We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:54:13 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite. You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place... ********************************* Boudi's Bro strikes again: An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where the French are the dominant "species", and other humans are the oppressed and enslaved, and forced to eat nothing but food wrapped in thin pancakes. I'm calling it, PLANET OF THE CREPES. Sigh. I probably shouldn't encourage this... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:36:20 -0600 First, as I noted, the Iranians have to come up with enough money to build the pipe lines and factories to take advantage of this Chinese deal. Second, it won't even start to come on line, much less make profit, for another 10 years. I also don't believe the Chinese give a darn about who is in charge of Iran as long as they get the oil. I also believe that the fleet they are building is for hegemony, but I also believe it is more to defend the actual devices (like the oil and gas pipes) and shipping lanes. I believe they would find those more important (knowing that we would not destroy Iran's oil capacity if we can avoid it) they only care that it keeps pumping. Third, Pakistan and Afghanistan are way different than Iran. To my knowledge, neither of these countries have sanctions against them that prevent investment. Nor are they suffering severe credit issues that prevent them from purchasing basic goods for survival. Fourth, while the economy is "Islamic" in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, the extent to which the government controls the economy is much different. For instance, while many Pakistanis are employed by the Pakistan government and they are estimated to have very high unemployment, the figures do not reflect on the economy as much because those "unemployed" are more often than not "employed" in some sort of family trade directly related to the agraculture, animal husbandry or some other traditional employment with a large part of their economy based on traiditonal barter systems. That's because the Pakistani economy is not as "industrialized" as the Iranian economy. While a Pakistani's existence may seem "mean" to us and the tribal associations anacronyms to modern society, it has sustained them for centuries and it keeps the tribes independent from the government, thus independent from it's economic woes. The Iranians, on the otherhand, are much more industrialized. Many more of their people are employed in government operated businesses and industries. In fact, if I could find the article again, WP 3/25, another chief complaint is one of typically industrialized nations: they are losing their agriculture base and damaging another cornerstone of the Islamic Revolution, self sufficiency. thus, the fate of the people are more closely tied to the official economy of the state. If the state economy fails then the people are set adrift without money or goods and the traditional methods of bartering are lost or broken due to the broken family or tribal connection caused by the migration of industrialization. Or, more importantly, if the people feel the state economy is failing them then, as our forefathers wrote so precipitously in the Declaration of Independence, governments are not set aside lightly and people will put up with many things, but there comes a time when tyranny (tied with hunger and death) becomes unbearable. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58473 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58473 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:36:07 -0600 SS is comitted to guerilla warfare. And I've been saying for at least 2 years that the 'El Dorado Canyon' option was about all we have with them. It'll hurt. It'll hurt lots. But that could work wonders(the pro-Western kids rise up and topple the IRGC) or backfire(everyone experiences a moment of national solidarity---even though many Persians aren't happy with the Mullahs, and neither are many of te ethnic or religious minorities). I really think you're under-valuing how bad China wants energy. They're playing in parts of N. Africa where their workers are kidnapped by local terrorists, monthly. Making that gas plant fall down go BOOM gives them one more oppurtunity to capitalize on Western disaffection in building themselves a nice little coalition off of economic development that China's been doing all over the world lately(like Sudan as an example). I agree that it's over the sanctions. But I also think it's Iran showing that they're the France of the ME by being able to deny anyone else supremacy(France has a history of playing spoiler in COntinental affairs, pre-20th century). I don't think they're going to collapse. Afghanistan and Pakistan have similar economic problems and aren't 'on the verge'. This is waaaay complicated as there's lots of different 'english' on this ball. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58462 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58462 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:26:35 -0600 An astronaut crew crash-lands on a planet in the distant future where retired superheroes are the dominant species, and other humans are humiliated just by their consciousness that they'll never be as good at anything as even the old, retired Superfolk. I call it, Planet of the CAPES! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58461 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58461 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 06:16:55 -0600 Low Altitude Parachute Extinction System Another fan of the Airdrop Mishaps clip! Good stuff!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58458 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58458 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:41:36 -0600 Low Altitude Parachute Extinction System http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58456 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58456 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:08:57 -0600 I wasn't dissing you. My contention is, we won't need physical war if Iran maintains it's current economic crisis. Ry thinks I'm off a few decades to their collapse, but I'd say they are cash strapped right now for various reasons. In fact, it is Iran that cannot sustain a war with us. While they may have some nifty gas reserves somewhere, they only have one gas refinery and no friends who seem like they are going to help them out if that one refinery goes *BOOM*. They couldn't sustain carp. On top of that, I've been reading of numerous problems keeping military equipment repaired and flying (for isntance). Further, we wouldn't have to go in to Iran. I'd be all for standing off with big ol' airplanes and bombing any infrastructure or government works in to the ground. Then I'd tell them that anything that moved towards the borders of Afghanistan, Iraq or any place else would be considered hostile, even if it looked like a small band of civilians. But, in the meantime, I'll settle for a boatload of cheap American goods on the Iranian black market, bought and sold with only American dollars. Crash the Iranian Rial and stand back as the rats try to leave the sinking ship and the rest of ther rats started gnawing on their own. