Well, on the bright side this will basically be forgotten after the airstrikes on Iran start in a couple months or so.

I would have thought the American mother firm would be better informed and less biased on MENA issues than other Americans. How many actual Americans do what you do in MENA?

sounds like it might be about time to switch nationalities. i fancy canadian citizenship myself. which passport would you like to have?

hmm... perhaps E could help me in my quest for maple-leaf status. E: what do you say?

by the way, Tom: you are entirely too right. almost nothing can stop it now.

Klaus: have you ever dealt with an American mother firm? even an academic group as seemingly well-informed as CAORC is woefully unintelligent with the simplest of matters.

It would be interesting to try to see if there's a recurring pattern in the way empires historically treated those they perceived as their enemies, and the outcomes of the confrontations. If there's one, it could be used to wild guess where this is going to stop...

Mates

It's not the nationality, it's the fucking branding. I work for an American firm with American branding.

Besides the currency risk, it's the brand risk. Leave them, I am clean, cotinue and I am branded and not in a good way.

And Klaus, it all depends on the firm, but ceteris paribus, no, my experience working for major American and European firms is that the US firms are (ex long term overseas exposure firms as Coca Cola) incredibly blind to non-US markets issues.

Klaus: for a recent example, see Walmart pulling out of Germany. a complete misread of the market and a swaggering idiocy so typical of american firms blinded the company not only to fail with consumers but also employees. just think of the problems Walmart brought upon itself when it released its corporate rulebook to the German workforce with such gems as "no intra-workplace dating!"

Since everything reminds me of something else, that Vladmart rule reminds me of the non-smoking campaign they were going to run in Baghdad. I love telling that at dinners, people always assume I'm joking.

The coupling of the world's largest military with ignorance of other cultures kind of explains a few things.

Well, on the bright side this will basically be forgotten after the airstrikes on Iran start in a couple months or so.

*battens down hatches and cancels holiday to the Musandam*

Dear friends,

no need to batten down any hatches just yet. And Tom, for a Beiruti you're quite alarmist ...

As for SD's Musandam trip (and you have no idea how much I envy you) I don't see any danger of getting hit up there. It's not like you'll be pitching a tent next to the big radar/radio/secretgadgetry station up on Jabal Harim ...

Maybe I'm too naive, but I don't see any US airstrikes on Iran happening anytime soon.

--MSK

The "next couple months" line was based on some military hardware geek's (maybe the Yorkshire Ranter's?) estimate that the # of carrier groups in-theater will peak around April 1. There's other reasons to think so as well (eg. semi-explicit threats in President Bush's big "surge" speech, the appointment of a Navy guy as overall commander of the theater, various and sundry alarmist articles about Iran in the usual places).

Tom: i take it by alarmist you mean

http://www.willthomas.net/Convergence/Weekly/Israeli_Nuclear_Strike_On_Iran.htm

and

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/190107nukestrike.htm

certainly all of the circumstantial evidence is there but i really can't take anyone seriously who has done extensive work and is considered some sort of an expert on "chemtrails"

Klaus: for a recent example, see Walmart pulling out of Germany. a complete misread of the market and a swaggering idiocy so typical of american firms blinded the company not only to fail with consumers but also employees.

One of the best examples of this is the disastrous -- and inadvertently hilarious -- startup of EuroDisney. Among other gems, EuroDisney got itself sued over its dress code which, among other things, prohibited nail polish and large earrings.

http://www.sikhnet.com/sikhnet/discussion.nsf/0/d6402b26cf4fb3b4872569e000521b98?Open

And, yes, that is a charmingly bizarre site for a EuroDisney case study.

To Disney's credit, they quickly adjusted after their initial cack-handed blunders. This almost defines the difference between governmental and private initiatives. Private businesses are just as stupid as governments. For many reasons, however, businesses learn from their mistakes and adapt much more quickly than do governments.

