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Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 02/17/2009 11:40:33

Good Morning.

Today is our 2,162nd day in Iraq.

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from Iraq and Afghanistan, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4245
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4106
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3784
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3387
Since Election (1/31/05): 2807

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 651
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 426
Contractor Deaths - Iraq: 446

We find this morning's cost of war nearing $600 billion dollars:

$597, 665, 900, 000.00



So....here at Ask a Vet, you know we focus almost exclusively on the war in Iraq...ocassionally looking at Afghanistan, and once in a long while, veering away from these conflicts entirely. Today, we'll be thinking far outside the box.



This past weekend marked the 20th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat in Afghanistan. (February 15, 1989). Most of us know the very-high-level history of the conflict. In December of 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, allegedly at the "request" of the puppet government they installed. The world protested, and our own President Carter initiated the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in response.

Over much of the 1980s, we continually supplied the Mujahadeen, including a young Saudi ex-pat named Osama bin Laden, and eventually the war of attrition dragged on far enough that the Soviets finally gave up and went home.

For much of these past 20 years, Afghanistan has been a center of anarchy; numerous governments have risen and fallen, and religious extremists have been able to set up a base with complete impunity. Indirectly, at least, the turmoil in Afghanistan led to September 11, and even today this area of the world still looms large on the global stage.

There's news this morning that President Obama has kept another campaign pledge; there's a "surge" of troops underway to Afghanistan, and they've begun combat operations.


LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Close to 3,000 American soldiers who recently arrived in Afghanistan to secure two violent provinces near Kabul have begun operations in the field and already are seeing combat, the unit's spokesman said Monday.

The new troops are the first wave of an expected surge of reinforcements this year. The process began to take shape under President George Bush but has been given impetus by President Barack Obama's call for an increased focus on Afghanistan.

U.S. commanders have been contemplating sending up to 30,000 more soldiers to bolster the 33,000 already here, but the new administration is expected to initially approve only a portion of that amount. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday the president would decide soon.

The new unit — the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division — moved into Logar and Wardak provinces last month, and the soldiers from Fort Drum, N.Y., are now stationed in combat outposts throughout the provinces.

Militants have attacked several patrols with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, including one ambush by 30 insurgents, Lt. Col. Steve Osterhozer, the brigade spokesman, said.

Several roadside bombs also have exploded next to the unit's MRAPs — mine-resistance patrol vehicles — but caused no casualties, he said.

"In every case our vehicles returned with overwhelming fire," Ostehozer said. "We have not suffered anything more than a few bruises, while several insurgents have been killed."

Commanders are in the planning stages of larger scale operations expected to be launched in the coming weeks.


I was just pondering the irony of that....here on this blog at least, we've spent the better part of the last four years railing against the war in Iraq, and constantly calling for the troops to come home, so it's with mixed emotions that I applaud this move...after all, this is the war we should have fought after 9/11, but I digress.

So, in a roundabout way, we've come to the story that caught my eye over the weekend. Afghanistan may be directly responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union; maybe not. In any case, there are thousands of Russain soldiers out there that fought and died in the mountains of Afghanistan, in most cases no less bravely or honorably than our own soldiers today. 20 years after their humiliation, they have a sobering message for President Obama:


MOSCOW (Reuters) – Soviet veterans marking 20 years since their defeat in Afghanistan warned the United States it would never truly control the country, citing bitter memories of a fiercely proud people and unforgiving landscape.

The withdrawal of the last Soviet troops from Afghanistan on February 15, 1989 ended a decade of fighting that killed an estimated 15,000 Soviet troops and convinced a generation of soldiers they had been sent to fight a war they could not win.

The United States, preparing to pour more troops into Afghanistan to fight a growing Taliban-led insurgency, is reliving their nightmare, they said.

"It's like fighting sand. No force in the world can get the better of the Afghans," said Oleg Kubanov, a stocky 47-year-old former officer with the Order of the Red Star pinned to his chest at an anniversary concert in Moscow.

"It's their holy land, it doesn't matter to them if you're Russian, American. We're all soldiers to them."

