tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post113218861036582374..comments2024-03-26T16:03:42.608-06:00Comments on Flares into Darkness: Are We Losing The War On Terror?ambisinistralhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03836786826294202405noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132325922506421012005-11-18T07:58:00.000-07:002005-11-18T07:58:00.000-07:00"Are We Losing The War On Terror?"maybe the origin..."Are We Losing The War On Terror?"<BR/><BR/><BR/>maybe the original title<BR/>of the post was a few degrees<BR/>off:<BR/><BR/><BR/>"Where (and Who) are we fighting in the War on Terror?"<BR/><BR/>as many have argued for some time...<BR/>...the war cannot be won if the enemy is not identified and the enemy's strategy and tactics <BR/>identified and addressed.<BR/><BR/>any stack of metrics ,<BR/>without those elements included,<BR/>do us no good.gumshoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567181585153569751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132325729857837842005-11-18T07:55:00.000-07:002005-11-18T07:55:00.000-07:00rick,thanks for the reply.answers the basicquestio...rick,thanks for the reply.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>answers the basic<BR/>questions "have there been regular reports?" in the affirmative...<BR/><BR/><BR/>and points out their nature<BR/>is essentially "political"<BR/>on at least several levels.<BR/><BR/>can't get that kind of "nuance"<BR/>on the old stream media.<BR/><BR/>;0pgumshoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567181585153569751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132273484417496662005-11-17T17:24:00.000-07:002005-11-17T17:24:00.000-07:00The "reports" business is rather interesting. The ...The "reports" business is rather interesting. The <A HREF="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html" REL="nofollow">authorization to use force</A> is clear:<BR/><BR/>"The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution"<BR/><BR/>The President's response is also clear and can be summarized as "Go Fish".<BR/><BR/>When the Legislature uses the language "the President shall" it is abrogating the separation of power. The Legislature has no power of compulsion over the Executive other than the purse and impeachment. The Legislature generally lacks the backbone to try and use either.<BR/><BR/>That's not to say that the President has not, does not or will not make a report to Congress. He certainly has, does and will - but not from any "compulsion" by Congress.<BR/><BR/>That's my understanding and YM very definitey MV.Rick Ballardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11082425215912372067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132257857765979852005-11-17T13:04:00.000-07:002005-11-17T13:04:00.000-07:00"He also said he was surprised the administration ..."He also said he was surprised the administration was not already giving the Senate such reports."<BR/><BR/><BR/>terrye...i believe<BR/>this comes under the category of<BR/>"congressional publicity stunt"...<BR/><BR/>i have no specifics,<BR/>but maybe another poster(Rick?) <BR/>can verify that regular<BR/>reports to the Congress are<BR/>already and *have been*<BR/>regularly made to keep the Congress updated. <BR/><BR/>under what specfic circumstances,<BR/>security clearances,committees,etc.<BR/>i am unsure.gumshoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567181585153569751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132242984361833882005-11-17T08:56:00.000-07:002005-11-17T08:56:00.000-07:00Terrye,The Executive and Legislative have been at ...Terrye,<BR/><BR/>The Executive and Legislative have been at war for the entire history of the Republic. The tension was designed as a feature rather than a bug. The Legislative branch is making a power grab based upon current (and ephemeral) polling. The Executive needs to examine the proposal and determine whether it actually cedes Executive power or is simply a headline stunt.<BR/><BR/>For practical purposes this is simply part of the ongoing struggle - the problem is that the Legislative branch is doing it at the wrong time and with a potential downside that involves risking American lives. <BR/><BR/>It is timing rather than content that makes them fools in this instance. They are not hired to respond to shifts in the electoral breeze. The Administration bears some responsibility in this because of its inadequate PR campaign. I believe that they can turn it around - we'll see rather shortly.Rick Ballardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11082425215912372067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132228584887744232005-11-17T04:56:00.000-07:002005-11-17T04:56:00.000-07:00rick:I don't know if I think this is just spineles...rick:<BR/><BR/>I don't know if I think this is just spineless or not. I can not make up my mind. <BR/><BR/>When you have Senators from Ok and MA voting on the same side of something it is hard to know what it is.<BR/><BR/>Jeez, Leahy and Kerry voted nay.<BR/><BR/>I do wish we could get out there and just win the damn war and put an end to all this self defeating partisan bickering.terryehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609746018265953069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132224326296705162005-11-17T03:45:00.000-07:002005-11-17T03:45:00.000-07:00I agree with Syl we need to shut up and win. But t...I agree with Syl we need to shut up and win. But the Senate is only reflecting the country's mood. They want to see a light at the end of that tunnel.