U.S. took eye off ball in Afghanistan

pakistansoldier.jpgAl-Qaida has been allowed to establish significant training bases in the lawless tribal regions of Pakistan, according to a New York Times article, which cited feuding counterintelligence agencies, a risk-averse policy and the Bush administration’s shift of focus from Afghanistan to Iraq in 2002 as reasons for the continued failure to catch Osama bin Laden.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week expressed “real concern” about the rising violence in Afghanistan and blamed Pakistan for failing to put pressure on militants in the tribal areas.

97 Comments

  1. Posted June 30, 2008 at 12:53 pm | Permalink

    DUH!

    I guess Bush was so pre-occupied with attacking his Poppy’s nemesis that he couldn’t be bothered with Afghanistan.

  2. Posted June 30, 2008 at 12:57 pm | Permalink

    Has any pResident in history managed to lose two wars in third world countries? I don’t even think the Italians were this bad in the 30s.

  3. Zman
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:13 pm | Permalink

    If you would go to other news sources besides the NYT and CNN you would know that the Al-Qaida and Taliban types are being decimated, in Afganistan and Pakistan, by US, British, and Canadian troops.

  4. Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:15 pm | Permalink

    Sure Zman - in FAUX-world!

  5. Political_mama
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

    eye toed ewe sew.

  6. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:27 pm | Permalink

    I suppose Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been listening to the “LIBERAL MEDIA” too much.

    If not he would not have shown “real concern”

  7. Monkeyhawk
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:33 pm | Permalink

    “Zman” parrots Faux News with –

    “…Al-Qaida and Taliban types are being decimated….”

    Yup.

    Which means after six years at war, al Qaeda and the Taliban are still at 90% strength.

  8. Phantom
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:48 pm | Permalink

    Afghanistan deadlier than Iraq again for U.S. and NATO troops
    Posted 2h 22m ago | Comments1 | Recommend E-mail | Save | Print |

    Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat’s this?KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — More U.S. and NATO troops have been killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq for the second straight month.
    An Associated Press count finds that attacks in Afghanistan killed at least 44 international troops in June.

    About 30 international troops have died in Iraq this month.

    A record number of U.S. and NATO troops now patrol Afghanistan’s dangerous countryside, exposing more soldiers than ever to danger. But Taliban attacks are becoming increasingly complex, and in June, increasingly deadly.

    Four attacks in June killed four soldiers. No single attack had killed more than three international troops since last August.

  9. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 1:50 pm | Permalink

    I suppose since the U.S. is successful in Iraq, poor Scholfield has to write about how the U.S. can’t do anything right.

    Of course, he will have to blame NATO and the respective countries participating as well.

    Looks like it might be a world-wide failure eh Scholfield?

  10. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:00 pm | Permalink

    The US can do everything right. With the right type of President

    This President can’t do anything right. That is why he is now only supported by the 23 percenters.

    But what do you expect when a national guardsman tries to be a military president?

    But since the Iraq war is so successful, the troops can be moved to Afghanistan. Since the liberal world is so incompetent.

  11. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:08 pm | Permalink

    #
    LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:00 pm | Permalink

    The US can do everything right. With the right type of President

    This President can’t do anything right. That is why he is now only supported by the 23 percenters.

    But what do you expect when a national guardsman tries to be a military president?

    But since the Iraq war is so successful, the troops can be moved to Afghanistan. Since the liberal world is so incompetent.
    —————————–
    Oh, so your for McCain then who has vast military experience?

    Obama of course you know, has zero military experience.

    So by your standards, Obama would be a miserable failure.

  12. Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:12 pm | Permalink

    Maybe Obama would listen to some competant advisors - unlike Bush.

  13. Phantom
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:13 pm | Permalink

    Vast military experience? He nearly sank the carrier he was on before getting himself shot down over N. Viet Nam, fortunately he didn’t drown because a civilian he was trying to bomb heroically saved his life.
    I think Murphy’s Law should be renamed McCains Law!

  14. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:20 pm | Permalink

    Perhaps McCain can win my vote. If he stops aligning himself with Dubya.

