and the problem will take care of itself. As long as Americans have access to cheap fuel, our lifestyle won’t change.
Julie, please don’ take this as an insult, it’s not meant to be..only a warning.
The laws of thermodynamics set a limit on the efficiencies of thermal engines. They are inviolable. There has never been one case where an invention has violated a law of thermodynamics.
That said, there are 2 scams used to bilk money out of investors who don’t understand thermodynamics. The first is called a perpetual motion machine of the first kind. This type of machine claims to produce more energy than you put into it. The second scam is called a perpetual motion machine of the second kind. This type is much harder to detect, but in essence, if the machine ends up not generating entropy as it operates it is a farce. In fact, the US Patent Office stopped accepting patents for both types of “machines” over 100 years ago. If the device or site you’re reviewing doesn’t have a US patent or patents you can look up, it’s no doubt bogus.
Walker-Hubby just called back and told me of http://www.fuelvapors.com. This site offers plans with expired patents.
PL and Brian-All I said earlier was it would be nice to have a more efficient use of oil products. I understand that we will not be able to use 100% or even 90% but I would be happy getting better more efficient usage than what we are currently getting.
PL-I understand that I have given anecdotal not hard evidence. I’ve never said that what I say or type is the gospel truth. I am a mere human with flaws and I admit that. I understand that a lot of you are smarter than I am with better communication skills. I just wish to offer my opinions and views and discuss them with you. I welcome your insights and enjoy our discussions.
Brian-No insult taken. Like I said in my previous post- I’m here to learn and appreciate your views and discussions. If somebody knows more than me I’m more than happy to listen and learn.And I’ll probably stick my foot in my mouth more than once or twice, just forgive me if I’m an idiot. I’ll try to be a nice idiot though :)
Julie, don’t assume that others on this blog are smarter than you, everyone brings their own unique knowlege and insight, and there are plenty here who are not nearly as intellegent as you appear to be…..welcome!
Damoon,Thank you
There are methods of increasing efficiencies but they are not the “magic carburetors”. Hybrids; composites to reduce weight; electric cars with nuclear as the ultimate energy source. We could do it if there were a national will to do so. However, there is no such national will.
By all means let’s gather around the corpses of Zionism, PNAC, AIPAC and their G-d misnomer “terrorism” as they claim that that involuntary twitch in their fertile imaginations is a sign of life.
It Ain’t, It’s over, man.
The “one worlders” need a bell-ringer” on their graveyard shift, because all the rabble rousing in the world ain’t gonna put one once of life back into those stiffs.
Now let’s bring our soldiers home, stop throwing away money and get busy tossing Israel back over the green-line, form a Palestinian State, make peace with the Arabs, and tackle all our mounting problems right here at home.
The downside to hybrid cars is that they only come in compact to mid-size that I have seen. I’d love to have one (better for the environment and fuel economy) however that just isn’t feasible for my family. My hubby is big and tall (47 inch inseam), he won’t fit comfortably unless it’s a big pickup, full size van or big SUV. We have 2 kids with 1 on the way. We have my son’s friend who is usually with us as well as my mom-in-law who is getting older and hates to drive. That’s a minimum of 4 soon to be 5 currently with 6 soon to be 7 usually. I know I’m not the only one in this situation, needing lots of room but wanting a better way.
Julie – bet they would fit in my wife’s 25-mpg Mazda MPV. We routinely carry the 3 grandkids and their father with us in it with room to spare. As for hybrids only coming in small cars I expect Honda and Toyota to remedy that soon.
Ah, the joys of urban legends. With Julie and Steven Hyde on The 70s Show, there will always be someone gullible enough to believe the bad old old companies intimidating and even killing people stories. Makes for fun reading and great daydreaming, but they ain’t true. Sorry.
The Eagles aoutomotive section had an article about a super efficient carbeurator I think just 2 weeks ago. It was a Sunday paper. If anyone missed it and is interested.
The biggest scam in the car business was the “fish carburetor.”
The principle of the carburetor can’t even come close to fuel injection, not even close.
Carbuation is mixing fuel with air by vacuum or forced air supercharging them together but the mix can never be as efficient as fuel-injection.
What do you scientist types think of the future for hydrogen fuel cells?