Oh, and regarding an actual military attack on Iran, I just don't see it. Given the current climate, both politically and within the military, ordering an attack on Iran would likely result in a military version of the Saturday Night Massacre. The outrage even amongst Bush supporters would be enormous. Bush ordering an attack on Iran would be much more likely to result in regime change in Washington than Tehran.

"The US needs change and fast."

Indeed. Perhaps towards a more isolationist position. Dissolve NATO. Remove American troops and commitments from around the world. Apparently every country except the US has a complete understanding of every culture, speaks every language, has the perfect solution to every problem, and never makes any intercultural mistakes. Therefore those countries should assume the responsibilities that have previously been held by the US. So I agree, the US should "change and fast" to a more isolationist position, and the Europeans and the Canadians and whoever should "change and fast" to implement their "genius" solutions to all the problems the US is apparently not qualified to solve. It's funny, though I see people unrestrained in their condemnation of the US, I don't see people championing their own country to lead the way. If you think your country can do a better job then go ahead and do it. No one is stopping you. Just do it. Take the initiative and act.

O Prejudice, where is thy sting? O Victory, where is thy grave?

Phil: You need to understand that this level of incompetence & outright villainy is not something that is characteristic of the United States, in general, but rather of the particular leadership that it has at the moment.

And, of course, of the people still stupid enough to defend said leadership on the internets.

Ah, someone of evidently limited ability in the skill of reading.

Perhaps towards a more isolationist position. Dissolve NATO.

Well, if you want to cut off your nose to spite your face, although that hardly seems either rational nor even well-considered.

I am sure, however, would-be rivals of the US of A would enjoy the self-emasculation.

Apparently every country except the US has a complete understanding of every culture, speaks every language, has the perfect solution to every problem, and never makes any intercultural mistakes.

Apparently you are unable to entertain rational analysis and have a penchant for impoverished exclude the middle logical fallacy driven hysteria.

It is, however, quite a long time since one has seen a major power make such a collosal string of astounding and willful blunders.

Nothing that a rational government (Administration that is), with non-idiot leadership and a modicum - if only for the sheer novelty value - of competence in administration, can not fix.

Sadly this will probably have to be a bit of a leftish government, given the purge that is evidently needed to rid you of the delusional incompetence of the Right Bolshies, but such is the pendalum of power.

Therefore those countries should assume the responsibilities that have previously been held by the US.

Feel like stamping your feet more and crying like a little child?

So I agree, the US should "change and fast" to a more isolationist position, and the Europeans and the Canadians and whoever should "change and fast" to implement their "genius" solutions to all the problems the US is apparently not qualified to solve.

No genuis is needed.

Merely work-a-day competence of the sort one regularly sees in good government, and which has generally characterised most American administrations, your overdone hysteria notwithstanding.

But then perhaps you are one of those Right Bolsheviks so ideologically bound you see enemies everywhere, or a willing dupe.

No, merely competence, not genuis.

Sad that this is so very difficult to understand.

It's funny, though I see people unrestrained in their condemnation of the US, I don't see people championing their own country to lead the way.

Well, then you are sheltered fool, since one can find lots of championing going on in continental circles from the various EU-philes and French, from certain Chinese (although more regionally).

Few countries have the global imperial vision of the US, but that modesty may be well advised if one takes a look at your deficits, and your military spending.

But I do find it amusing when people make these statements, evidently in profound ignorance.

Of course, I might add that criticism of the gross incompetence of the current American administration and its blind recklessness hardly is a statement about the US as such.

If you think your country can do a better job then go ahead and do it. No one is stopping you. Just do it. Take the initiative and act.

Pitiful, but also amusing that you seem to believe that (i) the criticism supra (in the original post) came from some rivalry and (ii) other countries would want to engage in what the US is engaged in, ipso facto; never mind the criticism was pointed at a certian specific Administration and a specific Middle Eastern policy which rather self-evidently has gone stunningly badly - through the incomptence of said Administration.