    Now, 8 years later, you finally relaize that McCain would have been a better choice. You don’t learn very quickly do you?

  15. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:22 pm | Permalink

    Oh, and Regular. No need to paste my posts before you respond. I can keep up.

  16. Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:24 pm | Permalink

    VET - think McCain will strike out on his own or keep following the Bush line? He has some real distancing to do if he is going to. And, if he does, does he lose the base?

  17. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:33 pm | Permalink

    I don’t know Ben. If he would explain his change regarding religion, torture, abortion and homosexual marriage, it would help.

    I don’t care about his change regarding Drilling for oil. That is a change based on the price of oil. It is the other changes that look too much like pandering.

  18. Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:33 pm | Permalink

    “Oh, so your for McCain then who has vast military experience?
    Obama of course you know, has zero military experience.”

    Republicans rejected military experience as a good qualification ever since AWOL Bush ran for office.

    Besides, being able to crash a plane doesn’t seem like much experience. Anyone can get a pilot license at age 16, what makes McCain so special?

  19. Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:51 pm | Permalink

    Vet - well, at least he finally tossed Hagee and Parsley aside.

  20. Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:54 pm | Permalink

    A comment from a retired General:

    Clark: McCain a hero, but lacks command experience

    Clark said performing heroic military service is not a substitute for gaining command experience.

    “In the matters of national security policy making, it’s a matter of understanding risk,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “It’s a matter of gauging your opponents and it’s a matter of being held accountable. John McCain’s never done any of that in his official positions. I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war.

    “He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee and he has traveled all over the world, but he hasn’t held executive responsibility,” Clark said. “That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded - that wasn’t a wartime squadron.”

    http://www.kansas.com/wireupdates/story/449365.html

  21. Nano
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:01 pm | Permalink

    Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 2:08 pm | Permalink

    Oh, so your for McCain then who has vast military experience?
    _________________________________________________

    Maybe we shouldn’t delve too deeply into McCain’s “vast military experience”. He crashed 2 planes and flew one into powerlines before he ever got into combat. When he did go into combat, he got shot down and spent almost 6 years in a POW prison. While you can’t really criticize that, it’s still not really building “military experience”. He managed to get himself blown up in a fire on the Forrestal but was cited for trying to save another pilot. One has to wonder what he was doing in the middle of the fire. Not saying he started it, but just wondering.

    McCain made an anti-American propaganda statement after 4 days of torture. Hard to make a judgment call on that, but a lot of other US Servicemen were tortured and didn’t feel moved to make propaganda statements.

    McCain served his country, honorably for the most part (when he wasn’t making anti-American statements for our enemies), but the most distinguishing thing about his military career was that his daddy was an admiral. McCain became the Navy’s liaison to the Senate in 1977. How much of that was due to admiral daddy’s influence is unclear.

  22. writerdog
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:10 pm | Permalink

    There should be a special spot in Hell for Bush because of his decision to forget about those that attacked us. In favor of his personal goals, Afghanistan was and still is the real war. That is where the real enemy is and grows in strength. On Sept. 12 could anyone have ever foreseen what happened, going full bore against someone whom was not a threat. Over those that are still a threat and actually attacked us?

  23. Jed
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:11 pm | Permalink

    Phant,
    “I think Murphy’s Law should be renamed McCains Law!”

    Please don’t denigrate Murphy’s Law in such a manner. And remember Bush’s motto, the 7th corollary of Murphy’s Law, “Nothing is foolproof, because fools are so ingenious.”

  24. writerdog
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:13 pm | Permalink

    Some time ago I said I could vote for McCain if he had a real intelligence plan for Iraq. But then shortly after saying that McCain said he intended to continue Bush’s policy for Iraq and Foreign relations.
    John not only wants to take the wheel of the bus heading toward the cliff and give it the gas.

  25. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:35 pm | Permalink

    The aircraft carrier incidents were not McCain’s fault and of course duh Libs keep spreading lies about it.