<BR/><BR/>I was talking to a friend of mine about this. He is conservative and has a good sense of public thinking.<BR/><BR/>He has a different take on things than I do.<BR/><BR/>He says the American people will not tolerate keeping soldiers abroad in active fighting for more than 3 or 4 years. He also said he was surprised the administration was not already giving the Senate such reports. <BR/><BR/>Now this guy is more coservative than I am, but less political. If that makes sense. In fact he thinks they should deal with the detainee issue by making sure there aren't any. if you catch my drift.<BR/><BR/>I think the Senate is reacting to public concerns and those public concerns are there because the Democrats are dreaming fondly of the glory days of the Khmer Rouge and the boat people and have done a great job of using the situation for personal political gain. the bastards.<BR/><BR/>But I still say that the administration needs to take control of the situation and use the reports to give their side of the story. But more than that, they need to get out there and push this thing until it is done.<BR/><BR/> We have come too far and sacrificed too much to run away now and what is more the Iraqi people who got out there and voted deserve a chance to see those votes amount to something.<BR/><BR/>The Senate is not a rubber stamp for the administration, but at the same time their first concern should be for the welfare of their country...not the next election.terryehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16609746018265953069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132217496436652082005-11-17T01:51:00.000-07:002005-11-17T01:51:00.000-07:00msm is in full-on"get Bush" mode.these idiots don'...msm is in full-on<BR/>"get Bush" mode.<BR/><BR/>these idiots don't get <BR/>that in a society addicted to <BR/>being victims, recovery from a set-back is not guaranteed.<BR/><BR/>these dweebs seem to think <BR/>"America will always be on top,<BR/>we can afford to kick her <BR/>in the shins for a bit".<BR/><BR/>i'm gonna put some faith <BR/>in the people who read history<BR/>and blogs and have respect for the <BR/>depth of the stories and <BR/>not just the video clips and sound bites.<BR/><BR/>perhaps the number is and will remain small,but the means exist <BR/>to get views from outside the msm-spin-machine.10-15 years ago <BR/>that wasn't the case.<BR/><BR/>the Woodward boomerang on Plame <BR/>is an example of what patience will<BR/>continue to toss up on the beach. <BR/><BR/>Daniel Pearl...errr <BR/>...Daniel Pipes... <BR/>says he fears many Americans<BR/>will have to experience <BR/>"education by murder"<BR/>to fully wake to the dangers.<BR/><BR/>why 9/11 didn't do it<BR/>is beyond me.<BR/><BR/>when do the court proceedings for <BR/>Dana"CIA Holds Terror Suspects in Secret Prisons"Priest <BR/>commence??<BR/><BR/>she put a bit more than a desk<BR/>jockey at risk.gumshoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10567181585153569751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132202709516967982005-11-16T21:45:00.000-07:002005-11-16T21:45:00.000-07:00Syl,With your terse "Shut up and win!" I could not...Syl,<BR/><BR/>With your terse "Shut up and win!" I could not agree more.<BR/><BR/>Peter,<BR/><BR/><I>Unfortunately any new government will have the same problem to deal with in spades,this time with all the restrictions which with they have entangled action in place,they are not going to be happy.</I><BR/><BR/>So true.<BR/><BR/>Jamie IronsJamie Ironshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08483791884102487505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132201417751995652005-11-16T21:23:00.000-07:002005-11-16T21:23:00.000-07:00How about telling everybody to SHUTUP AND WIN!How about telling everybody to<BR/><BR/> SHUTUP AND WIN!Sylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03069871911665125873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132201263356168542005-11-16T21:21:00.000-07:002005-11-16T21:21:00.000-07:00I've got an idea.Why doesn't everyone just stand u...I've got an idea.<BR/><BR/>Why doesn't everyone just stand up and say 'We want to win this war!'<BR/><BR/>I don't understand the crap!! I really don't! I mean everyone has explanations, excuses, long philosophical arguments about political and social theories and all.<BR/><BR/>I don't care.<BR/><BR/>I want to win!<BR/><BR/>We've got to think of something!Sylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03069871911665125873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16821859.post-1132199433182385542005-11-16T20:50:00.000-07:002005-11-16T20:50:00.000-07:00There is a very good reason that Senators are rare...There is a very good reason that Senators are rarely elected President. The art of gutless compromise remains underappreciated by the general public.<BR/><BR/>It is not unusual to see spineless politicians respond to the media polls like a weathervane to the hint of a breeze but the Republican Senators actions are going to cost their reelection campaigns money. McCain's jackassery earlier in the year in leading the Seven Dwarves astray has already damaged contributions and this is going to compound that error.<BR/><BR/>It appears that the Executive is going into push back mode. It will be interesting to see how it works out. Cheney certainly blistered the Copperhead Dems this evening. Perhaps he should add some Copperhead Reps into his next speech.Rick Ballardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11082425215912372067noreply@blogger.com