Thousands of veterans, some in dress suits, some in combats, gathered Friday for a lavish concert organized by Moscow City Hall. As they embraced and posed for pictures before the show, many cited America's troubles as proof their campaign in Afghanistan had been hopeless from the start.

Reports that U.S. President Barack Obama plans to boost U.S. forces there to 60,000 revived bitter memories for members of the Soviet deployment that steadily climbed to a peak of more than 100,000 troops as the insurgency deepened in the mid-1980s.

There are 36,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan today, split between the 55,000-strong NATO force and separate U.S. missions, both charged with protecting a transitional government from Taliban forces.

"Numbers don't solve anything," said Shamil Tyukteyev, 59, who lead a regiment in Afghanistan from 1986-88. "You can't put a soldier outside every house or a base on every mountain. We saw it ourselves, the more troops, the more resistance."

(continued...)



So....it is with some hope that this administration is not doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past; even if we learn from someone else's mistakes, then we would be wise to review that history.
 

112 comments (Latest Comment: 02/18/2009 04:17:11 by MMB)
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Comment by wickedpam on 02/17/2009 13:22:51
Morning :hug:

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 13:23:10
Good Morning. Great Ask a Vet today, tri.



I am very concerned about Afghanistan. I hope that it is not our intention to control the country. If it is, we will not have learned from history.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 13:53:54
http://images.salon.com/comics/tomo/2009/02/17/tomo/story.gif


Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 13:58:10
:( Bill press is talking about Randi going off the air.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 13:59:19
Comment by Random on 02/17/2009 14:07:38
Quote by Raine:

http://images.salon.com/comics/tomo/2009/02/17/tomo/story.gif


hm...kind of makes me glad i'm not that sensitive.

Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 14:10:05
Morning guys. So yeah, I saw Sicko a couple times this weekend and it's fantastic and funny in a scary way. I honestly think it's his best work since Roger & Me.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/17/2009 14:10:16






seems like Randi has a problem finding a real home for her show

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:12:20
Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:13:02
Quote by Scoopster:

Morning guys. So yeah, I saw Sicko a couple times this weekend and it's fantastic and funny in a scary way. I honestly think it's his best work since Roger & Me.


I have to agree. I really liked Sicko...

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 14:13:15




Note to Bristol: "abstinence" means "not having sex".







Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:13:46
Good Morning again everyone! has kicked in!

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:13:46
Good Morning again everyone! has kicked in!

Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 14:14:29
wow Tri - great post.



Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 14:15:07
Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:32:22
Wow that is great... we are only better than Las Vegas and Detroit.



WooHoo... now tell me WHY the housing prices are still off the charts?



Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:33:05
Quote by TriSec:





Note to Bristol: "abstinence" means "not having sex".







:thud:

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 14:37:28




Boston is a lone 'bright spot'? By whose measure? We just finished a year that saw the highest foreclosure rate since the depression, about 17% of ALL homes in this Commonwealth are in foreclosure...



The city itself is full of transients; don't forget we have at least 5 universities within city limits with a student body of 20,000+ each....landlords can charge what they want, and the students will pay it.





Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:42:48
Quote by TriSec:





Boston is a lone 'bright spot'? By whose measure? We just finished a year that saw the highest foreclosure rate since the depression, about 17% of ALL homes in this Commonwealth are in foreclosure...



The city itself is full of transients; don't forget we have at least 5 universities within city limits with a student body of 20,000+ each....landlords can charge what they want, and the students will pay it.



Boston and New York... interesting huh? I was wondering the same thing.



I am actually looking for the actual Census report.



Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 14:44:19
Well now.. looks like the two major asshats who got me banned from DK were themselves banned this weekend.



All I have to say is bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay'

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 14:52:31
Qapla' Balth je'

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:54:40
Quote by Scoopster:

Well now.. looks like the two major asshats who got me banned from DK were themselves banned this weekend.



All I have to say is bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reH QaQqu' nay'
Indeed. (and yes, I googled it )



Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:55:23
zOMG. I smell a Ditch bigger than a black hole.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:56:58
Rush is an ASSHOLE about this PDF file story. -- and a LIAR.



