George W Bush : A Day In The Life

[Cyrus]

This is all from today’s CNN.com :

The U.S. Dollar hits a multi-year low, at $1.238 tio the Euro and other major currencies. Analysts and institutions around the world are worried about the U.S. Economy. (What's the matter with those people? The US Economy is booming! Are they all reading The Nation?..)

Operation Avalanche begins in Afghanistan by the American military there, engaging upto 11,000 American troops plus their local allies. This operations begins as Operation Mountain Resolve, carried out in the snowy peaks of eastern Afghanistan, ends. (The military persists in engaging the enemy with large-scale operations carrying grand-sounding names. We learn nothing of how those operations go, of course. They learn nothing from the lessons of History, of course.) ---This just in : Nine Afghani children accidentally killed during the initial phase of the new Operation!---

China Premier's visit begins as tensions between China and Taiwan grow. "The President doesn't need any other crisis in his in box at this stage of the game", says Kenneth Lieberthal, former National Security Council Asia expert. "We simply don't need another area of tension in this part of the world, at this time." (Sorry, boys, these things have a tendency to arrive unannounced and without following the script. You just have to deal with 'em -- and your past proclamations and commitments, unfortunately, at some point in time!)

And this tidbit, to show y'all that it's not just the Prez who has worries, but also the Gov) A Hollywood stuntwoman who claims she was sexually harassed by actor Arnold Schwarzenneger filed a lawsuit yesterday alleging defamation by the governor and his campaign staff. Allegedly the Gov had many times engaged in fondling her breasts, lifted her T-shirt, photographed her breasts and then hanged the picture in a men's trailer.

[andyfox]

"Allegedly the Gov had many times engaged in fondling her breasts, lifted her T-shirt, photographed her breasts and then hanged the picture in a men's trailer."

Gray Davis did that? Who would have thunk it . . .

[Gamblor]

. (The military persists in engaging the enemy with large-scale operations carrying grand-sounding names. We learn nothing of how those operations go, of course. They learn nothing from the lessons of History, of course.)

If I'm not mistaken, this engagement began on Sept 11, 2001.

[Zeno]

[ QUOTE ]
They learn nothing from the lessons of History, of course.

[/ QUOTE ]


Who are "They"?

What "lessons of History" are you referring to?

-Zeno

[andyfox]

You are mistaken. What did 9/11 have to do with large-scale operastions carrying grand-sounding names?

[Gamblor]

What did 9/11 have to do with large-scale operastions carrying grand-sounding names

It might have something to do with the shelter the then-Afghani government provided to the stars of the day. Now, it might have something to do with said government's attempts at re-organization and conquest of the new government.

I don't think Bush is brilliant, but I sincerely doubt think he wantonly sends American soldiers out for no real purpose other than to flex his muscles.

[andyfox]

I have no doubt flexing his muscles is an important part of the Bush doctrine. The Clinton administration said that its basic foreign policy goal was to remain #1 in the world. The Bush administration had the same goal, but now has 9/11 with which to justify military efforts to achieve that goal. Bush may have been grandstanding when he said "bring 'em on," but there's no question such an attitude is a part of our current policy.

Large-scale operations with grand-sounding names do very little to prevent 9/11s. There is a good argument to be made that they increase the likelihood of more 9/11s. After all, it was large-scale operations with grand-sounding names that created Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden to begin with.

And speaking of those two, where are they?

[andyfox]

Bush had this to say about the China/Taiwan situation.

"We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo," Bush said, "and the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally, to change the status quo, which we oppose."

Bush was referring to Taiwan's plan to conduct a referendum on March 20 on whether the Taiwanese people want to demand that China withdraw hundreds of missiles aimed at Taiwan and renounce the use of force against the island.

So Bush is opposed to the Taiwanese people expressing their opinion on whether they want the Chinese missles aimed at them and whether they want China to use force in any dispute with them. And he is opposed to those missiles not being pointed at them and opposed to China not renouncing the use of force in a dispute. This is what he said; he is opposed to any change in the status quo that China doesn't like.

Meanwhile, the democrat who runs China said, "The Chinese government respects the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy, but we must point out that the [Taiwanese leaders] are only using democracy as an excuse and attempt to resort to defensive referendums to split Taiwan away from China," he said. "Such separatist activities are what the Chinese side can absolutely not accept."

So democracy is OK for the people of Taiwan provided what they decide is not something we don't want. A very strange definition of democracy.

China has allowed democracy to flourish in Taiwan because it's been good for business. Ditto for Hong Kong and areas of southeast coastal China. But both the United States and China will not allow changes in the status quo that are only "excuses" and "attempts" to use democracy. It is things like this that cause us curmudgeons to take government statements that it is fighting for freedom and democracy in the world with a few grains of salt.

My calendar says 2003, not 1984.

[Gamblor]

And speaking of those two, where are they?

What, you're not aware of how simple it is to find two individuals, likely disguised by thousands of supporters, however immobile they may be, in 7 million square miles (18,686,071 sq. km)[1] of desert in the great "Pan-Arabian peninsula"?

[1] Microsoft ENCARTA

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

And speaking of those two, where are they?

Sitting on the beach in Bora Bora sipping Pina Coladas.