Well, one should expect childishly impoverished comments from ignorant provincial cretins.

I guess that what Phil is saying is: Bring' em on! It worked so well the first time around.

Ah, magnificent, the rare and elusive Lounsbury in his natural environment. Obviously Louns' provides no real answers here, but that's what playing the dozens is about. Fortunately the fate of the world isn't dependent on Lounsbury providing us with solutions, we'd be waiting a long time. Your responses are fantastic, Louns', I really enjoyed them, however they don't actually nudge us closer to solving real-world problems. I don't care what you think about the present administration. Fuck Bush. What's missing here is any sense of responsibility by our so-called "allies" to actually address the problems we face. You can legitimately complain about America's policies, I complain about them myself, but condemnation of America or Bush is not a strategy. Again I say that if you have better ideas then lets see them. If your government is so superior to the US then lets see its plan. And yes that's exactly the issue. This is not about rivalry, it's about coming up with some good ideas. And I can't think of a single good idea about countering the influence of Islamic supremacism coming from Europe. What are the best ideas coming out of the UK now? How about France or Holland or Italy etc? I admit we are flawed and that we are doing the best with what we've got. But what are you doing? We've taken the lead and it hasn't been perfect, in fact it's been very frustrating, but what leadership has Europe shown? Where are the great ideas coming out of Europe? Here's what I want you to say Lounsbury: You Americans don't know what you're doing therefore the UK herewith assumes complete responsibility for Iran, China, North Korea, Africa, the Middle East and every other issue that should arise. We are smarter than you, better than you, and we can respond to all these problems better than you can. We've got the best ideas and here they are...

Take it. Take the responsibility. You deal with these fucking idiots.
It's easy to condemn us while assuming no responsibility yourself. Believe me I want you to take the responsibility. I want you to struggle with the unsolvable problems of the day and to be condemned for not solving them. The history of the past hundred years has been about you people out there across the ocean creating totalitarian regimes and initiating the greatest wars the world has ever seen and we Americans fighting and defeating those regimes. You say that we have been blundering, but we take seriously the question: what if Hitler had been stopped in the Rhineland or Czechoslovakia? then maybe WW2 could have been avoided. That's the context of our decisions. Apparent "blundering" is in reality an attempt to stop an even bigger war. Again I say, if you think your country can do a better job then just do it. Take the initiative. Yes I know Collounsbury has already demonstrated his hostility to this idea. I suppose it's a characteristic of Europeans to be passive and reject the idea that they should take the inititative.

I can't think of a single good idea about countering the influence of Islamic supremacism coming from Europe.

From Europe? Have you been reading Sullivan again, naughty? That's coming to Europe. And is only part of the immigration problems, to which there are so many other aspects that to focus on the spectre of Eurabian UberIslam is misguided at best. Islamophobia is a precise word, it really is about fear.

And what does that have to do with invading anti-Islamist Saddam-era Iraq, or the disastrous policies being peddled there to the American populace that is gradually awakening to reality?

You say that we have been blundering, but we take seriously the question: what if Hitler had been stopped in the Rhineland or Czechoslovakia? then maybe WW2 could have been avoided.

Please don't give us that 1938 tripe, it's really old by now. Unless you meant in relation to Bush. Har har har.

And generally, stop mistaking criticism of the Bush administration and its supporters for anti-Americanism. The good Lounsbury is, at heart, an avid pro-American, provided the US lives up to its previous ideals of good governance and responsible world leadership.

Oh my, just too easy.

First, C is an American, which kind of undercuts the basis of your entire rant.

Second, while there is much to be said for other countries -- and the EU, especially, with its pretentions of being a serious world power -- more actively addressing problems like radical Islam, the real issue is whether current U.S. policy is helping achieve its stated aims. You appear to be in the "Oh my God! We got to do SOMETHING even if it makes things worse!" camp.