    Getting shot down can happen to any pilot over enemy territory.

    At least McCain wasn’t like Kerry, who ended up with three skin scratch purple hearts, one being a rice grain in his butt cheek.

  26. Phantom
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:39 pm | Permalink

    Now if McCain would’ve ditched the plane that was on fire in the ocean instead of running for cover, I’d say he was a hero.

  27. Rage
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:44 pm | Permalink

    So the “invisible war” is finally getting some media attention, despite the steady stream of bodies over the past 7 years.

    Here’s a foreign affairs quiz:

    1. In the two years since the war in Afghanistan, opium production has: A virtually been eliminated by Hamid Karzai’s Government and American forces; B declined 30 per cent, but eradication is not expected until 2008; C soared 19-fold and become the major source of the world’s heroin.

    2. In Paktika and Zabul, two religiously conservative parts of Afghanistan, the number of children going to school has: A quintupled, with most girls at least finishing third grade; B risen 40 per cent; C plummeted as poor security has closed nearly all schools.

    The correct answer to both questions, alas, is C.

    With the White House finally acknowledging that the challenge in Iraq runs deeper than gloomy journalism, the talk of what to do next is sounding rather like Afghanistan. And that’s alarming, because America has flubbed the peace in Afghanistan even more egregiously than in Iraq.

    http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/18/1069027115504.html?from=storyrhs

  28. Rage
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:46 pm | Permalink

    P.S. Note the date, and the author. We should know better.

  29. Rage
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:50 pm | Permalink

    http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp

  30. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 3:53 pm | Permalink

    Libs like Rage love when humans suffer and bad news makes headlines.

    They live everyday for human suffering and hope things won’t ever get better unless a Democrap sits in the White House.

  31. Posted June 30, 2008 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

    Cons like Regular love when their leader causes that bad news.

  32. Rage
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 4:11 pm | Permalink

    When Ben says it true.

    When Regular says is unimportant, and we do not hear his words.

  33. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 4:11 pm | Permalink

    So is this now Obama’s election headquarters again? Or is it still McCain’s election headquarters ?

  34. Posted June 30, 2008 at 4:17 pm | Permalink

    No VET - they will claim that “independent maverick” (sic) McCain will handle it well where his mentor did not.

  35. Nano
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 4:36 pm | Permalink

    “Surviving crewmen and those who investigated the Forrestal fire case reported that McCain deliberately ‘wet-started’ his A-4E Skyhawk to shake up the guy in the F-4 Phantom behind his A-4. ‘Wet-starts’, done either deliberately (the starter motor switch allowed kerosene to pool in the engine and give a wet start) or accidentally, shoot a large flame from the tail of the aircraft.

    “134 sailors were killed on the USS Forrestal in 1967.

    It is believed by many crewmen and investigators that John McCain deliberately ‘wet-started’ his A-4E to shake up the guy in the plane behind his A-4. ‘Wet-starts’ shoot a large flame from the tail of the aircraft.

    In McCain’s case, the ‘wet-start’ apparently ‘cooked off’ and launched the Zuni rocket from the rear F-4 that touched off the explosions.”

    168 sailors died in that fire.

    Do we really want to let this guy anywhere near the “Red Button”?

  36. Posted June 30, 2008 at 4:50 pm | Permalink

    I bet he is a real gas when he does fireworks this weekend!

  37. LLTVET
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:08 pm | Permalink

    Afghanistan toll surpasses Iraq for second month.

    I’m just glad that this is only the Liberal Media making more of this than there is. Now all we have to do is stop allowing Secretary Gates to listen to all of that liberal spew. Then he won’t be concerned.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080630/ap_on_re_as/afghan_deadly_month

  38. DavidB
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

    For the record. I give any man a pass for anything said under torture.. which it why civilized nations do not practice torture.

    Perhaps the Vietnamese were practicing “enhanced Interrogation?”

  39. Phantom
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

    I wouldn’t put much stock in any naval investigation where the son/grandson of Admirals is involved.
    The navy has a reputation to look after, and like all services, I’m sure they take care of one of theirs.