LIAR LIAR



I hope Adobe goes after him for this.

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 14:57:21
Wow! I can't keyword search a .pdf???



I'll alert my manager; this will certainly be an important update!



Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:57:36
Ctrl F is your friend Rush.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 14:58:02
Quote by TriSec:

Wow! I can't keyword search a .pdf???



I'll alert my manager; this will certainly be an important update!



:rofl:

Comment by clintster on 02/17/2009 15:00:10
Rush: "For those of you who don't use computers, I'm going to play with your fear and technological ignorance to make you think the Democrats are hiding the truth from you."





My friends. (wheeze)

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:01:22
Hey Rush: Search This.



Lazy, uninformed, lying, arrogant bastahd.







Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:02:05
Quote by clintster:

Rush: "For those of you who don't use computers, I'm going to play with your fear and technological ignorance to make you think the Democrats are hiding the truth from you."





My friends. (wheeze)




Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:05:05
Comment by Random on 02/17/2009 15:07:17
Quote by TriSec:

Wow! I can't keyword search a .pdf???



I'll alert my manager; this will certainly be an important update!





Wait...Rush said you can't keyword search a pdf?



Jesus H. Christ. This man must be using some shitty freeware or something, because i use the standard Adobe reader for pdfs. It has a button on the toolbar so you can search (or an actual text field).



Random is very scared for the nation who listens to this asshole.



Course...Stephanie could never figure out how to search a pdf.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:12:14
When did Obama EVER say he doesn't support the Fairness doctrine?







Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 15:12:54
Quote by wickedpam:







seems like Randi has a problem finding a real home for her show




Randi is a diva, which I am positive makes her difficult to work with. She is a talent on the Progressive side, however, so these networks do themselves and us a disservice by not ponying up whatever it is she's asking for ( within reason I suppose. ) I know we aren't supposed to negotiate with terrorists, but when it comes to trying to make a dent in the Right's hate radio, we need all the help we can get.



Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 15:15:20
The French Riviera?

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 15:22:25
Good morning everyone.

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 15:28:10
Quote by Raine:

Quote by TriSec:

Wow! I can't keyword search a .pdf???



I'll alert my manager; this will certainly be an important update!



:rofl:


:rofl:

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 15:30:16
Quote by Random:

Quote by TriSec:

Wow! I can't keyword search a .pdf???



I'll alert my manager; this will certainly be an important update!





Wait...Rush said you can't keyword search a pdf?



Jesus H. Christ. This man must be using some shitty freeware or something, because i use the standard Adobe reader for pdfs. It has a button on the toolbar so you can search (or an actual text field).



Random is very scared for the nation who listens to this asshole.



Course...Stephanie could never figure out how to search a pdf.


Rush is a lying sack of shit who will say anything as a watercarrier for the GOP and he gets away with this because his listeners are idiots. There is a reason they take pride in being called dittoheads.

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 15:32:10
Quote by starling310:

Quote by wickedpam:







seems like Randi has a problem finding a real home for her show




Randi is a diva, which I am positive makes her difficult to work with. She is a talent on the Progressive side, however, so these networks do themselves and us a disservice by not ponying up whatever it is she's asking for ( within reason I suppose. ) I know we aren't supposed to negotiate with terrorists, but when it comes to trying to make a dent in the Right's hate radio, we need all the help we can get.



Hopefully, Jones Radio/Dial Global will snatch her up. They seems to be moving to domination in progressive talk especially now that Air America seems to be sliding into oblivion (although she's burned her bridges there).

Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 15:33:18
Morning liv! :coffee:

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:36:03
Quote by starling310:

Quote by wickedpam:







seems like Randi has a problem finding a real home for her show




Randi is a diva, which I am positive makes her difficult to work with. She is a talent on the Progressive side, however, so these networks do themselves and us a disservice by not ponying up whatever it is she's asking for ( within reason I suppose. ) I know we aren't supposed to negotiate with terrorists, but when it comes to trying to make a dent in the Right's hate radio, we need all the help we can get.

Amen sistah. I totally agree.



Let me try to put a diff spin on this... just as pondering monent: Would we really be saying she was a Diva is she wasn't a woman?