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58455 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58455 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:02:53 -0600 All this talk about "GPS" and borders is BS. Hey! No need to get personal! :) Kidding aside, I agree. My only contention with a war with Iran is we are stretched very thin. Scary thin. If the British start the ball rolling I would be extremely surprised if we did not follow suit with them. We have in almost everything short of the Falkland Islands in the last 20 years. Beyond that, honestly? I'm all for it. I just can see someone deciding to try to kick our feet out from under us while we're stretched out over 3/4ths of the globe]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58454 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58454 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:49:09 -0600 ...and they make them sit *sideways* in nasty red-strapped garden chairs (but less comfortable) anchored to the vomit-slicked floor, baking in the heat. Oh, the *sob* humanity... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58453 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58453 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:46:44 -0600 Please, they took the Brits the same reason they took them the last time: ransom in the form of financial concessions ie, not enforcing penalties on banks like HSBC for doing business with them, particularly the IRGC. The IRGC captured the Brits. The IRGC owns mega businesses and runs contract services in Iran. How are the IRGC going to do that if they can't get money in or out of the banks? If they have no credit to draw on to pay their employees and soldiers? The IRGC is p/o'd, but so are the Mullahs and almond head. All this talk about "GPS" and borders is BS. The brits have probably run a hundred ops there and never had a problem. The real tells are Almondhead promising to retaliate if sanctions were passed a few weeks ago. This is the weak mans version of "pre-emptive" war. They needed a bargaining chip to survive. From my point of view, that might not be long at all. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58452 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58452 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:35:33 -0600 read the coordinates in the Iran interview, however the British showed theirs out right. Thats not a statement to insinuate their hiding something, just found it interesting.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58451 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58451 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:25:48 -0600 ...and they make them sit *sideways* in nasty red-strapped garden chairs (but less comfortable) anchored to the vomit-slicked floor, baking in the heat. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58450 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58450 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:17:42 -0600 "An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where (through some obscene, nauseating and abhorrent twist of evolution) C-130 loadmasters are the dominant "species", and other humans are the oppressed and enslaved, forced to don parachutes, then strapped into Herky-Bird cargo bays and yanked into thin air during fixed-wing nap-of-the-runway exercises. I'm calling it, Planet of the LAPES"... Those Who Know, Know. For all the rest, there's google. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58449 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58449 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:58:56 -0600 Back off man, I'm a scientist. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58448 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58448 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:59:00 -0600 this out and send to your friend with the "taxing" sense of humor. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58447 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58447 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:39:56 -0600 Comrades, "An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where Richard Nixon clones are the dominant "species", and other humans are the oppressed and enslaved, and forced to listen to constantly looped recordings of his speechs, rants, and blusterings. I'm calling it, PLANET OF THE TAPES" Respects, http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58446 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58446 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:04:38 -0600 that pencil meme irritates me. As would the pencil fragments that would float around in zero-g. You don't want stuff that leaves dust, dirt, grit, bits of graphite and so on after you use it in that kind of environment. Didn't they just have a Floating Wasabi incident in the space station? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58445 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58445 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:23:26 -0600 I pick Planet of the Grapes, but of course you all prolly figured that... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58444 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58444 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:12:11 -0600 In the words of Dr. Venkman, "Now I have to kill you all..." http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58443 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58443 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:53:07 -0600 "An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where vintners are the dominant "species", and other humans are the oppressed and enslaved, and forced to drink nothing but fermented "fruit of the vine". I'm calling it, PLANET OF THE GRAPES" ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58442 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58442 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:41:40 -0600 An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where interior decorators are the dominant "species" and other humans are the oppressed and enslaved, and forced to spend endless hours examining material samples and comparing color swatches. I'm calling it, PLANET OF THE DRAPES. All. Day. Long. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58441 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58441 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:00:49 -0600 Racist? How do you do that math in this context? Realizing (but -- horrors! -- *not* condoning) the current attitude of most of the citizens of the British Isles these days, the chairman of the English Democrats is prolly thinking the poo will all descend on those most British of bastions -- the madrassas... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58440 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58440 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:12:52 -0600 Should have realized it was sci-fi when you read "a planet" -- that would automatically imply they left France voluntarily. Never include Bretons and Normans with "the French"... *grinnnn* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58435 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58435 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:23:39 -0600 Remember Armorer, This is the same group who labeled a 12 year old girl racist because her teacher assigned her to a group of Asians who didn't speak any English.....and she asked her teacher if she could change work groups because she didn't understand anything they said. And people complain about America..... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58432 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58432 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:15:56 -0600 a planet in the distant future where the French are the dominant "species" Of course, when I read on to find that other humans had been subjegated by Frenchies, I realized it was a fantasy...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58430 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/03/hi_fires_29_mar.html#comment-58430 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:06:11 -0600