Isnt that another case, like the production of ethanol, that consumes more energy in production than it will generate or save in actual usage?
Problem with hydrogen is “where do you get it?”. Splitting water takes energy. That said, I think there can be a role for it with nuclear as the base.
KFG, can you imagine self-service with a volitile fuel like hydrogen?
I’ve been reading the posts about the oil companies trying to withhold technology. Remember the story about the guy who tried to sell the navy on a device that converted seawater to fuel? The guy “misteriously” didn’t show up the day of the demonstration. Of course, the oil companies, the CIA, and the Girl Scouts killed him and disposed of the body.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Snopes is a good source for debunking urbam myths.
I need to adjust the powerful magnets taped to my fuel line and re-orientate the secret power pyramid over my distributor…
XXX
In case you havent heard we now have CCW in Kansas. Or we will have in Jan. 2007.
XXX, what I know about fuels and science could be contained in a thimble! That is why I asked the question.
Hydrogen is being talked about a lot out here, like ethanol and biodiesel. The problem with lots of so-called solutions is that they use more energy than they produce, and we try to produce them in areas that dont have enough water to support the industry.
Just wondering…
Oh, joy, Heckler.
Now you and Nathan can see who has the bigger gun.
Interesting that concealed carry is NOT legal in the Statehouse.
Having yahoos like you packing heat is just fine for us little people in my place of business but, hell no, the conservative politicians are not letting guns anywhere near them.
Real nice.
‘Course if Cheney is any indication, one can see why.
“Hey, Dick, pass the beer and the shells, would ya? And don’t bogart the Jim Beam either.”
Check this hopeful news on the war–
NEWSWEEK, “IRAQ WAR BIGGEST FINANCIAL SCANDAL IN HISTORY”
“And there is much more to come, especially on the little-noticed issue of contracting in Iraq, which the watchdog group Transparency International last year warned could become ‘the biggest corruption scandal in history.’ The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction is expected to issue a harshly critical report in May concluding that the CPA did not have disciplined contracting procedures in place, according to several people involved in drafting the report. If the Democrats manage to get control of the House later this year, it’s all going to come in an avalanche of subpoenas and new investigations. Not that the Republicans have been entirely sitting on their hands. When Rep. Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Republican, agreed to subpoena records of funds transmitted to Iraq, his House Government Reform Subcommittee learned that nearly $12 billion in U.S. currency was shipped to Iraq from the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, much of it with little accountability.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11965317/site/newsweek
Good thing the “grown ups” are in charge, hehehe . . .
Yeah, I still remember the article I read in summer 2003, in the New York Times, about the US 1st Lt, all of about 23 years old, who had a wad of US$100 bills in his pocket. He and many other US military personnel carried huge amounts around in order to compensate on the spot Iraqis whose pickups or other private properties were wrongly destroyed in military ops.
Young Americans and wads of US cash, together in a lawless war zone.
Not good.
I wrote then “mark my words, this kind of profiligacy will come back to haunt Bush,” and I certainly hope I was correct.
” A different kind of politics in Iraq?”
What in God’s green earth is he talking about? And the Washington Post gives this crap space on its OpEd page?
METOZ will be able to create A NEW KIND OF CLEAN ENERGY.METOZ IN THEORY IS THE PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE.My idea is very difficult for understanding. It is not difficult for engineer – mechanic, who knows very good the Pascal’s law and even-arm lever.