I mean look at effing Rush. Seriously that lying sack of crap is getting 400 million dollars -- for what exactly? You really think he is easy to deal with?



I have heard people say that she is difficult, and even allude to a drinking problem and such malarky... but let's keep this in mind...



Rush: Loud Blowhard; Oxycontin, Viagra Dominican republic.

Randi: Diva; wants what is fair for her business, has a few cocktails, smokes.



Randi was silened during the CACI things,. later during AAP, and now we have something else going on. I do not think this is just about a contract.



But that is me. There is no damn reason she should be off the air. Diva or not -- the droby's are doing prog radio a disservice.



And I personally think Clearchannel is involved.



Comment by wickedpam on 02/17/2009 15:39:19
A .pdf isn't a picture of a page If you have Adobe Acrobat you can totally edit and create stuff

Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 15:39:37
Quote by Raine:

Quote by starling310:

Quote by wickedpam:







seems like Randi has a problem finding a real home for her show




Randi is a diva, which I am positive makes her difficult to work with. She is a talent on the Progressive side, however, so these networks do themselves and us a disservice by not ponying up whatever it is she's asking for ( within reason I suppose. ) I know we aren't supposed to negotiate with terrorists, but when it comes to trying to make a dent in the Right's hate radio, we need all the help we can get.

Amen sistah. I totally agree.



Let me try to put a diff spin on this... just as pondering monent: Would we really be saying she was a Diva is she wasn't a woman?



I mean look at effing Rush. Seriously that lying sack of crap is getting 400 million dollars -- for what exactly? You really think he is easy to deal with?



I have heard people say that she is difficult, and even allude to a drinking problem and such malarky... but let's keep this in mind...



Rush: Loud Blowhard; Oxycontin, Viagra Dominican republic.

Randi: Diva; wants what is fair for her business, has a few cocktails, smokes.



Randi was silened during the CACI things,. later during AAP, and now we have something else going on. I do not think this is just about a contract.



But that is me. There is no damn reason she should be off the air. Diva or not -- the droby's are doing prog radio a disservice.



And I personally think Clearchannel is involved.





I concur! 100%!



Incidentally, when I use the word Diva, it is Gender neutral. Rush is also a Diva in my opinion.



But yes, there is a wiff of Randi being black balled because she is a loud, abrasive WOMAN instead of a loud, abrasive man.



Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:41:00
Quote by Random:

Course...Stephanie could never figure out how to search a pdf.
You were correct Random! We had an on air confirm of this from Momma herself!



:rofl:



Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 15:43:50
Quote by Raine:

Quote by Random:

Course...Stephanie could never figure out how to search a pdf.
You were correct Random! We had an on air confirm of this from Momma herself!



:rofl:



I think Momma needs to learn how to use the computer machine. I think someone even handles her facebook page.

Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 15:44:58
Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 15:52:07
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2183/20090216ks8.jpg


Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:54:18
Quote by livingonli:

I think Momma needs to learn how to use the computer machine. I think someone even handles her facebook page.


NO! Are you kidding me? Really?

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:55:16
Scoop!

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 15:57:54
Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 16:04:23






Well....I think that's kind of cool, as long as it's a dedicated observer and not a surgeon or nurse actually involved in the procedure....



But there's a deeper issue to ponder; how many HIPAA violations just happened there? Was there any PHI? Did the patient/family/proxy give any consent? What about the hospital's compliance officer? I'm surprised that didn't set all kinds of alarm bells ringing...





Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 16:10:16
Maybe that tax will make it easier to bring back........PROHIBITION!





Comment by wickedpam on 02/17/2009 16:11:41
a Cheese Monger? wow

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 16:12:06
The cheese and beer shack with Chris Lavoie.

Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 16:15:09
:puke:

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 16:15:30
http://www.21food.com/userImages/cabotcheesecn/cabotcheesecn$7394935.jpg




“Ah! We do have some Camembert, sir......It's a bit runny, sir....'Well as a matter of fact it's very runny, sir....I think it's runnier than you like it, sir...Yes, sir."