The United States has invested about a trillion U.S. dollars and a large number of lives, both U.S. and Iraqi in its efforts in the Islamic world. On current evidence, this was a complete waste of lives and treasure. Iraq is a seething hell-hole which shows alarming signs of spilling over into other countries in the region. Perhaps the best that can be salvaged is a divided Iraq. Unfortunately, the only way to get to even that dismal solution may be to let the parties exhaust themselves in a civil war ala Lebanon. In sum, U.S. policy has turned Iraq from an oozing sore into a maligant cancer that shows every sign of infecting the entire region. This is why so many people here were at first bemused, and then utterly horrified, at the administration's schizophrenically irrational insistence on "staying the course."

So yes, U.S. policy does need to change, and radically. The administration's efforts over the last four have made the middle east a far more dangerous and volatile place, wasted huge amounts of political capital and thoroughly destroyed the U.S. "brand" -- and all at the cost of, as noted above, many lives and a ballooning U.S. budget deficit.

In conclusion, radical U.S. isolationism would indeed have been a better policy than the lumbering stupidity with which this administration has acted in the region over the last four years. We all look back fondly on the George Bush of the 2000 debates who was deeply sceptical of nation-building and of deploying the U.S. military peace-keeping missions abroad.

But your shot about the dozens was nice, though.

You say that we have been blundering, but we take seriously the question: what if Hitler had been stopped in the Rhineland or Czechoslovakia? then maybe WW2 could have been avoided

Oh, brother... If Hitler were "stopped" in Rhineland, he would have been the greatest German hero since Luther and far more damage could have been done than actually happened. It's almost like saying that if Washington were stopped at Concord, none of the mess in Iraq would have happened, or some other nonsense.

I find it puzzling that people are clamoring about universal "solutions" where there are no universal problems--and harping at people for not having "solutions" when they point out that the problems don't exist. Typical extremist talk, of left or right--these problems, in practice, are conjured up just to justify their favorite programs as "solutions" to the aforementioned imaginary problems. So, we see an unusally warm day, and some people are hankering for taxing all income above $100,000 so that icecaps don't melt and such, or if there's a social unrest in France and some of the troublemakers are Muslims, why, whole Europe is going over to the Islamist zealots....

More of this silliness?
Ah, magnificent, the rare and elusive Lounsbury in his natural environment.

Rare, but hardly elusive I am.

Obviously Louns' provides no real answers here, but that's what playing the dozens is about.

Who said I was providing answers (I presume to the Iraq fiasco)?

You threw up a fine little mix of irrelevant straw men (isolationism, other countries 'taking over' - none of which have anything to do with the current American Administration's incompetence).

But if you want answers, I'd review my fine ranting for them, since I am not inclined to regurgitate for you. But my approach to the Middle East and environs may be rather simply summarised as pragmatic realism, starting with the realisation that the military adventurism in Iraq was an utter failure - largely due to sheer incompetence, although obviously most of its precepts were wrong as well. That aside, bad ideas executed staggerlingly poorly tend to be worse than bad ideas executed with elan.

So, cut deals with the power-brokers in Iraq, ensure some degree of peripheral stability in areas like Kurdistan, while also restraining Kurds from moves that provoke the Turks, and try to stay out of the way as Iraq passes through its Lebanese moment.

Rather like cited above.

And generally in the MENA region, focus on building economic growth, deal with the popular political movements as necessary rather than shrieking in fear over the mere word Islamist and running into the arms of the corrupt pseudo-secular rentier elites.

Plenty of practical ways to approach these broad ideas.

Fortunately the fate of the world isn't dependent on Lounsbury providing us with solutions, we'd be waiting a long time.

Not really, although you seem to be of the type that wants magical solutions, and pretend decision making that sounds decisive as it abstracts away from reality.

Your responses are fantastic, Louns', I really enjoyed them, however they don't actually nudge us closer to solving real-world problems.

They were not in any way meant to, whatever your chagrined backpeddling and desperate attempts to distract from your own stupidity may lead you to believe.