  40. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    This is for the idiot Nano.

    The truth and video about McCain and the Forrestal Fire

    It was started by a zuni rocket that became dislodged.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_USS_Forrestal_fire

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzgV5QM5fi8

  41. Phantom
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:31 pm | Permalink

    Like I said above.

  42. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:36 pm | Permalink

    Well Phantom and nano…the Zuni Rocket became dislodged from a F-4 Phantom. McCain flew a skyhawk which was on the opposite side of the deck.

    Let me know when you get one thing right about this story and get back to me.

  43. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:06 pm | Permalink

    Multi-nic’d ‘Regular’,

    If it’s okay for you to lie about what caused New Orleans levee failures, then it’s okay for other people to also post lies.

  44. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

    cosmos is not a scientist.

    cosmos admits that computer climate models that the IPCC depends on heavily for climate prediction are inaccurate.

    cosmos supports the Sierra Club which is responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries due to their litigious policies.

  45. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:33 pm | Permalink

    Thank you multi-nic’d ‘Regular’,

    Now it okay if I post this link,

    http://judicial-inc.biz/82jjohn_mccain_and_the_uss_forresta.htm

  46. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:36 pm | Permalink

    cosmos gets his information from Websites. All cosmos has to do is get the documents from the Department of the Navy under the FOIA.

    But cosmos, the non-scientists, loves skew and posting half-truths and falsehoods.

    cosmos cannot be trusted to post the truth.

    cosmos can only attack other posters now that his Global Warming pet goat has eaten his brain.

  47. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:46 pm | Permalink

    Multi-nic’d ‘Regular’,

    You shouldn’t post lies…

    http://judicial-inc.biz/82jjohn_mccain_and_the_uss_forresta.htm

  48. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:49 pm | Permalink

    cosmos gets his information from Websites. All cosmos has to do is get the documents from the Department of the Navy under the FOIA.

    But cosmos, the non-scientists, loves skew and posting half-truths and falsehoods.

    cosmos cannot be trusted to post the truth.

    cosmos can only attack other posters now that his Global Warming pet goat has eaten his brain.

    cosmos is not a scientist.

    cosmos admits that computer climate models that the IPCC depends on heavily for climate prediction are inaccurate.

    cosmos supports the Sierra Club which is responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries due to their litigious policies.

  49. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:57 pm | Permalink

    Multi-nic’d ‘Regular’,

    You said that this blog was just a fantasy, and when you turn off the computer, “blip”, it’s gone.

    Multi-nic’d ‘Regular’ shouldn’t post lies. . .

    http://judicial-inc.biz/82jjohn_mccain_and_the_uss_forresta.htm

  50. Nano
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:10 pm | Permalink

    Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    This is for the idiot Nano.

    And this is for you, Regular.

    oIo

  51. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:12 pm | Permalink

    cosmos gets his information from Websites. All cosmos has to do is get the documents from the Department of the Navy under the FOIA.

    But cosmos, the non-scientists, loves skew and posting half-truths and falsehoods.

    cosmos cannot be trusted to post the truth.

    cosmos can only attack other posters now that his Global Warming pet goat has eaten his brain.

    cosmos is not a scientist.

    cosmos admits that computer climate models that the IPCC depends on heavily for climate prediction are inaccurate.

    cosmos supports the Sierra Club which is responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries due to their litigious policies.

    cosmos admits that the Sierra Club is responsible for the flooding of New Orleans and strong advocates prosecution of the same.

  52. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:25 pm | Permalink

    Multi-nic’d ‘Regular’,

    Are you a Christian?

    Is your church okay with the fact that you are a liar?

    Is the minister also a liar? Are the other members liars?

    Multi-nic’d ‘Regular’ should not post lies…

    http://judicial-inc.biz/82jjohn_mccain_and_the_uss_forresta.htm

  53. Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:26 pm | Permalink

    cosmos cannot be trusted to post the truth.

    cosmos can only attack other posters now that his Global Warming pet goat has eaten his brain.

    cosmos is not a scientist.

    cosmos admits that computer climate models that the IPCC depends on heavily for climate prediction are inaccurate.