"Oh...The cat's eaten it."

Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 16:18:08


The stations in my area (Providence/New Bedford) are doing this, and they will be keeping two of the old stations on the air broadcasting info & contacts on the change. The decision to go ahead with the switch was based on information that more than 95% of those in the viewing area either had cable/satellite, TVs that can receive digital signals or have digital converter boxes.



In fact, my landlord got a DTV box yesterday for his old-as-shit kitchen set.

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 16:37:08
'twas Raine that proposed that. You vote "NO", your state goes to the back of the line.



*someone* was reading 4F again.





Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 16:40:11
Quote by TriSec:

'twas Raine that proposed that. You vote "NO", your state goes to the back of the line.



*someone* was reading 4F again.







I agree with that in theory, but coming from a state that desparately wanted Ned Lamont, but somehow ended up with Leiberman again, I have a hard time holding the Senate's actions against the people of the state.



I know we live in a Representative Democracy but they've got 2 years until they can even attempt to "throw the bums," that vote against the stimulus out. That's a long time to suffer with no aid.



Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 16:41:29
Quote by TriSec:

'twas Raine that proposed that. You vote "NO", your state goes to the back of the line.



*someone* was reading 4F again.





I did?



I agree with that in theory... But for real? I said that?

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 16:42:08
Quote by TriSec:

http://www.21food.com/userImages/cabotcheesecn/cabotcheesecn$7394935.jpg




“Ah! We do have some Camembert, sir......It's a bit runny, sir....'Well as a matter of fact it's very runny, sir....I think it's runnier than you like it, sir...Yes, sir."



"Oh...The cat's eaten it."


"Well how about cheddar?"



"We don't get much call for it around these parts."



"It's the single most popular cheese in the world!"

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 16:42:58
Quote by starling310:

Maybe that tax will make it easier to bring back........PROHIBITION!



Oh my... I was looking for a reason for this tax. This makes the most sense of all.



Wow.



Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 16:43:31
Quote by starling310:

Quote by TriSec:

'twas Raine that proposed that. You vote "NO", your state goes to the back of the line.



*someone* was reading 4F again.







I agree with that in theory, but coming from a state that desparately wanted Ned Lamont, but somehow ended up with Leiberman again, I have a hard time holding the Senate's actions against the people of the state.



I know we live in a Representative Democracy but they've got 2 years until they can even attempt to "throw the bums," that vote against the stimulus out. That's a long time to suffer with no aid.



LIEberweasel did vote for the package so that wouldn't change the theory. It's only states with R senators excluding Maine and PA since those R's voted for the package.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 16:45:40
Quote by TriSec:







Well....I think that's kind of cool, as long as it's a dedicated observer and not a surgeon or nurse actually involved in the procedure....



But there's a deeper issue to ponder; how many HIPAA violations just happened there? Was there any PHI? Did the patient/family/proxy give any consent? What about the hospital's compliance officer? I'm surprised that didn't set all kinds of alarm bells ringing...





I was wondering these things as well. Plus:



If you're going to be operating on my heart, PUT THE BLACKBERRY AWAY!



Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 16:46:58
Quote by livingonli:

Quote by starling310:

Quote by TriSec:

'twas Raine that proposed that. You vote "NO", your state goes to the back of the line.



*someone* was reading 4F again.







I agree with that in theory, but coming from a state that desparately wanted Ned Lamont, but somehow ended up with Leiberman again, I have a hard time holding the Senate's actions against the people of the state.



I know we live in a Representative Democracy but they've got 2 years until they can even attempt to "throw the bums," that vote against the stimulus out. That's a long time to suffer with no aid.



LIEberweasel did vote for the package so that wouldn't change the theory. It's only states with R senators excluding Maine and PA since those R's voted for the package.






Let me clarify. That wasn't really my point.



My point was that in not providing aid to states where the Senator votes "No" we are holding the people of the state accountable. There are, however, probably many people within that state who didn't vote for that Senator and who won't re-elect that Senator in 2010. It seems unfair to make them suffer for 2 years.



Does that make more sense?





Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 16:53:33
Quote by TriSec:

http://www.21food.com/userImages/cabotcheesecn/cabotcheesecn$7394935.jpg




“Ah! We do have some Camembert, sir......It's a bit runny, sir....'Well as a matter of fact it's very runny, sir....I think it's runnier than you like it, sir...Yes, sir."



"Oh...The cat's eaten it."


"Do you have any cheddar?"



"No sir, I've been deliberately wasting your time"

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 17:03:27
Ok, SO I am hearing Sade while listening to the AP news... is it just me? (listenign to KNUV)

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 17:03:28
Ok, SO I am hearing Sade while listening to the AP news... is it just me? (listenign to KNUV)

Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 17:03:34
Is anyone else getting smooth pop-jazz on the NovaM stream?

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 17:06:54
Just published on the BBC, and quite apropo for today's blog:



Alarm over Afghan civilian deaths



The number of civilians killed in the conflict in Afghanistan rose 39% last year, the United Nations says.



Militants were to blame for 55% of the 2,118 civilian deaths, while US, Nato and Afghan forces were responsible for 39%, according to the UN report.



Civilian casualties have increased despite repeated pledges by US-led forces to reduce civilian deaths.



The data came as a US Congress-funded think tank said it was unlikely the US and Nato would defeat insurgents.



The Institute of Peace called for new forces deployed in the country to be used to train Afghan security forces.



The UN report into civilian deaths said the death toll in 2008 civilian was "the highest of any year" since the Taleban were ousted in 2001.



The majority of the victims were killed in the south of the country - where international and Afghan forces are fighting a fierce counter-insurgency campaign.



In one of the most-publicised incidents, US troops fighting off a Taleban ambush last November bombed a wedding party in the Shah Wali Kot area in southern Afghanistan, killing about 40 civilians - mainly women and children.



The issue of civilian deaths at the hands of foreign troops is a hugely sensitive issue, says the BBC's Martin Patience, in Kabul, and is something that the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, has raised repeatedly.



Relations between Kabul and Washington appear to have soured even in the four weeks since US President Barack Obama took office, although the US envoy to the region, Richard Holbrooke, met Mr Karzai in Kabul over the weekend.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 17:10:02
:star: Stated it far better than I could.



And seriously, if I said that, I want to clarify that I was being a bit -- extreme?



I agree with this thought in theory, but in all reality, people like bob and myself LIVE in a state that voted against it.



These are people who vote against their own best interest. That said, there are a lot of liberals mixed in. for every 3 cons, I bet you can find 2 libs.



It's like castor oil... it sucks it is awful, but give it to them anyway. It's for their own good.





Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 17:11:11
Quote by BobR:

Is anyone else getting smooth pop-jazz on the NovaM stream?


I heard some Sade.



Strange. Seems to me the people who SHOULD BE working the boards aren't.

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 17:12:36
Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 17:19:46
I'm listening to Thom on the Sirius machine right now. Since I am in the living room I can listen to my shows off the satellite radio machine.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/17/2009 17:27:44
Quote by BobR:

Is anyone else getting smooth pop-jazz on the NovaM stream?






KTLK has Thom



Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 17:46:28
Quote by TriSec:

This also just in: Romney set to leave Massachusetts!


Heh..



I can't find a clip of just the one part I wanted, but you'll know which one I mean.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/17/2009 18:24:05




: scans blog : Woohoo we're number 9! In your face Atlanta!

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/17/2009 18:36:20
Comment by Random on 02/17/2009 18:38:25
Quote by Mondobubba:

Trump Entertainment goes bankrupt for the third time.



Make your own joke here...


HUUUUUUUGE!!!!

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/17/2009 18:40:24
I'm watching Jaws best speech in modern screen writing:



Hooper: You were on the Indianapolis?

Brody: What happened?