To repeat, my note above responded to your childish foot-stamping.

There was no presumption of sketching out policy.

So you can stop building that particular massive straw man.

I don't care what you think about the present administration. Fuck Bush.

Well, in that case you should not be worried about my complaining about the incompetent fool.

What's missing here is any sense of responsibility by our so-called "allies" to actually address the problems we face.

Which "Allies" are those?

And upon what meager basis do you advance this petulant whinging?

Europe has sent troops to Afghan land, and some of the gullible fools sent troops to Iraq - of course they're buggering off now that it's so painfully clear the US bollixed things up so stunningly badly that the whole thing is an utter loss.

EU and its members have various programs, development and political engaged in the MENA region - doubtless you're entirely ignorant of them due to the navel-gazing media in America - but they exist, and in many countries (ex the dictatorships in favour with the US for the moment, e.g. Egypt) are often dominant.

Successful approaches, maybe, maybe not - but no worse, indeed far better than the blind blundering and hysteric shrieking "Do Something" like some hysteric 50s era stereotype of a middle class housewife that's seen a mouse.

I should note in passing I am not much of a fan of the EU Euro Med initiatives, more due to the expensive bureaucratic approach tied with contradictions in the langauge versus reality (esp. in the area of free trade), than to the philosophy. There good ideas executed in a mediocre fashion lead to a very poor cost-benefit result.

But then Euro Med hasn't produced a failed state and isn't pissing away billions of dollars a month in a fruitless attempt to deny reality.

It's merely wasting billions on self-contradictory policies that tend to reduce the ultimate impact of the core economic growth focus.

You can legitimately complain about America's policies, I complain about them myself, but condemnation of America or Bush is not a strategy.

See supra, re straw men and purposes.

I'm in finance mate, I ain't government official.

And not every fucking post need be some pointless waste of time pointing out obvious strategies.

If your government is so superior to the US then lets see its plan.

"My government" has nothing the fuck to do with anything, I am not a fucking nation, idiot boy, I'm a blog poster. (Again see supra, straw men, also not a government official)

It does, however, amuse to see your jingoistic reaction as in fact it's this precise instinct that has led the US to failure in Iraq. Criticism is about the US.... not about the moment, "Allies" not Allies who are trying to warn a friend he's acting like an ultramaroon, to quote the Bugs Bunny phrase.

And yes that's exactly the issue. This is not about rivalry, it's about coming up with some good ideas.

Plenty of good ideas out there for MENA - you might familiarise yourself with them.

And I can't think of a single good idea about countering the influence of Islamic supremacism coming from Europe.

Your intellectual impoverishment and ignorance are hardly my problem, eh?

What are the best ideas coming out of the UK now?

Oh, I'd say the Foreign Office page can give you some reading on current policy, focus on multilateral deal making, modest focus on economic growth.

That sort of thing.

Of course Iraq is utterly fucked, but what can one say?

How about France or Holland or Italy etc?

Why don't you go find out? Why you could even review the EU Euro Med accords. I assure you, this little thing called google can lead you to numerous official webpages - even in the English language for the sheer novelty value for the monolinguals who seem to believe if something is not in English, it doesn't exist - on various policies, actually set forth by actual officials.

Argument from ignorance (that is you're ignorant and you presume that means there is nothing actually to know) is hardly very interesting.

I admit we are flawed and that we are doing the best with what we've got.

No moron, the US is doing about the fucking worst with what it's got.

That's the whole bloody fucking point and why it is so bloody painful to watch this goddamned fiasco, you stupid droolingin excuse making cretin.

Even given the policy chosen, reliance on shouting loudly with a big stick (rather than the traditional speak softly a la Mr Roosevelt the Elder), the execution is incompetent.

But what are you doing?

Making money.

It's what I am paid to do.

As I am in the private sector, in finance, in the MENA region.

