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Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec
Date: 06/22/2010 10:18:30
Good Morning.
Today is our 2,652nd day in Iraq and our 3,180th day in Afghanistan.
We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from our ongoing wars, courtesy of Antiwar.com:
American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4407
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4268
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3946
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3548
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 179
Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,126
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 724
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq: 1,457
Journalists - Iraq: 338
Academics Killed - Iraq: 437
We find this morning's cost of war passing through:
$ 1, 008, 559, 900, 000.00
We'll veer away from our usual fronts this morning and take a peek across the border at Pakistan. When Mr. Bush was "President", they were one of the so-called crucial allies in our warron terra. But over the past year and a half, and maybe longer, that relationship has cooled significantly.
In fact, Pakistan is rarely in the news these days. Even though we are killing civilians there just about every week. You all should know what a Predator Drone is. We've got hundreds of them circling around Pakistan, and in the most recent attack, 15 people were killed in Waziristan, but it's unclear at this time if there were any terrorists involved or if it was more civilians.
I suppose you could argue that drones serve a useful purpose; they circle in harms' way, and allow us to send American military presence into a war zone without risking any American lives.
But that's probably not helping matters any. Imagine for a moment you live in a ramshackle hut in the foothills. Your neighbors are a little iffy; maybe they like guns, maybe they don't. But they've never hurt anyone and helped you out when your farm needed some work.
Then one night, their house explodes for no reason, and the shrapnel takes out your cow and also your wife who happened to be out in the field that day.
That's allegedly the primary motivation behind the Times Square bomber. At his arraignment hearing yesterday, he pleaded guilty 'a hundred times over' and pretty much confirmed what we on the left have been saying for years now.
But Pakistan is an awful long way from here, right? Why should we worry about how we're killing our enemies, as long as our enemies are being killed?
Aside from the moral and political issues, you should be worried about drones. Because they might be coming to an airspace near you.
Today is our 2,652nd day in Iraq and our 3,180th day in Afghanistan.
We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from our ongoing wars, courtesy of Antiwar.com:
American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4407
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4268
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3946
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3548
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 179
Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,126
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 724
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq: 1,457
Journalists - Iraq: 338
Academics Killed - Iraq: 437
We find this morning's cost of war passing through:
We'll veer away from our usual fronts this morning and take a peek across the border at Pakistan. When Mr. Bush was "President", they were one of the so-called crucial allies in our warron terra. But over the past year and a half, and maybe longer, that relationship has cooled significantly.
In fact, Pakistan is rarely in the news these days. Even though we are killing civilians there just about every week. You all should know what a Predator Drone is. We've got hundreds of them circling around Pakistan, and in the most recent attack, 15 people were killed in Waziristan, but it's unclear at this time if there were any terrorists involved or if it was more civilians.
I suppose you could argue that drones serve a useful purpose; they circle in harms' way, and allow us to send American military presence into a war zone without risking any American lives.
But that's probably not helping matters any. Imagine for a moment you live in a ramshackle hut in the foothills. Your neighbors are a little iffy; maybe they like guns, maybe they don't. But they've never hurt anyone and helped you out when your farm needed some work.
Then one night, their house explodes for no reason, and the shrapnel takes out your cow and also your wife who happened to be out in the field that day.
That's allegedly the primary motivation behind the Times Square bomber. At his arraignment hearing yesterday, he pleaded guilty 'a hundred times over' and pretty much confirmed what we on the left have been saying for years now.
"I want to plead guilty and I'm going to plead guilty a hundred times over because until the hour the U.S. pulls it forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and stops the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and in Pakistan and stops the occupation of Muslim lands and stops killing the Muslims and stops reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking U.S., and I plead guilty to that."
"The drone hits in Afghanistan and Iraq, they don't see children, they don't see anybody. They kill women, children, they kill everybody. It's a war, and in war, they kill people. They're killing all Muslims."
But Pakistan is an awful long way from here, right? Why should we worry about how we're killing our enemies, as long as our enemies are being killed?
Aside from the moral and political issues, you should be worried about drones. Because they might be coming to an airspace near you.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 12:34:57
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 12:34:57
Morning 
*does happy dance that internet is back on at the office *
*does happy dance that internet is back on at the office *
Comment by 
Raine on 06/22/2010 12:53:11
Raine on 06/22/2010 12:53:11
Welcome back Mala!
and
good morning.
--- Looks like General McCrystal may be out of a job. and I say GOOD!
and
good morning. --- Looks like General McCrystal may be out of a job. and I say GOOD!
Comment by wickedpam on 06/22/2010 13:04:39
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 13:04:39
Steph's in DC? Wow see what I miss when I don't have internet?
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 13:07:03
Holy crap... this is a mess of a move for Momma.
Raine on 06/22/2010 13:07:03
Holy crap... this is a mess of a move for Momma.
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 13:07:49
She has mentioned this off and on for a few weeks.
It's not a public thing -- I think she is speaking to a union group.
Raine on 06/22/2010 13:07:49
Quote by wickedpam:
Steph's in DC? Wow see what I miss when I don't have internet?