Quint: Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, Chief. We was comin' back from the island of Tinian to Leyte... just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in 12 minutes. Didn't see the first shark for about a half an hour. Tiger. 13-footer. You know how you know that when you're in the water, Chief? You tell by looking from the dorsal to the tail. What we didn't know, was our bomb mission had been so secret, no distress signal had been sent. They didn't even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, Chief, sharks come cruisin', so we formed ourselves into tight groups. You know, it was kinda like old squares in the battle like you see in the calendar named "The Battle of Waterloo" and the idea was: shark comes to the nearest man, that man he starts poundin' and hollerin' and screamin' and sometimes the shark go away... but sometimes he wouldn't go away. Sometimes that shark he looks right into ya. Right into your eyes. And, you know, the thing about a shark... he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red, and despite all the poundin' and the hollerin', they all come in and they... rip you to pieces. You know by the end of that first dawn, lost a hundred men. I don't know how many sharks, maybe a thousand. I know how many men, they averaged six an hour. On Thursday morning, Chief, I bumped into a friend of mine, Herbie Robinson from Cleveland. Baseball player. Boatswain's mate. I thought he was asleep. I reached over to wake him up. Bobbed up, down in the water just like a kinda top. Upended. Well, he'd been bitten in half below the waist. Noon, the fifth day, Mr. Hooper, a Lockheed Ventura saw us. He swung in low and he saw us... he was a young pilot, a lot younger than Mr. Hooper. Anyway, he saw us and he come in low and three hours later a big fat PBY comes down and starts to pick us up. You know that was the time I was most frightened... waitin' for my turn. I'll never put on a lifejacket again. So, eleven hundred men went in the water; 316 men come out and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.



Gives me chills every time.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/17/2009 18:45:21
Quote by Random:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Trump Entertainment goes bankrupt for the third time.



Make your own joke here...


HUUUUUUUGE!!!!




"I think we've got something special here. This is going to be the most luxurious, the most spectacular of there bankruptcies that Trump Entertainment has gone through." Said former chairman of board Donald Trump.

Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 18:51:59
Mondo, that is so weird you mentioned that speech from JAWS. My friends and I were just talking about that at Movie Night last Friday!



Non-Sequitir:



I don't know what to listen to at 3:00 anymore!



Comment by Mondobubba on 02/17/2009 18:53:41
Quote by starling310:

Mondo, that is so weird you mentioned that speech from JAWS. My friends and I were just talking about that at Movie Night last Friday!



Non-Sequitir:



I don't know what to listen to at 3:00 anymore!





There is of course the famous parody of the comparing the wounds in "Chasing Amy"



iTunes??

Comment by Random on 02/17/2009 18:53:52
Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Random:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Trump Entertainment goes bankrupt for the third time.



Make your own joke here...


HUUUUUUUGE!!!!




"I think we've got something special here. This is going to be the most luxurious, the most spectacular of there bankruptcies that Trump Entertainment has gone through." Said former chairman of board Donald Trump.




"Spectacular." Pause. "You're Fired"

The words Trump said to the messenger bringing him the news of the bancruptcy.

Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 18:53:54
Quote by Mondobubba:

Quote by Random:

Quote by Mondobubba:

Trump Entertainment goes bankrupt for the third time.



Make your own joke here...


HUUUUUUUGE!!!!




"I think we've got something special here. This is going to be the most luxurious, the most spectacular of there bankruptcies that Trump Entertainment has gone through." Said former chairman of board Donald Trump.


"Trump - The Bankruptcy"



own it now!

Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 18:54:44
Victoria Jones reporting that Obama may be supporting rove's executive privilege claim!





Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 19:03:38
:thud:

Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 19:08:24
Former Bush Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove has a new president urging Congress not to force him to testify next week.



President Barack Obama.



In a court brief quietly filed Monday, Michael Hertz, Obama's acting assistant attorney general, said it was necessary to delay an effort to force Rove to be deposed in a congressional investigation into the firing of nine US Attorneys and the alleged political prosecution of a former Alabama governor.

Full Story.

Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 19:39:26
I just saw TriSec's status on facebook say he's been fired.



WTH?



Tri???

Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 19:42:17
That's what I was to Bob.. :(

Comment by clintster on 02/17/2009 19:58:46
Holy crap! Tri, I hope you're okay. Can I help in any way?

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 20:24:07
Home at last. Not into the whiskey yet, but that's coming.



I just fucking got us out of trouble from the last time this happened, and that took 5 1/2 years.