  54. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:34 pm | Permalink

    I guess that multi-nic’d ‘Regular’s church does not mind if he is a liar.
    Maybe his minister and the congregation are also big liars?

  55. WSClark
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 8:24 pm | Permalink

    Why is it that Republicans are “allowed” to attack John Kerry’s service in ‘Nam, but John McCain’s service should be off limits?

    Given McCain’s history of lying, he should be an acceptable target.

    Personally, I don’t believe a god damned word that McCain says about his time in Viet Nam.

  56. Nano
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 8:27 pm | Permalink

    Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 7:26 pm | Permalink

    cosmos cannot be trusted to post the truth.

    cosmos can only attack other posters
    ___________________________________________
    Regular
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    This is for the idiot Nano.
    ____________________________________________

    Look who’s talking…

    Regular can’t discuss the issues. All he does is attack and call names. No wonder everybody thinks he’s a stupid dyck.

  57. Nano
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 8:36 pm | Permalink

    WSClark
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 8:24 pm | Permalink

    Why is it that Republicans are “allowed” to attack John Kerry’s service in ‘Nam, but John McCain’s service should be off limits?

    Given McCain’s history of lying, he should be an acceptable target.
    _________________________________________________
    The fact that he’s brought up his service at all has made said service a target. As I recall, Kerry bringing up his service triggered the Swift Boat Mafia.

    Kerry threw his medals away. He made statements that were detrimental to our cause.

    McCain made an anti-American propaganda statement for the enemy. The UCMJ says you don’t give aid and comfort to the enemy. No if, ands, or buts about it.

    An argument could probably be made that they’re both traitors.

  58. bth
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 8:47 pm | Permalink

    McCain is fair game for HHVT - 100%. The Repukes have no right to whine when their own tactics are turned against them.

  59. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:09 pm | Permalink

    Ben what General Clark said was ridiculous. Obama is linking his campaign to a politically stupid manner of disinformation. McCain has been entirely too kind to Obama and maybe he will start now pointing out the flaws in Obama.

    No service record to submit.

    No leadership positions to point out.

    Questionable friends everywhere you turn.
    They include admitted terrorists.
    A pastor he listen to for 20 years that preached hate for his country.
    A friend who helped him finance his house and was also his biggest campaign contributor who has been found guilty of 24 felonies.

    I could go on but if McCain starts playing hardball which he will have to in order to beat Obama I guess the best man will survive.

  60. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:10 pm | Permalink

    BTW Ben why does StevenDavis not call you down for calling us repukes as he did me for calling your side dims?

  61. bth
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:42 pm | Permalink

    They include admitted terrorists

    Who?

  62. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn

  63. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:59 pm | Permalink

    Ben I don’t believe that you are unaware of who this man and woman are. I do believe that the left would like to pretend they don’t exist. That is being intellectually dishonest to an extreme.

  64. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:03 pm | Permalink

    http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/902213,CST-NWS-ayers18.article

    Ben if you really don’t know who he is. The Chicago Sun times will help you out.

    “Go home and kill your parents” was one of his best statements.

  65. Monkeyhawk
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:05 pm | Permalink

    “bth” –

    I think the cleverly-worded “admitted terrorists” refers to that geriatric former Weatherman poser (no one remembers his name; only his bragging about being in Chicago in 1968) who showed up at a party Obama might have attended back when he was a State Senator. Y’know; real “Manchurian Candidate” stuff.

    And the damnedest thing was the RepubliCON “okobserver” couldn’t resist the urge for an unnecessary lie. Note “okobserver” said “terroristS! Made it plural, based on nothing that it might sound worse.

    One sorry old hippie who turned into a neighborhood big shot based on his stories about himself Was he part of the Chicago 7? No. Was he ever considered a leader of the Weather Underground? Never. Was he a part of the Weather Underground anymore than a Bleacher Bum in Wrigley Field talks about how “we” beat the Cardinals? (As if that could happen. But I digress…) Much more effective to portray him as a “terrorist;” much better to conjure up words that have Obama “meeting with” a bunch of terroristS!”