Making money, and ceteris paribus indirectly helping to finance private sector growth through better financial vehicles, etc. etc.

Previously, I was also in MENA, in direct, private equity investment. Also making money, etc.

But then that is what individuals can do, so I feel quite good about contributing to economic growth, not being the personification of any particular nation-state.

We've taken the lead and it hasn't been perfect, in fact it's been very frustrating, but what leadership has Europe shown?

Nor of course am I the personification of a Continent or trans-national alliance.

But as to leadership Europe has taken, well that would be EU expansion, the Euro-Med accords, EU engagement in sub-Saharan Africa.... etc.

Just because "you" - that is the American government likes to loudly proclaim its leadership in area X which was gotten its momentary attention (and throw sharp elbows I may add if rivals make competing proposals) doesn't mean that nothing else is happening in the world.

Again, your ignorance and lack of knowledge is not an argument, it merely reflects your provincialism.

Mind you, none of the above is intended as a comparative citation between EU or individual European or other country you feel is relevant or somehow wish to have a jingoistic fit about, and the US.

I merely cite as areas where the EU or individual members have leading roles (even within MENA, outside of the Gulf and its environs, the EU is more important than the US in North Africa ex-Egypt. Euro-Med accords, other influence. As noted supra, less-than-ideal, but at least not stunningly incompetent to date so as to produce a failed state and probably terrorist creation-machine).

Where are the great ideas coming out of Europe?

On web pages, I would presume, although I am not one for "great ideas" but quiet pragmatism actually.

Again your ignorance and provincialism aren't an argument.

Here's what I want you to say Lounsbury: You Americans don't know what you're doing therefore the UK herewith assumes complete responsibility for Iran, China, North Korea, Africa, the Middle East and every other issue that should arise. We are smarter than you, better than you, and we can respond to all these problems better than you can. We've got the best ideas and here they are...

I'm not a nation state, mate.

Why you would want me to speak for the EU, the UK, Australia, Canada or other entity utterly escapes me, other than I suppose you're at once so caught up in your ignorant jealous provincial jingoism that you find the observation that your current Administration is stunningly incompetent to be unbearable, above all if coming from me.

But again, try repeating to yourself "individuals are not nation-states" twenty times.

It may help.

Take it. Take the responsibility. You deal with these fucking idiots.

You mean the American officials?

Deal with them all the time.

Well, that was a cheap shot, but so easy.

It's easy to condemn us while assuming no responsibility yourself.

Unless you are a member of the Bush Administration, I have not condemned "you" - except on the personal basis here because you personally are a whanking moron.

The mantra of assuming no responsability, however, is plainly idiotic ignorant self-fellating idiocy derived from: "I dunno what the udders are doin' so they doin nuttin."

I'll skip over your boring jingoism to move to this: You say that we have been blundering, but we take seriously the question: what if Hitler had been stopped in the Rhineland or Czechoslovakia? then maybe WW2 could have been avoided.

Maybe, maybe if Hitler had never been elected... maybe if Wilson had not been a dreamer... Maybe if the winning leadership after WWI had not been full of jingoistic desire to punish their enemy...

That has fuck all to do with American government blundering here and now.

That's the context of our decisions.

No, that's some self-serving mythologising created by a bunch of Right Bolshevik whankers to justify their power-mongering, dressing up rather pedestrain and common-place intoxication with military power in the false clothes of bad historical analogies.

Apparent "blundering" is in reality an attempt to stop an even bigger war.

You are a Right Bolshy moron.

The apparent blundering is in reality motherfucking real blundering by some idiots drunk on bad historical mythologies and blind to their own incomptence, but quite skilled in typical Bolshy type excuse making.

Again I say, if you think your country can do a better job then just do it.

I say again, stop a fucking moron. I'm fucking individual you fucking cretin, and I ain't no fucking government.

Your childish jingoism and Right Bolshy fantasizing are part of the reason why the Iraq situation utterly fucked.

