Comments Posted By Johnny Tremaine
Displaying 21 To 30 Of 42 Comments
PLANS FOR IRAQ OFFENSIVE CO-OPTS THE ISG
I agree more with Bill Kristol at The Weekly Standard. His new editorial on their site calls for an increase of at least 50,000 more troops. Kristol basically says, 'send in 50,000 to pacify the violence or don't even bother at all'.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 16.11.2006 @ 21:00
I DARE YOU TO MAKE ME A DEMOCRAT
Well, that's our problem here Andy. Everyone's a little bit right and wrong. As many are saying, there really are not any good solutions for the problem of Iraq anymore; only a series of bad ones. Inevitably our government will choose the least bad option.
The concept of a unified 'Iraq' is apparently disintegrating before our very eyes as the country's various sects are engaged in an all out shooting war against one another. It is true, an infusion of more troops may not help Iraq, but it's our last least bad option.Another thing, watch out for a rising trouble spot in Northern Iraq---Kurdistan. Kirkuk is simmering and the Turks are getting antsy while the PKK finds refuge within Iraq's Kurdish community. The Kurds may overreach for independence and all hell will then break loose.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 13.11.2006 @ 22:12
Regarding Iraq, the lead editorial in of all places Sunday's New York Times advocated a large infusion of ground troops to pacify Iraq, particularly Baghdad. This could end up being the consensus view. I noticed Larry Kudlow on his CNBC show supporting a similar strategy.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 13.11.2006 @ 20:56
(In my view, this is what was so wrongheaded about the Rumsfeld policy. The Secretary insisted on his 'modernization' strategy of the military which would result in a smaller fighting force, even while the military was still in the midst of large nation-building operations in Iraq and Afghanistan which require immense Cold War era size armies.)
A DECLARATION OF (SEMI-AUTONOMOUS) INDEPENDENCE (SORT OF)
Interesting post, Rick. Hey, if anything one of the reasons I visit your blog is for your cool '24' updates. Hey, how about doing updates on 'Heroes', 'Lost' or 'BSG'?
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 9.11.2006 @ 19:32
Another thing: I think this election proves once again that the American people at large are neither right wing conservatives or hard left liberals. They're moderates. Look at California, a blue state with a red state governor. As goes California, so goes the nation.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 8.11.2006 @ 19:55
I've been going on about divided government being the best (in terms of doing the least amount of damage), and now we'll get to see if that will result. I'm guessing it will. If the Democratic party gains control of the Senate as well, then in 2008 I will likely vote for the Republican candidate for President---I'm thinking it'll be McCain. And this is from someone who usually votes 'donkey'.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 8.11.2006 @ 19:51
Well, I guess this shows that Stephen King, Elmore Leonard, Tom Clancy, Lawerence Block, James Ellroy, Patricia Cornwell, Clive Barker, John Grisham, Dean Koontz and Jonathan Kellerman can never run for public office.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 27.10.2006 @ 18:35
Jesus. How stupid.
LOSING MOMENTUM IN IRAQ ISN'T THE PROBLEM
Drewsmom,
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 8.10.2006 @ 20:06
Where in my post did I say that it was about oil? I challenge you to find the word 'oil' in my entire post. You're even assuming I was against the initial war; I wasn't. But the assumption that widening the conflict to the surrounding nations will improve the situation in Iraq is faulty logic.
Anyway, the argument is moot. Realpolitik is the order of the day, if Woodward's latest book is to be believed. Apparently the Bush White House is now heavily consulting with Henry Kissinger and Co. on how to proceed in Iraq.
Rick is right, to launch wars on Syria and Iran would require a large troop mobilization and larger expenditures, both of which are in short supply. The conceit that we could accomplish regime change in either country by just air power alone has been proven wrong, as shown this past Summer by the Israeli attempt to eliminate Hezbollah by, initially, only air strikes. Add to this the fact that President Bush has about two years left in office, and the chance for a wider war is unlikely.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 7.10.2006 @ 13:48
Another thing, the problems in Iraq seem to be more than just Al-Qaeda terrorists and the militias. From reading today's papers, the situation in Kirkuk is also deteriorating and a curfew established due to tit for tat private army attacks battling over who's going to control the oil. Translation, we're fighting multiple 'wars' in Iraq.
And can we please do away with the canard that the reason for our difficulty in Iraq is because of the Left and the media? If you seriously consider the media and the home front a larger enemy than the jihadis, then well, you've got personal issues that even Rick's site can't help you with.
OCTOBER 5: A DAY OF PEACE, LOVE, AND MASS MASTURBATION
Eh, there will always be kooks and wacky people around. I'm sure this crowd is probably the same that gathers around Roswell, NM to look for UFOs and also believes in the Lochness Monster.
Comment Posted By Johnny Tremaine On 4.10.2006 @ 12:42
A good part of this phenomenon is fantasy wish fulfillment akin to the fans who show up at comic book and science fiction conventions dressed as their favorite characters. Not to knock comics and sci-fi fans of course; I love a good graphic novel as much as the next geek.