She has mentioned this off and on for a few weeks.
It's not a public thing -- I think she is speaking to a union group.
Comment by 
TriSec on 06/22/2010 13:37:06
TriSec on 06/22/2010 13:37:06
Say, I was thinking of selling my soul to the devil for some short-term gains. Any thoughts?
Comment by wickedpam on 06/22/2010 13:40:18
to tell the truth sometimes on only half listen some days
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 13:40:18
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Steph's in DC? Wow see what I miss when I don't have internet?
She has mentioned this off and on for a few weeks.
It's not a public thing -- I think she is speaking to a union group.
to tell the truth sometimes on only half listen some days
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 13:40:31
You can pawn it to me for a few months. I'm a lot nicer than the devil. Easy repayment plans...
What's going on?
Raine on 06/22/2010 13:40:31
Quote by TriSec:
Say, I was thinking of selling my soul to the devil for some short-term gains. Any thoughts?
What's going on?
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 13:42:55
I'm starting to go that way right now. I 
Fueglesang, and I love his views on Christianity, but I don't want this to be a show all about Bible talk.
Not trying to be mean here at all.
Raine on 06/22/2010 13:42:55
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Steph's in DC? Wow see what I miss when I don't have internet?
She has mentioned this off and on for a few weeks.
It's not a public thing -- I think she is speaking to a union group.
to tell the truth sometimes on only half listen some days
Fueglesang, and I love his views on Christianity, but I don't want this to be a show all about Bible talk. Not trying to be mean here at all.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/22/2010 14:01:24
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 14:01:24
awww got Starbuck's thank you for helping out in yesterdays lack of internet and phones from the Big Boss 
Comment by wickedpam on 06/22/2010 14:02:33
I can understand that - he's moved on but I know he has a tendancy to go back to it
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 14:02:33
Quote by Raine:I'm starting to go that way right now. IQuote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Steph's in DC? Wow see what I miss when I don't have internet?
She has mentioned this off and on for a few weeks.
It's not a public thing -- I think she is speaking to a union group.
to tell the truth sometimes on only half listen some days
Not trying to be mean here at all.
I can understand that - he's moved on but I know he has a tendancy to go back to it
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 14:04:24
Raine on 06/22/2010 14:04:24
I understand WHY Obama kept McChrystal on as General -- But at this point, it's time for a serious change.
The man apologized for *giving* the interview and not for what he said.
The article is scathing.
The man apologized for *giving* the interview and not for what he said.
The article is scathing.
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 14:05:09
Raine on 06/22/2010 14:05:09
I thought the President was the END of the Chain of Command?
Comment by TriSec on 06/22/2010 14:16:03
TriSec on 06/22/2010 14:16:03
Oh, you missed all the fun last night. Car broke down on the way to the store. It's in Winchester; I'm on the train. I ate 6 hours last night because I couldn't get to the store. (Yes, 6 hours is that important these days.)
Comment by 
Scoopster on 06/22/2010 15:35:05
Scoopster on 06/22/2010 15:35:05
Mornin' all! 
Don't mind me.. I'm a little doped up this morning (prescription, not herbal unfortunately) and I'm playing England's Goalkeeper with the office lab and a tennis ball
Don't mind me.. I'm a little doped up this morning (prescription, not herbal unfortunately) and I'm playing England's Goalkeeper with the office lab and a tennis ball
Comment by 
livingonli on 06/22/2010 15:52:17
livingonli on 06/22/2010 15:52:17
Good morning all.
I'm feeling sluggish again this morning.
I'm feeling sluggish again this morning.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/22/2010 15:59:27
Will in Chicago on 06/22/2010 15:59:27
Good morning or good afternoon, bloggers!!! TriSec, thanks for an interesting blog. I think that the drones are a major problem as we are having too many civilian deaths alongside those targeted by the machines. I think the policy is back firing.
I hope that everyone is doing well. I am busy job hunting, cleaning, and hoping that things will change for the better soon.
I hope that everyone is doing well. I am busy job hunting, cleaning, and hoping that things will change for the better soon.
Comment by livingonli on 06/22/2010 16:12:21
livingonli on 06/22/2010 16:12:21
Steve King left his sheet as home and then evokes his alleged "Christianity". There are two Kings that need to be removed from the House.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/22/2010 16:31:23
Steve King sells hatred the same way that dope dealers sell drugs. He seems to believe that his personal beliefs are more important than the U.S. Constitution. If he cannot honestly keep his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, then the orifice should resign from office.
Will in Chicago on 06/22/2010 16:31:23
Quote by livingonli:
Steve King left his sheet as home and then evokes his alleged "Christianity". There are two Kings that need to be removed from the House.
Steve King sells hatred the same way that dope dealers sell drugs. He seems to believe that his personal beliefs are more important than the U.S. Constitution. If he cannot honestly keep his oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, then the orifice should resign from office.
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 16:36:49
Raine on 06/22/2010 16:36:49
Oh.. A friend just informed me that Contessa Brewer read a tweet of mine yesterday!