    The CONs are quite good at manipulating rhetoric.

    “Elitist,” you know, is the new “uppity.”

  66. bth
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:12 pm | Permalink

    okob - i am aware of who he is. And he is NOT an admitted terrorist nor has he been convicted of same. Yes, he was once a member of the Weathermen/Weather Underground but that was before it turned violent. However, no evidence has been produced that he was involved in anything.

    Ayers is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Education

    She is an Associate Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law and the Director of Northwestern’s Children and Family Justice Center.

    I’m not a big fan of either of them - however as noted (1) neither has been convicted of a crime and (2) both have moved on from that past.

    So - you have no proof that they are admitted terrorists.

    And, if you want to play the ‘association’ game - I was once a Republican. In fact, I worked on the freshman campaign of a former Speaker of the House - Dennis Hastert. That was before he became captured by the ‘inside the beltway’ virus.

  67. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:12 pm | Permalink

    This geriatric man is still teaching at an Illinois university. Teaching our children than when he and his wife bombed police stations and tried to bomb congress he didn’t ‘do nearly enough’. He is an unrepentant bomber who after spending almost 20 years in hiding was released on a technecality over how evidence was collected. He was so unrepentent that on 9/11 he said the US got what they deserved. It’s all out there. Look it up. He is a neighbor of Obamas, they served on boards together, Obama said himself he asked him if he should run for the Illinois senate.

    I have to go and really having a debate where you and Ben play dumb isn’t something I want to waste time ON.

  68. bth
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:14 pm | Permalink

    Bleacher Bum in Wrigley Field

    More likely to cause my beloved Cubs to lose!

    :(

  69. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:15 pm | Permalink

    Ben I heard him say in a lecture in his classroom that he was involved in the bombings. That is a moot point. If you really read the history you will know that he wasn’t convicted because of a technicality. He admitted his guilt.

    Sorry you want to hold onto this argument but I think it will come out when McCain finally shows some backbone and fights back.

  70. bth
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:15 pm | Permalink

    he and his wife bombed police stations

    Prove that okob. Take your evidence to the FBI.

    I suppose next you will claim that I was a co-conspiritor with Karl Rove since I was a Republican!

    :)

  71. BlueJay
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:17 pm | Permalink

    “U.S. took eye off ball in Afghanistan”

    No, bush and his handlers did.

    There isn’t oil in Afghanistan.

    Osama bin Laden WAS in Afghanistan.

    But ya don’t catch or kill the bogey man.

  72. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

    Bill Ayers words:

    “Ayers went on to tell the students: “People ask, ‘Do you regret anything you did against the government in those days?’ And my answer is: no, I don’t.”

    In an interview in The New York Times on the day of the September 11 attacks, when he was promoting Fugitive Days, his book on the Weathermen, Ayers said: “I don’t regret setting bombs,” and added: “I feel we didn’t do enough.”

    Ben this is a man who had a lot of influence on Obama. He held the party when he announced his decision to run for the Illinois senate.

  73. bth
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

    okob - when did you attend his classes?

  74. BlueJay
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    “He was so unrepentent that on 9/11 he said the US got what they deserved.”

    I would word it differently. But I happen to agree with the sentiment.

  75. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:21 pm | Permalink

    Ben I guess I will take myself to bed and you can deal with the FBI.

    Do you still maintain his innocense?

  76. okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:22 pm | Permalink

    Ben if I attend a taped lecture do I not then get credit for attending class?

    “I don’t regret setting bombs”.

    His words not mine.

  77. cosmos_originally
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 11:15 pm | Permalink

    okobserver,

    Do you have a credible link to the quote you posted at 10:22 pm?