THE CLEAN ENERGYThe entire world is looking for a source of clean energy. I have discovered a certain paradox basing on which a machine called METOZ can be built which by harnessing the gravitation of our EARTH can produce clean energy.The energy producing process is demonstrated in:http://www.nets.pl/~metozor/paradox.htmland can be very easily confirmed by an experiment.I am also in possession of a set of calculations which prove that the METOZ machine:1/ does not consume water / 39 A5-pictures /;2/ does not consume compressed air / 39 A5-pictures /;3/ produces energy to the outside = 4 839 kGm during a „swing cycle” /39 A5-pictures /;/ this is a „weight cycle” = the centre of gravity of the water in the METOZ machine sinks ( downward movement ) /4/ energy is produced / released to the outside = 44 600 kGm during the „straightening cycle” / 39 A5-pictures /./ this is a “pressure cycle” = the water mass centre of gravity inside the METOZ machine travels upwards (upward movement) /Features: 1/; 2/; 3/; 4/, of the machine owing to appropriate dimensions of individual elements of the lever mechanism.The METOZ has an even-arm lever of a 1.72 m length. The centre of gravity of the lever lies beneath the lever suspension point. The METOZ is equipped with two cylinders of a 1.6 m diameter each. Piston sidewalls do not contact directly with cylinder walls. The lever swing changes between 0 and 25 dgrFigures ( 3 x 13 x 4 = 156 ) present temporary, consecutive action situations at intervals of . The middle figure presents the machine and the side figures the position of the left and right cylinder and the mathematical description of these situations.In the past I have made two models, which confirmed the legitimacy of my theoretical assumptions concerning the METOZ machine. I have got photographs.I am looking for a person who would be interested in my invention. I can offer ample information. I look forward to hearing from you.
http://www.nets.pl/~metozor/three_levers.html
13 – 03 -2005 Gdynia, Polska Zygmunt Or?owskiP.S. The term “gravitational paradox” use in this description relates to the mathematical and physical description of the action of the METOZ-machine.THE EARTH GRAVITATION CAN BE THE SOURCE OF CLEAN ENERGY
=============================================================
ByOrlowski ZygmuntPoland 2005index htmlCOMMENTS CONCERNING MACHINE “METOZ”“METOZ” is able to realize the cycle “deflection” and the cycle “straighening.” Both cycles are in accordance with current physic’s laws. “METOZ” as machine can not work and hand over the energy because it would be inconsonant to the law of conservation of energy.I propose to execute the following intelectual process:we have found ourselves in the Europe of XVII century. We know the trigonometry in the scope of being occured for “METOZ.” We know what is the even-arm lever and moment of force too. Just appeears Mr. Baise Pascal / 1623–1662/ and he publishes his hydraulics law with adequated experiment. All thinkers are sure that this law is correct and quite real. This time someone invents machine “METOZ”. Now turn up the following questions:1/ why the implementation of the cycle “deflection” is impossible?2/ why the implementation of the cycle “straightening” is impossible?Both groups: opponents and followers of bulding “METOZ” live in XVII–th century and they not know that:a/ the idea of an “energy” will be introduced into science scarlerly in mid. of XIX century,b/ the law of conservation of the energy will be exist scarlerly after 1847 y.QVESTION!!!WHAT KIND OF RATIONALY ENTERELY / ARGUMENT/ CAN BE DREAMED UP THE OPPONENTS OF BUILDING THE MACHINE “METOZ’ IN XVII CENTURY.==============================================================Please open GOOgle and klick metozor and after : index of metozor At is site that explains technical details in easy to understand language. example : http://www.nets.pl/~metozor/for_greenpeace.html orhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/energy_for_everybody.htmlEveryone is able to build just the model of METOZ machine and test it. Please, have a look at http://www.nets.pl/~metozor/supplement.html Perhaps METOZ is some duplicating machine of a clean energy.I am inventor and owner of Metoz machine invention. Everyone can take absolutely and legitimate the METOZ invention and build the Metoz machine. I can help only. I can not build METOZ. I am moneyless. Thank you for your time and interest.
It is something METOZ about , againhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/cycle_str.htmlhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/work_deflection.htmlhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/energy_exper.htmlE-mail this to a friendIt is something METOZ about.http://www.nets.pl/~metozor/not_for_idiot.html Thanks for understanding.P.S.The conception of an energy is discreate one to the same as a imbecility. No one has seen the energy and no one has seen the imbecility. We are able to observe results of the energy and imbecility. At present we have got to few energy because we have got to much imbecility.Thank you for your time and interest.
It is something METOZ about , againhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/cycle_str.htmlhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/work_deflection.htmlhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/energy_exper.htmlE-mail this to a friendhttp://www.nets.pl/~metozor/not_for_idiot.htmlP.S.The conception of an energy is discreate one to the same as a imbecility. No one has seen the energy and no one has seen the imbecility. We are able to observe results of the energy and imbecility. At present we have got to few energy because we have got to much imbecility.Thank you for your time and interest.