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 16:38:09
Raine on 06/22/2010 16:38:09
The only thing I tweeted yesterday was this:
Don;t know if that was the one, but daym! I feel a little happy about it!
For the GOP, defending BP is just a way of life. http://bit.ly/aHW27w #p2
Don;t know if that was the one, but daym! I feel a little happy about it!
Comment by 
BobR on 06/22/2010 16:49:16
BobR on 06/22/2010 16:49:16
Quote by Raine:
The only thing I tweeted yesterday was this:For the GOP, defending BP is just a way of life. http://bit.ly/aHW27w #p2
Don;t know if that was the one, but daym! I feel a little happy about it!
Comment by wickedpam on 06/22/2010 16:59:41
wickedpam on 06/22/2010 16:59:41
Quote by Raine:
Oh.. A friend just informed me that Contessa Brewer read a tweet of mine yesterday!
Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/22/2010 17:10:24
Will in Chicago on 06/22/2010 17:10:24
Good, Raine!
Well, back to the job search. I have two evening events this week, my usual Thursday night role playing game event, and I will likely hit services Friday night. (I guess I am keeping my promise to get out of the house more.)
Well, back to the job search. I have two evening events this week, my usual Thursday night role playing game event, and I will likely hit services Friday night. (I guess I am keeping my promise to get out of the house more.)
Comment by livingonli on 06/22/2010 17:18:22
Yay!
livingonli on 06/22/2010 17:18:22
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Oh.. A friend just informed me that Contessa Brewer read a tweet of mine yesterday!
Yay!
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 18:13:12
Raine on 06/22/2010 18:13:12
Listening To Ed, and I do NOT agree with Paul Reikoff, regarding McChrystal.
I know he's a military guy, but he thinks McChrystal will get off with a slap on the hand. I dunno... I just do not agree.
I know he's a military guy, but he thinks McChrystal will get off with a slap on the hand. I dunno... I just do not agree.
Comment by TriSec on 06/22/2010 18:37:41
TriSec on 06/22/2010 18:37:41
I am making that deal with Satan.
I just heard from the mechanic, it's not the timing belt at all. (It's "pristine", according to him.) My pulleys have a rubber insert to guide the belt, and that shredded....when that happened, the pulley loosened up and knocked the timing off. It's either a bent valve (fixable $$$) or a blown piston (not fixable- it's junk.)
Mrs. TriSec's Papa is in advancing Alzheimer's and we've been pondering taking the car away from him. Looks like the time is now; either that or I'll be cashing in my retirement fund and working until they carry me out.
The Bush Economy has now, officially, ruined my life.
I just heard from the mechanic, it's not the timing belt at all. (It's "pristine", according to him.) My pulleys have a rubber insert to guide the belt, and that shredded....when that happened, the pulley loosened up and knocked the timing off. It's either a bent valve (fixable $$$) or a blown piston (not fixable- it's junk.)
Mrs. TriSec's Papa is in advancing Alzheimer's and we've been pondering taking the car away from him. Looks like the time is now; either that or I'll be cashing in my retirement fund and working until they carry me out.
The Bush Economy has now, officially, ruined my life.
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 21:12:32
Raine on 06/22/2010 21:12:32
Can I ask a favor?
I have to go to NY. My Aunt passed away, Is there anyone who could fill in for me on Thursday?
I have to go to NY. My Aunt passed away, Is there anyone who could fill in for me on Thursday?
Comment by Raine on 06/22/2010 21:14:16
That is not a deal with Satan, Tri.
That is pragmatism.
Raine on 06/22/2010 21:14:16
Quote by TriSec:
I am making that deal with Satan.
I just heard from the mechanic, it's not the timing belt at all. (It's "pristine", according to him.) My pulleys have a rubber insert to guide the belt, and that shredded....when that happened, the pulley loosened up and knocked the timing off. It's either a bent valve (fixable $$$) or a blown piston (not fixable- it's junk.)
Mrs. TriSec's Papa is in advancing Alzheimer's and we've been pondering taking the car away from him. Looks like the time is now; either that or I'll be cashing in my retirement fund and working until they carry me out.
The Bush Economy has now, officially, ruined my life.
That is pragmatism.
Comment by 
clintster on 06/22/2010 21:48:02
Gotcha covered, Raine. Thinking of you and your family.
clintster on 06/22/2010 21:48:02
Quote by Raine:
Can I ask a favor?
I have to go to NY. My Aunt passed away, Is there anyone who could fill in for me on Thursday?
Gotcha covered, Raine. Thinking of you and your family.
Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/23/2010 02:35:44
Raine, my sympathies on your loss. Remember your aunt, and remember too that love never dies.
Will in Chicago on 06/23/2010 02:35:44
Quote by clintster:Quote by Raine:
Can I ask a favor?
I have to go to NY. My Aunt passed away, Is there anyone who could fill in for me on Thursday?
Gotcha covered, Raine. Thinking of you and your family.
Raine, my sympathies on your loss. Remember your aunt, and remember too that love never dies.