    That does NOT seem to be what he said.

    http://billayers.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/clarifying-the-facts-a-letter-to-the-new-york-times-9-15-2001/

    http://billayers.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/episodic-notoriety-fact-and-fantasy

  78. StevenEDavis
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 11:20 pm | Permalink

    okobserver
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 9:10 pm | Permalink
    BTW Ben why does StevenDavis not call you down for calling us repukes as he did me for calling your side dims?
    *****
    So, if I don’t call Ben down, I am being inconsistent and untruthful. I am responsible for what Ben does? Nice try at a pretty dumb diversion. I hold you responsible for the crap you post. Sorry.

    Actually, I am not sorry. I expect you to act like an adult and to be responsible for your behavior. Please remind me of how unrealistic that expectation is. I am sure the wait won’t be long, given your your history.

  79. StevenEDavis
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 11:26 pm | Permalink

    “your your” - should be “your”

  80. StevenEDavis
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 11:37 pm | Permalink

    “’Elitist, you know, is the new ‘uppity’.”

    The implied racism of the attacks are quite disturbing. I am not sure how to adequately respond to this.

    I can only hope America sees what these Rovian assaults for what they actually are and are repulsed by them. Perhaps, I hope for too much.

  81. okobserver
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:52 am | Permalink

    Steven you showed your true stripes and they ain’t pretty. You are a phony baloney. You think you are so high and mighty. Actually the entire left on here does. You all shout and holler about the liars on the right all the while denying the truth in front of your eyes. Hope all you guys on the left enjoy your posts because you are truely lightweights intellectually. Not a good arguments if we put all of your posts together.

  82. okobserver
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:55 am | Permalink

    And Steven like your friend Barrack you try to throw out that racism and bigot title when you have no logical argument to augment your marxist beliefs. It won’t float.

  83. cosmos_originally
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:57 am | Permalink

    okobserver,

    Do you have a credible link to the quote YOU posted at 10:22 pm?

    http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2008/06/us-took-eye-off-ball-in-afghanistan/#comment-376460

  84. okobserver
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:58 am | Permalink

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3736043.ece

    Cosmos, just for you.

  85. okobserver
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 1:05 am | Permalink

    Cosmos did you bother to read your own threads. Bill Ayers is even worse than I posted. He is a true anti-capitalist reaping the rewards of an economic system he decries while living the life of Riley. Making money with lectures and books trying to show us how idealistic he was while bombing government buildings.

    Thanks for making my point.

  86. cosmos_originally
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 1:11 am | Permalink

    okobserver,

    So you believe that Murdoch’s News Corporation is “credible” source?

    LOL! No wonder okobserver is so confused and misinformed.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times
    “The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of News International. News International is entirely owned by the News Corporation group, headed by Rupert Murdoch.”

  87. BlueJay
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 1:20 am | Permalink

    Oh I will give you that you are not another nic of James “Regular” there ksgrm “okobserver”

    That’s all I will give you.

    I’m doing greatest hits through the Summer.

    I need to go back and find where you are a “worker bee” and where those who work FOR you can easily be cast off and sentenced to starve if they displease the almighty ksgrm.

  88. Indie
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    OBL is celebrating our independence day laughing — knowing that his plan is working —– worse president ever —

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7202.htm

    Bin Laden Transcript Outlines Plan to Bankrupt U.S. Through War

    Demian McLean

    11/01/04 (Bloomberg) — Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden said he is trying to bankrupt the U.S. through its war on terror, a strategy he says felled the Soviet Union two decades ago in Afghanistan, according to a translation by al-Jazeera television of his full, videotaped statement.

    “The mujahedeen recently forced Bush to resort to emergency funds to continue the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq, which is evidence of the success of the bleed-until-bankruptcy plan — with Allah’s permission,” bin Laden said in the video that aired on the Qatar-based satellite network, according to the translation, posted today to al-Jazeera’s Web site. The channel aired portions of the statement on Oct. 29.

    President George W. Bush’s administration plans to seek an additional $70 billion from lawmakers for Iraq and Afghanistan, the head of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, General Paul Kern, said on Oct. 26. The U.S. Congress last year approved $87 billion for military operations and rebuilding in the two countries.