Take the initiative. Yes I know Collounsbury has already demonstrated his hostility to this idea. I suppose it's a characteristic of Europeans to be passive and reject the idea that they should take the inititative.

Characteristic of Europeans?

Hahahahah.

Oh my that is rich.

Nothing better than moldy Victorian era shoddy thinking to be thrown up as an excuse for a rejoinder.

Again, let's see if another repetion gets through.

I'm Lounsbury, a financier. Not a EU, Commonwealthy, or other Government.

Individuals are not governments.

Nor is your self-fellating ignorance an argument.

Good stuff Collounsbury, it's exactly what I was looking for. I was bored yesterday and thought I would entertain myself by baiting The Louns' and it worked out pretty well I think. Actually I agree with most of what you're saying. Being an advocate of the devil is quite a bit of fun.

"You threw up a fine little mix of irrelevant straw men"

But of course. Two parts Right Bolshy bullshit and one part jingoism. I even sewed on buttons for eyes.

"I am not a fucking nation, idiot boy, I'm a blog poster."

This is a classic. You should display this up on the blog banner

"...acting like an ultramaroon, to quote the Bugs Bunny phrase"

Extra points for the Bugs Bunny reference. "Ultramaroon" is a great word.

But these are my favorites:

"you stupid droolingin excuse making cretin."

"is plainly idiotic ignorant self-fellating idiocy"

That's what makes it all worthwhile. Collounsbury you definitely have a unique talent and one that I really enjoy. It reminds me of that old Saturday Night Live skit with Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtain, Point/Counterpoint. "Jane you ignorant slut" "Dan, you stupid drooling excuse making cretin."

Re: Anon, the thing about the Saturday Night Massacre was that Nixon eventually DID find the guy to carry out his orders. As I suspect would the Bush admin. I do agree that an outright mutiny on the part of the senior brass would be the only thing that would stop such an attack (assuming one was ordered, and of course one can still hold out the hope that this, finally, is the one act of foreign-policy adventurism that even the Bush administration would recognize as too reckless to undertake). I just don't hold out a lot of hope, there.

All likely roads seem to lead to impeachment of Pres. Bush and criminal charges against Dick Cheney. Consider Nixon's poll numbers were about 25% during Watergate and Bush is treading 30%. As the surge fails because we don't understand the nature of the problems in Iraq sufficently enough and are absolutely unwilling to consider such new concepts as diplomacy and hard self-assessment, the poll numbers will only drop further and anxiety within the military will only grow.
Domestically within the US, the Congressional investigations are only just beginning and will reach a fever pitch by the fall. Republicans who now oppose Bush on matters like Iraq and immigration will be radicalized by some of the revelations and even if they aren't, they will not commit political suicide when their constituents want the Bush Administration to be gone.
The contempt shown for the Constitution and for the Congress by Secdef Gates and Attorney General Gonzales, among others, only accelerates the process because it emboldens the Democrats and presidental-minded Republicans to draw a line in the sand and wait for the idiots to cross it.
Regime change in Washington is far more likely than regime change in Tehran, and I shudder to think of the reactions and likely disobedience of military and other government personnel if Bush decides to pursue such a treasonous route for his Saudi and Israeli "allies".

It's not the nationality, it's the fucking branding. I work for an American firm with American branding. Besides the currency risk, it's the brand risk. Leave them, I am clean, cotinue and I am branded and not in a good way.

Yeah, watch out for dumb American branding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f62aTHceI0

ok, in context, that's actually funny. Good one.

"I admit we are flawed and that we are doing the best with what we've got. "

No moron, the US is doing about the fucking worst with what it's got.

Wow, that about says everything I want to say. I'm going home now.

The Lounsbury - I'm not a nation state, mate.

True. But if he was a country, I'd say it's Libya. Extremely resource-rich, hyper-active, destabilizingly aggressive and slightly on the excentric side.

Someone really should make an Internet test out of that: Which Arab Country Are You?