Comment by Scoopster on 02/17/2009 20:31:33
WTF happened?? Sounds like a bit of scapegoating from your tone..

Comment by TriSec on 02/17/2009 20:34:36
Repercussions for turning down Maine last year; the fact that I was the most senior and elder member on a team full of cheap college grads, and the no-longer-new manager and I have been at odds since the day she walked in the door.





Comment by starling310 on 02/17/2009 20:49:57
TRI!



:hug:



Damn bro. . .

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 21:10:20
Tri!

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 21:26:59
Fuckity Fuck Fuck.

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 21:44:54
Oh, fuck. Tri. :hug:



Why is it that all the shit gets dumped on the good people? I have seen too many assholes rise to the top while anyone good and talented gets the shaft put to them.

Comment by Raine on 02/17/2009 21:49:09
NovaM is done. I hope will can give us a little insite to this.

Can't give a perma link... it is in the headline section.



The finger pointing between host Randi Rhodes and her network Nova M is over, and so is Nova M. Network GM Eric Reinert tells R&R that Nova M is no longer an entity and that a new company called On Second Thought LLC has been formed and is moving forward. Both Reinart and Rhodes' lawyer Robert V. Gaulin confirm that Rhodes is no longer associated with the group.



Gaulin tells R&R that Nova M's legal team is advising the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and that Rhodes would not hear anymore from Nova M until after the bankruptcy proceedings began.



Gaulin says he has advised the network that their contract with Rhodes is considered terminated due to breach of agreement on their part. He declined to comment on the exact contract breaches but says, "No on-air personality would ever go on air with a talk show under the circumstances that existed that we found out about two or three weeks ago."



Gaulin also says that the current hospitalization of Nova M co-founder Sheldon Drobny is due to an attempted suicide saying he and Rhodes are, "Most sadded by the tragic news." Reinert declined to comment on the situation.



Reinart also declined to comment on a lawsuit recently filed by former network CEO John Manzo. The 16-page complaint alleges, among other things, that the syndicator breached Manzo's contract, failed to pay state and federal taxes on his behalf, defamed his character and cast him in a false light.



Reinart says the new network will continue to offer host Mike Malloy along with new shows from hosts Nancy Skinner, who has been filling in for Randi Rhodes during the recent contract dispute, and Mike Newcomb, a popular local host in the Phoenix area.


Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 21:54:07
It sounds like Nova M was on even shakier financial ground than Air America. And I guess there weren't enough founder clubs members but then again that was very pricey.

Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 21:55:57
I come home after running a few errands and it seems like everything falls apart. Between Tri and Nova M what else could go wrong?



Then again I think I better not ask. : ducks under covers:

Comment by BobR on 02/17/2009 21:56:57
Quote by TriSec:

Home at last. Not into the whiskey yet, but that's coming.



I just fucking got us out of trouble from the last time this happened, and that took 5 1/2 years.





I'm so sorry. I know you had mixed feelings about working there, but I was hoping you'd find something else before this happened.



I'll raise a glass of whisky with you tonight. Lagavulin... the best for one of the best people I know.



Comment by livingonli on 02/17/2009 23:30:55
It sure got quiet here.

Comment by Scoopster on 02/18/2009 01:14:39
Back home at last.. had to get some groceries, and of course a fresh bottle of rum.



Tri my good man, this first one's for you.

Comment by livingonli on 02/18/2009 01:36:27
Laura Flanders is on with KO.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 02/18/2009 01:36:56
Damn, Tri

Damnit!





Comment by livingonli on 02/18/2009 01:51:36
Rush getting schooled by Par Robertson on respecting the President.

Comment by TriSec on 02/18/2009 02:03:53


Comment by livingonli on 02/18/2009 02:28:50
Quote by TriSec:



I so can relate.

Comment by AuntAzalea on 02/18/2009 03:33:55
TriSec, just seeing the sad news, the Azalea/Jones household are so sorry to hear this. We wish you much success in your future endeavor, and know that whatever it is, it will be great.

Comment by MMB on 02/18/2009 04:17:11
Hope all works out for you Tri.