    Bin Laden’s video appearance, his first since September 2003, came four days before the Nov. 2 presidential vote in which Bush’s anti-terrorism policies will play a central role. Bush’s challenger, Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, said in debates and campaign speeches that the president should have focused on capturing bin Laden rather than invading Iraq.

    Financial Impact

    Saudi-born bin Laden, who aided the Muslim resistance against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, boasts in his latest message of how little the Sept. 11 attacks cost and how large a financial impact they had on the U.S. Bin Laden accuses Bush of waging war to benefit Halliburton Co. and other contractors, and leaving American taxpayers with the bill. The Bush administration has rejected such linkages.

    The terror leader cites a speech by an unidentified British diplomat at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, which he says outlines the financial impact of Sept. 11 by comparing the estimated $500,000 spent to carry out the assault with the damage caused.

    Bin Laden said “every dollar of al-Qaeda defeated a million dollars by the permission of Allah, besides the loss of a huge number of jobs.”

    The Bush policy of mounting a global war on terror has made it easy for al-Qaeda to “bait” the U.S. government, bin Laden said.

    “All that we have to do is to send two mujahedeen to the furthest point East to raise a piece of cloth on which is written al-Qaeda, in order to make the generals race there to cause America to suffer human, economic, and political losses without their achieving for it anything of note other than some benefits for their private companies,” bin Laden said, according to the al-Jazeera transcript.

    (Sounds like OBL is winning — his plan is working much better than the WPE’s) )

  89. Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:42 pm | Permalink

    What a bunch of hooey. This whole thread is based on a lie. The lie being that the left supports the war in Afghanistan. This may be the biggest lie yet from the left about the war on terror. That Afghanistan is a just war that they could support. It was only when Bush started that “illegal” war in Iraq that they turned against the war. What a load of “Bravo Sierra”. If we had never gone anywhere near Iraq, the far left would have still turned the Democrat party against the war. By the time of the 2004 election you would have been hearing the same crap that we did hear. “Illegal war”, “Bush has us in the middle of a civil war”, “Bush has mishandled the war”. The same insurgents that we have been seeing in Iraq would have entered Afghanistan and engaged us in the same way, spurred on by a traitorous democrat party in the US. You see, to the “peace at any cost crowd” America is always the bad guy and must lose to make the world safe for left wing dictators like Castro and Chaves.
    So quit pretending you would have supported this war if only we would have stayed out of Iraq. Nobodies buying that anyway.

  90. Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:49 pm | Permalink

    Lots of BS there Chris. Right up there with your “Hillary had Russert offed” rant.

    Accroding to US military accounts the majority of insurgents in Iraq are Iraqi. Are you claiming that they would have all gone to Afghanistan if we had not invaded their country?

    The record will show that ‘way back then’ we support the Afghanistan operation as necessary.

  91. gster
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:54 pm | Permalink

    “Chrisfrommactown”

    Your 12:42 post is probably one of the most irrational and ignorant things I’ve ever seen on this blog, and that covers a lot of territory. You really should consult a professional ASAP.

  92. Posted July 1, 2008 at 1:37 pm | Permalink

    gster
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:54 pm | Permalink
    “Chrisfrommactown”

    Your 12:42 post is probably one of the most irrational and ignorant things I’ve ever seen on this blog, and that covers a lot of territory. You really should consult a professional ASAP.

    Why, gster? You can’t stand the truth. Sorry, but I call a spade a spade. The democrat party is the party of treason. The only reason you claim to support Afghanistan is to cover up the backstabbing you have done to this Country in Iraq.
    And BTH, your MIT credentials are questionable. To me, you are just another “left wing hack” whose intelligence barely approaches that of your average Garden Slug

  93. Posted July 1, 2008 at 1:41 pm | Permalink

    Why thank you tinfoil-hat Chris.

    I won’t question your intelligence - just your SANITY!

    :)

  94. gster
    Posted July 1, 2008 at 1:50 pm | Permalink

    “You can’t stand the truth”

    More humor; … you can’t be serious. Truth????

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